Labels

Hey Fam!

Labels, labels, labels, they are everywhere. We put labels on food, cars(lincese plates), pets(tags), ourselves, and even people! Today I would like to focus on the labels we place on ourselves and others, while comparing them to the labels our Lord gives us. Often times we are labeled by our academic or athletic abilities, talents,success, and even failures. For instance one might be labeled as mean,shy,smart, fast, and so on and so forth. Not all of these labels are negative, but all of them do place us in a box. Many of us also struggle with self image issues because of the way we are labeled by others and even ourselves. It is important that we realize that in Christ we are all given new labels( heirs, children, forgiven, loved, called, fearfully and wonderfully made,etc.). It is also important that we try our best not to label others and/or act on the labels an individual has been given. We should act on the labels that our Heavenly Father has given each of us. Today, I challenge you to rip off your labels and to walk in the calling and purpose of Christ! He wants to label you as His very own! The choice is yours.

Quote to Ponder: Quite honestly, most people are quick to “write someone off.” But our God is a God of the second chance. Learn from One who is patient with you, and you’ll learn to be patient with others. – Woodrow Kroll

*** Read John 8. You will see how Christ labels an adulterous woman despite those around her.***

Peace & Love,
Brittany

Fear is a lie.

Hey fam! I happened up on the image below and it immediately stood out to me. The four words, "Fear is a lie." are simple. Yet, they are so complex. Today I challenge you to remember these four words when Satan tries to instill fear inside of you.

Peace & Love,
Brittany

*** For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. (2 Timothy 1:7 NLT)

Be Mindful

Hey fam!

Today I would like to keep my post short and sweet. However, the subject of mindfulness has been on my heart recently. It is so easy for us to get caught up in our busy schedules and forget to notice the people and things around us. It might not seem like a big issue, but it is. It is important for us to be mindful of the people in our lives. We never know what someone is dealing with or fighting.In fact, something as simple as a smile could save a life. We also need to be mindful of the things we say even when it is hard. Many times we get upset at the people we love and just say cruel and hurtful things. I encourage you to be mindful of the people around you today and everyday. It all starts with the small things like a random check in or asking how someone is! Give it a try :)

*Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. (Philippians 2:3, 4 NIV)

LIA (Love in Action)

Hey fam!

Happy Valentine's Day! You probably can figure out that the subject of my blog today is going to be the big L word, LOVE. And while Valentine's Day is a fun holiday, I can't help thinking that it further distorts our depiction of love. On Valentine's Day we are shown that Love is giving someone the largest teddy bear or box of chocolates,etc. It almost appears that the sole objective of Valentine's Day is to show love, but shouldn't we do that each day? What if God decided that He just would love us one day a year? I don't know about you, but I would be a complete mess for the other 364 days. This past week I have seen the beauty and necessity of God's love in my own life. In just a weeks time two people very close to me have ended up in Critical Care at the local hospital. Times like this can cause the best of us to doubt God's unfailing love for us. Regardless of if we admit it or not, we all have doubt. At my lowest points in the week, nothing but God's love sustained me. He has shown me His love in so many ways, especially through the people in my life. This week also showed me the power we have as the body of Christ to show love to each other. It is the simple things like: " I love you.", " I am praying for you." , "Stay strong.", " I am here for you." that have kept me together this week. Furthermore, I would hope that my encouragement to my brothers and sisters helped make their days a bit brighter. These small outpourings of kindness are examples of love in action. As Christians we are called to love each and every day because our God is love. Someone who you least expect needs your love today. I know it is easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of life and not take the time to show love in our everyday lives. Still, I challenge you to put love in action today and everyday. It all starts with something as simple as talking to the new girl at school, praying with/for a friend, or just being there when someone in your life needs to talk to someone.

*** Thoughts to Ponder***

We love each other because he loved us first. (1 John 4:19 NLT)

“For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16 NLT)

Knowing and loving God is our greatest privilege, and being known and loved is God's greatest pleasure. - Rick Warren

***Songs to Check Out***

Furious- Jeremy Riddle
Your Love Never Fails- Jesus Culture
Love Is You- Kareem Manuel

*Please comment, give feedback,etc. :)

Stop Believing Satan's Lies

Hey fam!

I'm going to keep my blog short and sweet today. However, the fact is that so many of us as Christians keep believing the lies of Satan. We believe that we've fallen to far from grace, that we are the tail and not the head, that we are not pretty enough, or fast enough, or smart enough. I could go on and on, but you see my point by now. It breaks my heart to see us believe these lies and I would like to think that it breaks God's too. Why? Because He has already set us free from all of the lies. Remember, So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free. (John 8:36 NLT) Not only are we free from the lies of Satan, but from everything, EVERYTHING! Let that sink in. It's time that we stop believing the lies and find ourselves in the truth of our God! I'm just saying!

Peace & Love,
Brittany

Unconditional Positive Regard(UPR)

Hey fam!

Today I would like to dedicate my blog to the subject of Unconditional Positive Regard(UPR). While UPR is traditionally a Psychological term, I would like to take another standpoint on it. First, UPR is defined as loving someone with no strings attached. This means despite what you know, will know, or heard about them. UPR is seeing past the flaws. When I discovered the term last week in General Psychology, I must admit it hit hard. Coincidentally, I had just found out some things about a loved one that I least expected. I was struggling to see the person for who they really were after having being enlightened with the information. I was praying, "Lord help me to see people like you see them." The next thing you know my professor is explaining Unconditional Positive Regard. Soon thereafter, I felt extremely challenged and really did some soul searching. What if I were on the other end and my loved one did not see me for who I really was because of a mere fact? The sad realization is that this fear and reactions, many like my initial reaction are why we walk around living in boxes. It is why the people closest too us aren't really very close at all. It is why we hide ourselves from each other and even attempt to hide from God. See God has UPR for us, He sees us as his own, regardless of what we do. It is possible for us to be known AND loved. Once again, it is entirely possible for us to be known AND loved. Yet, we seek only to be loved out of fear that those who truly know us won't love us. I challenge you to have UPR today and everyday. Furthermore, I challenge you to stop hiding from the people in your life. It will be risky, and being known could bring rejection and even pain. Just as it could bring release, freedom, real love, and deep connections with in your relationships. Are the people in your life in love with you or your image? Think about it and while your at it read Genesis 3!

*In Genesis 3 you will see how God both knew and loved Adam and Eve. You also will see how Adam and Eve both knew and loved each other.

Peace & Love,

Brittany