God Calls Us: Chosen!

God calls us chosen, several times in the Bible. Do you feel worthy enough to be God’s? Because let me tell you, He CHOSE you! Yeah, I don’t know why He chose me either, but He did. And I have to own it!

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.” – Jeremiah 1:5

Before my name was even my name, God knew and He called me. He picked me! He chose to love me!!!

“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” 1 Peter 2:9

“The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying: I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness.” Jeremiah 31:3

He draws us in with his loving-kindness. Not only did He chose us. He continues to call us! HE CONTINUES TO CHOSE US! We are worthy of love!

“Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.”  Isaiah 43:1

We are His. Plain and simple!

God Calls Us: Beautiful

Did you know that you’re beautiful? I don’t mean when you do your hair and makeup. I mean all the time. Do you know that you’re beautiful? If you don’t, that’s a real shame, because God does and He wants you to realize just how beautiful you are.

“You are altogether beautiful, my darling, beautiful in every way.”— Song of Songs 4:7

“Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.” – 1 Peter 3:3-4

In EVERY way, not just your hair. Not just when you do your makeup. Not when you wear that dress that makes you feel good. You are beautiful in EVERY way, inside and out.

“You are beautiful for you are fearfully and wonderfully made.” – Psalm 139:14

You were MADE. God created you! He made you perfectly. God does not make mistakes. You are who you are supposed to be.

“So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” – Genesis 1:27

We were made in his image. So, are you calling God ugly?!?!

Next time you think you’re not beautiful, I want you to remember that God does not lie. If you can’t see your beauty, you need to start praying to see yourself through God’s eyes. He will not disappoint. He is not a liar and I promise you, that you ARE beautiful.

Why you need a running buddy!

Why do we need to run with someone?!?! I’ll tell you why.

• Because without a running buddy, you wouldn’t run. Yeah. I know you. You’d find an excuse and sit on the couch and binge netflix and eat potato chips. Yeah. Me too.

“Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.” 1 Thessalonians 5:11

• To be encouraged!!! We need running buddies to feel motivated. We are put on this earth for fellowship. We should be building each other up!! That’s why I love running, it has nothing to do with who is left or right of you. It is all about bettering YOUR time and figuring out YOUR stride. Running is a self disciplined exercise. There’s no competition. (Unless you’re like in a race or something.)

  When we encourage one another we are less likely to quit. When we know that someone is going to need their partner, we are more likely to continue and show up.

• Also, we need to run together just in case of emergencies. Like bears. Two people fighting a bear is better than one.

This is so true for the Christian Race. We need to be constantly surrounding ourselves with people who lift us up. If you’re around someone who is mopey or gossipy, that’s not lifting you up. That person is slowly wearing you DOWN. This is something I struggle with, I need to be around people who make me want to be the best I can be.

WHY YOU SHOULD RUN!

We run because having control and discipline over our bodies is important. We run because we are glorifying God in this earthly body.

“Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been purchased at a price. Therefore, glorify God in your body.” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Running is a great way to get in shape and appreciate the wonderful temple God gave us.

• “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.” 1 Corinthians 9:24-27

  This verse is showing us the metaphor of running and our relationship to Christ. When you first believe in Christ, SURPRISE! You become a runner in the christian race. In 1 Corinthians, Paul encourages us not to sit down, stop, or quit, but to RUN!

• I love running because we do not compete against each other. You compete with yourself to be the best version of yourself. 
• In 1 Corinthians, Paul talks about strict training in running, as well as in our walk with Christ. Training like:
  • Prayer
  • Forgiveness
  • Worship
  • ETC!

This week try to run or walk 1 mile. Discuss with someone or meditate over this verse and let me know what it means to you.

“Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air.” 1 Corinthians 9:26

You are:

I made this and thought it was neat, please enjoy!

God Calls Us: Healed

I’ve been on a hiatus for lots of reasons, but I need to come back. This blog has really helped me research and focus on the priorities in my life.

I’m thinking about starting a series called God Calls Us. It will highlight verses and what He says about us. In this shallow and hurtful world, we forget who we are. Children of God. How powerful is that? How do we let the world get us down so easily, when God repeatedly tells us how wonderful, beautiful and fantastical we are!

So today’s post is about us being healed.

So, stop trying to find it.

“He heals the broken hearted and binds up their wounds.” Psalm 147:3

“Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28

If you call, He will answer. You just have to take the first step.

“He said to her, ‘Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.'”  Mark 5:34

Stand firm on these verses, and don’t let sickness, or physical/emotional/spiritual pain get in the way of you living life to the most joyful you can.

Make one of these the background of your phone and be reminded that YOU ARE HEALED. You do not have to walk in depression anymore.

Don’t Fall into the Self-PITy!

 

There’s like a bazillion sins that I don’t even realize I do and I pray that God shows them to me so that I can grow closer with him. Now, I know that God is showing them to me slowly, because if he didn’t I would totally hate myself for being such a terrible daughter. 

The most recent sin He’s shown me is Self-Pity.

God just revealed to me the pit of self pity. That trap that we fall into and it’s easy to do, I do it all the time. (I’m the worst, I’m always pitying myself… here I go againnnnnnn <—me falling into the pit of self pity.)

This is such a sneaky sin. We don’t even realize that we’re falling into the pit, until we’re rock bottom in it. And it’s hard to get out, once you’ve sunk low enough. But what’s so bad about the self-PITy? Well, when we are in the pit, all we can think about are the situations that brought us down there, right? A recent illness, financial troubles, the end of a relationship, etc. When these temporary situations control our attitude, God’s not even an after thought. These thoughts control everything, the walk we walk, the way we perform at our jobs, and so on. (Think of the self-fulfilling prophecy!) We start to edge God out of our lives, because we become so overwhelmed by how much we suck.

We need to protect ourselves from ever going close to the edge of it.

How can we protect ourselves from the self-PITy?

By keeping our eyes on God. (What does that even mean?!?!) It means…

“pray continually” 1 Thessalonians 5:17

Don’t stop talking and thanking the Lord for what He has done. And for what He’s doing. There are things He’s doing in the background that you don’t even know about, I promise!! Ask Him to reveal some of that with you, if you don’t believe me.

“Cast all your anxieties to him, because he cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7

Let go! Give everything to Him, I promise He’s taking care of you! Did you ever think that maybe your situation is happening to draw you closer to Him? NOOO! That’s probably exactly what’s happening. My closest moments to God were when I was in traumatic situations and had no one else to rely on.

Lastly, I want to leave you with a promise to hold onto. Memorize this! Write it on your heart and stand firm in knowing that….

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”  Proverbs 3:5-6

I can say all of this because I know that God is making my paths straight. I know this, because I thank Him along the way. (Yes, even in the bad times, you brats.)