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

Be Still

When was the last time you took the time to be still? Unfortunately, most of us are going to have to think pretty hard to answer that question. With our busy schedules, commitments, and daily responsibilities, we find that what we’re dealing with is practically more than we can handle.

Maybe you don’t have an overwhelmingly busy schedule, but nevertheless, you find yourself asking, When WAS the last time I took to be still? I’ve found that sometimes it doesn’t take a chaotic schedule to keep us from taking moments of rest. Sometimes, the constant distractions during the day are enough to keep us from finding rest in God.

By definition, being distracted is “being unable to concentrate because one’s mind is preoccupied.”

If I’m honest with myself, I’ve been feeling pretty distracted recently. And I don’t have to think very hard to figure out some of the main reasons WHY I’m distracted. From school, to dance and countless rehearsals, to spending time with family, to going to church and to church functions, to the little things like watching a TV show with my family, or playing a game with my siblings, or reading a good book, I find that I’m distracted most of the time. Are these distractions necessarily bad? No! But they keep me preoccupied for much of the day. And honestly, I try my best to keep myself preoccupied by them.

Because I know that if I’m preoccupied, I won’t have to face my doubts, questions, fears, insecurities, and pride. If I’m busy doing other things, I won’t have time to address those tough issues, right?

I’ve found out the hard way that distracting myself doesn’t let me avoid those tough issues.

In fact, embracing distractions only leaves me incredibly vulnerable to even more of the enemy’s schemes. Because when I’m distracted, when I’m preoccupied by worldly thoughts, I am unable to concentrate on God’s goodness and truth.

This is a dangerous place. I’ve only just recently noticed that I’ve found myself in this situation more often than I would like to admit. Whenever I start to feel empty, whenever I start shutting down, I tend to turn to things like obsessively checking my phone, or switching on the TV, or ANYTHING to keep me preoccupied!

And I’m going to tell you, filling your mind and heart with that kind of stuff doesn’t work. It doesn’t silence the fear. It doesn’t answer your questions. It doesn’t make you feel any more secure than you felt before. It only makes you more desperate. Believe me. I’ve been there.

But that’s not the end of the story. That emptiness you feel after you’ve checked your phone or finished watching a TV show doesn’t have to stay with you.

Jesus can take it. He wants you to lay it all down at His feet, trusting Him to fill that emptiness in your heart, trusting Him to fulfill your deepest longings and desires. He’s there, longing for you to stop clinging desperately to those distractions. He’s there, with arms open wide, with no judgment and no condemnation standing in the way of His love.

He’s there, waiting for you to find rest in Him.

The definition of rest is to “cease work or movement in order to relax, refresh oneself, or recover strength.” True rest is only found in Jesus. When you cease striving and preoccupying yourself with other things and intentionally seek Jesus, the pressures of the world fall away, you get a new perspective on a certain situation, and you find strength that only comes from God.

In this world, with its heavy expectations and countless distractions, letting ourselves rest is sometimes the hardest thing to do. But it’s often what we need the most.

One of my favorite Bible verses is Psalm 46:10 which says, “Be still and know that I am God.”

Being still means finding rest in Jesus. Being still means giving Him everything that’s occupying your mind, the good and the bad. Being still means letting Him quiet your distracted heart and fill all that emptiness with His joy and strength and love.

We must know that He is God. He who created the heavens and the earth in all their majestic glory, He is God. He who spoke into being the mountains and seas and stars and planets, He is God. Amazingly, this very same God loves each of us individually. He cares about every single detail in our lives. He knows each distraction that vies for our attention, each distraction that we embrace -- and He loves us through it all.

This world throws distractions in our faces 24/7. But we don’t have to let them preoccupy our hearts. We can win the battle against distractions by taking the time to be still and trust that God is everything He says He is.  

           

         

Remember the Cross this Easter

“You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. And that price was exorbitant- My very Life! I went through excruciating pain and humiliation as I sacrificed Myself for your sins. This was a gift of infinite value- an act of indescribable Love. However, only those who recognize their sinfulness, their need for a Savior, can receive this astonishing gift of Love. Hear my invitation calling out: ‘Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.’ Sin is a terrible, crushing burden, but I have paid the price in full to remove it from you forever.
When you awaken each morning, say to yourself: ‘I am not my own. I belong to Jesus.’ Then keep in your mind Whose you are as you make your way through the day, especially as you make plans and decisions. Knowing that you belong to Me helps you keep your feet on the path of Peace. This knowledge meets deep-seated needs. you can find find spiritual and emotional security by remembering that you are Mine- My beloved.”
~ Sarah Young (“Jesus Always” devotional)

     With yesterday being Good Friday, this quick devotional really impacted me when I read it... Jesus paid the ultimate price- He gave it ALL for me- so that I might have life to the fullest on this earth, and then one day, have life everlasting with Him in heaven! 

     My family and I all watched “The Passion of the Christ” film together last night for the first time, and boy- did it really grab my heart! 

     It’s so easy for us as Christians, to make light of what Jesus did for us. “Jesus loves you” and “He died on the cross for you” almost becomes like this slogan type of thing we use... But Jesus Christ was a real person- a real man. Everything written about him in the Word of God really did happen. He came down from heaven to be born in a stable. He lived as a man and walked on the earth for 33 years. He died on the cross and was buried in the grave for three days. He rose again, defeated hell and descended into heaven to be with the Father until the time comes for Him to return again someday. He gives us the power to reign victoriously over death forever in His Name! And He did it all because He loves us... :)

He bought us with His very LIFE! We belong to Him, and He invites us into a life lived in His Love. 

He is The Way, The Truth, and The Life (John 14:6).
The Beginning and the End (Revelation 22:13).
The Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6).
The Son of God (John 10:36).
The Great I AM (Exodus 3:14).
He is all we’ll ever need and more! He is our EVERYTHING! He is Jesus Christ the Lord! And he deserves it all- all of our love, all of our devotion, all of our worship, all of our focus, all of our energy, all of our giftings... all of our LIVES!
So give Jesus your ALL this Easter- He is so worthy, so good, and He loves you more than you will ever know!- and never forget the true meaning of the cross. 

Side Note: I know I’m always including songs in my blog posts (it’s kind of almost become like my signature thing I guess!)... so I’m sure it won’t be surprising that I have a song to go along with this post as well! :) It’s called “Death Was Arrested” and it’s been one of my favorite songs to listen to this Easter season...
https://youtu.be/fZ5k5X0YmLI