Not Of This World

1. Jeremiah 29:11 & 13 — I love these verses paired together because they work so beautifully to show the nature of God. Everything God does is to strengthen and teach us, to make us better individuals and to draw us closer to Him. If we really believe this, then no challenge we encounter will be in vain. 

2. Micah 7:8 — Micah is one of my all-time favorite books of the Bible EVER! And this verse is perfect advice to those who feel they have fallen short of God. 

3. The last sentence of Luke 6:45 — You will ultimately know a tree by it’s fruit, and what is in our hearts will be revealed in what we say and how we live. Luke 12:34 is also a good indicator of this.

4. Luke 21:15-19 — This is a good reminder of the trials that we will face because of our faith. Not only those who don’t believe, but often those who appear to be good and close to us will betray us deeply. We must rely on no one person, but on God ALONE.

5. Again, just the whole book of Micah. It seems like every section ends with a deeply positive and insightful piece, and it is just beautifully revealing of God’s nature and his amazing uniqueness and power. 

I got in a really bad car wreck today. Slammed into a guardrail and totaled my car. The only injuries I sustained were a bruised wrist, and minor lacerations on my right hand. It’s a miracle I’m alive. God continues to bless me with miracles of life when I should honestly be dead.

I can’t even begin to address how frustrated I am right now about people who have the craziest mixed up misconceptions about the Mormon Church. Does anyone else feel these frustrations?

I’m here to offer my insight (as much as that may be worth).

Also, I would love it if you guys came to me with prayer requests. 
:D 

 I want to know who you are
Even if you’re falling apart
Reach in and touch your scars
And all the shame you’ve kept in your heart

‘Cause it’s not enough
it’s not enough
just to say that we’re okay
i need your hurt i need your pain
it’s not love any other way

‘Cause I already know who you are
And all things that kept us apart
So reach in and touch My scars
and know the price I paid for your heart. 

God says, BREAK MY HEART FOR WHAT BREAKS YOURS!!! 
Why? 
Because He loves you. That’s why. 

During my meeting with the missionaries today, they invited me to be baptized in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints! Thank you so much God! You have brought me nearer and nearer to you. Only you know my heart. <3

He is in the heavens

and He does
what He pleases. 

In light of recent events, I’ve decided an appropriate subject to write about is persecution. 
     You may face some difficulties because of your faith. Maybe you can’t watch a movie you want to because it is inappropriate. Maybe you get funny looks for listening to worship music in the dorm lobby. Maybe your parents aren’t completely supportive of your faith-based decisions. 
     Yes, these are uncomfortable and sometimes very hard things to face. They are inconveniences in our lives. But think about this: Jesus was NAILED to a CROSS and SUFFOCATED to DEATH because He was the Savior. Wow. We DO NOT KNOW the meaning of persecution. John the Baptist was beheaded. All of the apostles were imprisoned, exiled, murdered. All because of faith.
     So, when the going gets tough, where will you draw your strength from? Will you give in, and hide your faith like a lamp under a bowl? Because it WILL get tough. You WILL, WITHOUT A DOUBT face persecution because of your faith. Maybe not to the extreme. But that’s all the more reason not to give up. 
    Jesus said:

“You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers, relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death. All men will hate you because of me. But, not a hair of your head will perish. By standing firm you will gain life.” —Luke 21:16-19

     This doesn’t mean that you won’t suffer because of your faith. Harm may come to you. You may, by some chance, even be murdered because you believe in God and Jesus Christ as your Savior. But you will gain life. You will gain SPIRITUAL life, and an everlasting life with our Heavenly Father. 
     So, yes. You will be made fun of. They will call you names. They will slander your reputation. They will put you down, and attack you while you’re at your lowest. But do not be disheartened. God is looking out for you. And the will of God will never lead you where the grace of God cannot keep you.

And I don’t mean that constant sort of loneliness or yearning for another person. I mean that deep, very alone kind of feeling. 

The kind of feeling where no one will be able to see into your heart to feel your hurt.

They can say they understand or that they can relate. But no one can truly know. 

But God knows.

And God hurts too.

So take it to him. Because he truly understands.

COMPARED TO WHAT?