Monday, October 24, 2016

I often question my ability to write. It could have something to do with the fact that I am terrible with grammar, or it could be my overall insecurity and the comparison trap I've fallen into. Either way, I need to push back the question of whether or not I am a good writer or even meant to be one and go forward with my life...and write.
I often question my ability to sing, as well. It could have something to do with the fact that I do not know or yet understand the terms people use with singing, or it could be my overall insecurity and the comparison trap I've fallen into. Either way, I need to push back the question of whether or not I am a good singer or even meant to be one and go forward with my life...and sing.
I often question my ability to live life. It could have something to do with the fact that I've never gone through life before, or it could be my overall insecurity and the comparison trap I've fallen into. Either way, I must push back the question of whether or not I'm cut out for this life thing and do my best to go forward with my life...and live.
I could go on, but I think you get the point. So I'm insecure. But God will help me through this.

Tuesday, October 18, 2016

I have a dream...


or two, or three. And don't you dare tell me they aren't possible. Because I know if I really try, I can accomplish anything.
With God all things are possible. Matthew 19:26
I want to be an author.
And a midwife.
And a sign language interpreter (for music).
I want to go on hundreds of mission trips, whether they are going half way around the world or just going to the grocery store.
I want to visit orphanages and sing (with a guitar) to the children.
I want to sing and play piano at my church.
I want to play the violin.
I want to be a small group leader.
I want to get married and have a bunch of children and raise them to be God-followers.
I want to homeschool my children.
I want to adopt.
And so much more.

The things I want to do--the things I want to be--are unlimited and unstoppable. Nobody can stop me from dreaming. And nobody can stop you either. We can't let everyone else decide for us what we can and can't do or be. We can do all things through Christ. Not some things. As Christians, we have no limit. With Christ, we are unstoppable.
Lets not let anything stand in our way today. Go and do. Go and be. And stand with God at all times.

Thursday, October 6, 2016

Things Above: When Your Thoughts Are Out of Your Control



Yet I am confident I will see the Lord's goodness while I am here in the land of the living. Psalm 27:13
At night,
I look up at the stars
and I see the Lord's handy work.
During the day,
I look around at the trees,
the grass,
the birds,
and the bees.
Again,
I see the Lord's handy work.
During the night,
I lay awake,
afraid
of what tomorrow might bring
and I shudder.
What do you do
when the night haunts you?
You fix your thoughts
on things above.
Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Philippians 4:8
 God is true,
He is honorable,
and right,
and pure,
and lovely,
and admirable.
He is excellent
and worthy of praise.
So why
is it so hard
to think about such things?
Instead,
 I find myself thinking
of unworthy things.
Things that come from the evil one:
his lies,
his words,
they steal away at my thoughts,
my mind,
my heart.
But,
"Guard your heart"
they say
and I try.
But what do you do
when the evil one
is coming after you
with such a force
tearing you apart?
You fix your thoughts
on things above.
Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord. Psalm 27:14
But when the waiting gets tough,
what do you do?
You fix your thoughts
on things above.
At night,
I look up at the stars
and I see the Lord's handy work.
During the day,
I look around at the trees,
the grass,
the birds,
and the bees.
Again,
I see the Lord's handy work.
Think about such things
and smile.

My Thoughts: Keep you thoughts away from all the bad in the world. Instead, intentionally seek out the Lord's goodness. Life is hard and its so easy to think about everything that's wrong, but we need to stand strong in our faith, build walls around our minds to keep the evil one from spilling evil thoughts inside, be brave and courageous, and wait for the Lord's perfect timing. Its not going to be easy, but in the end, it'll be worth it.
Since you have been raised to  new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God's right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. Colossians 3:1-2
We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God's throne. Hebrews 12:2
So we don't look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever. 2 Corinthians 4:18
But the one who endures to the end will be saved. Matthew 24:13

Growing Deeper and Deeper and Deeper

So aside from all the drama that's going on in my life (that I am not willing to tell you about at this moment), life isn't so bad. I mean, I've been doing some ancestry search at the library after co-op on Thursdays and that has been incredible! I love searching ancestry stuff. : ) The boys are starting to get into a fabulous routine! I've started a "Growing Deep" personal devotion thing that is going beautifully. We started it in our youth group as a thing we have to complete if we want to go on a mission trip to Mexico in January, but I'm not doing it just to go on the mission trip. I'm excited to use it as a way to get closer to my God and I'm loving it so far! Soon my small group will be starting a devotion called, "Brazen." I'm super excited about that because I am super insecure and this is supposed to help us become secure and release our inner brazen : ) I love it!

Oh, and tomorrow night is a lock-in at my church. I'll be going to that too. We'll see how that goes. It starts at 7pm and goes till 6 in the morning. I'm excited, but I'm going to be SO tired.
So there you go. A nicer update on my life. See, its not bad here at all <3
Love you guys!
God Bless, Amy Kathleen