Forgiveness and Freedom

There is freedom in forgiveness. But, first you have to be forgiven.

The beauty of this is that we have been forgiven. The Sovereign God has forgiven us. He no longer sees our imperfections or mess ups. He sees the inside of us. The inside that is now filled with His spirit. We are filled with Him and His glory. We are made perfect through him.

Yet, we still fail.

Simply because we are human. Our flesh battles our spirit and we fail every time. And it hurts. It tears you up and breaks you down. And sometimes, it doesn't only affect you, but those around you.

As a family and body of Christ, we are called to point out each others faults and wrongdoings. Even when it may hurt another person or hurt you for having to do it. Because, no one likes to be told they are wrong. But we have to be told, through love. Even if we don't learn the first time, we still need to be told. We need to be encouraged to overcome our sin.

But, there is one thing we sometimes overlook.

We have to recognize our sin, ourselves.

And when you recognize your sin, you become repulsed by it. So much, that with every fiber in your being you never want to succumb to that sin again. Ever.

And the beauty of finally recognizing this, gives you the most absolute freedom that you will ever experience. The freedom that can only come from a Holy, Sovereign, Forgiving, Just, Loving, Caring, God. A freedom that is like no other.

A freedom that empowers you. A freedom that gives you peace. A freedom that enables you beyond your own control. A freedom that you can't live without. A freedom that freely comes from God.

You only have to take that one hard step. Don't look back at the mess behind you, because it only slows you down. Looking back and seeing all the destruction reminds you that you failed. You already know that, you don't need anymore reminders.

We have to press on toward Jesus. The One who gave us the freedom and the forgiveness. The One who enables you to forget the past and change the future.

But, what about the people who you seemed to leave behind? The ones who find it hard to forgive. The ones who don't know if they can encourage you to overcome your sin? The ones who find it too hard?

You just have to love. Because, that is what Christ did for us. He loved us enough to forgive us of everything that we have done. He bared it all on the Cross and more! He took it all away with love and forgave us.

And now, we have to forgive each other as He forgave us. And cover each other with love.

Words are fleeting, only lasting for mere moments. But, our words have to be true. And our actions have to be louder. People sometimes don't listen to words, but they can't help but see actions. We have to be different. How can we not be? We are changed forever by the grace of God and are never held under the dominion of sin again! It is no longer a part of us!! Why do we keep letting it come back? Because, our flesh battles our spirit. It is a battle that will never stop, but now because of the freeing forgiveness that we have received from Christ, we can't lose.

It hurts not to be forgiven by those around you, but it is freeing to know that you are forgiven by the One who truly saves you and wants the best for you.

And believe me, I know from experience. 
____________________________________________________________________________
"Therefore, since Christ suffered in His body,
arm yourselves also with the same attitude,
because
he who has suffered in his body is done with sin.
As a result, he does not live
the rest of his earthly life
for evil human desires,
but rather for the will of God.
For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do --
living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry.
They think it strange that you do not plunge with them
into the same flood of dissipation,
and they heap abuse on you.
But they will have to give account to Him
who is ready to judge the living and the dead.
For this is the reason the gospel was preached
even to those who are now dead,
so that they might be judged according to men in regard to the body,
but
live according to God in regard to the spirit.
The end of all things is near.
Therefore
be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray.
Above all, love each other deeply,
because love covers a multitude of sins.
Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.
Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others,
faithfully administering God's grace in it's various forms.
If anyone speaks, he should do it as speaking the very words of God.
If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides,
so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ.
To Him be the glory and the power for ever and ever.
Amen."

-- 1 Peter 4:1-11

One Day Without Shoes

Tomorrow is One Day Without Shoes 2010!

If you don't know anything about this awesome event, let me inform you:

• 1. It is awesome!
• 2. It raises awareness for kids who don't have shoes which leads to
• 3.Was started and supported by TOMS Shoes.

Now, if you don't know what TOMS Shoes are, you should. I personally do not have any...yet! But, I hope that one day soon I will be lucky enough to have a pair. TOMS come in many different colors and patterns for men, women, and children. Every time you buy a pair of TOMS, another pair gets donated to a child who has no shoes at all!  

Now, back to the event One Day Without Shoes. I was happy to participate in this event last year and I'm so excited to do it again this year! However, I can't outdo my roomie who has been barefoot all week so far.
Annually there is a day that you can participate in and go barefoot. Now, some of you work and aren't allowed to go barefoot. But, if you want to try it anyways, there is a letter you can print out and show your boss or employer and maybe they will be so kind to let you go barefoot. The point of all of this is to raise awareness for children who do not have any shoes at all. Want some facts? Okay here they are:

• Fact #1:In some developing nations, children must walk for miles to food, clean water and to seek medical help. 
• Fact #2:Cuts and sores on feet can lead to serious infection.
• Fact #3:Often, children cannot attend school barefoot
• Fact #4:In Ethiopia, approximately one million people are suffering from Podoconiosis, a debilitating and disfiguring disease caused by walking barefoot in volcanic soil.
• Fact #5: Podoconiosis is 100% preventable by wearing shoes.

For more information about TOMS shoes or to buy a pair, click here.
To learn more about ONE DAY WITHOUT SHOES and download fliers, stickers or a letter to your boss, click here!

So, if you want to join the movement and raise awareness for the children who have no shoes, go barefoot tomorrow. Wherever you are and whatever you do, go barefoot. If you can't at work, be barefoot everywhere else. Walk around the block barefoot. Hang out with friends barefoot. Do something to raise awareness for these children and for the organization of TOMS shoes. If you want to donate to the cause, go buy a pair or more of TOMS and give a pair or more to a child/children that need them. Let's get together and raise our voice for the children who can't.

Two of my friends and I. One Day Without Shoes 2009

Are you in?
I am!!

My roommate is one of the best photographers I know! And so is my suite-mate! They are going to do great things! Here is a glimpse of some pics they took of me not too long ago. Enjoy! 

"He made my mouth like a sharpened sword, in the shadow of His hand He hid me; He made me into a polished arrow and concealed me in His quiver." -- Isaiah 49:2

My Dear Friends

This semester I am in a Indians of North America class and it is one of my favorites. We have lecture, class discussions and then every Friday we watch a movie related to the group that we talked about that week. 

For the past three summers, I have been blessed to go out to Arizona and live on the Tohono O'Odham Reservation for a week. We would go out into villages and meet families and do VBS with the kids. It has always been wonderful and God has never ceased to amaze me at what He can do. Out there and everywhere.

Well, needless to say, when I discovered this class I immediately wanted to take it! I was very excited and knew I would enjoy it! So today, as we were watching a movie, I got the idea to share with you some of the little friends I have met in Arizona! They have stolen my heart and may just steal yours! :-) 

T

These were all taken in the summer of 2007 and 2008. Some of them are the same kids, because I got to go to the same village for all 3 years! I got to see the kids grow up and it was amazing! I also went in 2009, however I did not have my camera. I ordered it and it got to my house the day after we left. But, I do have these pictures and many more memories! I don't know yet if I will be able to go back this summer, and I thought I was okay with that. However, after looking at these pictures, it somewhat scares me and breaks my heart.

Saturday Painting!

I finally finished that canvas that I showed earlier! I was hoping to get it done before I went back to school and thankfully, I did! Here is the before and the finished product! Also, there is one misspell :-/ However, I may be able to fix it later on.

Before

The finished product

Also, today Mom and I spent the afternoon painting! She has been working on some different things lately and has an Arts in the Park event coming up. But, I decided to paint a picture inspired by one of the pics I took at the beach this past week. It was actually my first real, legit picture to paint! I was super excited how it turned out and love it! What do you think about it?

That is my sailboat! My first ever! 

Alaskan Update, Spring Break, and Serving

I know that I don't have that many followers (3 to be exact), but who knows, there could be some people out there that stumble upon my blog. But, even if they don't, it is okay with me. I really enjoy having this! :-)

I shared with ya'll that my roommate (and best friend!) went to Alaska on a mission trip over our Spring Break (which is coming to a close). Well, I wanted to give one final update that the team made it back safely and in good spirits. Maybe just a little tired. :-) I talked to my roommate and she is feeling a lot better after her sickness, thankfully it didn't last that long.
There is one more thing to pray for... all things went well arriving back in Birmingham safely, however, the team's luggage is all still in Houston! They got it all worked out and should have their luggage back at their homes by 10 PM tonight!

There are only 2 full days of Spring Break left....and I have been quite the bum let me tell you. I have done almost, well really nothing at all. Especially since being back at home from the beach. I haven't studied AT ALL and I have a test next week. :-/ I haven't really read any of my books that I have recently bought (check out the 'What I'm Reading' over there --> )

I have a canvas that I brought home to hopefully finish, and haven't done anything on it. I want it done before I go back to school though, that way I won't keep looking at it wanting it done! In the background I'm going write the different names of God. I'm going to use a black paint pen. Hopefully it works well. If I finish it I will post another picture.

I have looked at a few options for this summer. I haven't talked much about it, but I want to find something for the whole summer to do this year. I'm not really feeling working, although that is probably what I should do. I want to do something through the North American Mission Board (NAMB) and have been going through their 114 page list of places and things to do for college students. I'm praying my way through it and hope to e-mail some people about summer spots. I love using my summer's for God, even if only part of the summer. For the past 3 years I have gone to Arizona working on the Indian Reservation. I'm sad that I may not get there this summer, but I know that God has something great in store, and I can't wait to see what it is. I love kids and children and lately I have been wanting to do something with inner-city or lower income families and kids. I have found many options, just need some more info before choosing which one to do and go serve at. Speaking of serving, my roommates and I have this thing of writing on ourselves haha What's on me right now?

"Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men..."

Happy Friday and God Bless!
:-)

The Book of Isaiah

Today I read Isaiah 61-66. Isaiah has always been one of my favorite books. I can't really describe why that is, but whenever I get the urge to just flip open the Word and read something quick, I always go to Isaiah. Isaiah seems to have it all; hardships, triumphs, truths. It is a prophetic book as well, so it is also fun to search through the New Testament and look for where parts of Isaiah are repeated and have come true. For instance in Isaiah 65:17, it says "Behold, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind." If you look in Revelation chapter 21, verse 1, John is describing what he saw, what was revealed to him and it says, "Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away...."


So today, I read Isaiah 61-66. I encourage you to read all of the chapters, but here are some verses and passages from those chapters.

"The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is one me,
 because the Lord has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners..."
-- Isaiah 61:1
 
"I delight greatly in the Lord;
my soul rejoices in my God.
For He has clothed me with garments
of salvation
and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness,
as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest,
and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels."
-- Isaiah 61:10

"For Zion's sake I will not keep silent,
for Jerusalem's sake I will not
remain quiet,
till her righteousness shines out like the dawn,
her salvation like a blazing torch.
The nations will see your righteousness,
and all the kings your glory;
you will be called by a new name
that the mouth of the Lord will bestow.
You will be a crown of splendor in the Lord's hand,
a royal diadem in the hand of your God."
-- Isaiah 62:1-3

"Why, O Lord, do you make us wander
from your ways
and harden our hearts so we do not
revere you?
Return for the sake of your servants,
the tribes that are your inheritance.
For a little while your people possessed
your holy place,
but now our enemies have trampled
down your sanctuary.
We are yours from of old;
but you have not ruled over them,
they have not been called by your name."
-- Isaiah 63:17-19

"Oh, that you would rend the
heavens and come down,
that the mountains would tremble
before you!"
-- Isaiah 64:1

"Yet, O Lord, you are our Father.
We are the clay, you are the potter;
we are all the work of your hand.
Do not be angry beyond measure,
O Lord;
do not remember our sins forever.
Oh, look upon us, we pray,
for we are all your people."
-- Isaiah 64:8-9

"Behold, I will create
new heaves and a new earth.
The former things will not be remembered,
nor will they come to mind.
But be glad and rejoice forever
in what I will create,
for I will create Jerusalem to be a delight
and its people a joy.
I will rejoice over Jerusalem
and take delight in my people;
the sound of weeping and of crying
will be heard in it no more.

Never again will there be in it
an infant who lives but a few days,
or an old man who does not live out
his years;
he who dies at a hundred
will be thought a mere youth;
he who fails to reach a hundred
will be considered accursed.
They will build houses and dwell in them;
they will plant vineyards and eat their fruit.
No longer will they build houses and
others live in them,
or plant and others eat.
For as the days of a tree,
so will be the days of my people;
my chosen ones will long enjoy
the works of their hands.
They will not toil in vain
or bear children doomed to misfortune;
for they will be a people blessed by the Lord,
they and their descendants with them.
Before they call I will answer;
while they are still speaking I will hear.
The wolf and the lamb will feed together,
and the lion will eat straw like the ox,
but dust will be the serpent's food.
They will neither harm nor destroy
on all my holy mountain, says the Lord."
-- Isaiah 65:17-25

"This is the one I esteem:
he who is humble and contrite in spirit,
and trembles at my word."
-- Isaiah 66:2

"I will extend peace to her like a river,
and the wealth of nations like a
flooding stream..."
-- Isaiah 66:12

"'As the new heavens and the new earth
that I make will endure before me,'declares
the Lord, 'so will your name and descendants
endure. From one New Moon to another
and from one Sabbath to another, all
mankind will come and bow down before
me,' says the Lord."
-- Isaiah 66:22-23