The Promise of Peace

If you’re anything like me, you cherish winter break for more than its traditional Christmas cheer, notorious excuses for eating absurd amounts of holiday sweets, and precious time spent with family and relatives. Secretly, I look forward to winter break because it means I don’t have to deal with the pressures of daily life. I don’t have to panic about homework deadlines or think about endless ballet rehearsals.

For me, winter break seems like an escape. For a few weeks out of the year, people strive to maintain happy holiday moods and can come together to sing serenely of “peace on earth.” But after the festivities of Christmas and New Year draw to an inevitable close and people return to work and school, we disregard “peace on earth” as nothing more than an annual Christmas comfort. 

Now, we are standing on the brink of another spring semester of school classes, job stresses, and extracurricular activities, dreading to jump headlong into our hectic schedules. 

Yes, there will be drama, frustration, pain, and problems. But we don’t have to be discouraged by that. Instead, we can delight in the discomforts of this life because that is where God promises to be with us. 

While I am in no way disregarding God’s presence in times of peace and prosperity, I would like to emphasize God’s promise to be with us in pain and problems. Why? Because it is in those moments of frustration that we tend to forget about God. We mistrust the power of His peace. 

Consider Psalm 91:15 which says, “When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will rescue him and honor him.” God promises to be near to us in trouble. What love, that He who is incorruptly perfect would be near to us in the imperfection of our worldly troubles. Just as Christ came to a world stained by sin, so He comes to us in the midst of our suffering. In love, He seeks to be close to us. 

Does that mean He will snap His fingers and whisk away our homework or social drama? No. But that’s okay. If He is near, that is enough. 

We often mistakenly perceive peace as the total absence of stress or sorrow. But peace is found wherever Christ is. If we respond to His constant call to draw near to Him—whether in times of rest or trouble—the surpassing power of His peace can reign in our hearts. 

We should rejoice in the testing of our faith, patience, or humility, because it is there that we recognize our neediness. In the absence of fear, we forget about faith. In the absence of trouble, we forget about trust. In the absence of stress, we forget about stillness. In the absence of pressure, we forget about purpose. Why should we run from the very things that can draw us close to God, who promises to be with us in the midst of trouble?

So, do not be afraid of the trials this semester might bring. Do not be afraid of the pain you might feel or the tears you might cry. Do not live in dread, but in delight! For there IS a God who loves you and longs to be near you in trouble. Call to Him in all things, and trust that He will answer. Trust that He will give you peace in His presence. 

 ~Hannah

She Laughs

I LOVE to laugh. It is one of my favorite things to do and one of my favorite sounds to hear. And I LOVE how just like God gave us all unique voices and physical attributes and personalities, He also gave us such unique laughs! No one has or ever will have my laugh, and the same goes for you! But, I also believe that just like every other gift God gives, He desires for us to use our gifts to glorify Him, especially our laughter. 

Being an 18 year old girl who just graduated high school and is about to embark on the huge college adventure, I think the love of laughter is definitely something God has been instilling in me over the past year. For me, being at a place in my life of big transition like this, I believe that my laughter can be yet another form of worship, and I’ve realized that life is so much better when I can learn to laugh at the little things! In fact, I think “living in the moment” and “laughing at the little things” go pretty hand-in-hand. :) And believe me- God gives me SO many opportunities to LAUGH! 

…Sometimes (ok a LOT of times haha) I laugh at myself. Like when I am literally standing inches away and still somehow manage to land my gum on the floor instead of in the trash can… sadly, that has happened more than once. So embarrassing, I KNOW, but also totally hilarious! 

…And sometimes I laugh at the things others around me do. Like when once in the middle of the night my little sister sat straight up in her bed and started reaching for objects on my dresser in her sleep! That was QUITE a sight and I was giggling pretty hard to myself as I watched and wondered what she could possibly be dreaming about! 

But anyway, I think laughter is SUCH a gift! And being in the middle of a somewhat  nerve-racking season where so many choices are being made and changes are taking place in my life, I think that laughter is definitely “the best medicine”. :) It’s a tool I can use to glorify my Savior, in the little and big things alike! Which brings me to one of my favorite verses for this season I’m in right now: 

“She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future.” Proverbs 31:25 NLT

…she laughs without fear of the future. I don’t know about you, but I LOVE the sound of that! I want to be known as the kind of person who can stop and laugh without being afraid of where I’m going or what’s to come. The kind of person who laughs without fear of the future like the Proverbs 31 woman does. 

I’m really into the Blue Letter Bible App (highly recommend it if you don’t already use it to dive deeper in your Word), so when God reminded me of this “she laughs” verse, I immediately looked up the Hebrew root for the phrase on my app. 

Sachaq- the word for “she laughs”- means to laugh, play (as in instrumental music, singing, dancing), or mock. And if we break that down further, it can mean to make sport of something. To tease. 

When I first read that definition, I felt like that made laughter sound pretty harsh honestly. It didn’t sound like the kind of laughter I wanted to be known for, this idea  of laughter that mocks others and makes sport of their issues. But as I thought about it, I was immediately reminded of Sarah in the Bible, who laughed at God when He told her she would bear a child- 

Then the Lord said, “I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife will have a son.” 

Now Sarah was listening at the entrance to the tent, which was behind him. Abraham and Sarah were already old and well advanced in years, and Sarah was past the age of childbearing. So Sarah laughed to herself as she thought, “After I am worn out and my master is old, will I now have this pleasure?” 

Then the Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Will I really have a child, now that I am old?’ Is anything too hard for the Lord? I will return to you at the appointed time next year, and Sarah will have a son.” 

Genesis 18:10-14 NIV 

The difference between Sarah and the Proverbs 31 woman is what they were laughing AT. Yes, they were both laughing in mockery, but Sarah mocked God’s Promise, while the Proverbs 31 woman mocked the future. Sarah laughed at the God who had been faithful to carry her so far and was about to give her the desires of her heart, while the Proverbs 31 woman laughed at the cares of this world that tried and failed to rip her from God’s hand. That’s a BIG DIFFERENCE. You can laugh at the cares of this world all you want- your fears, your insecurities, your weaknesses, your failures- but you better not ever mock the One who meets your every need, the One who holds you in the palm of His hands, the One who is faithful to fulfill all of His promises to you. Because Is anything too hard for the Lord? 

So LOVE to laugh! Love to shove your Savior in the face of your fears! Love to laugh without fear of the future (NLT)… laugh at the days to come (NIV)… smile at the future (NASB)… and rejoice in time and season (KJB)! And take pride in your laughter- even if it is, as in my case many times, laughing at your own stupidity!- because the enemy hates your joy! He hates when you have enough real love and joy and peace to just sit back and LAUGH at the cares of this world. He hates when you laugh because you realize you’ve been wearing your shirt inside out all day. He hates when you laugh because your dad ordered a “tai chi” instead of chai tea latte at Starbucks. He hates when you laugh because no matter how often you watch it, that one scene from that one movie makes you DIE every time! So laugh it up! Laugh in the enemy’s face! Glorify the Lord with your laughter- your very unique laughter- your own instrument of praise to your Savior! Because after all, as the Hebrew root points out, laughter isn’t solely a from of mockery, but more importantly an instrument of PRAISE! So the next time the cares of this world make you question your Heavenly Father, I hope you can laugh in their faces and say, “Is anything too hard for the Lord?” 

xoxo, Kenna 

God is Faithful

In a world where feelings are fleeting, loyalties are broken, and high hopes and expectations sometimes result in disappointments, faithfulness can be a hard concept to grasp. Sure, we can look at the love of family and the support of friends as loyalty. But in the end, they're humans just like us. And their faithfulness cannot compare to the faithfulness of God. 

Have you ever been waiting for something? Expecting for something miraculous or wonderful to happen? Have you ever been hoping so desperately for God to intervene in your life or in the lives of your family and friends that you spend hours praying for them? For over a year now, I personally have felt JUST like that. I pray, pray, and pray some more for God to reveal His love and mercy to those who need him most in my life. 

But sometimes, it doesn't look like anything's changing. 

Or maybe you're trying to figure out what to do after you graduate high school or college. What will you do with your life? What does God want you to do? And how? So you pray, pray, and pray some more for God to reveal His perfect plan to you and show you exactly how to get there. 

But sometimes, the answer doesn't come right away. 

Or maybe you just feel lonely sometimes. We all do at some point. Though we may be surrounded by family and friends, it's easy to feel alone. Alone in our troubles. Alone in our anxieties. Alone in our thoughts. Sometimes, the glaring emptiness of our social accomplishments or the shame of our mistakes makes us feel so alone that we're scared to go to God at all. 

But I have to tell you something. God is faithful. 

From someone who's been in all three of those places I just mentioned, I understand completely that it can be SO HARD to be "in the waiting." It can be so hard to keep believing for a miracle when things seem unchanged. It can be so hard to trust God's plan for my future when answers don't come. It can be so hard to come before God sometimes and lay everything down. 

Why does God's faithfulness mean so much then? Why must I endure the heartache, the worrying, and the loneliness if God is faithful? 

I'm realizing that God was, is, and always will be faithful. He will always be just. He will always be good. Because of that, through heartache and tears, through storms and in sunshine, I can know that He has not given up on me, my life, or the miracles I'm believing for. His faithfulness to me does not automatically eliminate any pain or trouble or question from my life. He does not instantly transform hearts or shower me with answers. 

But His faithfulness to me, His steadfast love for me, is what gives me hope. Hope for those I love. Hope for my future. Hope for myself. Hope is what strengthens us as we wait upon the Lord. Hope is what enables us to let go of our expectations and fears and let God work in His way, in His timing, for His purpose in our lives. 

Though you may feel like giving up on something you've hoped and believed for, you can trust that God is STILL working in your life and in the lives of those you love. Though you may not feel God's presence or love in your life all the time, you can trust that He has never and will never leave your side. 

He is faithful. God is faithful to you. 

"Cast all your anxiety upon him because he cares for you." 

1 Peter 5:7

~Hannah~

Isaiah 53

Isaiah 53

"Who would believe what we have heard? To whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?

He grew up like a sapling before him, like a shoot from the parched earth; there was in him no stately bearing to make us look at him, nor appearance that would attract us to him. 

He was spurned and avoided by men, a man of suffering, accustomed to infirmity, one of those from whom men hide their faces, spurned, and we held him in no esteem. 

Yet it was our infirmities that he bore, our sufferings that he endured, while we thought of him as stricken, as one smitten by God and afflicted. 

But he was pierced for our offenses, crushed for our sins, upon him was the chastisement that makes us whole, by his stripes we were healed. 

We had all gone astray like sheep, each following his own way; but the Lord laid upon him the guilt of us all. 

Though he was harshly treated, he submitted and opened not his mouth; like a lamb led to the slaughter or a sheep before the shearers, he was silent and opened not his mouth. 

Oppressed and condemned, he was taken away, and who would have thought any more of his destiny?

When he was cut off from the land of the living, and smitten for the sin of his people, a grave was assigned him among the wicked and burial place with evildoers, though he had done no wrong nor spoken any falsehood. 

But the Lord was pleased to crush him in infirmity. If he gives his life as an offering for sin, he shall see his descendants in a long life, and the will of the Lord shall be accomplished through him. 

Because of his affliction he shall see the light in fullness of days; through his suffering, my servant shall justify many, and their guilt he shall bear. 

Therefore, I will give him his portion among the great, and he shall divide the spoils with the mighty, because he surrendered himself to death and was counted among the wicked; 

And he shall take away the sins of many, and win pardon for their offenses." 

The Song of My Father

 









 


I don’t know about you guys, but Hannah’s “Songs of Praise” post last week really encouraged me, and so I thought I would kind of continue where she left off because it’s amazing how many of the truths she wrote about are the very same truths God’s been revealing to me as well!
 

Isaiah 12~ Songs of Praise
 
In that day you will say:
“I will praise you, O Lord.
Although you were angry with me,
your anger has turned away
and you have comforted me.
Surely God is my salvation;
I will trust and not be afraid.
The Lord, the Lord, is my strength and my song;
he has become my salvation.”
With joy you will draw water
from the wells of salvation.

In that day you will say:
“Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name;
make known among the nations what he has done,
and proclaim that his name is exalted.
Sing to the Lord, for he has done
glorious things;
let this be known to all the world.
Shout aloud and sing for joy, people of Zion,
for great is the Holy One of Israel among you.”


Isaiah 12 (which is actually entitled, “Songs of Praise”! How cool!) is one of my most recent favorites, and it has been a great reminder of the fact that “The Lord is my strength and my song”, which is the theme God gave me for 2018. It’s a new year and for me especially, being a Senior in high school, I know there are a lot of new things coming my way. So I have been determined to start this year off with the right mindset: Singing a new song unto the Lord! Which is exactly what Hannah talked about in her beautifully written post!

“If the birds sing and the wind whistles to bring glory to its Creator, how much more so should we humans, who are made in the image of God, use our every breath to praise the One who created us, saves us, and sustains us all out of love!”

Hannah shared all about what our song we sing to the Lord should sound like, and now I would like to talk about the flip side of that: what GOD’S song He sings to US sounds like. Because gosh! There’s just so many things to say about the Lord’s song! It never ceases to amaze me how good of a Father God is… and I can’t find any better explanation of the Lord’s song He sings than in Zephaniah 3:17, which says,

“The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save.
He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love,
he will rejoice over you with singing.”

An article I read a little while ago from Goodness of God Ministries really opened my eyes to the significance of this verse: 

"In one of the most amazing verses in Scripture, the Bible describes the deep and abiding love God has for us. O how hard it is in this generation to believe that God loves us; that God cares for us; that God treasures us and that God is concerned about EVERY detail of our lives. In the depth of our hearts we have failed to believe that God really loves us. Yet Zephaniah declares a breathtaking truth about God’s love.

In Zeph. 3:17, “rejoice” is translated from a Hebrew word, meaning to “spin around under violent emotion,” or basically to dance. So Zeph. 3:17 is more accurately translated as, “Yahweh, your God in your midst, the Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His Love, He will dance over you with singing.”

Can you imagine this that God is literally dancing over you with shouts of joy? Oh how we have missed this beautiful picture of God’s love. How beautiful must be the sound of His voice. How wonderful must be the song? How breathtaking it must be to see God dance. And it is all over you, His beloved child. " (goodnessofgodministries.wordpress.com)

Being a dancer myself, I love this realization that God is physically dancing and rejoicing and singing his song of love over me! It makes me want to sing a new song right back up to Him, and dance my whole heart out in worship before the God of all creation- the God who chose ME and loves ME! And it makes me want to remind myself over and over again of all the amazing promises wrapped up in that one verse that God makes to us!

…The Lord your God is with you. He is Immanuel- “God with us”- and He will never leave you nor forsake you (Deut. 31:6) He hems you in behind and before (Psalm 139:5), tucking you in and surrounding you with His Presence like a huge, warm blanket of love! And the plans He has for you are good, good plans (Jer. 29:11).

…He is mighty to save! El Shaddai! God Almighty! He tells us that He can do ALL THINGS and NOTHING is impossible for Him! In this world, we are guaranteed to have trouble, but we can take heart and rest assured in knowing that the Lord fights for us (Exodus 14:14) and he has already overcome the world (John 16:33)!

…He will take great delight in you. He is our good, good Father, and he finds so much joy in watching us live life for Him! He is so proud of you, his child, and he is constantly rooting for you and cheering you on toward victory! So learn to delight yourself in the LORD (Psalm 37:4), for He already infinitely delights in you!

…He will quiet you with his love. All your fears will be drowned in the light of his perfect love, for perfect love casts out ALL fear (1 John 4:18). Gaze upon him and remember his great love for you- his almighty, unending, never-failing, all-consuming love- and He will help you to simply “be still and know that he is God” (Psalm 46:10) as you learn to rest in His Presence. 

…He will rejoice over you with singing! And His song- the song of Your Father in Heaven- is a song that NEVER ceases, NEVER gets old, and NEVER looses it’s sincerity! He is overjoyed by you! And just like that article talked about, the Lord God Almighty literally jumps and dances and leaps for joy at just the thought of you! :) He loves you soooo very much! And He is so proud of you.

So, as you go about your day, remember Who is thinking about you…Who is watching you…Who is singing over you and rejoicing in your every move! For God Almighty- the Lord of Heaven and earth- takes great delight in you as his child, and he never stops singing his song of love over your life!

I close with a song that beautifully wraps up just about everything I’ve mentioned about God’s song. It’s called “Song of My Father”, by Urban Rescue, and it’s been very close to my heart recently, so I hope it encourages you, and reminds you of all these truths I’ve talked about that God's been showing me. :) 

"Song of My Father"  
https://youtu.be/m8dYLZVjwhA


~McKenna  



 

Songs of Praise

As the sweet sound of birds singing outside my window reaches my ears, I am reminded of a simple and special truth. How beautiful are the praises of God's creation! Wind rustling the leaves, thunder pealing, waves crashing onto a sandy shore, rain splashing onto the ground, a baby giggling...they are all songs of praise. 

God "calls forth His praise from the lips of children and infants" (Psalm 8:2) and "the stones will cry out" if we keep silent (Luke 19:40). God's creation was made to praise Him, for He is glorious and ultimately deserving of all praise. If the birds sing and the wind whistles to bring glory to its Creator, how much more so should we humans, who are made in the image of God, use our every breath to praise the One who created us, saves us, and sustains us all out of love!

Notably, we humans often do not use our lives for the glory of God, but rather for the glory of ourselves. I am guilty of this. It's easy to let our minds and hearts wander toward selfish thoughts during a moment of worship in church while our lips move soundlessly. It's easy to strive toward personal gain, academic success, and human acknowledgement instead of using our lives and talents as we should. 

Who provides us with each breath as we run frantically throughout the day? Who calls the sun forth in the morning so that we may wake? Who instills dreams and desires in our hearts? What are their purposes? Are we given talents and abilities so that we may be another person on a pedestal, holding gilded trophies above our heads as if it was by our strength or choosing that we have achieved anything noteworthy? Are we given desires for the purpose of chasing after what we crave when we crave it? 

A song sung for oneself is empty and lacking. The world is humming a tune of selfishness, of personal longings appeased by wealth, fame, and fleeting love. Many of us have become so accustomed to hearing the cacophony of voices and meaningless words and promises that we have forgotten how beautiful a song sung for God is. We have chosen to ignore how fulfilling a life lived for our Creator is because the noise of this world has plugged our ears. What does it sound like to hear a song sung for God? 

Yesterday, at my church, there was a rose procession in remembrance of the 45th anniversary of the legalization of abortion. Mothers and fathers, children and teenagers, walked down the aisle, carrying a single rose that represented all the unborn children aborted during each year since the Roe v. Wade case 45 years ago. Thus, 45 roses were brought forward and placed in a basket. 

Seeing this procession brought me to tears and opened my ears to the beautiful tune God's people were singing all around me. They were singing for the wonder, the beauty, and the preciousness of life. They were praising God, the giver of all life. They were thanking Him for each heartbeat, each breath He grants to all living things. They were not 'singing' for themselves, for their personal wishes. They were not singing the songs that the world was telling them to sing. They were singing songs of praise. Praise to God. 

Such a song touched my heart in more ways than I can explain. Seeing others bring the rightful glory to the Lord, the giver of life, comforted me. It made me want to praise the same God they were praising, to feel the same special love that overflowed from their hearts. It was beautiful. 

In the same way, the song we sing with our lives, with our actions and our words, reaches the ears of countless people each day. I pray that the melody I sing and the words I profess would not promote myself or my accomplishments, but would bring glory to the One who made me and blessed me with unique talents and dreams. 

We have been made to praise, to sing a song of love to our Creator and Savior. Our life's song will either bring glory to God or to ourselves. Like the songs of birds outside my window, may our lives be like a sweet melody that reminds all those around us of the One who fills our hearts with joy and our lips with praise. 

Merry Christmas!!!

We hope you and your families have a wonderful, special Christmas! May we all celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ with great joy, for He has given us the greatest gifts of life and love!! We are praying for you this season and can't wait to share more posts with you in the new year! Merry Christmas!!!

Miracles

"There can be miracles when you believe..." --this is a line from one of my favorite songs, When You Believe. There are many reasons why this song has become so special to me. This past year, God has truly opened my eyes to see His miracles in my life.  He has shown me how powerful belief is.

There is evidence of God using man's belief all over scripture--the faith of Moses as he followed God's call to free the Israelites from slavery, the faith of the sick woman as she reached out to touch the cloak of Jesus, the faith of Peter as he commanded the lame man to rise and walk. They trusted that God was who He said He was and that He could do anything.

How many of us believe that today? In our own lives? In our own families? In our own society? In our own generation?

Belief in God is trusting in Him. It's having faith in His promises, His power, and His goodness. Moses did not trust in his own ability to speak and persuade, but rather in God's ability to soften the hearts of those who would hear his words. The sick woman who believed for her healing by touching the edge of Jesus's cloak did not trust in the physical power of Jesus's cloak, but rather in the unseen power of Jesus, of God, Himself. Peter did not trust in his own words or own will when commanding the lame man to stand, but rather in God's ability to fully mend what was hopelessly broken.

These people trusted in a God higher than themselves. They trusted in a God that was above their circumstances. They trusted in a God that had the ability and the power to work miracles. This is the same God we believe in. He is still working miracles today! Recently I have been asking God to open my eyes to see the miracles He is performing all around me. And I've discovered that many of the miracles He has shown me are things that I would have previously overlooked.

Something as small and special as my little brother running up to me and hugging me is a miracle to me. Having the opportunity to love my family and laugh with my friends on a daily basis is a miracle to me. Watching a bird soar freely across the sky is a miracle to me. (I know it's weird, but I just love watching birds fly...I don't know about you, but it's definitely a God-sighting for me!) Why are these little things, like sharing a joke with one of my siblings or having a fun night at dance class, suddenly seeming so meaningful now? They are significant because through faith, I am able to see God's hand behind all of them. I am able to see Him working in big and small ways in my life and in the lives of those around me.

He is the God of miracles. Whether you're waiting for a big miracle, like a loved one coming to know and accept Christ or trusting God in something as small as getting through a math class, He will always be there for you, working behind the scenes in ways you may never realize. He is mighty and He is moving in your life in countless ways. He is moving your mountains, parting your seas, and healing your hurts. Trust that He is making miracles out of every area of your life.

I encourage you to look for all the small miracles in your life. There are many, many special things God wants to show us that we miss daily because we forget about Him and His unfailing involvement in our lives. I also encourage you to trust God for your big miracles, the situations where you desperately need His guidance and power. Trust that He is God and that He sees you, loves you, and promises to deliver you.

As you continually renew your trust in God and in His power, goodness, and loving involvement in your life, He will give you the eyes to see His miracles and the faith to believe in Him no matter what your circumstances are.

"Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen."

Ephesians 3:20-21

~Hannah

All You Need is LOVE!!!

...And that’s something God was really working with me on over the summer, and is STILL working with me on!

I don’t know about you, but I had a really busy summer. It seems to have flown by so fast! But looking back on it now, I realize that I was so blessed to be able to do a LOT of different things this past summer that really grew me as a person and even more so as a believer.

First of all, I think I read over TEN BOOKS this past summer, which is totally a record for me (Shout out to Ted Dekker! If you haven’t heard of Him, you should definitely check him out! His series “The Circle” will change you life!!!), and almost every book I read somehow brought me back to the idea of God’s immense love for me- for His Church, for His Bride, for His people- and the desperate measures He took in order to ensure that I would have an eternal spot in heaven with Him.

Then on top of all that reading, I went to Ballet Magnificat’s summer dance intensive in Jackson, Mississippi in July for four weeks! And boy did God do a lot of things in me during that month! But like I said, everything I’ve learned has kept coming back to that one idea of Love. GOD’S Love. 

We studied the book of Ephesians while I was at Ballet Mag, and one of the big parts we focused on was God’s Love, and how HUGE it is yet how close and real it is at the same time. We, as human beings, cannot even comprehend how great the Love of our Father is!

“But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions- it is by grace you have been saved.”
Ephesians 2:4-5

God saved us not because of anything we did or could EVER do, but solely because He loves us THAT much and cared about us enough to give Himself up for us!

“I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge- that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.”
Ephesians 3:17-19

“...and to KNOW this love that surpasses knowledge...” I love that part! That’s exactly what God’s been working with me on: KNOWING His Love. It’s so easy, for us as people, to get all caught up in our emotions and wanting to feel God’s Love. And for me personally, when I’m not really feeling God’s Love, I start to get kinda panicky on the inside and I freak out and feel like I’m doing something wrong and begin to worry that I’m not pursuing God hard enough, etc, etc... But in reality, I’m just getting all caught up in my feelings, and that’s just human nature. However, God is ABOVE all of our feelings, and although He does allow us to sometimes feel his love, “He doesn’t always choose to work in fireworks.” :) He doesn’t always reveal Himself to us in the way that we hope He will. He doesn’t always come to us in this big, dramatic way, where our lives are being wrecked by Him and we’re feeling His love wrap around us for the first time and we’re bawling our eyes out all over the place- No. Sometimes, He simply asks us to step out and choose Him, even though we don’t feel Him at all. And That’s where faith comes in. We’ve experienced God’s Love and seen evidence of it all around us time and time again, so even in those times when we don’t feel His Love at all, we can still fully trust that it is there and it is just as present as always.

It’s like a piece of cake. 

 If you see someone holding a big plate of chocolate cake, you can just look at that piece of cake and know that it’s good. Of course, if you’re anything like me, you’ll probably stare at that piece of chocolate cake and drool over it and want so badly to devour it, that you beg and beg for that person to give you just the smallest, little bite... but the fact of the matter is, you don’t have to taste the cake to know that it’s going to be good. The Bible says to “Taste and see that the Lord is good” (Psalm 34:8). Taste AND see. Sometimes God allows us to taste that cake- to taste His Love and to experience it afresh all over again- but other times He just wants us to see the cake and to see His Love at work all around us and remember that He IS still good no matter what we're feeling.

Then, whether we're "tasting" or "seeing", all we have to do is simply live in His Love and enjoy every moment He gives us, big and small.

“Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”
Ephesians 5:1-2

We just have to stay in an attitude of Love towards Him and towards others, and always remain in awe of the greatness of His Love- His perfect Love that drowns out all fear (1 John 4:18)- because all things fade away in comparison to the Love of God, and all we really do need in this life is His LOVE. :)

Here’s a quote one of my friends shared with me that I’d like to end with-

“It’s really cool you want to be passionately in love with Jesus as much as you can, but please don’t beat yourself up about this. Be prepared for the seasons when you’ll barely hang on to God with an intellectual thread, and other seasons where you’ll be so head-over-heels for Jesus that you’re getting tattoos of him on your rib cage. Be ready to be honest in your dry valleys, and be ready to rejoice on the mountaintop. Enjoy both seasons, because both help you grow and both have significance in our lives. The winter and fall teach you to grow deep roots into God even when you don’t feel Him, and the summer and spring are those powerful weeks of blooming fruits and plentiful harvest that will have you laughing and weeping at the same time. Soon you’ll also see: loving Jesus is not even really up to you, because he’s the one who woos, who draws, who beckons, who calls. Loving Him is the easy part; God loving you cost His Son. The more you know that it’s less about you, the more free you will be to love God all the more.” J. S. Park

 

~McKenna 


 

Embrace Change

Change. It’s one of the things that people fear most. Why? Change puts us in a place where we might feel anxious, alone, and unsafe. When we move on from something that we are comfortable with and find ourselves in circumstances that are unfamiliar, we tend to entertain worried or fretful thoughts.

With the upcoming school year quickly approaching, a lot of people, especially teenagers, are going through a lot of change. Maybe you’re approaching a huge school year, like your freshman year of high school or your senior year of high school and you know that your classes will be a lot harder than last year. Or maybe you’re worried about this next school year because you’re changing schools and have to make new friends and get used to a new environment.

Whatever it is you’re worried about, I guarantee you it probably has a lot to do with change. After all, you wouldn’t be worried if your classes and friends were all the same as they were last year because you’re already comfortable with them and you know what to expect of them.

But now, you have NO CLUE what to expect for the upcoming year! I know that sounds scary, but when change comes, whether you’re moving to a different school or moving to a different state, DON’T PANIC! I want to share a little bit about what I’ve learned about change this past year.

1.     Change initially feels uncomfortable. When you’re faced with change and you find yourself in an unfamiliar environment, it’s natural to feel unsafe. But just because you FEEL unsafe, doesn’t mean that you ARE unsafe. You have to believe that God knows exactly what He’s doing in your life and you couldn’t be safer with anyone but Him! So even though you might initially feel uncomfortable when transitioning into a new environment, you have to trust that you are safe with God.

2.     Change is an opportunity to reach out to others. When you feel uncomfortable, you’ll tend to focus more on yourself than anyone else. Do these thoughts sound familiar when meeting new people or walking into a new environment? What are they thinking of me? Do they like me? Am I enough? See how we tend to focus on selfish thoughts rather than selfless ones? I’m guilty of it as much as anyone! But God has shown me that focusing on myself accomplishes nothing but cultivating insecurity and anxious thoughts. God always has a purpose in change. But how will you find that purpose if you are focused on yourself? Maybe God has placed you in a certain situation so that you can reach the people around you! As you intentionally look for ways to put aside your insecurity and look for ways to bless and encourage others, you’ll find that you feel much less insecure and anxious yourself! God has given you so many opportunities to reach out to people right where you are! Ask Him to open your eyes to see the people around you the way He sees them!

3.     Change is always best for you. This is sometimes the hardest to believe, especially if you’re in a new, uncomfortable, unfamiliar environment. When you’re facing the unknown or when you’re battling insecurity in meeting new people, believing that God knows what’s best for you can be very, very hard. But even though your circumstances may change, God’s promises never change. “For we know that God works out all things for the good of those who love Him…” (Romans 8:28) “For I know the plans I have for you…plans to prosper you and not to harm you; plans to give you a hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11) When you don’t understand “why”, trust that God knows. Trust that He has a perfect plan for every moment of your life. Remember that change is an opportunity to trust Him. He is faithful to walk with you through change and He never leads you somewhere that’s not best for you.

Change is inevitable for most of us. It’s easy to feel unsafe, insecure, or unsure when it comes to change. But there is a way for us to overcome these feelings! Though change may come, you can put your trust in Him who is unchangeable. God never changes. God’s promises do not change. You can trust in Him at all times and in all circumstances.

~Hannah~

Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day to our real life heroes!!! We love you!

Thank you daddy for not only being an amazing father, but also being one of my closest friends. You have taught me so much about the love of God and how to succeed in life. I thank God for giving me a dad that is truly interested in what I like, what I don't like, and that loves to have conversations about absolutely anything. I look up to you so much and hope to marry a man that is like you. You are my favorite superhero! Happy Father's Day! ~Maddie

Happy Father's Day Daddy! I love you SO much- to the moon and BACK!- and I am so thankful to have such an amazing, hard-working and encouraging dad as you! God surely made no mistakes when He put our family together. :) Thank you for always making me laugh, leading me through example, and loving on me no matter what. I'm so blessed to have you as a dad, and I can't wait to see how God continues to grow our relationship with each new year that passes!
Love you TONS!

Love, Kenna

Happy Father's Day, Dad! I hope you never forget how much I love you, appreciate you, and look up to you. You are one of the most God-fearing, selfless, inspiring people I know! Whether we're cheering on our favorite sports team (Go UNC Tarheels!), or racing each other to see who can finish reading a gripping novel first, I treasure every single moment I spend with you. You never cease to amaze me! I love you to infinity and beyond, Daddy!! ~Hannah

He Cares

So, some interesting things happened in my life over this past weekend and as a result, I have big news to share...
   
I FINALLY GOT MY DRIVER’S LICENSE!!! Only after two full years of having my permit... LOL! No big deal! 

As you can imagine, I was extremely nervous all throughout the long nights leading up to that Friday morning on June 9th when I knew I would be forced to go to the DNV and take my driver’s test...

What if I run into someone else’s car in the middle of the test while I’m trying to park? What if I can’t control my foot on the gas pedal and end up speeding the entire time? What if embarrass myself trying to unlock the car or something while the tester guy’s trying to get in? What if I FAIL!?! What if I fail like FOUR TIMES before I finally pass and get my license!?!

...These were all some of the “freak-out” thoughts going through my head as I counted down the days leading up to that dreaded June 9th morning. I was so nervous for it and I just wanted to get it over with already! I literally spent my whole shower time the night before just talking to God about it, because I KNEW I had a selfish mindset about it and I needed to give it to Him. 

So I prayed practically the whole time I was in the shower that night (I love to talk to God while I shower! It’s just one of the most quiet, alone times I have during my day, to just think and talk to Him... Maybe some of you reading this can relate!).
I prayed that he would help me have faith that was bigger than my fear.
I prayed that I would stop only focusing on myself and my insecurity in the situation and instead give up my control and surrender this driving test over to God.
I prayed that He would give me favor when I went in to take that test- that He would “anoint my head with oil” so that “my cup would overflow” onto all those I came in contact with at the DNV...
And I thanked God that “the joy of the Lord would be my strength”. 

He was going to give me confidence and His will was going to be done in my life. And boy! I cannot tell you how much better I felt after simply surrendering my anxiety I had about my driver’s test over to God! I got to the point that night, where I didn’t even care what happened that next day, I just wanted God to be glorified, even through me taking my driver’s test.

And the whole time I was thinking and praying and thanking God, I was just reminded of how much He cares about me- How much He cares about even the most mundane thing as a teen who’s about to take her driving test! I mean, every teen on the planet has to do it at one point or another, but God still cares. And since it’s a big deal to me, it’s a big deal to Him, too. :)

I woke up early Friday morning with butterflies starting to flutter around in my stomach already as the nerves began to kick in again. But God only reminded me in my quiet time, once more, how much He cares and how much “He’s got this”, even though it may only be a driving test. He spoke to me through my “Jesus Always” devotional, saying-

“Apart from me you can do nothing. On days when the tasks before you seem overwhelming, remember this: I am with you, ready to help you. I designed you to need Me and depend on Me. So come to Me just as you are. Talk with Me about the challenges you face and the inadequacy you feel. Don’t worry about being successful in the eyes of the world.”

Whew! Don’t worry about being successful in the eyes of the world. What a relief it was to hear that! I don’t have to worry about pleasing the world, because I already have a Father in Heaven who takes great delight in me, and is already more proud of me than I could ever know! :)

And in the end, as you of course already know, I PASSED!!! I PASSED MY DRIVER’S TEST AND I GOT MY LICENSE!!! It was nowhere near as bad as I had worked it out to be in my head! I even had the sweetest, little old man I got to drive around, named Mr. Howard, who told me all about his 4 cats and let me help  put his seat belt on for him. :) He was such a treasure! And even after the fact, I remembered that I had seen him two years earlier, when I had gone to the DNV to get my permit, and how I had thought to myself then, “I hope I get THAT guy when I have to take MY driver’s test!”

See how good God is!?! He even took notice of THAT smallest detail, that little thought of mine, and made it a reality for me. How cool! He really does care, so much! And I am so thankful for his listening ears that are always tuned-in to me, and his outstretched hands, always ready to help me with whatever I need. :)

"Cast all you anxiety on him because he cares for you." 

1 Peter 5:7

- McKenna Brooks

Happy Mother's Day!!

Today is one of the most special days of the year! It’s the day when we are reminded of how amazing our mothers are!!! We get to celebrate them and show our love for them! We hope that you will take the time to extend your personal gratitude and love to your mother this weekend! Remind her of how special she is to you--whether that's by writing her a note, getting a gift for her, or simply giving her a hug and telling her that you love her.

Mothers, we pray that you will always feel as special and loved as you are. We love you and appreciate you so much!!!

Happy Mother's Day!

                                                             Thank you mom for being my best friend!! You will always be the person I turn to for guidance or just for a laugh. Thank you for everything you have done for me all these years!! You'll always be my closest friend. Love you! ~Maddie

Happy Mother’s Day Mommy! You are AMAZING and I don’t know how you do what you do everyday and yet manage to still have a smile on your face! Thank you for always leading me not only through your constant encouragement and love as my mom, but also through the example you set for me as you live in a way that puts God first in all things! I love you so SO much- to the moon and back!- and I am so thankful to have you for my mom! :) xoxo, Kenna 

Happy Mother's Day, Mom!! If there's anyone I look up to for guidance and advice as I walk through life, it's you. Thank you for always being there for me. Whenever I need to talk, you're there to listen. Whenever I need to laugh, you're there to make me smile. Whenever I need to be reminded of God's goodness and faithfulness, you're always there to remind me of the truth. I don't know what I would do without you! I love you past the sky!! ~Hannah

Phobia

This week, I passed my Driving Test and finally received my license. A year late, since I am now 17 years old and probably should have gotten it last year at 16... but better late than never!

It's super exciting and I'm so happy that all the work and practice I put into driving finally paid off. However, it wasn't always like that. Not too long ago, I had a fear of driving and would refuse to take the driver's seat when I was asked to drive anywhere. Two years ago, my parents forced me to study and get my learner's permit even though I was afraid and though I was happy when I passed the test and we celebrated... I still didn't want to drive around.

Let's just be honest, driving is scary! People are crazy! They speed, they don't check their mirrors, they won't turn their blinker on, they honk at you.. etc etc. To sum it all up, it stresses me out and being only five foot one, barely being able to see out the car window, doesn't help.

Finally, last month, my parents enrolled me in driving school. Yes, I drove around in one of those really obnoxious "Student Driver" cars with the signs on top and everything. It was nerve-wracking, but in the long run, my instructor helped me gain confidence in my driving and taught me how to be safe on the road so I wouldn't have to be afraid!

I had to realize, this was a step in me becoming an adult. I had to get my license. I would never be able to drive anywhere myself if I didn't. Most importantly, I had to understand that God will protect me. He's always watching my every step and if I remember to drive safely and pray for God's protection, I have no need to be afraid of the road.

Last week, in my new confidence, I walked up to my dad and said, "Can I drive to youth group tonight?" He was so happy that I finally wanted to drive. It was the first time I had ever asked.

This relates to situations in our lives. Something will come up that you know you have to do and it's scary. For example, going to a new school, speaking in front of people, going to college, trying out for a sport. These are all events that shape our lives and personality. God puts hard things in our lives so that we may learn to trust in him alone and build our faith. I would have never overcome my fear of driving if I wouldn't have begun praying for His guidance and for Him to give me strength and courage.

Because of that, I now have my license (with a cheesy picture of me on it) and I can now get in the car with absolutely no fear, but instead, enjoyment.

Difficult situations in the long run give us more courage than we had before and we know that God gives us the bravery we need to walk through a hard situation. And he gives us this bravery for free. All we need to do is ask Him.

-Madison Terwilliger