What/Whom do YOU live for?

Hey Y'all!

 I've been racking my brain with so many thoughts and lessons I've learned recently that I've been having a rough time choosing what to blog about. SO, I've had a lot of questions from my peers on what "living second" means and how exactly do I place Jesus first in my life. It makes my heart SO happy that my life change has influenced/inspired so many of my peers and friends. 

BE A LIGHT!

:) 

"If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory." -Colossians 3:1-4

I'm sure most have heard about the "I Am Second" movement that has become so immensely popular with young Christian adults.

SEE BELOW! 

www.iamsecond.com  

To sum it up, it's all about putting Jesus first in your life and surrendering yourself wholeheartedly to living second. It isn't just about the celebrities who have committed their lives to Christ, it's all about you and me and when commit our lives to God, everything starts to make sense.

How do I attempt to put him first in all aspects?
Well, do you remember when those cool bracelets came out that were neon that everyone wore and said "WWJD?"

"But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." -Matthew 6:33

That's exactly how I try to look at all situations in life that I may struggle with. Any tough spot I tend to come across or have placed myself in, I always find myself taking that exact stance. 
OR what would God want me to do in this situation, what would bring him glory?

"Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established." -Proverbs 16:3

Now, I understand that from a young adults perspective living in such a way isn't the easiest and it sure isn't the most popular, especially in society's view. We as Christian's must remember we are not of this world.
There was plenty of sin when Jesus walked the Earth and he took no part in it.
We must remember that pursuing relationships, keeping friendships, our daily choices and actions, and living our entire life should bring him Glory. 
LIVE in such a way that non-believers will question their own beliefs and want to know Jesus.  
It may not be the easiest but bless those who persecute you.

"I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing." -John 15-5

I'm not saying that we will ever live perfect lives, that's impossible. The only perfection is Jesus Christ, but it should be what we work towards. I will live my entire life in the pursuit of Jesus and trying to live the way he did on this earth. I want to view the world as he did. My sailor's mouth and lustful nature does NOT bring him Glory and that's something I definitely have committed myself to changing.

"For the sake of the world, burn like a fire in me. Light a flame in my soul for every eye to see."

"Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." -John 14:6

Something that really humbles me and I remind myself often is when Jesus was nailed to the cross the guards that placed him there mocked him and took his clothes he prayed to God stating, 
“Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” 
-Luke 23:24

These men beat him, nailed him to a cross, and he prayed for them?
Jesus, died on that cross for US; so that we may live sinless lives and can live with him and the father in Heaven for ALL eternity. 
THAT is something worth living for.

What are YOU living for?

He > I

"Yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes." 
-James 4:14

"And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ." -Philippians 1:6

There is a 365 devotional bible study daily reader that "live second" sells at Barnes and Noble and I HIGHLY recommend it. It is linked to the website and there are videos that go along with the studies. :)

http://www.iamsecond.com/challenges/livesecond/

Love y'all, goodnight!

All the single ladies....

HEY Y'ALL!

So, as usual something has been stirring in me the last few days and it's been seriously bugging me. This might not relate to all of you but it might for some. I have been struggling with being a single christian woman and the loneliness that comes along with that and sometimes creeps in. I know loneliness is entirely normal and 95% of the time I am perfectly content with the single life that I have chose, but this week has been a tough one. So tonight, I want to document all that God has shown me and is working in me.

Then the Lord God said, "It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him." -Genesis 2:18

As a young adult, it's extremely difficult to not feel lonely in society, especially at the age that I am. It feels as if all my friends are getting married and having kids, and I'm just excited to get 8 hours of sleep on the weekends. It would be nice to have someone to spend time with and share experiences with, but at what cost?

I have been through my fair share of messed up relationships, and even turned down marriage, in my young life.

 Like any naive adolescent female, I chose the bad boys only to get my heart broken when I wasn't his only choice. 

I slept with them because I felt that if I didn't they wouldn't accept/want me and let's be honest because my lustful nature did also. 

Guess what? They didn't respect me, one bit and you want to know why? 

I didn't respect myself. 

In my honest opinion I feel that MOST young adult relationships are just all about sex and there isn't any real depth to them, at all. 

It's sad.

What do you think dating would be like if the "popular" thing to do is wait until marriage, like God intended it to be?

How much different would the world be?

Dating with purpose is non existent now-a-days. 

Something happened to me today, that completely left me speechless. I was at wal-mart and was putting my groceries away in my trunk and a man of  the East Indian decent approached me. The first thing he said to me was, "My lady, God has blessed you with such a beautiful face." Automatically, I was rolling my eyes inside and just stated, "Awe, well thank you sir." After my response he proceeded to tell me that the most beautiful thing I posses though, is not my face but my heart and I was put on this earth to give. He stated that I expect nothing in return and give so generously that I have had my heart broken in the past and God wants me to know that the answer to my questions is right around the corner and in the NEAR future. At this point, I was absolutely speechless. He inquired about my back pain and blew my mind with his mind reading but then he asked me for money for homeless children in India. I was skeptical about the money part but he wasn't offended when I didn't have any cash on me. He said a blessing over me and then was gone. It amazes me how absolutely boldly God works in my life. When I think he's just sitting back and letting me handle things on my own, he goes above and beyond to show me his LOVE. Yes, even in an elderly random Indian man. lol

Ladies, you are made in HIS image and of the HIGHEST value. 

"I will praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Marvelous are your works, and that my soul knows very well."

 -Psalm 139:14

So, lets just say you are casually dating/sleeping with a guy.

Do you EVER think of the role model this guy will play in your possible child's life if you were to get pregnant?

I sure didn't.

Luckily, I didn't get pregnant.

At this point in my life, I choose sometimes loneliness over dating someone who doesn't serve me.

Men, are supposed to love and cherish women, as Jesus loved the church.

Women, are supposed to submit themselves to men.

Now, this says husbands and wives in the bible but WHY would you continue to date someone you couldn't marry and spend your life with?

"Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her." -Ephesians 5:22-23

"Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do unto the Lord." -Ephesians 5:22-23

I REFUSE to submit myself to a man who doesn't submit himself to God. The man that I will give my all to puts God first and will LEAD me and my future children. He will show my son(s) how men are supposed to treat women and how to honestly work for the Lord, and he will show my daughter(s) how a man should treat a woman.

Matt Chandler, in one of his sermons says it best.

"Can I say something to young ladies here? I'm trying to pick my words carefully here. Your husband, whoever he is, single ladies, will have an unbelievable amount of influence over your sons and daughters in regards to spiritual things. If you want your children to love Jesus deeply, hold out for a man that is godly. And let me tell you this: I am well aware that Godly men are rare. Lots of neat Christian boys, not a lot of Godly men. And we're working our tails off for you to try to develop some into that. But don't settle, because it's better that you be lonely now than you be married and lonely later. Are you tracking with me? It is better that you be lonely now than for you to get married to a man that will teach your kids everything but the way of Jesus."

YES, EXACTLY.

Why on earth would you give ANY of your precious time to a man who wont respect you, when you can work on being the woman God created you to be, for the Man of God that he has waiting for you in the future?

DO NOT SETTLE!

The only one who can satisfy the human heart, is the one who created it. 

There is a BIG difference between a Christian guy, and a Man of God.

A Christian guy might say he loves you, but a Man of God will love God more than you.

A Christian guy might text you Bible verses, or have a tattoo of them, but a Man of God will live out those verses and have them written on his heart.

A Christian guy might go to church, but a Man of God will see that his highest calling is to give Christ glory.

A Christian guy might “accidentally” compromise your virtue, but a Man of God will protect it above all else.

A Christian guy might be super attractive, but a Man of God will have a beautiful heart, regardless of his looks.

A Christian guy might take you out, but a Man of God will hold you up before God in his prayers.

So don’t settle for just a Christian guy. And long to be the kind of woman of God who will attract a man like that.” 

- Author Unknown 

So, ladies all I'm saying is yes, it gets lonely and yes, you may feel like the outsider but do NOT settle for anything less than God's best for you. The right man will come and hopefully God doesn't have to use a random creepy Indian man to get that point across to you! :P 

LOVE Y'ALL!

but the greatest of these is, LOVE.

Good Morning!

Life, has been throwing me some of the toughest curve balls of my young adult life this last week, so I apologize for being so neglectful of my blog. God has been teaching me some tough lesson and is really molding me through this storm.

As I am sure most of y'all are well aware of what happened to me last week.

Awesome, right?

Let me back track on last week though, to give you the full picture.

I received my income tax and the biggest paycheck of my life on Wednesday. I paid off all my non-school debt and got ahead on all my bills an extra month. I was no longer treading water, I had it together and was dang proud. Friday comes, and I get smacked in the face. Not only did my car get totaled and it wasn't even my fault, they had to pry me out of my beautiful car with the jaws of life as I'm sitting there with a cervical collar and shooting thoracic pain. Six hours in the ER, no fractures or lacerations, walked away with double whip lash and bruises.

I. AM. BLESSED.

R.I.P. DELILAH

The unfortunate part about the entire situation is the driver who T-Boned me had only liability and it was the state minimum, $10,000. I slammed face first into a LEXUS. Thank the good Lord I have owned my car for two years already, and was fully insured but I am basically out clost to $10,000. 

God, works in my life in VERY bold ways because I ask that of him.

This, was by far the biggest lesson I've had to deal with thus far. 

As I lay in my bed heavily drugged ,the devil starts working in me and I start thinking the ever so popular, "Why me God?" I just finally got it together and now I'm without a car, and in severe pain. It's SO easy to get sucked into self pity and bury yourself with pessimistic thoughts. As the medications wore off, I really started to try evaluate what God was really wanting to teach me.

I am a FIRM believer that EVERYTHING happens for a reason because it is God's will, both good and bad. The tough times, are there to mold you into the person God created you to be, no matter the extent of the struggle.

This, is what I learned this last week.

" Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 

-Colossians 3:2 "

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. or where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. -Matthew 6:19-21"

“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money. -Matthew 6:24"

My daily thoughts and mind were so focused on money, bills, vacations, and earthly things, that I wasn't focusing on heavenly things and LIFE. I've always been a hustler and have worked 2-3 jobs since I was 16 years old. I enjoy having nice things that I have worked hard for. 

Material things and life, can be taken from you in the blink of an eye. 

I am a witness to that last week. I seriously can't believe how fast it happened and how fortunate I am to be alive. In a split second I owned a 2010 Civic, was in perfect health, and felt like I was on top of the world and in the next, I had no car, extensive whiplash, and I felt like I hit rock bottom. 

In my previous blog I discussed making the days count. 

If I were to have died last Friday, what mark would I have left on the world? What would people say about me at my funeral?

Did the positives, outweigh the negative decisions in my life?

Did I make the most out of every day and did I help every person God put me in contact with?

Material things are here to be enjoyed, not treasured.

 Imagine if you spent a little less time on facebook/twitter/instagram/tv and a little more time in your bible. This is me, preaching to myself because we all know I post 100 times a day! :P 

"Yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. -James 4:14"

Yes, you need money in order to pay bills and live, I get that. If all you are living for is to have nicer things, are you really living? 

Your big fancy house and nice vehicles aren't going to remember you when you are gone. 

The million pairs of boots and miss me jeans aren't going to take care of/ comfort you when you are sick. 

"So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love. -1 Corinthians 13:13"

"In a gentle way, you can shake the world. 

-Gandhi"

LIVE, for love. 

People aren't going to remember you just by what you say, they are going to remember you by what you have done.

 BE the change you wish to see in the world and don't live an empty greedy lifestyle. 

"What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? -Mark 8:36"

Life is short, make the MOST out of EVERY SINGLE DAY and do so abundantly with LOVE.

Okay, so this blog was quite winded but my mind has been in full overload this last week!

Love y'all.

“The Lord bless you and keep you;
 The Lord make His face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you;
 The Lord lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace.”’

-Numbers 6:24-26

Becoming the Proverbs 31:30 woman....

HELLO WORLD!

I started this blog, to jog down the many thoughts that cloud my mind every single second of the day.

Also, I wanted to walk everyone through all the Lord is doing in my life and my own personal daily bible studies.

I'm going to post my trials and tribulations, the good and the bad. 

He continues to work in me, in very BOLD ways and it's because I ask him to! 

I am so undeserving of the love that is bestowed upon me. I'm sure allllllllllll of little Alamogordo has some kind of idea the trouble I used to get myself into. I am now SAVED, entirely imperfect but working on MYSELF, EVERY SINGLE DAY. 

It's astonishing to me the way I view the world now. I would never say that I was an entirely selfish individual before but most of my actions were self centered. My world, was all about ME and now, I live my life for HIM. I can't even begin to describe the day I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior. Trinity Lutheran is the church I grew up in. I attend bible school, went every Sunday, attended vacation bible school, and was confirmed Lutheran. I didn't have a prayer life, I sinned with no remorse, Jesus never crossed my mind in any situation I faced, and didn't even own my own personal bible. I was lost and in an ugly sinful spiral. The first day I walked in to cottonwood christian fellowship, my life was changed. Julia, one of my best friends invited me when she was home. I was skeptical at first seeing as I was raised in such a traditional church setting. Non-the-less, I went with an open mind. Walking in, everyone was so friendly and I think I was approached by every single person in that church with such a genuine smile. I entered the sanctuary and was astonished that a church had a band and projectors. When worship started, I was uncomfortable but all of a sudden I was completely consumed and overwhelmed. I felt as if I was in an entirely different state of being, I was numb and all I could do was cry. The music was magnified, the lights were the brightest I have ever seen, the words of the music spoke to my soul and in that moment, I accepted Jesus into my heart. I know God brought me there for a reason, in his timing. Pastor Smith, is the most genuine person I have EVER met in my life. He isn't a Joel, he will tell you his sins and call you out on your own. His sermon struck right to my soul and since that first day I couldn't get enough. I was so hungry for the word of God. I don't blame my previous church for not embracing me as an adolescent and guiding me in the word but I felt like it was my first day at church. The only bible verse I had memorized was, John 3:16. From then on, I have been on a journey to find why God put me on this Earth. My heart, has been completely changed and my life now has vision. I have found that I was born to be a nurse and work with children. I do not know where he will lead me once I get my degree but my future is secure. I am a daughter of a king, who is not moved by the world. For my God is with me and goes before me. I do not fear because I am HIS.

So, there is my story. What am I working on now? Judgement.

Must I say, THIS is by far the toughest lesson.

The world is a dark/sinful place and it's so easy to see the devil working in all forms of entertainment and people so boldly today. I can't sit in judgement because my sins are different than others. Sin, is sin. It is not my place to point out any one else's sin because I should be focusing on my own life and working on myself. I have to account for my own actions come judgement day, not anyone else.

“Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, andwith the measure you use it will be measured to you. 3 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye."

 -Matthew 7:1-5

I am not going to press my Christianity on anyone, I want to be light in this world due to my actions. Living for HIS glory on the earth.

Well, I think that's enough for now. 

Love y'all!