Pray

“Be joyful always; pray continually…” 

Praying is a funny action word.  I mean if you think about it everyone prays differently.  Some are more eloquent, while others talk as they would to their best friend, some take their time to get to the point and then there’s those who say exactly what’s on their mind, but to God it’s all the same: conversation with Him. 

“The greatest hindrance in prayer is lack of faith.”

Consider it, God wants us to perceive Him as our Father and yet when we pray we are constantly approaching Him as we would an adult our age.  We tell and don’t ask.  We need to go to Christ as a child would to their parents.  Young ones long for intimacy with their parents, one can tell this by the excited yells echoing the halls when a father comes home.  The kids are ecstatic to share their experiences and desires, to ask for help in situations; they are longing to tell him everything. This is how we should react to praying to God, ecstatic, longing, desiring intimacy.

“And whatever things you ask in prayer, believe, you will receive them.” Matthew 21:22d

It’s easy for us to cower from God, He is so big and we are so small, why would He ever want to hear the insignificant murmurings of our hearts?  Reality is Christ longs to be in every part of our lives guiding and strengthening us through each aspect.  Why are we cowering from a Father who's only hope is that we succeed?

“And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.” Ephesians 6:18b

I remember thinking how ridiculous it was to ask God to help me through school, or to provide for something I wanted, or to ask Him for strength in a certain circumstance, I figured He only wanted to hear about the big, life changing decisions.  Oddly enough once I started allowing Christ into every corner of my daily life I found my plans forming into His plans for me, and boy, did those plans work out so much better!  I had to realize that God loves for us to be continually telling Him how we need Him to provide.  He will provide, even though in the moment it may not seem like the provision we were asking for we soon come to see in the bigger picture His answer was exceptionally greater.

Devote your prayers to God with the faith of a child.   Let God become apart of, not only the big choices, but also the small hourly ones, you’ll see His hand like you’ve never seen it before.  So, Pray, I dare you. 

Elder Matthew

“I’m a girl that’s what we do, jump to conclusions!”

“ughhh, the longer I’m single the more I want to STAY single.” 

This is a typical conversation between my oldest brother and myself normally including inside jokes, movie quotes, and stories about parents. 

Frankly when I was about eleven I thought he was the worst brother on the planet.  We did NOT get along; I was needy and loud, he was moody and quiet.  After he moved away to college something changed, for some reason I found that he was more than a brother, but a friend, a comrade, a partner in the crime against our parents. ;)  I realized through the highs and lows of everything I’d been through he was there right beside (even if at times he didn’t want to be there).   It took him being away for all of us to appreciate what we had. 

I remember the first time he glared at these guys for checking me out, I grinned good-naturedly.  Even today I’m always amused at his “Big Brother” mode that instantly turns on. I’ve gone to him so many times for advice and just someone to talk to.  Even though growing up I could never see why God had put him in my life today, I know I NEED/ED him.  Without him I don’t know who would’ve listened to me rant for an hour or told me to not let what other people say get in the way.   He’s constantly reminding to keep what I believe in first and not to let others dictate who I know I can be.  “You always have to look out for number one Heidi…long pause…that’s you.” Hahaha   To some extent he forced me to grow up and take responsibility for my actions.  But more than telling me how to grow up, he showed me.  It was through his actions I learned how nothing is impossible when I ask God for His help.  

For my job interview I was asked who my hero was.  It took me awhile to decide but I finally picked my older brother.  Why?  Because he’s artistic, clever, he balanced a demanding job, college, and internships. He pushed through heartache and found that each new day provides us with a new hope. He fought for his dream job and and man am I proud of the job he landed.  But more than that I'm proud to call this man my brother.

I guess all I can say is, Happy Birthday Matthew, I don’t know what I did to deserve you for an older brother but thanks for all the laughter, strength and joy you bring into everyone’s life. <3

Prince Charming

Storybook endings, fairy tales coming true

Deep down inside we want to believe they still do

In our secretest heart

It's our favorite part of the story

Let's just admit we all want to make it to ever, ever after

Women are so afraid of not finding their Prince Charming that they have the potential to turn every man into a Prince Charming.  As a young child I would dream, as many young girls often do, of the day a “Prince Charming” would sweep me off my feet and together we’d create a story that put Walt Disney to shame. 

Well the cruel reality of life made me realize that men and women aren’t as “charming” as Disney had led me to believe. I was pondering if I could have one quality or feature in a man, what would I desire most:

---That he would challenge me to search for Christ with all that I am, longing to become more like Him.  Also, that this man would know all of my imperfections and still love me through them.---

Okay, maybe that’s not one quality, I’m bad at counting. ;)  However, I realized what I desired most was identical to the main character in a timeless love story.

“Above all else guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.” Proverbs 4:23

Men and women we are entrapped in a deadly circle that consists of the ghosts of past relationships haunting our future ones.  There has to be something better.  How is it that love is “found” and then lost; it was never intended to be treated thus. Shouldn’t love be pure and unscathed, with the ability to be attainted by all and treasured as a priceless gem?  Unfortunately we live in a world whose seemingly only desire is to destroy any flicker of purity these peoples put forth. 

Today girls throw themselves at guys. Fact.  They long for affection and attention that they are assume they are unable to achieve any place else.  That Prince Charming from Disney is still sought after, but girls assume he can only be achieved through “sampling” of all those who interest them.  It’s like getting a box of chocolates and tasting all of them, putting back the ones you dislike. 

“If you never kiss before marriage how do you know you’ll end up with a good kisser?”

“If I’ve never kissed anyone what would I have to compare it to?”

“Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.”

1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Purity entails more than saving the physical.  It’s a daily fight to keep ones emotions in check with the thoughts that cross his or her mind. 

“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,” 1 Corinthians 10:3-5

How is it that we have this desire for a perfect relationship, or a Disney Prince Charming?  Is this desire purely from our flesh or is there perhaps a virtuous quality that derives from a cherished Book.

Our perfect love story begins at the end of the story of salvation.  A spotless sacrifice was crucified.  But He went willing; He lay down His life for a most undeserving race.  And soon the heavens rejoiced because it was through this purity all could have communion with our Lord.  Through the purity, we found perfect communion…

“Knowing that you were redeemed…with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.” 1 Peter 1:18-19

The man my “most wanted quality” resembled was Jesus.  A Prince Charming that is perfect, spotless, and still forgiving.  He loves me despite my flaws and it is His desire that I grow closer and closer to Him.  He challenges me to become more of this person He created in His own image.  It isn’t that the dream of Prince Charming is morally reprehensible but it is our actions that are caused by that dream that have the potential to cause harm.

One day I know I’m going to be in heaven, unscathed by the world partaking in harmonious communion with all those there.  There is no sorrow, or suffering, just joy in knowing we have been rewarded

“He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." –Revelation 21:4

Through purity we find harmony.  God portrays this to us all throughout scripture. He gave us His Book with an example of how relationships SHOULD work.  It wasn’t until a pure sacrifice was made our debt could be fulfilled.  It is not until God calls us pure we are able to enter into His kingdom, and the best part of this story?  Christ has given each of us our purity as a gift, to keep or give away as we see fit.  You see the story didn’t end with a Lamb being slaughtered.  No, it is an ongoing story that only becomes more beautiful with time.  We all want a Christ-figured relationship but very few of us are willing to give what it takes…a pure sacrifice.  Or rather sacrificing ourselves to be slaughtered in a world that deems purity was “ignorant.”   

God has proven Himself capable of orchestrating a timeless love story; why not allow Him to write yours?  Give your “Prince Charming” to Him and wait.  Realize that the only Prince Charming is the one whom God can and will bestow upon you.  Wait and pray that your purity will not be taken advantage of, that you will have the strength to save this gift, and search the scripture daily for strength from Christ.  I only wrote a small bit of this love story, however through the scripture you will discover there’s more than I let on.  Have faith, He will come.

For those who have already breached the purity of relationships I am not going to pretend I understand what it’s like to be in that situation, I don’t.  But I do know there’s a God who loves you despite your blemishes.  He’s a God who can move mountains and part waters, and it is His greatest desire that you understand He wants to be the Rock you lean on.  I believe no matter what the circumstance Christ will help you through it and use what was intended for evil, for good. 

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” 2 Corinthians 5:17

“You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.”  Genesis 50:20

Twas the Night Before Jesus Came

In honor of Christmas and the real reason for our joy this season. :)


Twas the night Jesus came and all through the house,
not a person was praying - not one in the house.
The Bible was left on the shelf without care,
for no one thought Jesus would come there.

The children were dressing to crawl into bed,
not once ever kneeling or bowing their head.
Mom in the rocking chair with babe on her lap,
she was watching the 'Late Show' as I took a nap.

When out of the east there rose such a clatter,
I sprang to my feet to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
tore open the shutters and lifted the sash.

When what to my wondering eyes should appear,
but Angels proclaiming that Jesus was here.
The light of His face made me cover my head,
was Jesus returning just like He'd said?

Though I possessed worldly wisdom and wealth,
I cried when I saw Him - in spite of myself.
In the 'Book of Life' which He held in His hand,
was written the name of every saved man.

He spoke not a word as He searched for my name,
when He said, "It's not here!" my head hung in shame.
The people whose names had been written with Love,
He gathered to take to His Father above.

With those who were ready He rose without sound,
while all the others were left standing around.
I fell to my knees - but it was too late,
I'd waited too long and thus sealed my fate!

I stood and cried as they rose out of sight,
Oh, if only I'd known that this was the night.
In the words of this poem the meaning is clear,
THE COMING OF JESUS IS NOW DRAWING NEAR!

There's only one life and when comes the last call,
we'll find out the Bible was TRUE after all!

 "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."