FINISH THE RACE

Wow, it's been a while since I've posted anything, but Happy New Year!! Life is good, and I'm happy to be alive. I apologize for not posting during these last few weeks, but I'm coming out of a 21 day fast, and I stepped away for a while. It was time to recharge, and really listen for God's voice to gain clarity on some things in my life, and I did. This was my first time ACTUALLY fasting and giving up foods that have a special place in my heart for more than a day. I'm a BIG fan, well actually I might be addicted to Qdoba's three cheese vegetarian nachos, along with pizza, and for 21 days, I told myself no in order to get closer to God. I cut out meat (this wasn't hard because I'm a pescetarian), dairy, sweets, bread, fried foods and pasta. Also, I didn't eat until 3 pm each day. Somedays I just ate this homemade organic peanut butter stuff, cashews, fruit, and Oats & Honey KIND bars (these are the bomb.com...see picture). They're gluten free, and are also made with NON-GMO Ingredients. Yay for food that isn't toxic!! You can find them at Kroger.

MMMHHMMM SO GOOD.

 As I reflect during these last few days of this fast, there were a lot of questions that I asked God, along with a lot of things that He showed me. It's so great to be intentional and really make an effort to put aside distractions like social media and tv; open up your bible more, pray more, and sit and listen for God's voice. I got a chance to reflect and ask God to help me get down to root of who I am, along with show me the good, the bad and the ugly that I might not be able to see within myself. 

On the fourth day of my journey, a famous quote popped into my mind after I caved and ate a family sized bag of kettle corn in one sitting...

 "It's not how you start that matters, but how you finish." 

 While I don't believe this applies to everything, I really believe it applies to life. Many people have the idea engraved into their minds that their life is like a 100m dash. If you start poorly in this race, you really don't have time to redeem yourself (unless you're Usain Bolt), and your bad start really weighs heavily on how you finish. 

But life isn't like this at all. Especially when you find Jesus. 

I can laugh at it now, but I felt horrible after I ate that popcorn. Just like we should feel when we sin. But I didn't allow that to trigger more bad behavior. I recognized that I messed up, I repented, and then I finished the journey. I didn't sit there and wallow in the fact that I had made a mistake, but I shifted to what the other 17 days were going to look like. I created goals, and went from there. Yes, you may make mistakes in life, but who doesn't? Get out of the mindset that your life is a 100m dash. We all fall short of God's standard along with the different goals we set for ourselves, but when you mess up, don't lie there and meditate on your mistakes. Get up and finish. If a person trips on the track during a 3200m run on their first lap, they still have 7 more laps to redeem themselves. If they focus on that fall for the rest of the race and allow defeat to creep into their mind, they won't do well. On the other hand, if they focus on getting back up and doing everything they can to recover lost time, they just might do it. So many times we fall down on the track of life and feel defeated. Instead of getting back up, we lie there allowing others to trample over us as they run by. 

 Philippians 4:8 says:

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. 

Notice the scripture doesn't say "if there be any failure, and if there be any mistakes, think on these things," because focusing on our failure will never help us move forward. Once you recognize your slip up, it's important to take action right away. If you've come out of an old habit, or set a goal for yourself, it's necessary to evaluate your behavior and ask yourself if it's pushing you closer to where you want to be. One of my goals for 2014 is to become more disciplined. To get up and do my homework when I have the energy instead of waiting until the last minute when I'm burnt out. Each morning, I do my best to write out a list of goals for myself. Before I go to sleep, I reflect and write down the good things along with the bad. If you don't hold yourself accountable, who will? Goals don't accomplish themselves.

Your mess ups, along with failures, can be a hard thing to deal with, but understand that it's apart of your growing process. Understand that there are people waiting on you to get back up and ask God to help you make a change for the better. No, it won't be instant, and yes, you'll make mistakes, but small steps are better than no steps. Failure is better than not trying at all, and God wants to use all of your mess to help someone else. So when you fall down on this track of life, make sure you don't lie there for too long. Look to God and dwell on the fact that He forgives, and while you may feel unworthy, He still wants to love you with an unconditional love no matter how many times you find yourself coming up short. 

2013 IN A NUTSHELL

I'm in shock that 2013 is already over! It seems like the older I get, the faster life zooms by. I just wish time would slow down! Anyways...this year has been one of the best years of my life. Here are some highlights!

I discovered The Pinky Promise Movement
If you haven't heard of it, I encourage you to click on this link and check it out now!! Heather Lindsey is the founder, and I'm thankful for the strong impact that she's had on me. Although I don't know her personally, her books, and her blog are some of the things that triggered the start of where I am today. Check out her website here

I started going to Victorious Believers Ministries (VBM)
This is the church I attend while I'm away at school!! If these highlights were in any specific order, this would probably be number 1!! I truly believe that God led me to this place for so many reasons, and I'm so thankful for all of the great things that I've experienced here. I've really learned/ grown a lot from the teaching, and have also come across some pretty great people too. I'm so thankful that God led me somewhere that pushes me closer to who He's called me to be, especially while I'm away at school. I feel so blessed :)

I started a youth group at my church back home 
Talk about a step outside of my comfort zone, this was a leap for me. It was around April that God placed this on my heart, and I'm so happy that I was obedient to His instruction. I can remember being at church, and receiving conformation for something I'd been praying about, and from that moment on, my heart was set on doing whatever God had for me to do. I had always struggled with speech apprehension, and so it was a big step for me to do something like this. Looking back, it was very difficult to push past my fear, but if I hadn't, I wouldn't be able to help others understand what God has shown me. I was responsible for coming up with the things I taught on, and because of this, I was able to get an understanding for myself. The biggest thing I learned throughout this process is that our obedience is always the piece to someone else's puzzle. I'm thankful that this has played a HUGE role in where I am today.

Some ran off before we could get a picture, but here's the majority :)

My job as an RA
Although this past semester was one of the hardest semesters I've ever had, my residents are one of the things that made it worth it. I was originally hired in a different building, but I ended up moving because there weren't enough people that signed up for housing. To be honest I cried when I found out I was being relocated, but now I can't imagine myself anywhere else. It's a great job that's allowed me to find out more about myself, and interact with so many great people. Cheers to a great semester with the best residents, staff, and boss anyone could ask for :) #CelFabFam

My wonderful Staff <3 

My friends 
This is another one of my biggest highlights because my friends have been one of Gods GREATEST blessings to me. Growing up, I never felt like I had anyone that I could relate to on a spiritual level, and because this was such a big part of my life, it was hard for me to feel connected with others when they didn't believe the same way that I did. My close friendships would last for about a year at a time, and I never understood why. It was always hard for me to talk about God with people who weren't traveling down the same path because I never felt like they understood. It bothered me sometimes, but I had reached a point where I was used to it. I had always wondered what it'd be like to have a friend I could talk to about anything, spiritual or not,  but now I don't have to wonder. I'm so thankful for the godly friendships I've established this year! It's been such a great blessing to have people who can pray with and for you because up until this year, I never had that in a friend. I'm so thankful that after 20 years, God has blessed me with some amazing friendships that I pray will last a lifetime

I changed my major
Last but not least, a change in the RIGHT direction. I got a lot of different reactions when I told people I was changing my major, and some of them weren't very nice ones. Most people were very supportive, including my parents, but there were a select few that said discouraging things. Before I switched, I was studying interior design, but I now thank God for FREEDOM. I know, I know...Interior Design sounds so fun....but it's not. It's death along with torture, especially if you're not a detailed orientated person. That makes it 8475984375 times worse. I pulled probably over 15 all nighters this semester (I'm not exaggerating), and I looked like a zombie 70% of the time. It required a lot of time that I didn't enjoy giving, and as a result, I changed directions. I now study Communications. I love to help people, and impact them in a positive way, so I think this is a better step towards what God has in store for my life. :)

Heel clicks on my way to recycle all of my interior design things. Hip hip hooray! 

#DefeatingTheHuns

Overall, I think the best word to describe my year would be growth. Looking back at myself a year ago, I was kind of a hot mess. God has truly repaired what was broken, and given me a new life of freedom in Him. I'm so thankful for the place that I was in, along with the place that I'm in now. It's truly a blessing when you think about how good God has been to you when you don't deserve it. Cheers to the year that my that life really began. Peace out 2013!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!! :)