Someone Worth Dying For

After having a huge mental/spiritual/emotional struggle the other night, a dear friend of mine began praying over me, over and over, that God would just reveal Himself to me and show me how He loves me.
Each of the prayers prayed over me that night revolutionized my walk with Christ. It was because of those prayers that I leaped. It was because of those prayers that I was able to trust that God would catch me.

It was also because of those prayers that God wrote a song through my pencil. 'Someone Worth Dying For' came from my realization that the love and grace that flowed the moment I was conceived was enough to cover my guilt, my shame, my fear, my pride. All I had to do was humble myself and tell God that I couldn't do it on my own.

So yeah! I am going to share with you the first verse and chorus of 'Someone Worth Dying For', and Lord willing soon, I'll be able to share an acoustic video of the song.

Someone Worth Dying For

Struggling against this deepening ache 

A chasm widening day by day

Too afraid to let go but

Longing to be free from this shame

See, God, I can praise Your Name

And I can pray for others, beg Your grace

But it took a night of brokenness

To give You all of the pain

Now here I am standing in a shower of love

It's pouring down heavy from Your throne above

God, You took all my fear in that moment of peace

You brought me to my knees

And showed me I am someone

Someone worth dying for

Never forget that you ARE someone worth dying for! The guilt and fear you have are not from God, but from Satan, and when you let go and let God, it makes all the difference! Love you guys!

Project Leap of Faith: Returned Edition!

Last night I returned to Primm Springs, Tennessee.

Tonight, as I reunited with many of my dear friends here, I felt a peace and excitement that haven’t been in me since I left.

That peace was turned to complete joy when I walked upstairs to see three young men, kneeling on the ground, praying fervently to the One who created them. Their passion, their love for Christ was so imminent in this act of humility, and the Spirit of God was so strong in that little living room. 

No lying, I cried. I cried because THIS is what I’ve missed. 

The understanding of how powerful praying truly is, the true love of God so deeply. It was such a blessing to see something that is so normal in these peoples’ lives.

Now, the question to ask: How am I humbling myself before the Lord? What am I doing to grow closer to Him?

More importantly, how am I keeping up my relationship with Him?

You can ask anyone who knows me, I am TERRIBLE about keeping in contact, especially long distance. So I really have to go the extra mile to make sure that my relationship with God stays my #1 priority!

One thing I notice I do a lot here in Primm Springs (and also did when I was here for my internship) is go on long prayer walks. I don’t know where I’m walking, I just know I talk to God in that time. Another thing that I do is take lots of notes on things I’ve been reading or on what we read in morning devotions, and then pray over them later in the day as I restudy them.

Make your relationship with Christ unique! Find the ways that better help you to focus on Him, and tie those into your routine!

In a physical relationship, you have to communicate for the relationship to thrive. It’s the same way with our spiritual relationships with Christ. He wants to hear from us, He wants you to tell Him about the things going on in your life! Tell Him about your excitement, or let Him know that you’re feeling down. Yes, God already knows what goes on in our lives, but He still loves it when you talk to Him.

A Tennessee Thanksgiving!

AHHHHHH!!!!

Next Thursday, I will be heading to Primm Springs, Tennessee!!! My incredible manager has made it possible for me to take off about 8 days so I can go home. I am so excited, I'll be seeing some dear friends (who became as close as family) as well as spending Thanksgiving day with my grandparents!

Giveaway!

Ladies and gentlemen! (I'm sure there has to be at least one guy reading this blog too.)

Some of you may remember a post I had a while ago about the book Will Our Generation Speak? by Grace Mally, sister to BRIGHT Lights founder Sarah Mally (Article can be found here).

Well, I am pleased to announce that I will be hosting a GIVEAWAY of this book! Free shipping and all!

All that is required is:

1) go like the A Girl After God's Heart Facebook Page
2) find the post about this giveaway
3) like, share, and comment why you would like to be the receiver of this book!

The person that has the most likes on their comment by midnight on November 30th will be the winner!

Yes, it is that easy!!

Now, if you don't have a Facebook account, then I'll make an exception and allow you to follow my blog/share this post/comment why you'd like to win (:

This contest begins on SUNDAY!!! Don't forget!!!

But I Don't Have Time!-The Christian's Most Popular Excuse

Well hello there! Long time no see!

Yeah, yeah, I know. It is my fault. But you see, I was just so busy all the time, you know, with work and errands...

If this sounds familiar in your spiritual life with Christ, lemme tell you: YOU ARE NOT ALONE. I am the #1 perfect example of this, and in a state of constant humbleness before the Lord.

Because I have a 40 hour work week, plus minimum 10 hours of babysitting (in one week), plus 2 Bible studies totaling 4 hours, plus church services 3 times a week AND Sunday School, plus the total driving time for the week (approx. 3 hours), plus the (at least) 2 hours a week I spend doing chores, PLUS the approximate 49 hours of sleep I get per week, I'm only left with 56 hours for ONE WEEK. Divide it up, and you only have 8 hours per day extra for, you know, whatever. But I just don't have time to spend with God! I just don't!
(I really hope you all caught that sarcasm there....)

ANYWAY.
Really, all it boils down to is, how are we using our time and our lives to honor God? What extra measures are we going to to show others His love, to share Christ with a stranger? How are we living out what He asks of us?

Surely not in the idle 2 hours we spend trolling Facebook or Pinterest, or the time we spend gossiping about a topic we barely even know about! *Yes I am guilty stop judging sheesh*

Jesus took the time out of His schedule to sit and bless some children (Mark 10:13-16). Why not sit and read with your child? Ignore that pile of laundry for ten minutes. Jesus took time out of His hectic life to explain salvation to Nicodemus (John 3:1-21). Will you quickly end a conversation with someone who is trying to learn more about Christ tomorrow? Dinner can be 15 minutes late. Jesus ignored the judgmental stares and whispers to tell an adulterous woman at a well that she can be forgiven, that it isn't too late for her (John 4:1-26). Your friend calls about a problem as you're about to walk into a meeting? I'm sure that meeting is less important than another person's life.

This week, I encourage you to strive to live life like Christ. Invest your time in your eternity! Walk that extra mile, turn the cheek twice, give others your coat too! Trust me, the joy you receive when we walk the same walk as Jesus is so worth missing out on that Pinterest time.

Day 4- Wanting to Be Someone Else!

It would be lying to say that you’ve never wanted to be someone else. Whether it be their clothes, their hair, their body type, their talent, etc, if we are really honest with ourselves, we will realize that yes, we have wanted to be someone else in some form or fashion.

Ladies and gents, breaking news! God designed YOU for an EXTRAORDINARY purpose, making you EXTRAORDINARILY designed!!!!  That in and of itself makes you amazing!! See, you can never find satisfaction in being like someone else because that’s not who you were designed to be. God created you as an individual, not a cookie cutter model.

Satisfaction with who we are created to be is found in Christ and Christ alone. It is in Him that we find fulfillment when living in His Spirit! It is in Him that we find the gifts, the talents, the abilities He equipped us with to fulfill the purpose God designed for us!

He gave them to us that we might reach out to the deceived, fallen around us!

We have been blessed with a special, unique so that we may be a blessing to others, showing them the love and generosity of Christ. We each need to put our gift to use for God, using them to serve others, and show the world what love looks like!

Betcha didn’t know that you were so incredibly unique that you could change a life just by using what God gave you!

You don’t have to be perfect for God to use you. In fact, a humbled heart is the easiest for Him to use!

Keep on keeping on, dear one! God has incredible plans for you!

Don't Go Back!

Some of you may remember my post titled No Turning Back. This is a reminder post about that very thing!

I've been struggling with returning to my old way of life with a new perspective. Being around all the things of the world is so physically, mentally, and spiritually exhausting, and it can be hard to keep your heart and mind on the things of God.
In Philippians 4:8, Paul says Whatever is true, whatever is pure, whatever is honorable, whatever is juts, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things!

When God brought me to Primm Springs and cleaned my heart of all the dirty things that had infected it, He showed me that now I need to start keeping it clean. The only way to do that is by keeping a guard over our mouths and not letting evil influence our hearts (Psalm 141:3-4). To do that, we must rely fully on God, constantly asking Him for His amazing grace over us moment after moment. God doesn't want us to go back to where He brought you out of!

Let's get personal. When was the last time you were broken over your sin?
When was the last time you got on your knees, your heart breaking because you sinned against God, Who not only created you, but also sent His Son to DIE for you. The One who gave everything for you.
Let me tell you, the last time I did wasn't soon enough ago. Coming to God's feet with a humble spirit and asking for His unfailing grace once more keeps us focused on Him.

It's time to start counting the things as loss that were once a gain. (Philippians 3:7-9) It's time to start walking the walk of a follower of Christ, and giving our all to God.