September 26, 2021
Good morning! I pray that you all have had a safe and positive week. I am so glad it is finally starting to feel like fall outside. Fall is my favorite time of the year because it is perfect weather to enjoy the outside without being too hot or cold. I love it so much and it makes me so happy to see all the fall decorations coming out. Ok! Let’s get to the point of todays update:
I have been trying to make a goal every morning before I get out of bed to achieve something new for the day. My goals have been anything from focusing more on my devotional life with Christ to talking to someone new at school. By making these small daily goals, I find myself focusing on the present and really observing/soaking up every minute of opportunity I have. This last Wednesday I read this quote “Create a life that feels good on the inside, not just looks good on the outside.” When I read this statement, my mind directly went to the idea that as humans we try to present ourselves as these perfect, flawless human beings when in reality we are the farthest things from perfect. However, despite all of our wrongs, the Father sent His only son so that we do not have to live with this wrongness forever. If we are constantly looking at the outside, we will never get a true taste of who that person or people really are. Side note: Have you ever watched Food.Net? Well this idea of a false conception about who someone is by judging their outward appearence is It’s kind of like a recipe. It can look like a five star steak dinner on the plate, but once you cut into that piece of meat you realize you’re chewing a rubber tire.
God wants us to find who we really are by searching our own heart and the hearts of others. It is below the skin that our personalities and gifts really lay. I know, this is so hard because as people we tend to immediately look at someone or something and make conclusions that we know so much about them. When in reality all we know is what they are wearing that day.
I challenge you this week to try and look into who you are on the inside. Are you consistantly focusing on the positives or negatives? Are you proud of who you are in Christ? Do you think that when other people look to you they see a strong and persevering role model? All in all, you are living for Christ, help people see who you are by showing it. Don’t be ashamed of the gifts and talents God has graciously given you. Stay strong and never let anyone stop you! You are God’s and nobody can ever take this away from you. I love you so very much and am so blessed to know that you are coming back for the weekly updates. See you next week!
IF YOU CAN PLEASE SUBMIT AT LEAST ONE B3 BOX FORM TODAY!
September 19, 2021
What a week! Everyday we get fed with conversations, texts, and social media posts about our identities. Some positive but most negative and results in our own self-consuming thoughts. Each time we login to that instagram page, turn the TV on, open a magazine, or even just talk with a group we begin to measure ourselves against impossible standards of altered image. As much as it hurts to say it, these advertisements and conversations we have are only embedding dissatisfaction into our hearts.
What we fail to realize is the fact that God has created each of us to be His. "Vessels" for Him. He knew before we were created what he intended for our identities. each person has been made with different gifts for to complete different tasks for Christ. While we are all different in many ways. God gave all of us the same purpose and that is to serve and bring Him glory. Our true self, our identity, is who we are in Christ alone. We belong to Him.
Though at times we believe false things about ourselves and try to fill multiple roles during different seasons of life, these things are not who we REALLY are. You are a chosen and worthy person You are redeemed, loved and forgiven bu God and He wants nothing more than a personal relationship with you. You were born with a future in mind, God has given you a hope and has so Manu plans/jobs for you to help complete.
So stop trying to "add up" to the characteristics of others. He wants you clean and willing, with God as the center of your life. God wants all of you, He wants your love. Own it! You are God's, the Creator of the world. Don't be ashamed of who you are in Christ. I encourage you to be proud of who you are and who you are becoming. God has great plans for you; don't loose hope.
I pray that this lesson brings encouragement to many of you. I also pray that you all have a great week. Please continue to submit B3 box forms for those who need encouragement and let's continue to BREAK THE SHAME!
September 11, 2021
Hey everyone! I’m so glad you came to read this weeks update. I was going to do my usual Sunday post but then realized it would work out perfectly with the topic if I went ahead and posted today. I hope that you have all had a great week and are enjoying your weekend. I’m so ready for tomorrow. I am going to have a full day for chilling. I feel like I have been going going going all week long and I think my body deserves a break therefore, Sunday is going to be a FULL day of rest for me:) This week I want to focus on finding peace in the chaos. Living during the times we are living in, our lives are constant, we hardly ever get a chance to sit down and when we do, it is almost impossible to relax. However, there is nothing more important than finding peace in the midst of all this craziness.
You’re probably thinking, “Gracie, peace in this mess?” But just trust me. Peace is possible. God is watching over you and all you need to do is pray for peace and comfort in these unsettling times. No matter what is going on in the world, it is so important to settle our hearts and minds in Christ alone. He will always be our best bet and no matter how much is going on in your life, peace can be found simply by keeping your mind on Christ. Romans 15:13 states, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” I challenge you to find this peace. It might take some digging but God promises it is there so, ask Him to reveal it to you today. I want to leave you with this verse it is so helpful and beneficial to have memorized so here is 2 Thessalonians 3:16, “Now may the Lord of peace Himself grant you His peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.”
I love you all so much and pray that you are all able to find this peace soon. If there is anything I can do to help please reach out to me. I haven’t had many box forms lately so please please please be looking into candidates for those. Have an amazing week and remember, GOD IS IN CONTROL!
September 5, 2021
What is Grace? I find myself asking this question a lot. When I think of Grace, I think of forgiveness. The Biblical definition is “Gods favor to the unworthy”. We receive this grace from God every single day even when don’t feel it. Gods grace can be shown in numerous ways : forgiveness, identity, and our response to hard times. I feel like we as humans recognize Grace most often in times of hurt. We ask ourselves “why” when in reality these hard times that come our way are just small gifts of grace reveled to us. It may not be until you have gotten over the top of the mountain that you see these gifts. God uses our trials for His glory. When thinking of what grace in the Bible looks like, just think about how Paul Zahl describes it “Grace is unconditional love towards a person who doesn’t deserve it”. There is so many examples of God giving to the undeserving throughout the Bible.
This should encourage us to be the same way towards others. We are called to be like Christ in every way possible. Grace is a great place to start. Gods grace towards you and me is sufficient, never ending, and always available. Let’s challenge ourselves to be like this. Offer some grace, give some compassion for the things others are going through. You never know what someone might be facing, give them the respect and comfort of your grace. I know this is difficult and it certainly takes work. None of us are perfect like The Lord but we can do our part to be examples for those around us. I pray that you all have a great Labor Day and stay safe. Don’t forget to fill out B3 box forms for those you know could use some encouragement. See you next week!