Living Proof

Heather and I had the privilege of attending an amazing event this past weekend. We waffled over whether or not we should spend the money and go; in the end we decided we wouldn't regret going. If you haven't heard of Beth Moore, you need to change that immediately. The event this weekend was incredible. Travis Cottrell led worship and Beth Moore taught a one-of-a-kind and life-changing Bible study.

This woman is an inspiration! Beth has a beautiful heart for the Lord. She shared a beautiful and touching message. I truly believe God spoke through Beth to every woman [and man] this weekend. She speaks unique messages to each city she visits. In Boise she spoke about "Hinderance."

The verse of the weekend was from Hebrews 12:1 [ESV], "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race set before us."

The NIV translation it says, "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us THROW OFF everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us" [My emphasis added].

What would it look like to live our lives the way they were meant to be lived? UNHINDERED! We are to THROW away everything that hinders us! We have a choice to throw it off. I can refuse to let it hinder what I can do before Christ.

John 16:33 says, "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

We can't live our lives without hurt, but we can lives our lives unhindered.

There is so much that I'm still processing from this weekend. It was pretty incredible! If you have a chance to see Beth Moore you should definitely do it! Check out the events schedule [HERE] and see if she's coming to your city [or somewhere close]! Also, check out her store for books, devotions, etc. [HERE].

All the Single Ladies…

I haven't talked about it before on my blog but The Royal Wedding hubbub has got me thinking a lot lately about relationships and my own “status.”

You may not know this, but I’m a VIP member of the Single Ladies club. I consider myself an expert in the area, seeing as I’ve been single, um…my entire life. I’ve read my fair share of books on the subject [see below], I’ve listened to enough Taylor Swift and watched enough Sex & The City to know how it works.

While I’ve never had a boyfriend [yes, I’m 25 years old and never had a boyfriend], I’ve had my share of guy friends [gone wrong] and heartbreak. If your definition of a date is going somewhere [dinner, movie, event] with a member of the opposite sex [who also pays for you], then I’ve been on a few of those. Although, I don’t know if the dude[s] would consider it “dating.” But then again, I don’t think they considered a lot of things regarding our relationship[s]/friendship[s]. Not my point…whatever.

How many of you girls, women watched the Royal Wedding? I wasn’t able to, but Heather gave me a full rundown [see her blog post HERE]. It was like a fairytale. I feel safe to say that it was every girl and woman’s dream. Who doesn’t want to be a princess? To have your prince come for you and live happily ever after? Women have the innate desire for their own Prince Charming…or whatever version of your dream guy.

It says in Genesis 3:15-17 [NIV], “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.” To the woman he said, “I will make your pains in childbearing very severe; with painful labor you will give birth to children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you.” To Adam he said, “Because you listened to your wife and ate fruit from the tree about which I commanded you, ‘You must not eat from it,’ “Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat food from it all the days of your life.”

We were created with this desire and I, for one, can speak of its tremendous presence in my own life. I recommend reading Captivating [see below] to learn more about and better understand some of the deepest desires of a woman’s heart.

I constantly struggle with this desire and turning it over to God. Psalm 37:4 [NIV] says, “Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.”

Easier said than done. I’m not really looking for advice in this. I’ve heard it ALL before. I’ve got the head knowledge. It’s a matter of reminding my heart from time-to-time. For example, I’ve heard this many times, but I easily forget that being married doesn’t make you happy it just makes you married. A person [man or woman] needs to be comfortable and confident in whom they are before any kind of relationship can work.

Carrie: After he left, I cried for a week. And then I realized I do have faith: faith in myself, faith that I would one day meet someone who would be sure that I was the one.

Carrie: But the most exciting, challenging and significant relationship of all is the one you have with yourself. And if you can find someone to love the you you love, well, that's just fabulous.

I’m lucky that I have such great examples in my life of what true love and real relationships are supposed to be. At the same time, it’s hard when there seems to be couples together all the time. It’s one of those things that stands out to you more when you’re in that situation. That’s where I’m at right now. Everywhere I turn there’s someone else with a new boyfriend or girlfriend, people getting married, having babies [well, that’s part of my job] and so on. It’s in my face constantly! I’m not saying I want to get married and have babies tomorrow. I also know that any relationship isn't going to be perfect because we're all humans. But I do long for the day when it will be my turn.

"The alone people don’t want to hear about the together people." –Grey’s Anatomy

Carrie: I hate it when you're at a dinner party and they all look at you like you're a-
Charlotte: Loser?
Miranda: Leper?
Samantha: Whore?

Someone recently told me that you’re never lonely if you surround yourself with good people. I’m so thankful for my wonderful family and friends, especially my girlfriends. I can share my heart with them and know that they’ll accept me and love me know matter what.

Carrie: Maybe our girlfriends are our soulmates and guys are just people to have fun with.

I’ve made my share of mistakes and turned to guys because I was lonely [and depressed]. At the time I convinced myself that even if this guy wasn’t the one, he was a friend and having someone to hold you was better than feeling alone. Or it was better than feeling alone by yourself. Long story short, I’m in the same place, as far as being alone, and now I have one less friend.

What do you do when you feel like that? It’s a process, turning it over to God instead of taking matters into your own hands. I can’t dwell on my “status”. I need to focus on living and being ME.

I’m not quite sure what else to say. It’s hard to translate what your heart feels into words. To all you other Single Ladies out there, I’ll be praying for you. I know I’m not the only one who feels like this. I know what it’s like to be the third fifth seventh wheel. We have the same hearts’ desire: we want to be loved.

I’d like to give a shout out to Beyoncé for giving all of us Single Ladies an anthem we can dance to with our girlfriends.

Here’s a list of a few books I’ve read on the subject of relationships [or lack thereof]. Please let me know if you have questions about any of them or would like a suggestion.

Captivating by Stasi Eldredge
I Kissed Dating Goodbye by Joshua Harris
Boy Meets Girl by Joshua Harris
The Journey of Desire by John Eldredge
Discipline by Elisabeth Elliot
Passion and Purity by Elisabeth Elliot
Radiant by Marian Jordan
Wilderness Skills for Women by Marian Jordan
The List by Marian Jordan
Sex & The City Uncovered by Marian Jordan
Love Talk by Les Parrott
Relationships by Les Parrott
For Women Only by Shaunti Feldhahn
Lady In Waiting by Jackie Kendall
And The Bride Wore White by Dannah Gresh
I Gave Dating A Chance by Jeramy Clark
The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman
Anticipatience by Sharon Virkler
Wait For Me by Rebecca St James

I want to be beautiful
Make you stand in awe
Look inside my heart,
and be amazed
I want to hear you say
Who I am is quite enough
Just want to be worthy of love
And beautiful
-Beautiful by Bethany Dillon

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peace and hope

"Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit whom he has given us.

You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation."

Romans 5:1-11 (NIV) [emphasis added]

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Seen It, Heard It, Read It

SEEN IT

1. Curly Sue



I loved watching this when I was little. Curly Sue is such a sassy little girl. My favorite line from the movie has to be, "Slap my butt, no way!" Haha! It's funny, but also sweet. It's a classic.

2. The Goonies



Heyyy you guys! Who doesn't love The Goonies? It was hilarious to watch this with my parents! Even though they'd seen it before, it had been a long time and everything was so much funnier.

3. The Closer, Season One and Season Two





Since my family doesn't have cable, I've missed this show like crazy! I'm so sad that it's not on Instant Netflix, but luckily the library has it. I love Deputy Chief Brenda Lee Johnson!

HEARD IT

1. Taylor Swift: Speak Now



I swear that every single album Taylor makes is amazing! I finally just got this one a couple weeks ago. She is so down-to-earth and honest. I love that she writes her own songs. Her music is relatable, real and fun.

2. Mumford and Sons: Sigh No More

I don't think I can even begin to say how much I love this! I want to wrap myself in it's sweet goodness. It's glorious!

3. Tyrone Wells: Metal and Wood



I've already expressed how much I love Tyrone! I don't think there's much more to say. This is one cd that I could never get tired of listening to.

READ IT

1. Between a Rock and a Hard Place by Aron Ralston



I finished this a couple days ago and oh my goodness!! Although parts of it made me sick to my stomach, it was so emotional and powerful! I definitely think everyone should read it. Read quickly through the gross parts, but read it. I really want to see the movie now, but I'm kind of nervous I'll get sick. I think I might make myself go and pray for my stomach because I know it'll be worth it.

This is one of my favorite quotes from the book.


2. Romans 14 (The Message)



We read this passage last week in Bible Study. My mom and I started laughing in the middle of it, because of my recent change to being vegetarian. Obviously the passage is not just about eating meat or not, but it was interesting to read after I've made this change, because it came with a change in perspective. This is one of the things that isn't black and white in the Bible. This is about respecting each other, not judging others for their choices, and not being a stumbling block for others with the choices you make. I love reading different versions of it. Check out The Message version HERE and the New International Version HERE.

3. Kendi Everyday



Heather introduced me to this blog a month or so ago. It's easily become one of my new favorite blogs to read. She's cute, stylish, down-to-earth and fun! Her 30 by 30 Remixes are inspiring! I think Heather and I might do our own versions of 30 for 30 starting in January.

Inspiration

One of my assignments this week is to make a photo collage for my Photoshop class (we learned about layers this week). Of course, I'm supposed to use my own images. I had some ideas in my head, but wasn't sure how or what to do exactly. I ended up going out into my backyard and snapping some pictures, just so I had something to start playing with. The gate was the first collage I made and the flower was second. I'm not quite sure what I think yet, or which one I will submit. This is my first attempt at anything like this on Photoshop. Let me know what you think.

streams in the wasteland

This is what the Lord says-

he who made a way through the seas,

a path through the mighty waters,

who drew out the chariots and horses,

the army and reinforcements together,

and they lay there, never to rise again,

extinguished, snuffed out like a wick:

"Forget the former things;

do not dwell on the past.

See, I am doing a new thing!

Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?

I am making a way in the desert

and streams in the wasteland.

The wild animals honor me,

the jackals and the owls,

because I provide water in the desert

and streams in the wasteland,

to give drink to my people, my chose,

the people I formed for myself

that they may proclaim my praise."

Isaiah 43:16-21

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