Growth Is Always Good

Photo credit goes to Ben Clayton. Check out more of his work here.

Dress::Forever 21 Necklace::Charming Charlie Coat::h&m 

In the past two months I have learned SO much about God and myself. Two months ago I changed the way I was praying. I started asking the Lord to mold me each and every day to be the young woman He wants me to be. It is easy sometimes to think that--"oh there's not much I could be working to improve right now...at least I'm not like so and so." I recently heard my pastor say that comparison is the thief of joy, and that if someone is not growing then they are shrinking spiritually. Through these prayers the Lord has showed me how much I underestimate Him at times and how selfish I can be. He opened my eyes to a whole new me it felt like. It wasn't necessarily my actions, but my thoughts were so doubtful and so selfish at times. I have rarely ever been selfish with my time, but I can be very selfish with "my things". Two months later and I can truly say that the Lord has cleaned up a lot of that gunk for me. He has molded my heart to give freely, share better, love deeper, care more passionately, and encourage more. Now I am onto my next learning project which is learning to not fear or worry about the days to come (this is gonna be a big one). Learning doesn't ever stop, it is a daily thing. On this earth there will never be a day where learning is not necessary. We all need to be reminded of that from time to time. Learning means growth, and growth is always good. It is not easy to ask the Lord to show us what we need to be working on, but it is very worth it. 

♡ Iz

Pep Talks

Everyone needs a pep talk from time to time. Maybe for that big game you have in a few days, maybe for the courage to tell that boy or girl that you like them, maybe for the confidence needed to pass a biology test (this is for all you peeps out there that suffer from test anxiety) (I am one of you.), or maybe for the courage to stand up to a bully. No matter what it is, a pep talk can come in handy.

I'm going back to school in a few days, and the topic of pep talks has been running through my head lately because I give little pep talks to myself. Sometimes a semester full of classes can get rough, I find that when that happens--cheesy pep talks can brighten a day. Some of you may think this is weird (it may be--I don't know..) but I feel that pep talks don't necessarily have to be from other people, they can be from you too. I always have to remind myself that positive thinking really does make a difference. 

PS: You should go give someone a pep talk today or tomorrow, or maybe, both. 

PSS: Remember that a few nice words can help a person a lot more than you think.

♡ Iz

Breakfast Blessings

In the middle of every semester there comes a moment where time becomes gold. There are so many assignments that are due, and time becomes even more precious than usual. During this time, I sometimes put my school work above my relationships. I get so focused on all the assignments that I forget that that's not my sole purpose. In this college phase of life it is very easy to get into this mindset of; work, work, work, work. When that happens (which it did this week), God quickly reminds me of the importance of investing in others. This week I had a friend who contacted me multiple times wanting to get coffee and chat. With all the assignments coming my way, I pushed the coffee date towards the end of the week. The next day while I was grabbing a quick breakfast on campus, I saw this sweet friend who greeted me with a hug. Immediately the Lord spoke to my heart and led me to invite her to sit and eat breakfast with me. I had two hours before my next class, and for those two hours I put all my assignments aside and focused all of my attention on her. It turns out that my friend is going through a rough patch in life and is struggling with finding her identity in Christ. Something all of us have struggled with at some point.

All this to say, that sometimes we get so caught up in what we are doing that we don't realize that there are people around us who need someone to talk to, someone to listen. God gives us so many opportunities to pour into people's lives, and sometimes we miss it. How many times have you asked Christ to use you in someone's life? I pray that prayer all the time, yet this week I failed to realize that my friend needed a shoulder and that was the opportunity God was giving me. God helped me get my priorities in check, and realize that sometimes we need to put things on pause, and just be there for someone. I not only got to enjoy a delicious breakfast, but I also got to invest in a friend. God is good!

A Thankful Heart is a Happy Heart

Despite the fact that it's only Wednesday, this week has already been filled with many homework assignments, projects, and long shifts at work. So much to do, that all my days and to do lists have been morphing together. In the midst of a busy week, I was graciously reminded of God's faithfulness and provision. Yesterday while walking to class, I realized that I was a little early (which rarely happens) and so I took some time to just sit and watch God's creation. During this time, I thought of the many things I have to be thankful for in this life, and how faithful the Lord has been through each task that I have to accomplish daily.

While going through a crazy week, it's so easy to not recognize blessings that are coming our way or to not be intentional about having a thankful heart. There's so much to be thankful for and I don't want to get to the end, or to tomorrow, even, and realize that my life is a collection of meetings, errands, exams, receipts, and dirty dishes. I want to make it my goal to take time every day to recognize daily blessings and enjoy the little things. I want to live a life that sizzles and pops and makes me laugh out loud. I want to eat fresh watermelon and sing loud in the car with the windows open and stay up all night laughing. I want to sleep peacefully on clean white sheets and eat ripe tomatoes and read amazing books. But most importantly, I want my every day to glorify God. I want to make God belly laugh, make Him glad that He gave life to someone who loves the gift, who will use it up and be thankful for every second of it.

♡ Iz