Philippians 2:14

"Do everything without complaining or arguing." -Philippians 2:14

Yesterday was a stressful day. It seems like every single professor is giving assignments like crazy this week. There are so many things going on--tests, projects, presentations, and homework. Yesterday it all just hit me..the stress of this crazy week. I was complaining so much about every single little thing I had to get done. If you were around me then you heard me complain. All day. For some reason I thought that if I complained about everything enough, then it would eventually just disappear and I wouldn't have to worry about it. Wrong.

After my crazy day I went to Overflow that night. Overflow is an event that college students gather at every week for about an hour or so simply to sing songs of praise to God. I asked that God would open my heart & speak to me & reveal things to me.

Boy. Did he ever get through to me last night.

Why on earth do I complain so much? How is complaining about something bringing glory to God? It's not.

I need to stop complaining about everything. When I complain, it is not glorifying to God in any way. When I complain it is basically me saying "oh hey God...I don't like what you have put in my path today...I don't really appreciate what you are trying to do here." Ouch. That hurts just to even think about. And I know that hurts God when I complain. As God was revealing this all to me, He pointed out other things too. When I am complaining about things in front of people who aren't Christ followers, what do they think? I do not want to be responsible for them thinking that all Christians complain about circumstances. I want them to see someone who relies on God to get them through the day & someone who trusts in Him & someone who does everything possible to bring glory to His name.

It's pretty crazy...I ask God to put me in situations that I won't be able to get through unless He is in the middle of it. And when he gives me those situations, what do I do? I complain about how tough the situation is or how much there is to do instead of rely completely on Him & His strength. God wants me to come to him in every situation and circumstance. He wants to be my strength in my weakness.

I am now choosing to turn my complaining into thankfulness. Not everyone gets the opportunity to go to school, let alone college. I'm choosing to be thankful that I get to go to college. I get to get an education. I get to pursue my dreams by pursuing a degree in Physical Education. I get to learn. I've been given this opportunity and I am not supposed to complain about it.

"Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again-rejoice!" -Philippians 4:4

"Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever." -Psalm 136:1

Encouragement for the Discouraged

I absolutely love that God knows just what I need at just the right time. I love how perfect His timing always is. I love that when I am feeling down and broken, He brings encouragement in my life when I need it most.

Tonight before church, I was eating dinner with my boyfriend, Stephen, and I was talking to him about my little first graders at KONNECT. For those that don't know, KONNECT is a program that LifeChurch.tv puts on every Wednesday night for elementary aged students to learn more about what it looks like to serve God and sprint after Him and grow closer to Him. I was telling Stephen how I was really feeling discouraged with my little first graders because I felt like nothing was really going on in the group. I felt like me and my co-leaders, Brooklyn & Caitlin, weren't really getting through to them. I just felt like I was trying to pour into their lives and love on them like Jesus, but just felt like nothing was working. Like I said, I was just feeling really discouraged.

I got to KONNECT tonight after dinner and the very first thing I heard was that one of my little boys in my group accepted Christ over the weekend. He prayed the salvation prayer with his dad and was so excited about having Jesus live in his heart! Praise the Lord!! What is also exciting--he has decided to get baptized Easter weekend to show everyone His love for Jesus! I can't tell you how much this warms my heart!! After hearing this I couldn't help but say "Thanks God." This was just the encouragement I needed to hear that we are making a difference in these kids' lives and that they really are listening, even when we think they aren't. After I found this incredible news out, I then found out that another little boy in my group had decided to get baptized also! He said he wanted to get baptized on Easter so he could be an inspiration to someone watching in the audience. Wow God. You are incredible. Those are the only thoughts going through my head right now. I love that these FIRST graders are experiencing God in new ways and are not only following after Him, but they are sprinting after Him.

I love that when I was feeling discouraged tonight, God gave me so much encouragement and joy! I love how He works things together and I love that He knows how things should be timed. I am so incredibly thankful for every single one of my first graders in my KONNECT group & love that God is allowing me to pour into their lives this year.

Just know this--God loves you and He always knows what you need. He will provide encouragement and answers at the most perfect time. If you are trying to make a difference in someone's life and you feel like nothing is happening, just know that you ARE making a difference and they ARE listening. Do what God asks you to do and trust in HIM to do the rest. I am going to sleep tonight with a super thankful heart. The words that keep running through my head are "Thanks God." I am so in awe of Him & His timing. Wow.

‎"When doubts filled my mind, your comfort gave me renewed hope and cheer." -Psalm 94:19

Believing God for the Impossible

I just can't get over how God is working in me right now. I absolutely love it. He is teaching me new things each day and I can't help but be excited. At LifeChurch.tv a few weeks ago, Pastor Steven Furtick from Elevation Church in North Carolina spoke and shared his heart. His sermons were based off of his book "Sun Stand Still." I bought this book several months ago, but never found the time to read it. After hearing these sermons based on this book, I had to pick it up immediately and begin reading. I have had a hard time putting it down since then. This book is all about believing God for the impossible. It talks about how nothing is impossible for God and we see many things as being impossible, but God only sees things as possible. This book has been challenging me so much lately to believe HIM for the things in my life that I may see as being impossible. I have been praying for someone in my life far from Jesus for what seems like years now. Wait. It doesn't seem like it's been years. It has been years. Years and years of praying. After praying for so many years I began to get discouraged and would wonder if my prayers were even being heard. But these past few weeks God has given me a renewed hope. He has given me the courage to not only ask Him for the impossible, but believe Him for the impossible. I have been encouraged to keep praying for this person, knowing that one day they will find Jesus. I may see this task as being impossible, but in the hands of a Great and Mighty God, it is possible. I can't help but be thankful for the answers that are on the way.

In this book it also talks about having a vision for your life. This book has encouraged me so much for my vision for my life to be completely Christ-centered. I want it to be something that shouts and screams the goodness of God. I want it to be a testament of God's love. I want it to seem impossible for me to accomplish, knowing that it is completely possible with God. I want to have to rely on God 100% knowing that if I don't, I will be in trouble. I want it to be like John Waller's song--"I want to do something so big it's destined to fail without You, Lord." A quote in this book that keeps sticking out to me is this---

"If the size of your vision for your life isn't intimidating to you, there's a good chance it's insulting to God."

Wow. I'm ready to believe big and believe Him for the impossible.

Like I said, I am so excited for the direction God is taking me.

And if you want to read an incredible & challenging book, I recommend "Sun Stand Still" by Steven Furtick. Can't wait to finish it!!