I am Clean

One of my favorite songs is "Clean" by Natalie Grant. Every time I hit play on my phone, it always brings comfort to my heart. It also refocuses me and reminds me of what God has done for me and how much He loves me.

"I see shattered
You see whole
I see broken
But You see beautiful
And You're helping me to believe
You're restoring me piece by piece"

    This part of the song reminds me of how God sees me. God strives to help me see how much He loves me and sees how beautiful I am. There are days where I tear myself down and feeling like I will never measure up. But when I listen to these specific lyrics, it reminds me that God loves me so much that He died for me. I am a child of God, made in the image of God. Nothing is more beautiful than a love like that. I am reminded that God made me for a specific reason and sees how beautiful I am. 

"There's nothing too dirty
That You can't make worthy
You wash me in mercy
I am clean
There's nothing too dirty
That You can't make worthy
You wash me in mercy
I am clean"

    This part of the song reminds me that no matter what I have done in my past, God is right there next to me. He is such a forgiving God and an almighty God. There has been days where I have sinned and felt like God will never forgive me and will not love me. But that's not who God is. When I have turned away from God, it's as easy as asking for forgiveness and redirecting my life back to Christ. Trying to stay away from a sin I am struggling with can be difficult, but with a strong relationship with God it's possible. God died for my sins so I can have a personal relationship with Him, and so I can have an eternal life with Him. God loves me and wants to have a relationship with me. 

"What was dead now lives again
My heart's beating, beating inside my chest
Oh I'm coming alive with joy and destiny
'Cause You're restoring me piece by piece"

    This shows what happens when I accept God into my heart and I have that close relationship with Him. I am a new person, and a life that's filed with hope, faith, joy, and peace. He restores me when I accept God and I stay close to Him. When I accept God into my heart, the old person dies away and the new person is restored. 

"Washed in the blood of Your sacrifice
Your blood flowed red and made me white
My dirty rags are purified
I am clean"

    I love this part because it's showing God dying for my sins. His blood flowed red and it made me white. This is showing God dying for me so I can live an eternal life with Him and that I will be saved from death. He died for me so that I could be purified. How awesome is that?! God loves me so much that He died for me! 

    Read His word, and pray to Him. He loves you and wants to listen to you. When you believe and understand What God has done for each and everyone of us, all there is to do is accept. Asking God into your heart and praying to Him. His arms are wide open and He is waiting for you. 

    Here is the song if you would like to take a listen. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6pl45a_K8xM 

Reckless Love Of God

"Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God
Oh, it chases me down, fights 'til I'm found, leaves the ninety-nine
I couldn't earn it, and I don't deserve it, still, You give Yourself away
Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God, yeah"

"Reckless Love" was played in chapel the other day and as these lyrics came across the screen tears began to come down my face. I was convicted and reminded of the love God pours out to me everyday. I thought about Him dying on the cross for me, and sacrificing His life so I could live a life eternal with Him. He saved me from my sins. That is true love. Even when there are days I fail, and I sin, He is still right there beside me to catch me. I don't deserve any of it, but He loves me and thinks I do deserve it. His love is never ending, never failing, overwhelming, and reckless. I was determined to draw my self closer to the Lord after that chapel and to know more of who He is and what He has done for me. I am reminded everyday of how thankful I am to be loved by such a loving and forgiving God. An almighty God, who died for each and every one of us. 

"There's no shadow You won't light up

Mountain You won't climb up
Coming after me
There's no wall You won't kick down
Lie You won't tear down
Coming after me"

This part also made me think because there is nothing that stops God from coming after us and helping us through any trial and struggle we are going through in our life. He knows our heart and He loves us, so keep fighting on and keep searching the Lord. Stay close to Him and never let Him go because He cares for you and wants to have a close relationship with you. I have seen in my darkest and most challenging days the Lord work in me and show me a lot. I have learned a lot through the trials in my life and it has made me the person I am today. It has also made me closer to the Lord through those trials in my life. Never let Him go and always stay close to the Lord.  

The Walk of Faith

Deuteronomy 7:9 "Know therefore that the LORD your God is God, the faithful God  who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations."

    This past Saturday I started my first day Of CA (Community Assistant) training. I am beyond blessed that God has given me this opportunity to serve Him and the girls in my section this year spiritually. Also, I am blessed to be working along side of Lea my RA (Residence Assistance). She is one of the most loving, kind, down to earth, spiritual person I have met, and I am so excited to grow with her and learn more about who she is. But before I started training, I was a nervous wreck, not knowing what to expect from training week. I didn't know a lot of the people from Reslife, I don't do well will introducing myself to people first, I'm a introvert, I have trouble starting conversations, and I get very tired after being around large groups of people all day. So, knowing what Reslife was and what training week would be like; I had to face my fears and get out of my comfort zone. At times I wondered why God would call a shy person like me to be a CA in Reslife, but I know He had a reason for me being here. So, I trusted Him and took the first step out of my comfort zone this entire week. And let me tell you I have seen changes in myself that I have not seen before. Slowly, not quickly, but slowly I have been learning how to open myself up more to people. Especially people that I may not open myself up to usually. I have learned to appreciate more about people's differences and similarities, I have loved getting to know all of the people on the Reslife team, and I love how funny they are! They are always making you laugh! I still consider myself an introvert by the end of the day, but I still love community and I love to talk and have conversations with people about their personal life. I have appreciated the openness and kindness that the Reslife team has showed towards me and others around me. We are all like one big family. In the end, most lessons I have learned is always go where the Lord calls you, even if it's scary and out of your comfort zone, because you will grow and learn many new things. Don't be afraid because the Lord is faithful and always by your side. Embrace the journey the Lord has prepared for you!

The Future

    "But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;
his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”

Lamentations 3: 21-23

    The future can be an exciting but truly scary thought. Especially when you are at the age 22 and still trying to graduate college. It's hard to see friends and family around your age finishing up college and starting their careers and their independence. At Lancaster Bible College, I am majoring in Early Education, and with that we have to take the Praxis and pass it before we move on to our higher education classes. So far, I have taken it three times and have not passed it yet. With that, it's pushing back my graduation date. Also, the longer it takes for me to pass it the less classes I can take. I have always wanted to be a teacher since 9th or 10th grade. I also have a heart for children with disabilities. This journey has been a big trial and a challenge in my life. Doubting that I won't pass it or not finding a career. I get scared of what the future holds for me, whether I'm doing what God has called me to do or if I am just doing what I want to do. I believe that when you feel passionate, it urges you, you can't stop thinking about it, and it's always on your heart, that's where God is leading you. I have had this dream the past year or two of starting my own charter school for children with disabilities. I have thought about working overseas or in the city. This has been on my heart for a long time and I don't think that will ever change. What I have learned through this trial of my future and trying to pass this huge test, is that I must rejoice and trust that the Lord is still working in me through this. There is a reason for it and I must wait and lean on Him in the process. God doesn't just leave us in the dust, He's always at work in us. Even though I can't see my future and what it holds, my God can see it. And I know the Lord's plan for us is wonderful and I trust that. In this process of waiting I will still rejoice and love my great Father in Heaven. I give Him all the glory through everything that happens in my life. Trust that the Lord has a future for you and praise Him through the trials and the waiting. The Lord never forsakes us, so don't forsake Him. 

Moving On With The Lord

    I've been reading a book called "Praying God's Will for Your life" by Stormie Omartian. It's an eye opener and I would highly recommend reading it. I would love to go through every chapter in the book and talk about it, but I might be here for a while, so I just wanted to talk about moving on with the Lord.

    When I accepted the Lord at a young age, I don't think I fully understood that living a Christian life doesn't just consist of butterflies and good days, but it also consist of trials and bad days too. When we accept Jesus that isn't just it, there is a lot more. The truth behind walking the Christian life is that we have made it into a life of eternity with the Lord even after death. Our life here on earth doesn't mean we can just accept the Lord into our hearts and just keep going on with our lives. It's a whole new life transformed. We have to do certain things daily to sustain life and become spiritually and emotionally healthy. Just like the physical body needs to be fed, exercised, and cleansed, so the spirit and soul need replenishing. In the book it goes over the 5 things that will strengthen our relationship with God, which include: The Word of God, prayer, praise, confession, and ongoing forgiveness. When we lose sight of one of these things, we end up in the cracks in our foundation. When we have cracks, we never end up where we are supposed to be and we can never fully know God's will for our life. Walking a Christian life is a transforming life, that brings so much good into our life, but only if we accept and stay close to the Lord and His truth. The different trials that I went through in my life has made me closer to the Lord more than ever and it has made me depend on Him more and more everyday. Just remember the Lord has a good plan for us. He doesn't have us go through the storm to hurt us and abuse us, but to teach us something. So, stay strong, keep moving, stay close to Him, keep moving forward with Him and listen to His voice when He calls you. His arms are wide open and full of love, so keep your arms wide open too! 

    Here are some verses: Proverbs 10:25, Matthew 7:24, 2 Timothy 2:19. 

Peace

We all want to have peace, right? But how can you have peace when you are going through a divorce, a break up, losing a family member, losing your job, or finding out you have cancer? Some people describe peace as a long day at the beach, a day without work, and no to do lists. Those are things that can create peace, but they aren't the source of it. God gives us a peace that surpasses human understanding, the kind of peace that reveals in the most difficult situations or alarming circumstances. Only the Lord can help you in the midst of the storms that you are going through. It can be challenging to keep that peace and faith even when we know the Lord is by our side. We tend to ask the question, why me? Well, first of all God brings certain situations in our life for a reason. God doesn't allow these things to happen for no reason. He allows these situations to happen whether its for us to grow closer to the Lord, to grow in wisdom, to grow in dependence in Him more, to help others that are going through the same situations, and to bring glory to His name. We may not see it right away, but it takes time. God is at work in us 24/7 and through these times in our life, we need to keep thinking that God is using me and He is working in me continually. Pray out to God, cry out to Him, worship Him, read His word, doing these things will help you see more of His face and the faithfulness and peace that He brings into your life. We are either about to go through a storm, we are in a storm, or we are just coming out of a storm, but there will always be trials in our life. Keep putting your trust and dependence in Him everyday. Know that you are not alone, keep that peace and faith in your heart. Here are some verses to go along with peace.

"The Lord will give strength unto his people; the Lord will bless his people with peace." Psalm 29:11
"I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit." Romans 15:13
"And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." Philippines 4:7
"I am leaving you with a gift-peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don't be troubled or afraid." John 14:27