Unfiltered

Social media. Have we ever stopped to think about it? I mean really think about it.

What is the purpose? What is with the flood of hashtags, memes, selfies, ecards,etc? It is all so shallow if we stop and think about it. It's easy to make our lives look put together in an instagram post. But in reality, that was the one day we actually did our hair, the one clean room in our house, and the only 5 minutes our kids weren't bugging us or having a fallout over a missing toy. Valencia filter anyone? It creates an unrealistic image of reality and for what?  So we can have a "me" centered attitude and find our sense of value in some dumb post. We have all been there. You know the time when after a status has been up for a few hours and it has 1 like and you contemplate deleting it. Was what you had to say not clever or funny enough? And on that note why are we second guessing ourselves based on the number of likes online. It's sad really.

Social media also starts the comparison game. Why does this girl get 100+ likes on her posts and I get 5? What does she have that I don't? If only I had more money maybe our family could do things like that. I wish my kids would sit still long enough for craft hour. I wish I wish I wish...and the dissatisfaction with the life God has blessed you with sinks in.

And don't get me started on how social media isn't really social at all. Why does our generation supplement snap chat for real company and why do we substitute emoji texts for being taken on real dates. The kind of dates where they call you and ask you out and you spend hours getting ready for it. The kind where when they pick you up, they don't just text here. They come to the door to get you and you spend the whole night talking and laughing and enjoying each others company. I am just so sick of all the lol's and #realtalk #blondeshavemorefun #wearesocool.

What if we started actually living life instead of trying to find the perfect filter? What if instead of worrying about the likes on our posts we started worrying about the hurting and the homeless in our community. What if instead of taking a picture of our dinner plate, we were serving it to someone who could really use it. Because believe it our not starvation is happening right here in the U.S. No, it's not just happening overseas, it is in our backyards. Cheers to educating ourselves. To finding hobbies. To being concerned with things bigger than ourselves.

Wonder

  There are no poetic words for the past two years. From fall of 2013 to the current day, I have been struggling with depression, anxiety, doubt, fear, and completely questioning the existence of God. I have experienced thoughts I have never had  before, letting satan win. I was held captive in my own mind and feeling there was no way out. I had been in a spiritual drought for months, I thought it would never end. Slowly God has been helping to find who I am in Him. I am starting to feel him again like I did before. I feel like a child again-rediscovering God as Lord of my life. The song Wonder by Bethel came on the other day as I was spending time in prayer and reading. It describes exactly where my heart is right now-reigniting my wonder and awe. How often do we truly grasp how amazing our God is? The God of the whole entire universe wants to have a relationship with US. He longs to guide our every step and whisper His perfect plan in our ears. He wants to show us His unconditional love. He sent his Son to die on the cross so we get to spend an eternity with Him. Do we ever think about this, not just as a bible story but as truth. As real life. It is completely MIND BLOWING.  I am elated and so filled with joy. God is so good. The chorus goes something like this..this is my prayer for each of you today..

May we never lose our wonder

May we never lose our wonder

Wide eyed and mystified

May we be just like a child

Staring at the beauty of our King 

-Ivys momma 

 

Imperfectly Perfect

9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
-2 Corinthians 12:9-10 

How often do we allow ourselves to be vulnerable enough they we boast about our inadequacies and imperfections? We all struggle with things at times, yet those are the things we avoid conversation about the most. Nobody wants to air out their dirty laundry-yet scripture says we are to delight in our weaknesses. I don't think this means we are to stay in our hard place, but it is just a reminder of how undeserving we are and yet how much God gives us grace all the more. It's when we realize that we can't do anything apart from God, when we humble ourselves enough that we can admit our short comings, that God is able to use us and transform us and bring glory to His name. What are your hardships today? Give them over to Jesus because his grace is sufficient. 

It's A New Season

       It's been awhile since I have written-I actually forgot about this blog altogether. Life does that to you sometimes. But, there is something I love about pouring the things God has placed on my heart on a forum for not only myself but also for others to be able to read. I have always been a transparent person about where I am at. 
      To be honest, if you would have told me a year ago that I would be married and have our sweet Ivy Ruth, I would not have believed you. This past year has been filled with many joys, but also many anxieties as I am searching for what my new normal looks like. There are days where I feel completely inadequate to have such an important role as a helper to my hubby and a mommy to my ever so sweet Ivy. I am learning to take comfort in knowing that God has placed me in this season of growth and change for a purpose. I know that his plans are always greater. It is so easy to make it all about my own needs and how maybe I don't get enough "me" time anymore, or how it's a rarity if I get to take a shower without also hearing a crying baby, and how it just isn't fair. 
      But, there is so much good in this season. I have such a huge opportunity to serve my family with the joy of the Lord in my heart. I get to love on and show my daughter what it means to be a woman of God and what it means to be a wife. She looks to me, I am the first glimpse of Jesus she will see, in a world full of people pulling her in all different directions. I also have an opportunity to be the best helper and mate to my husband as I can possibly be. Being married is challenging but also one of the single best things to happen to me. Who doesn't want to have endless sleepovers with their best friend? I get really excited to see the way God will use us to further His kingdom. 

       So, through all of my anxieties as things are in this new season of life, I am choosing to see the good, the beautiful, and the present. Because I know Jesus has me here for a reason and I can't wait to see all that he does. When anxious thoughts arise I am constantly taken back to this verse, 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 "The weapons we fight are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have the divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we TAKE CAPTIVE EVERY THOUGHT to make it obedient to Christ." Everything we need can be found in Him. We can choose what we let consume our minds-set it on the eternal. 

-Ivy's momma

Worth More Than Gold.

We live in a culture today that defines women as objects. We are seen only on a superficial level. We only have value when we have a certain look. When we sexualize our attire, when we skip a meal to lose another pound, when we have a flawless complexion, when all of our cellulite is gone-then and only then are we beautiful and valuable. If only we dumb ourselves down and play stupid they will want me. Maybe if my skirt is a bit shorter or my shirt a bit lower. Maybe then men will look my way. But the real thing is, we don't have the problem. It's our society, it's the standards, it's how our culture defines beauty. This is incorrect. We need to stand up to the lie. When did this problem start exactly? Well let's think.. 

Do you remember the first day you felt you had to wear makeup to get the boys to notice you? Do you remember the first time you started to notice you didn't have a "thigh gap"? Do you remember the day you started to care about pant sizes? Or even the day you started altering who you really were to get the attention of a guy? Unfortunately, it starts at a young age. I have seen so many little girls trying to act like the "big girls." The change starts with you and it starts with me. Whether we like it or not, we are the women the next generation is looking at. We are the examples of what they should do and how they should dress and how they should behave. We are the leaders. We have sweet little eyes on us all the time. Every time you leave your place to go somewhere you represent Christ. So, how are we going to further His kingdom? What things are we going to showcase as important and where do our values lie? 

The thing society hasn't told you is the less you wear, the less he will respect you. 
Let's transform this....

patterned jean underwear and bra

bra and underwear..

this long shirt...

Into this.......

cute on piece swimsuit

gorgeous quarter length sleeved shirt with a belted skirt

Wonderful summer outfit

I am not saying stop wearing makeup altogether or never dress pretty or never go to the gym. We should most certainly take care of our bodies because they are a temple and we owe it to our Creator to place value on ourselves. But, we need to showcase what really matters. Take care of ourselves, further our interests and hobbies, get involved in things that actually matter. Let the right guy fall for you because you rock at singing loud in the car karaoke style, because you have a passion for serving others, because you have learned modest is hottest, because you like to read, and because sometimes you are okay with eating icecream all night and talking until 3 a.m. Let the emphasis be on who you are and who you were created to be. You are beautiful and you are worth it. 

A Great Pursuit

Psalm 23:6 says, "Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever." Isn't it exciting to know that the God of the universe wants to have a relationship with us? He longs for us to know Him personally. All we have to do is open up to Him and pour out our hearts. He wants to know what is going on in our lives and the ways He can help. He wants to come into our lives and change us for the better. He wants us to see others through His eyes and be His hands to help heal the brokenness in our world. All it takes is us choosing to be humble and choosing to surrender to His will and His ways, trusting that God knows exactly what He is doing. Because God does know exactly what He is doing. He has plans for us to do great things through his great strength. Trust in that today and be encouraged that the God of this universe wants to have a relationship with you-despite imperfections, mistakes, and failures. He loves you unconditionally. Run into His open arms. 

YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL.

Dear Daughter, 

Today is a new day. Lift your head because today is where it all begins. Today is filled with promise and with hope. No, not because today is set apart. It is because today you will walk with me. You will see the world through my eyes. You will be my hands to those in need. I have a plan to make your life beautiful and a plan for you to bring beauty to those around you. Today you are going to be guided by my presence. Today you will know there is hope for tomorrow regardless of circumstance. Today you will know your worth is found in me. You are the daughter of a King. Own it. Today you will place the devil and his lies under your feet. You will be grounded. You will love and be loved. Today is going to be grand. Just follow me.

                                            With unconditional love,

                                                                              Your Heavenly Father

This is what God is speaking to us daily! He loves us unconditionally, regardless of mistakes. He made us in his image and He has great plans!! Believe it today. Below is a video that my friend Taylour posted to my wall a bit ago and it is too great not to post. Love you all and have a joy filled weekend. 

Letting Go and Looking Forward

When life shatters our hearts, we want to run. We want to run far and fast from those who love us and from the ever present reality of life. We go into fight or flight mode. Some of our heartache may be caused by others doing us wrong or it may stem from our own wrong decisions. But no matter what the reason may be for our brokenness, we must learn to forgive.

• We should forgive ourselves, because God already has. That is why His son was hung on the cross and why we have grace. We are already forgiven so we must live that way. God takes our inadequacies and shines through them. 2 Corinthians 4:7 says, "But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us." He shines through the cracks in our jars. There is no pain so deep or pervasive that God cannot heal it. In a book I have been reading lately called Wounded Woman there is a quote that states, "Too often we scold ourselves for not being perfect or not being able to make those around us happy. But, nobody's perfect, so it's time to stop beating ourselves up."   Shame says, " I am dirty." God says, "I will wash you whiter than snow." Shame says, "I am damaged." God says, "I will heal you." Don't exchange God's truth for satan's lies. Forgive yourself and move forward. 
• We also need to forgive the inexcusable in others because Christ forgave the inexcusable in us. Romans 12:19" Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written, 'It is mine to avenge; I will repay; says the Lord.'" We must leave it to God to settle our battles for us. You have to decide: Am I going to hang on to my anger and violence to myself, or am I going to forgive those who have wounded me? Am I going to allow bitterness to poison and putrefy my soul, or am I going to invite  God to empower me to let the anger go? The choice is ours. And we should choose to allow God to heal us. Forgiveness gives God access to our wound, and He heals, restores, and redeems what has been stolen from us. 

I am working on letting God show me the way he views me and those who have hurt me. When we do this it allows our hearts to be softened and the beauty of forgiveness to take place. So, forgive and move forward. He has great plans and a beautiful life planned. Don't let your past mistakes or your past wounds dictate your future. Allow God to pour peace, joy, forgiveness, and love into your heart. That is all you can do. But, you will overcome with His help. Isaiah 43:18 "Forget the former things; do not dwell in the past."

The song above is beautiful and so so fitting. Love you all and have a wonderful week!!

Life is Valuable

Life is valuable. It is sacred and beautiful. There have been many famous and well known quotes about the topic. For example, Albert Einstein once said, "Only a life lived for others is a life worth living." And in all of this concern about the tremendous sanctity and meaning of life-we seem to have left some people out of this equation. They are the people not yet in this world. They are the people who stir in their mothers tummy when they hear their daddy's voice. They don't have a voice yet. They are still developing in the beautiful process we call life. However, I would dare say they are very much alive. They are alive to all the mommies and daddies who long to have a baby of their own. They are alive to those who have lost their own children. They are alive to God, he has tremendous plans for each and every life. They are alive to me-and I am hoping they are alive to you too. I saw a video posted today about late term abortion. I cannot believe that as people ourselves we would be okay with harming another person. And for that matter-not just late term, but any abortions. It is legal to get an abortion in most places for any pregnancy up to 12 weeks. (Pregnant as in you are with CHILD, like there is a BABY-healthy and developing-inside of you.) At this stage in your pregnancy, your baby is 5.4 cm long. His/her brain synapses are forming rapidly. He/she has eyelids and can move his/her sweet fingers and toes. His/her's organs are performing more complex operations and his/her ears are in their final position. And the most important thing-his/her heart is beating. So, you are trying to tell me that is just tissue? I think not. It is a sweet little prince or princess of the one true King. He loves all of us-the born and the unborn.  Below I will post the video on late term abortion-it was truly heart-wrenching. Pray, pray, and pray. Pray that these women see the truth to their actions and that they realize even if they can't properly care for these sweet babies-a loving mommy and daddy will. That is the beauty of adoption. Adoption gives wonderful and loving couples who can't have kids of their own a chance to love and raise them as their own. Where will you stand? Be a voice.

This song is beautiful and oh so perfect.  Kings and Queens by Audio Adrenaline

"Little hands, shoeless feet, lonely eyes looking back at me

Will we leave behind the innocent too brief
On their own, on the run when their lives have only begun
These could be our daughters and our sons
And just like a drum I can hear their hearts beating
I know my God won’t let them be defeated
Every child has a dream to belong and be loved

Boys become kings, girls will be queens
Wrapped in Your majesty 
When we love, when we love the least of these
Then they will be brave and free
Shout your name in victory
When we love when we love the least of these
When we love the least of these

Break our hearts once again
Help us to remember when
We were only children hoping for a friend
Won’t you look around these are the lives that the world has forgotten
Waiting for doors of our hearts and our homes to ope

If not us who will be like Jesus
To the least of these
If not us tell me who will be like Jesus
Like Jesus to the least of these

Boys become kings, girls will be queens
Wrapped in your majesty
When we love, when we love the least of these
Then they will be brave and free shout your name in victory
We will love we will love the least of these
We will love the least of these"

Want to help? There is a wonderful organization I found this past summer at alive festival. They are called Save the Storks. Here is a link to their webpage: http://savethestorks.com/ 

And if you want to see the late term abortion video it can be found here: 

He Loves Me..He Loves Me Not.

Hello all of you wonderful people!! I hope all of you are having a wonderful week as I am. It has come to my attention that Single Awareness Day..err.. I mean Valentine's Day is on the horizon. It is something girls either anticipate and look forward to or a time where Giant Eagle can't keep all of the Ben and Jerry's and tissues on the shelves. So, whether you are single or in a relationship-this article can be for you! I want to remind you about a few things during these next few weeks-some food for thought.
1.) Boys will not, nor have they ever defined your value or worth. You are a beautiful woman of God and you have an awesome purpose here on earth. So, whether you are single or in a relationship remember that you are awesome all on your own. A guy can never complete you, but can be a compliment to your God given mission in life.
2.) Celebrate being the woman God has called you to be and focus on the attributes you should be trying to achieve in your own life. Take a closer look at Proverbs 31:10-31 ladies. It is spelled out for us-our wonder identity as women of Christ. One of my favorites is Proverbs 31:25-26 "She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come." It is such an empowering verse. It's saying we are so secure in who we are in Christ that we have no concerns or worry about what our future may hold. We know that with God, it is going to be something beautiful.
3.) Most importantly don't forget who the number one man is in your life-our Abba Father. And while you are at it, spread his love with everyone you encounter this holiday. Make everyone you know, maybe even strangers know that people care and that God cares. I challenge you guys to make it an outreach day for you to spread a little bit of love and cheer. Let me know what you guys do to impact the world around you.

And a random video of the week- I am stuck on this song. Love it (:

Hey Ladies

http://childrenareablessing.org/2013/10/01/rethinking-modesty-and-skirts/
You all really need to check out the above website. It is a really awesome website that challenges the norms of society and the decision to only wear skirts. It may be considered extremist, but I think this woman writes a beautiful picture of what modesty should look like in todays culture. Love it!!

Wisdom

You Need Him More Than You Know

Nowadays culture tells us we don't need "religion" to tell us what to do. They are just control freaks who can't face their own imperfections so they center themselves in telling others how to behave. They cram ideas of some Almighty God down the throats of everyone they know and they are the most judgmental people you have ever met. Right? Well, you may want to rethink your decision for Christ not for religion. You need Him for than you know. I know that I do. I need Jesus everyday to heal me when I am broken. I need to know that he is for me. I need to know that he finds me beautiful and worth it every time I try to my put my value in the guys that come my way. I need to know that He thinks I am worth the wait, that I am His princess and I should be treated with respect. I need to know that I must forgive others just as He forgives me each and every time I fall short. I need to know what real love looks like-it starts with a baby boy and ends with one man on the cross. Sacrificing himself for you. For me. Jesus cares deeply for all of us-just as a parent does. A parent only puts rules in your life to keep you from harms way and to make you into the person you need to be. That is the same with Jesus. He wants to see us live up to the potential He has in store for each and every life. All of our stories are different, but somehow the same with God. We are called to something better and everlasting. We don't have to settle for the attempts the world has made to outbid and outshine the love of Christ. Because at the end of the day-those who don't REALLY know Christ still feel empty when they lay in bed at night. They still come down after the high, so they buy more. They buy more vodka and live weekend to weekend. They still wear long sleeves to hide the pain. They still feel incomplete, even when their whole lives are the best they have ever been. And that is because even our best days without Jesus are no comparison to all the days we could be having with him. I have tried to life without Him-and let me tell you it was a HOT MESS. I couldn't imagine living my whole life feeling dependent on finding my self worth through the approvable of others. I couldn't imagine my depression returning and filling my thoughts with lies. We must not exchange the truth of God for a lie of the enemy. You are worth it. Tomorrow is a new day and I promise you, You need him more than you know.

Something Has To Change..

Hello my sweet and beautiful people. It has been quite some time since I have written on this blog. However, with my new life endeavors it appears that I will be spending a lot more time writing in my following days. My walk with God in the previous months has been nothing but a hot mess. I have allowed myself to become distracted as so many of us have and so I am finding myself needing to simplify my life. I really feel God is calling me to take some radical measures, but ones that I am able to do. I am going to delete my facebook and twitter. Also, I am no longer going to be listening to any secular music, wearing makeup, and I'm really considering only wearing skirts. I really want to encounter God in a real way. And to me it feels not fair that some of God's children are starving and yet I have so much. I have over 200 dollars in jeans alone, not taking into account my coach purse, my coach shoes, and sperry shoes. Plus my macbook air laptop, my smartphone, my heated dorm room, my hair and makeup products, my keurig, and the list goes on. And someone overseas or even people here in the U.S. have one outfit, no house, and no food. How is this fair and what are we going to do about it? Those are our brothers and sisters. What if that was someone you knew? Would that change how you feel? So as for me, be praying that God takes a grip on my heart and my walk in him is strengthened as I take this endeavor. Anyone want to join? 


Much love,
Sierra Marie

Just Let It Be Beautiful.

Life can be beautiful, life will be beautiful; I always choose to tell myself. I tell myself this because God told me. He told me in his word. I told myself this because I needed to. I told myself this so bad times wouldn't appear so bad. I repeated Ecclesiastes 3:11 in my head so many times I thought it may explode. I told myself that until I believed the words rattling in my head. And now, when difficulty strikes all my mind goes to is God. When life is good I go to that same verse being reminded that God is fulfilling his promises to me. He is because he cares. He is the one entity in my life who will always care, who will always be there with a word of encouragement. He will always be there with love. I promise you that. And now, I want everyone to know the same peace and joy and hope I have found. I want broken hearted people to know what REAL love is and I want them to have a voice. I want the people in every corner of the world to know about my God. Not a God who is distant, but a God who is near. He is near in times of trial to weep with us and he is near in good to rejoice. He is perfect and I am not. As I heard in a sermon once, "Even if we don't feel adequate we should say to ourselves because I am worthy through Christ I am able to pray, worship, love.." Just know that today. And live each day for the Creator who the most divine plan. 

Safe Haven

Yes, Safe Haven. The gorgeous Nicholas Sparks movie that just recently came out. Some could say it's just another love movie with a slight plot twist. But, my dear friends it is so much more then that. I find it funny how God can use things even like movies to open our eyes. Tonight, I went to watch it with my mom. And it was like God completely answered my prayers. I was asking God to show me the world through his eyes, and to give me wisdom as to what purpose my life has in this world. And today, I saw it. He showed me how he sees my mom. She is a beautiful women. She has a tired and weary soul. He told me, " She just needs you to love her Sierra." And then my whole life just made sense. Everything became clear and apparent. So real right before me. And the more I think about it, the more I love God. It's so simple. Love her. That is all she needs. Someone to show her unconditional love and to hold her hand when things get hard. To show her that I think she is a wonderful person and show her that God knows how to make broken things beautiful, and through those situations you can feel peace. I am so thankful I have my mom. But, today it is like a I saw her, really saw her, for the first time. And now I feel like I understand why my life is the way it is. There is a plan and a purpose-an intricate design. I am in awe, awe of the One who makes everything new. He has written the greatest story for my life, and I am so glad he holds the pen. So friends, sometimes you may feel you are walking through fog, and you don't know where you ought to go. But, God is always by your side. He is guiding you to the other side and into the clarity and where the light is. Just be patient. His timing is always perfect. Give this song a listen.

Ecclesiastes 3:11 "He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end." 

When We Feel Temptation Is Too Much To Handle.

I know that sometimes life can be kind of crazy. It is so easy to justify getting off course with God and to justify our reasons why we keep making poor decisions. I have been there and done that. We compare our sins to sins we could be committing that are "far worse" than our own and we deem ourselves as "good enough."  We stop challenging ourselves and live complacently. Or maybe we justify our sin because right now, we can't handle all of the stress life is handing us. So, instead of turning to God when we need him most, we turn to other things for temporary release. There is a reason that alcoholics are the way they are. They are never satisfied, never truly released from the pain. They then continue to drink just to have the temporary release from that pain for a day. But the problem with drinking and doing other things that bring short lasting results is that we create more anguish for ourselves when we do these things. Our need is never truly met, and we are never satisfied. And so, we need to look at things from God's perspective. He is over here saying, "I am enough. I don't understand why you keep running from the real solution. I want to pour joy into your soul everyday. I want to bless you. And when the hard times come I want to be your anchor when waves crash over you. " In Jeremiah 2:5 it says, "What fault did your fathers find in me, that they strayed so far from me? They followed worthless idols and became worthless themselves." That is so powerful. When we stop and think about, what hasn't God provided? What are we not letting him full control of? Because when we live a life completely sold out and submitted to him, he will be our anchor, our source of joy, our everything. And you can sense his puzzlement in that verse. How am I not enough? He is willing to help us overcome the world, but we have to be willing to be done with our sinful behaviors that we keep trying to justify. I know that before I feel like I am bound to mess up, I think about this verse and tell myself God is enough. Try it, and see how He impacts your life. 

My Vlog!

I am going to start turning my blogposts into vlog posts! (: So if you would rather watch what I have to say instead of read it, I encourage you to do so! Share it with your friends! You should be able to find the other vids of me from the one above.

Being Alone With God.

I am currently sitting in my room and I really felt God wanted me to make a post about this, so I will. I titled this article, "Being Alone With God." I have been feeling this more and more lately that us as Christians have forgotten what it is like to be alone with God. The thought of being alone with God makes us feel uncomfortable because how will we know what to say or how to act. This my friends is sad. We have become so accustomed to being "spoon fed" that we no longer understand how to go deep with God on our own. The only time we feel on fire for God is after our pastor preaches a very deep message or for teens after a great youth retreat. But, what is that centered around? It's centered around production-the lights the stage, the gifted speakers, and a worship team that blows everyone out of the water. But, isn't our God the same everywhere? So why aren't we just as hungry for him everyday. Why aren't we searching after Him and His will every single day? We should be on our faces every morning praying and surrendering each day to his will. We should worship him the same in our rooms as in church as at a retreat. It shouldn't take a stadium full of people to get us on fire for God. I could go on and on about this for hours, because it's something God has really been speaking into my life lately. But I will sum this all up. We need to learn to be okay with being alone with God. We need to make God's presence our home. We can bring heaven to earth and we can connect with God here, right now. It doesn't take all of the lights. Just try it.

The video below is one of my new favorite worship songs-give it a listen.

John 10:27 " My sheep listen to my voice; I know them and they follow me. " We must hear a voice more then once to recognize it. And once we become familiar with His voice we can follow it. Learn to be still and listen. 

Oh Jesus, Only With Your Help...

When people try to bring you down, you can choose 1 of 2 things. You can choose to let their words affect you and let them bring you down, or you can choose joy and be confident in who you are in Christ. Sometimes, when people(especially those who we are close with), ridicule us and try to bring us down, our automatic response is to get all fired up. But, when we do this we let them defeat us and let them have the satisfaction. Instead, we must learn to choose joy and laugh in the face of the enemies attack! We must choose to love people, even when we feel they don't deserve it and pray for them. Resentment gets you nowhere my friend. I will leave you with this closing verse. Psalm 3:1-3 "Lord, how many are my foes! How many rise up against me! Many are saying of me, “God will not deliver him.”
But you, Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high."