Into his hands, we commit our spirit.

"Into his hands, we commit our spirit." 

    I know, sounds "churchy" or like "christian lingo". Even though we may say this a lot, it doesn't mean we are truly living that way. Such as with dieting "tomorrow will be the day" or with family "ill just shoot them a text and hope everything's alright" and especially in our dependency of The Lord. It always seems to be said but not always followed through with.  

    Really, think about it. How many times when around Christian friends or in a church setting do you say "yup, giving it all to The Lord, leaving it at the foot of the cross" when knowing that isn't the case? Well, for many of us in this culture it is the norm. I find it important to take time and really express my hearts desire for others, who are also in a desiring affair with The Lord to grasp this. 

Why is this important anyways? (Isaiah 40:6-8)
    Being a Christian and understanding this is vital. Life is full of uncertainty. Things and people leave before we can even blink. We day in and day out have to make decision, for every decision leads to an outcome. Which the outcome and be a great thing or a horrible thing, completely up to how you decide. So, why is it important? Well I just gave you my answer, things fade and change. Sometimes because of one decision or action, our life changes and we need consistency  Our bodies are literally crying out for something that is true and constant. In Isiah 40:6-8 it proves to us this exact thing. 

(6) A voice says, "Cry!" And I said, "What shall I cry?"

All flesh is grass, and all its beauty is like a flower of the field. 

(7) The grass withers and the flower fades when the breath of The Lord blows on it; Surely the people are grass. 

(8)The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever. 

How do I do that in my everyday life? (Psalm 112:7, Psalm 37:3-6, Psalm 141:8)

    To do this in your everyday life will look different for everyone. Yet scripture gives us an amazing way to do it and with that We need to first not be afraid of evil tidings and set our hearts upon The Lord. Keeping your heart pure, really allows for your vision to be clear and for you to keep your eyes set on The Lord. Which Psalm 112:7 tells us to do.

(7) He shall not be afraid of evil tidings; his heart is firmly fixed, trusting in the Lord. 

    Also, in committing our heart to be pure, we need to commit our way to The Lord. Besides our heart being committed we can commit how we live, how we spread the gospel and why we live our lives. We are the only people who decided how our lives go and what we do. Therefore if we do what Psalm 37:3-6 tells us to do, we will be on the right track. 
 

(3-6) Commit your way to the Lord; 
trust in him, and he will act. 
He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, 
and your justice as the noonday. 
 

   Last but definitely not least, what is important is to not only keep your heart pure, your ways pure but also keeping your eyes on The Lord. When you stay focused on The Lord and The Lord alone, everything else should change and move into place. It tells us to keep our eyes focused in Psalm 141:8
 

(8) But my eyes are toward You, O God the Lord; in You do I trust and take refuge; pour not out my life nor leave it destitute and bare.

In all of these things I conclude with these words:

    "Into his hands, we commit our spirit." seems to be something that is branded on my heart. It is obvious that there is so much I really do not understand. I know The Lord has prepared me with his word and he is all I need in every decision and all ways of life. 

     How are you doing in committing your spirit to his hands? Are you furthering the gospel on your own strength and forgetting that The Lord is our refuge  Are you saying one thing but really doing another? As this week continues I pray you seek the Lord out of Psalm 31. There are so many verses I could do a blog post on, take a nugget and stick it in your pocket for later.....

Thrifting is Winning.

I went thrifting on April 6th and thought I would share some of my finds! There were definitely some winning ones. Try not to drool and enjoy!

 I love these cameras, one actually still has film in it. I cannot wait to see whats on it. 

 Even though this doesn't fit the cameras I got, its so rad I couldn't not get it.

 Hello vintage glass milk glasses. 

I can not get enough of these. 

 Stunningly Simple. 

She is by far my favorite designer. 

 I am in LOVE. I want them all....

 I mean, look at the beautiful craftsmanship.

 I might a screamed a little, common. Who wouldn't??

 Scarfs, Scarfs, Scarfs. 

Um. Yes, please and thank you. 

I hope this happy Friday post leaves you with a joyful feeling. Praying for safety for all of my readers! Have a safe and fun weekend!! Remember to lean upon the LORD and to remember the little things. 

SWEET Baby Shower.

Hello Friends, 
    Last post was incredibly important to me and something I really needed to do. I hope it really allowed some of you to think about your life and what YOUR doing with it for the gospel. Even so, get ready for picture overload!! I was able to bless and support one of my best friends, mentor, and sister in Christ. She is due soon so we did a Shabby Chic baby shower for her. I always say i'm going to take a million pictures, but of course time gets away and that doesn't happen often. Here are some of the ones I did catch on the fly!

 

 

 

 

I am so blessed to be best friends with this woman and I hope you had all the fun I did looking at at these pictures and seeing that great big smile!! How your weekend is as SWEET as this party!! 

The funk. The mist.

Hello Fellow Friends.

It's April, can you believe it? I know, it's weird to think about how fast March went by. I literally dont remember much of it. All I remember is working and school. There was fun St. Patricks day parties and things that made me smile but none that come before the memories of school or work, lame, right?

Anyways, I write all that to say this. I'm in a funk. Not so much a "I'm depressed funk" or "My life is horrible funk" just a....funk? Is that weird that I cant describe it? Yeah well, try being in it! I think the funk all started when I heard something i've heard a million times. Are you ready?

"Your life is a vapor, a mist. Literally that fast and short."

Silly right? Silly that I would be in such a funk from that one sentence. Yet its SO true. My life literally is a mist or a vapor. Im here for one minute and gone the next. In the grand scheme of things my life is a tiny grain of sand on the beach.

--> James 4:14

"Yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes."

 

Even the bible, holy truth that is God breathed tells us what our life is. The Message, even though im not a fan of it, says we are like fog. New English Translation says we are a puff of smoke.

 

I looked up the average time vapor, smoke, fog and or mist lasts and depending on which one we are specifically talking about they last literally an average of 10 seconds. Im NOT kidding. The put me in an even deeper funk. Thinking more and more about my life and what I am doing/want to do with it. With "10 seconds"? 

 

This years goals from back in January are still the same...

 

To strive toward the gospel constantly-
In everything I do, everything I say my goal is to have a heart that is striving towards what God has done for me. I refuse to be stagnant and I never want to feel like I have been lazy.
"Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel."
Philippians 1:26-28
To fear God constantly-
Everyday I want to wake up fearing the Lord. I of course need to be in equal thought that the Lord is loving and truly cares for me. I firmly believe that we as a generation do not fear God in such a way to where we realize his power. God is such a mighty, huge creator we need to remember that he has made the plans for us and knows all of the everything.
"For great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods."
1 Chronicles 16:24-26
To give constantly-
This coming year I want to give in more ways than previously. Not only in the financial sense, but in deed for the gospel, in giving thanks for more things and giving God everything, not just metaphorically.
"Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, givingthanks to God the Father through him."
Colossians 3:16-18
 

Spring is normally the time "New Years Resolutions" start fading, well I dont want that for me. I want my @013 goals to keep happening. Especially if my life is a vapor, mist, fog or a puff of smoke. I am reminded today how precious my time to share the gospel is with those around me and I am Thankful for this funk. In this funk I am spending time praying and seeking.

 

What are you doing with...

 

Your Life?

Your Mist?

Your Vapor?

Your Fog?

YOUR Puff of Smoke?

 

 

 

Praying you are chinging the world for the Gospel, you are keeping Christ as the foundation of your everyday and to love those around you for his glory.

 

Until next time,

 

 

Pray without ceasing.

Going through a season is hard, but it's worth it......right?

Currently dear friends I am going through a season. 

Not just a "season" but a truly life changing season. 

If I could tell you all I would, for now I am asking you bathe me in prayer. 

Please be praying for me, and my heart in this time of change. 

Daily I am reminded of this simple truth.....

If God is good when we are happy, if God is good when we are comfortable why isn't he good when we're not?  In times of trouble, unsure hearts, when we are restless is when we need to lean on the Lord. Not just lean on the Lord but truly rest at his feet and say "Lord I need you, YOU are my rock and without you I am NOTHING." Dear friends, in times of chaos, like where I am now, it is time to pray without ceasing. 

"All good leaders PRAY first and PLAN second." 

I am in a part of my walk where leaning on the Lord is ESSENTIAL.

Our God is good in times of struggle, joy and all the in between. 

My dear friends I hope this reminds you of the Lords love for us and how much we need him on a daily basis. How much we need to pray to him and lean on his understanding. 

Quiet Times are Good.

Hello. Hello. Hello. 

My dear friends, it has been a month. This blog has been quiet and it has been wonderful. 

Honestly, I feel like the first month into the new year with my 2013 goals I should have posted more. 

A lot more. 

Sometimes I say silly things like, "no one reads it so its fine." Sometimes things like "well I have other important priorities and this needs to just be forgotten." Although my dear friends, during this time of quiet I have come to some amazing conclusions. 

This blog is not for you. 

This blog is not about you. 

This blog isn't even technically about me. 

This blog is to glorify the LORD and the amazing things he has blessed me with. 

I want this blog to glorify the LORD all the time not matter what, whether it has a recipe, pictures from my weekend or a very deep thoughts. It always needs to come back to the gospel. Such as in my own life. 

  During my quiet times I have really had an amazing time, I turned 20 and have had many adventures in that month. God has been absolutely amazing and has directed me in so many new ways, it still shocks me telling you about it. 

    Currently I am learning about my identity. Learning and being refined in the idea that my identity is now how i serve, where I serve but WHO I serve. Yes, that's right I after about 7 years of being a christian I am still struggling with this. It comes and goes, but has always been deeply rooted and for the 335497465th time it has come up I am finally dealing with it. Actually filing through why I immerse myself in serving and why I have made that my identity. 

     This blog will be getting a beautiful update soon. Probably in like 2 or 3 months. It just needs a new face lift and am ready for a solid change. Just as the LORD is refining and changing me as a woman of God I am changing this blog. I want to look back and see those fun memories or yummy recipes but ultimately see the LORD as the center. I consider this my journal for the public. A look into my life, therefore I will start sharing a little more about my life with you. Jesus shared his life with people he knew and pointed all glory to the father.  

     As I leave you all with this little tid bit of information here is a reminder for the rest of your busy, fun, amazing, chaotic, exhausting, lovely, wonderful week......

2012 Memories and 2013 Goals

Hearing from me again dear friends, shocking this soon. I know. I wanted to do a post about some of my favorite memories of 2012 and looking forward to 2013.

Memories//
Having my first "modern" Polaroid.
Getting my new camera bag.
The many cuddles with my cat.
Snow in March.
Hunger Games and friend dates.
All the beautiful sunsets.
Easter egg fun.
Being crafty, a lot.
Ladies tea dance number.
Little Creek casino night.
Graduations galore.
My car being written on.
Many Sushi dates.
Starting my job at Starbucks.
Summer campfires.
Vacation Bible School.
Fourth of July.
Spending a week with Phoebe.
Summer camp.
Bash in the grass.
Being closer to God.
Getting a new toe ring.
Doing my first sock bun.
Halloween fun.
Monday night bible study.
Yakima Volleyball tournament.
New Christmas Music.
Finding a cool new coffee shop.
Thanksgiving fun.
Black Friday madness.
Candy making.
Decorating for Christmas.
First hockey game EVER.
Gingerbread homes.
Many needed girl nights.

        I have spent a lot of time thinking about the past and 2012 has been a year full of trials and hard times, I was SO blessed!! I love remembering the good things and the great, now it is time to look forward. Unlike many of you, my dear friends I really do not like New Years Resolutions. I think they are pointless, based solely on emotion and never really get done anyways.

       I feel like we should not wait for one pivotal night or moment to make changes for our lives, I feel like we all need to be continuously striving for life change both for the gospel and personal life change. Ambition to do something such as change how we eat, how much we read our bibles, or how we treat people is definitely a good thing, in fact it's great. Many times things like that go one of two ways. Either these things consume us and we are not letting the most important thing consume us. OR we just forget and stop caring which means we are stagnant.

So, my goals in which will alter and possibly change as I do, throughout the year look a little like this//

To strive toward the gospel constantly-
In everything I do, everything I say my goal is to have a heart that is striving towards what God has done for me. I refuse to be stagnant and I never want to feel like I have been lazy. 
      "Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel."
Philippians 1:26-28 


To fear God constantly-
Everyday I want to wake up fearing the Lord. I of course need to be in equal thought that the Lord is loving and truly cares for me. I firmly believe that we as a generation do not fear God in such a way to where we realize his power. God is such a mighty, huge creator we need to remember that he has made the plans for us and knows all of the everything.
      "For great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods."
1 Chronicles 16:24-26 

To give constantly-
This coming year I want to  give in more ways than previously. Not only in the financial sense, but in deed for the gospel, in giving thanks for more things and giving God everything, not just metaphorically. 
      "Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, givingthanks to God the Father through him."
Colossians 3:16-18

My fellow friends, from the words of Mr. Ford:
“You can’t build a reputation on what you’re going to do.”
-Henry Ford