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Arms Wide Open

We often get in the mindset that we can do everything on our own. Our hopes and dreams, and our entire future is built on how hard we work. We live life day to day, using our own strength, seeing how much we can pack into 24 hours. A day turns into a week, a week turns into a month, and those months keep passing by one at a time and before we know it we are drained, we have reached the end of our rope, we don’t see what we are accomplishing or really what the purpose is in anything.

The biggest lie we can tell ourselves is that we can do everything on our own. We were not created to do everything on our own. Jesus Christ did not die on the cross for us to do everything on our own. Life is not easy, it never will be just a walk in the park, but we have an almighty God on our side that is there to help us and strengthen us.

In Miles Welch’s podcast on Marriage Material he makes a very true statement (http://downloads.12stone.com/podcast/watersedge/2010/MariageMaterial/Part4.mp3) . We should marry someone who find’s God’s strength in weakness. Miles describes times in our life as A-zones, B-zones, or C-zones.

When something comes along in your life that is new and exciting such as a new job, a new relationship, a new friendship, this is when you are in an A-zone. You are on the top, everything is right, everything is happy.

Then crap happens.

We are beaten down by the world. Whether it be a death, a broken friendship, or even just a hard class in school. We need something and we come to the point where the situation is beyond us, we realize that we cannot do it on our own strength. This is a B-zone. In these times we decide whether we are going to ask God for His strength or go to the Q-zone and just plain quit. This is what Miles calls an “Arms Wide Open” moment. We have to open up our arms and simply say " God, I can't do it on my own." The truth is that everything, at some point, ends up in the B-zone. Miles says that “Life has a way of bringing you to the limits of your strength.” We would not need strength if our whole life was an A-zone. When we ask God for his strength and we press through this is where we get to the C-zone or the victory, we overcome our struggle only by God's strength.

Asking for God's strength in our weakness is what Jesus meant when he said “Follow Me”. God invites us to gain our strength from Him. We are blessed when we come to the end of our strength. Acts 1:8 says “ But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jersusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” We are who we are because of the Holy Spirit, it is ALL through the Holy Spirit. God gives each of us an identity, we were created in HIS image, we are HIS children, and he loves us with the most pure and powerful love, a love that conquered death. We are forgiven and strengthened by God. When we are walking in the identity that God has for us and when we are drawing our strength from HIM this is when the fruits of the Spirit are produced, when we are being held up by a strength that is not our own, that is not logical and can not be explained.

So what is our identity? This is something I've struggled with for awhile. It is so easy to ask God how he sees other people, what He wants me to tell them, my ears are wide open then but when it's time to ask God how he sees me I all of a sudden am frightened. Why Is this? Maybe I'm simply afraid of what he'll say or maybe I don't feel deserving enough of His identity for me. But when I come to those moments where God tells me how he sees me, it's mind-blowing powerful. I was talking to a friend earlier and she said that there is a difference between having faith and God calling us faithful. When God speaks something over us He is claiming that over our lives and that is truly, 100% how He sees us. When we receive that and live in that identity it is so, so powerful.

So How does God see us:

First of all- Men you are warriors, you are respected, you are a Son of the Most High God and he loves you and wants to spend time with you. He wants to go on adventures with you, He wants to speak truth into you. He is the best example of a Father and male role model that you can ever have. He does not see you as weak but as a strong soldier that He has equipped for battle. He wants you to make decisions and to respect women. He wants to cry with you, to pull you out of the mire and muck and clean you off. You are never, ever too far gone.

Women you are a Daughter of the King of the Universe, you are clothed with STRENGTH AND DIGNITY, you are His Princess, He loves you and protects you. God hurts when you hurt and laughs when you laugh. He is trustworthy and will NEVER let you down, hurt you, manipulate you, or use you. He is the one who wants to define you, not for you to be defined by our world, by other men, or by the lies that the enemy has placed on you. He has adorned you with a crown of beauty. He wants to dance with you and fall in love with you and romance you. You are His daughter and He loves you.

The most powerful thing you can do is ask God what your identity is, how he sees you, and who has created you to be.

"Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. (1 Peter 3:3-4)”

Live in your identity, Draw your strength from God, you can hide from everyone in the world but you cannot hide from God. He sees all your junk and wants to take it from you and heal you from it.

Walk in who God has called you to be.

Abigail

The Wisdom of the Lord

God has been doing some amazing things already this school year. He is completely renewing me and changing my view of college. I want to savor this fun time I have before I have to grow up and be a real adult. This is the time to stay up late watching stupid youtube videos with your roommates, to make late night sonic runs, to dream about your future and realize you have so much in front of you. Life is short but it is so worth living.

I was praying for a friend today and God took me to an amazing verse.

James 3:17

" But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere."

First of All, Wisdom really doesn't matter at all unless it's from the Lord. You can get as many college degrees as you want but what is this really going to matter in eternity? I've had to be reminding myself of this fact this whole semester, if I try hard and don't get a good grade it really is all going to be ok. Getting a D on an Anatomy Test really won't matter much in heaven.

- PURE: I love this word and the heavy meaning that it brings with it. God calls us to be pure, in heart,mind, and body, but the only way we can achieve this is through Him.

-PEACE-LOVING: Peace is such a good and comfortable feeling. When God gives us the peace that surpasses all understanding we really can't explain it, it really is just the best feeling. Wouldn't it be amazing if everyone could all have this feeling? How different would our world be?

-CONSIDERATE: We tend to be so selfish and get so wrapped up in ourselves and our own problems. We forget that as believers and followers of Christ we have the truth, the truth that can set people free from their chains. What if God wants to use you to bring light into even the darkest places. We must be aware that we are not the only ones on this earth, even if sometimes we think we are, we must be considerate of those around us and what they are going through.

- SUBMISSIVE: This word peeved me for so long. I thought that being submissive meant being a doormat but it doesn't at all. Submission literally means "a letting down". Letting down all of the walls that we build up around us and laying at the Lord's feet saying "Not mine, but YOUR will be done." We can plan all we want but in the end God's plans are always the better ones.

- FULL OF MERCY: Mercy literally means " compassionate or kindly forbearance shown toward an offender, an enemy, or other person in one's power" God constantly gives us mercy even though we don't deserve it. So it makes sense that wisdom from heaven would be full of mercy, full of his compassion and kindness. The only way we can give true mercy is through God.

- (and) GOOD FRUIT: We are, as believers, supposed to be producing good fruit through God to further His Kingdom. Sometimes we have to submit to God a certain area of our lives that Satan is using to produce bad fruit so that God can rip out that bad seed and plant a good seed to produce good fruit.

- IMPARTIAL: God is not biased. He loves everyone with such an immense love that we can't even fathom it. He yearns for everyone to be in the Kingdom, he created EVERYONE in His image. We tend to, in our human ways, be impartial to certain people but this is not what God wants us to do. ALL have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God and no one is better than another person.

- SINCERE: How far is being fake going to get you? Nowhere. We must be bold and sincere about our faith or else no one will believe us or care what we say. Realize that people watch what you are doing and as a believer we are called to be set apart. We are called to be witnesses and to be free of deceit. Live what you believe.

These are just a few tidbits that God has shown me. I'm FAR, the FARTHEST, from perfect and God is constantly working through me but it's occurred to me that if people starting truly living out their faiths and realize that:

a) God cannot be put in a box- and

b) He isn't just a Sunday morning service

our world would change and people who aren't believers might actually start thinking about who this Jesus guy is that we live our lives for and why we seem to be so different from other people.

Go Love with God's Love !!!!

Abigail

Olive Trees

Psalm 52:8

" But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God. I trust in God's unfailing love for ever and ever."

Wow- it's almost the end of Summer and I can hardly believe it. What a whirlwind it has been. I can't believe how much I've grown and all that God has done and taught me.

At the beginning of the Summer I was so lost and had no clue why God had me where he did- taking Summer classes for 8 weeks in Gwinnett, this is surely not what I had planned. But as I have learned our lives never go as we plan, but that's a good thing because God's plans are always better :)

-Being in Summer classes has been such a blessing and I have met some incredible people and had a great time bursting out of my comfort zone. I was so fighting everything in the beginning and was extremely bitter about taking Chemistry again-but in the end I got a better grade and met some awesome people along the way.

- Next thing I didn't expect to happen this Summer was to be baptized. I was at Grace Midtown a couple of weeks ago with some of my best friends and the chance popped up to be baptized. My friend Amanda and I looked at each other during the ending worship and asked each other if we were planning on getting baptized. I said I would if she would and wha'dya know we did it! It was so amazing and refreshing. I felt new and clean and peaceful and what was even greater is that I had 5 of my best friends there to witness it and support me. While I was getting baptized one of the guys who was dunking me was praying for me and spoke over me that God was going to use me to give prophetic words to people or as I like to call it - affirmations or words of encouragement. This was such a confirmation of what God has been birthing in me this past year- it was such a good way to begin and affirm a new season in my life.

- I suppose that God has always spoken to me in unique ways. I just didn't realize that it was God at first :) God speaks to me alot through intense dreams, visions, pictures and sweet little phrases. I love when God puts something on my heart to tell someone and it just completely confirms what God has been trying to teach them or tell them- and it completely is not me at all it is ALL God. The closer I grow to God the clearer I am able to hear him and the tighter the bond between us comes. I absolutely adore Him and I am His Joy (hence the name Abigail).

- This is what I want for everyone. This is My heart cry to God. God yearns to be close to His children. He loves to spend sweet time with them and tell them what he feels about them. He wants wipe your tears away when you're crying, dance with you when you're filled with joy, and hold you while your sleeping. I beg you to not put God in a box. He isn't a religion, he isn't a Sunday morning hi and by kind of God-he is a personal relationship. As my friend Kate heard this guy Michael say " If you are only looking to the cross for salvation then you are missing out on half of what the cross was for- for God to have a romance with you." God wants to do amazing things through you and talk to you- so let Him!

So the lesson from the Summer- be open to God's plans- He always wants to Wow you and Woo you closer to Him.

Go Love and Love Abundantly,

Abigail

A Beautiful Prayer

This is an Awesome Prayer that one of my best friends- Kasey Henderson- sent me.

The most beautiful prayer ever...

Make me Hephzibah which means ”my delight is in her."

Make me “Beulah”.

May I be poised for action like Esther

May I be loyal and sacrificially faithful like Ruth

May I have Deborah’s wisdom, Mary’s innocence, Eve’s unbroken relationship with You.
Make me joyfully passionate like the woman at the well; unaffected and clear-sighted like the ‘alabaster woman’; a student and devoted follower like Mary (Martha’s sister).

Make me bold and adventurous like Rahab; cunning and shrewd like Tamar–able to stand for justice.

May I be used in spite of my sin like Bathsheeba and in spite of my weakness like the woman with the issue of blood.

Lord, may I be beautiful and desired like the bride in Solomon’s songs. Fearless of change like Rebekah. The mother of nations like Sarah.

May I be worth the fight like Rachel–Jacob’s 14-year prize.

Lord, every woman wants to know that she is worth fighting for–that her beauty moves people to action. That she is useful and has purpose and a place alongside her husband. Like Eowyn in Return to the King–a warrior when necessary, but a beauty worth coming home to.

I know that all of this is inside of me somewhere. All these women are tied together by the Holy Spirit–linked by Your story and filling and design. I know You can bring out this godliness in me.

Father, Make me a fierce opponent for the Devil, a mighty tool in Your hands.

Make me humble and surrendered and broken to Your using–but solid and fearsome–a defender of the weak, releasing prisoners from darkness. I long to do justly, love mercy and walk humbly with You! Mold my heart towards these, Your desires for me. I surrender to You.

Amen.

This Prayer is so Beautifully written and really reminds me of who I desire to be as a Daughter and Princess of the Lord.

I also just finished reading Francine Rivers' "Lineage of Grace" series. It is 5 novellas combined into one book. Each part is an account of 5 women of the Bible: Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba, and Mary. It was really eye-opening and helped me to realize that these aren't just silly stories in the Bible. God mentioned these women in his Holy Word for a reason, to learn from their example.

So thanks Kasey for this amazing prayer. I pray that this prayer would be rooted in my heart and that I would continue to learn from these women's stories.

In Him,

Abigail

1 Peter 3:3-4

"Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight."

P.S. Kasey has an amazing blog and I highly suggest it.

(http://beautyintheabundance.tumblr.com/post/722246430/golden-friends)

Normalcy?

I have been wrestling with a really hard concept over the past semester and now I finally feel like God is saying "yes I see that and I'm going to do something BIG". What I've been wrestling with- the fact that I don't what to live a normal life, I want to live a life completely and fully devoted to the Lord. I want to make His Kingdom known. I want people to know the Savior of the World, the one who saved my life, and for those people have a personal relationship with him and know his peace, love, and that healing is truly found in His hands.

The World wants us to live the American dream. The perfect house with a white picket fence, money is never an issue, and everybody is happy all the time. Well that just simply is not ever going to happen. Nobody's life is perfect and Crap happens. People deal with difficult stuff that most of the time they hide. I want to show people that God can heal that stuff. In Him you can live in complete freedom.

So I have no clue what this looks like for me. But God will work that out. All I know is that practical is not always right. I know this is really hard for our generation to hear. From the time we were young its been drilled into our heads that we will work hard in school go to college and have a good job so we can make good money and be happy. Anyone who doesn't go to college is seen as unsuccessful. But if I've learned anything in my first year of college it's that everyone's life is not going to look the same. Some people will do YWAM, some people will get married young, and others will become a doctor. God has a different plan for everyone. That's what's so awesome about Him, our God is not a boring God.

All I know is that I'm willing for God to use me. I'm sure there will be times where I am out of my comfort zone but that's ok because it is in those times that we grow and learn.

So.. Here's to a life lived for the King of Kings. Because there is no other life worth living.

Keep on Loving God and Loving Others.

Abigail

Psalm 56:3

"When I am afraid, I will trust in you."

Sunflowers

Nothings Sweeter than Summertime!

God has already taught me so much this Summer and I feel like I'm being refreshed and renewed. I have many plans and goals for this season and am excited about the future. One of Gods creation that I find the most beauty in is flowers. They are so intricate and delicate and I can just imagine God crafting each flower so that it will remind us of Him in a specific way.

Roses remind me of how we are royalty in God's kingdom. I can just imagine standing before God and getting a crown on my head and being given a rose while hearing "Well done my good and faithful servant."

Calla Lillies remind me of purity and how we as believers should strive to live pure lives before God.

Daisies exemplify the joy that I feel as a daughter of the King being in love with the savior of the world. I can just imagine being in a garden with Jesus and him tucking a daisy behind my ear and us having a long talk.

I just love flowers but the one that I really find unique, especially during the Summer time, is sunflowers.

Sunflowers are gorgeous and powerful. When seeing a field of them their beauty just blows me away. The most profound thing about these flowers to me is how they grow, which is towards the Sun. If this doesn't represent what God wants for us I don't know what else does. As we continue to look to the Lord we grow in our faith. He gives us warmth, sunlight, and nutrition. Before we die we should be at the tallest we can grow. Look to the Son and He will continually give you strength.

Keep on Loving God and Loving Others,

Abigail

"The LORD gives strength to His people; the LORD blesses His people with peace."

Psalm 29:11