Hmmm...

I think it's human nature not to know when to give up. Having the courage to tackle the biggest girl or guy in your class gets respect even when you lose, but when do you accept defeat? How do you discern whether or not trying is worth it? Is settling always bad or do you keep fighting for what you want even when you fail to get it two, three, or four times?

Is failure designed to produce desire? Should it make you stronger or should it cause you to re-focus on matters that brought you previous success ultimately feeling as if those matters are the only matters you're good for?

When is giving up necessary and completely acceptable and when is it a trick of the enemy to get you to accept that you'll never have what you've always wanted?

Are some people only good for some things or is everything attainable by everyone? When do you stop and when do you keep going?

"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths." -Proverbs 3:5

:-)

Trust yourself; you know more than you think you do :-)

B E L I E V E in You!

"Nobody Cared" by Canton Jones!!! << a m a z i n g.

It's so wonderful how encouraging and motivating gospel music can make you feel. After soaking in God's presence, I always feel as if I can do anything. Like there's no obstacle I can't overcome, no mountain too high for me to climb! God is so good!

Lately, God has been speaking to me through various songs, Facebook statuses, and people, just pushing me to believe in myself. I read an awesome quote once: "Make your judgement trustworthy by trusting in it." (via the ODU 2009-10 planner, lol)...also, my friend, DeAndre said, "Any one can reach for the stars but me personally I'll climb a mountain and grab one." That quote pretty much sums up this spring's latest trend: SELF SUPPORT!! If you support yourself, you'll notice that you will gain the support of those around you.

So, I encourage you to be confident in yourself. You are capable of any and everything! God's will is that you succeed. In Jeremiah 29:11, God says, "I know the plans I have for you: plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future!" God wants to see you successful and happy. So, I charge you to commit everything unto Him and step out into the unknown. Achieve your wildest dreams, let your hair down (girls) and let the wind trace your scalp (boys) and most importantly, disconnect yourself from anyone who doesn't believe in your ablity.

So, this season, I may be wearing the latest fashion trends, but I'll be making the most important statement through my faith.

See you at the top!!

Broken Hearts.

Something near and dear to me is the subject of relationships. I hate to see couples who were once so happy and in love come to a demise. It's understanding with wordly relationships, but I don't quite understand how anything can end when God is given an adequate portion in the relationship. Ughhhh...everytime I see a couple that I thought was so perfect break up, I wonder how the divorce rate will ever decrease (50%)!! I guess I need to take my own advice and mind my own business. Like Thess. 4:11-12 says, "seek to live a quiet life, minding your own business; so that you may be lacking nothing." I guess a lot of people within relationships seek to 1) please onlookers rather than their partners or 2) judge why other people have failed relationships rather than focusing on how theirs can prosper. So, note to self: "sometimes it's okay to be selfish. don't put your mouth or your mind on anyone elses relationship, friendship, or business period. that way, you won't be lacking anything, because all of your affairs will be well attended to."

Key to a Healthy Relationship: Put God first, seek Him before making major decisions, ensure that both people are on the same page, which means COMMUNICATE (people can handle the truth, it's a lie that hurts), "Let no man (not even yourself) put you asunder," -Mark 10:9, and be with someone who is not only where you're at, but where you're going! If they can't handle your future, why should they invade your present? By putting God first, your relationship will never get "boring," even as a Christian couple who limits intimacy. God is forever growing individuals and a committed relationship to Him is a daily breath of fresh air. So, imagine what He can do with two people!!!

Be encouraged! If He be lifted up, He'll draw you and your mate together!

MYOB

Ughhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!! People get on my nerves!! LOL…I don’t know what’s wrong with me nowadays, but folks are so irritating!! I had this moment in my life where everything was pretty peaceful, no one got on my nerves, and everything was copasetic, but now, I’m so annoyed!!

I’m a human being, so it’s natural that I feel some type of emotion, but I ALWAYS feel completely horrible when I display any type of negativity toward anyone…I try to be like God, but what a struggle have I, as well as Christians world-wide taken on!

To everyone who thought I don’t get mad, oh my are you wrong: Ephesians 4:26, “Be angry, but sin not!”

So, today’s topic: “Like, mind your own freakin’ business!!!”

If emotional blogging is a sin, God forgive me!

People who think they know EVERYTHING truly get on my nerves!! Especially ones who believe that every word they speak should be recorded in a book of prophesies. Like, why is God talking to you about me more than He’s talking to me about me? I could see if I didn’t talk to Him for myself, BUT I do, so I’m sure He’d tell me.

I was reading some Biblical blurbs about prophesy yesterday…1 Thess. 5:11 says that we are to “comfort and edify one another,” which means we’re supposed to build up and encourage each other, NOT tear each other down with foolish dogmas (religious doctrine that is claimed true without proof) and personal opinions that we’ve transformed into mystical statements. Just because you add "therefore" and "however" in between two sentences and make "verily verily I say unto you" the prefix does not make it the Word of God! Prophesy should provide hope and direction, not arouse debate!! And it should never be directive or controlling. In fact, prophecies are statements of futuristic occurrences that should encourage the hearers to correct improper decisions in their life. If people are aware of the fact that they have the potential to be greater, they will strive for that greatness. It is the job of each of us, as Christians to push each other toward the potential that Christ has for us, not to condemn each other for having a tattoo on our forearm or for wearing fake eyelashes and red nail polish. C'mon people!! Non-believers are paying CLOSE attention to our behavior. And the reason why they are still non-believers is not because our testimonies aren't tearjerkers or our witness isn't strong enough, it's because we are I N T I M I D A T I N G. If I saw you punch your sister in her eye because she wore pants to church, I, as an absolute stranger, wouldn't approach you either. Galatians 5:25, "If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by it."

2010 should officially be the 1 Thess. 4:11 Year, “aspire to lead a quiet life, MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS, and work with your hands.” In other words, shut the heck up! Usually people busy running other people’s affairs don’t run theirs well. All in all, Christians serve ONE purpose on earth, that is to bring souls to the body of Christ by lifting up the name of God. 1 Thess. 4:12 instructs us to follow 4:11, “so that we may walk properly toward those who are outside and that we may lack nothing.” The people outside of the body sure won’t want to come into it if they see us fussing at one another about simple matters.