Now That's What I'm Talking About

It was such a nice four day weekend, and I wish it was more often that I could get away and head to the beach just to relax, think, and work everything out. This Thursday I was able to take a four day weekend and head to the beach and spend some time with my grandparents. Although it was a short visit it was much needed and much appreciated. I love spending time with them because you learn life lessons and not only that you can see the steps that they took in life and what got them where they are today.

Not only was I able to spend time with them, but I also got to spend time with the Lord. It's not as much as I would have liked, but there was a quite place where I could meet with Him and find somewhat of my center again. I've been running and running and I was able to chase my breath. Now I have less than a month until I have to return back to school and I have less than a month to spend with my family. It's always hard leaving because I really love my family. Yeah we're not perfect, but we're family and what family is?! It reminds me of Lilo and Stitch when Stitch is talking Lilo's sister and he says "Ohana means family, family means no one gets left behind. Or forgotten." It is such a great line from the movie. I know it's not easy, but it takes work from everyone, learn to appreciate, to love, and how to care for each other. God bless

"What Do You Do...?"

What do you do in times when you have to face fear, stay strong, and be a support system all at once? Lately I have found myself in this situation. It humbles you and you find that you really do have patience after all. It has been one thing after the other, I know that God is right here with me walking beside me holding my hand, but it's just hard to see! I know for one it's hard not to have doubts in times like these, and more importantly it's hard to trust because you think to yourself "if there is a God then why is he letting this bad stuff happen to me?" Let me tell you right now, God doesn't ever let bad things happen to people. God is the Creator of all good and wonderful things, He never created anything that was bad, the devil did. God doesn't let bad things happen to us, we do that all the time. He sends out warning signals and buzzers and has alarms that go off, but we ignore them all and just keep going. We commit sins and we do everything wrong, until we get to the point where it hits us that there is something wrong. When we commit sin there is judgement, but it's not when we get to Heaven when we finally receive it, it's here on Earth that we do. For every action there is a reaction.

It pains Him to see us struggle and fall and it hurts Him when we hurt. He can't stop it until we cry out to Him, to admit that we have sinned and have fallen short. His forgiveness is instant, and He casts it all into the sea of forgetfulness never to think of it again. To make us white as snow to His eye. Friends you are not alone in your struggles today, you are being cared for by someone greater and by the one who made you and crafted you while you were still in your mother's womb. The God who calls you each and everyday to lay down your nets and follow Him. The One who wants a relationship with you, the one who tells you everyday that He loves you and cares for you even when we turn our ears off! May God continue to bless you and pour out into your life. Receive all that he has for you! Be blessed and stay strong my brothers and sisters....God bless!

I Can See Clearly Now...

Have you ever had a weird dream? I'm sure you have, but have you had them for about a week or two straight?! Well lately I have had nothing but weird dreams and to say the least at first they don't make sense, but once I sit down and pray about it, it's like the veil has been lifted and I can see clearly now! I won't get into any specifics, but they have been off the wall. God has been revealing a lot to me the last couple of weeks, and I'm so thankful for that! At the same time God has challenged me to a lot as well. It amazes me every time that God truly speaks to me because it's never the same twice. Each time it gets louder and louder, but you also get attacked by the enemy because you know that you are close to God and you're about to do great things for God and the enemy is trying to get you off track and get you distracted. Stay focused on the prized that God has in store for you and know that you're not going through it alone for you and for two that it makes you stronger. I know it's hard to hear that when you're actually going through it because you feel all alone, but I would advise everyone to read Footprints in the Sand, that talks about how God is walking beside you and when you feel like there is no one there and you only see one set of footprints, it's because God is the one carrying you through it! Stay strong and encouraged! Have a blessed day!!

What Determines Your....

"Happiness is: Not a sale or a commission. Not an economy or a budget. Not a yes or a no. Not a game winning hit or a last second touchdown. Happiness is a way of life that is inside you at all times. It helps you get over the tough times, and helps you celebrate the special times." I got this in an email that my mom had sent me today. In it, it asks you several rhetorical questions about what is holding you back from being happy. One of the main things that people often say that is one of the biggest reasons for them not being happy is the word "after." We often say "well after a new job, or after a new house, a new car...." but that's not what's really holding us back. We are holding ourselves back. We long to be happy, to have peace and to fill a void that lies deep within us, but nothing can fill that gap or void except God. Once we are His there is an amazing joy and happiness that nothing on this earth can or could ever possibly fill or compare to.

Happiness can not be bought or sold, it's not something that you find on a grocery store shelf. Maybe you can find it at the grocery store in a smile or a helping hand. When a complete stranger is walking by and offers to bring your empty cart up for you. Happiness is something that we as humans long for, all of us. We want to feel that we belong somewhere. We want to feel include and we want to more importantly feel loved. Many of us feel that we only get happiness when we have a husband, or children, a nice house, the newest car, when we are equal to the Jones'. In God there is hope, peace, love and more importantly happiness. Trust and He will lead you and make your path known to you! Stay strong and God bless....

WOW!

Words cannot describe my feelings right now. I was reading my friend Jared's blog from the other day, and he was talking about how men don't really value a women or at least how he doesn't really show her who she is in Christ. Along with his blog came the video for a song called "A More Beautiful You." It made me stop and wonder...how many women out there feel the same way I do when it comes to being imperfect and flawed, not having that perfect body, or the perfect skin?! I know as Christians we are supposed to live above that standard that the world puts on us, but at times we do let it get to us, because it is rubbed in our faces on an everyday basis on how you have to be that size 2 and have the perfect skin and hair. In this moment it struck me, God has fearfully and wonderfully made us, we are perfect in His eyes, because of the price that He paid with His son.

In Jared's blog he also says that a women is perfect based on her heart, not her status, money or anything else that the world deems as important. I also think that many times we as women, when we talk to one another so often are the words "well did you see so and so gained some weight since the last time I saw her..." I know the words are exactly directed at us, but it gets our minds thinking that if they talk about another women like that, then what are they saying about me?! We as women should encourage one another, help build someone up instead of tearing them down. Just like what we should be doing to everyone else in the world. Jesus said in scripture that if a man should strike you on your right cheek turn your left one to him for him to strike that one too! It's not about the eye for eye, or tooth for tooth! It's about loving one another, and more importantly showing them the love of Jesus! Many God bless you..... 

My Bad

I know I haven't been very good at this blogging thing for like 2 months...let me recap everything that happened! I finished my freshman year of college and by George I did it!! This past semester has been great and I loved every minute, and every second of it!! Chapel was amazing and while at times you get dry, you have amazing friends that build you up, and you find your grove again! Or God just puts you in another grove and you get so much closer to Him.  My friends are just great and I totally believe they were sent from God! If you told me 5 years ago that my best friends were going to be from California, Texas, and Missouri, I would have laughed in your face and said that you were crazy! Never in a million years would I imagine that I would be were I am, and have such an awesome group of friends! 

For Valentine's Day Chelsea got me a white regular tattooed Molly, and I named him Bruce. Then for my birthday I got a peach colored Betta, and named him Carlos Ferdinand Campeaze and I also got a little goldfish named SunShine! They are my little family while away at college. Being 16 hours away from home, you have to have some kind of family and with the girls and then the fish they are my family away from home! Let's see.....I'm home now just for the summer and then I head back on the 15th of August, so it's about 3 months and 3 days away! I have to give myself something to look forward to! It's bittersweet, because I miss my family, but while I'm home I miss everyone at school!! Soon my friends, soon!! Well I think that's all for now! 

It amazes me how God really provides and reveals himself to me everyday! Take yesterday for example, I just wanted to call this place to get some information about the job, and I got an interview and the job all in one day! I really needed it and God provided! It's making $16 an hour, so I can save up and just pay the bills that I need to pay and also pay for college! God just blows my mind on an everyday basis! I think I already said that, but I'm still beside myself...I know I shouldn't be, because I shouldn't limit God....but He is amazing!! God bless and have a great day!!

OOO, Home

Oh how sweet 'tis to be home....It's been awhile since I lasted blogged, but there has been so many things that have come up along the way as usual! For two weeks I have stayed up until about 2 in the morning and then turn around and wake up at 5 so I could finish papers or study....it's been stressful to say the least. For the past two nights though I haven't had any homework or anything to do, so I got to pack and get some sleep! Yesterday I got to fly home and get to spend Easter with my family, well kind of. I have to fly back on Sunday morning so I don't get to totally spend Easter with them, but it gives me sometime with them! Both of my flights arrived early and so that meant I got home earlier, it was great! My grandparents are coming down tomorrow and my brother is coming up then too....I'm so excited to see everyone and just be able to spend time with them!!!