Speaking the Word Activates Faith

In my Sorority's weekly bible study we have been going through the book Sun Stand Still by Steven Furtick. This book is absolutely AMAZING and I would recommend anyone who wants to grow and ask God to do great things in their lives take the time to read it. In the chapter that I am reading this week Steven talks about Preaching to yourself. As soon as he started talking about this I remembered seeing this adorable video clip this summer and falling in love with it. We should all say these things to ourselves each day. Not only does it help us get through the day, feel more confident in who we are, but it is a nice little way to boots our own ego (which we all need at times.)


Though Furtick does not talk about Affirmation and Preaching to ourselves like this, he does give 12 different Audacious Faith Confessions for us to recite to ourselves just when we need them.
1. I am fully forgiven and free from all shame and condemnation
2. I act in audacious faith to change the world in my generation.
3. I have no fear or anxiety; I trust in the Lord with all my heart
4. I am able to fulfill the calling God has placed on my life.
5. I am fully resourced to do everything God has called me to do.
6. I have no insecurity, because I see myself the way God sees me.
7. I am faithful....
8. I am completely whole-physically, mentally, and emotionally
9. I am increasing in influence and favor for the kingdom of God.
10. I am enabled to walk in the sacrificial love of Christ.
11. I have the wisdom of the Lord concerning every decision I make
12. I am protected from all harm and evil in Jesus' name.

"Speak the Word as your first expression in the morning. Speak the Word over your family and friends all through the day. Speak the Word to yourself each night as you process your failures and celebrate your victories."

Go out and Speak the Word of God today! :)
Love,
Mindy

Dream

"Dream God-worthy dreams. Pray faith-fueled prayers. Live a life that can be explained only by the existence of a God who is infinitely great."
-Sun Stand Still

Its your life...

What ya going to do? The world is watching you! Everyday the choices you make, say who you are and what your Heart beats for- its an open door.
-Francesca Battistelli

These last few months this has been my constant motivation- that its my life but what am I going do do and who am I living for? Over the past few months I have had Constant communication with God about my major and have been in prayer about is this the right thing for me to do with my life. I love children with my whole heart and I know that God has put that passion in my heart for a purpose. I also know that God has also put a passion to serve him as a reason in my life. With changing from Birth-Kindergarten Education to Child Development I now have new possibilities for my future career. As of right now God is working on my heart about three possible careers- I just have to listen and see which one that my heart is in and feel that God wants me to be in.
All my life I have wanted to be a teacher, but I know that "when God removes something from our lives, it's not because he is trying to take away something good. It is because he's trying to make room for something better. (Sun Stand Still)" I truly feel that God has not taken away my ability to teach kids, but has taken away my passion to be in a classroom with them for something so much more amazing for his glory. If we "jump when the wave of fear and doubt crashes (Sun Stand Still)" on something that God has called us to do we will be honored and praised. I am pushing away my fear and my doubt that teaching is the only thing I have known that I want to do with my life and praying to God as to what now is it that he wants me to do.
God knows the plans that he wants for our lives, so here are the three that are my plans and could possibly turn into one of Gods plans.

1. Work in a agency that works with families of children with Downs Syndrome
I have such a heart and passion for these children and want to see them succeed. I also want to encourage their families along the way. They are all awesome and all unique but they all are filled with so much love.
2. Go into the ministry and become a Children's Minister
This is where my passion for children and my passion for God combine. I am so excited on praying more about this and learning more.
3. Work at the Partnership for Young Children educating families on Childhood.
The heart of a child is their family! The family is the number one influence- and they need to be educated, because some families are not. Children all need a loving home.

I am praying for BIG things in my life and wanting God to use me just exactly where he wants me! I know everything in my life happens for a reason, and God is going to use each event to bless me greatly! I am excited about Life and where God is going to lead me.

"one step he leads, and one step I'll follow...I dont know the future or all that's instore, but i'll take one step, one step to follow my Lord."

Love,
Mindy

1 Chorinthians 13:4

" Love is patient, love is kind, it does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
LOVE NEVER FAILS."

This week I have dug deep and though about what love really means to me. I have read countless article and saw all these examples of Love from other people. But love to me is simply 1 Chorinthians 13:4. That is the perfect love the love that we are all seeking but somehow never know where to find it. Valentines day is not just a romantic holiday but its a day set aside to show everyone around you that you love them- and that for one day you treat them a little extra special.

This weekend I got to spend a great weekend with my Valentine of three years. As we start off this new year we are striving to live out the 1 Chorinthians love between the two of us. Yes it will be hard because we are both human. We will both become jealous over something, be boastful about something, and we might even be rude. But as humans and followers of Christ we are both striving to rise about the human aspect of love and live our love out! And I love that! I can not wait!


Today I want to also think of my love for all three of my family members! They are simply the best. As I have said before I am blessed with two of the greatest parents on the face of this earth and the best sister a girl could ask for! With them I have everything anyone could ask for!

Love,
Mindy

a very special man

My grandpa is a very special man to me. Not only do we share the same birthday week we share a lot of other characteristics in life. He is one of the hardest working men I know, and always goes above and beyond what you ask of him. He loves to do mission work and I can not remember a time that this man has not gone or tried to go on a mission trip. I can remember going to my grandparents as a little girl and eating ice cream from the carton (something my parents never let me do) and eating cereal from mixing bowls. I also have never found another person who can make a better tomato sandwich. I can remember being forced to dress up like people from "the old days" for a special Sunday at church and having a smile on my face. I hope that I can be half the woman that he is man one day (if that makes any sense).
This week my papaw is going into to have bypass surgery. The surgery is to last 4-6 hours and 5 bypasses will be done. I am asking all of my blogging friends to please pray for him while he is in the surgery and also for his recovery. Please pray for the doctors as they are operating on him and just let Gods hand guide them during this time.My Grandpa is a firm believer in God so I know he is trusting him throughout this whole process.

"Do not be afraid or dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, its Gods."
-2 Chronicles 20:15

Love,
Mindy

Friday Nights

Last night was a great night. I have been in need of a girls night for a LONG time, and I finally got one with two of my future roommates for next year. Let me just start out by saying there was A LOT of laughter, eating, and crying! We had a BLAST-which only leads us to an awesome year together.
The night started off by me and Holly waiting on Katie to get off work and get her booty to Boone! We went to the famous place to kill time-WALMART! We began looking at paint colors and found the perfect colors to make our apartment a home next year.

It was so much fun to look at all these different colors and be able to put colors together that you would not even began to put together! Once Katie got here we went to a Japanese Steak House here in Boone, Makatos, and WE HAD A BALL! We cut up with our waiter and the cook. We have suspicion that the cook has a crush on Holly. It was simply wonderful!
This type of relationship reminds me of our relationship with God. We must talk to him and spend time with him for it to be simply wonderful! God brings people into our lives for us to influence and for people to influence us. I am so thankful that God has brought me these girls to live with next year. It will truly be like a home for us because we will be supportive of one another through anything.
"Friends always show their love, what are girlfriends for anyways?" -Proverbs 17:17

love,
Mindy

Through the Ups and the Downs

This week has been a constant UP and a DOWN of emotions. One day I am happy and excited about life, the next day I am in one of my moods (and if you know me my moods are not fun)! It has been a world-wind week and I am glad it is finally over. But through all my moods, I never stopped asking God what he wants out of my life. I never stopped believing that he has a plan for my life. Praise him in all things!

Just a few things I figured out this week:
1. Im changing my major yet again!
its not a HUGE change It'll still be child development but I just will not have the B-K education license. It has been a relief but also a big leap of faith because I though I finally figured out what I want to do in life, but God reveled other plans.
2. This week I also feel like I need to be in two places at once!
3. I have a great family and support system who can encourage me through anything (but I already knew that)!

What this weekend entails:
1. Spending lots of time with my dear friend Holly and our future roommate Katie. YAY for girls weekend!
2. SLEEEEEEEEEPPPPPPPP! and LOTS OF IT!
3. Homework, but not until Sunday afternoon.