Psalm 61:8 So I will sing praises to your name, as I preform my vows day after day.

As the holiday seasons come to an end, and 2013 fades into 2014, I think it's very beneficial to look back over the past year. Be reflective. What worked. What didn't. What prayers were answered. What did God protect me from. Where did He show up big time when I fell short. How have I changed. How have i grown. 

For me, I can answer all of these but it would take blog posts for days. There is one area of my life and my walk that had been heavy on my heart. I have been studying the subject of this post for a couple of weeks. Usually, that doesn't happen for me. I study for a week or for a couple of days and then I feel led to write. This time it is a little bit different, but I know I am writing this post at the perfect time for me and for another. 

Flipping back through my journal, December 3 was the first day I came across the word "vow" in the Bible while I was reading through Psalms. That triggered the thought "vows. original vows. Who are our original vows with?" 

If I asked you who our first original relationship was with or who our original love was with, that seems to make more sense and settle a little easier in understanding. But using the word "vow" even for me challenged me to think a little more and see my relationship with God a little differently. Relationships and love represent a connection. Vow represents work and effort. 

If I threw out the question "when you hear the word vow what comes to mind?" I think a lot of my answers would be very similar (and of course I actually did this. These are real answers I received)

Marriage

Wedding

Forever

Commitment 

Bride & groom making vows to each other. 

How they are supposed to be kept forever 

Something to always remember and want to remember 

One day one time & then basically forgotten. 

Being the teacher I am, I of course have to find the real meaning of this word. 

Vow - 

a solemn promise 

Dedicate to someone or something

Voluntary promise to preform or abstain from performing something 

I'll be honest, when I think of vows I think the same things. Marriage, love, husband and wife. Vows are your commitment and voluntary promise to that other person who you make a promise to. That in sickness and in health you hold to those things.

So if we take that word "vow" and apply it to our relationship with Christ, how much more serious would we be? How much more intentional would we be with our time with him? Because realistically vows require us to do something. 

In this time of reflection, I needed a heart check and that's why I feel like God laid this on my heart. Have I made my vows to The Lord my God and performed them (Ps 76:11) or have they been something for me that has been basically forgotten. 

Christ is ultimately our first love. Adam & Eve's first relationships and vows were with God and ours should be also. When we let things come between or hinder our relationship our hearts suffer and other relationships suffer. I don't think we go into a marriage with the viewpoint that we aren't going to do anything and that the love that person has for us is enough. Or that it won't require work but will still remain strong. If we don't have that mentality with a marriage or dating relationship, why would we have that same mentality and thought process in regards to our relationship with God? To remember our first love that will never leave us or forsake us (Deut 31:6), that has a love that surpasses knowledge (Eph 3:19), that went to extreme measures to save us that ultimately will not withhold anything good from us (Romans 8:32) is to know true love and true fulfillment and fullness like no other. Much joy and comfort can come from love (Philemon 1:7) but ultimately the love of another this side of heaven will fail us and fall short. No matter how much they speak your love language or express their love, that person will never truly fill your love tank. No person profession possession or position can ever fill the cup of an empty wounded heart, that is a cup only God can fill and wants to. 

I think in this season of my life, and of course being a female, marriage is a thought heavy on my mind. So as I think of vows for my future husband and keeping those promises to him and fulfilling them to one another, I am reminded that will never be possible if I can't keep my original vows to The Lord and continue to work on my relationship with my first love.  

We each have made vows to God somewhere along our walk with him and as we go into the new year we need to refresh our hearts and minds to what they are. Ask God to create in you a pure heart and steadfast spirit (Ps 51:10) so we can see whether we kept them or not; what helped, worked, or hindered them?

So as you watch 2013 fade into 2014 I challenge you to remember your original vows and your first love. Living close to God requires making him your first love and highest priority. He desires to love you more, better, and deeper ths anybody else. In return, he needs to be first in your life. It's not about works, acts, and checklists. Submit yourself whole heatedly to the maker of your heart, because maybe in this last year you have forsaken your first love (Rev 2:4). 

Best thing is, He is waiting for you with open arms and an open heart. He's just been waiting on you to turn around and come back running. It's never too late.

Merry Christmas and Happy New year to all!

-B

1 Corinthians 12:14 For the body does not consist of one member but of many.

Three posts within three weeks. Can't remember the last time this happened. Thankful to have the time to sit still, rain or shine, and just pour out what is on my heart. Usually when I have a post or a topic come to mind I grab my iPad or the computer and rock it out. This time though, I grabbed my journal and wrote it all down. I have actually been sitting on this one for a couple weeks now. Reading some scripture today during service (no I am not always 100% attentive and yes I do flip around and read different parts of scripture around the main stuff) and it fit perfectly with this message. I wanted ts bad to save this for a speaking situation. I just felt like this needed to be heard and seen. I will do my best to make it come alive through this social networking system. 

Usually I don't include a whole section of scripture, but this needs to be read first to set the stage for the picture I am about to draw

For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit. For the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. (1 Corinthians 12:12-24, 27 ESV)

One body. Many members. 

Let's look at the body of Christ like a puzzle, and you are a piece of that puzzle. 

Imagine, for just a minute, that I have handed you a puzzle piece. 

Now you just hold onto that piece. Study it a second (if you feel fancy, google a picture of a puzzle piece and study that) and I am going to put the puzzle together. Without your piece. Is my puzzle complete? No. The only piece that is missing is the one you are holding. The puzzle is incomplete without every piece. Just as the one body is incomplete without it's many members. 

So I asked you to study that imaginary puzzle piece I gave you. Thanks for playing along and being such a good sport. So now describe it to be. 

Many if you probably went 1st with what part of the puzzle it came from. Where it belongs or fits instead of focusing on that piece as an individual.

Maybe you uses words like "weird" or "strange" because of its odd shapes. 

Maybe that piece to you seems insignificant because it's just an edge piece, or doesn't have much of a design on it. 

You know, that piece is exactly the way it should be. If you changed even ONE thing about it, it would no longer be able to fulfill the purpose that it was ultimately created for. Don't you think that the maker of this puzzle knew exactly what they were doing when it gave those pieces the loops and it's little arms and straight edges? 

"Will what is molded say to its molder, why have you made me Iike this?"  Romans 9:20

Now with your imaginary puzzle piece, take it and break off one of its little arms. You wouldn't do that, would you? Because you know that if you tried to put it back with the puzzle it would no longer fit. If you broke a piece of it, it doesn't fully fill its spot and it couldn't fully fulfill its purpose in the puzzle. 

What if I told you that piece represented you? 

Beloved, if you wouldn't do that to that puzzle piece, then why do it to yourself. Why describe yourself compared to others around you? Why label yourself as "weird" or "insignificant"? Why question the way the creator made you? Why try to change things about you? 

If you wouldn't do this to a puzzle piece and you understand how significant this one little piece of cardboard is, then why do it to yourself? 

Like the puzzle piece is unlike any other piece in the entire box, so are you unlike any other. Like the puzzle piece had a special pace, so do you. Like the puzzle piece has a special purpose only it can fulfill, beloved so do you. Like the puzzle would be incomplete without that piece in your hand, the body of Christ would be incomplete without you. 

In Corinthians it says ALL parts matter. ALL parts are significant. No hand can replace the foot. No ear is less worthy than the eye. The parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable. 

All. Parts. Matter. 

You matter. You, beloved are fearfully and wonderfully made. Nobody, and I mean nobody was better created for what you do, than you. You have a special calling. 

Just as no puzzle piece can replace another, no person could ever replace you. Embrace who you are and where your worth comes from so you can stand firm on the foundation, and fulfill your part of the body. 

For the body does not consist of one, but of many members and the body is incomplete without all members. 

-B

1 Peter 2:9 (NIV) But you are a chosen people... God's special possession.

Time has changed, the fall season has clearly been skipped 6 out of 7 days of the week, and earlier darkness leads to more time to sit and study. I don't just study random things. I study things that I crave an answer for. Right now that topic is self worth. Just about every one of my blog posts stems from sort of study I have done. So here we go. 

[Disclaimer : No this post is not me fishing. So lets establish now you don't have to be searching for a hook to bite. I am a woman, and therefore I know I am not the only one who is or has struggled with the area of self worth. My blog posts are to grow my knowledge and understanding as well as reach the heart of another. ]

My current read aside from the Bible of course is "What Happens When Young Women Say Yes to God" by Lysa Terkeurst.  (side note--I chose the young women version simply for the way it is written and I am surrounded by young women. ) I also read Jesus Calling each morning and some scripture from the Bible.  All of three of these have been a fantastic help in my study on this topic. If you want to find your self worth, I urge you not to look to those around you or to look to the world around you. Look for tools that can sharpen your understanding of what the word says about you. So here we are with another world vs word topic. 

I am going to create a picture for you. Imagine you are standing in a room and you have two mirrors to look into. You cannot look into both mirrors at the same time. If you turn to your right and look into that mirror, your back is to the mirror on the left. If you turn to your left and look into that mirror, your back is to the mirror on the right. Can you see it? I know you are thinking, okay... get to the point please? That mirror on your right, is Christ's mirror. How HE sees you, defines you, and pictures you. That mirror on your left is the mirror of the world. How the world sees you, defines you, and pictures you. If you are looking at yourself in regards to the world's mirror, your back is turned to God and you can't even get a glimpse of how He sees you. If you are looking at yourself in regards to Christ's mirror, your back is to the world's mirror and you can't get even a little glimpse of how the world defines and sees you.  

So you can make a decision; do you want to keep your eyes on God, and your back turned to the world, or your eyes on the world and your back turned to God? 

Let me elaborate more on what I have learned and studied to see if that might help you understand a little better which mirror is the best to look at. I am going to type exactly what I have written to myself in my journal. All of these books I have read, along with the Bible, & Marcus Hayes message, God all used together to speak His truth. I am a firm believer that God uses people to speak truth to us. I love it when so many parts of scripture and words of wisdom from others piece together the perfect puzzle of HIS truth.  

"God you designed this journey for me, and this journey cannot be lived out by anyone else. God you made it for me. God you made me as a special, nobody else like me young woman & He has a plan for me life. My family knows me and my quirky habits, and my friends may share common interests, but nobody else is taking MY steps through the day. Nobody else is equipped to carry my load, and I am not equipped to carry another  All of my circumstances in life are, were, and will be hand picked specifically for me. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works. In your books were written, everyone of them the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them (Psalm 139:14&16). For each one will have to bear his own load (Galatians 6:5). Who are you to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to it's molder "Why have you made me like this?" (Romans 9:20). Set your mind on the things that are above not the things that are on earth (Colossians 3:2). For the mind set on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace (Romans 8:6). Things of this world and from the flesh do not and should not control my sense of worth, value, security, or joy. God's love is responsible for those. God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). For I am sure that neither death nor life nor angels nor rulers nor present or things to come nor powers nor height depth or anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from that love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:38-39). Never let the compliments of others go to your head or their criticisms go to your heart. Avoid comparisons, resist exaggerations, and seek only God's commendation. Give thanks to God always, because He is faithful. He will sustain you (1 Corinthians 1:4 & 8-9). Don't lose heart. May he strengthen me with power through HIS spirit in my inner being (Ephesians 3:13&16). Strengthen me in who I am in YOU Lord. Give me strength to make it through this life. Strengthen my inner being to make it through this journey you handcrafted for me. "

What is handcrafted? What does that mean? 

handmade (adj)

made by hand, not by machine & typically therefore of superior quality. 

Superior.

Quality.

Read that word again, superior. 

Because I am a chosen people and one of God's special possessions, He handmade me, every step I take and every breath I take. 

Think about it this way.

Everything that has ever happened to you or will happen. Every hair on your head. Every freckle on your cheeks. Every scar. Every inch of height or pound of weight. Every little mark on your face that you wish you could change that nobody but you sees. Every inch of your thighs. Every downfall in life. Every dark day. Every light day. Every tear. Every smile. Every laugh. Everything about you and everything that has ever happened to you or will happen to you in life was handmade for YOU and nobody but you. God only made one you. Nobody else will ever be able to carry your load or walk through your steps each day. Nobody else will ever be able to be a better you than you. Nobody. You are God's special possession that He loves. 

So it's your choice; which mirror are you going to choose to look at yourself in? The world's mirror or the Lord's mirror?

I prefer to look into a mirror that will tell me that my thighs are exactly the size they were crafted to be, not be told they are too big. I want to look into the mirror that showers me with love, not hate. I want to look into the mirror that will tell me I am worth far more than I could ever imagine. I want to look into a mirror that tells me every part of me is a divine creation of things that were brought together for a special purpose, not the mirror that will do anything to tear every part of me down. 

A sweet friend allowed the Lord to speak through them, and they said to me "You are worth more than you could ever imagine, and God is using you in a powerful way." That truth and the truth from my studying is a sweet whisper reminding me of where my worth comes from. I pray it reaches a heart of another the way it has mine, because beloved.. you are worthy. 

-B

2 Corinthians 12:9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you."

On this beautiful fall Sunday I chose to sport my new "Grace" tshirt from JCLU; so what better day to talk about grace than today? This too has been a topic heavy on my heart and mind.

So first off, what is the meaning of this 5 letter word grace that tends to mingle among the other words in our praise and worship songs..

According to the dictionary (aka internet & dictionary.com because real paper copies of that thing are few and far between, y'all) says that grace is both a noun and a verb. That grace is 

1. Simple elegance or refinement of movement

2. The free & unmerited favor of God as manifested in the salvation of sinners & the bestowal of blessings. 

Unmerited : not deserved or worthy of

Favor : act of kindness beyond what is due 

Grace is such an awesome thing. Grace is so much more than a word. So much deeper than the words "unmerited favor."

About a year ago, I came across a book by Andy Stankey called "The Grace of God" & although I haven't finished it, I have learned some powerful things about grace from it.

Grace is not reserved for good people; grace underscores the goodness of God -- grace is free for everyone.

Grace acknowledges the full implication of sin & yet doesnot condem.

Grace creates the possibility of good things happening to undeserving people. 

Grace is bigger and there is no equivalent. 

Grace is what is craved most when guilt is exposed.

Craved. 

Not wanted. Wished for. Hoped for. Longed for. Craved. We crave grace. 

We are the undeserving, and are the ones craving. So my question is, if we are to mirror Christ and we want the grace He extends, because there is nothing equivalent, then why don't we extend grace to others? 

Luke 6:38 says "give and it shall be given to you"

We crave grace, but are slow to extend it. 

To me, grace means so much more than its definition. That amazing grace & unfailing love transcends into Girls Reaching Another in Christian Encouragement. Read that again if you didn't catch it. GRACE. (Yes there is an extra "I" in there, but relax.. We will let it slide) 

If you know me, or know my heart, or can tell a little about my passions by my posts, then you know I have a heart for reaching the woman of today and trying to change the way they think about themselves and each other.

As a woman, our struggles, desires, joys, and hoped aren't especially unique to us. There is a good chance what we are struggling with as a woman that somebody close to us is going through the something similar if not the same thing. So what I don't get is WHY women young and old are so awful to each other. 

If we understand how delicate our hearts, spiritus, and souls are, why don't we extend more grace. 

It's not about the person, it's about God's unfailing love. Graces has no limits. Grace has no boundaries. 

Grace has no limits. 

No. Limits.

Read that again. 

No. Limits.

God does not withhold His grace from for us for anything. Not because we are wearing the same shoes as he is, because he is having and off day and blames it on his hormones, because we took the friend he wants or somebody has made him feel inferior, unwanted, or unappreciated.

If we are to mirror Christ, then the grace we extend to others should have no limits as well. We need to extend what we crave. Give and it will be given to you. 

So I challenge you to be a Girl Reaching Another in Christian Encouragement. Practice the unmerited favor in all circumstances. Quit being nasty for one second & quit looking for reasons to excuse or justify you being nasty to another woman because, "grace is not reserved for good people; Grace is for everyone." 

& just FYI; fellas that read this, this doesn't exempt you from extending or practicing grace just because you aren't a girl. That "G" can stand for "Guys" too. 

It's not about the person. It's not about you. It's about who has your heart. It's about who you represent. It's about who you are to mirror in all that you do. It's about God & His limitless, unconditional, unfailing love. 

Crave grace. Extend grace. Receive grace. 

James 3:8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

Taming the Tongue

3 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. 2 For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man,able also to bridle his whole body. 3 If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. 4 Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. 5 So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things.

How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life,[a] and set on fire by hell.[b]7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, 8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

Usually when I write, I don't use this big of a section of scripture. I felt like I needed to include all of this though. So much would be lost from this without the whole section. Love the teachings from the book of James. 

A lot of the time, we forget how powerful our words our. We forget the things we save have such an impact on those around us. Usually it takes somebody saying something to you, to really catch your attention on that. 

I have to be so careful with the things I say. I pour into 75 very influential adolescents. 5 days a week. 5 hours a day. 

for those of you that have never really worked with or been around adolescents... they remember EVERYTHING. and I mean everything. They also will say anything and everything that pops into their minds. 

You have to choose your words wisely because you can either make or break their spirits. So easily a relationship can be severed with a student. 

Love how in this section of James it even talks about being a teacher. It is only a calling for a few. Not only that though, but then it rolls into taming the tongue. How often do you really THINK before you speak.

I spend a lot of time mediating such unsweet words from one kiddo to another, & I have to redirect them to my expectations for them and the class rules. I so often have to remind them to THINK before they speak.

We only encourage each other. We are kind and considerate. Is it true? Is it helpful? Is it going to build them up or tear them down. 

"The Boss" (that's me by the way. Yes I let the kids call me that, and encourage it... hey who doesn't like a little bit of a confidence boost?!) had a conversation with an entire class last week. 1 on character and the fruit of the spirit/the fruit their bear, and 2 one about how powerful the tongue is. I try to pull in scripture to my discipline as much as possible without stating where it comes from. 

So I just actually had a conversation with 25 preteens about how powerful their tongues are, using the scripture from James about the tongue, not thinking that is a conversation that still needed to be had with others. It is so easily forgotten how powerful words are. 

I love the quote posted above. It is so true. How careful would we speak if our words hurt us too? 

I would have to say that I definitely have to constantly be more conscious of my word choice and tone, but forget how powerful words are until I have been burnt by somebody else's tongue and words. 

Use what I share with my kiddos:

" We only encourage each other. We are kind and considerate. Is it true? Is it helpful? Is it going to build them up or tear them down. "

I challenge you think before you speak. Think about how it might effect the other involved. Because "the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life,[a] and set on fire by hell" (v6) Your words are way more powerful than you think.