Welcome back everyone! Sorry I've been M.IA. for a little while... I've been in a new season of faith and my relationship with the Lord is kind of in a transition phase, so it's been a little difficult for me to blog. I felt God wanting me to pursue His heart more intimately and trust in Him throughout the past few months, so that's what I did! Buuuut... I am back now for the new year!! I can't wait to see where God takes this blog this year, what His Spirit moves me to write about, and what He can teach me in the process of doing so. Anyways, on to the post! I'm sure we can all agree that we've heard the phrases "God has a plan for you" or "trust God's plan" more times than we can count. Jeremiah 29:11 is one of the most quoted Bible verses. Sometimes, we hear it so much that it loses its value, and it can feel like yeah, yeah God has a plan for me....I know. It becomes more of a concept to us than a reality and a truth of God's never-changing nature. Personally, I've always known that God had a plan for me... I always believed it in my heart, but it still seemed like this "thing" that I had to keep reminding myself of. But the truth of the matter is that we can't ignore what God already did in our lives. Those things... those circumstances that He turned around, the healing, those miracles, those experiences... looking back at your life will point you to the conclusion that He indeed has that plan for you, and has ALL ALONG! I've recently had that epiphany. Almost 6 months ago, I could feel my life start to change. To be honest, I was horrified, and couldn't understand why I had to let go of certain people and relationships. (Read more here). Laying in bed, crying, I spilled out a prayer in my journal. .... I thank You, Lord that You are for me... that You sing over me in joy. I thank You, Lord for what has happened... a chance to find strength in faith, to learn more about the human nature, to rest more in Your Presence. I know Your promise to me, Lord, is Your faithfulness. You removed this friendship from my life for a reason, and I thank You, Lord Jesus....I will be conscious of it as I move forward with You. I'm a failure, God, and I'm in need of Your Grace. I'm broken, and I'm crying out to be whole again. I PRAISE YOU FOR YOUR PROMISES TO ME! GREAT IS YOUR FAITHFULNESS! I love You, Jesus. My Provider, my Comforter. In Jesus' name I pray, That prayer came out of such a place of pain... but the coolest part is being able to look back at it and seeing how God took that one thing and made it work together for the good (Romans 8:28). The months went on, and God started to heal my heart from that falling out. October came around, and I was in the process of leaving my church and finding a new one. My mom and I came across one nearby that had everything I wanted and felt like I needed to pursue my relationship with Christ in the best way possible. A few weeks later, we made our first trip there, and I just knew it was my church home. Since the end of my 6th grade year, I've been dealing with chronic nausea. It's so draining: emotionally and physically, however it ended up being a good thing because it was the main reason I turned to God and rededicated my life to Him. Nonetheless, it still ate away at my quality of life, and I was desperate for relief. The same day that I started going to my new church, I went to see my all-time favorite Christian artist, Kari Jobe. I went into that concert not knowing what to expect, but the Lord touched me and I walked out healed. I can confidently say that was one of the best days of my life. That same week, I started attending the church's youth group. Little did I know that my life would be transformed by someone that sat quietly in that room. We started talking just a few days before my friendship "break-up" became official. Looking back at these few months, it brought back a sense of awe and wonder for my God. I'm so in awe of how quickly He has transformed my life. At one point, I remember laying in bed and feeling all of the strings of my life weave together. I knew in that moment that God really had me in the palm of His hand. I knew that His plan for me is real... it's not just this idea I'm conditioned to believe, being a Christian. God really did take every circumstance of my life and tie it all together. It wasn't easy. There was pain, heartbreak, struggle, sickness. But He really does take brokenness and make it beautiful. He loves to weave together beautiful stories. And this isn't even close to being the end of mine. So my message to you is this: you may feel like your pain is intolerable. You may feel stuck. Like you're just going through the motions of life. But trust me when I say that God. Is. Faithful. He has a plan for you. You may not feel it now, but when you get to a season of blessings, it will become easier for you to understand why He allowed to you go through all of those trials in the first place. You will see those strings weaved together. And don't forget: everything in His plan will draw you nearer to Him. His deepest desire is to know you and for you to know Him. God's plan for you is your specific map to seeking His heart. 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. |
| |
Learn more about Jesus Christ ➳
Follow Jesus ➳
Read last post ➳
Leave a prayer request ➳
Shop my Etsy➳
tal·ent ˈtalənt/ noun 1. natural aptitude or skill. | We've all heard the phrase "God-given talent," but its meaning is often overlooked. Our talents indeed are given to us by God, and that's exactly what is being ignored: they're given as gifts from God. He gave them to us for a purpose: to honor and glorify Him. |
When I was younger, I LOVED creative writing. I was known as one of the best writers in my little 2nd grade class, and it was just really a passion of mine. As time went on, I lost time for writing. All the writing we were doing in school was going the opposite way: expository, persuasive, etc. My writing style changed to fit what the school system was demanding, however I eventually remembered my talent for writing and wanted to pick it up again, so I decided I would use it to start this blog!
I'm also a musician: a singer, specifically. I've been singing since I was 8, and I joined my choir when I was 12... it's my true passion and my "better" talent, I guess haha. As I grew up, I was always singing and music was a part of every aspect of my life, so when I started my relationship with the Lord, it obviously fused with that as well. If you read the 'about me' page, I mention that my dream is to be a worship leader or Christian singer. I've recently found a new church, so when I get settled, I would love to start singing there.
The point is that God gave me these talents and I could've used them in any way I wanted, but through reading the Word and getting to know God's desires more, I've learned that their purpose is to honor Him.
I'm also a musician: a singer, specifically. I've been singing since I was 8, and I joined my choir when I was 12... it's my true passion and my "better" talent, I guess haha. As I grew up, I was always singing and music was a part of every aspect of my life, so when I started my relationship with the Lord, it obviously fused with that as well. If you read the 'about me' page, I mention that my dream is to be a worship leader or Christian singer. I've recently found a new church, so when I get settled, I would love to start singing there.
The point is that God gave me these talents and I could've used them in any way I wanted, but through reading the Word and getting to know God's desires more, I've learned that their purpose is to honor Him.
"Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms."
(1 Peter 4:10)
God made mankind in His image (Genesis 1:27), and our purpose is to worship and glorify Him (Isaiah 43:7)! Our talents are just another tool that we can use to bring honor to Him in our own lives, but we can also use them to bring others to the cross. We just need to ask God in prayer to remove any selfish desires =from us and to convict us to use all of it for His Kingdom.
So...today I'll be outlining some recommendations of ways you can use your talents to glorify the Lord!
So...today I'll be outlining some recommendations of ways you can use your talents to glorify the Lord!
Writing
1. Write a book
2. Write a devotional
3. Start a blog :)
2. Write a devotional
3. Start a blog :)
Singing
1. Sing at your church
2. Lead worship
3. Record your own Christian song(s)
4. Record a cover(s) of your favorite Christian song(s)
2. Lead worship
3. Record your own Christian song(s)
4. Record a cover(s) of your favorite Christian song(s)
Art
1. Paint/draw/create a work that depicts something divine
a. Something that cultivates thought in the viewers
b. A biblical scene
2. Try spontaneous/worship/Holy Spirit driven painting
3. Create artwork for an organization that seeks to create more followers of Christ
4. Try calligraphy: bible verses!
5. Paint Bible covers
6. Try Bible journaling
a. Something that cultivates thought in the viewers
b. A biblical scene
2. Try spontaneous/worship/Holy Spirit driven painting
3. Create artwork for an organization that seeks to create more followers of Christ
4. Try calligraphy: bible verses!
5. Paint Bible covers
6. Try Bible journaling
Creativity (general)
1. Create a YouTube Christ-centered YouTube channel and create various creative videos around the topic of Christianity
The lists could go on and on, but these are some of the ideas I personally came up with, and there are obviously more talents than those that I listed above too. Often, we can get self-absorbed and think we're better than others because of the talents we were given, but what we must remember is that the talent was not to bring glory to ourselves. We're called to do all things and use all things for the Kingdom of God!
Side note: I know these last 2 blog posts have been a little short, so
Let me know in the comments: what's your talent, and how will you use it to glorify the Lord?
Learn more about Jesus Christ ➳
Follow Jesus ➳
Read last post ➳
Leave a prayer request ➳
Shop my Etsy➳
On one hand, Christianity is highly glamorized: we're all obsessed with idea of Christianity as cute Bible verses, Hillsong lyrics and Bible journaling, but that's just not an authentic peek into the real life of a real Christian. Of course, we can have all three of those things (I know I do!), but it's just so much more than that. It's beautiful, freeing, fulfilling...yes, but it's also hard sometimes.
Living life for Jesus is not always a walk in the park.
Living life for Jesus is not always a walk in the park.
... and I've definitely learned that lesson recently.
I've experienced the typical teasing and behind-your-back-talking of high school (Read more here), but I never thought I would lose a friend over my faith. And it's not even that they were just a school friend, an acquaintance, or someone who I hung out with a few times, they were one of my very best friends... one of 10 years. They were someone I told all my secrets to, someone who I always trusted. As time went on and we grew older, I was met with some pretty hard circumstances, and that's when I turned to the Lord. (Read more about my story here) From then on, I just grew closer and closer to Him, and farther and farther away from my friend. It wasn't that I chose to stop contacting them, but we were just slowly drifting away, and I didn't know why. We tried to salvage it a few times...promises were always made, but none were kept.
We drifted farther away, however I still maintained my relationship with Jesus, and it only got stronger.
Much time went by, about a year, and I started sensing something seriously wasn't right in our friendship. I didn't really know what it was, but I knew it was something. We still weren't talking, but I ended up finding out that they were uncomfortable with how much I talked about and prioritized my relationship with God, and they felt that I was trying to change who they were as a person. Obviously, they don't have the same beliefs as me, and I certainly wasn't trying to change them, but I understand why they might've felt that way. Nonetheless, I was crushed... they didn't want to be my friend anymore. I was crying for days, but at one point, I heard the Lord tell me that it was his plan for me.
I've experienced the typical teasing and behind-your-back-talking of high school (Read more here), but I never thought I would lose a friend over my faith. And it's not even that they were just a school friend, an acquaintance, or someone who I hung out with a few times, they were one of my very best friends... one of 10 years. They were someone I told all my secrets to, someone who I always trusted. As time went on and we grew older, I was met with some pretty hard circumstances, and that's when I turned to the Lord. (Read more about my story here) From then on, I just grew closer and closer to Him, and farther and farther away from my friend. It wasn't that I chose to stop contacting them, but we were just slowly drifting away, and I didn't know why. We tried to salvage it a few times...promises were always made, but none were kept.
We drifted farther away, however I still maintained my relationship with Jesus, and it only got stronger.
Much time went by, about a year, and I started sensing something seriously wasn't right in our friendship. I didn't really know what it was, but I knew it was something. We still weren't talking, but I ended up finding out that they were uncomfortable with how much I talked about and prioritized my relationship with God, and they felt that I was trying to change who they were as a person. Obviously, they don't have the same beliefs as me, and I certainly wasn't trying to change them, but I understand why they might've felt that way. Nonetheless, I was crushed... they didn't want to be my friend anymore. I was crying for days, but at one point, I heard the Lord tell me that it was his plan for me.
I heard Him remind me that I shouldn't keep people in my life who want to pull me away from Him or that don't encourage me to pursue Him. It was a reminder that He is all I need. (John 14:8) The whole situation not only reminded me of that, but God also opened my eyes to the hard truth of what life would be like for me, and what it is like for all Christians.
We're counter-cultural.
We don't buy into the lies of the media that are instituted by the devil. We live life set apart, making our every decision by the Word of God... checking with Him to know if what we're hearing lines up with His will for us. We don't believe in the things the world believes... and the world doesn't like that. They put labels on us, saying we're hateful. A lot of the time, we're demonized, persecuted for being different and choosing to live "the old-fashioned" way.
"Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name."
(1 Peter 4:16)
We truly do have to, as it says in 1 Timothy 6:12, fight the good fight of faith. When the whole world is against us, we have to remember that God is for us.
"What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?"
(Romans 8:31)
We just have to keep on going down the path of the Lord, fighting the good fight of faith, and showing the love of Christ to the world.
Read "Living Out Christianity Loudly"➳
Read "Being a Christian Teen in a World of Unbelievers" ➳
Read "7 Simple Ways to Spread the Love of God and the Gospel Message"➳
Read "Being a Christian Teen in a World of Unbelievers" ➳
Read "7 Simple Ways to Spread the Love of God and the Gospel Message"➳
Songs of the week:
| |
About the Author
Hi! I'm Angie! I'm a college student, worship leader, pro-life advocate, future teacher, youth ministry intern, and above all else, follower of Jesus Christ. I would love to get to know you!
Read more ➳
Read by Topic
All
Bible Study
Evangelism
Every Day Life
Feminism
Godly Womanhood
Hope
Identity
Just For Fun
Relationship With God
Sin & Redemption
Archives
July 2021
August 2020
July 2020
April 2020
March 2020
January 2019
November 2018
August 2018
March 2018
January 2018
November 2017
October 2017
September 2017
August 2017
July 2017