Dedication

Pushing yourself when you are emotionally, physically, and mentally drained is tough. What would we be if we didn't push ourselves? Who would we be if we didn't go that extra mile? Now you can push yourself in many areas of life. You can push yourself to get in better shape, to be smarter, to travel more, etc. 1 Timothy 4:8 Paul tells us that spiritual exercise is most important. It will not only help us in this life, but the next. Now if there's one thing I learned from playing sports my entire life is that in order to get better you must push yourself. There is no slacking off if you want to win. It takes endurance and dedication to improve. In order to have a stronger spiritual life I must push myself. As Christians we must make reading the bible the norm. We can never grow spiritually if we don't read God's word. Sometimes you don't want to workout but you know it will only make you better. Same with the bible; only your time reading the bible is more important. How can you learn more about Jesus and the person you are in him if you neglect to read the bible. You can't read the bible and not push yourself to actually become what you read. As some say, practice what you preach. Having a life like Jesus' isn't easy, it's a struggle. It can be difficult making the choice to stand up for what you believe in,but it's worth the struggle. I know that when I push myself I have a place to rest. When I feel weary and worn out I have somewhere that will fill me with light. The world is a scary place. I struggle out in it each day but he is with me. At the end of each day I have a place to go and recharge, but I must make that last effort to get in his word because that is the only place where I will truly find rest. So push yourself to learn more about Jesus. Dive into the word. If you have time to watch videos about Honey Boo Boo or the energy to write another Facebook post I think you can take a few minutes to read your bible....only difference is the person you'll become when you choose which one to spend your time doing.

Matthew 11:28-30 (MSG) “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”

1 Timothy 4:8(NLT) “Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come.” (1 Timothy 4:8 NLT)

Guard Your Heart

To my ladies out there. Why do you insist on settling? Why do you continue you to go for a cute boy when you should be going for a man who is going to gently hold your heart in his hands. Throughout my high school years I continually gave my heart to boys who carelessly handled my heart and just stood there watching it shatter as it hit the ground. Thinking about this brings tears to my eyes but thankfully I have someone who was watching over me and reminding me who will hold my heart no matter what happens. This man, Jesus, has ignited a fire in my spirit to encourage women to wait for a man who will not complete them, but compliment them. What qualities do you want in a man? What do you want his character to look like? I want someone who is strong, courageous, and who will fight for me. I want him to stand up for me. I want a man who is seeking after God. A man who can handle emotions without just locking them away. Too many men are afraid to show emotion. Don't fall for a man who can't even hold you and comfort you as you cry. I've fallen for guys like that one to many times. I continue to say that I allowed these guys into my life. I consciously got into a relationship with them because I thought they could complete me, but I was wrong. I continue to watch families fall apart and girls be hurt by their own fathers because their character is not of a man but of a coward. The best way we can wind up with an amazing husband (this man is also going to father your children) is to be Godly women! If you believe you are ugly, that you aren't nice, and you allow things like sex and alcohol to corrupt you then of course you are going to end up with a guy with poor character because you yourself don't have character. So I encourage you ladies to not fall for the next guy but patiently wait for one who will protect you and truly love you. I encourage you ladies to read Proverbs 9 and evaluate the type of woman you are. Are you lady wisdom or lady luck?While you patiently wait don't just sit around letting time slip by, but continue to grow and become the woman your future husband is praying for. I'd much rather be lonely now than go on a million stupid dates and kiss a bunch of frogs that results in happiness for a short amount of time. I don't want joy that lasts for a couple years, I want joy that lasts a lifetime.