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~Adventure of a Lifetime~

As someone who's very easy going, I constantly find myself looking for adventure... and lately I have been learning a lot about what it truly means to live an adventurous life as a Christian.

It takes a lot to shake me up and it also takes a lot to excite me. I am always searching for things that will make me feel alive. I want to live fully and feel fully, whether that means laughing till my abs ache, crying until I can't cry anymore or doing something crazy that totally scares the heck out of me. Whatever it takes, I am always looking for that adrenaline rush, that emotion, that adventure. I have a fear of growing numb to emotion... or just surviving instead of really thriving. I could spend my whole life chasing after thrill and adrenaline.

But recently I came to this realization: a relationship with Christ, in itself, can be the adventure of a lifetime if I run after that with my whole heart. There is no adventure greater than the adventure that comes with giving my whole self to Jesus and letting Him take me to places I would never go alone. With Him, I can feel with my whole heart, I can have fullness of JOY and He will definitely bring me to do things that scare the heck out of me.

I'm learning that God loves when we live fully alive; he delights in his children enjoying life. I'm sure He loves when we climb His mountains and when we parasail high into His sky...and I'm sure He'll love it when I get to skydive one day. ;) But most importantly, He loves it when I surrender myself to Him and His work. I no longer have to chase after temporary pleasures and things to "fill me up." God's desire for me is to live fully alive in Christ, because only there will I find true contentment, true adventure, and true life.

(And the cool thing about it is I don't even have to write out a bucket list for these adventures - he's had them planned for me since before I was born!)

I don't know what God has planned for my life, in fact I don't even know what he has planned for my tomorrow... but what I do know is that whatever it is, it will be full of the thrill, emotion, and adventure that I'm always searching for and my hope can always be found in Christ alone.

"You make known to me the path of life; you fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand." ~Psalm 16:11

Open Your Eyes: My Attempt at a Poem

Oh my darling, open your eyes,

And please get rid of your disguise.

You’re so much more than what they say,

I hope you see this too someday.

Take off the masks you try to wear,

When you are stuck in self-despair.

Remove the chains that hold you tight,

For joy comes with the new daylight.

You’re full of beauty inside and out,

Yes, this is true without a doubt.

Don’t listen to the lies you hear,

You’re more than pain and scars and fear.

Oh my darling, be who you are,

Shine brighter than the brightest star.

You are beautiful, loved and free,

Oh my darling, don’t you see?

A Challenge To All Young Women

     I haven't written a blog post in so long. And to just be completely honest, I have been sitting here for the past few minutes trying to come up with a clever way to start this out that will capture your attention and make you want to keep reading. Obviously, I couldn't come up with anything. I want to really just share some thoughts and hopefully inspire you like God is inspiring me.

     Matthew 5:28 (NIV) says, "But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart." Yeah, this verse on the surface sounds like a challenge only to men, but I personally feel like it puts some responsibility on women too! As a sister to two 13 (almost 14) year old boys, I try to do everything I can to help them protect their eyes and guard their hearts. I pray for my future husband and all my brothers in Christ that God would help them keep their minds, hearts, and bodies pure. Aside from praying for them, we can also do our part as women in making sure we don't cause them to stumble. I challenge you to live with a purpose in mind, not only in what you say and do, but what you wear and what you post on social media. I'm not going to make a list of what you should and should not wear, or what causes guys to stumble and what doesn't. I just want you to be more careful and more aware. One way to show love to our brothers in Christ is by doing everything in our power to help them guard their eyes and minds! 

     One last thought - The world says to girls "If you have a nice body, show it off!" But nooooo! Your body is for your husband! Every other man that looks lustfully at you is someone else's husband/future husband committing adultery with YOU in his heart! Ew! Plus, Modest is Hottest!! 

     There's nothing I can say or do that will fix this worldwide immodesty problem (haha), but I hope and pray that God has maybe inspired you a little through the words he put in me. I'm sorry I couldn't come up with a clever way to grab your attention in the beginning

but if you've made it this far, thank you. :)

Unconditional LOVE.

I feel like people's view these days of unconditional love is so messed up. Our society's idea of "dating" shows us that you can begin a relationship with someone and end it conveniently at anytime - this is the same when it comes to friendships. They show us that when you become dissatisfied, uninterested, or you face any problems, you can just quit and move on. In my mind, this is just not okay... If we just always quit when things get rough, then what's the point of relationships anyway? Friends say things to each other like "I'll always be there for you no matter what," but it's becoming so cliche... Do we really mean it, much less even know what that responsibility entails?? I don't think we fully understand this concept, but I intend to learn from my Savior... He teaches that love is patient, kind, completely selfless... And it NEVER GIVES UP. I think (actually I know full well) that the key to unconditional love is selflessness. As soon as we begin to step out of the mindset of "I want" and "I need" and into the mindset of "they want" and "they need," I feel like the statement "I will always be there for you" will actually become reality. I want to live this out. No matter what happens in a friendship, I want to learn to be patient and kind... Love doesn't get easily angered. Jesus loved us with an unconditional love even when things got REALLY TOUGH for Him. I'm tired of living like relationships are disposable. I'm ready to really truly always be there for my friends and love like Jesus loves me. You feel me?

Your Purity: Wisdom From a 10 Year Old.

So my mom, my sister and I were having a conversation in the car today about dating and purity, and Hope had an awesome analogy that I wanted to share. Picture this: you have $1000. Now this isn't just any $1000 - it was given to you by someone special.. To hold for someone special. One day at the mall, you find some really cute clothes and decide to spend some of your money on them... But it's okay because they only cost $50 and you have $1000 right?! A few days later you hear a new song on the radio and decide to buy it for $1.29... Not to worry though, it's ONLY $1.29. But you don't end there...the cycle continues... Little by little the money you were given is gone.

Your purity is a gift from someone special (God!) meant for someone special (your future husband or wife!). Even though it might be "only a kiss," or "only holding hands," you are spending something that could be saved for your spouse! Would you rather give your husband or wife $990, $500, $50, or just some loose change? Or would you want to present $1000 to them... Completely whole and unused??

Brand New Baby Jesus

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6 NIV) Every child that is born brings joy to people's hearts, but this child in particular came to bring more - new life, joy, love, hope, peace, etc... Because of this birth, we could be born again!! Your spiritual birth is just as important as the day you were born into the world!! Praise God that the brand new baby Jesus could make us so brand new!!!!

The Boy Who Played The Drums

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. (Romans 12:1 NIV) God has given you gifts... Gifts that are different than the ones your friends and family have. When you use your gifts to bless others, it blesses God!! God wants us to give Him our very BEST!! Just like the little drummer boy - playing his drum was all he could offer, but he played it for Jesus and it was his best. He gave God everything he had! How are you going to use your gifts to bless others and God this Christmas season??

Joy To The World!

"He continued, "Go home and prepare a feast, holiday food and drink; and share it with those who don't have anything: This day is holy to God. Don't feel bad. The joy of God is your strength!" (Nehemiah 8:10 MSG) What are you going to rejoice about this season?!? The JOY of The Lord is your strength!! Jesus gave his life for you! That's something to rejoice about!!

"JOY TO THE WORLD, the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare Him room,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing!"

Thankful: Fearfully and Wonderfully Made

"I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well." (Psalm 139:14 NIV) God formed each one of us in his very own image... But each of us unique!! We are FEARFULLY and WONDERFULLY made!! God, your works are amazing! #thankful

More Than Our Next Breath

"For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit." (1 Peter 3:18 NIV) Thank God for His grace and mercy. We need Jesus more than anything else in this life. Sometimes we get so caught up in the energized hustle and bustle of this world, that we forget Jesus' promise to us - His yoke is easy and His burden is light. We are so loved!! And we need God more than our next breath!!

He Knows Best

“Can you fathom the mysteries of God? Can you probe the limits of the Almighty?" (Job 11:7 NIV) Sometimes we think we know what's best for us, so we ask God for that. The amazing thing is that God goes above what we want and gives us what we need! Those trials you are going through right now? God knows you need them to fulfill the huge purpose he has for you. God has not forgotten you!! He loves you so much and he's working in your life!!

Crave

"but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." (Isaiah 40:31 NIV)

Hope is what we crave. All over the world today people are searching and searching for hope - a hope that there is something more, that we were made to do more, and that there's more to life when we die. What is your hope in?? Are you fully hoping in The Lord or are you relying on a "hope substitute" to fulfill your craving?? Don't let the world influence you into believing that there's hope in anything here... God is the only hope!! He is the only thing that can fulfill that craving!!

Give and Take Away

"The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised." (Job 1:21 NIV) After Job had EVERYTHING he owned taken from him as a test, he still praised God! God will give and take away, but no matter what you can still praise him for something!! If you've lost someone or something dear to you, turn your face to heaven and trust God to turn it around!!

The Proof of Your Love

"If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing." (1 Corinthians 13:3 NIV) You can do all kinds of "spiritual" things, but if you don't have love you are gaining absolutely NOTHING. Try to live love today! Let it be part of your daily living! "Let my life be the proof, the proof of your love. Let my life look like you and what you're made of.." (The Proof Of Your Love by for KING & COUNTRY)

All Things Well

"He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!" Then he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true." (Revelation 21:5 NIV) "You do all things, you do all things, you do all things well." - Tenth Avenue North. When you ask God to do something, even if he doesn't do what you want, His alternative is always good. When you ask for something, it's not about how much faith you have, but who your faith is in. Everything God does is good! Even when He brings you through the dry desert, in the end you are stronger and it always turns out good!! Trust Him that He knows what He's doing!!

Not Where We Belong

"For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God." (Hebrews 11:10 NIV) This is not your home. No matter how hard you try to find satisfaction in this world, you won't! Our hope is heaven! You were made for God - to love Him and worship Him!! Have you ever had such a large hole in your heart that nothing can fill it? That's because you were made for a different world! Ask God to satisfy you today... And look forward to heaven - it's where you belong!!!

Through The Pain and Suffering

"I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us." (Romans 8:18 NIV) God works through pain and suffering... We grow the most on days that our hearts are hurting and hope feels far away. "When we trust Christ, and the mysterious work on Calvary, we trust that He's always up to something good even in the darkest days. In fact, that's probably when He's up to the most good, because that's when the most good grows in me." - Mike from Tenth Avenue North. If you are hurting or going through any pain right now, trust God through it... He's working in you BIG TIME!!

Suitcases

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28 NIV) You can't run when you're holding suitcases! Jesus wants you to let go of past mistakes, hurt, insecurities, fear, etc... He wants to carry your bags for you. Jesus wants to give you rest from your burdens! It is hard to let go of the past, but if you don't it will affect your future! Let Jesus take the burden for you!!!

Abundant Life

"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." (John 10:10 NIV) Let God steal your trust and attention! He is knocking at your door because he wants to give you life... A full abundant life!! He loves you enough to be integrated into every moment of your life. Be willing to surrender to his better way!! God wants to give you LIFE!!