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. |
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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?
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Back to school week: a time where students feel just about every emotion at once. With the anxieties of what the year will be like, if you'll like your classes and teachers, finding those classes and teachers, who you'll sit with at lunch, and all the work you'll be getting, it can be pretty overwhelming. School sometimes feels like a black hole of anxiety and stress, but that's why it's so important that we stay close to the Lord and live out His will for us throughout the school year.
Here are just 6 ways you can stay connected and convivial this school year!
Here are just 6 ways you can stay connected and convivial this school year!
1. Choose specific Bible verses/passages to live out each day/week
I personally find choosing scripture for every day life to be extremely helpful in many ways. Choosing specific Truth to live by each day and/or week will not only keep you grounded in God's Will for you, but it will also help you to memorize more of the Word. Picking something specific you want to focus on from God's Word is key to growing closer to Him. You will become a better child of God and seeker of His heart by choosing to study and live out His wishes. Once you learn how to live out the scripture you choose, you're able to build off of that and grow even more.
The YouVersion Bible app provides a verse of the day, and you could definitely choose to live out the ones they put out! You can also set the app to give you that Bible verse in a notification at a specific time, so you can wake up to your inspiration for the day if you so choose. Isn't that great? I love that app so much!
Devotionals are also great to choose what you live by for the day. Jesus Calling by Sarah Young is a great daily devotional that gives you things to focus on for each day, so if you think that will better suit you than picking out verses yourself, go for it! You can purchase it here.
Having a goal to achieve for the day/week can really help when you're not too thrilled with what school has handed you. Let's face it: it can be boring sometimes! However, having purpose will make the long school days more enjoyable and intentional.
The YouVersion Bible app provides a verse of the day, and you could definitely choose to live out the ones they put out! You can also set the app to give you that Bible verse in a notification at a specific time, so you can wake up to your inspiration for the day if you so choose. Isn't that great? I love that app so much!
Devotionals are also great to choose what you live by for the day. Jesus Calling by Sarah Young is a great daily devotional that gives you things to focus on for each day, so if you think that will better suit you than picking out verses yourself, go for it! You can purchase it here.
Having a goal to achieve for the day/week can really help when you're not too thrilled with what school has handed you. Let's face it: it can be boring sometimes! However, having purpose will make the long school days more enjoyable and intentional.
2. Pray throughout the day
Prayer is also absolutely key to having a strong relationship with the Lord. Praying is really just talking to God, so try to have at least 3 conversations with Him throughout the day. During one of the strongest parts of my walk with God, I prayed around 7 times a day. They were just little, short prayers of gratitude while I walked down the halls of my high school. They mostly consisted of things like "Hey, God, thanks for getting me through that class" or "Thanks Lord for this beautiful day." It doesn't always have to be a formal thing, in fact, it never has to be. Praying comes in all forms, so it's really all up to you and what you feel most comfortable with. God LOVES when you talk to Him!
It's no secret that school is stressful and overwhelming, but that's another point where prayer comes in. Jesus once said, "'Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.'" (Matthew 11:28)
Pray about every little thing! If you're confused or don't understand something you're learning in class, you can ask God to make it clearer to you or to give you His knowledge. If you're tired, ask God to give you the strength to get through the day. The more you talk to Him, the closer the two of you will become!
💡 Tip: Pray for the Lord to help you remember what you've learned and studied and for Him to give you His knowledge before taking a test, quiz or exam. It has helped me a lot in the past!
It's no secret that school is stressful and overwhelming, but that's another point where prayer comes in. Jesus once said, "'Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.'" (Matthew 11:28)
Pray about every little thing! If you're confused or don't understand something you're learning in class, you can ask God to make it clearer to you or to give you His knowledge. If you're tired, ask God to give you the strength to get through the day. The more you talk to Him, the closer the two of you will become!
💡 Tip: Pray for the Lord to help you remember what you've learned and studied and for Him to give you His knowledge before taking a test, quiz or exam. It has helped me a lot in the past!
3. Ask God who you can help that day
Praying is a 2 way street...it is in fact a conversation, a dialogue. God can and will speak back if you allow Him to! A big part of being a Christian is loving others and looking out for them. Asking God who might need help or prayers that day will not only keep you close to Him, but it has the potential to change someone's day, week, year, or maybe even their life! Through this type of conversation with God, you can start to learn what His voice sounds like to you, which is essential to spiritual growth. It also starts to build up your partnership with God, working together to better the lives of those around you. You can truly become a team! Isn't that so cool!? You can be close partners with the creator of the universe!!
4. Reach out to others about the Gospel
Whether it's getting to know other Christians or evangelizing to peers, sharing the Gospel is so important to Christian life. Because of the fact that you're still in school, it can be pretty hard to find other Christians around you. Not many teens or young adults are very dedicated to their faith... and many don't even believe in anything. However, if you know of other people that share your love for the Lord, reach out to them! Maybe plan a bible study outside of school with a group of other believers, or if your school allows it, start a Christian club after school. Whatever you can do to better connect with other children of God, do it! Just like you can become a team with God, you can become a team with other Christians to be able to spread the Gospel to the world. You will be able to encourage each other, pray for each other, grow spiritually together, etc. The bond between two Christian friends is far different than a bond between two non-Christian friends or one Christian friend and another non-Christian friend. Christ-centered friendships are bound by the Holy Spirit. (Check out 7 ways to spread the Gospel ➳)
"For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them."
(Matthew 18:20)
Aside from connecting with people who already believe, it is also very important to be able to help others find Christ! Our purpose as human beings is to live for God's Glory and bring more people to Him. (Isaiah 43:7) Ways to go about this vary, but always ask God for guidance. It can be hard to be open about your faith and to blatantly ask someone if they know Jesus, but that's truly what we're called to do. {Read more about living out Christianity loudly here.}
There are so many people around us at school. Many of them probably long to have a relationship with God, but are too scared to reach out themselves. That's why it's important for us to be "loud" examples of true Christians in the world and to ask God who exactly we should reach out to.
God can work through anyone, so don't be discouraged! He can change someone's life through you!
There are so many people around us at school. Many of them probably long to have a relationship with God, but are too scared to reach out themselves. That's why it's important for us to be "loud" examples of true Christians in the world and to ask God who exactly we should reach out to.
God can work through anyone, so don't be discouraged! He can change someone's life through you!
5. Be conscious
This goes back to what I wrote about in my last post, but we need to be conscious of how we are presenting ourselves at school. If we are trying to represent Christ, then we need to make sure we're paying close attention to what we're doing at all times and if it lines up with what God calls us to do.
Always set your eyes on things above (Colossians 3:2) and remember that we are to set an example for the world (1 Corinthians 8:10-13). We should always be looking for ways to spread the Love of Christ (John 13:34-35) and to honor God (1 Corinthians 10:31b).
Pray and ask God to reveal to you the things that you should change to honor Him and represent Him better in the world. We are called to be set apart, so the farther you are from being like everyone else, the closer you are to being like God.
Always set your eyes on things above (Colossians 3:2) and remember that we are to set an example for the world (1 Corinthians 8:10-13). We should always be looking for ways to spread the Love of Christ (John 13:34-35) and to honor God (1 Corinthians 10:31b).
Pray and ask God to reveal to you the things that you should change to honor Him and represent Him better in the world. We are called to be set apart, so the farther you are from being like everyone else, the closer you are to being like God.
6. Make an inspiration jar
One day, I had an idea to make a jar full of nice things to do for those around me, so I got on the computer and made 180 different prompts, printed them out, folded them and put them in a jar. I made exactly enough so that I could do something different every single day of the school year!
The greatest commandment is to love (Matthew 22:36-40), and these small acts of kindness will help you to instill the love of Christ into your life and into the lives of others. Though it may not seem like much at first, you will gradually become more and more like Christ, always seeking more opportunities to love others.
Here's my jar!
The greatest commandment is to love (Matthew 22:36-40), and these small acts of kindness will help you to instill the love of Christ into your life and into the lives of others. Though it may not seem like much at first, you will gradually become more and more like Christ, always seeking more opportunities to love others.
Here's my jar!
Here's the document with all the prompts!
![](http://www.weebly.com/weebly/images/file_icons/rtf.png)
Inspiration Jar Prompts | |
File Size: | 19 kb |
File Type: | docx |
Some of them are a little girly, sorry guys! >_<
Although school is extremely time consuming, make sure you're still setting aside time to spend with the Lord. Your relationship with Jesus comes before everything!
Sometimes we feel as though we're just going through the motions. School can be pretty bland, but choosing to live for Christ every day will give you a sense of purpose and variety. You just never know what God has up His sleeve!
Let me know in the comments: what are you most looking forward to this school year?
Sometimes we feel as though we're just going through the motions. School can be pretty bland, but choosing to live for Christ every day will give you a sense of purpose and variety. You just never know what God has up His sleeve!
Let me know in the comments: what are you most looking forward to this school year?
Ps. please fill out this form so I can get an idea of how you're liking my blog so far!
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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!
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