Journey of a Lifetime

you know the “minor details” about me and if you have read my blogs, you likely are beginning to understand my heart or at least what stirs my heart. I decided that I would include a few more additions. Below are some verses that I read over and over (and over) as well as some pictures of some things that I enjoy and love (like the water fight Kyle and I were having while kayaking one day). I hope you enjoy this page addition.

Philippians 1:20 “I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.”

~This verse became my “mission statement” in high school. Philippians is my favorite book of the bible and I felt that when I read this verse that it was what I should be striving for, not necessarily what I was doing at the time but rather, what I should be doing–living for God with everything that I am, devoting my life to his work and to letting others know about the Good News of Jesus Christ, no matter what the cost.~

Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”

~I personally accepted Jesus as my Savior when I was eight and at the time, this was my favorite verse. Since graduating college I have come back and rediscovered this verse and God speaking to me through these words in a whole new way that pushes me to the extremes of my faith and assurance in God’s will in my life.~

1 Chronicles 28:9 “And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts. If you seek him, he will be found by you”

~I found this verse in a personal study I was doing, searching for reassurances and promises from God (in relation to my dreams and goals, stemming from Proverbs 3:5-6). When I read these last words from David to Solomon I was struck that the “man after God’s own heart” would find such an importance to say these last things to Solomon, reminding him to seek out the God of his forefathers, the one true God who is still alive today. I found myself wondering why we don’t see the urgency to remind ourselves daily to seek God full heartedly that he can reveal himself to us.~

Philippians 4:6-7 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

~I have an easy life, plain and simple, but around the beginning of my college days I went through a really hard time that shook me up quite a bit. I would spend nights crying out to God and clinging to him and as I read through the “book of joy” (as I have heard it called, Philippians) I stumbled across these verses and felt peace which I later replicated in the form of a dove tattoo on my back to remind me that God is with me always and forever (especially when everything looks its bleakest) .

Matthew 6:25-34 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

28“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

~I had a hard time with some friends and other people my senior year of high school which made things…interesting. One day in between classes, I was doing my quiet times in my car and opened to this message. It was what I needed to hear then and so often what I have to remind myself when I get too caught up in the details of this thing called life.~

James 1:2-6 “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. 6But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.”

~James is another favorite of mine. I always find pieces of practical wisdom whenever I read it and these are a few of my favorites. As I seek to grow in my faith and relationship, I continue to ask God for wisdom, that I can know what he wants of me~

Psalm 37:3-7 “Trust in the LORD and do good;
dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.

4 Delight yourself in the LORD
and he will give you the desires of your heart.

5 Commit your way to the LORD;
trust in him and he will do this:

6 He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn,
the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.

7 Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him;
do not fret when men succeed in their ways,
when they carry out their wicked schemes.”

~I used to interpret this very selfishly and very wrongly. I wanted the “desires of my heart” but rather than offering myself as pliable to God, I remained selfish in my desires so my wants were not in line with God’s plans. If we accept that God puts us were we are supposed to be, give God a blank check, and be patient, then our hearts will become more like God’s, allowing our desires to be his. In short, worry not, trust, delight, commit, and rest.~

*I hope these verses have shed some light for you and have been uplifting to you. It is just another part of my heart, another piece of who I am*