1 Chronicles 23:30 stand every morning to thank and praise the Lord, and likewise at evening

Happy last day of August & Happy Friday!

I never have intentions to write. I never wake up saying "hmm, lets post a blog" or anything along those lines. I usually think of something to write about how God works in my life, and I think "hey I'm going to put this in my Facebook.... nope, it'll end up being too long. Guess I'll blog it out right before I need to be walking out the door."

& that my friends is how that cookie crumbles.

Okay, so doing my usually morning routine (Coffee, Facebook, Pinterest, Social Media, Social Media, Social Media, whichever and whatever they may be. Sometimes they vary each morning and the order does as well. Coffee is always there though.) I came across something on Facebook that just made me a little bit confused. Confused is good though sometimes. Sometimes we aren't supposed to know everything. That's how God keeps us on our toes. He is not boring by any means and He looooves to change the rules up mid game. I would know. He plays the switcharoo on me a lot.

 But anyways, sometimes we get so caught up in what we want, we forget about what is best for us. We also get so caught up in what we want that it becomes such a distraction from God. It becomes an idol. We turn our backs on God and focus on that "want". I don't call it a need, because if indeed it were a need, it would be given to us from God and we would never take our eyes off Him. God will cut you off mid path and slam a door right in your face if He sees something is distracting you from Him, or you are going a way He doesn't see fit. 

I am so thankful to have a Heavenly Father who only wants what is best for me, and for you too of course. I am thankful He closes those doors, changes rules mid game, and cuts me off mid path. I want to be focused solely on Him. Let any distractions in my life be gone. I will turn my back on the worldly things to keep my eyes focused on God. 

Just keep this in mind...
Things aren't going to always go how we planned. You know why? God doesn't like for us to try and plan things. Don't try to take His job, y'all. It isn't our place. There are a reason those things you wanted you didn't get.. there is a reason why those things were wants and not needs... doors get closed so better ones can be opened. Trust God knows what is best. Trust God has the best plans in store for you. Just be patient. 

I am thankful God is leading me. I am thankful I will follow no matter what. I am thankful for all those who pray for me. I am thankful for all those God lets me reach through my writings.

If God is trying to close a door in your life, don't stick your foot in the door.. don't try to wedge the door back open... don't try to keep Him from closing it. Let go and let God. He knows what He is doing, so let Him do His thing!

 

-B

Jeremiah 10:23 I know, LORD, that our lives are not our own. We are notable to plan our own course.

Good morning, y'all!

First off, I wish all of you teachers and students luck on your first day of the 2012-2013 school year! In this grey, clouded world it is hard to be a light but the cool thing is that we have a never ending flame burning inside of us all. So keep that in mind today, tomorrow, and for days to come.
What's even cooler, is I know that our Church is full of students and teachers who are prepared to go into those schools beaming.

I love my Church.
Holy smokes. God has been doing some great things in that place. For those of you who don't know, I attend Living Water Baptist in Hendersonville. And it is AWESOME. (and yes, I still go to App and live in Boone during the week. And yes I drive home every weekend I can to be home and go to my home Church.)

I started going to LW when I was a senior in high school, and now I'm a senior in college. There is truly no othe place I would rather hear from God, worship God, & talk to God. So thankful for Caleb, for getting me started in that Church. Thankful for Sabrina L for first reaching her hand out to me during my dark times & helping guide me. Thankful for Pastor Tony and David for being so awesome. Thankful for Tony, David, Sabrina and my Church family for supporting me in so many ways.

Yesterday was such an amazing day. The regular service was fantastic. And the night worship... I don't even have words to explain how awesome it was. I watched God move in so many ways in so many lives.
I personally was broken last night. I know God is calling me to do big things and He is preparing me.. and I see it. I am so beyond excited to see what happens.

It's time to clear away all things that my stand in the way of God. It's time to turn my back to the worldly things and keep my eyes on God. It's time to let God lead.

If you haven't ever been to Living Water, or you've been once or twice.. If you don't have a Church you're plugged into, or looking for a Church to call yours.. I urge you to give Living Water a chance.

God is awesome. Living Water is awesome. Words can't describe how I feel right now. This is something I've never experienced before but I am so ready for God to lead me and show me what's next. I'm already ready for Sunday.

New small group, which is awesome. Service which is awesome. And a Church family which is awesome.

Thankful for it all.

And on a side note, it's almost my birthday! A week from tomorrow (Tuesday) yay!!

-B

Psalms 42:8 But each day the Lord pours his unfailing love upon me.

(one of my favorite songs. goes well with this blog.. I think. That or I just really like this song)

Good morning all! 

I survived my first day of my senior year of college, currently I am in my second day. So yes, I am writing this during my 8 am... oops, sorry Dr. H..  for all of you that read this blog, you know when I feel the urge to write that I will write.. soooo here goes!

"A beautiful day begins with a beautiful mindset. When you wake up take a second to think about how much of a privilege it is to simply be alive and healthy. The moment that you start acting like life is a blessing, I assure you it will start feeling like one. Time spent living is time worth appreciating."

Those words there came from a facebook status in me news feed this morning. How true are those words? How powerful are those words? I feel like sometimes people say things and the words speak to us, and they are truly words from God. I am usually pretty positive, but sometimes I drag my feet... sometimes, I can be so negative that it's not even funny. That's really not how I should be. That shouldn't be my mindset... 

The past few weeks, actually the past few months, have taught me so much about being thankful for my life. My life is a blessing. Each day is a gift. By God's grace, I have been given my life and by my faith I trust Him with it. I have weathered a few storms in my life, and it still rains on occasion in Brooke-town.. But just as every sunny day  is a blessing.. every rain storm is a blessing.

Sometimes I catch myself waiting for things to be over, and counting down days.. and right now I am feeling that big time since this is my last semester of actual classes so Tate's words came just in time. I need to realize that every day is a blessing and it's all about the mindset. I can make the best of this time or make the worst of it. I think I'll choose to make the best of this situation and enjoy my days and my times and my experiences that come with the situation I am in now. 

Every day is a blessing and God has me where He does for a reason.

Thankful for Tate's words.
Thankful for such an almighty God.


-B

Proverbs 27:17 As iron sharpens iron, one man sharpens another

Puzzle pieces, foot prints, spare tires..

Ok i'm sure you're thinking "what the world is she talking about? How do those even relate to each other?!"

Strangely enough they all fit together in similar ways and I'll tell you how.

Those three things go together because these are all analogies for how you impact another persons life. You impact everybody you come across in some way, no matter what. You are a puzzle piece out of their giant puzzle of life, you leave a footprint in their lives as you pass through, and you may be that spare tire they needed when they had a flat on this road trip we call life. .

When you look at it that way, everybody we come in contact with we impact even in just a tiny way. You can be a piece in the dark part of somebody's puzzle or a part of the good spot.. You can leave a bad uneven footprint in somebody's life or you can leave a soft elegant footprint (you know, the ones you always see in pictures.. That are never like the ones you try to make in the sand) and last but not least my favorite analogy.. You can be an old flat spare tire that is there but no benefit at all (like those little donut tires), or you can be a full spare tire ready to help in the time of need.

The reason I like that analogy the most. Is because I have been driving A LOT lately and one day on my many trips it clicked.. Life is like a giant road trip. You have a starting point and a finish point and many miles and obstacles and pit stops and fill ups in between...

Everybody is on a road trip called life, and nobody's starting points, paths, or destinations are the same.. But your paths may cross..


Take a minute and think about your road trip called life and who has been there to be a pot hole or a flat tire and who has been there to be the gas pump that fills you up or the spare tire in your time of need...

Which do you want to be in the lives of others? Think about it.


-B

2 Corinthians 12:10b For when I am weak, I am strong

Good morning from the beach! Well actually, good morning from the comfy chair in the living room from the beach, looking at the beach from the glass porch door because it's currently raining.
Drinking coffee and checkin my Twitter (what all "adults" do first thing in the morning) I found an awesome tweet from an account called "God's Grace" that I follow. I took a screenshot and instagrammed it of course and will attach it at the bottom. I am also reading a plan on "Grace" this week while I am here to do some studying with Ci and I read my title verse. Both the tweet and the section of 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 really take a look at God's grace.

We cannot be strong all the time, I have tried and let me just tell you it does not happen.. But God is strong for us when we are weak. When we encounter a struggle God is using us and working through the struggles and the weakness to mold and shape us. How awesome is that? God has a reason for everything and I am so thankful that we serve a mighty King. So thankful that we have a reason to sing and glorify Him even in the darkest of times, the deepest of waters, & the strongest of storms.

Let God be strong for you and work on you during the weak times, because when we are weak, then we are strong. The weak times show us how strong we can be and strong our God is.

His grace is enough.


-B

1 Thessalonians 5:11 So comfort each other and make each other strong as you are already doing.

the song that reminds me most of Di ^

As a lot of you know, last Friday my cousin Diamond went on to be with the Lord. She doesn't have to struggle, suffer, hurt, or be anything other than at rest and at peace. He called her home and is protecting her from the evils of this world. After Friday, I found a new level of strength in me I did not know I had. 

I have learned a lot this week.. 

I always say you only get one life to love, I mean it's the title of my blog.. but something like this puts your one life into perspective. My heart aches along with those of my family for the loss of Diamond. We miss her already.. I've already been thinking about this coming Thanksgiving and who I'll be shooting with. I'll probably have my pink gun by then so Diamond will be right there with me shooting. (side note--probably ALL of you know that I am not a pink person.. but I always laughed about Diamond having a pink gun and all her love of pink so I think it's only fit if I get a pink gun in honor of her. I am also probably going to invest in a pink diamond decal for my truck too in memory of her.) 
I have seen so many people reach out and come together this week. 
I have learned distance doesn't matter for family, & there is no excuse for not being there for somebody.
I have learned you cannot be selfish when it comes to family. During time of joy or time of heartache.
I have learned that the word "cousin" is really just another way to say brothers and sisters.
I have learned that I have a fantastic family.
I have learned that I have some real true friends.
I have learned what it means to truly have a best friend.
I have learned that I am a part of a Church that freaking rocks. 



I cannot thank you guys enough for reaching out to me. The hugs, the kind words, the thoughts, the prayers. & the best part is letting me goof off with their kids all week and for not treating me like anything was wrong. Laughing and playing and joking around was what I needed. You guys are so amazing and I am so thankful to be part of such an amazing Church family and group of friends. I cannot thank you guys enough for the comfort and support.


We may never know why God does what He does or why. I know Diamond is protected from the evils of this world now and will be forever safe. 


Yesterday was a hard day for us all.. by my side I had my family and my best friend. (Lets just say if I had to hand craft a friend perfect for me, I could not have done a better job. I thank the Lord daily for Ciara Jean. He did a reallll good job. I don't know where I would be without her. I have learned so much and grown in so many ways. Together we are planning and working towards great things and I couldn't do it without her.) Sitting in that pew with a heavy heart and mixed emotions I turned to see if my Grandparents had arrived at the Church yet and I could not believe who I saw.. two spectacular, sharped dressed men...David Godzisz and Tony Birkhead. I was shocked, and of course I cried (happy tears of course). That was by far the nicest thing I have ever had done for me, it was so unexpected but God works like that.. To have Ciara beside me and those men behind me meant so so much to me. I cannot thank those three enough for being there to support me and my family. I can't even put into words how I felt having them there. I can't stop thinking about it and it will be something I never forget. I have never had anything done like that for me before. This week has shown me who truly cares for me. The Lord has put some amazing people into my life and lets just say I LOVE my friends and my Church! 


I have no idea how I will ever repay Ciara, Tony, David, and all of you for reaching out to me and just being the strength I couldn't find in myself. Death is never easy and saying it sucks is an understatement, but all of that support, comfort, and strength made it bearable. 


With God all things are possible. With God all things are perfect. He has a plan for us all and we just have to let Him do His thing. We have to trust Him because He does know what He is doing. We have to stop questioning God and just let Him use us. Let His will be done, not ours. 



Again, I cannot thank you guys enough for everything you have done for me this week. The words, the hugs, the support, the comfort, the laughs, the smiles, all of it has made things a little bit easier and given me the strength to be there for others in my family.



Rest in piece Diamond. Thank you for the memories, and the laughs and the 24 years you blessed us with. So glad you are safe from the hands of this world. You are protected forevermore by the hands of God.



I love you all. Thank you to all of you who reached out to me and my family for being a part of my life and showing me what it truly means to have care for others.





-B

Psalm 34:18 The LORD is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.

It's been a while since I've written anything. Really just haven't had much to say. A lot of things going on will keep you distracted.
You know, I always talk about how we have one life to love.. It's even the title of my blog.. Let me tell you something though, you never truly realize that until the time comes when you lose somebody. You dont get a redo button. That person who wasn't given tomorrow.. That will really put things into perspective. You really only get one life to live. What do you choose to do with your one life.. Do you let little things bother you? Do you pick petty fights? Do you cherish the time you spend with others? Do you love, like God loves us? Nobody's perfect and everybody makes mistakes. We hurt ones we love, we don't tell those how we truly feel, we put things off... What happens if you, or those you love aren't given tomorrow? We're all of your squabbles and harsh words worth it? Those things you let take priority over loved ones, were they really worth it?

Today I lost a cousin. My heart hurts for this loss. Too young to go but God has a plan for everybody. He had a plan for her and now she is with Him. He is protecting her from the evils of this world. It is hard to swallow, hard to understand.. It just hasn't sank in yet. We already miss her and she will continue to be in our hearts for days to come. May you be a guardian angel watching over us. No good byes just cya laters.. Love you girl. Thank you for blessing us with 24 years.

Please pray for our family. Keep us in your thoughts.


-B