I found this graphic on Pinterest the other day and I think it is so interesting. I have heard a lot of people say that God wouldn’t want them or couldn’t use them because of what they’ve done in their past, but the truth is, God has a plan for each one of us and He CAN and WILL use you!

Also, on a related note. You are never out of reach of God’s grace. No matter how many mistakes you’ve made or how unworthy you think you are to God, He never gives up on you. He is faithful. He not only wants to forgive you , but also wants to purify you.

But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. 1 John 1:9

O Lord, you are so good, so ready to forgive, so full of unfailing love for all who ask for your help. Psalm 86:5

The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. He will not always chide, nor will he keep his anger forever. He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. Psalm 103:8-12

TALK ABOUT JOY! GOD IS GOOD!

I love music. Music is one of my favorite ways to praise God. So much emotion comes through when you sing out to Him! I have a quite a few posts of music on here because it’s wonderful to just get lost in singing praises to your King.

Sin has lost it’s power, death has lost it’s sting!
From the grave You’ve risen, VICTORIOUSLY!

I’m sick, I’m stressed, I have a ton of homework, I have decisions to make, errands to run, work to do, activities to go to, I lose my hair brush, can’t find my keys, was late to class…the list goes on. With everything that goes on it is so so easy to get caught up in the small things and forget the blessings we have in our lives!

I wanted to make a list of just a few of my many blessings and I encourage you to do the same! When you are feeling overwhelmed just take a look at your list and remember the goodness of God that surounds you!

my family
my friends
opportunity to pursue an education
my job
roof over my head, clothing, food (GOD PROVIDES!)
my spiritual leaders
my health
health of those around me
financial blessings
and sooo many more!

P.S. The song “This is the Stuff” by Francesca Battistelli is definitely worth a listen!

Hello all! I hope you had a lovely weekend. I spent my Saturday in OKC at Winter Jam, and talk about exciting! I enjoyed hearing Group 1 Crew, Peter Furler, Santuc Real, Kari Jobe, Skillet and others! All the bands did an awesome job, as did the speakers. Skillet’s set was crazy loud and complete with explosions of fire. But all of that wasn’t even the best part.

The best part of the weekend was witnessing thousands of people, most of them young (teenagers), gathering together to worship our Savior. The mood in the room was powerful and God was definitely present.

If you have never experienced Winter Jam, I highly recommend checking out one of their stops in the future.

Here’s a picture from Skillet’s set. Epic, I know. 🙂

I have been reflecting on friendships and what the Bible has to say about Godly friendships. Here is what I have been reading up on. 🙂

A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity. Proverbs 17:17

Just as the verse says, a friend is to love at all times. We are called by God to love others, in good and bad times. In times of prosperity and of strife, we are to show God’s love by being a friend. Friends should lift each other up and your relationships should grow through the mutual respect and love you and your friends have for each other.

Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good character.”

Surround yourself with Godly people. Yes, befriend those are not Christians, love and respect them as you would anyone else. Just be careful to not lose sight of your morals. When you surround yourself with bad morals, you will start to slip yourself. A Christian has to have friendships with other Christians to survive; we need fellowship desperately to grow. Also, As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another Proverbs 27:17. 

Do others as you would have them do unto you. proverbs 6:31

This is simple. Treat others with the same love, respect and kindness as you would want them to show to you. When we are kind to others, they will be more inclined to reciprocate your kindness.

Friends are important. Especially while we are in college. We need the interaction to be kept sane! We need someone who we can seek for advice and help take away some of the stress we have. Be thankful for the wonderful friends you have in your life!

I’ve been reading in Song of Solomon this morning and thinking about having the amazing love story it tells. I wanted to share some of my favorite verses. Although it does share a point of view of both the man and the woman, this post is geared a little more toward the ladies.

Place me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm; for love is as strong as death, its jealousy as unyielding as the grave. It burns like blazing fire, like a mighty flame.
Many waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot sweep it away. If one were to give all the wealth of one’s house for love, it would be utterly scorned.

Love is strong. Unbreakable. True love cannot be stifled.

Like a lily among thorns is my darling among the young women.

Seek a man who only has eyes for you.

You are altogether beautiful, my darling; there is no flaw in you.

God sees no flaw in you, He only sees the perfection that He has made. Seek a man who sees the same beauty.

Daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you: Do not arouse or awaken love until it so desires.

This is said repeatedly in SoS. Don’t sexualize yourself, don’t seek love without first seeking God’s will. Do not rush love.

God will bring you a love story in His perfect timing, when you are ready. Until then, grow in yourself, be content in who you are, and know that you are beautiful, made in God’s likeness. You are beautiful and worth the wait!

Lastly, no man can complete you. Only God can complete you.

I will not boast in anything
No gifts, no power, no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ
His death and resurrection

Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom

This is a wonderful song that tells the gospel. The reminder of what Jesus did for me is what makes my stress and strife I encounter every day seem so small.

I hope you all have a blessed week!

I want to share something with you that always makes my day a little bit better and I hope it makes yours better, too. We all have a favorite dessert that we will literally eat any kind of vegetable or mystery meat in order to get it at the end. For me this is cake balls.

Not only do these delectable desserts look pretty, they taste like Heaven in a ball form. I kid you not. Here is the chocolate lovers version!

Makes around 50 cake balls.

What you will need:
1 (14.25 oz) box cake mix, any flavor (I recommend Duncan Hines Dark chocolate, makes them very moist)
1 (16 oz) tub frosting, any flavor (you will not need all of it) (I recommend chocolate)
1 (24 oz) package of almond bark/candy coating (white or chocolate) (I recommend vanilla Almond Bark, gives it a nice flavor so it’s not TOO chocolatey and makes them look nice)
Sprinkles

Directions:

Bake the cake like normal.  Once it’s cook enough for you to handle it, crumble it into a large bowl. You then add the frosting, mixing it in as you go. Add as much as you’d like. I recommend 3/4 to the whole can, you want them to be plenty moist! After the frosting has been mixed in, roll the cake/frosting mixture into 1 inch balls and refigerate. THEY MUST BE COMPLETELY COOLED BEFORE YOU PROCEED. Bake them one day and dip them the next. The next day, melt your Almond Bark and dip the cake balls, finishing them off with a few sprinkles. Refrigerate balls until ready to eat. Don’t let them sit too long (not more than a day), they may dry out!

Voila! Enjoy! I gave them out as Christmas gifts and got good reviews. So try them out and I promise, they make any day better.

(If you don’t have the time, I recommend going to your nearest Orange Leaf or other frozen yogurt cafe.)

I’ve had a long day of cleaning and homework, so I took a break and Pinterested a bit. I though I’d share with you a couple things that made me chuckle. A little math humor and a joke that reminds me of my childhood.

Hope everyone’s having a great weekend!

A gossip tells everything, but a true friend will keep a secret.

                    -Proverbs 11:13

I am thankful for all the the true friends I have. There are so many fakes in the world…I heard a message about authenticity this week and how, if we don’t want to be labeled as fake, be what you say in your thoughts and actions. This goes the same for friends, we should hold ourselves to the same standard of friendship as we would expect from others. No one befriends someone thinking “I would just love it if they talk trash about me behind my back, but act like my BFF to my face,” no one says that, so why does it happen?! It doesn’t make any sense, so don’t do it.

Be the friend your want to be and treasure the true friends you have.