January Favorites

January Favorites

I found and fell in love with so many books, songs, and people in the month of January, so I wanted to share all of my new-found love with you!

1. Reckless Devotion by Heidi and Rolland Baker. I stated this devotional this month and I love it so much! In my “A Word for 2017” post, I explained that I wanted to be more loving this year. This book has taken me deep into the reckless and overwhelming love of our savior. I would absolutely recommend this devotional to anybody looking for a new one!
2. Unspoken’s Follow Through Album. I have been looking for the deluxe edition of album since it came out because my local bookstore doesn’t carry it. But, I found it this month and it is so good! I wanted the deluxe edition because my favorite song, “Can’t Deny Your Love”, isn’t on the regular version. This album is so wonderful! Unspoken has made it to the list of my top 10 favorite bands now!
3. Hollyn “Can’t Live Without”. This song just came out on Youtube on January 26, but it is already my favorite Hollyn song. The words are so true and the song itself is so beautiful. Do yourself a favor and go listen to it. It is so worth it!
4. Girl Defined Blog. I have been reading this blog for awhile now, but I really enjoyed the content they have been putting out lately. I loved their post called “Falling in Love With Guys That You Don’t Even Know”. I know so many people are guilty of this (including myself), so I think it is a very important read.
5. I started following @mewmaggieward on instagram and she is so talented. All of her posts are really beautiful, so please go follow her. (And while you are at it, follow @undenable.joy on instagram too, so that you can see everything I am up to.)
6. Also, on a not completely unrelated note, I went and saw La La Land and Hidden Figures this month. 10/10 to both! I would recommend them to anyone.

Do you have any new favorite songs, blogs, books, or instagrams this month? Please share in the comments below! I would love to hear from you!

Top 10 Old Testament Verses

Top 10 Old Testament Verses

The Old Testament is full of wonderful stories of God’s power and grace. There are so many stories and verses that are so important. But, I feel that as Christians, we often disregard what the Old Testament has to say because it is either irrelevant or boring. I decided to share some of my favorite verses from the Old Testament in the hopes to encourage both you and I to dive into God’s word.  

1. Exodus 14:14. This verse states that “the Lord will fight for you, you need only be still.” This verse is such a comfort to me, as well as a great reminder that God has everything in control.  
2. 1 Samuel 16:7. “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” I love this verse because it tells us that God can and will use anyone to do his work.
3. Esther 4:14b. “Who knows if you were made Queen for such a time as this?” This verse is so amazing because it shows us how intricate God’s plans are. He puts us where we need to be, with the people we need, at the right time for a specific reason. Isn’t that amazing!
4. Psalm 36:5-10 “Your steadfast love, O Lord, extends to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds.” This  line is just verse 5 of this passage, but I love the entire thing. It talks about how powerful and great God is. I  love passages of worship because they remind me how wonderful God is.
5. Psalm 51:10 “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” This verse is so important to me. Every day I ask God to renew my spirits so that I can do the works he has set before me. I also ask that he aids me in keeping my heart and mind pure, or free from the influences of evil in this world.
6. Psalm 73:26 “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” This verse is a beautiful reminder that God is all we need. Whenever we cannot do it, God can. We cannot survive on our own, but God is our strength and our substance no matter what.
7. Proverbs 30:7-9 “Two things I ask of you, Lord; do not refuse me before I die: Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’ Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.” This verse reminds me to keep my head about me. I do not need to go running off buying frivolous things when God is all I need. I find it fascinating how this verse looks at both sides of the situation and still decides that the Lord is best.  
8. Song of Songs 4:7 “You are altogether beautiful, my darling; there is no flaw in you.” The love that I feel when I read this verse is so immense. I love thinking that God says this to me. He tells us we were made without fault, truly and undeniably beautiful.
9. Song of Songs 8:4 “Daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you: Do not arouse or awaken love until it so desires.” This verse is so important. It is a reminder to not go and seek love. You do not need a relationship with somebody until you have a relationship with God. Wait on God’s timing and good things will happen.
10. Micah 6:8 “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” The three things listed in this verse sum up everything we are called to do. We are to be just in our actions, not rash or unfair. We are to be merciful and loving to all we come across. Lastly, we are to walk in awe of the amazing God that we serve.

These are 10 of my favorite verses from the Old Testament. What are you favorites? Please comment below! I would love to hear from you!

Worry

Worry

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Matthew 6:25-34

I’m sure we have all been told to not worry when a hardship comes around. People tell you to not worry because “God’s got this” and then they direct you to these verses from Matthew. But, if you are like me, maybe you never found comfort in these verses. I would always read them and say, “Okay, God, thanks for the clothes and food, but that’s not what I need right now.” I never found comfort from these verses because they promised me things that I already had, so it just never clicked with me.

Some of us do not need clothes and food. We have that. But, this verse tells us God will provide the things we need to survive. So, this verse might not apply to you because you have never been naked or hungry. But, I’m sure you have a need for other things. Maybe you need healing from a disease or injury. Maybe you need a job. Maybe you need to get out of a bad situation. Maybe you need for the presence of God to rush over your heart. In all of these circumstances, God will provide. It may not come in the form you were expecting, it almost never does, but he will respond to your needs.

God loves us. He would never leave us or forsake us. It might take some time or come in a way that only God could orchestrate, but it will come. So find peace in the presence of your Lord and Savior. He loves you and will always do what is best for you.  

Reckless Abandon and Fearless Pursuit

Reckless Abandon and Fearless Pursuit

Recently I was thinking about words that are heavily weighted. Words that have emotions tied to them. For me these are words like abounding, enduring, and steadfast. During this time I came across two phrases that really impacted me. They were reckless abandon and fearless pursuit. What would it look like if we lived our lives with reckless abandon and in fearless pursuit of what we desire? I think this is how we can change the world. Living in response to the reckless and fearless love that was so graciously given to us.

What is reckless abandon? To have abandon is to have a lack of restraint. If we live recklessly, as in giving up our restraints, think of all the wonderful things we could do as a community or as individuals. Giving up your restraints looks like giving up the things that keep us from God. It is giving up the sin we are so desperately holding onto. To live with reckless abandon is to wake up everyday and make the conscious decision to leave behind the things that keep you from living the life you want to live. Be reckless in your life. Love and live recklessly. Put your heart into all that you do and do it for the glory of our Lord and Savior.

My first post on this blog was about the quote that states, “Be fearless in the pursuit of what sets your soul on fire.” This is along the same thread, but I think it very important. Imagine if everyone chased after their purpose, their reason for living, in fearless pursuit. Living in a way in which you were not afraid to do what you love, not afraid to pursue the passions God has placed in your heart. To be fearless, to let go of doubts, to chase after what sets us on fire. That fire is the light of the world, the city on a hill. The fire that only Jesus Christ can light in your soul. Pursuing these things fearlessly doesn’t mean you are free from cowardice, it means you are free from sin. We live fearlessly in response to our father’s great love for us.

Our call is to live for God, both fearlessly and recklessly. To run after him in fearless pursuit, first we must give ourselves over to reckless abandon. Live in a way that glorifies God. Live in a way that frees you from your sin and allows you to be fearless in your journey after God. Live constantly and consistently with reckless abandon and fearless pursuit.

Bible Verses about Grace

Grace

What is grace? Grace the free and unmerited favor of God, as manifested in the salvation of sinners and the bestowal of blessings.That is the exact dictionary definition. This tells us that grace is undeserved, yet free and it is given to us through the gifts of salvation and blessings. Today, I felt the desperate need to share about grace. The abounding grace of our Lord is unfathomable, undeniable, and undeserved. That is the grace that covers all of our sins. It is what wakes us up every morning. It answers our prayers and comforts our souls. The “scandal of grace” is that a man so pure would take on so much sin, all in the name of love. This is the amazing grace that we live by. Without this grace we are nothing, our lives, works, time, money, nothing. This is grace. This is the love of the father at work.

“He does not treat us as our sins deserve” Psalm 103:10

“We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved.” Acts 15:11

“Surpassing grace God has given to you” 2 Corinthians 9:14

“In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace” Ephesians 1:7

“Made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions-It is by grace you have been saved.” Ephesians 2:5

“In order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God” Ephesians 2:7-8

“I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God's grace given me through the working of his power.” Ephesians 3:7

“May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope.” 2 Thessalonians 2:16

“You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.” 2 Timothy 2:1

“So that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.” Titus 3:7

“But he gives us more grace.” James 4:6a

The Pics or it Didn’t Happen Mentality

The Pics or it Didn’t Happen Mentality

The other day I was casually scrolling through some social networking site and I stumbled across a post about a squirrel dancing or a shark costume or something. The creator of the post claimed something completely outlandish and a commenter replied with the notorious, “Pics or it didn’t happen.” This random person couldn’t believe in an apple the size of his foot or a flying pencil, so they asked for proof. There isn’t really anything wrong with this situation, but how often do we do this God?

I often find myself saying, “God, give me a sign.” In saying this, we are saying, “God, you seem a bit off your rocker. Are you sure this is what you want?” or “God, I’m not sure I believe you. Can you give me evidence?” We question the validity of what God is trying to tell us. But, that completely defeats the purpose of faith. Hebrews 11:1 says, “For faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” This verse clearly states that we cannot see God or what he is doing. We must trust his word to be true and his plans to lead us in the right direction.

Having faith causes us to trust God and what he is doing. If you ask for proof, God may give it to you. For example, in Judges 6:36-40 Gideon asked God to prove he was there, and God did it. But, to have true faith and to rely fully on God, we must let go of our doubts and trust him to do what he does.

Encouragement for the New Year

Encouragement for the New Year

We all know the drill. New year, new me! This is the year I finally change for the better! Why don’t they just have a new year’s resolution started back? A new bible, a gym membership, a healthy recipe book, an agenda, and a beautiful new marketing plan. This is everything anybody could ever want. To be healthy, organized, successful, and in touch with God. Now, I’m not saying New Year’s resolutions are a bad thing. In fact, they are wonderful. Having goals you can set for yourself to become a better version of yourself. That is an amazing thing!

Okay, so it’s the second Monday of January 2017. Have you woken up on time everyday, run everyday, and read your bible everyday. Probably not (I know I haven’t). But, I don’t think that is the point of a New Year’s Resolution. The point is to strive to be a more successful version of you. The old you wasn’t bad, but you know you can do better. So, if you skip a few days, that’s okay. It’s the end goal that is the most important part. What matters is that you can see room for improvement and you are taking the steps to fix it.

Also, when creating your new year’s resolutions. Keep God in mind. What does he want from you this year? How can you change this year to make your life a closer reflection of him? It could be going to church more often, spending more time with your family, being more patient, or mentoring someone through your church. Always remember to keep God in the picture when you are thinking about your new year.  

Again, let me tell you that it is okay to fail. God still loves you and he will help you back up when you fall. He will never leave and he will never forsake you. So what if you don’t go to the gym everyday? If you do, that is wonderful. But, if you don’t, God will still welcome you with open arms. It is not the end of the world, so don’t tell yourself that it is. God wants you to want to live for him. So, if you don’t make it, it’s okay. But, you should do everything in your power to make God a priority. Wake-up everyday this year knowing you ARE good enough and you are so deeply and unconditionally loved.

Songs for When You Feel Insecure

Songs for When You Feel Insecure

These are all of my favorite songs to listen to when I am feeling inferior, insecure, or inadequate. They almost always make me feel better about who God made me to be. All of these songs remind me how beautiful I am in God’s eyes and how very much he loves me.

1. “Enough”- Jason Castro
2. “Gold”- Britt Nicole
3. “In My Eyes”- The Afters
4. “Only One and Only You”- Steven Curtis Chapman
5. “To Me”- Matthew West
6. “Wonderfully Made”- Matthew West
7. “Tryin’”- Matthew West
8. “Looking for a Girl”-OBB
9. “In the Eyes”- 1 Girl Nation
10. “God Girl”- Jamie Grace

Mid Week Music: I Am They

I Am They

I Am They is a band formed in 2008 in Nevada, under the name Solomon’s Porch. They began performing together in 2008 at small church events for their community. In 2009, they were asked to open for a Matthew West concert, where they changed their name to I Am They. At the end  2013 they were signed to Provident Label Group and began recording their first album in 2014.

I absolutely love their sound! My all time favorite genre of music is bluegrass, and they are definitely the closest I has ever found to being Christian bluegrass.

I Am They has one album out, titled I Am They. It was released in 2015.

My favorite songs of theirs are “From the Day”, “King of Love”, and “Over and over again”.

Other bands like I Am They are Rend Collective, Crowder, All Sons and Daughters, and Consumed by Fire.

A Word for 2017

A Word for 2017

For the past 3 years I have picked out a word that I really wanted to work on for the year. The word I choose is representative of what I feel like I had been lacking in the past year. Picking out a word or theme for the year can mean so much when you look back at your year and see how much you have grown since you picked out that word.

In 2014 my word was patience. I have always been told I was very patient. I got the patience award every week for every year for 5 years at the camp I went to. I thought I had a natural patience, so I stopped trying at being patient. As it turns out, I am not naturally patient, so I decided to make that my word for 2014. I still struggle with patience every day, but since I spent a year working on it, I think I might just be able to  get that award again.

In 2015 my word was focus. I often found myself thinking of other things while I was in bible study or when I was praying. But, I wanted to give God my full attention. So, I spent 2015 intentionally focusing and listening to what God had to say to me.

In 2016 my word was peace. Due to a hard 2015 I had lost almost all of my peace. My dad was in and out of the hospital, my cat had died, I had lost loved ones, and I had drifted away from many friendships. Needless to say, all of these events had taken their toll on me. I endearingly call 2016 the year of anxiety attacks. I was living in a constant state of anxiety for a majority of 2016, due to a horrible 2015 and the added stress of high school. So, in 2016 I decided to set my sights on peace. I prayed constantly for peace. Now, since November 2016, when I began this blog, I have found myself sitting in the true peace that comes for Christ alone.

I have decided, after some thought and meditation, that my word for 2017 is going to be love. For the last half of 2016 I was constantly praying for the capacity to be kinder, more loving, more patient. I believe that true and undeniable love encompasses all of those things. My goal for 2017 is to give reckless and unconditional love to everybody I meet.

What is your word for this year? I would love to know!