Okay.
SO, everytime I think I have God figured out, He completely shakes things up and turns things around so that I am once again reminded and humbled that I don't and never will know or understand the thoughts or mysterious ways of God. His ways are higher than mine. His thoughts are greater than mine.
Today, I was reminded again of God's PROVISION! This verse right here....let me tell you...it will change your life...
"Now to Him Who, by (in consequence of) the [action of His] power that is at work within us, is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams]—"
Ephesians 3:20, AMP
My prayer life changed the day I realized that God was able to do SUPERABUNDANTLY far over and above ANYTHING my highest prayers and desires could even touch- not only that, but that He DESIRED to do great things in my life! When we give our prayers and desires to God, not only does it take pressure off of us, but it's the absolute best thing we can do because it's giving them to Him who wants to take those prayers and dreams and do EVEN MORE than we could ever imagine with them!!! How cool is that!?
Anyway. I'm getting a bit sidetracked. Back to the story of God's provision and Him doing things far above anything I could ask or imagine...
As many of you know, I'm going on a Mission Trip with my home church this summer to Mexico!! I've been on a mission trip before through my church to NYC, but this is my first international trip and I couldn't be more excited! I joined the team a bit late, so I was a little behind in my fundraising. As is pretty typical, I mailed out all my support letters, hoping to raise enough money along with the church fundraisers for me to go! I knew in my heart that God had given me the desire to go on this trip and that somehow, He was going to provide! I just didn't realize how yet...
I'd been praying about God's provision for the trip for a few weeks when I get an email from a certain person, telling me that they are sending me a check for..........
(wait for it)
$2000 for my trip.
WHAT. IN. THE. WORLD. IS. THIS. EVEN. REAL.
As you can imagine, it was completely unexpected and totally blew me away! The trip is going to be paid for in abundance, in that I'll have overflow funds that will be able to be saved for a future mission trips for me or to help my other team members. God works in SUPERABUNDANT ways. Our cup isn't just filled, it's OVERFLOWED!! To God be the glory!
I'm sharing this because I hope it will encourage someone out there, that God IS faithful and He WILL provide. We serve Jehovah Jirah- The Lord will provide! This is also a testament to the power of PRAYER, it really works people! God cares about you, He loves you, He's listening to your cries, and He is for you.
I'll admit this isn't my most thought out, planned, and organized, blog post.
BUT I hope if nothing else it gets this point across: God is good, all the time, He is faithful, and you can trust Him (Thanks Dr. White for saying that great reminder at the end of all your chapel messages).
I love hearing testimonies of God's provision! God gives us testimonies for us to share and for the building up of the Church! So please, if you have a story of God's provision, SHARE it!!! Send me an email or comment below- I'd love to hear it for sure!
Wednesday, May 27, 2015
Friday, March 13, 2015
One Step At A Time
Hello, lovely people!
I was recently asked to write a blog post and be a guest author for the Lavender Legacy Team (www.lavenderlegacyteam.com), and this is the post that I wrote for them. I wanted to document it on my blog as well, so I simply copied and pasted it here so you could enjoy it as well. :)
Today I get to write on a topic that is near and dear to my heart, because it's something that I have to remember DAILY. I am ALWAYS reminding myself that this Oily biz (and life in general) that I'm blessed to be a part of is a journey, NOT a destination. You see, I'm extremely goal driven, so I like to look at pictures like this...
...and dream about being a RCD, like, tomorrow. I think to myself: "Obviously I have a lot to do before then, but soon enough, I will be there! Full speed ahead!" Through this mindset I've found that it's easy to get so wrapped up in that dream that you are so focused on, that you end up forgetting the little things that got you there and enjoying where you are in life now. I found a nice quote by Calvin & Hobbes that summed it up well: "We are so busy watching out for what is ahead of us, that we don't take time to enjoy where we are."
(Disclaimer: I am NOT saying it's bad to dream big and look ahead and all that stuff! It's CRUCIAL to dream big and picture the future and see yourself as who you want to be, I'm ALL FOR THAT.)
BUT when I am a RCD, I never want to forget how I felt when I reached this...
(Disclaimer: I am NOT saying it's bad to dream big and look ahead and all that stuff! It's CRUCIAL to dream big and picture the future and see yourself as who you want to be, I'm ALL FOR THAT.)
BUT when I am a RCD, I never want to forget how I felt when I reached this...
...and everything it took to get me there: The one-on-one's with my professors, the times I got up at 5am on a Saturday -my last day of break- to drive an hour to be at a mom2mom event by 7am, the roadtrips to THRIVE conference, the moment I realized my core values and wrote my goals for the first time, the times I stepped out of my comfort zone and emerged on the other side more confident than ever OR the times when I was discouraged because absolutely no one showed up to a meeting I was hosting or no one liked my Young Living posts on Facebook.
It's the LITTLE things that build your story, that eventually culminate in your end goal, and ultimately, your story. I'm in college now, so I really have to focus on finding balance between biz, school, and social life. If I'm not careful, it's easy for me to do primarily biz stuff and school, leaving little time for me to build relationships with my friends. My challenge to you is to take time EVERY DAY to INTENTIONALLY appreciate the day for what it is, not for the deadlines you did or did not make, but because it is another day that you have been given. We are not promised tomorrow. Each rank and chapter of life has new responsibilities and opportunities of it's own, enjoy them. This is a relationship biz, so build them! Develop friendships. Laugh. Share. Enjoy life.
I'm 19 and I already am realizing the incredible pace at which life flies by, and I've been told it just gets faster. I want to enjoy every stage of my life, every chapter, every rank, to it's fullest. So, no matter where you are in this JOURNEY, enjoy each day and all that it has to offer. While looking ahead to the future and dreaming is CRUCIAL, do not let it overstep it's bounds to the point where you are not appreciating every step of the journey you're on to get there.
That being said, I thought I'd share with you a few pics from my journey. Let's do some reminiscing, shall we?
It's the LITTLE things that build your story, that eventually culminate in your end goal, and ultimately, your story. I'm in college now, so I really have to focus on finding balance between biz, school, and social life. If I'm not careful, it's easy for me to do primarily biz stuff and school, leaving little time for me to build relationships with my friends. My challenge to you is to take time EVERY DAY to INTENTIONALLY appreciate the day for what it is, not for the deadlines you did or did not make, but because it is another day that you have been given. We are not promised tomorrow. Each rank and chapter of life has new responsibilities and opportunities of it's own, enjoy them. This is a relationship biz, so build them! Develop friendships. Laugh. Share. Enjoy life.
I'm 19 and I already am realizing the incredible pace at which life flies by, and I've been told it just gets faster. I want to enjoy every stage of my life, every chapter, every rank, to it's fullest. So, no matter where you are in this JOURNEY, enjoy each day and all that it has to offer. While looking ahead to the future and dreaming is CRUCIAL, do not let it overstep it's bounds to the point where you are not appreciating every step of the journey you're on to get there.
That being said, I thought I'd share with you a few pics from my journey. Let's do some reminiscing, shall we?
My first weekend at college, freshman year. Oils were a thing, but not a business thing. Aw, we all look like little babies.
Convention 2014: TOTALLY Rocked my view of Young Living and decided that maybe this biz is something that I could really do! I was especially inspired by Adam Green, the youngest in YL history to achieve any of the Diamond ranks, and I was determined that I would beat his record. Watch out, Adam. :)
Next, I had learned that "Leaders are Readers," So I decided to read this book, The Magic of Thinking Big by David Schwartz and it COMPLETELY changed my mindset around and really got me thinking. Seriously, read this book. It will change your business and any view you THINK you have of your biz.
Next, I had learned that "Leaders are Readers," So I decided to read this book, The Magic of Thinking Big by David Schwartz and it COMPLETELY changed my mindset around and really got me thinking. Seriously, read this book. It will change your business and any view you THINK you have of your biz.
 |  |  |
Sophomore year didn't start off so well...I broke my leg the first week of school and had to get major surgery which included 2 plates and 14 screws, which will forever reside in my left leg. I ended up missing two weeks of school and was disabled to some extent for the rest of the semester. This was a huge distraction in my biz, and my growth quickly started to decline. It was an EXTREMELY humbling experience like no other.
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When I was home for Christmas break, I completely reset my goals and was ready to give this thing a go, for real. The troubles of the previous semester had actually strengthened my relationship with the Lord in incredible ways. I asked Him to completely be my CEO and to lead me to people that NEEDED these oils. My biggest value is "God-glorified;" He gets ALL the glory for the success of my biz. Since then, I've steadily seen growth; adding new members every month and helping those that are currently enrolled. I love my team and working with such great people! Things haven't always been smooth sailing, but hey, as they say, a smooth sea does not make a skilled sailor! ;) Anyway, it's all a part of my journey, and I'm learning to appreciate and enjoy every part of it. Where are you in YOUR journey and how did you get there? I'd love to hear from you so please comment below, shoot me an email, or connect with me on social media (see the icons at the top of the page). :)
Sunday, January 25, 2015
Fear.
So, it's been a while since I've posted anything, and to be perfectly honest, blogging isn't something that comes naturally to me. Like, I guess I'd rather write out my thoughts in a private journal as opposed to all over the web (then I don't have to worry about grammar and spelling as much either, ha).
BUT God's really been laying this topic on my heart and writing it on here allows it to benefit more than just me.
A wise person once said,
"Action cures fear, while indecision and postponement, on the other hand, fertilizes it."
F.E.A.R.
In the Bible, the phrase "Do not fear" or similar is written 365 times. God's reminder for us each day to not be afraid. Somehow, though, it seems that the church is missing this point, or it hasn't fully gotten absorbed. Anxiety, stress, nervousness- all of that is rooted in fear. Fear that I'm not going to get my work done. Fear that I'm going to fail a test. Fear that I won't be good enough. Fear that I'm going to fail, or fail again, Fear of the future.
The list goes on and on...
The sad reality is that fear is crippling the lives of believers, who are called to not live in fear! "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of POWER and of LOVE and of a SOUND MIND (2 Timothy 1:7 NKJV)." What if characters of the Bible such as David, Moses, or Noah were too afraid to act on what God told them to do? Of course they were naturally afraid (who wouldn't be, facing a 9 foot giant), but acting in spite of their fear and relying on God is what allowed them do accomplish great things for the Lord. These people trusted in the promises of God, and that He was going to be there for them. Their FAITH overcame their FEAR, and that is what made them heros of the Bible. I don't like to beat around the bush, so to get to the point, fear is rooted in the doubt that God will really do what He said He would do. Acting despite fear, however, builds faith.
"What!? That's not true! Of course I believe that God will come through on His Word! I have faith in God!"
That's what you're thinking, right? I'm not saying you don't. I'm just saying, if you're constantly worried and afraid, maybe that's something that you need to work out with God. This doesn't just apply to facing giants, but the little things in life too. "Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life (Matt 6:27)?"
I realize that this is a deep topic, that can't fully be covered by one short blog post. However, I just want to encourage you to PRAY next time you are starting to worry about a situation or event. If you are a His child, God's got your back. He IS faithful.
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus (Phil. 4:6-7)."
BUT God's really been laying this topic on my heart and writing it on here allows it to benefit more than just me.
A wise person once said,
"Action cures fear, while indecision and postponement, on the other hand, fertilizes it."
F.E.A.R.
In the Bible, the phrase "Do not fear" or similar is written 365 times. God's reminder for us each day to not be afraid. Somehow, though, it seems that the church is missing this point, or it hasn't fully gotten absorbed. Anxiety, stress, nervousness- all of that is rooted in fear. Fear that I'm not going to get my work done. Fear that I'm going to fail a test. Fear that I won't be good enough. Fear that I'm going to fail, or fail again, Fear of the future.
The list goes on and on...
The sad reality is that fear is crippling the lives of believers, who are called to not live in fear! "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of POWER and of LOVE and of a SOUND MIND (2 Timothy 1:7 NKJV)." What if characters of the Bible such as David, Moses, or Noah were too afraid to act on what God told them to do? Of course they were naturally afraid (who wouldn't be, facing a 9 foot giant), but acting in spite of their fear and relying on God is what allowed them do accomplish great things for the Lord. These people trusted in the promises of God, and that He was going to be there for them. Their FAITH overcame their FEAR, and that is what made them heros of the Bible. I don't like to beat around the bush, so to get to the point, fear is rooted in the doubt that God will really do what He said He would do. Acting despite fear, however, builds faith.
"What!? That's not true! Of course I believe that God will come through on His Word! I have faith in God!"
That's what you're thinking, right? I'm not saying you don't. I'm just saying, if you're constantly worried and afraid, maybe that's something that you need to work out with God. This doesn't just apply to facing giants, but the little things in life too. "Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life (Matt 6:27)?"
I realize that this is a deep topic, that can't fully be covered by one short blog post. However, I just want to encourage you to PRAY next time you are starting to worry about a situation or event. If you are a His child, God's got your back. He IS faithful.
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus (Phil. 4:6-7)."
Saturday, June 28, 2014
Throwing It WAYYY Back: How This Began.
I started using Young Living essential oils in July 2013.
Here's a short version of my story...
About 4 years ago my mom was going through some health challenges and was looking for a way to help her body come into balance. As a nurse practitioner, she knew the medical options available but didn't want to get into that due to the side effects that are associated with many medications. So, she started looking for more natural options that she could use to support her body systems. While she was searching around the internet, she came across a book called "Healing Oils of The Bible" by Dr. David Stewart. This book sparked her interest, and Dr. Stewart, she discovered, had a pHd in Geophysics as well as other various advanced degrees. Curious about the book and the author, she decided to buy it and read it.
One thing led to another and as it turned out, Dr. Stewart was a distributor of Young Living products, a company that farms and distills completely pure essential oils as well as other health related supplements, etc. After reading "Healing Oils of The Bible," my mom decided to try some of the products out. Turns out, they really helped her become balanced, healthy, and overall feel much better!
Anyway, long story short, she ended up learning more about the company and wanted to inquire about the essential oils. She began doing some of her own research and slowly started integrating them into our family. Honestly, the rest of us were pretty skeptical. Like, yes, they smelled nice, but we didn't know much about "aromatherapy", and we didn't think that the oils could actually help much!
All I can say is that these essential oils have blown my mind in what I've seen them do in my life. Yeah, I know, that's the cliche of the century. But really, I would not say that if it wasn't true. They are incredible in supporting wellness and balance in all of our body systems. If you're skeptical, I understand that because I've been there too. But if you just give them a chance, I KNOW they can rock your world too and CHANGE your life. AHhh. I love it. Changing lives, people. That's what this is about.
Here's a short version of my story...
About 4 years ago my mom was going through some health challenges and was looking for a way to help her body come into balance. As a nurse practitioner, she knew the medical options available but didn't want to get into that due to the side effects that are associated with many medications. So, she started looking for more natural options that she could use to support her body systems. While she was searching around the internet, she came across a book called "Healing Oils of The Bible" by Dr. David Stewart. This book sparked her interest, and Dr. Stewart, she discovered, had a pHd in Geophysics as well as other various advanced degrees. Curious about the book and the author, she decided to buy it and read it.
One thing led to another and as it turned out, Dr. Stewart was a distributor of Young Living products, a company that farms and distills completely pure essential oils as well as other health related supplements, etc. After reading "Healing Oils of The Bible," my mom decided to try some of the products out. Turns out, they really helped her become balanced, healthy, and overall feel much better!
Anyway, long story short, she ended up learning more about the company and wanted to inquire about the essential oils. She began doing some of her own research and slowly started integrating them into our family. Honestly, the rest of us were pretty skeptical. Like, yes, they smelled nice, but we didn't know much about "aromatherapy", and we didn't think that the oils could actually help much!
All I can say is that these essential oils have blown my mind in what I've seen them do in my life. Yeah, I know, that's the cliche of the century. But really, I would not say that if it wasn't true. They are incredible in supporting wellness and balance in all of our body systems. If you're skeptical, I understand that because I've been there too. But if you just give them a chance, I KNOW they can rock your world too and CHANGE your life. AHhh. I love it. Changing lives, people. That's what this is about.
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