life is faithful

I love life and view it as gift. (that's why it's called the "present") Each day I wake up I can choose to have a good day and look at all that is positive instead of dwelling on the negative. 

God is faithful and life is full of Him. 

Life is faithful. 

There are so many characteristics of what life is: 

*special

*unique

*changing

*and so many more!

friendships

I have learned throughout my life [so far] that friends come and go, there is betrayal between friends, etc.

God is constant. He won't betray me. When everyone walks out, He is the one that walks in. That is a great comfort to me.

[re]focus

Romans 12:2 says to be transformed by the renewing of your mind. 

That is my mission in life: to be transformed by God, not be conformed by the world.  A characteristic of being transformed by God is letting Him take control and surrendering all to God. It's not always easy but the rewards are so much greater than the cost.

My one word for 2015 is focus. Daily [re]focusing on Him is worth every moment shared with Him. 

"more than a high"

As a teenager, going to church was good. Going on retreats was greater. My faith was dependent on "emotional highs"to reach any sort of growth.

These "highs" lasted throughout high school and into college. It wasn't until my sophomore year of college that God taught me there was more to my relationship with Him than just "emotional highs" that I lived on until the next event. Then it was another high.

There was no depth in my relationship with God. Rather, it was strictly based on how I "felt" close to God or if I "heard" Him speak into my life.

God taught me that true, lasting spiritual growth only comes from Him and not from an event in the form of a concert or a conference.

Growth requires discipline and focus. As much as events can help us move forward in our relationship with God, they should not be our only effort to inch our way into deeper intimacy with Him.

I have learned that intimacy is more than a high.

f o c u s : a goal for 2015

I have selected my one word for the year 2015 and that is focus:

focus my mind on what matters most.

focus my heart on Him, only Him. 

I aim to remain focused on the things of God.

That is my goal for 2015. 

year end reflections

today is December 31 2014.

another year has gone by.

I'm thankful for the growth I've seen this year and I look with anticipation how God will grow and shape me in 2015.

God bless,

be

this is how to BE

be acceptable with words (Psalm 19:14)
be not deceived (Galatians 6:7)
be angry, yet do not sin (Ephesians 4:26)
be not envious of evil men (Proverbs 24;1, Proverbs 2419, Psalm 37:1)
be at peace with all men (Romans 12:18)
be not greatly shaken (Psalm 62:2)
be confident through God (Proverbs 3:26)
be not hidden (Matthew 5:14)

(from www.knowbyknocking.com)