3 Truths and a Lie

It's been a while but i'm back!

The Lord is so faithful and has been at work in the lives of so many at Troy. I have to share!!
Momentum Ministries, which is the student led service on sunday mornings on campus is really doing well. Dad has been so passionate about Troy since he fell in love with the Lord there, it has been so neat so see God bring Troy back into his life several years later and what a joy it has been! Dad serves as the on campus pastor via videos each week. It's incredible how the Lord has worked everything out leading up to this ministry beginning, and even now as it has been almost two whole semesters!! Momentum first started last semester and has had a consistent group of college students, and even a few older couples! Since the service is student led we all decided to do an Easter Celebration service during the week so we could all be home with our families for the weekend! Dad, Rach, and Jer came down and it was such a sweet time of praise and worship to our King!! Several people surrendered there lives to Christ, what a joy for the kingdom! To him be all the glory and praise!!

In my life right now, i have been reminded of several truths!
The first: The Power or Prayer
Jeremiah 33:3 says
"Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know."
What truth this verse has brought to my life, the Lord longs to be gracious to us, when we truly rest in him, and call upon him to reveal his will for us, it is amazing to see and experience not only the freedom that comes in learning to be still, but what peace of being reminded that he is in control!!!!

The Second:
The Lord does not call us to be comfortable!
1 Peter 5:10 says
"And the God of all grace who has called you into his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm, and steadfast."

That verse brings such joy to my life. Why? Because it says, although things may not be easy, and you may suffer, after just a little while , the lord HIMSELF will restore you, making you strong where you were once weak, firm where you were once easily shaken, and steadfast where you were once wavering.
Not only is it so easy for us to become content, and set in our ways, but what we are saying is ok Lord ive got it now, i dont need you. No! This is such a lie, in fact the enemy longs for us to be comfortable because then we become lazy and slowly can lose sight of the things that truly matter.
You may say, how do i rest in the Lord, but not become comfortable, that seems like a contradiction, but that leads me to the next truth!!

Third: The Holy Spirit brings TRUTH!
You can rest in Him, and allow him to have his way in your life. Being uncomfortable is a command for our everyday lives; in evangelism leading to one on one discipleship, trials we may encounter, and even seeing and experiencing things we may never understand.
I recently learned the Holy spirit, is also referred to as the Spirit of Truth.
John 14:16-18
"And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another [and this word in Greek means: another of the same kind] Helper, that He may abide with you forever -- the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you."

Not only does he promise to provide us with a helper (the Holy Spirit) but he ends with a promise that he will never leave us!! What JOY that is! No matter what we may be going through, feeling, or the things yet to come, we can have peace because the Lord has promised we will NEVER be alone! As dad preached several weeks ago: "LEFT ALONE, BUT NOT LEFT BEHIND!"


The Lie:
"You are worthless, inadequate, and unequipped.
You are ugly, Who you are isn't good enough, You are unlovable.
It pains my heart to even type these things, but we know in some type of form or another, we have believed these very things at times. The best advice i was given recently was this, when you find yourself beginning to believe a lie, replace it with the truth.

Lets do it!
Lie: You are worthless!
Truth: "I am my beloveds, and HE IS MINE!" Song of Songs 6:3

Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the Lord you God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. (Isaiah 43:1-3)


Lie: You are Inadequate
Truth:But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. (2 Corinthians 12:9)

Lie: You are Unequipped
Truth: "May he equip you with all you need for doing his will. May he produce in you, through the power of Jesus Christ, every good thing that is pleasing to him. All glory to him forever and ever! Amen." (Hebrews 13:21)

Lie:You are Ugly
Truth:"The king is enthralled by your beauty; honor him, for he is your lord."(Psalm 45:11)

"Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised." (Proverbs 31:30)

"But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”
(1 Samuel 16:7)


Lie: Who you are isn't good enough!

Truth:I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful,
I know that full well. (Psalm 139:14)

But now thus says the Lord,
he who created you, O Jacob,
he who formed you, O Israel:
“Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by name, you are mine.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;
when you walk through fire you shall not be burned,
and the flame shall not consume you. (Isaiah 43:1-2)

Lie: You are unloveable.
Truth:"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
(Romans 5:8)

"I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.: (John 17:23)

"Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love."
(1 John 4:8)

In closing, you are dearly loved!! (Ephesians 5:1) May you be encouraged that God, the maker or heaven and of earth, longs to know you more, and have you rest in him. May you all have a blessed Easter, HE REIGNS!!!

With love,
Hannah

Isaiah 55:8
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD.

Why is it so hard for us to give up control of our lives? Or let me rephrase that, why do we think we are in control?
Time and time again i not only try to plan things out myself, but i am often let down when things do not work out as i have planned, and now wonder why...
The Lord calls us to seek him with our whole heart, and WHEN
"You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." (Jeremiah 29:13)
I listened to a girl share her testimony tonight and her story is this..

I was chasing a life that would never bring fulfillment, only to be let down by everyone around me, to feel rejected, lonely, and even worthless, BUT NOW ( don't you just love those two words?!) I have found the hope that is found in JESUS!

We all have but now moments praise GOD!

She went on to say, its only when she surrendered the mentality to let go that she lost her life, so that she may gain life in eternity.
"He who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted." (Luke 14:11)

Apple Dip!

Rach and I enjoying the first bite :)








I hate to say that i made this over two weeks ago, but am now just getting the chance to post about it! School has officially kicked into high gear, but no worries i am reprioritizing and am not neglecting my desire to learn how to cook. My first attempt, was this apple dip, and if i do say so myself it was quite delicious.
You can make it too! Heres how:

1 8oz package of cream cheese
3/4 C Brown Sugar
1 tsp. Vanilla
Chopped Pecans ( 1/4- 1 C)

*Mix all ingredients except for pecans into a bowl. Form into a ball-like shape, then mix in pecans. Refrigerate and Serve!

P.S. The brown sugar i used had been in the freezer so i had to melt it down, making the dip soupy instead of a ball. Either way though it's still DELICIOUS!!

Stay tuned for next post...Monkey Bread!

It's a New Day!

My New Years Resolutions:
-To spend more intimate time with the Lord, unfortunately my quiet times have grown to be short and way to quick, not anymore, I want to sit in silence to listen, as well as on my knees dedicated to pray for others in need.
-To invest in peoples lives
-To encourage others, as well as fight my urge to get an attitude. ( Why is it we are the rudest at times to the ones we love the most?) Makes no sense; therefore i am working on this! Thank you to my sweet family and friends for your patience when i have my moments.
-To compete in Miss Troy University ( Jan 30), which requires getting into "bikini tip top shape" ( Yes, there is a swimsuit part, because it is a preliminary to Miss Alabama ahhh... Need i say more!
-To learn how to cook ( and like stated before, a recipe will be posted along with a picture this weekend!)
-And lastly, To Sponsor this little girl...




Her name is Josselyn Maylin De La Cruz Morales, and she is already becoming one of the joys of my life to wake up to. I am sponsoring her through Compassion International and look forward to our letters of communication in the months to come. Joselyn is five years old, from Guatemala, from a small town named El Gallito. If you haven't sponsored a child before I encourage you to do so, it is a simple process, just go online to www.compassion.com
and you can browse through all of the children waiting to be sponsored. For only 38.00 a month, the children are given everything they need to live. Although it was so hard to pick one out of so many, there was something about this sweet little girl that immediately caused me to fall in love with her. I will be sure to blog when i here back from her, it's so amazing that we can communicate and i feel so blessed to be able to invest in her life.

I'm hoping through posting my resolutions, that somehow makes me more accountable to holding them haha...I am so looking forward to all the wonderful things to come in this year, May God bless you all!
In Him,
Hann

Bon Appetit!

I'm sure many of you have seen or at least heard of the movie " Julie and Julia" but Mom, Dad, and I recently rented it and really enjoyed it. ( Well mom and i of course, poor dad fell asleep throughout the movie.) There were some parts, like most movies now days that could have easily been left out, but it led me to one of 3 new years resolutions. TO LEARN HOW TO COOK!

Although i am not able to do a recipe everyday due to the time that would take, i have decided that i am going to put a new recipe up that i have made each week. The movie was so inspiring to learn how to cook, i'm up for the challenge! :)
I'll also be able to encorporate pictures now thanks to my parents who gave me a digital camera for Christmas. It's been so long since i've had a camera its no longer a habit to pull it out, ( I know dad, big statement for me to say lol) but i'm going to do better, and keep this blog updated this semester! In the meantime, i hope you all have had a wonderful Christmas and New years, now back to the real world whether it be school or work. It's a new year!

Stay tuned for recipes to come! :)
-Hannah

"To blessed to be stressed"

I have to give credit to the title of this blog to my dad. While taking the youth group to New York one year for Choir tour, dad found a shirt with this quote on it, and it has been a favorite saying of ours ever since. Never mind that that same t-shirt ended up shrinking and could only fit a toddler, it serves a great message and I'm finding it to be more true each and every day.

Starting the evening off with the Candlelight Service at Church, The night could not have been any more perfect with a wonderful night of worship, dinner with the family, and a wonderful Christmas morning to come!

Christmas morning soon came, and we had an incredible breakfast, but the memories made will last a lifetime. Cliche' i know, but i really mean it. I've never had such an appreciation for family like i do now. How great the fathers love for each one of us, that he would not only send his son to be born to one day save us, but that same, gracious, limitless, God cares enough to place people into our lives, to encourage and love us, all so that we may see his unfailing love for us.

I'm not saying families are perfect, in fact broken-ness is a part of life, however, there is nothing that the Lord can't redeem. No amount of sin, can make him love you less, or even more, that's the beauty of grace.

This Christmas, i realized I am showered in grace, i am blessed, and I am now more than ever in need of savior!

Although the Christmas season is filled with endless amounts of joy i would be lying if i told you there were not times that i lost that joy, nevertheless it is so great to be reminded that:

When I am prideful- He humbles me

When I am dirty- He is flawless

When I am cranky- He is patient

When I am angry- He is slow to anger

AND WHEN I AM

Broken- He heals me

You may feel content, I did for a while, but unless the Lord surrounds every aspect of your life, you will always desire more. It took me being broken to realize, how much of a mess i truly am, and then and only then, can he begin to heal you, because you finally surrender every part of your life, you have so despereately been longing to complete. He is the only since of Joy there is, no toy, article of clothing, or amount of money will ever fill that void, only Jesus!

I know Christmas has passed, but i encourage you to take away this very message, the God, who sent his son in the form of a baby boy, is the same God who cares for you, and longs to give you unspeakable and undeniable Joy! May we all carry that into the new year!

You hold me now!

I couldn't find the song I wanted to have playing in the background, so ill post the lyrics...

"You Hold Me Now" by hillsong

On that day when I see
All that You have for me
When I see You face to face
There surrounded by Your grace

All my fear is swept away
In the light of your embrace
When Your love is all I need
And forever I am free

Where the streets are made of gold
In Your presence healed and whole
Let the songs of heaven rise to you alone

No weeping, no hurt or pain
No suffering You hold me now
You hold me now
No darkness no sick or lame
No hiding You hold me now, 
You hold me now

In this life I will stand
Through my joy and my pain
Knowing there's a greater day
There's a hope that never fails

When Your name is lifted high
And forever praises rise
For the glory of Your Name
I'm believing for the day

When the wars and violence cease
All creation lives in peace
Let the songs of heaven rise to you alone

No weeping, no hurt or pain
No suffering You hold me now
You hold me now
No darkness, no sick or lame
No hiding You hold me now, 
You hold me now

For eternity
All my heart will give
All the glory to Your name

So I'm going to be more real in this blog, than i have been in any other previous post. These past few days I feel like dating, relationships, and even the act of being pursued, have been brought to mind, and rather than trying to explain it through texts, or even in passing, i really wanted to take time and write out exactly how i feel about dating and what the Lord has led me to believe.

Dating in modern day has been made out to be casual, and i believe it is everything but that.

Let me explain myself a little better, I know you have to date to get to the point of marriage, but if you don't see qualities in him/ her that you would want in your spouse, or they are not pushing you to be a better man of God (And more specifically Girls- Protecting your purity as well as leading you spiritually) then what is the point?

Here are my thoughts...

Guys:

If you see a girl, be aware of why you notice her, is it her looks, or is it more to that? Looks can attract you yes, but is it her heart that draws you close to her, is it the love of the lord that you are attracted to? Because if it isn't, there is no point, nor need to go any further to pursue a relationship with her. 

That's biblical ( 2 cor. 6:14)

Don't "date just to date", and not to "learn as you go" You can learn from the Lord without putting both yours and her heart on the line time and time again.

Girls:

We are called to be pursued, we are not to do the chasing, but to cling to the lord with all that we have knowing in his time, he will bring that man that will pursue YOU.

Notice this puts a lot of weight on the guys, but not really, see they are called to pursue the Lord with all they have as well and when ( and only when) they are at a place that they can lead the two of you in a Christ centered relationship then they are to move forward. As women, we are beautiful, valued, and so special to the Lord. 

Relationships now are so skewed; I have to admit that up until two years ago, i found myself falling for the fairy tale story line and longing for my prince to sweep me off my feet, carry me away, and we would live happily ever after. However as glamorous as that sounds, its not about you at all. The SOLE and primary purpose of a relationship between two believers is to push one another towards our God.  

If the Lord were to take you now, would you be ready? Would you be completely avaliable, or would you hold back? You may think, of course not, I would go now. But ill be the first to say a year ago i would selfishily say, no marriage, no kids no family, surely he would wait until after. See I found myself limiting what a relationship was designed to be. What hollywood has portrayed dating to be, it's not, because the Lord is not in it. My new perspective is in the song above, it says

"For eternity All my heart will give, all the glory to your name!"

The man my soul loves and longs to be with, is waiting, and if that would be his desire to take me now, before my husband could come, so be it, for He who has promised is faithful and although i have a passion to be married one day, I want to do his will.

It is:

When you as a single woman or man have made pursuing the Lord the primary purpose of your life, that the Lord knows he had your heart, and allows another man or woman into your life, to be your "other half" to bring glory to HIM! Though you may say ok hannah, in a perfect world...but this is it, this is what its all about bringing glory to his name. It it is a promise from our sweet and merciful saviour because He loves you!! He longs to give you that man/woman that will love you as he does, but we have to be willing to wait. Waiting means, not settling, not saying "for the time being" or even thinking how else am I going to learn? Waiting means depending on the Lord, allowing him to shape you, and take FULL advantage of your singleness, because one day it will never be the same, don't waste time, don't miss out on what the Lord wants you to see because you are so wrapped up in dating. Rest in the Lords peace and know, He is and will always be MORE than enough!

-Hann