FAITH

What would life without Jesus look like? What would it be like if God never sent Jesus to come to this earth? What would it be like if we didn't have the gift of eternal life and a relationship with Him? What would like look like without His presence?

Think about it for a moment...

When I thought about these possibilities, tears came to my eyes. 

I can't think what my life would be without my Rock, my Lighthouse, my Comforter, my Lover, my Best Friend and my Reedeemer.

From this place I want to share Jesus with others. Who He is to me is why I want nothing more then to share Him.

I recently learned that I have the spiritual gift of faith.

The Holy Spirit led me to this jem in the Psalm 89 about king David. I decided to put my own name into it, because I felt God really speaking it over me. These are His promises to me:

Here goes! 

"I have bestowed strength on a warrior; I have raised up a young woman among the people.

I have found Tori my servant; 

with my sacred oil I have anointed her. 

My hand will sustain her; surely my arm will strengthen her. 

The enemy will not get the better of her, the wicked will not oppress her. 

I will crush her foes before her and strike down her adversaries.

My faithful love will be with her, and through my name her horn will be exalted.

I will set her hand over the sea, her right hand over the rivers. She will call out to me, ‘You are my Father, my God, the Rock my Savior.’ 

I will maintain my love to her forever, and my covenant with her will never fail. I will not take my love from her, nor will I ever betray my faithfulness.

I will not violate my covenant or alter what my lips have uttered. 

Once for all, I have sworn by my holiness— and I will not lie to Tori— that her line will continue forever and her throne endure before me like the sun; it will be established forever like the moon, the faithful witness in the sky."

Woah.. Try putting your own name into these verses, and see Gods heart for you.

I am deeply passionate about leading people into a passionate relationship with Jesus.

He is so faithful! He is so kind!

Have you experienced His love?

I will jump up and down, slide across the room in my socks, shout it out as loud as I can until I can share how passionately God loves you.

Challenge? Try writing out these verses with your name on a piece of paper and signing it with Gods name.

FAITH.COMFORT.LOVE.

Lonliness sucks

Growing up as an only child, loneliness is something that I have really been struggling with for as long as I can remember.

Some of my earliest memories are playing in the forest behind our house by myself. Have you ever had an imaginary friend? I did; more than one actually!

Feeling alone is something that  I have struggled with for a long time. Sometimes you feel alone because you ARE and other times you are physically with people but feel alone in their midst. Do they care? Do they understand? Do I matter? Why doesnt anybody  pay attention to me?

Loneliness sucks. It lead to crying alone in the car, depressing thoughts, and wanting to lay down in bed and never get up.

So whats the solution?

For me, it was Jesus. 
 He told me "I will never leave you or forsake you!"

Ive learned over the past few months that even if I feel alone, I am not. That moment when Im thinking that nobody cares, nobody understands or loves me, God is thinking...

"IM RIGHT HERE!!! IM CRAZY ABOUT YOU! IM THINKING ABOUT YOU! YOU ARE MY CHILD! COME TO ME, GIVE ME ALL OF YOUR BURDENS! I WANT TO BE INVOLVED, I HAVE A PLAN FOR YOUR LIFE, YOU ARE SO SPECIAL TO ME!!!!"

I wonder if God feels hurt when we say that we are so alone.

Seek God, and you will find Him.

But another thing I learned was that God loves to give us healthy and stable friendships. A few weeks ago I asked Him to give me a close friend here in Northern Ireland that I can talk to about Him and that can encourage me in seeking Gods face, and He did! He loves for His children to be in community!

What is it that your heart truly desires? 

I think that what God really desires is for us to desire Him above anything else. To LOVE Him with all our hearts, souls and minds.

How do you feel about this desire of His?

If you are feeling lonely, tell Him! He already knows anyway, but He wants to hear it from you. Ask Him for a friend who will encourage and support you. Seek community with the people of God.

But most importantly, seek Jesus and His presence. He is the one who will always be there. Nobody else can fill that space for us. Jesus is the best friend I have ever had. He's never messed up, said something to hurt my feelings, manipulated me, left me, or abused me. HE IS SO AMAZING!!!! If you don't know Him, getting to know Him is the best decision you will ever make.

So please allow me the honor to make the introduction.. "Dear ____, (insert your name here), Id like to you to meet my Best Friend, Father, God, Savior, Doctor, Lover, and just the most amazing identity in the universe" (no overstatement necessary.. hehe :) 

....and THAT, my friends, is the solution for lonliness and friendship, if you ask for my two cents :)