The Proof of Your Love

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I suppose this isn’t really a long post, but I just wanted to take a few minutes for this song. And what a great song it is! Anymore, my prayers usually tend to head in this direction. I want people to look at my life and see one thing: Jesus. I want them to see Him in my words, my attitude, and my choices. And I want to be ready always to give an answer of the hope lies within me.

This song goes along with 1 Corinthians 13, which is a whole chapter repeatedly saying, “If I don’t have love, what am I?” The words challenge me to live a life avoiding all appearances of evil, and instead live a life that Jesus would be proud of me for living.

“If I sing but don’t have love
I waste my breath with every song
I bring an empty voice, a hollow noise
If I speak with a silver tongue
Convince a crowd but don’t have love
I leave a bitter taste with every word I say

So let my life be the proof,
The proof of Your love
Let my love look like You and what You’re made of
How You lived, how You died
Love is sacrifice
So let my life be the proof,
The proof of Your love

If I giveĀ 
To a needy soul but don’t have love then who is poor?
It seems all the poverty is found in me

So let my life be the proof,
The proof of Your love
Let my love look like You and what You’re made of
How You lived, how You died
Love is sacrifice
Oh, let my life be the proof,
The proof of Your love

When it’s all said and done
When we sing our final song
Only love remains
Only love remains

Let my life be the proof,
The proof of Your love
Let my love look like You and what You’re made of
How You lived, how You died
Love is sacrifice
So let my life be the proof,
The proof of Your love.”

“For me to live is Christ, but to die is to gain.”

Jesus, let this always be my prayer.

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Waiting

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“Wait” is not a word we like to hear.

We hate it. We would rather have something mediocre now, rather than wait for something amazing. What about all those verses telling us to wait on the Lord? We cast aside all biblical principles when we are desperate. We forget that it is in these situation that we must wait. God did not call us to a life of comfort, but He did promise to be our comfort in the hard times.
“Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and He shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.” (Psalm 27:14)
“Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.” (Psalm 37:7)

So many verses. But we can never listen to them when they apply to us. Ironic, right? The time we need them the most is when we tend to lean unto our own understanding. God didn’t intend for these verses to be ignored, He intended that they should bring us comfort in hard times.

Love is kind of the same way. We have good intentions, we really do, but we always end up lowering our standards for Mr. Wrong. And I get it. I truly do. Waiting is so hard. Especially in this area.

There’s nothing worse than feeling unwanted and lonely. All those nights lying awake and wondering, “When am I ever going to find Prince Charming?” I’ve been there. I’ve cried those tears, felt that heartbreak, felt engulfed by that emptiness. But then I realized something: the hole that I’d been trying to fill with the love of a human would never satisfy me. The feeling that we crave in love, is that someone chose us. And they choose to stay with us day after day.

Jesus chose me.

He chooses  me. Every single day, He chooses to love me in spite of the stains on my soul. In spite of the bad thoughts I have. In spite of everything ugly, horrible, and selfish that I am, He chooses to love me.

Don’t ever look for the love of a man to fulfill your love life. Because, frankly, you’ll be left unsatisfied. Every single time. It’s only when you love God, and let Him love through you, that you see the true meaning of love.

Now, I’m not saying to close your heart off to love. Because, if it’s His will, God has someone great in store for you. Better than your fancy dreams of a castle and a knight in shining armor. Better than anything you could have imagined. Your Prince Charming is out there, and as long as you continue to walk in His will, God will lead you right to him.

Wait on your Father. He knows you better than you know yourself. And He’s the only one you should trust with these kinds of matters.

Trust His plan, and His heart.

He will never let you down.

Who Am I?

Who Am I?

It’s a popular question. Usually used in the teen years, when we try to “find ourselves”. As if we were ever really lost. Yet, part of us still feels empty. And that void is unable to be filled by anyone. That is, except for Jesus Christ.
We try to fill it with a busy social life. That can include friends, boyfriends, girlfriends, drugs, alcohol, sex, school, sports, or our jobs. Anything we find even remotely fulfilling, we start to fill our life with. Either to keep us busy, or to avoid something else.
What is the solution? Simple. Fill your life only with things that are most important. They may not be things you necessarily enjoy, but are high in priority. Such as: faith, family, and your job. In that order.

1. Faith
When we think of faith, we think of church. Perhaps some see it as a crutch. But to me, and many Christians worldwide, it is so much more than that. In faith there is humility; we must admit that we are, in fact, only human. In faith there is trust; humans cannot trust in themselves, for the human heart and mind is fickle; easily deceived. There’s a certain kind of beauty in knowing you are created in the image of the Most High. “I am fearfully and wonderfully made, marvelous are thy works and my soul knoweth right well.” (Psalm 139:14)

2. Family
The world’s definition of family ranges. The politically correct definition of the word is: Any group of people, regardless of gender, may be called a family. And it’s legal. Whether it’s two men, or two women, or one woman and one man, any combination is deemed acceptable. We are told to be “more accepting” of the world. But the world is not accepting of our beliefs. They have to make it a matter of politics when, in reality, it is a matter of morals and belief. To the world, Christians are seen as eccentrics carrying a large rule book. But, really, we only have one general rule. Love God. If you love Him, you’ll want to get to know Him. And in getting to know Him, you’ll learn to love Him. In loving Him, you’ll start to love others, too. And it will be evident in your life.

3. Career
As teenagers, we are encouraged to be certain of how we want our lives to turn out at the ripe ages of seventeen and eighteen years old. But why? Studies show that more than 90% of college students change their area of study within the first year. So how are we supposed to know before the first year of college? We hear parents and teachers warn us that if we don’t pay attention in school, we won’t be able to get a good job to earn lots of money. While it is more important for boys, as the head of the home, to have a good job, girls shouldn’t slack off either. My mom always told me that it was perfectly okay for me, as a girl, to want a career. But she also cautioned me that I should have something to fall back on in the case that my future husband would be unable to work. There are obviously many beliefs in this area, but when it comes to a career choice, the only one that will be truly fulfilling is the one that God lays on your heart. It may not be what your parents want for you, but more than likely, they will support you. Especially if they want God’s best in your life.

For Teenagers
I, personally, despise the way that society defines us. Teenagers around America are all doing the same things. Society is turning us into an army of mindless robots. Why do we always have to have or do what everyone else does? Can’t we be the unique, beautiful creatures God intended us to be? Society tells us to be our own person, to create our own identity for ourselves. But if you’re the slightest bit different from their guidelines, you’re branded as a freak, or weird. Labels can hurt, so don’t be quick to negatively label others. “Do unto others what you would have them do unto you.” In other words, treat people how you want to be treated. There is no condemnation in the golden rule.

So let’s answer the question: “Who Am I?”

Simple.

You are God’s.

The masterpiece that was perfectly and skillfully crafted in the image of the Almighty God. And once you realize that, you will find that ultimately, you are happy with who you are, and your days of searching will be over.