Objective: Make You Whole.

It's happening, once again. The big, giant, icky, smelly knot is striking into the hearts of the ones that are broken. I don't think I'll ever understand stand why when we feel we are finally back on our feet, this knot comes through and yanks us right back down.  We get so consumed by the thoughts of this knot that we begin to look at other ways to escape from its grip. We then begin to question God. We ask him "Why did you let this happen? Why are you letting it still effect me?" Or anger gets out of control. We start to turn on our loved ones, we blame them for not being able to save us, we begin to aim all the heartache towards them. And for what reason? Is it because we are lost, broken and alone? Is it because they're the closest ones to us, and they can't leave us like the rest did? There's no logic or explanation as to why we hurt the ones we love most. However, there is one person that we can give EVERYTHING to, all the heartache, all the thoughts, all the misery. That person? That person is Jesus Christ. 

You see God sent his ONLY son down to die for us so that we can live a life of redemption, forgiveness, and a life without fear. No fear, no fear of the future, no fear of the past. A life without fear and with all the redemption possible. Mind boggling, isn't it? God put us in this life and allowed these struggles cause he knows you can overcome them. You are gonna become even more stronger than what you already are. Healing is in store, you just gotta shop around for a bit. 

 “God wants to make you whole. He doesn’t want you to spend the rest of your life hurting" -Joyce Meyer

Death.

I've endured many deaths, but none like this. All my relatives that have passed were long lived and ready to soar. Uncle John wasn't.

The man who claimed to have a huge impact in raising me is now gone. I remember our last conversation so vividly. It was over a year ago, he had a gigantic black and blue foot from a motorcycle accident. As soon as I walked through the door, he embraced me with his arms and his warm words "Gosh, my Bailey Girl is so big." We spoke for what felt like hours and hours as if no one else was in the room. As I left, I told him I'd be down for the summer so we could do a project together.

But here I am, over a year later wondering, why God? Uncle John was sooo dear to my heart. Why is he gone? Why didn't I go visit him? Why can't I stop replaying memories in my head with him and Aunt Dorthy? It's not fair.

God has a plan. Uncle John is with him now, safe, sound, pain free, and happy. He will always be with me. I love you Uncle John.

Promises.

We've all got it. We've all got our big, giant, icky, smelly knot. A knot that has impacted our lives in ways that we didn't think were possible. Our life has been picked up, rolled down a hill, and dropped into an alley. You face a constant struggle to stay positive; so you reminisce on the old times hoping that they save you. But in the end, they seize to exist.

My memories consist of: three-day-weekends at a cabin with fresh spring water swimming by, lazy days sitting in a beanbag playing "Halo Reach" from sunrise to sunset, long physically draining hikes in preparation for even larger hikes, and romping through the forest in our truck. All the memories are ones I wish I could hold on and experience for the rest of my life, but let's me honest... That big, giant, icky, smelly knot took that wish away. 

Why am I making you begin to think about these heart-tugging memories? Well you see, there are promises. Promises that are utterly and completely satisfying to those that drench their souls into and with them. 

Promise 1: There's a plan for you. Yes, I know you're going through a terrible time. You're probably thinking to yourself, no one understands, no one gets it, and no one gets me. I've heard it all and I've thought it all. Here's something to recognize, no thought can out stand the truth and the hope that is found in God's promise to us about where we're going in the midst of this hardship. 

     Jeremiah 29:11 reads: "For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope" 

Promise 2: You were given this life, this hardship, to endure because you are strong enough. When a curve ball is thrown and this big, giant, icky, smelly knot hits you in the face; we, by human nature, think this is too big for me to handle. There's absolutely no way I can get through this and if I do get through this there's no way I'll continue to survive. Right? No, Wrong. 

     Isaiah 49:29-31 reads

He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.

Promise 3: You are eternally and unconditionally loved. As females, even as males, we can struggle with loneliness. I know, loneliness is an awfully isolating and consuming feeling. We seem to have it in our minds that "no one can love someone like me." Our hearts and our expectations get so incredibly tampered with in today's world. We see posts on social media labeling: power couples, relationship goals, homecoming proposals and even prom proposals. All these small, yet complex factors point us to loneliness; however, they fail to point us to God's love for us.

     Romans 8:38-39 reads

And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

How mind blowing is it to figure out that this big, giant, icky, smelly knot does not and will not dictate our life? There is a plan that is uniquely crafted for each individual. There is an intangible amount of strength with us, we just gotta unlock it. Finally, there's an undeserving bundle of  love that covers us and seeks us out every moment, every second, every minute and every hour of every day. These are promises. Promises that have the power to save you, you just have to believe in them. 

Death and life are in the power of the tongue (words)

Inspired.

Today I realized I had an hour to kill before picking up my little sister. What on earth was I going to do for an hour? I seemed to have figured it out because soon enough I found myself at QT satisfying my craving for an ice-filled 32oz. of Mountain Dew. That I must say, was an amazing thirst quencher. After sitting in my car for fifteen minutes pondering what to do for the remainder of the time, I proceeded into my church parking lot. Knowing my youth pastor is on campus, I quickly got out of my car, locked in up and headed into his office. As time went by we found ourselves discussing my future: what I'm going to major in, where I'm going to school, what my passions are, etc. That very conversation brought me here.

Hello bloggers, readers, skeptics. I'm looking forward to this next chapter in my life where I welcome you all into the inner-working of my mind. 

Death and life are in the power of the tongue (words)