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COVID-19 Edition WE ARE THE DIFFERENCE! This thought is one that God has strongly impressed on my heart during this season of quietness and stillness – especially in times of uncertainty, panic, and chaos. The world around us undoubtedly sees something distinctive in a child of God; something that grips their minds and thoughts silently, while they watch our day to day life – unspoken actions; reactions; how we deal with our neighbors or someone in the grocery store waiting in line, on the road, or with our families. It is our unique kindness, strength and resilience that sets us apart from the rest of the world – especially during the CV-19 pandemic. The world is going stir crazy, but amidst all of this, a child of God does not waiver. How is this possible? We do not waiver during this great storm because we have made the Almighty God our refuge and fortress. At trying times, Psalm 91 has been a source of strength to many around the world. Specifically, Psalm 91:3-7 has been a critical source of strength for every child of God this season. It states: “Surely He will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his feathers, and under His wings you will find refuge; His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday; A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will NOT come near you.” This is the confidence we have; for us who take refuge in the creator of this universe. Like a mother hen protecting her young chicks, our heavenly Father protects His children under His wings, like the pupil of His eyes. He sends His angels to guard us in all our ways, so this disease will not come near us. Being a child of God, How do we live a life that impacts others around us, during this season? 1. Being a ray of sunshine this season (Matthew 5:14-16) Matthew 5:14-16 states, “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”. Jesus himself was the Light in this dark world. How do people see Jesus in us? The world will see Christ in us, when we live and emulate the life and love of Christ in all we do. When we love and forgive with no boundaries, people notice that. The world will undoubtedly see a light in us, an unwavering joy, that is unlike anything of this world. This is referred to in the Bible as “The Joy of the Lord”. When this joy radiates through us, through our smiles and actions, they begin to see that something so beautiful, not inspired by outside riches, friends, or things around us. This only comes from the true experience of being in a relationship with Christ – Christ living in us and radiating through us. When others see that joy in us, it will make them ponder, “How can one be so joyful and peaceful when the storm is rough?”. No matter what our situation may be, we always look to God who is our eternal refuge (Psalm 90:1). The heart, mind and spirit of a child of God is never shaken because Christ is their dwelling place! 2. Let’s Speak life by doing good this season (Proverbs 3:27) Have you ever heard of the famous quote by Maya Angelou? “People will forget what you said or did but they will never forget how you made them feel.” Compliment others when you see something good in them that’s praiseworthy. Step out of your comfort zone, and go out of your way to extend kindness. Be intentional about offering a thoughtful gesture – by sending an encouraging text or a handwritten card/letter to lift someone’s spirits. Make some dish or bake some scrumptious goodies and drop it off at someone’s doorstep. This would have such an uplifting impact to someone going through some trying time this season – whether it be isolation, depression, loneliness, or frustration. Go the extra mile to express the love of Christ through a compassionate heart. This is what it means by doing good, being the hands and feet of Jesus. By bearing the fruits of the spirit: love, joy, peace, and kindness is to be a ‘reflection of Christ’. Speak life and do good while you still have breath and still have the strength in you. “Do not withhold good, from those to whom it is due- When it is in your power to act.”, Proverbs 3:27. Be the CHANGE, that WE want to see in the WORLD (M. Gandhi). It starts with each of us.

WELL, it is day number I-don’t-know-what of #quarantinelife. First and foremost, I’m praying for those who are on the frontlines, going into work everyday and facing the disease head on. I’m praying for those whose lives have been flipped upside down these past few weeks and for those who have been affected themselves or whose loved ones have been affected by the disease. More than ever before, we need to trust that God is faithful through the biggest and scariest storms we face. As we are all trying to navigate life through these uncomfortable and unfamiliar roads in our own way, I just wanted to share my personal experience and thoughts through all of this. I remember going into work several weeks ago and my boss telling me to pack up my things and go home. Initially, it came as a shock as I thought I was being let go; thankfully, I was not. *phew* Instead, I was told to move my things home since coronavirus cases were on the rise and this was one of the precautions my company was taking to keep their employees safe. So I packed up my belongings, including my bouncy ball (which I occasionally like to bounce on and destress with lol) and I started my work from home journey for a couple weeks, or so I thought… I had always wondered what working from home would be like; a new adventure, or so I thought. It has definitely been different and I now know that #WFH is not for me; maybe for a couple days here and there but definitely not an all day every day thing. If you know me, I am NOT a t-shirt and sweats person at all, so the first few days I would attempt to make myself look somewhat nice and presentable. I did my face and hair, and picked out my outfit, and walked to my “office” (aka my sister’s bedroom) which happened to be the least cluttered room in the house to set up shop. However, I quickly realized that working from home while looking nice was pointless, especially when no one can even see you. Now don’t get me wrong, I am a 100% believer in getting dressed up for yourself to make yourself feel great and confident. But I soon realized I really didn’t need to be “confident” in my own home with my parents a few doors down from me. *Secret confession time: one of the reasons I wanted to go into corporate is because I LOVE picking out an outfit for the day and getting dressed up. Go ahead, judge me. I used to work in a more clinic setting and had to wear scrubs and I hated it. So I cannot WAIT to get back to my office environment and my cute clothes 😉 However, I’m incredibly grateful to still be able to work during this time as I know many people have lost their jobs or have been furloughed. I don’t take my current situation for granted by any means. It has also been nice not having to sit in traffic everyday. I’ve found myself so much happier in the mornings now because I’m not having to deal with crazy drivers or slow moving cars. Traffic really puts a damper on your mood, you know? For those that know me, I’m all about personal growth. So I was very thankful to my company for putting in extra measures for their employees to become better educated while working from home. They are offering virtual classes every week to enhance our skills and make sure we are still stimulating our minds. I’m very proud to be part of a company that puts an emphasis on growth. Now, there’s a quote/meme going around that has been somewhat controversial. The premise of the quote is this: “if you don’t come out of this quarantine with a new skill, more knowledge, side hustle, etc. you didn’t lack the time, you lacked discipline.” Pretty bold statement, and honestly I agree with it to a certain extent. Now before you put up your fences, let me explain why I think it’s a great statement, but also why I think it should come with a disclaimer and/or taken with a grain of salt. The statement automatically assumes that everyone is dealing with the current pandemic and quarantine in the same way, and nothing could be further from the truth. Like I stated earlier, in the middle of all of this, there are those who are working 12-14 hour shifts, barely getting any sleep to make sure society continues to function. There are those putting themselves on the front lines of the disease in the hospitals, grocery stores, healthcare facilities, etc. There are so many of you out there sacrificing your lives for the community right now and my heart and thanks goes out to all of you. There are those whose families have been deeply affected in many ways and those whose lives have been turned upside down and may never be the same after all this. There are those who are at home having to juggle taking care of children, spouses, elderly parents, homeschooling, cooking, while at the same time working from home full-time. I cannot begin to imagine what life is like for those individuals and I have immense admiration and appreciation for them. Additionally, with all the stress and anxiety that is associated with a global pandemic and it’s far-reaching effects into our everyday life, everyone copes differently. So the above mentioned quote is a pretty big generalization. I completely understand that it’s not meant for everybody. Obviously not everyone is in the same boat. There are so MANY different variables in many of our lives right now, to the point that peace of mind seems to be a precious commodity. Stay strong and know I am keeping you all in my prayers and this too shall pass. However, if the current quarantine hasn’t really affected your day-to-day life significantly, you are emotionally stable, and you’ve actually found yourself unsure of what to do with this new gift of added time to your life, then I absolutely think the above mentioned quote should, at the very least, serve as motivation. I’m gonna sound like a broken record here, but personal growth is a huge part of my life and I love when I see that in other people as well. If you have been using your new gift of time to binge-watch on netflix/hulu/Disney+, get on social media for hours a day, sleep in for the majority of the day, constantly say you are bored, then we need to talk. Now, I know there will always be people who are offended at some things, so I promise I don’t write this to be insensitive to the current times. Instead, I hope it serves more as a challenge to you, and honestly, more to myself. It’s a difficult time for all of us. Some more than others though. However, the majority of us aren’t in a third world country where we are having to scrounge for food and unaware of where our next meal will come. We may be facing some financial strains, but most of us are safe and sound in our own homes, not living in poor living conditions exposed to the elements. My heart truly breaks for the underprivileged during this time; the poor, the marginalized, the ones who may not have the access to the resources and help they so desperately need. I get to live in my home that has internet, TV, electricity, running water, A/C, a heater, a soft bed, a fridge that holds more than enough groceries to last me a few weeks and so much more. I am incredibly privileged and with privilege comes responsibility. I want us to think – am I being responsible with my time? What am I doing with it? We all thought we were in control, but now we realize we are very much not. We lived our lives thinking we had all the time in the world to do everything we wanted to, and we’ve put our lives on cruise control. Don’t live in autopilot. The Bible clearly tells us that our time is precious and valuable, but at the same time, very finite. God desires that we use our time wisely. Psalm 39:4-5  “Show me, Lord, my life’s end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting my life is. You have made my days a mere handbreadth; the span of my years is as nothing before you. Everyone is but a breath, even those who seem secure Psalms 90:12 Teach us to number our days,that we may gain a heart of wisdom. Ephesians 5:15-17 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Don’t feel ashamed that you didn’t learn another language, become the next Picasso, or start a profitable side hustle. I don’t believe those to be exactly realistic. Each person has a level of attainability that looks different from another person, depending on time and personal discipline. Don’t compare yourself with someone else, but make the most of what you have available. For those that have more time or discipline than others, you may accomplish more. I’ve personally started looking at different ways I can make the most of my time. To name a few: I’ve been looking into potential side hustles, writing more, trying to read the whole Bible, increasing my skill sets, reading new books, trying out new recipes while improving my cooking skills, and cleaning a drawer or cabinet in my house one room at a time. I can keep going but I won’t due to a lack of writing space. I also have been working on my own personal discipline for YEARS. If time management and personal discipline is a new concept for you, give yourself grace. Like A LOT of grace. Yes, we are in a world-wide pandemic – but ask yourself this, is it REALLY affecting my ability to do things? Start small. Make bite-size chewable goals. I am asking for SMALL WINS. If waking up is a win for you because of where you are mentally, then I applaud you. If you make a good cup of coffee in the morning by yourself, you win. If you paint your nails and you didn’t get it all over your fingers, you win. If you donate some extra money to an organization that is helping those in need right now, you win. (By the way, if you are looking for an organization to donate to OneLifetoLove is an AMAZING one or even womenofworth) If you took a walk today and enjoyed nature, you win. If you spend some quality time with your family, you win. If you start a hobby, you win. If you don’t take more than your share of toilet paper from the grocery store, You really win 😉 Luke 16:10 has been one of my go to verses for years “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.” Start with little things. When you are faithful in the little things, God sees that and entrusts you with medium things, then large things and then extra large things… But it starts with SMALL things. I want you to think about these last few weeks. What have you done with them? Are you proud of them? Did you waste them? What would you do better? Did you keep up a routine or schedule? If you are not keeping a schedule or routine I recommend starting with that. If you are struggling with keeping a schedule and need help, I would HIGHLY recommend the Passion Planner and they are having a sale right now! It gives you time slots to plan your day out from early in the morning all the way to before you go to bed at night. It may be something you may never have needed before, but now where the days seem to all just mush together, I definitely recommend doing something to get yourself regulated and oriented. Twenty-one days doing the same thing makes a habit so you don’t want to be creating bad habits during this quarantine. It’s important to be intentional in carving out your NEW NORMAL. Some days are going to be harder than others. This is not a short sprint; it’s a marathon we are living in. Be willing to accept change, it’ll help you accept all this faster and help you bounce back harder. Again, I’m not telling you to do anything drastic, but I am asking you to just stop and evaluate the last few weeks. Stop MINDLESSLY doing things. Stop saying “I can’t wait for everything to go back to normal”, because honestly it probably won’t be “normal” again for a while. We all keep saying that we can’t wait for things to get back to normal, but I can’t help but wonder what parts of normal would we want to get back to? Maybe  “normal” wasn’t that great to begin with. We were all so busy with our normal, that we didn’t pay attention to our relationships. There are marriages falling apart right now, parents and children miserable staying in homes together because communication hasn’t been there for years. There are so many things that weren’t great that this quarantine is bringing to light. This quarantine didn’t cause the breakdowns; it is just exposing faulty foundations and now is the time to rebuild those foundations. During this quarantine, I want you to think about what needs to change in your life for the better. When you are isolated, it makes you think. A lot of the American life that we have been so accustomed to really wasn’t beneficial in many ways. Many of us went to work for 8-10 hours a day, came home exhausted, and then crashed in front of the tv for another couple of hours. We then spend another couple of hours on social media, you eat something probably unhealthy for dinner, and then go to bed, and repeat the same cycle again. Many of us choose a life that is comfortable vs optimal. We are so used to our bad routines and are comfortable with them, we don’t really take the time to see if it’s really beneficial for us. I think this quarantine gives us the opportunity to really stop and think what things we can live without. Were there things in your life that were actually toxic and now that you’ve had a few weeks without it, your life is actually better? When quarantine life is over what do you what to bring back into your life that you once lived? I want you to come out of this quarantine BETTER. I want to come out of this quarantine better. I want to be proud that I spent my time wisely, and that doesn’t necessarily mean every day. For example, yesterday I watched Jumanji with my family and ate stuffed crust pizza for dinner and do I regret it? Absolutely not. I needed a “cheat day”. We all do. However, it wouldn’t be called a cheat day if we did it everyday. So to all the things I loved before, I MISS YOU. I loved fried chicken, Thai food, ramen, wings, North Indian food, okay fine just eating out in general I loved shopping at Marshalls for random things I loved running outside in nature I loved getting my nails done I loved meeting with my Bible study group in person I loved seeing my people, including my fiance I loved the wedding festivities that I had planned and now sadly probably won’t getting do BUT, I am realizing now more than ever the reality of Proverbs 16:9 – “We can make our plans, but the LORD determines our steps” and James 4:14-17 “Now listen, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.’ Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, ‘If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.’ As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil.” So I am learning to love my new normal and take one day at a time and trusting God through it all. I have never had so much peace in my life and I continue to trust Him in this storm. Because in times of testing you realize where your faith actually is. So NO: I don’t miss the noise/ traffic/ hustle & bustle I don’t miss the events I don’t miss my jam packed weekends I don’t miss Netflix and Hulu I don’t miss mindless scrolling through social media after work I don’t miss my busyness (ok maybe a little bit) But NOW: I love the peace that surpasses all understanding in this storm (Mark 4:35-41) I love the testing of my faith so I will come out better on the other side of the fire (James 1:2-4) I love the joy that comes in the morning I love that the church is finally realizing that it is a body of people and NOT a building I love that people’s faith foundations are being shaken (did you build on the rock or sand? Matt 7:24-27) I love that homes are becoming houses of PRAYER like God had originally designed them I love my new gift of time I love my slower pace of life I love my new found love for the word of God I love that my room is FINALLY getting deep cleaned I love that I am improving on my cooking and cleaning skills before getting wifed up because let’s be real, he is better at so many things than me So to all the things I loved before, I miss you and I hope you will come back soon. But at the same time, I also really love this new normal. I am choosing to get better everyday. I hope those of you who are reading this don’t choose offense but choose responsibility. We are only responsible for our lives and will have to give account to God one day for them. Choose today to be better. I challenge you to be the best YOU CAN BE! Don’t be anyone else. Reach your own personal best. I believe in you and I’m cheering you on! Love always, A Woman of Worth #Coronavirus #selfimprovement #timemanagement #wisedecisions

The Power of Community A couple of years ago I experienced one of the hardest and most difficult breakups I have ever been through, I lost a friendship. Friendships aren’t typically the type of relationship you associate with a breakup but those that have “broken up” with a friend can understand that the pain of losing that person can be just as bad as an actual romantic breakup. How you ask? When you breakup with your boyfriend, who do you call and talk to? Who helps cheer you up after a fight with your parents? Who can you count on in your most desperate hours? Answer: your friends. In Psalms 55, David talks about the anger that a betrayal by a friend left in his heart and how deep it hurt. When you lose that person from your life you feel lost afterwards, and that’s where I found myself. I wallowed in my own isolation for awhile. My other friends were there for me but most of them lived in different states by then or had their own busy lives, leading me to realize that I had no community. I am an introvert by nature so reaching out to others and keeping in touch has never been my forte. Given the choice, I’d rather stay home by myself than wear myself out with social interaction. But this was a problem, because when my best friend left my life I felt empty and alone. That’s when God placed a word in my heart, Community. I’ve grown up in the Indian church all my life but it was really the thought of community that explained why the Indian church still exists. Humans naturally seek community with like-minded people, which is why people feel more comfortable with others of their same ethnicity. Community gives support through good and bad times; this is evidenced in Acts 11:27-30 when everyone comes together in order to survive a famine sweeping the Roman Empire. John 17:21-23 also shows where Jesus calls for the unification of all believers. But what’s the difference between Community and Unity? Unity means to be one with each other, but community is acting as one towards a similar objective. You can have unity with your non-believer friends but you’ll only have true community with fellow believers. As believers, our purpose with community is to carry out the Great Commission. Matthew 28:19, John 20:21, and Acts 10:42 all instruct us on what we are to do with the knowledge of the Gospel. Second Corinthians calls us to be “ambassadors for Christ”, “looking out for one another” (Phil 2:4), “serving one another” (Gal 5:13-14), for the “edification of the church” (1 Cor 14:26). This purpose behind community we’ve been entrusted with has the ability to be accomplished through proper communication. Paul instructs us to ‘give no offense’ to others and to empathize with them, (I Corinthians 9:20; 10:32). Ephesians 4:29 teaches us to only speak if it will be helpful in building others up. None of us are unworthy or unsuited for this calling, we are all “co-workers in God’s service” (I Cor 3:5-7). WHAT you communicate and HOW you communicate it can make or break your Unity with a fellow believer. My relationship with my friend ended after a big fight, and that’s such an underrated way of saying it (like she almost threw a punch at me y’all). She said a lot of hurtful things that I couldn’t forgive until later on. She wasn’t the community I needed or wanted, so I did something about it. I started seeking it in small groups, coworkers, and by joining this cool women’s organization with strong, spiritual women (aka WOW). Ironically, I think our nation as a whole is currently struggling with a lack of community right now. With social distancing effecting everyone and everything, a lot of people are having trouble adjusting to our new economic and social climate. But this is a moment in history where we as Christians can communicate with others louder than ever, whether it be to encourage and reach out to people to make them feel at ease (through the phone of course), to running to the grocery store for your elderly neighbor. These small acts can show the love of Christ to others. There’s so much you can still do to build and maintain that sense of community you seek. Remember, we can’t have community without unity. Paul often describes the church as many body parts working together and there’s unity within the church. I Cor 12:13, 18; Eph 2:19-22; 4:16. In the midst of this global pandemic, these verses are lessons we can implement now more than ever. Coming together is necessary. Even though we must temporarily isolate ourselves physically, don’t let that lead you to isolate yourself mentally. We at WOW don’t want you to feel friendless during this time because the fact of the matter is that you’re not alone. #unity #WOW #communication #isolation #heartbreak #womenofworth #Church #community #Godsword #loneliness

It’s a new year, a new decade; which for me means a time of reflection on the last one. I thought I had gone through the toughest season of my life, and to my surprise, I was completely wrong. Towards the end of 2019, I had entered into a new season that literally broke me. Everything was going well. I was able to go to New York and enjoy the company of my family. I got involved with an organization known as Women of Worth, and my church was pushing me closer to Christ. However, once school had started, everything began to change. As a junior in college, I knew this year would be tough, but this was a level of stress I had never experienced before. The pressure of school and the excessive workload were triggering factors that had pushed me into a state of constant worry and anxiety. Even after lessening my workload, I was still left worrying about my future and feeling uneasy about life in general. As the days went by, I had noticed a loss of interest in hanging out with my friends or doing things I would normally be happy to do. I started to eat less and sleep more. I dreaded waking up and having to go through another day. I had lost my genuine joy. I was frustrated because I knew this wasn’t me, but there was nothing I could do to get out of my “dark pit”. I couldn’t explain to my parents what was going on, leaving them to assume that it was their fault, which hurt me too. Only a few people at school knew what I was going through, which forced me to put up a front that exhausted me. I was so tired of feeling the way I did and not being able to do anything about it. This was not the life I knew I was called to live, but everything I tried to do on my own didn’t work. I questioned God and wondered why he would leave me while I faced my new reality of depression. We, as believers, are not called to a life of anxiety. This wasn’t new information to me. In fact, I actually began to read the Bible more and pray to God hoping to find the joy I lacked. After trying so hard and being persistent in my effort, I grew tired and weary from seeing no change. I began to experience shame and guilt. Part of me felt as though I couldn’t come to the Father’s presence anymore, while the other part didn’t see the hope in it. I slowly started to pull away from God. Negative thoughts crept in, convincing me that this was how it was going to be for a while and that there was nothing that I, nor God, could do about it. That was what the devil wanted me to think. He snuck into my mind at my most vulnerable state and convinced me that nothing or no one could help me. I finally decided that I wanted to talk to a counselor. The decision was a tough one; especially because of the stigma around mental health in our community, but I just couldn’t take living like this any longer. And after attending a few sessions, I was beginning to understand that what I was feeling was common for many people. My counselor was able to help me rationalize what was going on in my mind and provide resources and exercises to deal with my anxious thoughts. Also during this time, my youth pastor was preaching a series about the very topics of depression and anxiety; and there were people/mentors in my life who had come in seeing me broken, and were determined to help me pick myself up again. Although I did not go through the physical heat of fire like Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego did in Daniel 3, I still felt like I was being burned with everything going on in my life. Daniel 3:17 says, “If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand”. I had a hard time believing that God was on His way to rescue me and that one of these days all the suffering would be over; however, it wasn’t until I stumbled upon this passage when I realized that He was with me in this fire the entire time. Taking my suffering along with me, allowing me to be “… hard-pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed”, 1 Corinthians 4:8-9. It’s when I had lost my hope in the Lord and believed that my fears were bigger than Him that I started to feel like I was drowning. But the Lord saved me Every. Single. Time. It wasn’t until a couple of months later that I was able to see the result of my suffering. Through this season of constant anxiousness and depression, my faith and dependency on God was able to grow. I was being refined for a greater purpose: to help those around me who were also struggling. “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything”, James 1:2-4. Here are a couple of verses that helped me get through this season: Matthew 11:28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest”. Psalm 68:19 “Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens”. Psalm 23:4 “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me”. Psalm 66:9-10 “He has preserved our lives and kept our feet from slipping. For you, God, tested us; you refined us like silver”. Isaiah 43:2 “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze”. John 8:36 “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed”. 1 Peter 2:9 “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light”. 1 Peter 1:6-7 “In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have cone so that the proven genuineness of your faith — of greater worth than gold, which perished even though refined by fire — may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed”. Exodus 14:14 “The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still”. If you are dealing with anxiety or depression yourself, I urge you to talk to someone whether it be a friend, a mentor, a pastor, or a counselor to get the help you need. God has placed specific people/occupations on the earth to aid in our health and development. We are not meant to suffer alone. #community #depression #mentalhealth #blog #scars #newyear #renewedhope #anxiety #peace #trials #struggles

I love the song Mercy by Matt Redman and Wonder by Bethel. They are such great reminders to me that God=WOW. We are supposed to be wowed by God daily. By His holiness and majesty. His splendor and grace. As a generation, I feel like we have lost the wonder of God because He seems so ordinary to us. We have lost the fear and respect God is supposed to have from us. We treat him so lightly because we have forgotten how unordinary God truly is. He’s extraordinary. Especially in America, it’s so easy to forget God. We have all our luxuries and comforts that we really don’t need God here. Money can buy us what we need. We don’t really necessarily need to rely on God for anything. If we need a new job just apply for another one; if you need a spouse just join an online dating site; if you want a new car go to carmax and trade out your car; if you need money go to the bank and take out a loan or use a credit card, etc. The options are endless for the things we don’t need God for. The question then that comes to mind is Why is it so easy to feel God and experience God when we go on mission trips to third world countries? It seems to me because we have been stripped of our comforts and luxuries we end up having nothing else but God to experience. We go expecting God to do great things because He literally forms and creates things out of the nothing in these desolate poor areas that we travel thousands of miles to get too. It’s sad really that we have to travel halfway across the world in order to experience God. To get God. To understand the fullness and greatness of God. Nothing against mission trips. They are needed and useful but what if what we experienced on mission trips could be something normal in our daily everyday life? What if we brought that Jesus into our lives in America and communities and families? Our prayers would be full of power. We’d see miracles happen before our eyes. We would not be satisfied with ordinary things. That is the America I’d like to be apart of. You’d think because we have more here that we would do more and see more of God but sometimes it’s quite the opposite. Let’s be a people who invites God everywhere we go so that the wonder of God is something that hits us everyday. That we are in awe of his goodness on the daily. That we realize, The sun coming up in the morning and the moon coming up at night is a gift from God. The rain that waters our Earth is a gift from God. That the breath in our lungs is a gift from God. The roof over our heads with our a/c units is a gift from God. The vehicles that run and take us places is a gift from God. The food in our refrigerators and pantry is a gift from God. Our education and degrees are a gift from God. Our vacations and memories and experiences are a gift from God. The things we have are all gifts and blessings from God which shouldn’t be taken lightly. It could all be taken away in a moment so the fact that our heart is still beating is a miracle in it and of itself. We shouldn’t waste this one life that we have been given to be awed by people, money, and fame but we should stop and smell the roses and be awed by the one who created it all.

Working in the science field, I get asked questions a lot like “Doesn’t being in science make you doubt the existence of God?” “Do you really think we need a God, when science is finding out new things everyday?” “Do you really believe in God?” My simple answer to people that think working with science hinders my faith, “Absolutely not, if anything it only strengthens it”. As I learn more and more through my studies, my awe of God increases. Studying the anatomy of each living organism, I can only stop and wonder at the vast intricacy of everything. There’s no way the details of the human body could explode from thin air. From a bacteria cell to an animal cell. Algae to Tree. Ant to Elephant.Each thing is designed to perfection so that it can survive and thrive. Organisms adapt to their environments and pass on traits to their offspring to help them better survive. There’s no way I believe it’s by chance they know how to do that. Our genetic code is so comprehensive, and that even one small defect can cause mutations and horrendous diseases such as Tay-Sachs disease or Huntington disease. On our Earth alone, there are so many different kinds of biomes that are unique in their vegetation and animals that populate them. Taigas, Tundras, Desserts, Tropical Rain Forests, Grasslands, and the list goes on. Even one cell is ridiculously complex. From the steps in glycolysis, the Krebs Cycle, and the Electric Transport chain just to produce oxygen to scheduled cell death. From having a nucleus and ribosomes to having cilia and flagella to navigate. Just the anatomy of a human heart or brain is too elaborate and sophisticated to fathom. There is scripture consistent with biology, anthropology, hydrology, meteorology, geology, astronomy, physics, and yes maybe even paleontology. The Bible doesn’t dispute science, it actually helps to better explain it. Call me crazy, but I rather believe in a God who created all of this than believe an explosion or evolution created such detail and intricacy. I want to believe in a God who cared so much for each living and non-living thing that He handcrafted everything. That he took time to create the birds, the trees, the waters, and especially the people. He painted the skies for all to see. He brought forth mother nature for us to behold. He created man so that we could learn to love as He first loved us. The beauty around us came from somewhere. It didn’t come from nowhere. And I refuse to believe otherwise. Psalm 14:1 ~ Only fools say in their hearts, “There is no God.”

“In a world you can be anything, be yourself.” -Etta Turner This quote has been one of my favorites for a very long time, because the easiest thing not to be in our society is yourself. From a young age, we are told to be skinny, tall, bronzed, beautiful women but in reality some of us are curvy, short, pale, average people. The problem with society and these words being thrown at us is, once you’ve heard them enough, you start to believe the lies. The lies of not being good enough or adequate enough. Your identity stems from those things; beauty, status, wealth, and fame. Our world is continually having an identity crisis. No one knows who they are, what they stand for, where they belong. Things used to be black and white, now everything is grey. When I entered college, I remember trying to figure out what kind of person I wanted to be. I didn’t want to be the goody-two-shoes I had been for so long so I set a course that would help alter that image. Luckily, the Lord had other plans. During my first semester in college, I was pretty lonely. My major was difficult, I didn’t have any classes with anyone I knew, and making friends was not easy I remember asking the Lord why he had brought me to this university. Was it to feel this type of loneliness and isolation? The loneliness was nothing I had experienced before. In grade school, I was constantly surrounded by people so I never had a moment to feel alone. But in college, with all the free time in the world, I really wasn’t sure I was going to make it by myself. In the times that I was the loneliest, I remember crying in my dorm asking the Lord to make himself known. If he was real to be near to me. To show up at my point of need. And guess what? In those times of desperation, God showed up. When I had no one else to turn too, the Lord became near and he held me. As I communed and rested in his presence daily throughout that year, the one thing the Lord kept saying over and over again was “You are a Masterpiece”. It didn’t make sense to me as to why that was the phrase repeated. As I asked for clarification and discernment, my mindset completely changed. A few characteristics of a masterpiece that was revealed to me… It’s one of a kind It can’t be replicated The artist uniquely handcrafted it putting time, effort, blood, sweat, and tears into it It’s basically priceless (it can’t be bought) But lots of people are willing to pay big bucks to see it or experience its greatness Once you’ve encountered a masterpiece, it is unforgettable As my eyes were opened to what the Lord was actually saying to me, I became awestruck. That is what the Lord thought of me. He thought I was priceless and one of a kind. I was made to be seen and heard; to be put on display for the entire world to see. The thing about a masterpiece is that it is unique unlike anything else. It stood on its own. The Lord was telling me that I could stand on my own. I didn’t need to be like anyone else. I didn’t have to look, act, talk, or be anyone but myself. To see myself as anything less than a masterpiece would be a disgrace to the artist himself aka God. My mentality of not being good enough or pretty enough was telling God that he didn’t make me perfect. That he made a mistake when he formed me in my mother’s womb. I realized I had been insulting God for quite a few years. Jeremiah 1:5 Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations. The Lord reminded me that my identity was found through Jesus Christ. It was through the sacrifice of God who loved me unconditionally. Whenever God saw me, he saw the righteousness of Christ on me because that’s why Jesus died. To save me from all condemnation and judgement. To make me white as snow and for me to be called a child of God. We no longer have to be slaves to the world and walk in its standards. We get to walk in the standards and fullness of God. Sin no longer has a hold on us because Jesus saves! He died to give me an Identity in Him! John 1:12 To all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God Romans 6:6 For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin. It didn’t matter if I was short or curvy, the Lord had ordained that. That’s how I was supposed to be! It was okay that I loved shopping and all things pretty and pink yet wanted a big black matte Ford Raptor truck and a dirt bike. It was ok that I loved to hike and go camping but still liked to get my nails done. It was ok that I didn’t go to medical school because I loved to plan weddings instead. It was ok that I didn’t live up to my culture’s standards because I lived up to God’s standards. I was the Daughter of the Most High King. There was nothing I couldn’t do! When you think about it like that you realize how silly our earthly thinking really is. Society wants us to believe we need to look like celebrities, magazines, and people who have “made it” in our cultures but really the Lord made us uniquely His. We aren’t made to be anyone but ourselves. We are supposed to be children of the Most High and when we walk in that authority, WOW. Can you even imagine the possibilities? Can you imagine if you lived every day, every moment as though you were royalty? How would your life be different? Would the devil be able to say “Uh oh, she’s up!” every morning you awoke? When my identity was found in Christ, that’s how I started to look at life. As a world changer. As a community changer. As a life changer. As a woman who knew that her purpose was to glorify God in everything and anything that she did. So maybe you don’t know what you want to be when you grow up. Maybe you are all grown up and still don’t know what your purpose is. Well, let me tell you that once your identity is in Jesus, your only mission is to be a child of Abba Father and with that mentality you can do anything you desire. But ultimately you get to do what God desires of you, which is to walk in your royalty and authority. Because you child, are the Daughter or Son of the Most High King!

You hear people talk about wanting more. Nowadays, everyone always wants more of something. Whether it’s a girl who wants more clothes, purses, jewelry, etc. or a guy who wants the newest technology, laptop, tablet, phone, smart watch, etc. We continuously want the latest and greatest thing. Moms seem to always want more cookware or kitchen gadgets, a nicer vacuum cleaner, maybe nicer bed sheets, and then maybe even some new furniture. Dads are always looking at fancy cars wishing they could have the next Mercedes Benz, Porsche, BMW, Audi, etc. Or maybe move into a new house with a game room, media room, a couple of porches and balconies, maybe a pool and a gym while they are at it. Kids want more toys, more TV time, more electronics. We may want more money, nicer things, and sometimes better friends and even family. We as a people are constantly asking for more. If you are anything like me, I am always asking for more food. New restaurants to try, new foods to eat, fancy desserts to devour… We never seem to be satisfied with what we have. We want, sometimes even need, something bigger and better. Something that is flashier or something we can brag about. Something that is tastier. Anything that will beat what we just experienced. We want better things constantly. Sometimes, if we don’t get these things right away we get upset or angry. Or if we were expecting something and it doesn’t turn out the way we want it, we can get flustered at the outcome. The one thing that I haven’t really heard or seen people want more of though nowadays is God. Recently, I’ve entered into a season of life of wanting more. Specifically, I’ve been wanting more of God. More of His tangible presence. Less of His hands and More of His face. More of Jesus and Less of me. Because here’s the thing. I’ve learned that more of everything else is futile. It all fades away. The food, the clothes, the money, the friends, the relationships. Unfortunately, nothing really lasts. It really is kind of tragic when you think about it. We put all our time and effort into collecting more things, having more friends, getting a better job, having a nicer house, buying a fancier car, and constantly striving for more in our lives. We put more hours into our jobs so we can make more money so we can buy more stuff which we think will bring us more happiness but at the end of the day it doesn’t. And here starts a vicious cycle that seems to never end. Well, I have decided to end the cycle in my life. I’m not going to be a hypocrite and say I’m not going to buy any more clothes, shoes, or purses. I’m not going to say I will stop buying pointless things that I probably don’t need. I’m not going to say I’m going to stop buying different foods and eating yummy desserts (because that would be heartbreaking). But I am going to say I will stop dreaming of the American Dream. Of my white picket fence house in a great neighborhood with fantastic neighbors, a great job, fancy cars, 4 beautiful children, and a husband who loves me. Because while those things are great, they don’t define my life. These “things” that we have dreamt about our whole lives amount to nothing at the end of the day if we don’t have Jesus. If I don’t have more of Jesus my life is nothing, because without Christ, I am nothing. I am tired of a generation who has stopped wanting more of Jesus. We are so excited to buy the latest book on our Kindles, or read the latest gossip on Twitter, or read about someone else’s life on social media, but we can’t spend 10 minutes reading the Bible. We’ve substituted reading the Bible with our fancy devotionals or our “Bible Topic” themed books but we haven’t opened the actual Bible in months. I’m tired of a generation of people who when asked to pray, there’s silence, no hands are eager to pray. And after a solid couple minutes, it’s always the same two people who pray because they can’t stand the awkward silence. I’m tired of a generation who is two-faced where their life during the week doesn’t match their raised holy hands on Sundays. I’m tired of a generation who is complacent with mediocrity. I’m tired of a generation who says “No” when asked to pray or to lead an event. I’m tired of a generation who can watch hours of Netflix but falls asleep 10 minutes into reading their Bible and praying. I’m tired of a generation of people who say they are excited about Jesus but do nothing to prove it. I’m tired of a generation whose works are dead. I’m tired of a generation who takes one step forward and then takes several steps back…. Hey Generation, I’m Tired. I want to see miracles, signs, and wonders. I want to be blown away. I want amazing things to be of the norm. I want to be wowed by blind eyes opening, the dead being raised to life, little children prophesying . I don’t want these things to be a thing of the past as everyone seems so convinced it is. Because guess what? Jesus said I can do what he did while he was on Earth. I can actually do greater because greater is He that is within me, than he that is in the world. “But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world.” ~1 John 4:4 “I assure you: The one who believes in Me will also do the works that I do. And he will do even greater works than these, because I am going to the Father.” ~John 14:12 Jesus gave us all authority to walk with dominion over this Earth and we as a people walk around scared. “I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.” ~Luke 10:19 If we truly believed what was written in the Bible, we would be doing actual damage to the enemy’s camp. We would have real power and authority. The devil would actually be scared of us. So I urge you sisters in Christ, want more of the Lord. Ask God for more of Him so you can do some actual good in this life. That when you read scripture, it becomes life to your dry bones. So that when you pray you have actual power and your life is forever changed. Because I am tired of not fighting. I am tired of losing our loved ones to cancer, natural disasters, mental illnesses, suicide, apathy, and depression. I am tired of seeing a generation run rampant after drugs, sex, alcohol, money, and fame. I’m tired of the enemy winning and we as a people just stand by as though there is nothing we can do. May my greatest accomplishment not be the degrees I earned or the amount of money I made, but the souls I won for the kingdom and the life I lived for Jesus.

Have you ever felt you were following God’s will, taking the right path for your life? That life couldn’t be any better and that you didn’t think you deserved it so good? You had prayed and finally the gates of heaven were opening up, doors were opening up, and you were living the dream. Life, however, has a funny way of sneaking up on you and smacking you right in the face. That invisible rock you didn’t seem coming hits your windshield out of nowhere and you are blindsided with a large crack. Recently, things went pretty south for me. It was weird because I had felt I had done everything right. I fasted and prayed, I read the Bible, I had accountability, etc. I had felt the peace of God surround me. So it was shocking and a rude awakening when things didn’t happen as I had planned. When the open door became very closed. I was so confused. I was angry and bitter. I hadn’t asked God for this so called good situation. So why? I asked the Lord “Why?” A LOT. The thing is with God, He doesn’t have to answer that. He doesn’t have to tell you why. He just asks us to trust. Trust that he knows what is best for us. Trust that he has a plan to prosper us. A plan to give us a hope and future. I had to trust that God had better plans for me. That he wanted to give me his BEST! What he thinks and what we think are two completely different things. Sometimes our thoughts and wants align with His but most of the time flesh and spirit war against each other. At the end of the day, when bad things happen or life doesn’t go as you’ve planned, really the only thing that you can say is Lord, thy will be done. We think nothing bad comes from the Lord, but I believe he does allow certain circumstances to come into our lives. There are so many examples of “bad” happening to Christ’s followers but they come out as victors at the end of their stories: Daniel, Joseph, Esther, Ruth, Job, etc. He wants us to become the best followers of him. In order to do that, he needs to send us through the fire and flame. Like diamonds, we start out as an ugly dirty piece of coal. But through the refining process of heat, pressure, shaping, molding, cutting, and polishing, he turns us into something precious. A gem that is strong, beautiful, bold, and can withstand anything. He wants to prune us and make us into the people of God he created us to be. He wants to make us into His best! Later down the line, when I finally gave this situation over to the Lord, after being a little crazier than usual, I remember having a peace come over me and I knew there was a purpose and plan for this season in my life. Maybe at the moment it isn’t clear what the Lord was trying to do but as life has shown, it is all apart of my testimony. I’d like to think it is all part of my story and what makes me me. I wouldn’t be who I am today without the bumps and hiccups along the road. There’s something to be said about pride also though, and how we think we won’t fall sometimes. I know for me, I’ve definitely had pride issues. I never thought I would make the same mistakes as others or do things others had failed to do. But satan comes around like a roaring lion, ready to devour anyone that isn’t in check with the Lord at all times. 1 Peter 5:6-9 So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your Christian brothers and sisters all over the world are going through the same kind of suffering you are. We have got to be on our guard at all times and constantly be checking our hearts and minds. Do they align with God? Is there something in our hearts that shouldn’t be there? I heard once, be wary when you are at a high place with God because that’s the time the enemy will hit hardest. The devil will attack when you are getting closer to the Lord because he doesn’t want you to have an impact here on this Earth. He wants you full of rage, bitterness, malice, envy, etc. He doesn’t want you full of joy, peace, patience, kindness or any other fruit of the spirit. That’s why Jesus says “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.” Luke 9:23. It’s a daily process. We can’t rely on Sunday service or a revival meeting we went to to help us attack the enemy. We have to renew our minds daily. We have to take up our cross and deny ourselves daily. Otherwise we leave room for the enemy to come into our lives at any opportunity. When we aren’t covering ourselves with the blood of Christ, we leave ourselves vulnerable and susceptible to the attacks of the enemy. That’s why we need to “put on all the armor that God gives you, so that you will be able to stand up against the devil’s evil tricks.” Ephesians 6:11-18 For we are not fighting against human beings but against the wicked spiritual forces in the heavenly world, the rulers, authorities, and cosmic powers of this dark age. So put on God’s armor now! Then when the evil day comes, you will be able to resist the enemy’s attacks; and after fighting to the end, you will still hold your ground. So stand ready, with truth as a belt tight around your waist, with righteousness as your breastplate, and as your shoes the readiness to announce the Good News of peace. At all times carry faith as a shield; for with it you will be able to put out all the burning arrows shot by the Evil One. And accept salvation as a helmet, and the word of God as the sword which the Spirit gives you. Do all this in prayer, asking for God’s help. Pray on every occasion, as the Spirit leads. For this reason keep alert and never give up; pray always for all God’s people. So life will go south every once in a while. But the true testament of your faith is how well you trust the Lord. Will you still stand firm in your faith when others tell you not too? Will you be strong when everything within you wants to break? How much will you pray when everything falls apart? How much you lean on the Lord in your time of need is the true testing of how strong your faith truly is. In everything, let the name of the Lord be praised now and forevermore. Psalm 113:2

A few weeks ago, as I was driving back home from school, there was this huge tow truck that passed me up. Okay, maybe it wasn’t that huge. But that particular day, I noticed something about the tow truck that I’ve never noticed before - on the back of this tow truck was this huge iron cross. I don’t know if its because I’ve never paid attention to it or why that particular day it caught my attention, but it just stood out to me. And I promise, you all will now notice it as well after today. Anyway, I saw this huge cross on this tow truck, and right then God put a thought in my heart, “Will you be my tow truck?” I know it sounds funny, but today that is the same question I want to bring to you all. Can we be God’s tow trucks? Matthew 16:24 - Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. You see God has called us to be His disciples and follow him. We have heard, sung, prayed about following Jesus so many times! But what does it really mean to follow Him? The Greek word for follow is “exakoloutheó” which literally means to imitate. Paul says in Ephesians 5 to be imitators of Christ. Following Jesus means to do as Jesus did, to walk as Jesus walked, to live as Jesus lived, to love as Jesus loved, to serve as Jesus served, and go out as Jesus went out. That is what it means to follow Jesus. Okay, let’s go back to the verse again. So why does Jesus say to take up OUR crosses. You see, in those days, the cross symbolized death. The cross was saved for the most heinous of criminals. So when Jesus says to take up our cross, He is saying that we must put to death our own selves, our ambitions, our own plans and agendas. Only when we become bearers of our own crosses do we TRULY become followers of Christ. So what does this have to do with tow trucks? Well let me ask, why do trucks have to carry around those huge iron crosses? First of all, they look weird and out of place. And I’m sure it adds extra weight to the vehicle affecting its fuel consumption. But we must look at the purpose of a tow truck. What is a tow truck and why are they used? A tow truck is a special type of vehicle that is used to transport disabled vehicles or to recover vehicles which are no longer on a drivable surface. Vehicles are often towed in the case of breakdowns or collisions. This is the primary purpose of a tow truck. You see, all around us are disabled vehicles, vehicles that have broken down in this highway called life, and by vehicles I mean lives. Lives that have been in major collisions and are sitting on the side of road with nowhere to go. But that is why there are tow trucks, to carry those lives to the repair shop, to the heavenly mechanic that is Jesus. You know, only when we are willing to carry our own crosses, in other words, only when we are willing put to death our own nature and desires, can we use that same cross to carry others to Christ. And by doing this, we fulfill God’s desire in our life, which is to become true followers of Christ. When we become true followers of Christ, we aim to do what Jesus came to do. Like I said before, aim to imitate Jesus. Luke 19:10 says, “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” Jesus came into this world to seek and save the lost, the brokenhearted, the weary, and the hurt. Ultimately, as believers and as true followers of Christ this is our purpose, to seek and to save the lost, the broken down, and banged up lives all around us. And lastly, Paul writes in Galatians 6:14, “May I never boast EXCEPT in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.” Like tow trucks, let us carry our cross to the brokenhearted and hurting, and by taking up our own crosses, we carry those broken lives to the ultimate cross, the Cross of Calvary, where freedom is found, where redemption is found, and where healing is found through our Lord Jesus Christ.

I feel like as I get older I begin to realize how difficult it is to be a woman in our society. Our culture is so fixated on making sure you stand out and make a name for yourself. I’m sure your newsfeed is constantly filled with ads for beauty or fashion articles. I’m sure if you explore on Instagram, you see countless amounts of women who have thousands of followers because they’re good at picking out great clothes, hair, makeup, nails, and etc. Turn on your TV or open up a magazine and I’m sure you’ll see someone raving about a female celebrity and what she wore to an event, how she did her hair, and so forth. Girls see this and believe that being really put together on the outside is what will get them noticed. We believe that if we look a certain way it’s what will help us make something of ourselves. Now I’m not a perfect person. I appreciate fashion and on occasion I like to do my hair, nails, or makeup. I’ve taken a few selfies over the past years. The issue that pains me is that I see so many girls who obsess over this. Think of how many selfies you’ve seen your friends take and post. Girls will spend all of their time and effort taking the perfect photo to represent themselves and the beauty they possess. When someone gets a numerous amount of likes on a picture, it justifies that they’re worth something. We become fixated on taking a particular snapshot of us that depicts who we are. A snapshot that we try so hard to come close to perfection. What do you see when you really look at your reflection in the mirror? What’s past the surface level of who you are? I’m sure you don’t see perfection. Most of us see brokenness. Many of us know that brokenness won’t get you anywhere in our society. Brokenness is something looked down upon. Here’s the cool thing. God loves brokenness! He loves to use your brokenness for something greater. If anything, brokenness makes you become more real. When I look at girls and how beauty is portrayed on the Internet, I feel insecure and that I can’t relate. When I see a broken girl trying to make a difference in her life, it makes me reflect on what I’m doing to make my own life more meaningful. It makes me feel that I too can overcome the struggles in my life because someone who’s regular like me is doing it. I can’t stress this enough: there’s more to us ladies. As a leader in my church, it frustrates me that we can’t find women who are willing to lead and serve. I feel like the numbers are so scarce. I’m not sure what it really is, but a part of me feels like it’s because we’re too involved in things that don’t really matter and will soon fade away. When it comes down to it, God wants to use you. He wants to use every single one of us. However, we have to make ourselves available to Him. In order to do this, we need to start focusing on chasing after Christ rather than the approval of our society through superficial things. I encourage each of you to really analyze yourselves and what you find your worth in. Let’s become women who will change this world and shake things up. Let’s become women of worth.

To say I have been insanely busy for the last three years is an understatement. I moved back home after graduation, began serving and leading in my church, found my first real job, began graduate school, and participated in community events. With all of this going on, I found myself still saying yes to anyone asking me to do more. Often I am asked, “How are you able to handle everything?” The answer is simple; I enjoy being busy. I love the adrenaline rush of trying to put everything together. I enjoy the structure of having a plan and ultimately having control. While most people made a New Year’s resolution to do something, I decided 2015 would be the year I take a break! I felt my relationship with God had been based on all my actions, how I serve, how I help lead, etc. In the midst of all my efforts, I forgot how crucial it is to have unwavering faith. With my busy schedule, I found myself unable to sit still, let alone make time to listen to God’s voice in my life. How can I be still, but also proactive with my relationship with God, without feeling like a lazy bum? This question seems silly, but it is a struggle many of us face without even realizing it. Sometimes, after I read the Bible, I try to listen to what God has to say to me. After about two very long minutes, my mind wanders and I think about how I should be doing something… anything other than just sitting here! It is easy to say that we will focus on God, but are we living that out, even in our prayer time? If we do not take time to sit down, stop talking, and begin listening, we miss the opportunity to hear what God has to say to us. How can believers know what decisions we are called to make without listening to His voice guiding us? Being still before God is more than just being quiet. It is about trusting the little voice in the back of your head that guides you in the easiest and hardest life decisions. We must understand and believe that as long as we are walking side by side with God, all of our situations and struggles, regardless of how big or small, will be blessings. David, one of the Bible’s greatest servants and prayer warriors, shared what believers are to do as they wait for God: 1. Wait quietly — “I wait quietly before God, for my hope is in him.” (Psalm 62:5 NLT) 2. Wait patiently — “Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to act.” (Psalm 37:7 NLT) 3. Wait expectantly — “I wait expectantly, trusting God to help, for he has promised.” (Psalm 105:5 LB) I am confident 2015 is going to be a life changing year for my family, friends, and me. I pray that we are able to put our faith in action in how we wait expectantly for God, trusting in His perfect timing, plan, and purpose for our lives.