Live to the FULLEST

I'm naturally a reserved person. I'm that person who has to think everything through before I do something. I'm that wierdo who thinks about the risks of things and who is almost always cautious in everything. I remember being that little kid who wouldn't swim til at least 30 minutes had passed after I ate, or always watching the sky for lightning...even when it wasn't raining. (I promise I'm not THAT reserved anymore..)

Most of the time, I'm not too ashamed of being reserved. It's my personality, it can help in situations, etc. BUT- When it gets into the way of my serving the Lord, it's a trait that is a burden to me. Thankfully though, the Lord has a way of breaking burdens and creating glorious things from them.

I never used to worship freely. I wouldn't raise my hands as much as I wanted. I wouldn't tune others around me out like I wanted. I was always conscious of what was around me. My mind was constantly processing everything around me and I never focused totally on God. I was reserved in worship. The Lord put a conviction in my heart each time though and always asked me something like "What are you holding back?" Sometimes I felt like I was holding back everything. I desired so much more. (most likely a desire the Lord placed in my heart) I'm happy to say that, even though I still have my moments of being a wimp, the Lord has broken this problem and helped me to worship Him with all my heart. It's a great feeling...anyone out there who is holding back in worship, STOP HOLDING BACK!!! I promise, your missing a beautiful thing! Don't be a fool like me! I thank the Lord every time I praise Him for giving the world such a great emotion to experience. (worshiping Him)

Another issue I have dealt with is that I have had several opportunities to go on missions trips this summer. Every time one was brought up, I found a reason not to be able to go. I came up with excuses like, "My faith isn't strong enough", "I don't have enough time to raise the money", or "I'm just not mature enough." These are all LIES! At the time, I believed each one. I really thought I was doing the best thing for myself and what was right. A friend recently told me "Mission trips are your next step in growing, they make your faith stronger", and she is right. The truth is, the devil doesn't want my faith to grow at all, he wants it to diminish. He wants my faith to grow smaller and smaller everyday. He used my personality trait of being reserved and a thorough thinker to put those thoughts in my head. The LORD is stronger and overcomes all though and He has helped me realize the reality of what has happened and the truth. He has helped me realize, when He commands me to do something, like a missions trip, there are NO reservations and where there is a will there is a way.

These situations have really made me think about how I serve the Lord. They have helped me decide that I want to live my FULLEST for God. I will never ever be FEARFUL.

"For God did not give us a spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind"
-2 Timothy 1:7

Live life your life to its fullest, all for God!!

Its been awhile...

I haven't wrote on this in forever. I'm not good at this kind of thing.

ANYWAYS..

I had a major dry spell in my faith. I loved God and believed in Him, but I had absolutely no motivation to do anything for Him, or to grow at all. I was starting to believe that whole, "Well I'm a teenager, I only have a little bit left, shouldn't I just mess around and have fun?" Well the big fat answer to that is..N O. Tried that, and it didn't quite work out. Every time I did something dumb, I had a conviction before, and a conviction after. When I accepted the Lord into my heart, I didn't tell Him, "Well, I'm going to love you, but I'm going to do dumb things all the time, and you can just forgive me after." When I made this change, I meant for it to be a change of my whole life. I'm going to keep it that way. The Lord's way is the ONLY way for me.

I can't imagine ever changing back. I love God. He's my father and my best friend.

I'm glad I kept pushing through.
I'm back on the right path, and I feel so much better.

"Show me your ways, O LORD, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. Remember, O LORD, your great mercy and love, for they are from of old. Remember not the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways; according to your love remember me, for you are good, O LORD."
Psalm 25:4-7


Have a blessed day..whoever reads this!