// Thrive

Growing up my mom said "you either grow a year or you learn a year." Well last year was definitely a learning year for me.

I feel bad for not posting as much as I had hoped, but I guess that's the way it goes.

// If 2016 taught me anything it would be that through trials the only thing we can depend upon is God. His goodness is the only constant and with Him we can not just survive, but we can thrive!

          What does it mean to "thrive"?
                    Glad you asked!! ;)

I want to share with you the difference between thriving and surviving. According to Google...

Survive : to continue to exist in spite of hardships.

Thrive  : to grow well or vigorously. To flourish.

(let me just take time to wonder at what an amazing picture that word paints in our minds. FLOURISH. )

// Now, Do we want to survive? YES! Hardships and trials are not the end of the line for us. God will always see us through and open new opportunities of service and growth if we seek Him. However...
(There is always a however)

     I don't know about you, but in my surviving, in my existing, I want to prosper      and live vigorously!! And as I've learn, the only way to do that is by seeking Christ      and actively serving Him. Return to your first love. (more to come on that topic later) 

// It's easy to let yourself fall into despair. It's much harder to get out, but when your eyes are on the cross the trial of the world tends to fade out of sight.

//     John 10:10     //

The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy; I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. 

I hope this year will be another year of learning as well as a year of growing in the Lord.

Grow in grace and knowledge. 

// God is Good

Okay guys, I promise I'm not just posting this because I haven't posted in a while... I am totally and seriously excited today about the fact that God is good!

Even when life is just going on ordinarily God is STILL good! AND SHOULD BE PRAISED!!

I don't know... I just really felt like sharing that today. ^_^

Honestly, I do NOT have this attitude all the time... But I really want to have this heart and attitude everyday! I want to start an epidemic!

Psalm 150

Praise ye the Lord. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power. Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness. Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp. Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs. Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals. Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord.

// I challenge you to think of ten things to praise God for today. It doesn't have to be all at once. In fact it's even better if you do it throughout the day! 

God is good!!

// Through the Fire

"WHYYYYYYY?! Why this? Why me? Why now? Where do I go and what can I do to fix my situation?"


Have you ever felt like you have been left alone in the midst of a fire?
               I have kinda felt that way lately and it got me thinking.


Now, I didn't immediately link my feelings to being left in a fire, but when I did I was actually comforted.


              Let me explain...


In Daniel chapter 3, three youth refused to bow themselves to an image of the king Nebuchadnezzar. As a result Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were thrown into a literal fire. One so hot that it scorched the men that threw in those Jewish youth. But these three faithful young men served the One True, Awesome, Powerful God who not only saved them from the inferno, but walked along side them to comfort them!


     //  Just as He kept Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego safe through the furnace, He promises that He will keep us safe from whatever "fire" this world throws at us. He will not give us more than we can handle. (1 Corinthians 10:13)

He promises that even when we are distressed and cast down, we are not destroyed. (2 Corinthians 4:8-12)

NOW LISTEN TO THIS!!   (This is the part that makes me excited)


     //  Not only does He promise to keep us safe, but through our trials He is making us more and more beautiful!!
Although this may be a long and painful process it's totally worth it in the end. (Kinda like giving birth)

Isaiah 14:10 says "Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction."

WOW! We were chosen to go through affliction because God knew it could make us stronger.

"That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perishes, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:" 1 Peter 1:7

         "He is refining and in His timing He is making diamonds out of us!" Diamonds - Hawk Nelson

     //  However, when we go through trials we have a choice. We can allow God to refine us  or we can be stubborn and wallow in the ashes. It's up to us.

     Father God, Let my prayer not be 'why' but 'thank You.' Because You are Lord of all and that You are able to turn all for the good and for Your glory! Give me a soft spirit and a willingness to let You refine me into the beautiful, strong creation You would have me be. Amen

"Search me , O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." Psalm 139:23-24

// Looking Deeper

Well... I'm slacking again...

But y'know what? It's okay.

          Because God has been challenging, teaching, and growing me this month. 

          I actually had this idea for a post a few weeks ago, but never wrote it down. I guess God needed to teach me a little more about it before He let me publish it. The thought was... "Take time to understand what those around you have gone and are going through because I guarantee it'll give you a greater appreciation for that person." 

// I first thought of this (embarrassingly enough) while having a conversation with my mom. I was frustrated with some things and just felt like she could try harder in some areas. (Great! I've become THAT daughter... praise God for forgiveness.) Anyway, we had a long talk and I was reminded that my mom never had the privileges I have had. 

She did not grow up in a Christian home. 

   She did not get to attend Biblical girlhood conferences. 

      She had to get up and go to a public school and endure bad influences every day. 

         She had a very broken home. 

            She didn't have the Comforter while she was young. 

I already knew all that, but somehow having that brought to the forefront of my mind gave me a new and fresh appreciation for her. Instead of only seeing her actions, I saw the good intentions of her heart.

"...for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart."

(1 Samuel 16:17)

Again, A few months later I was talking to a friend about the years before she came to know Christ and it gave me a renewed appreciation for the great work Christ did in her and her family's lives. 

// Yet again this month, I witnessed a crisis within my own family (God was preparing me guys) and realized that even though we may all be experiencing the same difficulties and trials each one of us copes with and rationalizes things differently and each person may view the situation differently. We ought never to expect others to understand or handle things in the same way we do. 

          As Christians it is our job to encourage one another and bear one another's burdens. (Galatians 6:2) But how are we to do that unless we ask and show a genuine desire to help in love?

// My challenge to you this week is to show interest in a friend or family member's life and encourage them in whatever trial they are going through no matter how large or small. Try to see them as God sees them. Look past everything you know and seek to know their hurt and their heart. 

Blessings,

Hannah

// Live in Thanksgiving

     At 10:45 PM I finally finished school. I thought to myself how nice it would be to spend about a half hour reading before bed. But as I walked in my room all I saw was a pile of clothes where my bed should have been. I started to complain to myself... but then stopped....

     How many times do I unnecessarily complain out of habit? I wonder what that does to my attitude? I wonder what would happen if I turned all my complaining into praises?

Those were the questions asked myself.

I tried it. And you know what I came up with?

       Thank you God for clothes to wear.

              Thank you for clean clothes. 

                    Thank you for arms to be able to fold the clothes. 

                            Thank you for a bed underneath all these clothes.

And now I might add to that… Thank you Lord for giving me this opportunity to learn and grow!! Glory be to your name!

// I am challenging myself to live a life of thankfullness to God for the little blessing in my life on a daily basis. Hopefully I'll be able to record more of these moments. 

     1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 "Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." 

// Jehovah is All

I found this on another blog <felicitysymington.wordpress.com> and thought it was so neat! (Also this is what I get for procrastinating.) I have 3 posts in the making, but I have to get my thoughts together before I can publish. Enjoy this find though!! It's a good illustration of different names of our great God in just one passage that I'm sure we are all familiar with. :)

 Psalm 23

1 "The LORD is my shepherd;"
          // Jehovah-Roi, my Protector

"I shall not want." 
          // Jehovah -Jireh, my Provider 

2. "He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:" 
          // Jehovah – Adonai, my Master – our Sovereign Lord

"He leadeth me beside the still waters."
          // Jehovah -Shalom – The Lord is my Peace. 

3. "He restoreth my soul:"
          // Jehovah – Rophi, my Healer 

"He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake."
           // Jehovah – Tsidkenu , my Righteousness -meaning - The Lord is with me.

4. "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shades of death,"
          // Jehovah – Shammah, my Divine Presence - You are with me.

"I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me;"
          // Jehovah – Tsebaoth, my Warrior – meaning our Lord will fight for You and me.

"Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me."
          // Jehovah -El Elyon, my Defender – means ”The Lord God most high”

5. "Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of my enemies:"
          // Jehovah – Nissi, my Encourager meaning “The Lord, my banner”

"Thou anointest my head with oil;"
          // Jehovah -Mekaddesh, my Righteousness or sanctifier

"my cup runneth over. "
          // Jehovah – El Shaddai, my Nourisher meaning  ”our All-sufficient God"

6. "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life:"
          // Jehovah – El Elohim , my Protector

"and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever."
          // Jehovah – El Olam, my Eternity - “our Everlasting God"


Blessings

// New Year, New Growth

Happy New Year everyone!!

I'm 10 days late, I know. But as the saying goes... "Better late than never" right? ... right?! ;P

Anyhow, y'know how when January 1st rolls around everyone is starting their "New Years resolutions?" (aka, diets, workout routines, Bible studies, etc) And y'know how the majority of those resolutions are completely lost by Groundhogs Day (if not before?)
How are we to grow if we cannot be consistent with our goals?!?!

Note: I'm not at all saying resolutions are a bad thing.

Having goals is GREAT! For instance, this blog is a result of one of last years "resolutions."

However, problems arise when we don't set smart goals. (Yes, I am a CollegePlus student.) One of the many lessons CP has taught me is that in order to grow, my goals should be S.M.A.R.T..

Specific
       Measurable
              Attainable
                     Relevant
                            Time-specific

So here is a challenge for you and for myself... Make one or two resolutions that are important to you and set goal statements that are clear, purposeful, and attainable. It should help to make your objective more meaningful to you.



// My "resolution" for the year is to set small monthly goals for my school, health, and relations.
With the help of some friends I have chosen a goal word for the year.

INVEST. 

My vision for this year is to grow in my knowledge and relationship with God, invest in opportunities to serve others, steward my time and invest it wisely, invest time and energy in growing my relationships with family and friends, and have diligence in my studies.

To make this a smart goal I want to...
1) Stay diligent in my Bible study and post what God has been teaching me here twice monthly.
2) Be able to give at least 1 account a week that I have invested in those around me
3) Test once a month
 

Hope 2016 is filled with blessings and growth!!
~ Hannah