The Beginning

"God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning--the sixth day." Genesis 1:31

The last verse, of the first chapter, of the first book in the Bible.  Think of this when you are feeling down, when you are feeling up...think of this always.  God created the heavens and earth. He created the broad mountains, the vast sea, the endless sky...and stopped and decided that this world needed you.  You were made in His image.  You were given the right to rule over this wild world as a child of God.  God saw you and said you were good.  You have always been complete and whole.  You are enough.  So straighten your crown and go rule your world. 
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Heavenly Father,
When you made me you saw that I was good; That I was complete; That I could have everything I ever needed and wanted; That all I ever needed to do was go out and get it.  Please, grant me the confidence and the knowledge that I AM YOURS and with You I can accomplish everything.  Amen.

Dating A Non-Believer: "It's not me. It's you."

Just some quick thoughts... I'd never be able to love someone who wasn't a Christian. That being said, I'd never be able to date someone who wasn't open to knowing Christ. Faith is such a huge part of my life. When I like you, I want to share my life with you. I want to tell you about my day and tell you stories of my life. When I date you, when I'm interested in you, when I am investing my time and my feelings in you...HOW am I not suppose to want to share Him with you?! He is the way, the life and the truth in my life.  Without HIM... I have nothing.

To every person out there struggling to be with someone who isn't a believer... I'm praying for you. It can't be easy. But after trying and trying you have to stop and think if this is really what God wants for you. If you are praying and making excuses...maybe it's time to step away.

The reason I say that is because I never want to put someone before God. If I'm going to say, "I love you," To my significant other it means there is a 100% chance I've thought about marrying that person on the receiving end of that sentence. And if we are going to get married it will be before God. If he isn't a believer by the time I want to say, "I love you." We have a HUGE problem. At that point, it's between him & HIM. I will choose my Lord Jesus Christ OVER AND OVER AND OVER again. Every. Single. Time. Because in the end, it is ONLY Him. 

I know he isn't a believer but I love him, God. And I know you want me to marry someone who believes in you but I can't live without him, Lord! I love him. I'm going to marry him. Please forgive me! Amen.

^ See, that. That's not going to be me. Because what that is saying is, "He isn't a believe but I'm going to love him anyway. I know I'm going against your wishes but I know what's right and you don't, Lord. I love him more and I choose him over you in this situation. I'm going to go against your will. Forgive me." Uh-uhhh! No. Nope. Can't do it. Won't do it. This is exactly why I can't possibly say "I love you" without knowing for sure that the man I love is saved.

Do yourself a favor and listen to God before saying "I love you." Trust in Him and not in your own understandings because He knows best. It might be hard to walk away but He has a plan. Trust in it.

My Favorite Moment

Summer was fading and the sweltering hot days of the Central Valley were cooling off into breezy afternoons. My family decided to go down to the lake that afternoon and thus began the moment I could live in forever. There I stood surrounded by people I love, my whole future ahead of me, the sound of laughter from the children and the knowledge that when I returned home I would be welcomed by the arms of someone who thought I was as beautiful as the sunset before me. The sun began to fall beneath the horizon of the lake of my childhood. It seemed to me the sun had stopped just for me to say goodbye. Even as I look back on this memory now I can feel it, that overwhelming happiness and the thought that everything for a moment could be absolutely perfect. That was the last time my eldest brother was in my hometown & my mother's brother was still alive. It was the last time I believe my whole family was immensely happy. 

Things I Want to Remind Myself

1. Don't apologize for being yourself. If people can't accept your personality...move on.

2. Not everyone is going to like you no matter how kind, how nice, how sweet you are...some people just ARE NOT going to like you.

3. You can't control everything. You can't control everything. You can't control everything. Let. It. Go.

4. If you ever have a fight or flight moment don't make the situation worse by making it a tend and befriend moment. 

http://youtu.be/igCj3jsbcqs

http://youtu.be/YBncGFCqEOA

The people I click with the most are those that I'm able to speak to and have a fluent conversation. It's what I judge my first dates on. If you and I can't have an amazing conversation right from the start...I don't know if you and I will ever be able to sustain a relationship. The reason it is so important to me is because I like having conversations about the hard stuff. I'm the girl who asks, "So have you ever cheated on someone?" "Are we not seeing other people?" "Do you like me?" "Why do you like me?" And you know what? So long as you answer those questions honestly I will always feel comfortable being with you. Dishonesty...not being able to have a conversation about the hard stuff...that is a deal breaker. You know, it's not like I'm uncomfortable with silence. I want silence. I want to be able to sit in a car for hours knowing we're ok. I want to be able to sit on the couch reading a book while you watch ESPN in silence. I don't need constant conversation all the time but I do need those lines to be open and ready. That's what will make me feel comfortable in a relationship.