Heartache & Non-believers
Published on
8:25 AM
By
Aunica
As a student at NWC, I admit that I live in a bubble, so I welcome opportunities to be reminded that the real world is far different than the tight knit community I live in.
Last night a friend and I went to a concert at First Ave. It was a great show, and we really enjoyed ourselves, but I couldn't help but feel overwhelmingly sad by the end of it.
Now, I definitely know that only God can judge the heart - so I can't be one to determine the salvation of any of the people in that room, but it's safe to say that a lot of them probably didn't love Jesus.
By the end of the night this struck me as I scanned the crowd. I felt helpless as I knew the fate of the people around me, but also knew that our culture has turned people off to religion in a serious way.
I just want everyone to love Jesus. I desire for them to understand His love. To experience the same life-changing freedom and unexplainable forgiveness and grace.
Where do those who don't believe in Jesus find their hope? In themselves? In their job? Their boyfriend/girlfriend? Their success?
Nothing in this world is stable or constant aside from Christ. Nothing.
As much as I love my family and my friends, they've all let me down from time to time, and I'm sure I've let them down in return.
Today, I'm clinging to Christ and praying for the non-believers that I come in contact with. Praying for opportunities to share His incredible work. Praying for others as they share the hope of Christ. Asking God to work in the hearts of non-believers in Minneapolis and across the world.
As much as I want to will people into believing, I know only God can change hearts.
Lord, this is in your hands.
Positivity & Sunshine
Published on
6:56 AM
By
Aunica
It's sunny outside.
I'm wearing pastels.
I'm talking to Jesus.
It's morning.
Needless to say, I'm happy.
Do I have a lot to do today? Yes.
Could I be stressed about it? Of course.
But today, I'm choosing not to be stressed.
I'm choosing to take this time to focus my eyes on Jesus.
My identity doesn't lie in a letter.
My identity comes solely from Christ. I am a daughter of the King.
Mornings signify potential.
They remind me of new beginnings.
Creation wakes up from its slumber as the sun warmly and gently reminds them to rise.
The sun is one of the ways I interact with God.
Whenever I feel the sun on my skin, I can feel God's presence.
His arms around me. His gentle whisper. His smile.
Today, I choose joy.
I choose to find happiness in the little things.
To focus on the good instead of the negative.
Thanks, Jesus for this beautiful day.
This moment of relaxation, of breathing before diving in.
Thanks, Lord, for your beautiful creation - it leaves me breathless.
Dear Women
Published on
9:17 PM
By
Aunica
Dear Women,
A) Ladies, I want to address a trend that's really troubling. We get really upset when guys objectify us and treat us like meat. We hate it when they talk about our bodies like they're something to be devoured instead of a part of the temple of the Holy Spirit that we are.
Somehow, however, in our culture we've decided as women that, if guys are going to treat US like meat, we're going to treat THEM like meat. As if by objectifying them as well we'll get some form of "power" or "upper hand".
Not sure what I'm talking about? Does "man candy monday" ring a bell? Have you been on pinterest and seen pictures of hot guys without their shirts on being pinned? Do you have a pinterest board filled with pictures of celebrity men showing off their abs?
Ladies. Is this how we're guarding our hearts?
I can't speak for you, but I really want to do everything I can to honor God as well as my future husband. I know one way I can guard my heart is by not giving myself a false representation of what men should look like.
I don't want guys walking around with a picture of a Victoria's Secret model thinking that's what we all should look like and being disappointed when we don't. Likewise, I don't think we should expect all men to look like celebrities. This gives us false expectations of what God intended.
When you get married, your husband becomes your expectation for a man. He is your definition of what a man should look like, not some guy in a magazine. Likewise, we as women, should be our husbands' definition of beautiful.
So, I guess what I'm saying is this: guard your hearts. Don't demean men and make them objects, and pray that they do the same. By objectifying men we aren't gaining anything, and we definitely aren't gaining their respect. Treat them as human beings.
Guard your hearts. Respect our men. Respect yourselves. Respect God and His creation.
B) Women, pray for the men around you. Pray for your fathers. Pray for your brothers. Pray for your friends. Pray for the guys around you. They daily have to fight to maintain their purity of mind and resist temptation.
If you have any questions or thoughts, feel free to contact me, I'd love to talk!
Blessings,
Aunica
Lord, Be My Strength
Published on
8:52 PM
By
Aunica
Most of the time when I write things, I go into it with a semi-clear agenda or idea I want to get across.
Tonight, that isn't the case.
In my haste to get home for spring break I forgot my bible at school. God used that as a reminder tonight to draw me back to him. I've been avoiding him. I'm not sure why. Today, I was upset - and I didn't know why. Then, through these events and others I've come to realize I've once again put God on the back burner. As if, since I feel like I've been learning a lot recently, I can take a break from learning. Check that off the list for now and move on to other things.
Finals came and went. Classes ended, and I'll start some new ones when spring break is over - but what troubles me most is my ability to "forget" God. Man, this is something satan uses SO often in our culture, and especially in my life. satan doesn't have to do much in order to push me off the right path. He just has to remind me of the "busyness" of life.
If I've been learning anything lately it's the reality of spiritual warfare. God's been opening my eyes to the battle that's raging all around us. It's so easy for me to be lulled into a false sense of security. When things seem to be going well, I put down my sword and take off my armor. Just when I'm sitting on a proverbial porch swing drinking some proverbial lemonade, satan swoops in and starts weaving lies into my life that can easily go undetected if I'm not on the constant lookout for them.
As I feel irritable, spiritually exhausted, and discouraged - I realize my desperation for Christ. My body and soul long and cry out for His redemption. I need Him. I need His love. I need His mercy. I need His strength.
If I'm left on my own, my armor will stay on the ground. I don't have to strength to put it back on and wield my sword. I need His strength. I need Him as my refuge and shelter.
When things seem to be going well, I try to survive on my own strength. It's only when I'm broken and struggling that I'm reminded of my desperate need to rely on Him. Without Him, my sword clatters to the ground useless.
Lord, help me. I can't do this on my own.
<< Find the snake. Defeat his lies. >>
1 Peter 5:8-10 -->
Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.
Spring Break 2013
Published on
9:05 PM
By
Aunica
Home.
Family.
Painting.
Lamps.
Thinking.
The Nature Sounds track.
My bed.
4 hours of quality chatting with my Papa.
Brownies and ice cream.
Best friend date tomorrow afternoon // sleepover.
Jesus. Jesus. Jesus.
No homework.
It's good to be home.
The last few months have been weird. I'm trying to find myself in ways that I don't yet understand. I'm learning how to na...