Perfect Timing.

How many times have your heard those words--"perfect timing"? Such overused words...but they're so true. Timing does happen perfectly SO many times. But have you ever stopped and wondered if maybe all that perfect timing wasn't just coincidence? Have you ever stopped to wonder who the designer of that perfect timing is. Maybe if we stopped to think a little bit about who made the sun rise this morning, and who keeps it at the perfect distance from the Earth so we don't melt or freeze to death then we would appreciate the divinity of absolutely perfect timing. Even for the little things. I strongly believe that everything happens for a reason. Life won't always be easy, but we often need reality checks to remind us of how blessed we really are. I am so grateful that God is in control of timing. If I tried to live this life on my own, I know that I will fail every time. But the stupid part about those last two sentences is that even though I KNOW I need God to be in control and I KNOW I can't do this on my own....I still try to sometimes. When I don't agree with how God's laying out my life or I'm sick of waiting on an answer...I just take things into my own hands again. Isn't that so dumb? But I bet I'm not the only one guilty of this. God always has His ways to remind us that He knows best tho, doesn't He? I think the word I'm searching for in this post tonight is surrender. Let's surrender it all to Him tonight. Our whole life. Not just the parts we don't care about or are okay with giving up, but every single aspect of our lives. All to Him. To HIM. Let go and let Him.

Romans 8:7-8 "The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God."

As long as we remain trying to please ourselves and the rest of the world, we can never be pleasing to God as He desires. It's time to get our minds right, focus on our purpose to God above, and live for Him while we still have the opportunity here on Earth.

Decisions, Decisions

As an eighteen year old girl who just graduated high school, I have been faced with some pretty tough and critical decisions lately. You know that question.."What do you want to be when you grow up?" Well that questions takes on a whole new meaning after high school graduation. I actually have to answer it now. All throughout senior year, I really thought I had things figured out. I was attending Kennesaw State University through the Dual Enrollment Honors Program, so I figured after I graduated I'd just continue my education there, major in accounting, and live in the dorms with one of my friends from my sunday school class [shout out to Jessica--love you girl! (:] Well a couple months after making all those decisions...I kind of FREAKED out. I really thought I'd screwed up. I realized that I completely made all those decisions on my own...and pretty much left God out of the picture. I was terrified that I had completely ruined the unique and divine plan that He has for my life. This past summer I was lucky enough to go on many trips--all but one focusing on God. One of those trips was a mission trip to Myrtle Beach. While on this mission trip, I realized that yes God has a plan for my life and yes He's gonna use whatever decisions I make to fufill that plan as long as I'm following Him. A few weeks later..I went to BigStuf in Daytona. This was another simply amazing God-filled week where God really gave me peace about these decisions I've made. Romans 8:28 "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose." I adore this verse. It shows me that yes I'm not perfect and yes I'm going to mess up BUT yes there is a God who loves me and makes all things work together for my good. He WANTS me to succeed and proclaim His name in this life. And I've really just learned that it doesn't matter which school I go to or what job I have. I can live for Jesus wherever I am. So whenever you're stressing about decisions. Just pray about it. God will answer you--but that involves you listening to Him. And whenever you think you've messed up, just remember that God can always use you to better His kingdom, you just have to let Him. I leave you with this, lyrics to my new favorite song:
Oh My God, He will not delay! My refuge and strength, always. I will NOT fear. His promise is true. My God will come through always, ALWAYS.


SideNote: I went to the Rome Braves game last night with the Sixes UMC youth. It was so fun, they won! And we got stalked and creeped on by the mascot, Romey. Somewhat terrifying, but very funny(: Here are some pictures from the night!

I See Your Face In Every Sunrise

 

Let me start off with a bit of intro--I have never been a morning person. I am always the one to enjoy my sleep. I have never been a beach person. The combination of sun [aka sunburn], sand [aka annoying], and scary aquatic animals [aka jellyfish, stingrays, sharks, etc.] just never seemed appealing to me. But God has shown me something: when it comes to witnessing His beauty and His glory-you will become a morning person as well as a beach person. This beauty that I am speaking of...I found have found to be the sunrise. Waking up early to start your day out by witnessing something truly full of so much awe and wonder has proven to be completely worth it to me. Just think about how faithful the sunrise is. Every single day. It rises without fail. But yet every single day the sunrise looks different. Seriously, you know how they say no two snowflakes look the same? Well no two sunrises look the same either. Trust me, I've seen a lot this summer. And every single one that I've seen NEVER fails to amaze me. It's like all of God's power and glory and majesty and faithfulness just wrapped up into one display of His wonder. I can't even explain it. The best I can do to explain it..is these pictures. They're all from different places including Myrtle Beach, St. Augustine, and Daytona Beach. So take a look and soak in His beauty and give Him all the praise and glory.