I'm Thankful for My Frineds

When I think back over the last nine years of living in Jacksonville, the Lord has blessed me with friends that I most definitely DO NOT deserve. These friends have spurred me on to be more like Christ and to run after Him as hard as I can.

I’m grateful to God for all the fun times we have had laughing and making great memories. For the fruitful times we have spent having biblical fellowship and encouraging each other in our walks with the Lord. And most of all for the ways they have been so faithful to hold me accountable when I am in sin and not honoring God.

I’m also very thankful for all my friends that don’t live in Jacksonville. God has used you all in my life almost just as much as my friends here in Jacksonville. Your caring hearts towards me in the way you all consistently ask, “How I’m doing?” makes me very grateful for you all!

Thank you ALL for the steadfast and caring friends you are to me. Know that I thank God daily for how He has blessed me with you all!

Daily Bible Verse:

1 Corinthians 15:57- “But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

I'm Thankful for My Family

I thought I would tell you all a little bit about each member of my family and the blessing that each of them have been to me. Enjoy!

Dad- Dad is the ultimate dad… Not only is he fun to hang out and joke around with but, he is a VERY and I mean a VERY Godly man. He leads his family in a God honoring way and is always looking for what is best for them. He is always faithful to follow and do what God is calling him to as he devotes himself to God in every situation he is going through. He encourages all his children to be more like Christ and has spurred me on ever since I was little to follow Christ and not be drawn into the ways of the world. He rejoices for everything God has given to him and never complains about what God has given him. Whether it is work or finances, he always has his trust in God.

Mom- Oh dear, where do I begin? This lady…. well let’s just say she is the ULTIMATE Proverbs 31 women. I have never met anyone in my life that joyfully submits to her husband, serves her family, and trusts God more then my mom does. She is someone I am striving to be like one day when I grow up and have my own family!

Jonathan- Something that I appreciate about Jonathan is that he has a fear of God. He is always honest with others and doesn’t worry about what others think of him.

Amber- Amber has always been such a blessing to me! Even from a young age, I have always looked up to her as a role model of someone’s footsteps I want to follow in. She has such a passion to glorify the Lord! Her passion to honor him in all she thinks, says, and does has been such a wonderful example to me.

Joshua- One thing that I love about Joshua is that he has a very sweet and caring heart. He has the biggest and greatest imagination of everyone in my family and is always the one coming up with new ideas.

Victoria- Victoria is always a very joyful person. Almost every time I walk into the room she is in I catch her laughing. This joyful heart encourages me to cultivate one as well.

Karah- Karah is the person in the family that one would go to in need of a hug. She is always very tender and caring at heart. Don’t get me wrong though… You most definitely don’t want to get her mad!

Well, that’s my family for ya! As you can tell, I love each and every one of them dearly. I don’t even know where to begin to thank God for the blessing my family is and has been to me!

Daily Bible Verse:

Psalm 106:1-“Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!”

Happiness and Thanksgiving

As I sit here and meditate on all that God has given to me… A wonderful Church, a family that I get to spend Thanksgiving with, and friends that I can count on to hold me accountable when I am sinning and ultimately not honoring God, all I can do is thank God for being so gracious to bless me with all the things that I mentioned above.

Since Thanksgiving is next week I thought it would be fun to tell you all, all the blessings God has given to me and all the events that took place this past year that I am undeserving of and thankful for.

I don’t think it is a coincidence that I have been reading 1 Samuel for my devotions every morning. The 2nd chapter of 1 Samuel starts off with Hannah exalting God with praise and Thanksgiving and ultimately finding a happy heart in Him. I have been so convicted of how often I fail to find a happy heart in the Lord when I need to offer up things to Him instead of worrying and dwelling on them myself.

1 Samuel 2:1-2 says, “My heart exults in the Lord; my strength is exalted in the Lord. My mouth derides my enemies, because I rejoice in your salvation. There is none Holy like the Lord; there is none besides you; there is no rock like our God.”

When I think upon and converse with thee ten thousand delightful thoughts spring up, ten thousand sources of pleasure are unsealed, ten thousand refreshing joys spread over my heart, crowding into every moment of happiness. I bless thee for the should thou hast created, for adoring it, sanctifying it, though it is fixed in barren soil; for the body thou hast given me, for preserving its strength and vigour, for providing sense to enjoy delights, for the ease and freedom of my limbs, for social joy of relatives and friends, for ability to serve others, for a heart that feels sorrows and necessities, for opportunities of spreading happiness around, for loved one in the joys of heaven, for my own expectation of seeing thee clearly. I love thee above the powers of language to express, for what thou art to thy creatures. Increase my love, O my God, through time and eternity. –Valley of Vision-

Please join me as I give thanks to God for all He has given to me and done for me in this past year!

Daily Bible Verse:

Psalm 79:13-“But we your people, the sheep of your pasture, we will give thanks to you forever; from generation to generation we will recount you praise

He Givith More Grace

1 Peter 5:10-“’My grace is sufficient for you’. God, who is the ‘God of all grace’”

He givith more grace when the burdens grow greater;
He sendeth more grace when the labours increase;
To added affliction he addeth his mercy,
To multiplied trials, his multiplied peace.

When we have exhausted out store of endurance,
When our strength has failed ere the day is half doe;
When we reach the end of our hoarded resources,
Our Father’s full giving is only begun.

His love has not limits; his grace has no measure,
His power has o boundary know unto me;
For out of his infinite riches in Jesus,
He giveth, and giveth, ad giveth again.
-Annie Johnson Flint-

May I urge you to read this poem slowly, reflectively, and prayerfully. Apply its message to your own burdens, afflictions, and trials. Ask God to make its truth real to you in your particular situation. I have in my own life and it has helped me tremendously! Remember to always be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus!

“This is the amazing story of God’s grace. God saves us by His grace and transforms us more and more into the likeness of His Son by His Grace. In all our trials and afflictions, He sustains and strengthens us by His grace. He calls us by grace to perform our own unique function within the Body of Christ. Then, again by grace, He gives to each of us the spiritual gifts necessary to fulfill our calling. As we serve Him He makes that service acceptable to Himself by grace, and then rewards us a hundredfold by grace.” Jerry Bridges

Daily Bible Verse:

Ephesians 3:8-9“To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things.”

Psalm 63

The Psalm below is A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah. Every time I read it I'm so convicted of how often I fail to give thanks to God when I am in trials.

Psalm 63:1-4
“O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. So I have looked upon you in the Sanctuary, Beholding you power and glory. Because your steadfast love is better than life, My lips will praise you. So I will bless you as long as I live; In you name I will lift up my hands.”

Thank you Lord that your love never changes. May I be someone that rests in that truth today, and every day that I live. Please help me to always behold Your power and Your glory all the days of my life. Help me to be someone that looks up to you for strength in times of trouble; for Your grace is sufficient for all things.

From everlasting to everlasting praise, be to You!!!

Daily Bible Verse:

Psalm 25:4-5-"Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long. "

I Stand In Awe

A picture from my awesome weekend!

Ok, so I know I said that I was going to do a snap shot of the book “Trusting God” once a week but, the group actually just started it last night. I wasn’t able to be there because I was in Gainesville. Since I already posted on chapter one last week I will pick back up on the chapters next week when we go through chapter two, “Is God in Control.” If you weren’t able to read the post I did on chapter one, “Can You Trust God?” You can check it out here

My prayer today is that I would remember the truth below and stand in awe of the beauty and majesty of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

“I Stand in Awe”
VERSE 1
You are beautiful beyond description
Too marvelous for words
Too wonderful for comprehension
Like nothing ever seen or heard
Who can grasp Your infinite wisdom
Who can fathom the depths of Your love
You are beautiful beyond description
Majesty enthroned above

CHORUS
And I stand I stand in awe of You
I stand I stand in awe of You
Holy God to whom all praise is due
I stand in awe of You

VERSE 2
You are beautiful beyond description
Yet God crushed You for my sin
In agony and deep affliction
Cut off that I might enter in
Who can grasp such tender compassion
Who can fathom this mercy so free
You are beautiful beyond description
Lamb of God who died for me

Psalm 15:11-13 “Who is like you, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like you, majestic in holiness, awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders? You stretched out your right hand; the earth swallowed them. You have led in your steadfast love the people whom you have redeemed; you have guided them by your strength to your Holy abode.”

Daily Bible Verse:

Psalm 62:8-“Trust in him at ALL times, O people; pour out you heart before him; God is a refuge for us.

Be Thou My Vision

The hymn below has got to be one of my all time favorite hymns. Though I think it is much better with the soft and peaceful music in the background, it is very helpful for me to slowly read the lyrics without any distractions in the background. This hymn makes me so amazed of the grace that the Lord has so graciously bestowed upon me. When I listen to this hymn I am enlightened, fulfilled, and blessed by His goodness to me.


“Be Thou My Vision”
1. Be Thou my vision, O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art.
Thou my best thought, by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.

2. Be Thou my Wisdom,
Thou my true Word;I ever with Thee,
Thou with me, Lord; Thou my great Father,
I thy true son;Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.

3. Be Thou my battle-shield, sword for my fight,
Be Thou my dignity, Thou my delight.
Thou my soul's shelter, Thou my high tower.
Raise Thou me heavenward, O Power of my power.

4. Riches I heed not, nor man's empty praise,
Thou mine inheritance, now and always:
Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,
High King of heaven, my Treasure Thou art.

5. High King of heaven, my victory won,
May I reach heaven's joys, O bright heav'ns Son!
Heart of my own heart, whatever befalls,
Still be my vision, O ruler of all.

There is no comfort in anything apart for enjoying thee and being engaged in thy service; Thou art All in all, and all enjoyments are what to me thou makest them, and no more. I am well pleased with thy will, whatever it is, or should be in all respects. I rejoice to think that all things are at thy disposal, and it delights me to leave them there. I long to make some return, but have nothing to offer, and can only rejoice that though doest all, but I can through grace cheerfully surrender soul and body to thee. ~Valley Of Vision~


I'll be back Monday, hope everyone has an outstanding weekend!!!

Daily Bible Verse:
Psalm 23:4- “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”