Peace.

Lima, Peru.

Lima Peru // May 2010

A trip that changed my life.

Colossians 3:15 Let the peace of God rule in your hearts. This is the verse that spoke to me on this trip that forever changed my life.

Have you ever had that one thing you did in life when looking back on it you think… WHAT WAS I THINKING? I think we all do. And when looking back on it, we most likely were not thinking much. We most likely made a choice based on emotions and “got caught up in the moment.” I found myself in Lima, Peru thinking that exact thing. What was I thinking and what do I do now?

I always love to travel because I love getting myself away from constant internet, friends, my phone & iPad, Netflix, etc… even if just for several days. It is a way to just get reconnected with God and His presence and find time to just dig into His word. I end up having more time on my hands without other distractions. Usually the times I travel are where I have most of my life defining moments with God. It is a time when He speaks to me direction for my life and ministries I am involved in. Then I come back to Michigan feeling refreshed and on fire again.

I remember someone giving me a tiny journal to keep my thoughts and it was perfect for traveling. So I would, each day, spend time with the Lord and write down the thoughts and things going through my head in that time I spent with Him. This particular trip I left Michigan feeling confused and heavy. Not only was I just starting my Masters Degree the same day I landed in Peru, but also I had several other important decisions that had to be made when I returned from Peru. I was feeling down, to say the least. Every day I was praying and writing in this journal trying to figure out what to do. I am usually a pretty upbeat and happy person but this trip was different. Even one of the Pastors traveling with us could tell something was wrong. I opened up a little bit to him about the situation but still felt conflicted in my heart. After 5 days of praying about what I should do I still didn’t know. The last day I was talking to another person who went on the trip about what was going on and I wanted his advice. He told me it was a choice that I myself had to make but he said… “Let the peace of God rule in your heart.” That was the verse that changed my life. I made the choice I knew inside I was supposed to make. And the only way I could have made that choice was by letting God’s peace rule in my heart.

See, many of us go through tough situations in life, things that we don’t understand, and hard choices that we have to make. But we have to decide one thing… will we let God’s peace guide us? Will we get caught up in the emotions of things and feel down and heavy? Or will we seek His face and search for an unspeakable peace and rest for our situation?

God has a peace He wants to give you. Search for it and let it rule in your heart. 

Be-YOU-tiful.

You are beautiful. YOU are beautiful. You ARE beautiful. You are BEAUTIFUL.

So many girls LONG to hear this phrase.  So many girls actually DO hear this phrase. But what’s really important is believing this phrase. Song of Solomon says… you are all together beautiful, my darling, there is no flaw in you. Take that verse. Believe that verse. And own that verse. YOU reading this… are beautiful. YOU reading this have been chosen specifically by God Himself. YOU reading this have potential; a call, talent, beauty, and you are amazing.

Pop culture these days have created an image that many girls strive to be. Tall, skinny, collarbones protruding, a gap between your thighs, long luscious hair, sun-kissed skin, a new outfit everyday, and the list goes on and on. How do we achieve this? Wear high heels everyday until we get bunions and back problems, never eat because, well that’s the only way to be that skinny, exercise until we cannot even breathe or walk anymore, go tanning until we get a precancerous spot on our skin, and spend our entire pay checks on clothes! We don’t need to pay the important bills right? So I ask again… how do we achieve this? It’s impossible! I could also suggest walking around with a “photoshopped” photo of yourself in your hand and convincing people you really do look perfect. Because… anyone can look perfect when “photoshoppped.” Or I could suggest spending 30 minutes everyday trying to get the perfect selfie to post on your Facebook and Instagram. Or I could suggest something that is actually possible for you to do.

It is possible to see us the way God sees us. It is possible to not look to other people for compliments and approval, but look to God for HIS approval. Know this… He approves of you, He thinks you’re beautiful, He loves you much more than anyone could ever love you! And that is what really matters. Be-YOU-tiful. Because that's who God created you to be. 

BE YOU! It's Who God Created You To Be.

I am weird. I know.

Have you ever had the sense that someone was judging you? Have you ever felt like someone was always comparing himself or herself to you? They probably were. It’s life. What do we do about it? Nothing. Why? Because God’s perspective on our lives is way more important than other people’s thoughts on our lives. Each and every one of us was created for a specific purpose, plan, and calling and no one else can fulfill it. And with that being said... you're different from everybody else. And that's a good thing.

I grew up a PK. If you do not know what a PK is, it is a Pastor’s Kid. Who really knows what that means? No one. People always try and put other people into categories. They think, well you’re a pastor’s kid so you go in this box or... you’re from this income family so I will put you in this box. Our life, for sure, has an impact on how we grow up but it does not have to shape us into what we become. I am a firm believer that God uses those things so we can learn from them but, by no means, plans to put us in a box and keep us there the rest of our lives. 

Back to being a PK, which has absolutely no meaning at all. My father is a Pastor of a mega church close to Detroit, Michigan. I remember him telling me something really important one time when I was concerned about my role and responsibility in the church. I was concerned about what people thought of me, and also what they thought of my role in the church. 

He said, “Do you know what God has called you to do?” 

I responded “yes.” 

He said, “Are you doing it?” 

I said “yes.” 

He said back to me “as long as you know you are doing what God has called you to do that is all that matters.” 

That stuck with me. That was so important to me and so moving inside my spirit that I will never forget it. So many times we are worried what others think about what we are doing and how they view us, that we forget the call that God has on our life. 

Who are you? Where are you from? What do you look like? Well honestly... I don't care and neither should you. All that matters is you are a child of God. That is who you are. That is where your identity should be found. 

Jeremiah 1:5 Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart.

Psalms 139:13 For You created my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother's womb. 

Never let those verses leave your heart and never get caught up in what others think or say about you. You are you and that is exactly who God created you to be. So be it. Know you are a child of God and ask God to give you eyes to see from HIS perspective. It's the best perspective.. ever.