Death to False Hope

Girls grow up dreaming about "Prince Charming", you know...the strong, handsome, and perfect man riding on a white horse coming to save you from every mean girl, every insecurity, and every little thing that makes us want to cry. Can I let you in on a little secret? THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS PRINCE CHARMING. No man is perfect. No man can save you. There is only one man that can be all of this, and you know who it is. His name is Christ.

We grow up watching romantic comedies and fairy-tales thinking our lives will end up like that, hoping they will, when in reality we know deep down in our guts nothing happens like it does in the movies. My question is: why do we let ourselves get to this point? Why is it that we give ourselves false hope? It doesn't help us..and it sure doesn't help anyone around us. By keeping these thoughts in our heads ladies, we are setting our expectations to the point where they are impossible for any man to meet. Let me be clear: NO ONE IS PERFECT. By letting these lies sink in, we become more prone to believe them. This is not okay. Insecurity denies us women of the love Christ has for us. All he wants is to hold our hand and say "Look at this beautiful woman I created, SHE is MY daughter!" And until you know that, believe it, and start to live it you will never fully understand how beautiful you really are. It breaks my heart to think that there are women out there who do not see their beauty. It breaks my heart to see girls throw themselves at guys because they feel worthy if a guy gives them any attention. There is a big difference between affection and attention. The man you are supposed to marry will show up when God wants him to. Don't go looking for Mr. Right, cause you will end up with a bunch of no good men who do not deserve you. Place your heart in the hands of God and he will place it in the hands of a man who he believes deserves it.

I may sound like a broken record, but I know how insecurity can ruin someone and how hard it is to get over insecurity. Hello?! I'm write this because I have been there and I'm still there. It's a daily struggle but it's a daily blessing to know that my Savior created me in his image. Don't let those lies rob you of your joy.

Being Thankful

1 Thessalonians 5:18

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

It's Thanksgiving. Wanna hear the cliche list of everything I'm thankful for? Yea, I wouldn't want to read it either. But I will write one thing I have learned this Thanksgiving:

I do not get to go home this Thanksgiving. I do not to get to spend it with my family. I have to work all of my precious break. But because of all these things, I have come to realize that I am a selfish brat. Seriously?! How selfish am I that I throw myself a pity party because I don't get everything I want. At least I have a family. At least I have a job. And at least I have a home I can go home to if I need too.

Honestly, I am thankful that God showed me how my attitude was effecting my joy. All these little things were robbing me of my joy. Just like it says in 1 Thessalonians 5:18, "Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you" I should be thankful in every circumstance, and I am so thankful for a Savior who shows himself to me everyday. Yes I wish I could go home for the holiday, but I refuse to let not going rob me of my joy and I will not take for granted the things I do have.

Makes You Think

Speaks for itself doesn't it.

Simply Worship

Picture a crowd of college students, on a Friday night, all under one roof praising one God. For us here at Texas Tech University, it's called UNITE. Worship is the way you speak, act, and meditate. But in my opinion corporate worship is important. Being surround by people who are in love with the same God as you are is so encouraging. Being surrounded by your community and watching others pour out their love for Christ is amazing to watch. It brings me joy to know that although we may go to different ministries, hang out with different people, and live different lives there is always one place we can come and be refilled with His love and encouragement. In saying this, we should not limit God to the nights we worship together (Sunday, Thursday, Friday). Worship is a lifestyle. Worship is in the way we speak to those around us. Others will see God in our words. Worship is in the way we act. The saying goes 'actions speak louder than words' and for the most part that is true. Whether you like it or not, people are watching you. They are looking at the Christian T-shirts we wear, the Bibles we carry, and the attitudes we show. If we are portraying actions that are not reflecting Christ, we are not doing our job as a follower of Christ. Like I said, worship is a lifestyle not a weekly service.

Words are great and speaking what God has placed on your heart is important. But without action behind the words it is useless. Sharing how God has effected your life and what the gospel means to you is needed, but unless you change the way you live to reflect those words and testimonies, nothing will change. You have to change yourself first and others will follow the example you set.

DO NOT LET YOUR WORDS BE EMPTY.

I Will Wait

All you ladies out there wondering when it will be your turn with Mr. Right, watch this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=igCj3jsbcqs

Don't let your obsession with finding Mr.Right turn into seeking attention from Mr.Right now. IT IS NOT WORTH IT! God has a man out there for you, a man who will love you and love the Lord more. Place your heart in the hands of God and he will place it in the hands of a man who he believes deserves it.

All you men out there trying to be the best you can be, watch this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u3WvWEZbtbo

Be gentlemen. Be the leader of the house, the man of God you are called to be. Respect women. You are made in the image of God.

And for all of you who are worried because you are single...don't. Being single doesn't mean you are weak, it means you are strong enough to wait for the best God has for you. God is writing my love story, let him write yours.

So Long, Insecurity

I have been reading So Long, Insecurity by Beth Moore. It is one big slap in the face. This book (and of course our Savior) is changing my outlook on life, and myself. If you are a woman, READ THIS BOOK! You could be the most confident woman in the world, but reading this will help you understand others, yourself, and the way God sees you.

I have struggled with insecurity my whole life. You might think, doesn't every girl say that? The answer to that is many have, yes, but each situation is different. It has taken me 19 years to fully understand and surrender the roots of my insecurity. God has taken it all and redeemed me. I won't go into details about my issues (if you are that interested...just ask me) but insecurity has taken so much opportunity, time, and worry out of my life. This sickness that takes over the human body is not the way God our loving father wants us to see ourselves. He created us beautiful, special, and in HIS image. Every time you insult yourself or someone else that is telling God he didn't do a good job. You are saying His work isn't good, flawed, or somehow disfigured. That is a lie from Satan himself. He puts those thoughts into our heads and hearts to get us away from Christ. THIS IS NOT OKAY. Don't let him get a hold on your mind. Don't let him plant that seed. We have the extreme blessing to be created in the image of Christ. Let your confidence come from your relationship with Christ, not what others say about you. In the end, God's opinion of us is all that matters in the end.

Where is the Love?

Gods definition of love:
"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres" 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

Dictionary definition of love:

1.a profoundly tender, passionate affection for another person

2.a feeling of warm personal attachment or deep affection, as for a parent, child, or friend

3.sexual passion or desire

Whos definition is more appealing, Gods or the worlds? The worlds definition is easy to follow, conditional, and skin deep. Gods definition is not as easily obtained. To love like Christ we have to actually think of others as higher than ourselves. We have to be in the world but not of it, and I think we have gotten away from this original principle of love. I look around and see needless flirting without pursuit, unnecessary negativity, and a huge lack of encouragement within the Christian community. We have been called to love everyone. This means:

• Family
• Friends
• Enemies
• Randos
• People you walk by
• People who like you
• People who don't like you
• People you haven't even met yet

God never said it would be easy, its not. Loving people is the hardest thing a human flesh can do. When we love, there are conditions and selfishness involved. With Christ, it is just the opposite. This is what we should strive for everyday. Love without conditions. Love without selfishness. Love without fake intentions. When we learn to do this, Christ's love will surround our every thought, moment, and action. Loving like Christ did will be hard. It won't be fun all the time. But that is the joy of Christ. He died out of love for us, and we should strive for the same. Love is the most important gift in this world. Use it wisely, don't say it unless you mean it, and don't throw it around like its not important. We need a lot more of this in our world, change won't start unless you start with yourself.