Sunday Praise No. 3

Life hit my heard lately and I realize I haven't done these posts in a couple weeks, let alone many blog posts and I'm working on that. I am currently going through a season of life lately full of many changes but also lots of ups and downs so prayers are much appreciated! That beings said, this Sunday Praise is about those seasons of life where we feel like every day can be a constant struggle, know that God is with you and I hope this post helps with that struggle. Enjoy!

I never want to act like somebody I'm not and when it comes to blogging, I'll always be open about who I am in my faith, fashion and lifestyle, completely raw & authentic. That being said, lately staying strong in my faith and trusting in God has been a constant struggle. Recently, there has been a lot more downs than ups in my life and it's hard to stay positive. For a while, I really struggled in keeping the faith because there was so much doubt and desolation that clouded my faith in God that everything would go according to his plan. I know deep down in my heart that God has every second, minute, year of my life planned out but sometimes it's just hard to remember that. In these times, as I know we all have them, I've learned to remember the good days when I was praising and thanking God for everything he was doing in my life and know that as much as he was there in those great moments of my life, he is there just as much in the bad moments.

Life isn't perfect. There's good days and bad days, we have days where we thank god and days where we really seek him. It's easy to thank him on the good days but the bad days, those are hard. I find myself struggling to go and seek God, to pray to him and to read his word, but when I seek him, everything changes. When I open up his word, speak to him and praise him, I am confident everything will be okay. He gives me contentment, strength, and most of all faith. Faith that it will all be okay and that everything is working in accordance to his plan. That every high and low is for a reason and despite any struggles I have along the way, it will all be okay.

So in your tough times, praise God like you never have before. Start and end your day seeking him, praise him in the lowest valleys and the toughest storms, give him all the glory no matter the circumstances and know with him, you have the strength to get through the day, month, year, whatever it may be.

We all have moments in our life where we fall short in our faith, it happens. Lately, I've been listening to Elevation Worships new album and a song really stuck out to me that I feel just really relates to what I've been going through recently. The song is called Here Again and it speaks volumes to the Lord's grace. That in our weakest of times, his glory appears, his presence is so strong in our lives in the times we need him most. With him, we are enough and he never forsakes us, never leaves us. This song has been on repeat for me, it is such a strong song in every word that is sung. I listen to worship music on the daily whenever I can simply because it gives me the opportunity to worship and praise him every chance I get. Take a day and listen to worship music when you can whether its when you get ready in the morning, in the car, while you make breakfast or do school work, listen to it and notice the difference because it truly has an impact.

I recently read the book of Esther and while it's a short book in the Bible, it carries so much impact. Esther trusted in God every step of the way in her life from being appointed Queen at such a young age to revealing her heritage and saving her people. When Esther heard of the slaughter planned for the Jewish people by Haman, she didn't act out in anger or sadness but she immediately turned to God and fasted for three days and three nights as did her people. See, when Esther was faced with a devastating event in her life that depended on her, she turned to God and went to seek him. She's a great example of how, as christians, we should be in the difficult times life gives us. Esther is not only a pillar of strength and persistence in her but also in her faith. As Psalm 55:22 says, "Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you, he will never let the righteous be shaken."

Sunday Praise No. 1

Hey everyone! So long ago I was excited to announce that I was going to take my blog from Fashion & Lifestyle to Faith, Fashion, & Lifestyle but it's taken me a while to really get to that point. When I felt led to do this, I was so ecstatic because I realized how God wanted me to serve but after the excitement came fear. Fear because my faith and my relationship with God is something thats very personal to me and for me to share that is very difficult. I went a little more in depth about how excited to let go of that fear and to serve such an amazing God. I am completely diving in and fully expressing my faith through my blog without letting myself be a slave to fear. I can't wait to share these Sunday Praise posts every Sunday and just talk about what's been on my heart lately, what part of the Bible I'm currently reading, worship songs I'm loving etc. Hope you like!

I have really been learning especially these past few months, there is no right time to serve God. When God calls you to step out in your faith and serve him however that may be, you don't think on it, you just do it. I tried to let myself think on it, I let fear control me and I allowed my fear to control me and my path in life but now I am giving it all to God. On the good days, on the bad days because in he is there in the bad times just as much as he is in the good. When you trust in God, those chains that bind you to fear & anxiety feel like they have been released and oh what an amazing feeling that is. 2 Timothy {1:7}, for God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. Trust in God in your worst and best times, during your highs and your lows, your happy days and your sad days, for the plans he has for you are far greater than you can imagine. You are so loved by him, fearfully and wonderfully made by him, trust in him.

You guys! When I was younger my grandma would always rave about Joyce Meyers and so the other day I decided to jump on the podcast bandwagon and decided to listen to her podcasted sermons. Let me tell you, they are so good. Seriously, SO good!!!! I can't get enough of them. Joyce's words are so true, I decided to start listening to her podcasts at home instead of in the car because I wanted to be able to write it down and really dive into her words more later with scripture.

Just to give an example of how amazing they are, one of the podcast I listened to was about the name of Jesus and the power it carries. So often we Jesus' name used in vain and she asks how would we feel if someone were to use our name like that. It empties it of the power it carries and makes it become useless which is exactly what vain means. Theres a reason we say 'In Jesus name' after we pray, it's because of how powerful his name is and we should treat it as such. That's just a tiny part of what she said and it was really, really good! I highly suggest checking out her podcasts if you can!

Oh how I love worship music! I am always finding new songs every week but lately I've been listening to a lot of classics along with some from elevation, Hillsong, etc. Here's a few I am just constantly listening to on repeat:

• Who You Say I Am - Hillsong
• Every word of this song is just incredible because God's love for us is indescribable. The first lyrics get me every time 'Who am I that the highest king would welcome me?' and it goes on about how amazing his love is for us. I seriously can't get enough of this song.
• You Say - Lauren Daigle
• We are our worst critics. It's our own words that constantly tear us down more than anything and I relate to this song so much. I allow myself to judge every little thing about me from how I look to how I act to my image but when I do that, I am criticizing God's creation. I am fearfully and wonderfully made by him, I can't forget that. This song goes into those harsh criticisms and how God says the opposite of every negative thought we have and thats what matters. I don't normally get emotional about music but this song really gets me because I relate so much.
• King Of My Heart - Bethel Music
• Over and over, you're never going to let me down & you are good. Two things I remember on the daily. I am always saying how good god is and this song says it all. I can't get over God's grace and I just want to praise him always, especially when I hear this song. God is good!
• Miracle - Mosaic MSC
• Just recently heard this song and it's been on repeat over and over. We are saved by his grace, he loves us so much and his love is never-ending, no matter how far we stray. This song just pours all those feeling of praise and thankfulness and humbleness into one and I just love it so much. All for love, all for love, all for love.

Lately, I've really been reading into Proverbs and I find myself hanging onto so many of the words within because they are such wise teachings. From the words we should seek and listen to the ways we should honor God and just about how much we should listen to wisdom and seek it out. It really sinks in for me and especially in Solomon's Proverbs where we're called to serve and how our actions represent him. It all really sinks in and I'm constantly looking back on the my studies of Proverbs. I can't wait to dive even deeper into his word not just through Proverbs but also through other books of the Bible.

Remember on this sunny Sunday, just how loved you are by him. That even when you wander, he sees you out. He calls you out by name and never stops his outpouring love for you. We are so blessed to serve a God who's love is indescribable and never-ending. You are loved, share that love. Wake up thanking him and end the day thanking him.