Like Jesus

Driving home after a wonderful beach trip is always a downer. It was a week full of biking, relaxing, swimming and EATING (We are lovers of all things involving snow and cones. Yum!). It took a lot to get everyone loaded up and dragged from the beach. No one wanted to leave! My mom told me that the boys could go home and that the girls would get a hotel room, stay another week and rent a car to get home. I thought that would be a fantastic plan!

The car ride back was pretty painless and I just had to share a sweet conversation that occurred between Maddie (three years old) and my mom. To give a little background: One of the highlights of the trip was riding bikes through the streets of the adorable beach town we called home for the week. To Maddie Kate's delight, my sixteen year old brother Landon spent time giving her rides in the basket of one of the bicycles. A little dangerous if you ask my mom, but nevertheless it was a blast for a little one like Maddie.

MK: Landon gives me ride on the handle bars!
Mom: Yes, Landon is a great big brother. He takes such good care of you!
MK: Jesus takes care of me.
(Pause)
Landon is like Jesus!

As we all smiled and laughed a little at the cuteness, we all sat there in awe over the fact that we are Jesus to Maddie. She is watching what we do and how we treat each other. The fact that she, at three years old, was able to make a connection between her brother's care with that of Jesus is incredible.

How true it is that as follower's of Christ we are to be like him. We are to be "Jesus with skin on" to people around us. You may be the only example of Jesus Christ that they will ever see. I have been reading "The Overcoming Life" by D.L. Moody this week at the beach and he quotes,"Where one man reads the Bible, a hundred read you and me." Be like Jesus and pray that he uses you in mighty ways to be his hands and feet here on the earth!

What Are You Waiting For?

My parents raised me so that I would treasure my purity and guard my heart closely for the man that I would one day marry. When I was little they would jokingly say to me, “Save your kisses for your husband.” Little did they know that I would grow into my teen years holding onto their words and establishing even higher standards for myself.

I have learned a lot about guarding my heart and staying pure over the years. I have discovered that it is not just about remaining physically pure until marriage. It is not just about waiting to have sex. It is about not giving my heart away. Its about not getting emotionally tied to any man that is not my husband. Most importantly, it is about an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ.

This is what author Dannah Gresh so amazingly communicates in her new book, What Are You Waiting For? This is a question that I have had to answer for myself in the past few years. Your parents can be godly, can share with you their desire for you to “wait for true love”, they can give you rules and a purity ring, but ultimately YOU are the one that will have to decide what you are waiting for.

This book addresses issues such as porn, homosexuality, masturbation – stuff that we are being faced with, stuff that our friends are being faced with in this fallen world that we live in. This book is not for the faint of heart, but the author’s love for God is what makes her passionate about sharing candidly with young women. Her purpose in writing this book is to deal biblically with questions that every girl wants to ask about sex. These are the issues that, sadly, are not being dealt with in the church. People are embarrassed to talk about them. This saddens me because I know that our God created sex to be something so beautiful between a man and woman united under the covenant of marriage. While the church remains silent, our world is currently in the business of distorting what God made to be a precious and holy gift.

When you finish this book, you will have a pretty incredible picture of God’s design for sex. You would not believe how romantic and creative our God is!

You can learn more about this book here...http://www.purefreedom.org/bookWAYWF.htm

I blog for books... http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/bloggingforbooks/

The Wonder Mom

I am a young woman who has grown up with a lot of dreams and passions that God has placed in my heart. Above all of them is a desire for motherhood. Don't worry, I'm not in any hurry to become a mom. However, everyday I am convinced that to be a mother could possibly be the greatest joy and privilege in life.

I am inspired all the time by countless women who have embraced the calling of being "mom". I feel blessed to know many wonderful, heroic, godly mothers that are an example to me and other young women. I don't care what the world's opinion is of being a mom or (gasp!) a stay at home mother is. I see it as a high calling, a important job and an adventure!

These are just a few of the characteristics I have seen recently in the wonder moms that I know. All of them deserve extra jewels in their crowns in in heaven by the way!

sacrifice - wow. the selflessness of some of the mommas know is incredible. time after time I see them trading their own personal desires for the very best for their families.

flexibility- there is hardly a dull moment is most of homes. step inside and you might see children running around, baby crying, food burning, yet that momma is holding it together. she may be ready to scream on the inside, but she is the glue that is keeping everything from falling apart and is flexible to change or any unforeseen circumstance.

willingness- she is willing to do pretty much anything to love on her kids and keep the peace in her home. if this means putting her job on hold to rush to their aid or her giving undivided attention, she is 100% there for them.

patience-oh boy, how do they do it? how do moms put up with the same drill over and over? the countless timeouts, spanks and messes...it is patience that could only come from the Lord Almighty.

unconditional love- the love of a mother is powerful. the way my mom loves me through all the ups and downs is amazing and I am so thankful for her. a mother's love is a reflection of God himself who is gracious to forgive us and love on us despite our sinfulness. sometimes love looks like a hug and a kiss. often this love may be discipline or correction. whatever way a mother's love is displayed it is always for the good of her child.

Happy Mother's Day to all the moms who continue to inspire and encourage me in the Lord. I hope to be a mom just like you someday.

Me and my wonder mom.

All the Single Ladies...All the Single Ladies

I am so thrilled that I am now finished with my freshman year in college! It is so nice to have a little extra time on my hands to read and write on my blog. I am excited to post my review of a book that is very near to my heart.

I just finished reading Praying for Your Future Husband after receiving it from the publisher to review on my blog. This is a new release by Robin Jones Gunn and her friend, Tricia Goyer that I have long been awaiting. I feel as if Robin has been a mentor to me. Like a close friend, I have “gotten to know” her over the years reading dozens of books in her fictional series targeted to girls and women. Her books are all so Christ-centered and have continued to point me and I am sure millions of other women to our True Love and King in heaven.

This book has been such an encouragement to me. I recommend it to any of my girlfriends and any moms who want to read it and hand it down to their daughters. Wow. I love Robin’s heart for prayer. Prayer is so powerful and I love learning more about being a prayer warrior. For single women, finding “the one” is on the forefront of the mind. Much time is also spent prayerfully seeking God and his plan and asking him to bring the right guy along. This book is a guide through God’s Word and a collection of real life stories from women who stopped to pray for the mystery man who they would someday marry.

In a world where instant gratification is expected and “serial dating” is a normal , Gunn and Goyer take time to pause and consider what would happen if young women begin to exhibit patience and a complete dependence on the Lord when it comes to their love lives. The best part about Praying for Your Future Husband is that God is faithful to answer our prayers! God is the lover of our souls and he will provide in his perfect timing. I love the quote, “Waiting time is not wasted time!” I hope every girl gets their hands on this book and beings to pray boldly for their future spouse. I can’t wait to see what he does!

Learn more about Robin Gunn and her heart for women here...http://www.robingunn.com/PAGES/bio.html

Purchase the book here...http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Praying-for-Your-Future-Husband/Robin-Jones-Gunn/e/9781601423481/