Jeremiah 29:11

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Monday, August 30, 2010

Jesus Loves ME!!!!!

Today's devotional was by Mary Southerland. It was called, "Yes, Jesus Loves Me!" (http://girlfriendsingod.com/Default.aspx?tabid=97) It talked about how Jesus loves each of us so much! Sometimes I feel like the stress of my days can really just weigh me down and take some of that day-to-day joy away...which really shouldn't be! This devotional really encouraged me to change my way of thinking! No matter how hard or stressful my days might get I need to remember that Jesus loves me! If we simply reflect on the love of God, all the stress of the day can just slip away! Mary Southerland mentioned how she could think of God's love and thoughts of when she first "met" God and all the blessings within her relationship with Him would come flooding to her mind! All the stresses and worries of her day would simply disappear!

Sometimes we let even the little things get in the way, allowing us to forget that God is there with us throughout the day and loves us UNCONDITIONALLY! What a joy it is to think that no matter what we do or what we go through, God still and always will love us! Other may fail us and walk away from us, but not God! He promises to walk with us through every part of our life--the good and the bad! What an encouragement that can bring such joy to our hearts. Someone...not just any someone, but the Almighty God and our Savior will always love us and walk along side of us if we simply follow His Word and obey Him! Praise God!

"Jesus Loves Me"
Jesus loves me! this I know,
For the Bible tells me so.
Little ones to Him belong;
they are weak but He is strong.

Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
The Bible tells me so.

Thursday, August 26, 2010

God Will Provide...

Today's devotional was by Mary Southerland, from Girlfriends in God. The devotional was entitled, "Greed Stinks!" and it really made me think and realize about how ungrateful I really am! God has provided for me and brought me through so many trials and I rarely just take the time to thank Him and give Him the praise that He deserves. It's been great to see Him provide all my college bills thus far and I know that He will continue to do so as long as I'm following His will for my life (which is my desire and I believe that the track I am taking right now is God's will for me!). He's provided me with great friends and family. Two great churches that I can attend and be actively involved in ministries there. An amazing college that has great professors who care about each one of us and will help whenever and however they can if needed. Not many college students can say that they have a relationship, a friendship, with their professors other than the student/professor relationship but at BBC they really invest time in each student and I praise God for allowing to go to such a college. I really need to learn to be content with what I have and what God has provided for me. He's blessed me beyond measure and I sometimes take that for granted and start complaining about what I don't have! May I learn to be more grateful for the life and things and people God has put into my life.

I also just have to say that today in chapel was our Praise Chapel...it was so encouraging and uplifting. The focus was to praise God for what He has done and how He has worked in lives and to hear some of the testimonies given was so encouraging. There are people that are going through rough times yet they have complete joy and happiness in God. They praise Him and you can just see God reflecting from their lives. It's definitely an encouragement to me for when I am going through something! Praise God for how he is working at BBC and in my life!

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Meeting the Man of Your Dreams...

I get my devotionals sent to me daily from a website called, Girlfriends in God. The three ladies that write the devotionals, Sharon Jaynes, Gwen Smith, and Mary Southerland, have really challenged me on several occasions. Today's devotional was by Sharon Jaynes and it was called "Meeting the Man of Your Dreams" (http://girlfriendsingod.com/Default.aspx?tabid=97). I know I worry a lot in my personal life about whether or not I will ever find the Mr. Right...the man of my dreams. Reading this made me realize, I already found Him! He gives me eternal life. He walks on water. He's PERFECT! He shines like the sun. He will never leave me. He is a Prince! He died for me. He knows the desires of my heart. He opens the door. He loves me! (Isaiah 62:5). I know I may still struggle with the fact that I am single at times, but I will be able to remember that God is my first love...the man of my dreams! What an encouragement and comfort! As for waiting for my "earthly" Mr. Right...it's something I will have to trust and have faith in God that He knows who's best for me and when the best time is for me to meet that special person! I pray that God grants me patience and understanding between now and then.

Well, I've officially started my junior year at Baptist Bible College and it is going to be very busy. I'm really going to have to rely on God to get me through this semester. It is not going to be easy with 18 credit hours and 11 work hours plus homework...then to fit in a social life! But I am going to live this semester in prayer! I am really excited to see what God has to teach me this year in my Bible classes! My one desire is to be a woman after God's own heart and I still have a ways to go but I'm growing each and every day and for that I am very thankful!

Sunday, August 8, 2010

God Is The Center Of My Being

It's been awhile since I've wrote on here. I can't believe all that God is doing in my heart and life. He's taught me, tried me, and blessed me so much in the past few weeks. He's taught me the importance of completely depending on Him for everything in my life. I'm struggling with something right now and without His help and strength I would never come as far as I have in the present trial. I am truly thankful for this help He has given to me...it gives great joy and victory when one realizes that they are getting through something with the help of God and God alone! I have not taken this problem to anyone (other than my best friend knowing) and He's taught me and shown me so much to get through it! Praise God!

The importance of trust and total dependence/faith in God is so vital in my life, I've come to realize. Especially in these past few months of the summer. But I'm getting through each day in His strength and power. I love Him so much for saving me and making me one of His own. I want nothing more than for Him to be the center of my life! I just want to serve Him and keep Him my number 1 focus!

He's also blessed me beyond measure with such great friends, family, and churches that love and care for me and want to see me grow close to my God and Savior! I can't thank God enough for the friends that have such an impact on my life and some of them don't even realize how much their friendship means to me! I just hope I never take these relationships for granted or lose them! God has also blessed in His provision for my school bill. He's allowed for my loan to go through so that I can make it back to BBC this Fall! I really look forward to what He's going to teach me and how I can grow closer to Him this coming school year! Praise God for His love, mercy, and provision in my life each day!