Let's Keep Trusting

     "Many are the plans in a person's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails."
       ~Proverbs 19:21

     There are times when I think that God must have a pretty big smile on His face when we make plans. Do you agree? We think we have things sorted and figured out but most of the time we don't. We make our plans when we have no idea of the plans that God has for us. He tends to surprise us but nothing is a surprise to Him. He's never left phased or wondering, "Well, what now?". When we're clueless, He has the answers. He may not choose to reveal those answers when we want them, but we can rest in the fact that He knows what He's doing. When we feel frustrated, impatient or restless through the waiting, He tells us to be patient. He tells us to wait and to trust what He's doing.
     "I think I've got this under control," we say. "Yeah, I think I know what I'm doing here. Thanks anyway, God." We're so very human; we want what we want when we want it. We try to take things into our own hands and then wonder why they didn't work out how we wanted them to. When our plans fail, God doesn't let us fall. He lets us make mistakes and learn from them, but He doesn't leave us on our own. He works out what we messed up. That's just one way He's faithful.
    Now, what's the best option? Is is best to trust God, His plan and timing, or trust ourselves and the plan we've laid out? Don't get me wrong, it's okay to make plans, but we still need to give God control. We shouldn't plan so much for the future that we start to rely on ourselves, our knowledge and ability. We shouldn't walk so far ahead that we get ahead of God in the process. We can plan our course but ultimately God determines where we step. "The mind of man plans his way, but the LORD directs his steps." ~Proverbs 16:9. Sometimes our plans may work out and other times they may not. When our plans fail or get messed up, let's choose to not be all frustrated, depressed or disappointed (or, all three at once). Let's choose to give God control and submit to what He is; the Author of our story.   The choice of completely trusting Him is a daily one; to say to Him, "God, I trust You," is not easy, He knows that. He knows and understand our human ways but He tells us to trust. When we're clueless or confused, He tells us to trust. When we don't know what's ahead and we're nervous, unprepared, or afraid, He tells us to trust. In the moments of chaos, stress, confusion, uncertainty, fear, nerves, or the days when we don't really feel like putting our plans into His hand, He tells us to trust Him, to acknowledge Him and not to lean on our understanding (Proverbs 3:5-6).
     We are quick to trust friends and family when they ask us to, aren't we? Why can we be hesitant to trust God? Why can we be so hesitant to trust the One who knows us inside and out, far better than we know ourselves? If we're not hesitant to trust others, why can we be so hesitant to trust the One who not only holds us together and keeps us breathing, but who holds galaxies in His hand. God is more than worthy of our trust, more than worthy of us saying to Him, "God, my story is Yours, have Your way in me."
     We can't trust Him a little bit, or say we'll trust Him with one thing but not the other. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart." ~Proverbs 3:5. Trust in Him with every part of you; put all you have and all that you are into trusting Him.
     "Wow, that's a really big deal," you say. "Trusting in God can be really hard sometimes and you're telling me that I should put everything I am into trusting Him? I don't think that I can do that."
       Yes, yo can. Yes, it's going to be a daily choice and yes it's going to be a hard one. There will days where you'll be frustrated and confused, days when you'll say, "Okay, God, I really don't understanding what You're doing right now." You'll want answers, you'll want to know what's ahead, what God is doing. There will be days where you'll tell God that you're pretty sure you have it completely figured out. Here's the funny thing though, you actually don't have it completely figured out.
      Do you want to know what the best option is? Trust God without reservation. He knows you; He knows your aspirations, plans, dreams, hopes and most importantly, He knows your heart. He knows what you need when you need it. Yes, His timing is different and His plan tends to be as well, but it's that way for a reason and it's absolutely perfect.
      Let's keep trusting Him with our whole hearts. It will be worth it in the end.

Back to Blogging

   It's been one year since I've written a blog post, one year since I've even attempted it. Somewhere inside my head I always told myself I would blog eventually because I rather missed it, but work and life got in the way. Well, I'm pleased to say that I returning to the world of blogging, returning to a world of writing my thoughts and things down for people to read and hopefully be encouraged. I hope that whoever reads this blog will smile, laugh a little (maybe even a lot) and most of all, like I just said, be encouraged. I pray that God uses this blog in some pretty crazy ways, ways that I wouldn't be able to do myself.

 Here I go.

Friends are Family

      These are the faces and personalities that are held in my heart. Some of them I've know since my junior high days, others I've know for a few years, while others for only a year. Three hours separates us, but that doesn't break the bond. They have made me laugh until I cry, they have let me rant about things while they just sit there and simply listen until I'm done, they have accepted me without question, going along with my faults and the silly, funny things that I do. They have supported me and been there for me, they have prayed for me. There is something about being such good friends that when you see each other after two and a half months or more (or two years), nothing changes. You're able to pick up right where you left off. The moments of laughter, bonfires, singing and just discussing things that make your time together so meaningful and memorable.
  
    There is something about being friends.  
    There is something about being brothers and sisters in Christ.

     I'm so grateful that God chose to put these people in my life. I miss them when I'm away, but I'm so grateful for modern ways of communication. They are like family to me, and when you think about, they really are. There's something about having that bond in Christ. I love them like family.

     I complain about living three hours away. Then I think that I really have nothing to complain about. Yes, it's hard, but God is good. My friends are still there for me, they're still able to make me laugh and to pray for me over the internet, a text message, or a letter. I'm blessed.

    Thank-you, God, for friends.

   

     

   

It Is Worth It

                                        It's been a while since I've written.

          In my defense, life has been rather crazy lately. You see, I've got a job at a Christian daycare. I must say, I love it very much, but it makes life rather busy at time.

        A lot of things have been changing. Shortly after my family and I moved, we started attending a church and now we're members. It's different from our church in some ways (quite a bit larger, for one thing) and yet it's similar in other ways. I've been making friends and experiencing new adventures.  The people are different, the town is different, the scenery is different.

                                                     Life is changing.

                                  Yet so many things have stayed the same.

                          I've maintained strong friendships back in my old town.

                                  After being with some of them for a weekend,
                                      it seems they haven't changed at all.

                                                      Yet they have.
                                                           I have.

                                  Even during the change, God is still faithful.

                                             How grateful I am for that.
                                                  He never changes.
                                     Even when I can't see what's up ahead,
                                                  He guides me.
                                   He helps me to find my way in the uncertainty.
                                                  When I fall,
                                                He picks me up.
                                                When I question,
                               He takes me by the hand and tells me to trust Him.
                                              I have question and doubted.
                                I have gone through uncertainty time and time again.
                                        Oh, but He is worthy of my patience.
                                                He is worthy of my trust.
                                                 I am going to struggle.
                                                    I'm still learning.
                                                 Despite all of that,
                                                     it is worth it.
                                                 Thank-you, God.

                   Trust Him with your future, my friends. It will be worth it. It is worth it.

It's the Little Things # 2

         - Making new friends

         - Singing praises to God with 600+ fellow believers

         - The fact that Spring is almost here (just under two weeks!)

          -Trips to Starbucks

         - Being able to walk outside with a light sweater on (no winter jackets... yay!)

         - Facebook messages with pictures from friends who live three hours away

       

       So it's been a few months since I've blogged. Life has been a little crazy lately, though. I kept telling myself I would find the time to update, and I never did. There have been a lot of changes in my family's life lately, but God never ceases to amaze me. He knows exactly what He is doing. He has our stories written out and is walking ahead of us. At times it's hard to trust Him, but in the end it always works out. I am so grateful that He never changes!


     As of late,
I've been applying for jobs, and keeping myself busy with other things. While all of that's been going on, God has been putting some really awesome people into my life, and I've joined a girl's Bible study. It's been a huge blessing.

    I'll write more about that another day. That's all for now, though. Sorry for the long wait, everyone! Your next wait shouldn't be three months. :)

                 Blessings,
                       Josie

It's the Little Things #1

     A friend told me that sometimes, it's the little things in life that can be the most special, the little things that can mean the most. We should find time to appreciate them. Oh, how true.


          - Having friends over to watch movies
 
          - Starting to cry over a sad scene and your friend is trying to make you laugh. "I'm trying to get you to not cry."

          - Laughing until you're bending over

          - Sitting and watching your church's Christmas program with your friend who's home
            from college

          -Singing Broadway songs at the top of your lungs in full acting mode

          - Christmas music

          - Singing a song in Latin with your brother

          - Finding time to write

          -Getting to see a movie in theaters after eleven months. Way too long, people.

          - Pictures with friends

          - Finding a cute pair of boots for $10 on Black Friday (yeah, a while ago, but it was
           a big deal.)

          - Having all of your friends home from college because it's Christmas break

          - The knowledge that Christmas is in a week

   
       It's little things like these that can make my day a little better, a little more exciting.
     
      What about you? What are the little things in your week?

              ~Josie

That Wonderful Season Called Fall

         Leaves adorned in brilliant hues of gold and red. Nights full of brisk air and bonfires.
                                                                                         This is Fall.
                                                                                        This is my season.

        One day it happened to sneak up on me and bring disappointment with its warm temperatures. Then October came and I was satisfied. The time came to pull out sweaters, scarves, hats, and yes, sometimes warm jackets. Fall decorations were put out and hot chocolate was made after many months of being ignored. Now it's November. The leaves have seen their peak, and all too quickly started to fall off their branches. I relish this time of year. I relish the sweaters and the scarves, the cool crisp air when I step outside, the excuse to wear comfy hats, to buy lattes. I relish the sound of crunching leaves beneath my feet, and the Fall air. That wonderful smell that is only around for so long. In short, I adore it. While the other seasons have nice things about them,
I don't believe any of them truly compare to this wonderful season.

               Don't leave too quickly dear Fall.

                       ~Josie
                                         

Friends are a Blessing

     It was early August. Three of my friends were heading off to college in the next couple of weeks and one of them for the very first time. "We should do a photo shoot," I thought, and suggested it. On August 11th, it actually happened. I was so excited! It was a perfect day weather wise for taking pictures. After church I headed home and quickly got ready (thank goodness I had an outfit all picked out!). Just a note that photo credit goes to my friend Brenna (far left).



                                        We had so much fun. We shared so many laughs.                                         

 

It was one of the those memory making kind of days that you wish you could do over again.

 

 

I'm honestly thankful for cameras. They capture so many great things. 

Candid shots in mid-laughter.

 

 

Us girls being our silly and crazy but crazy selves.

I must say I love this one. Katie and Tiffany are being funny for the camera and I'm just modeling as  I have no clue

what's going on.

 

 

I love these smiles.

 

 

I love their hearts for the Lord.

 

 

I also love how we can be awesomely (probably not a word)

crazy and funny one minute

 

 

and cute and serious the next.

 

 

I love our friendship.

 

 

I love how we've only known Tiff for a little over a two and

a half years, and yet she's like a sister to us.

 

 

I love being goofy and weird together.

 

 

I love how they "get" me and are there to encourage me, make me laugh or

pray for me.

 

 

I love that I've been friends with this girl since junior high.

 

 

I love how even though we're separated by distance,

our closeness as friends doesn't change.

 

 

I just love these friends of mine. I am so incredibly grateful to God for putting them

into my life.

 

Friends are such a blessing.

 

Aren't they?

 

In Christ,

 Josie

Perhaps Someday

  I have never written a bucket list. I never really felt the need to. My dreams and things I wanted to do and accomplish were stored away in my head, perfectly content to stay there. However, I like to make lists, so I thought "why not?".  The things listed here are not all of them mind you. No way. That would take a while to write, and you, a while to read.  So... here are some of them.
                     

                            Speak a foreign language fluently
   
                           Travel around Great Britain

                           Write a novel

                           Be in a musical

                          Photograph a senior session

                         Visit the state where I was born (Texas)

                         Learn to sew

                        
   True, some of them are just little things, and I may not be able to accomplish them....

   but, perhaps someday. Maybe.


                 Do you have a bucket list all written out? What sort of things are on it?              

                            Have a great week!
                                      Josie     

                        

                          

                          

Of Open Houses and Such

      Ah, Summer. The season of pool parties, cookouts, open houses, etc. Mainly open houses. More specifically mine. You never know how many people are going to attend. Well, I was blessed by a very good turn out. It was so great having so many amazing people there to share in that special day of mine!  It was also great having so much help getting ready. A huge, huge thanks to my friend Tiff and her mom. Her mom made me two cakes, and Tiff helped with the decorations.

                
                                              

                                     

 

 

                                                      

                                                     

                                                       

                                                            

                                                            

 

 

 

 

                                                            
       It was such a great time filled with laughter and lots of memories made. Afterwards, me and five other friends went out for frozen yogurt. I was treated to it. After that, we went and walked around a park for fifteen minutes before they closed.  No one was around but else, so I felt kind of funny, but we had the guys with us so I know they would protect us. :)  It was a good day.
     Now, because it's Summer, naturally things didn't slow down after my open house. No. Exactly a week after my open house, one of my very good friends got married. The next day started my church's Vacation Bible School of which I was a part of the skits.

                                                      
     The theme was Medieval, which, let's admit is one of the best themes ever. It was so much fun! I love acting, and performing for 5-12 year-olds is pretty darn fun. Plus, I was with my brother and three friends. My character was rather a Johnny rain cloud. Kind of like Puddleglum, (I do hope you all know who I'm talking about.) I had some funny lines, which made me happy. I like making people laugh.

          After Vacation Bible School, I had a few weeks until I had to get ready for a missions trip. I was home for one week after my missions trip when I had to go to Checkpoint Bible Camp. I love that place so, so much and every year gets better. 

                         So yeah, it's been a busy summer. I can't believe it's already August and everyone is going back to school. Sigh.

                                               Did you have an exciting summer?                  
              
                                                  Well, that's all for now.  I'll try and not let it be another month until I post again. :)  

                                             Blessings!
                                                    Josie