Hungry.

To be honest with you right now, it's hard to focus on anything, let alone writing, because I am so hungry. My tummy is rumbling and begging for something substantial, something other than the immense amount of candy and delicious, sugary treats I've devoured during Christmas celebrations over the past couple days. As I sat here in my comfy bed, contemplating whether to go make something to eat before writing or not, I thought about my spirit's own hunger for the Lord. As you all know, our bodies need food. If we don't nourish our bodies, we can ultimately starve to death. [ Hunger - Nourishment = Death ] Similar to the way in which our bodies crave food, our spirits crave God. I have found that when I don't spend daily time reading the Word, praying/talking with God, or journaling, it is so much harder to treat others and act in a Christ-like fashion. Temptation is much stronger, because my spirit is weak; it is hungry. Are you struggling to overcome temptation, to live above sin, to see things and people for a Godly perspective? These are signs that your spirit may be starving. Just as our bodies are capable of starving to death, so are our spirits. To stay spiritually healthy, one must nourish their spirit daily with substantial "food" - [ the Word / prayer / writing / worship / etc. ].

spiritual nourishment

noun

 : MORE SATISFYING THAN CHIPOTLE

[ SERIOUSLY ]

Godly Love

Today my heart is really going out to the broken-hearted. So many of us are searching for love - we want to experience that magical love with someone else that we see in movies and read about in books. Many in relationships get frustrated when things don't turn out the way they'd hoped it would, perhaps in the perfect way that many books and movies perceive love to be. Instead of looking at love from a worldly perspective, let's look at what the Word of God tells us:

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres." 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

If all we really need is love, shouldn't love come down to something more than self-gain, temporary butterflies, and attraction? In our relationships, we should constantly be instilling the bolded characteristics in our love. I've been told that we all have a God-shaped hole in our hearts that only He can fill. God's love never fails. One of the reasons there are so many broken hearts due to failed relationships is that too many try to fill God's place in their heart with someone else first. Girls, God wants to so captivate your heart before you open it to any man.  

"A woman's heart should be so lost in God that a man must seek Him in order to find her." 

Before you open your heart to anyone, you must first find your worth, fulfillment, confidence, and strength in God alone. He will teach you about Godly love [what it is, how to live it out] - so much deeper than anything any movie or book could ever portray. Do not be angry or frustrated with God over your current relationship status, "we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to his purpose" (Romans 8:28) - He knows what's best for you and your life. Even if you don't understand his reasoning at the moment, just trust Him and be patient until you can see the bigger picture. In Isaiah 55:8-9, God tells us “for my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." He is always faithful. Once you find that only He can fulfill your heart's greatest desires and longings for love, only then will you be able to truly love another human - with Godly love.

"Arms Wide Open" - Misty Edwards

His Love is More Than Enough.

Why do we so often long for affirmation from others? Our flesh desires to be told that we are "enough" and accepted by others. At times I feel as though I'm a bobble head; my head bouncing back and forth, turning every which way, anxious in so many areas of my life. I just need to stop. God calls me to turn straight ahead, look to Him with confidence, and march onward. Why seek affirmation from the world and its material, wearing-away standards when the almighty creator of the universe tells me that I am lovely, I am beautiful, I am more than enough, I am perfect?

"You are altogether beautiful, my love, there is no flaw in you" (Song of Solomon 4:7). 

When we remove the worldly shield from our eyes and the way we think, allowing biblical truth to enter in, only then will we be truly satisfied and at peace with ourselves. He is a jealous God who longs for our attention and devotion. At times we are tempted to be jealous of those close to us/loved ones, whether it be of their time, words, or attention, think about this... how much more jealous is God for us, the one who sent His very own son to die for us? When's the last time you've spent quality time with and given your full attention to your first, true love? There is no love or acceptance that will ever come close to His.

image source

Blessed, not stressed.

Study. Study. Eat. Facebook. Study. iTunes. Youtube. Stud-.. Facebook. Pinterest. Stu-? Nope, eat. Study. Facebook. Study. 

The end of my first college semester is coming to a close and going out with quite an academic overloaded bang, might I add. I have four big finals to take tomorrow. EEEK! As I sit here in my little Amanda cave (workspace under my lofted bed in my dorm), I am tempted to worry and stress to no end. In fact, with all of the busy-ness that came with the numerous lifestyle changes that I have undergone this semester (new school, new "home," new job, new responsibilities, new friends, etc.), to be stressed has been a large temptation of mine. Although, amidst all of the late nights studying, never-ending research papers, hours at DSW (my part-time job), sleep deprivation, and early morning classes, I am reminded that God has good plans for me, to give me a future and hope (Jeremiah 29:11). God has blessed me with a wonderful school, church, home, family, friends, leaders, boyfriend, car, job, leadership opportunities, and so much more. Th challenges that I undergo are shaping me into the wise, disciplined woman God intends for me to become. God is giving me opportunities to discover what my priorities are and what they should be. He is giving me opportunities to properly manage my time and money in ways that bring me closer to fulfilling his call upon my life. If I don't have time for God in my schedule, then my schedule is too busy. Simple as that. He comes before work, before money, before relationships, before school, before everything, because He IS everything. I have found that when I set aside time to seek Him on a daily basis, what needs to be highly prioritized in my life becomes crystal clear. There is no need to worry about worldly possessions that will only fade away one day. To all of the stressed-out, gone crazy individuals out there, take a deep breath. Find confidence in who Christ has created you to be and what He has called you to do. Take a look at your bank account, where has your money been going lately? Take a look at your planner, where has your free time been going lately? Take a look at your relationships, what have your conversations and actions reflected lately? We have authority and power over our lives, so find peace in trusting the Lord and his ways, take charge, and seek God and his eternal plans for you on a daily basis.