July 2011
“A while back a former gang member came to our church. He was heavily tattooed and rough around the edges, but he was curious to see what church was like. He had a relationship with Jesus and seemed to get fairly involved with the church. After a few months, I found out the guy was no longer coming to the church. When asked why he didn’t come anymore, he gave the following explanation: “I had the wrong idea of what church was going to be like. When I joined the church, I thought it was going to be like joining a gang. You see, in the gangs we weren’t just nice to each other once a week—we were family.” That killed me because I knew that what he expected is what the church is intended to be. It saddened me to think that a gang could paint a better picture of commitment, loyalty, and family than the local church body. The church is intended to be a beautiful place of community. A place where wealth is shared and when one suffers, everyone suffers. A place where when one rejoices, everyone rejoices. A place where everyone experiences real love and acceptance in the midst of great honesty about our brokenness. Yet most of the time this is not even close to how we would describe our churches.”
—Francis Chan (via nonelikejesus)
A man who is not chasing God's heart should not be chasing mine.
Hillsong Live - God is Able‏
God is Able by Hillsong Live
My God, how faithful You have been.
When it's getting really late, but you're talking to the person that you like/love talking to and, you don't want to leave.
and your eyes are all like:
Play
“Don’t be religious, be you, be authentic and unique but with Christ living in your heart”
—Pastor Cesar Castellanos
Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. Galatians 5:1
Happy Birthday to Me and My Twin Sister =)
Born Together and Friends Forever
My other half and best friend, love you so much!!!
What would I have done without you? You have been there for me always, through the good times and bad times. Despite the fights, yelling, screaming, etc. etc. It made us stronger. I am blessed to have you in my life. I hope God continues to bless you in the years ahead. No matter what you go through always remember that God loves you and is with you. Keep your head high!!! I believe in you, little one :) You deserve to be successful in all you do! <3
A joy that is shared is a joy made double.
Play
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If you are a Christian blog, reblog this and I'll follow you. I need some encouraging stuff on my dash right now.
"God has a plan for your life. The Enemy has a plan for your life. Be ready for both. Just be wise enough to know which one to battle and which one to embrace."
William McDowell - I Give Myself Away
“I Give Myself Away” by William McDowell. I’ve been singing this song for the past eight months. It never gets old.
"No Boyfriends"
This morning a man at the mall stopped in his tracks and stared at me in astonishment when I told him that I don’t have a boyfriend. I told him I was waiting on God’s perfect timing in bringing the right man into my life.
“Honey, there ain’t no perfect guy out there. And you’re gonna have to wait a long time for any guy if you don’t got a boyfriend now.”
“I know that there’s no perfect man out there, but there is a perfect God. And He has perfect plans for me. I’ll trust Him.”
“You shouldn’t wait on Him. You need to get out there and find yourself a guy. Otherwise you’ll be waiting a long, long time.” He pronounced those last three words ominously, like a bad nightmare or a lifelong prison sentence.
“No, I don’t need to get out there and find some guy. God will do that for me.” I simply said.
The man just shook his head and went away mumbling about how naive I was and how I had to find a guy real soon, because one couldn’t rely on God.
I stared into nothingness as the man’s retreating steps echoed down the hall. Instead of the fear and impulsiveness and go-find-him-now mentality that the man at the mall tried to instill in me, peace and assurance surrounded my heart. I was reminded of where it says in Proverbs 18:22 that “He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the Lord.” Notice that the verse clearly indicates that it’s the man who finds the wife and not the other way around!
Another quote by Christian author Max Lucado further assured me that “a woman’s heart must be so hidden in God that a man has to seek Him just to find her.”
Worldly wisdom says to go find a guy – now! Worldly wisdom says you must have a boyfriend. Worldly wisdom says that you won’t be satisfied until you have one. Worldly wisdom says to do it yourself.
The thing is, worldly wisdom is the opposite of Godly wisdom – of God’s way of doing things.
Godly wisdom says to wait, be patient. Godly wisdom says that you don’t have to have a boyfriend. Godly wisdom says that you can be satisfied in God alone. Godly wisdom says that you should let God script your love story.
So, who would you rather stick with – the world and their “wisdom” or a holy, perfect, and loving God who is all-knowing, all-powerful, and has your best interest at heart?
I’ll stick with Him.
By: Joanna Suich
God doesn't want us to quit, but trust Him through all the hard times of life. God believes in us all.
A single day in your courts is better than a thousand anywhere else! I would rather be a gatekeeper in the house of my God than live the good life in the homes of the wicked. Psalm 84:10
"It's in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for." -Ephesians 1:11
50 Random Facts About Me.
1. I love helping people. <3
2. I never had funnel cake yet.
3. My favorite color is lime-green.
4. For some odd reason, I love the smell of whiteout and gasoline.
5. My 2011 New Year's resolution was not to drink coke.
(So far I haven't!)
6. I love watching reruns.
7. I'm addicted to coffee.
8. I have very little motivation at times.
9. I'm not a morning person.
10.Honestly, I don't care if I match or not.
11. I love shopping, but, hate walking around for hours.
12. I can be fobby when I want to be. (don't ask lol)
13. I dislike when people try to over smart me. It gets way
too irritating.
14. I harmonize to every single thing from school bells
to commercials and so forth.
15. I used to hate cleaning my room. (I'm not a neat-freak.)
16. I haven't really planned out my wedding like every
other chick out there, but I know for sure that I want
me some red velvet cake for my wedding :]
17. I'm very picky when it comes to food.
18. I can't whistle for my life.
19. I wish I had a middle name.
20. My favorite fruit is mango. :]
21. I want to move down south.
22. I eat ranch with biriyani.
23. I'm 50% afraid of heights.
24. I think guys who play the guitar and wear glasses
are sophisticated. (Especially those who are on
fire for God) <3
25. I still need a night light when I go to sleep.
26. I've always wanted to take piano and swimming lessons.
27. I love taking long HOT showers.
28. I dislike when people label other people.
29. I value my childhood memories.
30. I don't like swearing, drinking, or smoking.
(Can someone say UNATTRACTIVE?)
31. I cannot read a map. I am really bad with directions.
32. I'm only fluent in English. Though I can understand my
other language.
33. I love airplane food. I love how it’s all nicely packed and
how they come in trays…the entire package.
34. My sister and I flood our parent's bathroom floors when we
were about 4 years old.
35. I have a hard time not getting distracted.
36. I love watching American Idol with my mom. :)
37. I'm 100% South Indian.
38. I've been singing since I was 3 years old.
39. I have too many nicknames! To name some: Jossie, Jos, JoJo,
BabyJoJo, Chocolate Chip, Lyn, Jos Jos, Twin # 1, Jo
40. I can be sarcastic when I want to be.
41. Born and raised in New York.
42. Love making low calorie smoothies.
43. I never got on a trampoline.
44. I like being independent.
45. I've never been to Disneyland.
46. I used to wear glasses in the 1st grade. One day it broke and
I never wore glasses again. The end.
47. My pulse rate was over 110. (not cool)
48. I would choose North Indian food over South Indian food.
49. I would love to travel and go on mission trips with my
"future" husband.
50. Bananagrams is my new favorite game. It's mind bloggling!
