Those Simple Things

Hi Everyone!

I have been thinking lately, how the little things that we do in life for other people are like the little things that God does for us. Now for me, one of my favorite things that the Lord gives me almost everyday, is to witness a sunset or a sunrise. I absolutely find myself to be astonished at the colors every time I see one. I know that a sunrise and a sunset happens every day but even so I love being surprised by this gift from God. 

It made me think about when women receive specifically flowers from a man, and when then receive them not for any special occasion, just because. In my life I have only received flowers from a man because of a special occasion, and honestly I think that was only twice in my life. So I can't speak from direct experience of receiving flowers just because but I can speak from witnessing friends of mine receiving flowers, just simply because this person wants to let them know they love them. I would have to imagine that the feeling of the man bringing them to her or having them delivered must be something like seeing a sunset or a sunrise. It's an exciting and thrilling feeling. The colors that are embodied in the flowers just like the colors that can be drawn across the sky. It is something so beautiful, but it's more about what you feel when you see the things. It's the feeling of love, that someone loves you so much and these are ways of trying to express a feeling that is felt toward you.

Most women I know love flowers but they also love the little things in life. I can't speak for a man but I would have to imagine that the little things have so much meaning as well. I believe that these little things, these simple gestures are what keep relationships alive especially with Christ. The Lord does these "little things" for us every single day. It is up to us whether we recognize them and be examples of what it means to give little things to others, just because. Remember though, these little things in life don't have to be tangible items, not at all. The more you get to know people in your life you will quickly learn the things that bring joy to them.

1 John 3:18 Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.

Pinning that Point

Happy Tuesday!!

Try this see what happens, ready? Stop right now and look around at the moment you are in...

Now, how did you get to this moment? Can you pinpoint a moment that brings you to this moment? And then can you pinpoint a moment that brought you to that moment? Can you keep going back and pinpointing certain moments in your life to lead you to exactly the one you are in?

Perhaps you can't pin point the very moment you are in, that's okay! Can you find a moment in your life when you can, maybe when you met someone or you went somewhere or something happened? Can you pin point moments that led to that moment? Maybe at this very moment you are having trouble pin pointing moments. Take some time when you are free and think about it. Try and pick a moment in your life and pin point certain moments that helped get you there. It's pretty amazing when you are able to see all the dots connect! You will realize why certain things happened and appreciate where you are now because of all those moments, even if those moments were not the best ones you ever had.

I love pin pointing moments of my life that brought me to other moments especially the moments when I meet people. I look at these moments and thank God for guiding me and even when I would stray off his path, He always seemed to lead me back on it. How amazing that God loves us so much! I have come to find out that God's plans are always better than mine plans. His timing is always better than what I think good timing is. Pin pointing moments of my life help me to appreciate why I have been where I have been.

Pin point moments of your life and see what happens :)

"In everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 5:18

God Will Open Doors but It's Up To You Whether You Walk Through Them

Hi Everyone!

So did you ever ask the Lord for something and he was pretty quick to respond? Well, I have had that happen to me many, many times. Some prayers I feel like it takes forever for the Lord to answer them or for me to recognize His answer and other times I ask and I receive within a few minutes, hours, or days. His timing is always perfect though!!  Well, this happened to me the other day! About a week ago I was praying to the Lord and asking Him how I could increase my energy. I started exercising more and I began to get more tired than I had been throughout the day. So I flat out asked, "Lord how can I get more energy?!" A day or two later a close friend of mine texted me asking me when I was going to join AdvoCare.

"AdvoCare is a premier health and wellness company offering world-class energy, weight-loss, nutrition, and sports performance products along with a rewarding business opportunity."  

Several months earlier he had asked me when or if I was going to join AdvoCare. Well, this time when he asked, I decided to really look into everything. This is a paragraph from their website that I read, "Joining team AdvoCare empowers individuals to explore their ultimate potential. When people try the products, the positive testimonials pour in: "I feel better than I have in years." "My energy level is unbelievable." "AdvoCare has changed my life." AdvoCare focuses on wellness and provides an opportunity to enrich your life in the way that you choose." When I saw what AdvoCare provided and the testimonial I knew that this is where I was supposed to be, on this website and this is something that I probably was supposed to get in to. For me this was the answer to the prayer I was asking the Lord. Now it would be up to me whether or not to take this opportunity that was right in front of me. God gave us the gift of free will so whether or not I choose to capitalize on the opportunity is up to me.

My friend suggested to me that I do something that is called the 24 Day Challenge. I encourage anyone who is interested or curious to go on to the website and check it out! http://www.advocare.com/ 
After I checked into it, I decided that I wanted to do this 24 day challenge! I love challenges and I thought that this would be something perfect for me to do at this time in my life. When I told my friend that I wanted to do it, I asked him if we could add another thing on to the challenge for ourselves, but this doesn't have to do with the body physically, but with the soul. When I begin to start my 24 day challenge with AdvoCare, which I probably will sometime this week (when my supplies come in the mail) I will begin to transform, nourish and change my body and health to help better myself. So I asked him if he would want to throughout this process help to transform our souls too. I think that it is so important and especially when it comes to your body and nurturing it that we remember to keep God in the center of it all. "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?  You are not your own; you were bought at a price.  Therefore honor God with your body," (1 Cor. 6:19-20).

So with this 24 day challenge my friend and I will also challenge ourselves to strengthen our relationship with the Lord as I also go through the process of strengthening my body so that I can better serve the Lord. The support that I have received from the members of AdvoCare over the past few days before I have even started the challenge has been incredible. I am so excited and ready to begin this challenge.

There is a difference between a commitment and being committed. I have made a commitment for 24 days to work on my health and to strengthen my relationship with The Lord with a friend. Each day that I do this I continue to become more and more committed to my commitment.

So, remember when you ask the Lord in prayer for something, be open to His answer. Once he provides you with an answer it is your choice whether or not to walk through that door He has opened. I ask you to pray for me that I focus on the Lord through this health challenge along with prayers that my friend and I will continue to strengthen our relationship with Christ to better ourselves in order for us to better serve the Lord and His children and fulfill His will on Earth.

"Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours."- Mark 11:24

*Alex-Thank you for your faith and trust in the Lord always and your persistent effort to help change people's lives to become a better version of themselves each day.

Celebrating Christmas Every Single Day

Hi Everyone!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, 2014! I hope that everyone enjoyed the Holidays this year. Just because the commercialized season of Christmas and New Years is over does not mean that it has to be over for us nor should it be. Christmas is when when celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ and that The Lord came into this world as a human to save us. This is something we can celebrate, remember, and and be thankful for every day. Even the simple words of praying a prayer such as this, 

"Lord thank you for the birth of Jesus and sending your son here to save us from our sins. Thank you for sending Jesus here to walk on this Earth so that we know the things He experienced in His life and we can relate to and gain strength from Him all the days of our lives. Help me to spread The Good News of the Birth of my Savior each and every day! Amen!"

Some of you might remember my post about the "power of one word." I will repost that article on this post incase you never got the chance to read it. Also check out my original post I did on that article if you have time as well. I truly believe in the power of one word and it can absolutely change your life.  The word I choose this year is the word, "SERVE." I am excited for the challenge and the opportunities God has in store for me with this word in 2014!

Everyone tries to or thinks about making resolutions and/or goals for the beginning of the new year. I just want you to remember that any day of the year you can begin to make a resolution or goal or even choose  ONE WORD! I encourage you to challenge yourself and to be amazed at the power of word one and the impact it can have on your life and others.

God Bless!! 

Matthew 1:21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins. 

In the article below it was written in 2012 that is why the years are not up to date. 

The Power of One Word Monday, December 31st, 2012 READY: "I'm asking God for one thing, only one thing" - Psalm 27:4a SET: Get One Word for 2013...but be careful! It might change you. Since 1999, we started the simple discipline of developing a One Word theme for the upcoming year. That is right-One Word. Not a phrase, not a statement, just a single word. To this point, it has been nothing short of life-changing. If you have the competitor mindset like we do, you have done your fair share of goal-setting at the start of each New Year. We want to accomplish much and maximize the opportunities given to us. However, as time goes by, we begin to feel guilty as we fall short in our ambitious plans. At one point, we became so frustrated with the whole resolution process, that we even tried boycotting resolutions. That didn't work either. It just made us feel guilty about being a slacker who didn't set any goals. In both cases, we always wound up feeling defeated, which is tough to handle as a true competitor. For us, this One Word exercise has become a focal point throughout the year. It helps bring clarity into a very complex world. The discipline of developing a One Word theme has stretched me in all areas: spiritually, physically, mentally, emotionally, relationally and financially. God has transformed me in many ways through this exercise, and we promise that through it God can bring truth and revelation into your life, as well. There is a reason why we say, "Get One Word for the year...but be careful." The "careful" part is serious. You know the phrase, "Be careful what you pray for." It is like when you pray for patience and all you get is trials, problems and situations in which you need to practice patience. Well, the same goes for One Word. We guarantee that as soon as you find your word, the battle will begin. Do not approach this exercise half-heartedly. You will get slammed, we promise. This exercise is not for people who want to pick a nice, comfortable word that will have no significant impact on their lives. It truly is a discipline for those who want to press in and see God do great things in and through them. It is for those who want to live life to its fullest. No retreat. No regrets. It will also be a process of teaching, correcting and molding, as God will certainly bring you to a point of brokenness in relation to your word. But when you are soft in the Creator's hands, He can form you into His vessel! You will be a changed competitor. Many athletes and coaches try to approach One Word as just another goal, but this is not a question of whether or not you will "win" at your One Word for the year. Your goal should be to live out the adventure God has for you and to learn from the lessons along the way. It is simply a matter of yoking with the Savior. You can't look at it as a task item on your to do list. You must see it, rather, as a journey-a great journey of victories and defeats, all of which are brought to and laid at the feet of the Christ. It has been our experience that God quickly reveals His plans for the year regarding a your One Word. That word (be it a discipline, fruit of the Spirit, character trait, attribute of God or even a person) will brand you for the year! Be careful with your One Word. It will change the way you compete, think, act and live! Once you're finished, be sure to share your experience with others-your teammates, spouse, children, friends, staff and church members. You'll be blessed as you watch them adopt and grow in their own One Word. GO: What is God saying to you this past year? What area does God want to take hold of in your life and use for His glory? How does God want to position you for the upcoming year? How can your One Word impact you as a competitor? WORKOUT:  Psalm 27:1-14 Luke 18:22 Mark 10:21 John 9:25 OVERTIME:  "Dear Lord, as I start 2013, I ask that you will make it a life-changing year. I want to live for You alone. Reveal Yourself to me as You show me what my One Word theme will be. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit. I realize that it is a journey of learning not a task to accomplish. Through this process, I desire to know You better. Strengthen me as I live out my One Word every day. In Jesus' name, amen." ABOUT THE AUTHOR:  Dan Britton, Jimmy Page and Jon Gordon have been doing One Word since 1999. They have together written their newly released book called One Word That Will Change Your Life. Dan and Jimmy serve as Vice Presidents for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. They have been best friends and accountability partners after meeting each other at an FCA meeting in 1989. Jon Gordon's bestselling books and talks have inspired readers and audiences around the world. Jon is an active supporter and volunteer for his local FCA. Discover your One Word today atGetOneWord.com

Do You Hear What I Hear

Good Morning Everyone!!

When major events happen in our world, events that have in someway affected us we usually remember where we were and what we were doing when it took place. Most people remember where they were when JFK was shot and where they were when 9/11 happened. Unfortunately it seems we remember more when something big and evil happen. Whether it is a good or bad event most of us all have a story of where we were and what we were doing or how we heard about it when something that changed our world happen. During Christmas I absolutely love listening to Christmas songs. This year I have been listening to a station on Pandora called Sidewalk Prophets Holiday. Sidewalk prophets is a Christian music band. I have loved this listening to this station because of the different songs they have been playing. Yes, they still play traditional Christmas music but they also play songs that praise Jesus and tell of the amazing story of what Christmas really is. This year I have noticed myself really listening to the messages in these songs and I have come to understand the meaning of Christmas more than I ever have. The song that struck me this morning was the song "Do You Hear What I Hear."

"Do You Hear What I Hear," this song is of people who are hearing about the GOOD news and it is as if they are telling their story of what it was like when they heard that Jesus Christ the Savior that was told was coming, was born!

Below are the lyrics. Perhaps read through the lyrics and then listen to the song and imagine what it was like for those people who were not at the Inn the night Jesus was born but heard of the Good News. When asked about where they were and how they heard that Jesus was born I believe that this would be the story of how one Shepard boy heard of the Good News that night. Amazing!!

"Do You Hear What I Hear"

Said the night wind to the little lamb
Do you see what I see
Way up in the sky little lamb
Do you see what I see
A star, a star
Dancing in the night
With a tail as big as a kite
With a tail as big as a kite

Said the little lamb to the shepard boy
Do you hear what I hear
Ringing through the sky shepard boy
Do you hear what I hear
A song, a song
High above the tree
With a voice as big as the sea
With a voice as big as the sea

Said the shepard boy to the mighty king
Do you know what I know
In your palace wall mighty king
Do you know what I know
A child, a child
Shivers in the cold
Let us bring him silver and gold
Let us bring him silver and gold

Said the king to the people everywhere
Listen to what I say
Pray for peace people everywhere
Listen to what I say
The child, the child
Sleeping in the night
He will bring us goodness and light
He will bring us goodness and light

The child, the child
Sleeping in the night
He will bring us goodness and light

Click below to listen and watch the video.

Do You Hear What I Hear Song by Third Day
What did you think of the video? Incredible right?

There are so many songs related to what people of the world were doing or felt or how they heard of Jesus being born on that Christmas Night. The Good News spread and so did testimonies and this continues to happen today in our world! I pray that when you are listening to these songs the image and meaning of our Savior being born to save us and change the world becomes more powerful to you. Music has a way of connecting to our hearts, open your hearts to listen to the messages and spread the Good News.



"Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel."- Isaiah 7:14

Birthday Blessings

Hi Everyone!!

I had to create a post today for a few a reasons. Thank you so much to everyone who made my birthday weekend, yes weekend, amazing! (Having your birthday on a Sunday has it's advantages!) I am so grateful and thankful to God for the life that I have. I am just absolutely amazed beyond belief with the people he has blessed me with in my life. My family is absolutely amazing and I love them so much. I am so thankful for their examples of Christ being the foundations of their lives which helps and encourages me in my life. My friends, wow, absolutely incredible. I am so thankful to the Lord for the friends in my life. I am so amazed on the paths that bring me to them and without them I wouldn't be the person I am today. My weekend was incredible. From my girlfriends from my hometown who I have known since I was a little girl coming down on Friday night to begin celebrating to the SURPRISE party my friends threw me Saturday night to my family coming to my new church on Sunday morning and having lunch together, it was a perfect weekend. The kind words from everyone warms my soul and I am so thankful that the Lord puts people like you all on this Earth to love and encourage one another just for being born. Birthday's are special because we are all specially handmade by the Lord and we should celebrate Him and one another.

A Birthday Blessing

Here's a little story about what happened five years ago on my birthday and the presence of God in all of it. About a month before my birthday I was speaking with my mom about a family friend whose father passed away on her birthday. When talking about it I felt so sad for her. However, my Mom told me something that a priest said to her that made sense to me. He told her how special it was that her father went to heaven and met Jesus the same day that she was brought into the world. I thought that was a pretty amazing to look at it that way.

On my birthday five years ago I was taking a nap in the middle of the day. (How lucky was I!?) When I woke up I saw that there was a missed call from my Dad. I called him back and my Mom answered the phone. Right away I knew that something wasn't right. My Mom was supposed to be at work and she wasn't. She began to tell me that my Grandmother, her Mom just passed away. The first thing I said to my Mom was that I knew it. I just had this feeling that on that day, my birthday,  my Grandma would pass away. One of the last things she had mentioned was that she didn't get a chance to call me yet that today and wish me a Happy Birthday. Of course I was shocked, I was sad and upset, but I also understood how amazing God was and that He choose to have my Grandma meet Jesus on my birthday. That will connect me and her forever in such a special way.

It's pretty incredible that when we choose to let go and let God's plans for us to play out we can understand things that we never thought we could understand. Because of that conversation I had with my mom a few months earlier my birthday became something more than I could imagine. My Grandma went to Heaven that day, the feast they must be having up there, incredible.  I now go to church every year on my birthday, something I never did before she passed away.

It's amazing how God works in our lives when we let him. I am so blessed and so thankful for this life I have been given. Thank you to everyone!!!

"For we are God's masterpiece.
He has created us anew in Christ Jesus,
so we can do the good things
He planned for us long ago."
(Ephesians 2:10)

When Mercy Found Me

Hey Everyone,

It has been a while! I can't say that I didn't have time because I have had plenty of time I guess I just haven't used my time to write on the blog. So often do we hear people say they don't have time..I know I say it, but we make time for the things we want to make time for. So if you're struggling with balancing time, ask God to help you balance things in your life. We are here until God is ready to bring us home, we are on His time :)

Today, I was driving in my car on my way to drop some things off at another campus for work. For some reason I was feeling a bit down and just started wondering about my life and why I was doing exactly what I was doing right now. So I started to talk to Jesus and I asked him, "Show me what it is you want me to get from this drive? (I am never really a fan of this particular drive and it was absolutely feeling annoyed about doing it.) That's when I knew I needed to ask Jesus because I didn't want to feel that way.

As soon as I finished asking that question, an ambulance at the intersection ahead of me made a left turn, on the side of it it said, MERCY.

I said the word out loud when I saw it. MERCY. MERCY....... I started to think about what Mercy was because I couldn't really come up with a definition in my head. I know that God gives us mercy, God is a merciful God, but what does that really mean? So I asked Jesus, what is Mercy?

I continued on my drive and finished up the work I was doing. I drove back into the city and met up to have lunch with a great friend who was away for a month! After lunch and on my way home when I was pulling up to my house, the song on the radio caught my attention. The words I heard were, "When mercy found me." I sat there and thought to myself, God is answering my question from before, through this song. And sure enough He was. This song helped me to understand today what Mercy is. I'm excited about what else God is going to bring in my life to show me the meaning of Mercy. For all I know this is the beginning of something more.

Here's the song, I hope that you listen to it and I pray that it reaches your heart like it has reached mine. :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zm5oirhXl7I

"Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need."-Hebrews 4:16