One of my Heroes

I'd love to tell you about one of my heroes. When I first met this lady, I had no clue she'd play a huge part in my life. I took ballet when I was 5-6 years old, and I absolutely loved it! But my mom wanted me in something that could be used all my life, so she took me out of ballet and had me start piano lessons.

I'll never forget meeting Mrs. Hawfield - dressed like a real lady, red hair and bright red lipstick to match! This lady had the patience of a saint!! She had piano students day in and day out coming to her house. I was able to take lessons from her for about two years, and when I was nine, she was diagnosed with cancer and had to cancel teaching. Several months later she passed away.

Even though she's no longer here on earth, I still think about her often and I have SO many questions over the years that I wished I was able to ask her! So many times I've wanted to say THANK YOU for teaching me... Music is a huge part of my life and I owe a great deal of it to an amazing teacher who saw the potential and was willing to not hold me back for money, and let me learn at the pace I was going.

But above all the memories that I have of her - her counting "one, two, three, four...", little taps on my fingers when I didn't have them in the right place, the smiles and her bubbling personality - there's one I cherish most now that I'm saved.

Some of the things I learned from Mrs. Hawfield might've faded from my memory, but one phrase left a lasting impression on me. In the middle of our lessons she would say occasionally, "Oh, I love Jesus!! Don't you love Jesus?".  I'm sure if she said that to me, she must've said it to the hundreds of students she had over the years. A lot of them probably didn't know Jesus - maybe some of them weren't close to Him like they should've been... Looking back, she had the opportunity to share Jesus with so many, and she took that opportunity and shared it with a simple phrase:

"I love Jesus, don't you love Jesus?" 

One phrase you say can last someone a life time. What do you want people to remember you by?

Psalm 19:14 

"Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer." 

What Are You Doing? Part 4 {What Are You Doing to Encourage Others?}

What are you doing to encourage others? 

Encouragement is such an important thing! Those who are filled with pride will miss opportunities to be an encourager. Why? Because they're focused on themselves and not those around them! There are several verses that deal with encouraging one another (another term in the Bible is exhort), and there are countless ways to do it. So what are you doing to encourage others?

Here's a simple list of ways you can be an encouragement to others:

• Pray for others.  Ask someone if there's any way you can pray for them! Prayer is a powerful thing and it's always encouraging to me when someone says "I'll pray for you".  (Philemon 1:4; I Timothy 1:3 - Paul encouraged others through prayer.)
• Be a friend to those who need one. I can't tell you how many people I've met that just needed a friend... Someone who needed an ear to listen and just be there for them. There have been times where I needed a friend and someone would walk into my life and be that friend for me. "Iron sharpenth iron, so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend" - Proverbs 27:17 KJV
• Be faithful to your church.  "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more as ye see the day approaching." -Hebrews 10:25 Nothing is probably more discouraging than seeing people drop out of church. Be faithful! It'll help you and it'll help others! 
• Live a clean testimony. We all fail... I fail every day. But we should strive to keep a sanctified life the best we can. Anytime I see someone who is living right before God, it always encourages me! (II Timothy 2:19-22)
• Be a Servant. Ask your pastor's wife/youth leader's wife what you can help with! They might not have you do anything for them, but knowing that you're willing to help out will be an encouragement. Find someone in your church who needs help with something and do it if you're able to! "Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it." -Proverbs 3:27; "Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others." -Philippians 2:3-4
• Have a joyful spirit. "Rejoice in the Lord alway; and again I say, Rejoice." -Philippians 4:4 Being around joyful people encourages me. No, you won't always feel like smiling... There is a time to weep, and a time to mourn, but there's always time to have a joyful spirit. In the midst of trials and troubles, He'll give us the joy we need to get through it. People see how you respond to those troubles, and when they see a joyful attitude instead of a complaining spirit, they'll be encouraged! 

What are some other ways you can encourage others? Let me know in the comments!

• PREVIOUS POST: What are you doing? Part 1: What are you doing with your life?
• PREVIOUS POST: What are you doing? Part 2: What am I doing with my life?
• PREVIOUS POST: What are you doing? Part 3: What are you doing to win souls?

Hebrews 3:13 

"But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin."

What Are You Doing? Part 3 {What Are You Doing to Win Souls?}

What are you doing to win souls?

Anytime I think of lost souls, I think of that great song: "People Need the Lord". 

"Every day they pass me by; I can see it in their eyes

Empty people filled with care headed who knows where

On they go through private pain - living fear to fear

Laughter hides their silent cries only Jesus hears"

Yes, people need the Lord... One of the greatest reasons for us to tell others about Him is because people NEED Him! The sad thing is they don't even realize they need Him. 

"The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise." - Prov. 11:30 KJV

Remember in part 1 of this series when we talked about walking like a wise man? One way you do that is by winning souls for Jesus: "he that winneth souls is wise". 

I once had someone tell me that if I had not personally led someone to the Lord, I didn't have a heart for the lost. At the time I had not had the opportunity to do so yet, but I was doing everything I could to get the Gospel out (passing out tracts, witnessing to people whenever there was an open door). Since I wasn't personally there when the person got saved, does that mean I don't love sinners? No! (The person later apologized and stated that was not what was meant to be said) 

Our job is not to make someone be saved, our job is to share Jesus in EVERY way we can and let God's Word convict their hearts! 

(Hebrews 4:12 "For the word of God is quick and powerful...") There's no greater joy than to 'see' someone be saved... It's amazing to see the transformation begin as they give Jesus their heart, but it's nothing about what we do - it's all about what Jesus does. We just share the Good News. 

How can I share the Good News?

Here are a few ways you can share Jesus: 

• Gospel Tracts: There's probably no easier way to get the Gospel out than with Gospel tracts! Leave them with the cashier, at the gas pump, at the bank in the "shuttle tube" thing for the person behind you. It's a great way to leave the Gospel with someone when you're in a hurry or when you're done talking to them about the Lord. (Bible verses they read will speak longer than words you say)
• Your Personal Testimony: "You may be the only Bible some people will ever read". It's so true. Live a life that says Jesus made a change in me! Walk like a wise man should. Also, share your personal testimony with someone. How God has worked in your life can open someone's eyes to the Gospel. Have you verbally told someone when God saved you? 
• One-on-One Witnessing: This one always seemed so nerve wrecking to me - and it still can be! It's so easy to hand a tract to someone and be done... But starting a conversation can be hard. REMEMBER: 1. Jesus is always with you 2. Never witness without asking God to guide you. Haha, the very first time I witnessed to someone in person was in Dollar Tree several years ago. I picked an older lady (thinking she'd be easy) and asked her if she happened to attend church anywhere. She started off on a 2 minute rant on how she's been Catholic all her life and goes to the priest every week to confess her sins. My mind went completely blank on what to say - I couldn't remember a Bible verse that dealt with that. BUT it was a learning experience! I went home and studied verses and I learned how to better deal with a conversation like that. Never be afraid to share the Gospel when Jesus is with you - He'll guide you. You'll never learn anything until you get out there and DO IT! 

• PREVIOUS POST: What Are You Doing? Part 1 What are you doing with your life?
• PREVIOUS POST: What Are You Doing? Part 2 What am I doing with my life?
• NEXT POST: What Are You Doing? Part 4 What are you doing to encourage others?

Mark 16:15

"And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature."

What Are You Doing? Part 2 {What Am I Doing with My Life?}

What am I doing with my life?

As I was nearing graduation in 2012, I was wondering what exactly God wanted me to do and I started praying that He would show me what direction I should go in. I reeeeally didn't want to go to college - cause school and I aren't exactly 'besties'. You're talking about the girl who cried through every. single. math. lesson. In first grade. Ok, I'm kidding... that was actually high school. 

Anyways, I was really interested in photography and for my graduation present from my parents, I got a DSLR camera! I took that up and by word of mouth, I have done several photo sessions over the past few years - including two of my friend's weddings. The Lord also allowed me to design a few missionary's prayer cards. 

We have a couple in our church that are missionaries to the prisons/jails/detention centers here in SC and not long after I graduated, the wife started asking me to go into the ladies' prisons with her sometime. Aaaaah, no thanks! I'm crazy - but not that crazy!! Well... not long after that, I decided to go in once and see what it was like. 

 The Lord really burdened my heart. I'll never forget seeing one girl sitting on the front row during a ladies' retreat we hosted in one of the prisons - she was close to my age. What was she doing in prison so young? Lives ruined by sin... God has been so good to me. He burdened my heart to go back and share with them that hope that I have. For the past 2 1/2 years, I've had the privilege to share Jesus with those who made bad choices - I could easily be in that same place. We have Bible studies, visitation, church services, ladies' retreats, and more.

I'm so thankful I have the privilege of sharing the Gospel. And not just in prisons! People need the Lord everywhere you turn - the grocery store, gas station, DMV... Opportunities are endless and time is short.

Another way I've been keeping busy is through music. I've had the dream of being pianist in a church for a long while... Love being able to praise Him through song! The Lord gave me the desire of my heart by allowing me to play for my church as the pianist... It's an honor to be able to point others to Him through music.

Those are some of the ways God has kept me busy the past few years. 

There's no greater joy on this earth than to serve the One who created it.

I couldn't be happier with where God's placed me!

• PREVIOUS POST: What Are You Doing? Part 1 What are you doing with your life?
• NEXT POST: What Are You Doing? Part 3 What are you doing to win souls?

I Timothy 1:12

"And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;"

What Are You Doing? Part 1

 What are you doing with your life?

Life is so busy and it's so easy to get caught up doing 'things'. You know what I mean? I'm talking about being busy doing small 'stuff' - but when you look back, you think to yourself, "what in the world did I actually accomplish?"

"Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away." - James 4:14 KJV

  Life is short and there's honestly no time to waste just doing "stuff".

"See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,
Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is." -Eph. 5:15-17


Want to know how to make good use of your time? 

• Walk like a wise person.  "See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,..." • wise: (adjective) having or showing experience, knowledge, and good judgement. Are you making good decisions based off God's word? Or are you foolishly making choices just off how you might feel at the moment? • circumspectly: (adjective) wary and unwilling to take risks. Paul's not saying we should be unwilling to take some risks for Jesus' sake, but we should be unwilling to take risks that could give Christ a bad name. Don't foolishly do something 'off the cuff' that will tarnish His name. • fool: (adjective) lacking good sense or judgement; unwise.

• Find what the will of God is for your life. Following God's will for your life comes step by step. (Proverbs 3:5-6) This comes by asking God what exactly you need to do! I'm amazed every time I ask the Lord to show me what I should do and how He answers me. In the next post, I want to tell exactly how He's kept me busy! If you don't know what you're supposed to do for the Lord, just ask! ("If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering..." James 1:5-6) God has promised to guide if we only 'trust and obey'. Once you find what you're supposed to be doing in life, you can put your full heart into it and DO IT! 

Why should you use your time wisely?

• Because of your testimony to a lost world. "Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man." - Col. 4:5-6    When this world sees you, do they see a crazy 'Christian' who doesn't live what they believe? Or do they see a wise Christian who is serving Jesus in everything they do? Our testimony is precious because lost souls need to see a difference in us.
• Because we have rewards to win. "And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible." - I Cor. 9:25    The elders in Revelation 4:10-11 will cast their crowns at Jesus feet. I'd love to think we'd follow suit and give Him the rewards that we were able to win because we were faithful! He is worthy to receive glory for what He's done with our life!! (I Cor. 3:12-14)

Life is a vapor... Single ladies, don't look back on these years with regret. You'll look back one day, I promise... Maybe one day when you're a wife and you're holding your babies reflecting on these single years. You don't want to look back and say "I didn't do anything for Him". 

We'll all know we should've done MORE. Like the old hymn says, "By and by when I look on His face, I'll wish I had given Him more." Please, give Him your best now... He deserves it! 

He gave His life for you, shouldn't you give yours for Him? 

• NEXT POST: What Are You Doing? Part 2 - I will be sharing with you exactly what I've been doing!

I Corinthians 15:58

"Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord." 

What's Your Mind Focused On?

As I sit here and think back on my life, I can't help but see the goodness and mercy of God in every memory. He's such a good God to me. He's nothing BUT good. Often we as humans fail Him, and we easily get distracted on things that should just be given to Him. From little things like that new purse we see and we reaaally want - to the "big" things, like that godly guy with an amazing sense of humor you're hoping will walk in the back door of your church so you can meet him... And hopefully aaaaany day now! ok, I'm kidding! ;)

My dream from when I was about 14 years old was to hurry up and graduate high school, get married at 18, and to be an amazing house wife and mom (ha!). At the time, I even had the guy picked out... Buuuuut I'm now 21, single, and I honestly could not be happier with where God has me! My life is busy, I'm in God's will, and I've learned a few things the past few years (still have so much more to learn!) and I'd love to share with you what God has helped me with.

First off, I'm like any of you ladies. There are some days I'm dyyyyying to be married! This chicka is only human! Haha, Remember the new purse I mentioned above?! I saw a purse in Charming Charlie's several months ago that I've really wanted. I had my current one for a year and it wasn't as spiffy as it used to be! Girl can't be looking shabby, now! ;)

Well, deep down I wanted the new purse - but I knew I couldn't dish out the money for it quite yet. What would've happened if I had kept that purse on my mind all those months? Posted a bunch of status' on my Fb about how much I wanted it... Put pictures of it on my Instagram with the description: "ohmygoodness... Wouldn't this look aMaZiNg on my arm?!" Maybe even bought a cheaper purse I didn't like half as much?! (but my goodness, anything would be better than what I've got!) I guarantee you I would have been miserable. It would've consumed my mind. 

What does a purse have to do with being single? (besides the fact that your purse might show your future husband what kinda taste you have... Jk!)

My desire for that purse can be relatable to my desire for a husband. The more you place your focus on that handsome man you want instead of what God's sovereign plan for you is, the more discontent you will grow. God's desire for us is not to focus on a man we don't have yet, just like God's desire was not for me to focus on a purse I didn't need... Even though the purse or a husband can be good things.


 "Thou wilt keep Him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because He trusteth in thee." -Isaiah 26:3 KJV 

What's your mind staying on? If it's not stayed on Jesus, you won't have peace. It's a promise from the God of this universe that if you FOCUS on the Lord and keep your eyes on Him you will be content. Don't have peace right now? What's your mind been on?

Oh, by the way, I did get that purse this week. And by God's grace, because I waited and prayed for God's will to be done with it, I got it at a great price! I'm so glad I waited and didn't buy it full price! God has a plan... From the little things in our life, to the big things. His desire is for us to be content and follow Him step by step.

"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." -Proverbs 3:5-6 KJV

"A man's heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps." Proverbs 16:9 KJV 

Want to know what's so interesting to me about that last verse? He said he'd direct our steps. He didn't promise us He'd let us see the whole pathway... Follow the Lord step by step. Marriage might be 2-3 steps ahead! Focus on your next step. School? Ministry? Learning something from the Lord? Maybe contentment is that next step. And it's a step I'm still learning to take.

• NEXT POST: What Are You Doing? Part 1: What are you doing with your life? 

Psalm 37:4 KJV

"Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart."