Joshua 1:9- "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."

Isn't it strange the different talents and gifts God gives his people, you and me. I love how God can change something that could potentially be evil to bring glory to him. Ever since I was a child I have been very active. I loved playing sports. I love basketball, volleyball, and swimming. I loved being able to use my height (I'm 5'10) and having an advantage over others. I loved the feeling of pushing my body to the extreme. Like anything though it's so simple to get burnt out. So by my senior year of high school I wasn't playing as many sports and not nearly as dedicated. I had gained some weight; not very much but to my high school self it was a TON. I started by eating less greasy food and being more active, running, lifting weights now and then. Then I wanted to lose even more weight. I did excessive amounts of cardio and watched everything I ate. I stuck to veggies as much as possible. I became addicted to having the perfect waist size. I wanted to look like a Victoria Secret model. I would push myself to be a certain weight. It became an idol. It stole away from the inner beauty God had put inside of me. I remember one day while showering strands of my hair coming out and I rinsed shampoo from my hair. I was eating food but not enough to supply by body with the nutrients it needed.

God knows the heart well though. He knows us even when don't quite know ourselves. I remember the first time I had a conversation with Drew. He made me laugh and I thought he was super cute. Little did I know God had a plan neither of us knew would happen. A couple months after we started dating Andrew told me how he thought I was too thin and he told me I needed to eat more. I had no idea he felt that way. Since he is a personal trainer I thought he didn't think I was thin enough or in good enough shape. I admired him for his honesty. I added more protein to my diet and didn't worry as much about what I was eating (or how much). He also introduced me to lifting weights. At first I did it for him but then I fell it love with it. It connected me in a way to God that I didn't think lifting weights could connect someone. I began my workouts asking for God's help, asking him to give me strength. I know it may sound silly but lifting weights has shown my body and my mind that it can push through anything. I was revealed how powerful God created us to be. It's a beautiful experience when you feel your muscles burn and you realize that God created this muscle you're using.

I love my curves now. I love that I can eat and not worry if my waist is small enough. God used Andrew to teach me that I am beautiful. I don't have to put my heart into being a certain size. God created a women's body to be strong and curvaceous. He gave us hips so we can bare children and muscles to carry them in our arms and chase them with our legs. Don't be ashamed of the body God gave you. Don't be afraid to strengthen your body either. Lifting weights keeps me healthy, strengthens my muscles and my mind, releases stress, and gives me some great curves. I'm thankful God uses others to change our lives in significant ways. If it weren't for God placing Andrew in my life I don't know where my body would be. Jesus already overcame the world, don't be afraid to go beyond what you think you can. P.S. The only way you'll look like a scary muscle head lady is if you do steroids :)

Stained Glass

“People are like stained - glass windows. They sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in; their true beauty is revealed only if there is a light from within.” -Elisabeth Kubler-Ross

It’s so easy to get comfortable in life. Now I don’t mean comfortable as in a warm blanket comfortable, I’m thinking more of a relaxed, safe feeling. You have your house, your job, your family, your tv, plenty of food to eat; everything is “perfect.” That’s what our culture teaches us, to be comfortable and relaxed; work, work, work so you can buy more stuff. Go through the motions to have more “things”. Things don’t last, but adventures do. Recently in my life I've felt too comfortable. I've lived in the same town, same house my whole life. I've traveled all over the world but that only lasts for a couple weeks and then I’m right back to comfortable. Recently I've felt a nudge from God, a whisper to my soul, to seek more and to not fear getting uncomfortable. The definition for uncomfortable is:

1. Experiencing physical discomfort. 2. Ill at ease; uneasy. 3. Causing anxiety; disquieting.

Think of all the uncomfortable situations Jesus was in. He ate supper with men who swindled the poor, he healed people with leprosy, he went from town to town staying in strangers homes, and he was murdered for people who did not deserve his kindness or his mercy. He lived an uncomfortable life. But his life was wonderful, inspiring, and beautiful. Jesus’ life was an adventure. Think about how his life would have been if he had stayed in Bethlehem from the day he was born working to have a home, never seeking the broken, and using the gift of the Holy Spirit, the same spirit that lives inside of us. What if he didn’t follow the adventure and the journey God laid out for him? Thousands of people would have gone unhealed and generations of people wouldn't have experienced the love and the passion of an intimate relationship with our heavenly father. The bible tells us, and Jesus tells us, to live a life like he did. He says to be imitators of him. (1 Corinthians 11:1).

“Whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.” 1 john 2:6

The quote I gave at the beginning is a great example of who we can be. You may sparkle and shine at your church or in the same town you’ve lived in your whole life. Maybe you sparkle and shine with your group of friends because that’s where you feel most comfortable. What happens though when you leave the sunshine and enter into a dark world, will your light shine then? I want my light to shine bright in those dark places, I want it to bring hope and love to those who have been consumed by the darkness. I can’t do that if I’m constantly surrounded by other lights. So here’s to mixing my life up, a new season, and an adventure; here’s to being uncomfortable. God will open doors up if you ask him too, he wants to take you on an amazing adventure. Don’t let being comfortable steal this away from you, YOU are meant to shine.

This post is dedicated to Andrew Matthews for reminding that life isn’t about being comfortable but taking chances and trusting God. Thanks for reminding me that life is an adventure. I love you so very much.