{.the ultimate purpose.}

Ever feel like you might as well be invisible? Think again...

"For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago." Ephesians 2:10

Sometimes I forget where my identity is found. Once in a while I forget that my worth is not based on man's view of me. My identity and my worth is found in Christ. In Christ alone. I am His MASTERPIECE. He has a plan for me and He has a plan for you. He has a purpose for each and every one of us. Whether man wants to give us the time of day or not...we do not live for mankind. Yes, we are to treat everyone in a Christ like manner, but we do not live to bring them glory or to receive their attention or praise. It is something I must remind myself of day after day...

My life has purpose.

That purpose is to bring God glory and to give Him my full attention.

Not to live for all the attention I can get.

I need to take every opportunity to fulfill my purpose!

Today is where it starts.

{.diy christmas button ornament.}

Hello readers! I just wanted to share with you a quick and easy DIY ornament! My good friend Lindsey made this as a Christmas present and I thought it turned out really cute! What you'll need: 

*hot glue gun

*scissors

*fabric

*buttons

*ribbon

*stryofoam ball

1. Cut out strips of fabric and hot glue onto styrofoam ball. The buttons will cover up the fabric so it's okay if there are some wrinkles in the fabric.

2. Completely cover the ball with buttons by applying a dab of hot glue to each one.

3. Cut a piece of ribbon and tie it in a bow. (The length can be adjusted to how big or small you want the bow.) Apply a dab of hot glue to the center and attach the bow to the top of the ornament.

4. Cut a piece of ribbon and hot glue each end directly above the bow to form a loop. (Once again, the length can be adjusted depending on how long you want your ornament to hang down from the tree.)

When you're done, your ornament should look something like this...

There are so many different buttons and ribbons the possibilities are endless. I definitely want to make a few of these this week! I think they would make great gifts!

Have a great Sunday everyone! Only ONE more week until Christmas!!!

{.perspective.}

{to be happy.}

Happiness is a choice.

Don't listen to the voice

That tells you you're not good enough.

You can choose to blame

Others for your shame

Or you can decide to forgive them {yourself.}

TAKE HEART.

So today I have been thinking of all the reasons I have to be happy...

and I recommend you do the same!

How do you define happiness? Based on circumstances? Based on what you have? As for me, I base my happiness on the joy I have in the Lord. Life will never be perfect but I can always smile when I remember that my God has my life in His hands and He has blessed me in SO many ways!

"So be strong and courageous, all you who put your hope in the Lord!" Psalm 31:24

"Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice." Philippians 4:8

IF YOU WANT TO BE HAPPY, THEN BE! {what's stopping you?!}

{Jenalyn.}

As I sit hear working on homework, I'm sipping on hot chocolate, listening to Christmas music, and thinking about how much I can't wait to go home...so I can see my sister. Yes, I'm excited for winter break for many reasons, but tonight my baby sister is on my heart and I'm anxious to get home to hang out with her.

Reason why I love her #1... She's always willing to do random silly things with me. =)

Reason why I love her #2... She makes me smile. =)

Reason why I love her #3... She is a really good model for when I'm in those picture-taking moods. =)

Reason why I love her #4... She's a cutie pie...always has been, always will be. =)

Okay so just to clarify, there are way more than four reasons I love this girl. She is sweet, caring, sometimes drives me crazy...but I know I do the same to her. No matter what, she will always be my sister. Sometimes I take her for granted, but I truly do know that God has blessed me with placing her in my life. Less than ten days now girlfriend...get ready to for some fun times ahead! Love you, Jennifer Lynn! =)

{.strange familiar.}

It's easy for a heart to wander when the strange becomes familiar and the familiar becomes strange. / An escape becomes the desire of this wandering heart.  / It turns to move forward. To find a new path. But the strange becomes familiar as the past makes its presence known. / It turns to its refuge; its place of security. But strangeness has taken over as the eerie silence of what was once there is no longer. / It questions where to turn. When every direction holds a strange familiar how does one escape?

The only solution I can come up with is simple. You can't. Maybe God made things this way to point this heart to Him. {Proverbs 18:10...The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.} He is the only direction in which all things stay the same...in which familiarity and strangeness are never intertwined. Reality is cold sometimes, but you can only hide under the covers for so long. Seek Him. Trust Him. Run to Him.

{God, be my escape.}

{one life to live.}

We have ONE life to live.

Lately I've been convicted with how I've been living mine. I've been burdened with the thought of who I've been living for all this time. I've been living for myself more than I've been living for God. Taking a glance at my life I realize how often I seek things that will make me happy but have no eternal value. I let so many things upset me and even worse, I never take those burdens to God. I always run to my friends with the latest news in my life in hopes that they will make everything better, but how often do I run to God? 100 years after I'm gone from this world, what will matter? Those silly little fights with friends, whether I'm in a relationship or not, whether or not I get my way? No, none of it will. What WILL matter is how I handle those situations. Will I let my selfishness get in the way of serving my God? I don't want to keep going on like this. For too long I've been chasing happiness. Looking to friends and relationships to fill the emptiness inside. It's taken me a long time to realize it, but nothing and no one can make me complete. No one...not even the ones we think love us the most can fix things. People can encourage us, they can help us when we fall, but they can't complete us. God sometimes sends storms to make this known...whether it be in the form of taking something away, allowing sickness in us or a loved one, honestly there are probably over a million different forms a storm can come to shake things up...to get our attention.

But even when storms come...please don't give up. Use it as a motive to push harder. I'm talking to myself here too. I know it's easier to curl up in bed and ignore the chaos. I know it's easier to take things into your own hands. I know it's hard to let something go when you've held on for so long. Remember why you're here. Are you here to live for what makes you happy or are you here because God placed you here to bring Him glory? I'm not saying God wants us to be miserable, but rather we are to desire Him so much that nothing else matters. It is only then that we can find complete joy. Nothing else satisfies other than to live for God and God alone. Things and people may make you happy for a short time, but only joy in the Lord lasts an eternity.

I have joy...not based on circumstances by any means, but because my burdens have been handed over to an almighty God. I want to live with eternity as my focus. I want to live for what brings glory to God and furthers His kingdom...not what makes me "happy." It feels good knowing that I don't have to work so hard to make my life work...God has that in control. Such a burden lifted! My job in life is to live for my God and bring Him glory in all that I do. So much more fulfilling than living for myself. Don't you agree? =) God bless!