S.A.S. Weekend

This is a song that I referred to in a previous post that I have really come to love and has made me reflect on my relationship with God.

I hope this song has touched you as it has me.
Have a blessed weekend,

Your Roadblock to Jesus

During Youth Group last Sunday we listened to the song Here I Go Again by Casting Crowns, and we focused on what the lyrics said and how that applies to us. Here is a clipping of the lyrics;

'Cause here I go again
Talkin 'bout the rain
And mulling over things that won't live past today
And as I dance around the truth
Time is not his friend
This might be my last chance to tell him
That You love Him
But here I go again, here I go again
...
But how then will he know what he has never heard
Lord he has never seen mirrored in my life
...
What am I so afraid of?
How then will he know
What he has never heard
 ~Here I go Again, by Casting Crowns

These lyrics were so convicting, especially with the last phrase that states that people will not know what they don't hear. Meaning that if we don't tell others about Jesus then they will not even have the chance to know him. That is such a heavy responsibility that we carry as Christians, yet we tend to ignore it. What stops us from telling others about our Savior? I know what stops me. Fear. Is that what stops you too? I'm guessing that is probably so. But just as the lyrics said, what am I so afraid of? Perhaps not knowing the answers to questions they may ask. Being put down. Having people judge me. Those are just few of the many possible fears that we may have when ministering to others.

But telling others about Jesus also requires more than just speaking, and the song states that in the phrase 'Lord he has never seen mirrored in my life'. Remember, when we are at school and home, we are on stage for say. We have people watching our actions and perceiving our attitude & emotions. Through our persona we are telling other about ourselves and what is in our heart regardless of whether it is good or bad. That is why it is so important to act with the love of God. But this is even impossible if you don't genuinely have a relationship with God. You can't show God's love without having received it yourself. Which brings us to the title of this post, what is your roadblock to Jesus?

Even if you have accepted Jesus in your heart, that doesn't mean that you have a genuine relationship with the Lord. In fact, we often times get stuck in our relationship and will sometimes have a roadblock that is stopping us from getting closer to Him. And until we get past that roadblock we will be stuck in the mud with our relationship. Just like if you have a lot of bitterness in your heart then you will find yourself stuck in your relationship until you overcome it. And if you don't even try to overcome it then you might even start going downhill because anger will begin to swell in your heart and leave no room for Jesus. I know that I have a lot of struggles and Roadblocks in my life. All of which include Judgment towards others and Jealousy. Even admitting that saddens me because it seems that I have struggled with that for so long that I have lately felt stuck in a rut. I can't seem to get past it, and when I think I have I seem to just fall back in the pothole. It's so aggravating at times that I just want to give up, but I know that if I do then I will just get deeper in my problems.

Once we can get past our roadblocks then we can move closer to God, and we may then find that our actions and attitude reflect our closeness with God. So my challenge for you today is to identify what your roadblock is in your relationship with God. And once you determine that you can then move on to ministering to others not only with words but with the love of God that comes through your actions.

Many blessings to you in the days to come,

Abortion; Sacrificing a life for your own good

A Short Story

A worried woman went to her gynecologist and said:

'Doctor, I have a serious problem and desperately need your help! My baby is not even 1 year old and I'm pregnant again. I don't want kids so close together.'

So the doctor said: 'Ok and what do you want me to do?'

She said: 'I want you to end my pregnancy, and I'm counting on your help with this.'

The doctor thought for a little, and after some silence he said to the lady: 'I think I have a better solution for your problem. It's less dangerous for you too.'

She smiled, thinking that the doctor was going to accept her request.

Then he continued: 'You see, in order for you not to have to take care of 2 babies at the same time, let's kill the one in your arms. This way, you could rest some before the other one is born. If we're going to kill one of them, it doesn't matter which one it is. There would be no risk for your body if you chose the one in your arms.'

The lady was horrified and said: 'No doctor! How terrible! It's a crime to kill a child!'

'I agree', the doctor replied. 'But you seemed to be OK with it, so I thought maybe that was the best solution.'

The doctor smiled, realizing that he had made his point.

He convinced the mom that there is no difference in killing a child that's already been born and one that's still in the womb. The crime is the same!

If you agree, please SHARE.

Together we can help save precious lives!

Love says, 'I sacrifice myself for the good of the other person.' Abortion says, 'I sacrifice the other person for the good of myself.'

~♥~

I found this on Facebook (hence the 'SHARE') and thought it was worth posting on my blog. I have heard so many people say 'Abortion is bad!' and 'Your killing an innocent life', but I like how this doctor said neither of those. He did not offend the woman by telling her she was a murderer, at least not at first, instead he gave her a glimpse of what abortion really is and in a way that she would listen.

Something that I think is very important when it comes to teaching or trying to tell somebody something is how you say it. You can have two people with the same topic such as abortion in which one speaker would make the audience have a deaf ear because of accusations and a harshness of truth, versus someone who speaks out of love that they make people feel that they genuinely care about that person and are looking out for there best interest. Really the best speakers have a balance of the two; there not afraid to speak the truth, yet they speak it out of love. And sometimes the best sermons are the ones that make you squirm in your seat because of convictions. Even Jesus was harsh at times and made the Pharasees uncomfortable, but it was all out of love.

I think it is very important that we as Christians share our views and convictions to others out of love just as Jesus would.

Blessings,

S.A.S. Weekend!

I love this song! It has such a catchy beat and a great lyrics;

Have a great weekend!

How to fit in at almost any church

This video cracked me up!  It's produced by bluefish TV which has amazing christian videos;

Hope this video gave you a good laugh and has brightened up your day!

Blessings,

Friends, Marriage, & Wedding Cakes!

Hello!
So, one of my friends that I have known for pretty much forever is getting married! I am very happy for them and am excited to see this beautiful couple say their vows to one another :)

So my family has been friends with Timothy (on Left) since I was about 4 years old. Him and my brother were best friends and played together all the time, and so he is like a second brother to me. Just a year and a half ago he graduated and joined with the air force! So yes, he is pretty cool ;) And his bride-to-be Sierra is cute and sweet, and together they are amazingly perfect! There wedding is going to be in June and they hired me to make their wedding cake, which I am very excited about :). And so of course I have been browsing different wedding cake designs for inspiration! And what better thing to do then share this inspiration with all of you;

This one is very elegant and has lot's of detail.

I like the fact that this cake has a lot of character to it

I love the sugar pearls that are placed on this cake, it gives it a more expensive look

I am not sure if I would want my cake to be so colorful, but it's not bad though :)

This reminds me of the beach for some reason (And I love the beach!)

This is what I call a Sweetheart Style of cake ♥

This one has a more romantic feel to it

This is very Elegant and kind of classy looking cake

Do you see your dream cake amongst any of these? 

Even if not it is still fun to browse through them I think, I absolutely love dreaming about what I would want my wedding to look like :)

~♥~
I am so excited for my dear friends and can only imagine how wonderful it must be to prepare for marraige to the man that you love. I wish them many blessings in the days, weeks, and years to come.

S.A.S Weekend!

Hello Dear Readers,
I hope you all have enjoyed my recent posts! I've been so busy, and yet I have somehow found time to blog during these past few weeks more than I ever have since starting to blog. You may find that I might begin to slow down on the posts in the weeks to come since I can see how I'll be busy with work, school, and extra activities in the next few days. But for now, I would like to share with you the song I chose for this weeks Sing A Song Weekend. It's by Mikeschair and is called 'Someone Worth Dying For', hope you enjoy;

I know that we as humans tend to struggle with our value if we aren't careful. We want to be cherished and to feel as though we are worth something. And often times we make mistakes, and as a christian it can sometimes be easy to fall in the trap of not feeling worthy of God. There will be times were I make a big blunder and will tell myself that I am not worthy of talking to God, almost as if I had dishonored Him to the point that He would never want me to speak to him again, and I can just imagine him shaking his head in shame of me. But that is were I am wrong, He wants us to come to him when we disobey as well as when we have obeyed Him. He sees us as a precious jewel to caress and love, to cherish and behold -We are so precious to him that we are worth more to him than we can even imagine. His love is unfathomable, and his value for us is uncomprehensible. He loves you and I so much that he died for us. We are someone worth dying for.

Blessings,

My Blogger Hero

Dear readers,
You have all read some of my posts and have gotten to know more about me; my hopes and desires, my thoughts, and even random information. But I have yet to share with you my blogger hero, the person I wish to become not only on my blog but in real life as well. And that person is Heather from A Hopeful Romantic.

Heather never fails to awe me with her depth of understanding, and an amazing God given talent of sharing His will for us in a simplistic way that we can all apprehend. And with each post she writes, you can sense the presence of God within her that gives her the words to type. God is using her to mentor young women in their walk with the Lord.

I find her posts refreshing for they speak of the truth that we are sometimes afraid to mention of. Things that real people struggle with but never admit, and that is were Heather shows us her depth of knowledge that she has found in the word of God and that the Lord has revealed to her. She is real and touchable, unlike some bloggers that hide behind the computer screen and only show the part that they wish to reveal of themselves (this includes me at times).

I believe that in one of my posts a while back ago I mentioned how one of my desires is to become a mentor to girls. It is something that God has layed heavily on my heart, to help young girls and their walk with the Lord. And that is part of why I started this blog, is to share with others my experiences and that the Lord may use my posts to encourage other girls. Which is why I look up to Heather, because I want the Lord to use me just like he has used her. To use me for his purpose. Not only when I blog, but when I am living my everyday life.

If you would like to check out Heathers blog, you can do so by clicking Here

Blessings to all,

HSBA Nominations!!!

Hello Readers,
As some of you may know, the Homeschool Blog Awards Nominations have begun! Since my blog is less than a year old I have never entered in this competition, and am hoping that all my lovely followers would nominate me for; Best NEW Homeschool Blog.

(Click photo to be directed to the nomination form)

I appreciate your nominations and am excited to see all the different nominees/winners for the various categories!

Blessings,

Sing A Song Weekend!

So I know that I posted this song before (a while back), but I love it so much that I thought I would post it again :)

Don't let your lights go down, don't let the fire burn out, cuz somewhere somebody needs a reason to believe. Why don't you rise up now, don't be afraid stand out -that's how the lost get found.

Sweet Quotes to make you smile

If I had a flower for every time I thought of you, I could walk in my garden forever. 

If even a day should go by when I don’t say I love you, may never a moment go by without you knowing that I do. 

Being unique makes us all beautiful.  

 If a hug represented how much I love you, I would hold you in my arms forever

Let the wife make the husband glad to come home, and let him make her sorry to see him leave

 "The rose that you gave me has faded, and wilted away. But, the love tucked in deep inside remains in my heart forever."

Love isn't finding someone you can live with, it's finding someone you can't live without.

~ ♥ ~

In case you haven't figured out, I'm a bit of a romantic and love such sweet quotes. And I know that one day I will have someone in my life to share them with :)

A look inside the Music; Britt Nicole

Boldness is generally associated with youth and they say wisdom comes with age, but rarely does one person simultaneously possess both in abundance.  However, Britt Nicole isn’t your average twenty-something as she clearly demonstrates on her vibrant sophomore release “The Lost Get Found.”


            “It’s about stepping out and being who God has called you to be and not being afraid of that,” states Britt.  “I believe when we look different and carry something different, people are going to see that and want it too.  They are going to see the love of Christ in us and they’ll desire that.  I believe people will come to know God if we as Christians will just do that.”

            A native of Salisbury, NC, Britt has always had a heart for reaching people and has long used music as the vehicle to change lives.  She began singing in church at age three and by the time she was in high school, was appearing on her church’s daily television program and logged a performance at New York’s famed Carnegie Hall with her school’s advanced chorus.

            Those early pursuits paved the way for her to sign with Sparrow Records in 2006.  She burst on the charts a year later with her label debut, “Say It,” a finely crafted pop collection that introduced us to her engaging voice and thought-provoking lyrics.  It earned her a slot on the Winter Jam tour that year with Steven Curtis Chapman, Jeremy Camp, NewSong and Hawk Nelson where she developed a reputation as a compelling live performer.

            It was a whirlwind existence that found her looking to meet the needs of those around her—whether it was a girl in a youth group who needed someone to pray with or a parent seeking advice on their troubled teen.  Her servant’s heart and earnest desire to fill others up soon left Britt herself feeling empty.  It all caught up with her at an Alabama youth conference called The Ramp.  “I went with my youth group as a youth leader to support and pray for them, but near the end of the event, I was kind of worn out and I began saying ‘Okay God, I just really need You to come and do something in my life,’” Britt recalls.  She got her answer as she was driving back to Nashville.

            “I just felt different. I felt like the old me was gone and God had started to show me who I really was and what I was called to do,” Britt says.  “As I was driving home from the conference, everywhere I would stop, whether at a gas station or a restaurant, God was challenging me to step out and tell people about Him and His love for them.  There are so many hurting and broken people around us each day and God was showing me the importance of reaching out to them just as He would.  In the past, I have often let the fear of people and their opinions stop me from being who I am.  At the core though, I know who I am and who God has called me to be.  In letting go of my past, I was able to move forward, and instead of focusing on all my mistakes and failures, I started focusing on those around me.  That’s ultimately why I’m here, to worship God and to reach those who need to know Him.”

            After that experience, she wrote songs for the new album that included “The Lost Get Found,” “Walk on the Water,” and “Safe.”  Britt continues to explain that, “They all have a similar message of having the courage to step out in faith and walk in what God has called you to do even when it’s scary.  I don’t want to be selfish anymore.  I don’t want to be safe anymore.  When God tells me to step out and talk to somebody or believe for what seems impossible, I want to do it.”
    In listening to Britt Nicole’s music, it’s obvious she possesses wisdom beyond her years and a spiritual maturity not often seen in one so young.  Yet she’s very much the playful girl next door and those equally intriguing sides of her personality merge seamlessly on “The Lost Get Found.” 

            “My fans want a pop record,” she says wistfully.  “I’m a pop artist and they love fun music.  When they come to my concerts, they want to have fun and I love that.  That’s in my personality to have fun, but the heart of who I am is to worship and to see people’s lives changed and to reach those who are hurting.  It’s what I believe God has called me to do.”

 

You can find Britt Nicoles Youtube Page with all her songs by clicking this link: http://www.youtube.com/user/BrittNicoleSparrow

~ http://brittnicole.sparrowrecords.com/biography/  

To be like Esther

I was reading in the book of Esther, which I actually haven't read for a little while, so it was refreshing to read some of the story again. And I started thinking; how are we as people like Esther?

The Jewish girl became the queen of Persia and was faced with the toughest position of all, to tell the king that his right hand man had betrayed her and her family by sentencing them to be hanged. She was scared throughout this, yet comes out courageous. But what I want to focus more on is the phrase "You were made for such a time as this". Forget about the fact that this was her familys life on the line, and the betrayel, just think about being in a position that perhaps you were put there by God to do something that only you can do. He made you to do something, and he chose YOU to do it. It's not like the next person in line can fill your position.

The first and most easiest thing that I related this to was movie stars and famous singers. Of course my brain went to all the glitz and glam, the people who are in the spotlight and can make a huge impact by just wearing a pair of trendy jeans that soon becomes the next new thing. They bring something to the media that only they can bring and are widely known for it. But what about normal people? People like you and I that aren't being in the spotlight 24/7. Whether we know it or not, we have been specially created for such a time as this. Isn't that amazing to think about? God has created us to make an impact and shine His light, in a way that only we can. He has a plan for you and has made you specifically to fulfill it to bring Him glory. In a way, you are Esther; Courageous and beautiful, yet fulfilling the desire of God.

 YOU have been made for such a time as this.