Wednesday, May 7, 2014
Sunday, May 4, 2014
Saturday, May 3, 2014
Hope for Hurting Hearts
This post is part of the Fly a Little Higher (book) blog tour which I am delighted to be a part of along with hundreds of bloggers raising awareness and giving hope to those with cancer. To learn more and join us, click here and grab a copy of the book here.
Fly a Little Higher is a book written by Laura Sobiech who is the mother of Zach Sobiech. Laura spent the last three years walking alongside her teenage son Zach throughout his journey with cancer and blogging about their battle with the disease. The song “Clouds” was Zach’s farewell to family and friends and it hit #1 on iTunes the same week he passed away in May 2013.
~*~
Fly a Little Higher is a book written by Laura Sobiech who is the mother of Zach Sobiech. Laura spent the last three years walking alongside her teenage son Zach throughout his journey with cancer and blogging about their battle with the disease. The song “Clouds” was Zach’s farewell to family and friends and it hit #1 on iTunes the same week he passed away in May 2013.
~*~
Hope for Hurting Hearts
A blog tour post written by Alexis A. Goring
“The worst thing you can do when you’re discouraged is isolate yourself.”
Holly Furtick, wife of Steven Furtick who is the lead pastor of Elevation Church in North Carolina, preached a sermon on discouragement—how to recognize it as an attack from the enemy and how to overcome it. Essentially, Holly said when you feel discouraged, don’t isolate yourself—get around people. It is important to reach out to others and make effort to be in social situations such as volunteering for a cause close to your heart because participation in community can help heal the human heart.
There was a time in my life when I felt I could not get around people to ease my discouragement because people would not understand what I’d experienced nor be able to help me with what I went through. But in those dark moments, I learned about someone who could help me in a way no human can. His name is Jesus Christ. It was through the traumatic time in my life that I learned more about who Jesus is…a Comforter, a Savior, and the Truest Friend I’ll ever have in this journey called life.
Growing up, I was surrounded with people who knew Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. My ears constantly heard stories about how God was working in the lives of those around me. But I didn’t come to know Jesus Christ on a deep and personal level until going through the dark time where He was the only one who understood me and was there for me when no one else could be present.
The dark time for me was having a nervous breakdown at the age of 16. I had to be hospitalized for about a week or two (the exact dates I do not remember). A lot of issues were going on at the time, issues that made me feel completely alone and isolated. After being diagnosed the doctors prescribed me a medicine that I’m supposed to take for the rest of my life as long as I’m battling this illness. The medicine helped me manage my illness but it also created a deep, ravenous hunger within me and for the first few months of returning home from the hospital, I ate like there was no tomorrow. I craved carbs. I craved sugar and anytime I had access to those items, I ate like eating was going out of style.
But even with the constant eating, I was not satisfied because the hunger felt endless. The major affect from the medicine is weight gain and my size ballooned—I gained more than 100 pounds in less than six months and it’s been difficult to lose the weight ever since. Clearly, going from a size six to double-digit clothing and shopping at plus size stores like Ashley Stewart and Lane Bryant did a number on my self-esteem. And as for dating? I knew no guy was going to ask me out looking the way I did so I didn’t even act interested. My depression from the side effects of the medicine caused me to withdraw from social situations and walk around in a metaphorical bubble. I figured that if I didn’t let anyone get close to me, I couldn’t be hurt. I knew that if I acted like the stares and whispers about my new bloated figure didn’t bother me and if I used humor and laughed a lot then most people would consider me simply as another fat and happy person when inwardly the opposite was true.
Sometimes my mom and I have conversations about my illness, the medicine and my experience. During those conversations, sometimes the question arises about “why” God allowed this to happen to me. The question often isn’t entertained because God is Sovereign and He knows what He’s doing however one day, the answer sprang up from the depths of my soul. “Because He (God) wanted to birth a ministry,” I said. The words just flowed up from my heart into my throat and out of my mouth. Instantly, I knew God was speaking through me and realized that those words are completely true. It was a revelation for me because I finally realized that the dark time I went through was purposed to help me grow close to the heart of God and inspire others to know Him as their Lord and Savior. Near to the heart of God is the place where I learned of His endless love, healing compassion, grace and mercy for not just me but ALL of His children.
Since that time, I endeavor to tell the whole world about the goodness of God and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It’s a message of HOPE, FAITH, LOVE and proves that at the heart of Christianity is an altar call. A call from the heart of God asking you gently to come to know Him for yourself and to come just as you are. God will not judge your looks because He sees your heart and knows exactly who you are and what you need. I believe a need for Jesus Christ is nestled deep inside each of our hearts and only He can satisfy our hunger for Him.
In closing, I’d like to share with you the story of Zach Sobiech. I believe His life was a blessing to all he encountered and his death was the beginning of something powerful—God using Zach's story as one of His ways to encourage, uplift and save lives. But it doesn't stop there, it continues in the life stories of every person who reads Laura Sobiech's book, Fly a Little Higher or listens to Zach’s song, “Clouds” on iTunes. I encourage you to buy the book and write a review telling the world how reading about such a selfless and brave soul (Zach) encouraged you in your life’s journey.
A blog tour post written by Alexis A. Goring
“The worst thing you can do when you’re discouraged is isolate yourself.”
- Holly Furtick
Holly Furtick, wife of Steven Furtick who is the lead pastor of Elevation Church in North Carolina, preached a sermon on discouragement—how to recognize it as an attack from the enemy and how to overcome it. Essentially, Holly said when you feel discouraged, don’t isolate yourself—get around people. It is important to reach out to others and make effort to be in social situations such as volunteering for a cause close to your heart because participation in community can help heal the human heart.
There was a time in my life when I felt I could not get around people to ease my discouragement because people would not understand what I’d experienced nor be able to help me with what I went through. But in those dark moments, I learned about someone who could help me in a way no human can. His name is Jesus Christ. It was through the traumatic time in my life that I learned more about who Jesus is…a Comforter, a Savior, and the Truest Friend I’ll ever have in this journey called life.
Growing up, I was surrounded with people who knew Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. My ears constantly heard stories about how God was working in the lives of those around me. But I didn’t come to know Jesus Christ on a deep and personal level until going through the dark time where He was the only one who understood me and was there for me when no one else could be present.
The dark time for me was having a nervous breakdown at the age of 16. I had to be hospitalized for about a week or two (the exact dates I do not remember). A lot of issues were going on at the time, issues that made me feel completely alone and isolated. After being diagnosed the doctors prescribed me a medicine that I’m supposed to take for the rest of my life as long as I’m battling this illness. The medicine helped me manage my illness but it also created a deep, ravenous hunger within me and for the first few months of returning home from the hospital, I ate like there was no tomorrow. I craved carbs. I craved sugar and anytime I had access to those items, I ate like eating was going out of style.
But even with the constant eating, I was not satisfied because the hunger felt endless. The major affect from the medicine is weight gain and my size ballooned—I gained more than 100 pounds in less than six months and it’s been difficult to lose the weight ever since. Clearly, going from a size six to double-digit clothing and shopping at plus size stores like Ashley Stewart and Lane Bryant did a number on my self-esteem. And as for dating? I knew no guy was going to ask me out looking the way I did so I didn’t even act interested. My depression from the side effects of the medicine caused me to withdraw from social situations and walk around in a metaphorical bubble. I figured that if I didn’t let anyone get close to me, I couldn’t be hurt. I knew that if I acted like the stares and whispers about my new bloated figure didn’t bother me and if I used humor and laughed a lot then most people would consider me simply as another fat and happy person when inwardly the opposite was true.
Sometimes my mom and I have conversations about my illness, the medicine and my experience. During those conversations, sometimes the question arises about “why” God allowed this to happen to me. The question often isn’t entertained because God is Sovereign and He knows what He’s doing however one day, the answer sprang up from the depths of my soul. “Because He (God) wanted to birth a ministry,” I said. The words just flowed up from my heart into my throat and out of my mouth. Instantly, I knew God was speaking through me and realized that those words are completely true. It was a revelation for me because I finally realized that the dark time I went through was purposed to help me grow close to the heart of God and inspire others to know Him as their Lord and Savior. Near to the heart of God is the place where I learned of His endless love, healing compassion, grace and mercy for not just me but ALL of His children.
Since that time, I endeavor to tell the whole world about the goodness of God and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It’s a message of HOPE, FAITH, LOVE and proves that at the heart of Christianity is an altar call. A call from the heart of God asking you gently to come to know Him for yourself and to come just as you are. God will not judge your looks because He sees your heart and knows exactly who you are and what you need. I believe a need for Jesus Christ is nestled deep inside each of our hearts and only He can satisfy our hunger for Him.
In closing, I’d like to share with you the story of Zach Sobiech. I believe His life was a blessing to all he encountered and his death was the beginning of something powerful—God using Zach's story as one of His ways to encourage, uplift and save lives. But it doesn't stop there, it continues in the life stories of every person who reads Laura Sobiech's book, Fly a Little Higher or listens to Zach’s song, “Clouds” on iTunes. I encourage you to buy the book and write a review telling the world how reading about such a selfless and brave soul (Zach) encouraged you in your life’s journey.
Tuesday, April 22, 2014
Monday, April 7, 2014
The Greatest Love Story Gives Hope for Humanity
"I believe Love Story is a truly beautiful movie but it made me sad not just because the leading lady died and the leading man was devastated but because these fictional characters named Oliver and Jenny did not believe in God or accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior which left them with NO HOPE and resulted in death closing the final curtain on their love story and separating them forever. Such a story line, though fictional, bothers me to no end because there are REAL people like Oliver and Jenny in this world who are living life without plans for the future beyond their life story on this Earth."
Do you ever wish you could live forever and cherish those you love for an eternity? I've tackled these issues in my first seasonal guest post for His Yes Girls! Read the entire post here.
Thursday, April 3, 2014
Define The Relationship, A Guest Post by Kait Walla
DTR- Define The Relationship.
The 'DTR' talk is the point in time when two people who are casually dating have to have 'the talk' where they officially decide whether their relationship is casual and they can see other people, or if this relationship has taken a serious turn and they want to exclusively see each other. They have to define where their relationship is at and where it is headed. In The Bible it clearly states that if you confess that Jesus Christ is Lord with your mouth and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. (i.e. a child of God) Romans 10:9 To state the obvious, if you have not accepted Jesus, you do not have a relationship with Him to define. Just going to church every Sunday is not enough, Scripture states that you must confess these things with your mouth as well as your heart.
Are you qualified to DYR (define your relationship)?
Once you have your salvation you are qualified to define the relationship you have with Jesus. Do you want a casual relationship with Him or something more than that--something serious? Now let me be clear here, I am not denying the fact that once you are saved you are going to Heaven and are a child of God! You are and that won't change, but don't you want more than that? Don't you want the whole enchilada? Don't you want to live out the perfect life that God created for you? For a long time I didn't even realize that I didn't want that. It wasn't on purpose but I did not see what was so wrong with my life that I needed God to fix, I believed in God and prayed every night. I knew God was leading and guiding me, but looking back, I think I only called on Him when I needed or wanted something. The relationship I had with Him was casual because of my choice for it to be. I loved God but I was just fine with the way my life was, I truly think that I didn't want God to come in and 'mess things up' for me.
II Corinthians 13:5 Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified.
Exclusivity
To examine myself meant that I needed to ask myself, "Am I all in?" Am I just a 'believer' or am I a doer of the Word also? Did I define my relationship to Christ as committed, or nothing serious? I know I am qualified because I have accepted Jesus Christ as my personal Lord and Savior but am I using my qualifications?
It was about a year ago when I realized that I was not serious about Jesus at all. I am a huge believer in respect. I don't like when I am talking to someone and they are not giving me their full attention as I always try to give people my full attention. I think as humans we have to have a mutual respect for each other because it just makes everything better. One day I was studying my Bible and reading in Matthew chapter 18 verse 11 and here it states "For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost." It hit me like a ton of bricks when I read this. Jesus Christ came to Earth for one sole purpose; to save the lost people. To save all of us who didn't deserve it. Jesus did lots of things while on the Earth like serve others, humble himself, teach people the good news about God, be an example of the goodness of God, the list goes on and on. But all of these things boil down to saving the lost.
Me treating Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior as some casual, blasé relationship made my stomach sick. It was at this moment when I really mediated on Jesus Christ taking the nails for me, boring the lashing for my sins and your sins and everybody on this Earth's sins when He was the most perfect person to ever walk this Earth. At this point I started respecting what Jesus did for me by making my relationship with Him exclusive and serious. I now try to take the time to honor Him (and God) by giving them my time. I honor His sacrifices by seeking God first and foremost, it no longer matters to me what worldly things I used to want out of life because all I yearn to do is spread the good news of the Gospel.
I have been so favored in my life, more blessed than I deserve, but even when my back was turned to my Creator and my Savior and I didn't even realize it, they both were still extending their hands to me. No matter what I did, They never turned their back on me. This is why I choose exclusivity. I choose exclusivity because Jesus took the nails and died on the cross exclusively so that we may have life and life more abundantly. God took the time to create each one of us differently yet exclusively in His perfect image. God has chosen to have exclusive relationships with each and every one of us, and I don't want to see other people.
Fulfilling His Purpose | Philippians 2:13 | His Yes Girl, Kait
@hisyesgirls (Twitter)
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