“May He grant you according to your heart’s desire, and fulfill all your purpose.” Psalm 20:4 NKJV

As Christians, God’s desires for our lives should begin to become our own. And if our desires match God’s, He is faithful to fulfill those desires.

At the end of last year, I began to realize just how unsatisfied I was simply attending church and doing little else to serve others. So I told God this would be the year.

The year that with God’s guidance I really would begin to step out in my faith and not settle for less than everything He had in store for me. At the beginning of the year, I asked God to give me opportunities to step up in church and serve others. Throughout the year, I prayed for new opportunities to step out in faith-some very specific and some very general, but God began to answer many of those prayers with a yes!

Probably the biggest of these prayers concerned transferring to Trinity Baptist College. As the year went on, God began to open more and more doors to make the transfer possible.

I began to help in several “smaller” ministry projects as well…teaching in children’s church, starting a simple Christian blog, and working as a VBS craft helper. God was at work doing some great things, and I was glad to be a part of it in any small way I could.

Then I began to pray more specifically—for involvement in youth ministry. It wasn’t too long before my former youth pastor called me, needing a female chaperone to head out to youth camp. I couldn’t believe God had answered my prayer in such a short time in such a direct way. I accepted the offer, and had a blast as I went with the GP Youth to Student Life Camp.

As the following month progressed, however, I became a little dissatisfied. I loved being a part of spiritual growth that took place that week with my old church’s youth group, but what about the youth group at my current church? I saw the students more frequently than those of my former church and really wanted a way to connect with them. So, once again, I prayed.

Truthfully, even though I know I am supposed to pray in faith (Mark 11:24), I didn’t expect much from this prayer. The youth group appeared to have plenty of adult leaders, and I was too comfortable with our singles class to really step out on Wednesday nights.

But, to my surprise, I was approached by one of the youth workers and asked if I’d be interested in going to youth camp as a female chaperone if another adult was unable to go. I said yes immediately, remembering only afterward that I was in school this summer!

“Wait, wait. I have classes…”

I talked with the leader for a few more minutes, discussing some alternative options: the other chaperone might decide she wants to go anyway, but if not, I MIGHT be able to get a few days off school, if my professor isn’t strict with attendance, yada yada.

The conversation left me with mixed feelings of disappointment and determination. There was no way a professor would let me off for an entire week of a four-week class. And because I was transferring schools in August, I couldn’t simply wait until the fall to take the class.

“Oh, God, I was SO close,” I said. “I’ve been praying for this! Why would You bring me so close to this opportunity, and then snatch it away like that? Actually…that’s a good question…is that even what You’re doing?”

Over the next week, I prayed fervently that God would work out a way that I could go. The other chaperone then decided not to go, and the only thing that seemed to stand between me and camp was school.

So I talked to my professor.

“You want to take off the whole week?!” he asked.

“I mean, if that’s not too much to ask…If not, that’s ok…” (Confrontation of any kind isn’t my strength.)

“No, it’s ok. You can make up the test the week after.”

Wait…really???

Did you really just make that happen, God? Because that’s unbelievable!

So, I went. I spent half my camp free time doing homework, but I went and I’m so glad I did. I got to witness God do some amazing things in EYM and was glad to be a part of it, being blessed by the students, the messages, and the music, and getting to play a small role in God’s plans for the week. 

God is faithful. He has really taught me some cool things this year about prayer. God was willing to give me the desires of my heart because they matched His will for my life. However, He didn’t say yes to every opportunity I thought I was called to take part in. He gave me a “no” to several and maybe even “not now” to others…but that’s okay, because I know that simply means God had other plans for me. Besides, it’s only August and I’m still praying for several more opportunities to take part in this year. I’ve been blessed with a great year so far, full of answered prayers and amazing experiences, but I don’t think God’s finished with me yet. And I’m definitely not finished praying!

“So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.” Luke 9-10

What's in a Name?

I wrote the following article a few years ago and submitted it to Project Inspired, a website for teenage Christian girls to connect and gather inspiration for their spiritual lives. It came to my mind this morning as I thought about how weary I've felt lately...although I could write for lengths on the subject of weariness, I instead wanted to re-read this. I feel like God has given us our very own personalities for specific reasons...and a lot of times (more often than you might think), our names reflect those personalities very well! If you have never found out what your name means, I'd encourage you to do so and think about it as you read this!

"A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold."   

-Proverbs 22:1

In this passage, “a good name” is referring to a good reputation…but in Hebrew culture, the name itself was just as important as the person and reputation it represented.

Names were meant to describe the individual. Often, parents chose names based on their hopes for the future of their child. There were many times when God changed the names of those who followed Him to better suit the plan He had for their lives. Simon became Peter, meaning “a rock.” Abram became Abraham, meaning “father of a multitude.”

Likewise, when we are “born again” we receive a new name — Christian, meaning, “follower of Christ.”

I once heard a story of young man who died from a motorcycle accident. While I personally didn’t know him, I knew many people who did and heard his story. At the time of his death, the boy had been in a relationship with a young woman who was an atheist. While her boyfriend’s death had been hard on her, from the tragedy she gathered comfort from the Savior and became a Christian. The boyfriend’s name was Jesse.

Jesse means “God exists.”

How cool is that?

On the other hand, not everyone was given a name of honor. Take Jacob, for example. His name means “supplanter” or “usurper”–one who wrongfully seizes the place (throne) of another. And boy, does his name fit him! In Genesis 25, we see that Jacob exchanged stew for his starving older brother’s birthright, and in chapter 27, we see how Jacob tricks his near-blind father into bestowing that birthright upon him.

So, must we always live up to our names? Some people may need to live their name down. For instance, my name, Leah, means “weary.” I certainly don’t want to go through life as a weary person…and many times when I go through somewhat weary spells, it feels as if I will. It’s something I have to fight–I have a name to live down. Ironically, my middle name is Kay, which means “Joyful.” This gives me hope as I strive for an attitude of joy through the weariness I sometimes face.

Although Jacob’s story begins with him living up to his dishonorable name, ultimately he lives it down when he receives the name Israel, meaning “Prince of God.” Israel is very much like a prince. He later fathers a vast nation chosen by God, much like the eldest prince is chosen by the king to lead. This vast nation also took the name Israel.

So what does your name mean? If it’s honorable, do you live up to it? If it’s not so honorable, can you/do you live it down? What if your name doesn’t seem to have much of a meaning at all?
If your name is like Brooke, meaning “stream,” you may be dismayed at first. It doesn’t seem to carry much importance. But what about for ancient civilizations? Streams and other small bodies of water were at the center of all cultures. People couldn’t survive without the water that these streams provided.

Do a little research on your name. If you have the name of a Biblical character, read their story and learn about the type of person they were.

Also, take the time to meditate on the name of God. The Bible calls Him many names, and each shows a different face of our Lord.
A few of the many names of God:
Jehovah-tsikenu: Jehovah our righteousness
Jehovah-m’kaddesh: the Lord who sanctifies
Jehovah-shalom: God our peace
Jehovah-shammah: the Lord who is here
Jehovah-rapha: Jehovah heals
Jehovah-Jireh: the Lord my provider (This is probably my favorite!)
Jehovah-nissi: Jehovah my banner

Get to know Him better by getting to know His names. Strive to imitate them. Strive to create for yourself a holy image so that one day your name will be remembered for all the good that you’ve done in HIS name!

Practical Faith?

It was either my junior or senior year of high school when I read a powerful little book that I personally believe every Christian young lady should read: A Man Worth Waiting For by Jackie Kendall (Actually, it probably wouldn’t hurt all the young guys to give it a read either, it really is great!). While this book is slammed full of practical, godly advice for teenage girls, one quote in particular has resonated with me even now:

“You get what you settle for.”

It may seem like such a simple phrase to some, but I instantly fell in love with the powerful wisdom that saturated such few words.

Unfortunately, this quote wasn’t enough to keep me from settling a lot in the following few years anyway. I had always planned to go to a Christian university to pursue a major that I just knew God was going to use to allow me to be a part of something amazing. But when it came time to apply to colleges, I never even sent an application to the school I had already chosen. Instead, I sent out only two applications of enrollment, and neither of them to Christian universities but rather to small, (relatively) inexpensive universities close to home. I chose the closer, cheaper option of the two—the one that handed me a scholarship without even having to apply for it. And I mean, after all, the major I wanted to study was there too. However, it was only after I enrolled that I even visited the department, and as soon as I did, I realized that it was not at all like what I imagined it would be…and I didn’t want any part of it. Would I have felt the same way if I had enrolled at my original school choice? I’m not sure. But I do know that was the point in my life when I began to realize that settling for less than what God has in store for me is not only easy to do, but can be SO hard not to do, for lots of reasons.

I was scared. Terrified, really. I’d never been so far away from home that if I needed help from my parents, I couldn’t get it immediately.

I was lazy. if I could give you any advice about paying for school, it’d be this: It takes A LOT of work, but it’s do-able. And if hard work gets you into the college you need to be in, it’s worth it. Don’t just jump at the first school that offers you a scholarship. There are other scholarships and tons of fundraising ideas out there! I wish I realized that a lot sooner.

I was discouraged. Everyone gets it when you say the world discourages you from following God’s plans, but people are a little less understanding if you say His own followers do it too. All throughout my life I’d been advised to make only the most practical decisions‑­­‑decisions that required little faith in God because each plan had little risk to it.

Don’t get me wrong, practicality is important! You should never jump into a situation without thoroughly researching it. Yes, God gives us spiritual signs. He also gives us the ability to use discernment that comes through prayer and being studied up on the Word to distinguish between God’s voice and a fleeting desire. Sometimes, God calls us to act now. But there are several times when you’ll need to carefully think about situations before acting on them.

With that said, there is also point where “too much” practicality can become a hindrance to your faith--when you throw out God’s plan for your life because you’re scared it will leave you relying on nothing and no one but Him. And that is where a believer’s practicality becomes silly (which, ironically, is an antonym of practicality), because it goes against one of the core beliefs we as Christians should have about our Father—the belief that He is faithful and will be there to guide us. But, like I said before, all the advice that discouraged me from following God’s plans came not from unbelievers, but from all the Christian influences in my life: parents, youth pastors, and preachers! And do you know why? Yes, they were concerned for me. They didn’t want me to jump too quickly into a situation that’d I’d end up regretting. But they were also just as afraid of their own failure as I was of mine. Every single person that ever discouraged me from pursuing my God-placed dreams had given in to this same kind of practicality. Not one was willing to dive in head-first to the life God had planned for them. Rather, each one had become accustomed to simply standing at the water’s edge dangling their toes just above the water, knowing right when to snatch their feet back up to avoid getting even a little wet. And since they felt safe simply standing next to the water, they all encouraged me to do the same. And I did. And if you’ve never been faced with a decision like that, I hope you realize it is the one of the most dissatisfying feelings in the world to simply stand by the water’s edge when God has created you to dive headfirst into a richer life than you could ever imagine.  

And if you have experienced this like I have, know that it’s not too late to dive.

I’m STILL trying to figure out God’s plan for me. But I have determined that I will NOT LET fear, laziness, and discouragement keep me from figuring it out.

You have dreams, I know you do. God has placed dreams in your heart for you to follow them. And while chasing your God-given dreams can be an extraordinarily scary thing, settling for ordinary can be far scarier. Remember, you get what you settle for. Don’t settle for anything less than everything God has for in store for you.

Wanted By the Giver of Light

"You Created the Stars, Yet You Still Want My Heart."

I saw the above quote yesterday on Pinterest, pinned by Not of This World Clothing. It reminds me of one of my favorite songs I had growing up, Matthew West's song More. I listened to words several times growing up, and they will forever stick with me: "I love you more than the sun and the stars that I taught how to shine. You are Mine, and you shine for Me too; I love you."

 It has always amazed me that the Giver of Light finds delight in ME...as dark and as far from holy as I am. Not only that, but He WANTS me. He really just WANTS me. Not to just hang around for a little bit and then throw me away when I get boring, not to have me bring Him to Show-And-tell so everybody can see how cool He is. But oh man, God wants me. He wants me when I'm hurting. He wants to wipe the tears from my eyes and scoop me up, giving me a hug and then placing me in His lap (is it weird to envision that? I've always thought of it that way...). He wants to hear how my day has been, even though He's been there every minute of the day. He wants to hear my laugh, even though I think it's terrible, because He created it and therefore, it is beautiful. He wants to be with me constantly, because, for some crazy reason, God loves me.

More than that, this quote reminds me that God may have a million other things going on, that He may have "Bigger" projects to attend to, but of course He is still going to notice when I am not giving Him 100%. Because, yes, God does have other things to do. But He still manages to be there for me in every moment.

God wants your heart. Your whole heart. Give it to Him, and let His light shine through it, making it more beautiful than any night sky.