Oh, how time flies!

Today was the last day that I could say I have a one year old! She will be two tomorrow!!

I still remember exactly where I was when I found out I was pregnant. Wow.. It feels like ages ago! I've changed so much these past few years and it's only because I've let my God and Savior take over my life. This is something I don't normally tell people, but I've felt more and more compelled to let others know what I've been through..

I was 19. I was crazy, rebellious, in college- not a care in the world. I had just gotten a boyfriend but didn't think much of our relationship. He was perfect! He loved me, drove far for me, cared about me, went to church with me, had a car, had a respectable job- the whole package. I knew he was in love with me. I could see it in his eyes, but I couldn't bring myself to be crazy about him. (It makes me so sad to write this.) If I knew then what I know now..

Anyway, he wanted to get married. Since I was a crazy, wild teen I said yes. We had only been dating for like 2 months! What was I thinking?! A week later we found out I was pregnant. "Okay. Either way I'm going to be around this man for the rest of my life, might as well make it into a good experience."

So we got married.. Just the two of us with a judge in a courthouse. Two young, clueless people ready to embark on a lifelong journey that never gets easier.

After we got married, we were smart enough to set down some basic ground rules:
1. No going out to clubs or bars
2. No girls night out or guys night out
3. No alcohol in our house
4. No cursing in our house
5. Everyone under our roof WILL go to church every weekend

Looking back.. I was only 19! I know 19 year olds (and even older) that would NEVER agree to these rules. I knew this was an important commitment and I was not going to allow the devil into my relationship that easily! I knew I was doing things that were unpleasing to God, thinking thoughts I shouldn't, planning stuff that would only lead to self-ruin...

So I prayed. (and changed my ways, thoughts, and plans- but that's another story)

Oh, I prayed. I prayed and prayed and prayed. My husband had agreed to the rules but had a hard time with his language and getting up every weekend to go to church. (I wish I could find the drive to pray as much as I did then- now. I'm trying.) Sometimes I'd pray and weep to God. I wanted to have a happy marriage, but things were very difficult at the time. My new husband was unemployed for three months and I was a student at an art school. (Art school drains your pockets.) I was pregnant and extremely hormonal. All I could do was pray. I didn't know anything else. All I knew was that God was powerful, that faith could move mountains, and that nothing was impossible by His side.

And.. It worked!

Within three (very tough) months my husband decided to give his life to Christ and he got baptized. Oh, what a happy day that was for me! I've been in the church ever since I was a young girl, and I'd seen so many people try to bring others into the church without much success. But we were different! I allowed God to do all the work.. All I did was pray- and constantly.

Today, I thank God for allowing me to get pregnant before marriage. You might be saying, "What?!" If I wouldn't've been pregnant, I honestly would not have gotten married. I would've kept going on the path that I was going, and I would've destroyed my life.

God used my husband and my baby to save me from myself.

I can never thank Him enough for what He's done for me, what He keeps doing for me, and what He will do for me in the future!

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. (Jeremiah 29:11)

For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. (1 John 5:4)

For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen. (Romans 11:36) 

If you're going through a hard time, don't try to control the situation. Just have faith that God is taking care of you. He will always be right by your side. He loves you so much! All you have to do is seek Him and believe in Him. Easier said than done. Trust me, I know. Practice makes perfect! Keep praying, keep believing, and He will reward you.

Just keep swimming..

Alright, I know I'm a little old for Finding Nemo, but that song sure lightens my spirits and helps me keep pushing forward- especially after the past couple weeks!

I'm an interior designer and was sought out by my church to create designs for our stage last year. I agreed wholeheartedly. At the time I was finishing my last year of college and was totally overwhelmed by the amount of work I had to do for school, but I made time to select finishes and create three designs. The first time I presented them to the board of directors and seemed to get a good response from most people. Anyway, a lot of drama happened in between that presentation and my next presentation to the church in general.

The devil never sleeps.

It is so sad to see grown men and women act like children because they're not getting what they want. There has been a group of people at my church that have thrown full blown adult tantrums about the designs. Yes, I'm only 22, and these people are acting like children. I don't know what it is that makes them act the way they do. At my last presentation these people told me (in front of the whole church) that I don't know what I'm doing, that my designs are ugly, that I've bought the pastor (really?!), that they know more than I do about structural walls, etc. It doesn't end.

But... God never sleeps, either!

This whole process has been a very rough one for me as it is my first "real-life" project. Other designers who've been working for longer than I have assure me it's good that I'm dealing with all these people early on as it will prepare me for the future. Sometimes I just want to quit and let them do whatever they want. But when I started working on this project I made a commitment to God that I'd make sure this would get done right, because He deserves nothing less! It was my promise to God to do all this for free as well, and these people make it hard to want to keep that promise sometimes.

I am proud to say that at my last presentation I realized there are more people in favor of what I'm doing than not in favor. I have faith that my God will stay with me throughout this whole process and He will be victorious!

All I have to do is just keep swimming!

Then Jesus answered, "Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted."... (Matthew 15:28)

Don't judge a book by its age?

Last year I was asked to be the teacher for the teen class at my church beginning 2013. I was a little hesitant at first since everyone always gives these kids a bad rep, but I decided I'd do it.

Being a teacher is a big role. As a teacher you have the responsibility of opening your students' minds to new ideas, aiding in their spiritual journey, and also being a friend to them. As I thought about all the responsibilities I had agreed to take on, my insecurities rose. The comments I received did not help. 

"Good luck. They don't listen to anyone." "They're so disrespectful." "They don't want to learn about the Bible." You get the idea..

I prayed and prayed. God gave me the strength to keep from resigning before the year even started. I decided to change everything about how their class was done, I added new things, changed the studies that we do.. For the first two weeks everything was going well. The kids seemed to enjoy the activities and I even had volunteers to read scripture!

That was, of course, until church let out that second week. A mother was questioning what we were doing in the class, and the fact that we changed the bible studies. She confronted me in a hostile way, and I can honestly say God was with me because I handled it very well and she walked away. 

What I wasn't expecting was this... She went to an elder and complained about my changes in a way that made it seem like I was teaching the kids bad things. They had a talk with me. I explained everything to them and gave reasons for my changes. Of course, they were surprised at everything I said because they were thinking different from what they'd heard before.

So why the title?

Last week my class learned about their importance and worth- without age restrictions. The majority of them are 13-16. It's a very difficult age to be a Christian, and they need to know that they matter, that they aren't all rebellious, they aren't all bad, and that they are all part of God's kingdom. 

This message really stuck to me as I am only 22, and get judged the same way they do a lot of the time. It's really hard sometimes to stay in church, to do the right thing, to be a good example when you're surrounded by older people who talk down on you without knowing your heart or relationship with God.

“Command and teach these things. Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.” 1 Timothy 4:11,12

Reading this verse literally lifts me up every time I feel attacked by anyone at church. It's a great reminder of who I am, what I am here to do, and who I am doing it for. If you are young, don't let anyone's comments get to you- be an example. And, don't forget that while you're living your life, there will always be someone younger watching your every move.

Did you lose your tour guide?

We've been studying Proverbs 31. Let me tell you something: this woman is amazing! It is so motivating to have her as a role model. Last week we reached Proverbs 31:25 which says:

She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.

This verse really stuck out to me. What is strength? How does one act when one is clothed in strength? How do we attain that type of clothing?

Society has skewed our perspective of what strength really is. Many people believe being strong means being cold, heartless, showing no emotion, getting through tough situations with not much more than a tear.. Truth is WE'RE HUMAN! We were given feelings! No matter how strong we try to be, we will cry, we will break, we will get frustrated, we will yell, we will give up.. It's part of being a human.

So how do we achieve this strength that we so desperately desire? Trust in God. Easier said than done. I find myself saying I'm going to trust God and what He has in store for me, but at the same time I'm trying to be my own tour guide. God is our tour guide! The question is: will we let Him guide us through this dark, vicious, frightening world?

Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. (Hebrews 11:1)

And, you know what the best part of all this is? GOD IS WITH YOU THROUGH IT ALL. Amazing, right? What a wonderful promise we find in Isaiah:

I will be your God throughout your lifetime- until your hair is white with age. I made you, and I will care for you. I will carry you along and save you. (Isaiah 46:4)

 I feel so special knowing that the One who created everything around me including the stars in the skies, has been in my life before birth and will be with me even after death. That's how much He loves us! I have to admit, the past few weeks I've felt like a bitter, old woman. I was finding the bad in everything. It is exhausting to be negative. I am tired! Today I asked God to fill my heart with His love and goodness. I've had a roller coaster of a day, and I am glad that I finally decided to let Him be my tour guide!

Will you take the time today to pray and ask God to lead you through this life? Let Him be the reason you're strong. You can't do it on your own!

Just as a heads up, another member of our study group will also be posting on this blog. Be on the lookout for her first post!