gotta get on your armor

Every day is a battle. A struggle to stay focused on the things of God and not get sucked into the message of the world. A struggle to hear God's voice admist the noise of everything else. It's so easy to get consumed. So easy to lose focus of the finish line and the prize. So easy to vear off the path for a while chasing something glittery that you thought was important. Or it's easy to vear down a trail of abandon and despair by the hard things we face that can consume us. But more and more I'm learning that to stay on the path, you have to keep your armor with you - the Word. Only then can you feel God near you and hear His voice.

It's amazing how God can take a situation that really scares us and turn it into something amazing that changes us for the better.

Lesson learned: don't be too quick to judge.
I'm glad you came back <3

A couple things I've been thinking about today:

- life is short. The days tick by without you even noticing. Make the most of them. Make everything you do meaningful. Most of all, keep eternity in the back of your mind.
- if you want an experience/opportunity, you have to go after it. You can't wait for life to come to you; you have to go out and take advantage of life.
- sometimes you need to give people second chances.

you're taller than that

Sometimes we use the wrong stick to measure ourselves. I mean, everyone does it. I do all the time. And I need to constantly remind myself that that's not what life's about. We're striving so hard to measure up to everything the world tells us we need to be. But really, there's only one measuring stick that matters - God's. He tells us we're valuable no matter what we look like, what clothes we wear, how smart we are, or what car we drive. He loves us for who we are and tells us that success isn't about becoming number one - smartest, richest, prettiest and most wellknown or well-liked. No. In the end, all of that stuff will fade. All that will remain is God's love and how we lived in reflection of it. Just do your best. That's all God expects of you. It's good to set high goals - don't get me wrong. I always have high expectations of myself. And that's a good thing. But sometimes I put my self worth into those expectations and I need to realize that I don't need them to complete me - I'm already made complete in Him.
Loving God. Loving others. SERVING. That's the true stuff of life.
I can't ever forget.

and i'm learning that i don't need you.

Changed by Your Glory

Father, I want You to hold me.
I want to rest in your arms today.

Father, I know You will show me.
I feel Your arms holding me; I'm not alone.

I bring all my cares and I lay them at Your feet.
You are always there. And You love me as I am.