Encouragement

I was reading in my devotional the other day and God sent me this little golden nugget of encouragement, so I thought I would share it here :)

If I were to hand you a fragile, newborn baby girl, I know that you would protect her with your life. Your arms would be strong, your feet sure, and your eyes ever watchful. Be careful, my trusted one! for I have placed something just as precious and delicate with in you. It is your heart...your very life! Treasure it. Protect it. Watch over it with all your strength. For the world and all its pleasures are like kidnappers who will stop at nothing to steal your heart away from ME and destroy it. I want what is best for you, my treasured one, and although you sometimes feel that the sinful pleasure of this world don't seem harmful, they will separate you from Me. Just as a newborn is helpless without loving care, you also will suffer if your heart is taken from Me. So I'm asking you to guard your heart and cling to Me, the source of you life.

Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. Proverbs 4:23

To be Known is to be Loved

One of the campers this summer did this monologue about the woman at the well, and I loved it. So I'm sharing it here :) I'll put the words below.

Woman of No Distinction from Chris Kinsley on Vimeo.

I am a woman of no distinction
of little importance.
I am a women of no reputation
save that which is bad.

You whisper as I pass by and cast judgmental glances,
Though you don’t really take the time to look at me,
Or even get to know me.

For to be known is to be loved,
And to be loved is to be known.
Otherwise what’s the point in doing
either one of them in the first place?

I WANT TO BE KNOWN.

I want someone to look at my face
And not just see two eyes, a nose,
a mouth and two ears;
But to see all that I am, and could be
all my hopes, loves and fears.

But that’s too much to hope for,
to wish for,
or pray for
So I don’t, not anymore.

Now I keep to myself
And by that I mean the pain
that keeps me in my own private jail
The pain that’s brought me here
at midday to this well.

To ask for a drink is no big request
but to ask it of me?
A woman unclean, ashamed,
Used and abused
An outcast, a failure
a disappointment, a sinner.

No drink passing from these hands
to your lips could ever be refreshing
Only condemning, as I’m sure you condemn me now
But you don't.

You’re a man of no distinction;
Though of the utmost importance.
A man with little reputation, at least so far.

You whisper and tell me to my face
what all those glances have been about, and
You take the time to really look at me.
But don’t need to get to know me.

For to be known is to be loved and
To be loved is to be known.

And you know me.
You actually know me;
all of me and everything about me.
Every thought inside and hair on top of my head;
Every hurt stored up, every hope, every dread.

My past and my future, all I am and could be.
You tell me everything,
you tell me about me!

And that which is spoken by another
would bring hate and condemnation.
Coming from you brings love, grace,
mercy, hope and salvation.

I’ve heard of one to come
who could save a wretch like me
And here in my presence, you say
I AM He.

To be known is to be loved;
And to be loved is to be known.

And I just met you.
But I love you.
I don’t know you,
but I want to get to.

Let me run back to town
this is way to much for just me.
There are others: brothers,
sisters, lovers, haters.

The good and the bad, sinners and saints
who should hear what you’ve told me;
who should see what you’ve shown me;
who should taste what you gave me;
who should feel how you forgave me.

For to be known is to be loved;
And to be loved is to be known.
And they all need this, too.
We all do
Need it for our own.

The Year Ahead

I've been kicking an idea around in my head for the last few weeks. It may seem a little crazy to some, and to other no big deal. After a lot of thought and prayer, I feel like this idea is something I want to carry out. So what's my idea?

A year without dating.

Now, some of you will say, "Well, Bri, you didn't actually date anyone last year either." I'm aware of this. What I DID do was hope for the chance to date people. So when I say "a year without dating" I mean a year where I not only don't date anyone, but I also restrain myself from crushing on and daydreaming about my brothers in (and out of) Christ.

Something I've always struggled with is letting myself get caught up in daydreams and wishes of possible relationships. I'll let innocent interactions with guy friends turn in to something else entirely in my head, and then end up in awkward situations. Or let my imagination run away, and get myself hurt because I interpreted one thing as something completely different. This has been something I've usually really struggled with at camp because of all the amazing men of Christ that work there with me. This past summer, thanks to a lot of prayer to and help from God, I was able to break the cycle. I can honestly say, I made it through the summer without a full-blown crush on any of the staff members. I learned that in order to do that, I had to do two things; not talk about boys and pray that God would hold captive my thoughts and my heart. And I fully intend on continuing to do those two things for the next year ahead, along with a few other strategies I have to keep myself focused.

I hope no one thinks I'm doing this just to say I have done it or anything silly like that. I am embarking on this quest so that I can better focus on God and His will in my life right now. I too often get caught up in what may lie ahead and forget about what I have to do today. I know that the Lord has great plans for me now and in the future. And I know that, as of right now, He wants me single so that I can follow His plans. So that's what this is all about.

Ultimately, I am undertaking this challenge to better serve my Lord and God. To better love Him and to better further His kingdom. So I hope you'll go along with me and encourage me and keep me accountable, because I know it will be tough and I know I can't do it alone.

Of Marriage and Plans

So, I always talk about how I have no plan past graduating college. Like I’m leaving my whole life open to God for him to guide me. But I realized something today. That’s not what I’m truly saying. I put a “but” in there. I’m actually limiting God. I typically say “I don’t really know what I’m going to do in the future other than graduate college, but I do know I get married and have kids. All I want to be is a mom.”

What I think I’m saying is “My future is entirely up to God.” But what I’m truly saying is “My future is entirely up to God, as long as it involves me getting married and starting a family.” I can’t think of how to label that statement and idea. It’s like I feel like my life will be best served as a married mother. I just assume that’s part of God’s plan for me. But what if I’m called to be single? What if that’s how I’ll best serve God? And how else do I limit him without knowing it?

Matthew 6:34

Matthew 6:34

   "Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."

This should be my life quote. So much of my time is spend day dreaming, planning, and worrying. And one vital thing is always missing from these day dreams and plans, God. I'm thinking of MY plan, not his. If I would just write this verse on my heart, and keep it in mind, I would save myself a lot of hurt. I would probably sleep better and be much less stressed. I wouldn't be disappointed when my big plans fall through, because I would be focusing on God's big plans. As stated in "The Shack", God lives in the present, not in the future, and so should we (a very rough paraphrase). I mean, yes He is in the future, but like I said, our plans and day dreams don't take into account what He has planned for us.

Why is it so hard to just have faith in His provision and His planning? Why do we have to be so Type A and have each and everything planned out? 

You know, I think it's really great to spend time with people who don't share the same views as you. As much as I hate to debate with people, it's good for you and your faith. I spent the weekend with my friend Rochelle, and although we're both Christians, we have some very different views and opinions on things in the Bible. At first I was apprehensive about talking with her and sharing my opposing view, but I realized she would listen and understand. I actually really enjoyed it. 

Too often people get into heated debates and have no respect for their opponent, which is why I avoid debates of any type. I think despite how it CAN turn out sometimes, you should engage in these conversations. It forces you to actually think about what you believe in and to analyze why you believe what you do. Even if their argument is better than yours, you aren't wrong. You just need to learn more. And you can even learn things you didn't realize before.

When I first started working at TVR last summer, it felt like I was told to pray about everything. About what to say if I had to confront someone, about what my college major was, about what salad dressing to use. Okay, maybe not about salad dressing, but that's how it felt.

 

     When I was younger and I lost something my mom would always tell me to pray that God would help me find it. I would just say "Yeah, yeah..I'll do that" but not, because it felt silly and I felt like that wouldn't help. I mean, why would God care that I lost my book in the mess of my room? So what if I couldn't find my house keys?

The other day I was at work, feeling stressed and feeling the beginning of a migraine. I had a huge list of files to pull, and even more files to refile. After sitting at the front desk for 30 minutes trying to fill out 6 lines on  a fax, but getting interrupeted every two seconds by phone calls and people coming in freaking out about registration, then a 10 minute fight with the fax machine...all those files were still in the back. Nicole had pulled the ones for the next day, but I still had a stack of files at least 8 inches tall to file. Staring at the millions of files lining the walls of the file room overwhelmed me. All I wanted was to go home and get in bed. Not put away a hundred or so files. I was stressed to say the least.

Until I leaned against the files and prayed. I prayed the Lord would soothe my headache and take away the stress. And BAM. In that moment I could literally feel a wave of peace wash over me. The more I grow in the Lord the more I realize there really is something behind praying about everything, maybe even about salad dressing...