2 Corinthians 7:9-11

“Now I'm glad—not that you were upset, but that you were jarred into turning things around. You let the distress bring you to God, not drive you from him. The result was all gain, no loss.  Distress that drives us to God does that. It turns us around. It gets us back in the way of salvation. We never regret that kind of pain. But those who let distress drive them away from God are full of regrets, end up on a deathbed of regrets.  And now, isn't it wonderful all the ways in which this distress has goaded you closer to God? You're more alive, more concerned, more sensitive, more reverent, more human, more passionate, more responsible. Looked at from any angle, you've come out of this with purity of heart.” – 2 Corinthians 7:9-11(MSG.)

This, is my favorite verse of all time. I might have said that before but this one is legit. This verse is talking about, letting what you go through draw you and bring you closer to God, not farther away from him. So let’s talk about this. I’m going to pick it apart.

“Now I’m glad – not that you were upset, but that you were jarred into turning things around.”

Jarred: verb- to have sudden or unpleasent affect on the feelings and/or nerves.


How many times have you been going through something and you either already know or you come to a realization that you’re slipping from God. You’re letting the devil get wrapped up inside your mind and in your heart. That’s kind of a scary realization, isn’t it? You realize like, what have I been doing? What have I let myself become, believing these lies that have been put into my mind in my heart. You can make a decision in times like these. You can turn to God, give him your heart and everything it holds, and you can full heartedly trust in him. And trust that he will bring you through this hard time no matter what else happens. How are you going to handle the situation. Are you going to let the distress drive you to God. Let it. Let it draw you closer to him. Let it make you want more of him, need more of him, and desire more of him. “The result was all gain, no loss.”

“Distress that drives us to God does that. It turns us around. It gets us back in the way of Salvation.”

It gets us back on track with God. Back on the path he paved out specifically for us. It keeps our minds and our hearts set on that path and the new opportunities and experiences and lessons that come with each step along the way. It keeps us focused on him. Living for him.

“We never regret that kind of pain.”

Maybe, in order for you to be walking on that right path, walking in the way of salvation. Maybe that means giving something or someone up. Guys, I know that’s a hard thing to do but I can’t stress enough how great it is in the end. When you realize what you gain from it, it’s so worth it. It is so worth it.

“And now, isn’t it wonderful all the ways in which this distress has goaded you to God?”

Goad, goaded: something that encourages, urges, or drives; a stimulus.

Distress that drives you to God. It really is wonderful. Although it may be a hard time, and a struggle to get back to where you need and desire to be, it’s so worth it. You won’t look back at all the things and people in life who have hurt you, or done you wrong, or got you into bad situations. Nah. You’ll look back and you will praise the Lord because you wouldn’t be where you are today without him. You wouldn’t have learned from your mistakes. You wouldn’t have grown in Christ. You’re not going to regret it. It’s worth it. And Gods going to help you through it. And don’t ever forget that.

I hope everyone has a spectacular day today (: Love you guys.

Enough.

Hey everyone :) So I usually don't blog on Sundays, but today I really really wanted to. It's gonna be a little different than usual but I wanted to talk to you guys about something that's been on my heart alot alot lately.


What I want to talk to you guys about today is..
Letting God be enough.
Letting God be your everything.
Letting God be the reason you wake up every morning.
Letting God guide you.
Letting God know how much you love him.
Letting God know that you are here and willing to whatever he's designed you to do.


For me, alot of the time I run to people for things which, obviously, doesn't do much good. I mean yeah they are there to help me and talk and listen to me but no one can help me more than God can. And like, I think sometimes we think that we can get help more quickly from a friend. Ya know what I mean? Often we try to fill our hearts when they are empty. What's wrong with that sentence. Often we try to fill our hearts when they are empty. I think it needs to be, We need to let God fill our hearts when they are empty. We need to run to him when we're hurting and sad, and mad, and irritated, and feeling hopeless, and confused. We need to run to him always. I know it's not always easy especially if you feel like you've gotten so far from him. I want you guys to know, cliche, I know. But he is right there. All the time. If you lose grip on him his hands still there, he'll wait for you to realize that that is where your hand needs to be. Not in the hands of the world, or a guy or a girl. Let God be enough. Let him guide your heart and fill it with his desires. Let his light shine through you onto your friends or family. Let him hold your heart and protect it. I know, for me personally, God is all I need. And all that I want. I want to get deeper. I want to know more. I crave having more of him in my life because I don't want to just settle. We live in the world. Think about that. I know it sounds like a dumb thing haha but think about it. Think about the world we live in. Yes, God created it but the truth is, It has nothing to offer us. It's not easy letting God be enough. But once you do you will not regret it at all. It will be one of the greatest decesions of your life. Once you just completely surrender your life over to him, and live your life fullheartedly for him, nothing can stop you. What can? You've got God standing by your side. Your safe. I know that I want my heart in the hands of God, not the world. Where do you want yours?


I hope you guys enjoyed this :) Love you guys.

Matthew 6:31-33

“Don’t worry… The thing you should want most is Gods kingdom and doing what God wants. Then all the other things you need will be given to you.” Matthew 6:31-33

Hi there! I apologize for not posting in a while. I’m a busy bee these past few weeks. But I’m back and I’m ready to go! (:

I really really really really like this verse a lot. So, we started a new series at Incline(my youth group) last week. It’s called Battlefield and the first sermon was about our hearts. It was really good. My youth pastor talked about how our hearts are deceitful. Our hearts go after our wants. The center of our hearts is ourselves. Is seems so cliché to say or hear that we need to “live for God not ourselves.” Cliché? yes, true? 100%. I think I mentioned in another post that our hearts go after things that they want and desire and it usually isn’t good things. Unless our hearts are fully desiring God kingdom, and what God wants. I don’t know about you guys, but I know that my mind wonders off sometimes. It gets wrapped up in things that aren’t important. Aren’t important at all, they are just things to worry about and get upset about. I get upset when my heart doesn’t get what it wants, until I realize that I don’t really need any of that. Lately I’ve been spending almost all of my free time reading my bible, or reading my “Crazy Love” book. Spending that time with God has gotten my mind off of what doesn’t matter, and onto what does. We can’t guide our hearts on our own. We need Gods help. And he is the only one that can truly help us change our hearts direction. Again, I don’t know about you. But I don’t want to waste my heart beats. I was given a beating heart and I want that heart to desire what God wants for it. I’m going to do whatever it takes to keep that heart on the right path. Sure, it might get bumped bruised and broken along the way, but it’ll all be worth it in the end. It’ll all be worth it in the end.

I know this was short today, but I still hope you enjoyed it. I hope everyone has a great great day today! Love you guys.

2 Corinthians 4:18

“So we fix our eyes not on what is seen but what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:18

Here’s something to think about. What are you living for? At this very moment. What’s your goal? How are you living your life? What are you living for? Who are you living for? Are you striving to have more than your friends? To have more money than someone else? Are you spending all your time trying to get a guys/girls attention, or just getting them to notice you? If you thought “yeah, maybe” about a couple of these, just let me say that’s okay. You’re not a bad person. You’re human.

You can get more than your friends. You can get more than someone else. You can devote all your time to getting that guy/girl to notice you. Would that satisfy you? Maybe, but only for so long. You’ll feel satisfaction until something else pops into your head and you want that now instead. The world has nothing for us. The things of this world can’t give us full satisfaction, if any at all. Does that make sense? You could easily spend a lot of money at the mall, buying clothes, shoes, etc. But then, after you get home you just want more. Why? I mean, think about that. In the long run, how is devoting your time to the things I listed before going to benefit you.(yes I realize money is an important thing to have in life, but that’s not my point haha.) The opportunities we get to experience, the things we are given, the people that come into our lives, all those things are from God. Not the world. I’ve learned something over the years. I want to live for God. Each and everyday I want to do what he has designed for me to do. I want my relationship with him to keep growing. I don’t want to just settle with how things are now, no. I want more of him. I will continue seeking after him each and everyday and doing so with all my heart, because I don’t want to live without him. I don’t want to live for anyone else but him. He died for me. Like, wow. “For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.” 2 Corinthians 5:14-15 God’s love is forever. He won’t leave you or be taken away from you like the things I mentioned before. He is the only thing that will have in your heart for forever. And to me, he’s the greatest thing that you could have in your life. I don’t really know how to end this today. I know it seems very blunt, and I apologize. But I hope that you thought about what I said. I think it’s something that we all need to think about everyday.

I hope you all have a spectacular day today (: Love you guys.