June 27, 2021
Happy Sunday everyone! I hope you have all had a great weekend and are looking forward to a new fresh week! I know that I certainly am. Last week was crazy for me. I feel like I was running around like a chicken with my head cut off. Between work, practice, and just the everyday stresses of summer, I was whooped by Friday. And now it just came to my mind that this is the last update of June. Let's be real, summer is just a few short weeks away and I feel like it just started yesterday. Throughout this past week I have really been praying to God asking Him to lead me towards a topic for this week. I went back and forth on what to do many times but I think I made a decision. This week I want to talk about self confidence.
Now hold up, don't stop reading there! Talking about self confidence can bring an entire array of emotions for different people. Some might feel like they have plenty others may not even know what this is. So no matter what level of confidence you're placed at, I really encourage you to read this update and try to make it applicable. Self confidence is described as a feeling of trust in your own qualities, abilities, and judgement. I know I know, we often joke that certain people have "too much" self confidence but in reality having the right amount can determine if you're successful or not. Self confidence does so many things to improve your quality of life as well as those around you. It effects your flexibility, performance, relationships, resilience, and just your life as a whole.
Have you ever heard the saying "you can't help someone else until you help yourself?" This quote is so true because what kind of example are you setting or attitude you're spreading if your not in a healthy place yourself? Thank goodness we have ways to boost and increase our self confidence because let's face it everyone struggles with theirs at some point in their lifetime. Below are going to be some examples of ways to lift up your self confidence.
1. Take physical care of your body
2. Wake up every morning with a fresh mind
3. Shrink the negative thoughts
4. Listen to your body
5. Spend time with others
This is just a couple of ways you can do each and everyday to increase your confidence. God wants us to be happy in ourselves not let down or hateful. But trust me, I know this is not an easy task for some. I still struggle with self confidence today. I really pray this helps you become more loving in and of yourself and if you ever need help with this, please reach out to me. I love you all so much and will see you on the 4th!
June 20, 2021
Good afternoon! I pray you have all had a great week and are enjoying your Father's Day. I know that for many this day can be extremely difficult and for others it is a day of celebration. But to be honest, this day should be a celebration for each and everyone. Isaiah 63:16 states that "For you are our Father, through Abraham does not know us; you, O Lord, are our Father, our Redeemer from of old is your name." So while yes, each of us have a earthly father, our ultimate Father is He who is above us. So while some don't have the most supportive father figures or maybe your dad has passed God wants to remind us that He is your perfect heavenly father. His love is perfect and we should center our lives around Him.
You and me are children of God. God's love is unconditional. There is not a single thing we can do to change or lessen that love. He wants to be with us and His desire to be with us is far greater than we imagine. As many know, John 3:16 says that "God so loved the world, he gave his only son, that whosoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life." His love and want for us is so great that He sacrificed His own son, Jesus to killed on the cross. Knowing all of this, we should relate to God as our loving and great father above everything else.
As this Father's Day comes to a close, I challenge you to spend some time in Fellowship with God. Thank him and praise him for the unfailing love and care is shows for you. Even though you might not feel it, God is doing an amazing work in your life and has a place awaiting you in heaven. He is a good, good, Father and nothing we could do will ever be able to change that. Therefore if God is our father we are to obey like His children. Don't doubt or reject God's calling for you. His plan is far bigger that our eyes can see and that is exactly where we must learn to trust Him and his plan for our lives. Trials are going to come up, situations are going to approach, sadness is not gone, yet we can have peace in knowing this is not the end but just the beginning.
I really hope this lesson will encourage and inspire you to stretch your understanding of the word father and remember that this day should be a day of gratefulness and praise. I love you all so much and am so thankful for your commitment and interest in Bounceback Beautifully. Please continue to spread the word and submit box forms for anyone you know who needs some encouragement. Have a great week and I will see you in just a few short days.
June 12, 2021
Good morning everyone! I am so glad you decided to come back this week and read the update! I have really been trying to think of a good, rich topic to study and I’ll be honest it has been difficult. Every topic I’ve come across, satan has made me feel like was worthless. Then I was thinking about all the people I am around every day and what they might need. After really watching our day to day lives, I realized that we all need some positivity in our lives. Staying positive through the good and bad times can be so challenging. Sometimes we are faced with situations that feel like nothing good could possibly result from it. However we must remember that no matter the scale of the trial, it is a part of God’s perfect plan and He is going to create something beautiful no matter what.
I know personally, the thought of staying positive can often times be confusing. I mean what exactally does this mean? To stay positive, we must be in touch with our inner feelings and be aware of the present. It is when fear comes into play that we loose our psotivivty and start to down or have negative thoughts. Fear can convince us that things won’t work or will leave us lifeless when in reality God is working it out for the best. We must be willing to accept and run with the criticism that our minds and others throw in our direction and use those darts to fight back. We cannot control what happens to us but we can control how we respond to them. There is so many examples and references of positivity in the Bible. Let’s take a look:
Philippians 4:8 reminds us that we must dwell in the praiseworthy things of life.
Colossians 3 :1-2 tells us to set our hearts and minds on heavenly things not earthly.
Romans 12 :2 says that we should not conform to the ways of the world but instead look out for God’s will.
As you can see though these verses and many others, God wants us to follow Him and seek Him in everything we do. When we obey and closely look into what He asks of us, we will realize that everything God has planned is for our benefit and good. Growth cannot happen without trials and pain. Next time you feel hopeless, helpless, sad, or mad let’s remind whose we are and why we are here. I love you all so much and pray that this would really resonate with your current lives. I am always here to help if you need anything. Have a fantastic week and I will see you all soon!
June 5, 2021
Good afternoon everyone! I know the past few updates have been "out of schedule" if there even is one (hahaha) but I've really been trying to listen to when and what God is calling me to write about rather than awaiting Sunday morning to update. I hope this is okay with you because I really feel like the lessons are more meaningful when we have something to apply them too. So this week I want to talk about patience. Now trust me, I know as a high schooler we often roll our eyes at the idea of having to wait on something but it's starting to come full circle to me why God calls us to wait. I'm not going to lie, it can be so hard to continue trusting in God when it feels as if He has left you hanging. Sometimes we will pray to God and He might not answer immediately yet we can trust that this is no silence or ignoring we are seeing. Psalm 18:6 states "In my distress I called upon the Lord; to my God I cried for help. From His temple He heard my voice and my cry to Him reached His ears." No matter how distant you might feel from Christ, He is always listening. Whenever I think about patience, uncertainty and doubt often come to mind as-well. It is so hard in the moment to remember God has a timeline for everything. No matter how much we beg and plead, God isn't going to give in to our desires. He knows what is best for you and me even though you may think differently. Patience is something we must include when talking about our walk with Christ. So when we feel like something isn't working out we must remember God's truths about patience.
Now let's start by getting something strait. Patience is not something just immediately given. I think we all know and have seen this in our own lives. Patience is a choice that we as humans often struggle to use when we are going about our day to day lives. I will be the first to admit patience is something I really struggle with. I often find myself with a set in stone plan in my mind and when it doesn't go exactly according to schedule I sometimes loose it. So this lesson is something I am really working with you. So we must decide, how are you going to react when change and adversity hit? Are you going to praise and worship God or loose your crap and become a hot mess?
When we are impatience, that is often when we sin. We think that the best choice is to act according to what we think when in reality God knows best. God is going to reward those who don't give up and remain steadfast. So next time you are hit with an opportunity to practice patience, I encourage you to turn back to God's truth and remember that He is in control of you, your surroundings, and everything that happens to you. I love you all so much and pray that you have a great week. Please continue filling out B3 box forms for whoever you think could use one and I will get them sent out pronto. Let me know if there is ever anything I can help you with! Remember to be on mission and don't forget that you cannot take care of others until you take care of yourself.