Many people I know, right now, are going through pain. The amount of prayer requests are unbelievable & it is awesome so many people are turning to Christ in their time of pain and hardship. I took a week off writing, because I felt pain too. I doubted God's plans. And I just didn't feel good. I thought to myself, "how can I write about faith and relationship's with Jesus, when I'm doubting God's plans myself." There have been multiple deaths recently and all I could do was ask God why this was happening. I don't know the exact reason, but I do know that 15 people had given their life to Christ after the loss of one. 20 more people gave their life to Christ after the loss of one more. It doesn't lessen the pain, but to know that 35 people have a better understanding of God and have been saved is awesome. And also I keep telling myself, " the God on the mountain, is still God in the valley." There are many other things I'm sure you are going through, have gone through, or will go through that will make you wonder how this could be the right plan for your life. However, there is one thing I want you to know. Do NOT take one single breath or day for granted. God can take it away from you in an instant. We aren't guaranteed another day, another year, or another breath. One Wednesday when I went to church, my youth pastor preached about struggles you may face and how you will conquer them. He talked about how at times there were multiple faithful servants, and their faith was put to the test. At that time, my life was going dandy. I didn't relate, at the moment. I didn't have a struggle that I was facing, but I knew I would eventually. Just a few short weeks later, and I am facing that struggle/test. I have to keep telling myself that I have to pass the test. I cannot get angry at God and question His ways. I have to praise God in the storm. It is always so much easier to praise God in victory and in happy times. It is in times of hardship, that your faith is truly revealed. I have come to the conclusion, sometimes it's just not part of God's plan to part those waters that I want parted. The mountain you want moved, might not be in God's plan to be moved. The door that slammed in your face, slammed in your face for a reason, and it isn't in God's plan for that door to be open. However, all things work together for our good. God is carving out a perfect path and future for us. There isn't a day He hasn't already seen. He knows the struggles and adversity that we will go through. How we react to that adversity, will show how strong our faith and trust is in Him. Love to all. - ali b.
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Recently, I have learned one, totally important, lesson. Humans will fail you daily! God is the only one who can satisfy you and comfort you completely. Then, I got to thinking. We tend to try to buy our happiness. Money will not satisfy you. Many friends will not satisfy you. Alcohol, drugs, and partying will not satisfy you in the end.
However, I have good news. Our God will satisfy our needs every time. Our God provides. Earlier, I mentioned humans will fail us daily. That is absolutely true. I try to be a great friend, daughter, and classmate, but in the end, I will fail you. Because I am imperfect. I can try my very best, but I can not insert true happiness inside of you. I cannot personally feel the kind of pain you feel, eating away inside of you. As much as I would like to, I can't ease the pain away. Our God can. I will make mistakes. You will not agree with all of my actions, as I'm sure I wouldn't agree with all of yours. That's okay. We are humans. We mess up. We make mistake. I have some good friends, but they will fail me. It's inevitable. I know they will not personally try and fail. I will not personally try and fail others, however, I will. In these times, we should turn to the one whom we can always trust and call on. God. We pray to Him. We pray not only for Him to mend us back together, but for Him to mend our friends back together. Prayer goes, where humans cannot. I have an unspoken prayer request and your prayers would be greatly appreciated. 2 Corinthians 12:9, NIV But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Psalm 147:3, ESV He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. These are two Bible versus that make me feel so much better. My favorite is 2 Corinthians 12:9, when He said my grace is sufficient for you. That is exactly what I'm talking about, when I say, only God can suffice. God is the master of restoration. Cry out to the Lord and He will give you comfort. Be A Voice. One other thing I want to share with you, it's okay to feel like you do not fit in. You were not made to fit in. You were made to stand out, be different and original. I am going to be totally honest and say, I feel like I don't fit in. I go to school, go to cheer practice, do things normal teenage girls would do, but I wouldn't say I fit in. And honestly, I'm done trying. I hangout with friends and socialize, but I don't fit in with the crowd and I'm okay with that. I wasn't made for this life, I have something greater awaiting me, Heaven. Three things I want you to walk away from this blog knowing are the following:
I take prayer requests. If you click the prayer request tab, it'll send it straight to me, where I can pray for you. This information will not be shared with anyone else. I'm praying for you all and love you all more than you could ever know
Summer is vastly approaching and that means every woman in America is trying to lose weight. If you were expecting this article to be something like all those infomercials, "how to lose weight in 30 days" or "burn a couple calories by the second.", you aren't going to find anything like that and you've been tricked. Hahaha Before you click off, hear me out. Most women would say they care about their outside appearance. That's so okay. What's not okay is when you are more concerned with your outside appearances, that you forget about your inside appearance. This summer I want to focus more on enhancing my inside appearance. Sure, we would all like be a size 00, but that isn't important. Each and every person is made unique and in their own way. When I leave this world, I want to leave a legacy behind. When people look back and remember me, I doubt they will remember me by my fit body that I had in the summer of 2017. Ladies, you are worth more than that number on the scale. Stop stepping on the scale every day and feeling disappointed in yourself. Stop comparing yourself to other girls. Stop starving yourself at lunch. Stop thinking you have to be good enough to please someone. YOU ARE GOOD ENOUGH. You are perfect the way you are. So yes, eat healthy foods, but eat that donut when you want it. Yes, take a run, but don't push yourself to the point of exhaustion. In the end, it is really not important. Take a good look in the mirror and accept that this is who you are. You are beautiful, unique, and deserve to be happy. True happiness is found in God and within yourself. Every person has different personality traits. However, these are three qualities I want people to notice inside me before they notice my outside appearance. 1. Good Character I want to do right things and make good decisions in life. When you leave this world, people will remember you, by your character. I want to help and serve others. Overall, I want to be a good person: kind, compassionate, and loving. I also want to be brave, strong, and resilient. I want to step outside the norm and do something different. I also want to be able to do things for others discreetly, that no one else knows about, because I know and God knows. That's all that is important. 2. Kindness Kindness never goes out of style. I want to be slow to anger. Instead of acting in haste, I want to act in a loving manner. I want to be a light and let God shine through me. I was asked if I could change one thing about myself what would that be. My answer was forgiveness. As ashamed as I am to admit this, I'll be honest. I do not forgive and forget as quick as I know I should. I have prayed countless prayers asking to forgive as He forgives me. I am getting better about it and don't hold grudges anymore. In order for me to be kind to all, I have to be as forgiving as my Father is to me. He shows me mercy every single day. I'll forever be in debt to Him. 3. Heart of Gold I want a heart that loves as He loves me, forgives as He forgives me, serve as He loves to serve others, and sees things in a way that He sees. I want to be more like God, after all I was created in His image. I want to carry joy with me everywhere I go and uplift others. I want to do anything I can to help someone out. So, this summer, I'm working on bettering myself. I want to become a more positive and happy person. I'm absolutely not going to worry about my summer bod, instead imma worry about me and how I effect others. I might not be a size triple 0, but that's okay. Detox yourself from anything getting in the way of your relationship with God, this summer. Get rid of the scale. Get rid of the crazy boy who makes you feel insecure. Get rid of the negative friendships or anything negative in your life. Do you, and be the best you there can be. I look forward to this summer and bettering myself. - xoxoxo, ali b ❤️ “Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.”
Proverbs 31:30 |
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