I'll Be Happy If...

Do you ever find yourself saying, “I’d be happy if…” I’ve found myself saying that before.
It’s easy to fall into feeling bad about myself and coveting or envying because I don’t have the newest clothes, the biggest loudest truck, or or the nicest house. It’s so easy to fall under temptation to be unthankful.
I look at is this way though when I’m tempted to be unthankful for all that God has provided me. What if I had all that I needed, not all that I [wanted], but all that I needed. Food on the table, a roof over my head, a warm bed, a family that loves me and supports me. I have this. A lot of times we take it for granted and don’t realize how much we actually have been blessed with. So, I have everything I need, right?
Ok, I go to bed taking for granted everything I have, and thinking about all that I don’t have. I wake up the next morning with only things I thanked God for the day before. Scary right? I start thinking, “Did I thank God for anything today???”
“I’d be happy if…” It’s so easy to be unthankful , to be unhappy with where God has us, with what He’s blessed us with. Psalms 146:5  “Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God:”
Have you thanked God for all that you have today???

[Side Note]
God is [amazing]. Sometimes I just seriously feel like screaming it from my roof top! I can see Him working in my life so much. Other may say that I have nothing, am nothing, worth nothing. But, I can see God’s hand in my life so abundantly in so many ways. If I could tell you all the ways you may not think it mattered that much, but for me, in my life all those little things are ways God plays out His will. The little touches He adds to each chapter of my life are the little ways that He shows me that He’s still faithful, even though I fail so much. I fall away from Christ and I stumble, I come back broken, but knowing that God’s the only one who knows how to put the pieces back together again. The only one who can make me whole again.
I look back and wonder how I was living away from God. But I know that I wasn’t really living. Yes, I was still breathing, going through the motions of life, but I wasn’t truly living. The only real living you can do is through Christ. But, I digress. ;)

Go thank God today!

~Beautifully Created 4 Christ~
~Psalms 146:2~

The "Trust Your Heart" Illusion

I'm calling this, "The Trust Your Heart Illusion".
I've heard a lot of Christians  say things like, “lean on the ones you love” or “believe in yourself”.Just some of Satan's illusions to take our eyes off Jesus. I don’t understand, if you know Christ you should know that He is the [ONLY] one you should be believing in, the [ONLY] one you should be leaning on. God is [FAITHFUL]. People lie, cheat, steal, fail, fall, use, abuse, and leave. People are [SINNERS] . It’s a sickness fatal to the soul. There’s only one cure, and it won’t be found in anyone around you.  It’s all laid out in Proverbs 3:5-6, ”Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”  Trust in [HIM], not in people, lean [NOT] on your own understanding. He will direct your path. Right there in black and white,  on page 793 in my bible, I’m commanded to trust [ONLY] in Him, to lean not on my understanding. Isaiah 55:8-9 says, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.”  
“Follow your heart,” there’s another phrase I hear a lot. Again, we’re back to who are we supposed to follow?? Psalms 44:21,  “Shall not God search this out? for he knoweth the secrets of the heart.” Proverbs 4:23,  “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” Well, the heart is not trust worthy.  Out of the heart are the issues of life. Jeremiah 17:9  “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” The heart is deceitful [ABOVE ALL THINGS].  
When if comes to the world pushing the illusion of you and I being in control, don’t believe it. Satan is very subtle in the ways he uses to take our eyes off of Jesus Christ and what He did on the cross. Only Jesus can keep that heart alive, beating for Him, living for Him. 

~Beautifully Created 4 Christ~
~2 Timothy 2:12~

Comfort Zone

I have a comfort zone. An ever growing one, thanks to my Jesus. I’m not saying that as a bad thing, I’m loving how God is stretching, molding, breaking, and using me. I don't always enjoy it though, but I look back now and see why it was necessary.  It seams to me, like my comfort zone is something He’s always finding ways to stretch. Weather it be talking to some complete stranger or being made a leader of something that looks scary. 
Comfort zones come in all different shapes and sizes. Something I've been learning is to not mistake being uncomfortable or scarred, for being God saying, “No, this isn't in my perfect plan for you.” This is where A LOT of prayer is a very good thing. God a lot of time  gives me a burden for something that I’m really scarred of and uncomfortable with. It’s one of His ways of teaching me to trust fully in Him instead of myself. [Proverbs 3:5-6] “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”  We really shouldn't have a comfort zone with God because He’ll always be stretching it. 
Missions that God has given me is an amazing journey just waiting to be carried out. This journey is sometimes hard and uncomfortable, but with my Jesus by my side, I’ll find peace in Him every time. I will fall, I’ll fail, I’ll be angry, sad, but His love isn't conditioned on how we perform.
Every time I fall my Jesus is already there ready to set me on my feet again. His love is endless, abounding, FREE. I could never earn the love my Jesus has for me. This reminds me of an old hymn that I really love the lyrics to. 

Oh the deep, deep love of Jesus,

Vast unmeasured, boundless, free!

Rolling as a mighty ocean in its fullness over me!

Underneath me, all around me, is the current

Of Thy love

Leading onward, leading homeward to

Thy glorious rest above!

Oh the deep, deep love of Jesus,

Spread His praise from shore to shore!

How He loveth, ever loveth, changeth

never, nevermore!

How He watches o'er His loved ones,

died to call them all His own

how for them He intercedeth, watcheth

o'er them from the throne!

Oh the deep, deep love of Jesus,

'Tis a heav'n of heav'ns to me

And it lifts me up to glory, for it lifts me up to Thee!

Let go of yourself. Hold on to God.

~Beautifully Created 4 Christ~

~Colossians 3:2~

Deeper Roots

You smell the rain? Hear the deep rumble in the distant dark clouds? Feel the wind as it makes the trees dance? A storm is here. The sun was just warm and shining, a soft breeze was all there was. But, all you see now is the dark landscape with each streak of lightning. You're in a storm. It's getting louder with every boom. Having no shelter is going to make it hard to stay safe and dry. There's no peace standing in the rain, under the black clouds just asking you to step closer with ever flash of lightning. This is a storm.
Standing in the rain you feel as if your drowning. No where to go. It feels like you're forgetting something. It's so cold and dark. You feel so alone, miserable, and frightened.
But, as if from heaven itself, you hear a soft voice calling your name. This voice is softly saying, "Be still and know that I am God. Don't be afraid, fix your heart on Me, trust in Me." [Psalms 46:10, Psalms 112:11]
You may cry out, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Why art thou so far form helping me.." [Psalms 22:1]
What He wants you to remember is that He is your shepherd...He restoreth your soul...you should fear NO evil because He is with you. [Psalms 27]
You may be in the midst of a storm, but God never left you. In these storms it may take every ounce of your being to survive, but if we're fighting against the storm in Christ, we will come out stronger. Storms make trees take Deeper Roots. In the storm trust in God, it won't last forever. So, when it finally passes you'll have deeper roots because you were clinging to Christ. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. [James 4:8] I pray you'll come out with deeper roots in Christ with every passing storm.

~Beautifully Created 4 Christ~
~1 Chronicles 22:19~

Are You Too Busy?

Are you busy? It feels like my life never slows down, but I like busy.  Sometimes I have a tendency to be so busy with church, school, ministries, work, and things at home that I forget to leave time for the one who has blessed me with it all. I get too busy serving God that I don’t leave time for Him, or I work myself to where I’m too tired to focus on His word.  If you’re too busy to read your bible and pray, then you’re busier than God ever planned for you to be.  Don’t get so caught up in ministry and life that you lose sight of the One who gave it all. The One who all of life is supposed to be lived for.
Don’t put God in 2nd place to living life. Live life with Him, through Him, and in Him.
We were created to worship Him and sing praises to Him.
In my busy life God always has those ways of reminding me that at the end of every busy and stressful day, only in Him will I find rest. Matthew 11:28 “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I will.”

~Beautifully Created 4 Christ~
~1 Corinthians 13:2~

How Do You Talk to God?

A good friend of mine and I were having a discussion about prayer last week. Something

She mentioned really stood out and made me think, the way I talk to God reflects my relationship with Him.

I’d never thought about it that way before.

So, I was thinking on it. I know everyone talks to God in there own way, but looking at myself, I can tell how my relationship is with my Jesus by my prayer, my communication.

Not just that but a big part of it. So, I started looking at it a little more.

How do I talk to God, as friend or stranger? When do I talk to God, without ceasing or only in trial? Can I tell Him anything, am I telling everything?

I know when I’m out of fellowship or communication with my Jesus I have a hard time praying, a hard time talking to Him.

When I’ve sinned, and I’m being my stubborn self and don’t want to repent and

ask forgiveness right away, I feel like I can’t talk to God.

Then as I’m being convicted by the Holy Spirit and I finally confess, and fall into the arms of Jesus, it’s like a weight has been lifted.

I talk to my Jesus out loud or in my head.

While standing, sitting, laying down, or on my knees.

Sometimes life’s burden’s force me to my knees before my Jesus. Humbly, but boldly laying it all at His feet. I stand in awe of the peace I find only in Him.

Matthew 11:28 says, “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” The only true rest and peace is found in Him.

Each person communicates differently, so look at your prayer life. Talk to God about anything and everything.

Stay in constant communication with God.

He should be a BIG part of your life. He should be in the CENTER of everything you do.

Some days I know He’s there but I don’t acknowledge Him. I don’t include Him in every decision I make. He doesn’t want to be on the sidelines of you life waiting to be called on when you get hurt. He doesn’t want to be your plan B. With God you shouldn’t have a plan B.

Remember in Matthew 8 when the disciples and Jesus were in a ship in the sea? Jesus was there sleeping when a storm hit. The disciples freaked out. Even though Jesus was there the whole time they didn’t acknowledge Him there and trust Him. He has a plan, He was in control. They finally went to Jesus and woke him saying, “Lord, save us: we perish…” [Matthew 8:25b] And Jesus said, “Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith.” [Matthew 8:26] Why are you afraid in the storm? God is there waiting for you to call on Him, He’s waiting for you to talk to Him. He may not calm the storm as He did in Matthew 8, but He will give you rest, peace, and the strength to go on in Him.

So, be communicating with Christ all the time.

“Pray without ceasing.” [1 Thessalonians 5:17]

~Beautifully Created 4 Christ~

~Matthew 9:13~

Mountains Out of Mole Hills

The past few of weeks I've struggled with some things. I've been struggling with giving them over to God instead of me worrying it to death. It all seem like what God was calling me to do couldn't happen because I didn't have the means to do it with. I wouldn't have admitted it then, but I was doubting God. I figured He had the power to create the universe, knit me together in my mother's womb, give me a purpose, and show me where He wanted me to go, but, not be able to get me to that chapter in my life. No I was forgetting who my maker was, is, and will forever be. The one who listens to a child's first prayers, and is there to see every person who comes to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. I was reminded that my Jesus is bigger than the mountains I make out of mole hills. I bet God chuckles every time I make a mountain out of a mole hill.

About a week ago I gave that mountain to Him. Laid it at His feet.  Soon after He reminded that the mountain I'm seeing is only a mole hill because I know Christ. Philippians 4:13 says, "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." I love that verse! I (Felice) CAN do ALL things through Christ who gives ME (Felice) STRENGTH!
I have a problem with making mountains out of mole hill, just ask my mom. Like in math, the problem can seem so complicated and I'll try over and over to do it on my own, knowing I need help, and I'll get so frustrated and stressed over this one problem. But, when I finally take it to mom and ask for help and she explains, it turns out to be something so simple. That's the same with God, I need to learn to take my problems to God before I ever start stressing over them, getting frustrated, or getting worried.
    I love the way God works in people's lives. I've seen Him work throughout my life, especially looking back the last few years. He sends people who I've just met, friends, parents, and siblings to teach me lessons. I love my brothers, sister, and parents so much. I love my family. I'm so blessed I can't even begin to describe how much.
I've started to ramble some. I'm just can't thank my Jesus enough. He's done so much for a girl who doesn't deserve any of it. Joel 2:26,  "And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed." Never be ashamed of who you are in Christ, and remember to take EVERYTHING to God prayer.

~Beautifully Created 4 Christ~

~Philippians 4:19~

Not Old Enough?

"You're not old enough to hangout with us." "Go away and stop following us." "You're so annoying."

Stuff like this was probably said to when you were little, it was to me. Growing up, like a lot of little girls, I wanted to hangout with the older kids. To be involved and included. 

I was extremely blessed to have God put some godly teenage girls in my life when I was younger. Especially my piano teacher. She exhorted my little sister and I, played with us, and was an amazing testimony for me. 

God has put it on my heart to be that example to all the girls that are younger and older than me. Girls, especially when they're around 11-16, really need godly young ladies in there life lifting them up instead of taring them down. All young ladies should have other young ladies in there lives to encourage them and lift them up. It's our job as Christian young ladies to encourage and lift up the girls around us. Don't go around taring at girls just because you thing they may something you don't, or you think it will make you look cool and fit in when everyone else is taring someone down. There's a saying, "What Sally says of Sussy, says more about Sally than it does of Sussy." In other words what you say about someone else says more about what's in your heart than it does about what's in their's. James 4:10-11 says, "Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up. Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge." 

Share Christ's love not only by mouth, but by the things you do, every action speaks louder than all the words. 

Go out and include the girls around you in something you're doing. Lift someone up and make them feel loved, involved, and included! :)

~Beautifully Created 4 Christ~

~Hebrews 11:1~