Not really sure how to start this one off, but I figured a good dose of vulnerability would do my heart some good.
I was raised in a Christian home, accepted Jesus as my savior when I was about four or five years old. Somehow I was able to really get it at a young age, and I'm thankful that I've never known a time where I didn't know God loved me. Growing up was kind of crazy. We moved quite a bit, the first time was in fifth grade and I ended up going to three different high schools. The summer after my sophomore year my parents separated and a few months after graduation they got a divorce.
I've had a lot of people tell me that I seem intimidating because I have this appearance of being the "perfect little Christian girl" and having everything together. I'm big on being vulnerable and real with community, so false perception is the last thing I want. I have tons of wounds and lies in my heart, just like anybody else. I have "stuff" and life is often messy. But thankfully I'm constantly being healed, and hope is always forever throughout any circumstance or season. :)
Over the past three years I've learned a ton. And I have a huge huge heart and passion for church and people. That they can learn and be able kick start off from where I'm standing and journeyed too, that I would be able to launch them out to go to further places than even I will. So I just wanted to share some things I've learned in hopes of doing that.
-If you want to know who you are, you have to know who God is.
-God is real. And so is Satan. You are in a battle, and the enemy truly wants to kill, steal and destroy. Be aware, not afraid.
-God created you purely to love you, and everything we do is out of response to that.
-We all have our "stuff". We're human. We mess up. And we aren't perfect, especially Christians. We're probably the messiest bunch. Its okay to not be okay.
-Its never 5 steps forward, 3 steps back with God. Its always forward. One of the biggest lies is that you are back at square one with that same thing you tried to deal with five years ago. Its not, its just another layer.
-Its not always that we needs God's grace, a lot of times we struggle with giving ourselves grace. Stop bullying yourself.
-You carry life and death on your tongue, so be careful what you speak over yourself and those around you, even in joking. Rebuke lies, proclaim truth.
-Because Jesus is in you, you have authority. You are powerful. You are already fighting from victory not towards it. Proclaim victory over every situation and relationship.
-Process. All of life is a process, so get used to it. :)
-Be aware of your perception as God as Father. If you took the attributes you think God has and put them on an earthly father, would you think they were a good dad? (ie: If you saw a dad that purposefully put their child in a rough situation to teach their kid a lesson, would that be considered good parenting?) If not than you may want to re-evaluate your understanding of the Father's heart.
-Find a small group of people and always be completely vulnerable. Tell them absolutely everything, share all your "stuff". Satan's number one tool is guilt and shame, and he does it by trying to keep us quiet. He wants us to think that we are the only one dealing with that thing. And just so you know, you aren't.
-Love always wins.
I was raised in a Christian home, accepted Jesus as my savior when I was about four or five years old. Somehow I was able to really get it at a young age, and I'm thankful that I've never known a time where I didn't know God loved me. Growing up was kind of crazy. We moved quite a bit, the first time was in fifth grade and I ended up going to three different high schools. The summer after my sophomore year my parents separated and a few months after graduation they got a divorce.
I've had a lot of people tell me that I seem intimidating because I have this appearance of being the "perfect little Christian girl" and having everything together. I'm big on being vulnerable and real with community, so false perception is the last thing I want. I have tons of wounds and lies in my heart, just like anybody else. I have "stuff" and life is often messy. But thankfully I'm constantly being healed, and hope is always forever throughout any circumstance or season. :)
Over the past three years I've learned a ton. And I have a huge huge heart and passion for church and people. That they can learn and be able kick start off from where I'm standing and journeyed too, that I would be able to launch them out to go to further places than even I will. So I just wanted to share some things I've learned in hopes of doing that.
-If you want to know who you are, you have to know who God is.
-God is real. And so is Satan. You are in a battle, and the enemy truly wants to kill, steal and destroy. Be aware, not afraid.
-God created you purely to love you, and everything we do is out of response to that.
-We all have our "stuff". We're human. We mess up. And we aren't perfect, especially Christians. We're probably the messiest bunch. Its okay to not be okay.
-Its never 5 steps forward, 3 steps back with God. Its always forward. One of the biggest lies is that you are back at square one with that same thing you tried to deal with five years ago. Its not, its just another layer.
-Its not always that we needs God's grace, a lot of times we struggle with giving ourselves grace. Stop bullying yourself.
-You carry life and death on your tongue, so be careful what you speak over yourself and those around you, even in joking. Rebuke lies, proclaim truth.
-Because Jesus is in you, you have authority. You are powerful. You are already fighting from victory not towards it. Proclaim victory over every situation and relationship.
-Process. All of life is a process, so get used to it. :)
-Be aware of your perception as God as Father. If you took the attributes you think God has and put them on an earthly father, would you think they were a good dad? (ie: If you saw a dad that purposefully put their child in a rough situation to teach their kid a lesson, would that be considered good parenting?) If not than you may want to re-evaluate your understanding of the Father's heart.
-Find a small group of people and always be completely vulnerable. Tell them absolutely everything, share all your "stuff". Satan's number one tool is guilt and shame, and he does it by trying to keep us quiet. He wants us to think that we are the only one dealing with that thing. And just so you know, you aren't.
-Love always wins.
