Sometimes He has to let us fall

Love's not safe at all
Love might let you fall
Love's not easy

But it's good, it's good, it's good

Love will take your time

Love might feel unkind

Love will break you

But it's good, it's good, it's good

I know it's good

Anything good in life's

Gonna take a sacrifice

Everything you need in life

Was given by his sacrifice

I will give it all to you

I will give it all to Christ

He's not safe at all

He might let you fall

He's not easy

But He's good

I know He's good

He will take your time

He might feel unkind

He will break you

But He's good, He's good, He's good

I know He's good
~Sidewalk Prophets

One question: How many times have we fallen on our face only to look up and see Jesus reaching out His hand to pick us up?? And when you look in His eyes He asks you, "Why didn't you let me help you?? Why did you think you had to handle this all on your own?? When I am right here, I am always right here to fight for you. Do you not know how great my Love is for you??"

Live to Encourage

"Okay, when did 'Encouragement' decide to give up, jump off a cliff & drawn itself in some unforgiving body of water?? When did it become acceptable in our society to cut people down and call it 'tough love'?"

I wrote this down in the 'Note' section of  my phone about a month ago and lately I have been hearing a lot of different opinions when it comes to encouragement vs. criticism so I guess now is the perfect time to talk about this.

At our last Youth prayer meeting we studied the first six chapters of Hebrews. In Hebrews 3:13 Paul says, "But exhort (encourage) one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin." When our brother's and sister's in the Lord encourage us we know we are not going through this alone. People we love and respect are going through the same things we are. We all face trials and sometimes feel that we can't go on or we can't win this battle; but Praise God we serve a God who fights them all for us. 

Now, Criticism or instruction, as some call it, can be taken in the same way if presented in a loving Christ-like manner. If you're talking down to some one 1. they are not going to listen; it will go in one ear and out the other & 2. if what you were trying to accomplish is to encourage another person try a different approach; each person takes things differently. Some criticism is good, such as, instructive criticism which my dad is the king of so I have learned to take it well. 

When I was a junior in High School I had to give an oral presentation on a huge research paper about Cesarean Sections (C-sections). My grade was a 97% I had done the best in my entire junior class and I even had teachers from my other classes come up to me during the week congratulating me on how well I did. When I got home I was overwhelmingly excited, I couldn't wait to tell anyone who would listen about my good grade. When I told my dad the first thing he said was, "Why didn't you get a hundred?" This might sound like 'talk about criticism!' But I am a lot like my dad so to me this was constructive criticism. I stepped back, thought about what I could do better the next time I had to give an oral report. Each time I got better & each time I volunteered to go first knowing I was ready because I learned something beneficial from each presentation I gave. 

I love to see the look on person's face when I give them a compliment or a word of encouragement & it seemed to be the last thing they were expecting out of their day (which, is sad) & their face just lights up. That in itself is one of the greatest rewards we can receive on this earth; to make someone understand their worth and to show them that they are appreciated. 

It's Not about me

It's Not about me, Lord

It's all about You!

It's not about my dreams and my plans; 

No matter how grand or selfless they may be.

Because, You have dreamed such dreams for me...

that are more passionate and beautiful than I could ever imagine. 

Oh! and the plans You have laid out for me...

they are so great, I am overwhelmed. 

You expect so much from me;

 but You ask for so little.

Your great Love for me has been from the beginning of time,

& it never ends.

Each detail of me, You formed with such care and devotion.

From my blue eyes to my two missing teeth, 

You created me perfect in Your eyes. 

Thank You, for always fighting for me.

Even when I felt I had nothing left to fight for...

You never let me go. 

Jealous much??

The other night my dad asked completely out of the blue and to no one in particular, "How are we going to find Amanda a church of God man?" And I was shocked speechless (which does not happen very often) waving my hands in front of my face like white flags of surrender. The only words that managed to escaped from my lips were, "No, no, no..." Which led into one of our amazing family discussions where we talked about personality characteristics, and Jealousy was brought up.
I believe that Jealous is the worst personality trait any man or woman can have. 
1. it means you do not trust your significant other
2. it means you have no confidence in yourself (don't you know your worth??)
Jealousy is suffocating and degrading. Love is earned, Trust is earned, Respect is earned: and Jealousy destroys all of that.  
On a lighter note:
When I think Jesus being Jealous for me...that's a completely different story. I am honoured and humbled that my Lord and Savior will NOT share me with anyone or anything else. I feel so loved, so wanted when I think about His desire for me to be His alone.
Sidewalk prophets sing a song called 'Keep making me', this is the chours:

"‘Til You are my one desire
‘Til You are my one true love
‘Til You are my breath, my everything
Lord, please keep making me"

And this my prayer and passion, that Jesus be my one desire, my one true love. To never need or want anyone but Him.