~ On Days Like Today ~

On days like today, I run into the bathroom, shut the door, and crank the hairdryer on high. I pretend I'm outside on a warm summer day with the cool breeze blowing on my face. I'm swinging from an oak tree on a swing made of wood and rope. But I am not alone. My Father in heaven comes and swings with me, not saying a word, and silently comforts me in times of need. We swing, back and forth and back and forth. I wish it would never end. But then, my eyes open and the only thing I see is that hairdryer in front of me, and it's December. It's cloudy. It's cold. But as I turn to leave, one thing is still the same as in my fantasy. God is with me. Silently comforting me in times of need. ~ Kendall

~ Pictures Worth Thousands of Songs ~

Pictures speak louder than words, and are worth more than just words.

Contemplation

Wonderings

Beauty

Even on days when we can't find him...

He is there. ~Kendall

~ Perfect Before the Lord ~

I feel like the Lord is telling me to post this. He wants you to know that you are beautiful. He wants to tell you that if He could go back, back to your mother's womb, and change one thing about you, He wouldn't. He would not change even one thing about you. He created you and Jesus made you perfect in His eyes. No matter how tall you are, how much you weigh, how many times you wished your eyes were brown or green or blue, no matter how many times you wished you looked like the girl on the cover of that one magazine, He loves you. He thinks you are amazingly beautiful and loves you more than anyone on this earth ever could. He calls you His beloved, and cherishs you in His heart. Your name is engraved on His hands, and sketched on His heart. I was just blow drying my hair and thinking about how I've never looked the way I wanted, when I just felt God in that room with me. He was just telling me, you silly girl. When will you know that I love you no matter how you look? When will you learn that beauty is only skin deep? All these things you worry about, that take up your whole day, they matter little in my eyes. I think God wants me to know that if I spent a little more time on my heart, and a little less time in front of the mirror, my life would change dramaticly. When I think about the motive behind my frustration that the make-up color is wrong or why acne is catching up with me, I see that all I do this for is so that I might make a good impression with my apperance in front of others. In my heart, there's a spiritual battle. A battle that has been raging ever since the first time I looked in that mirror. Wouldn't life be easier if we couldn't see ourselves? Wouldn't it be nice not to be aware of anything wrong with our apperance. Others would learn not to care. God looks at us and sees a perfect image. One that, on our own, we could never become. Jesus has covered us with his blood and made us pure before God, not one blemish, not one impurity, righteously perfect in His eyes. When we are covered in the blood of His son, we are the most beautiful thing He ever created. Greater than the mountains, greater than the oceans, greater than the universe. Who needs mascera? ~ Kendall

~ Where's Your Heart? ~

So this life we live is full of drama. Full of who said what and when, why, and where. Haha it seems so big in the moment. It seems like such a big part of our lives at the time, when really, it's not gonna matter. It's hard to keep your heart between you and God when it's the little things he does that get you. Just keep telling yourself that each person we hang out with is someone's future spouse. And remember that God is not only watching what you do or say, he's watching what you think. Gaurd your eyes and ears from things like romantic movies (yes, I know how much fun those are), and silly fantasies that float you right off the earth. Dreams and plans are normal to think of, but at the end of the day, who do you think of more? God, or him? THAT will tell you where your heart is. ~Kendall

~ Being Filled with Joy ~

Today I couldn't even hold in all my joy! I had to write it here. My devotion this morning asked the question: do you think much about being holy? Why or why not? My answer was - not much because I am assured in my salvation because of Jesus who makes me clean. However I want to do the best I can to be holy in order to please God because I love him so much! As I wrote these things down I could hardly contain myself and my handwriting became very messy, and I thought about how I should try harder not to sin because I truly do want to please God. That alone is His grace in my life. And so the spiritual quest continues... ~ Psalm 40:8 - I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart. ~ ~ Romans 8:13 - For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. ~ ~ Romans 12:2 - And do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. ~ ~Kendall

~ Putting Him First ~

It seems every day it gets harder and harder to honor God with our thoughts and words...I know I struggle. My gentle friends help lead me back to Christ in every situation. I want to be that too. In this stage of life, girls (like me) want to throw their hearts to the world and say 'heads up!!', which we all know is not the way to go. God should be our everything every day of our lives! That's the hardest part I think. Putting God first above all else. Given to our sinful nature we can tend to make idols out of things that are not God. When I say idols you probobly get an image in your mind like a statue or an weird looking animal of some sort but, idols can seemlessly sneak into our lives and our hearts. Idols like looks, money, popularity...the list goes on and on. Putting God first is going to be rough, but when in doubt,(and even when not in doubt) go to the Bible, and the Lord will speak to your heart. ~ Kendall

~ Guest Post by Neeley ~

“True love stories never have endings.” _Richard Bach Love is is a misused term. We say we love things that We don't mean. What do we really love? Every girl wants to feel loved. But often, we look for love in all the wrong places. As teenagers we are tempted to look for love in ungodly relationships and passions. That's how our world sees love. Something not permanent. Love and marriage are gifts, but they are something worth waiting for. Now we should guard our hearts. We should first seek his love and his kingdom and one day he will give us a husband. Right now we are crazy teenagers who aren't mature enough to have a relationship. We should pray and wait, cause God will one day provide us with a husband who was worth all the waiting. "The will of God is never exactly what you expect it to be. It may seem to be much worse, but in the end it's going to be a lot better and a lot bigger." — Elisabeth Elliot The greatest gift you can give your husband one day is the fact you kept everything down to your first kiss for him. You can say you waited for him. I know this might seem impossible, but it's going to be worth every minute. Now I am not saying you can't like boys. Liking boys is natural and totally okay. I think some girls think it's wrong to have feelings for somebody in particular, when truly if that's fine...til you proclaim it to the world. That kinda stuff you talk to your Mom and super close friends about. Every girl and boy experiences crushes in different seasons of their life. Often we can't help liking someone. My advice? PRAY! This stuff is lovely as long as it doesn't make you lose sight of true love. We already have the greatest Love. He died for us and despite the fact we once hated him, he calls His beloved! Dreams...they have to die. I mean Dreams are okay as long as they don't leave your head. And as long as dreams don't become your reality and your not open to His will. Personally, I am so excited to see what God has for me in the next chapters on the story of my life. I am waiting for my wedding day...one day far away. On our wedding day we will finally understand that it's worth waiting for. Now, we pray... we wait...we surrender ourselves in our every action. It makes me so sad to see teens looking for love in relationships that won't last forever. Only one love will last. A love that you already have. I like to see it as you are betrothed. You already have a husband picked out for you. You are promised to him. So act like you are betrothed. Keep everything for him. It's hard waiting but the will of God is beyond anything we can imagine. He is Great. Neeley A. Moore