What I Really Want You to Know This Christmas (And All Year)

Nothing is impossible with God.

No really, nothing.

That’s what the angel told Mary right after he said that she would give birth to Jesus. Savior-of-the-world-Jesus.

But before all that, the angel Gabriel went to Zechariah, husband to Elizabeth, who was a relative of Mary’s. Gabriel told Zechariah: Dude, your wife is going to have a baby, even though you’re both old. 

Well, the Bible says “well along in years” but it's the same thing basically. (Luke 1:7) 

The baby would be named John. 

John the Baptist.

Zechariah, like any human being, was a little skeptical. He wanted to know how he could be sure. Because he didn’t believe, the angel caused Zechariah to become mute until his child would be born.

So fast-forward a bit. Elizabeth is 6 months pregnant now. 

Gabriel, the angel, visits Mary. He tells her that she’s going to have a baby who “will be called the Son of the Most High God” (verse 32). Mary wanted to know how this would happen... 

The angel explained and then said in verses 36 and 37: “Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who is said to be barren is in her sixth month. For nothing is impossible with God.”

Nothing is impossible with God. 

The fact is that the angel proved it by saying that Mary’s old family member was pregnant too. Mary wasn’t alone. And this crazy thing that the angel was saying-was actually quite possible.

For nothing is impossible with God.

This Christmas, I want you to know that God sent Jesus as a gift for your salvation. 

I want you to know that He is the only reason for the season. 

I want you to celebrate those things.

But I also want you to celebrate the fact that nothing is impossible with God. Nothing.

You're not outside His reach. He is beside you always, drawing you close.

Your cancer is not too bad. He is stronger than your sickness.

Your finances are not too tight. God is more than enough.

Your heart is not too broken. He is the Mender of Broken Hearts.

Your life is not too messed up. He is the Life-Redeemer.

You are not too______. God is everything you need.

No more looking at your life through the lens of doom. 

Take off those ridiculous blinders. Let the scales fall from your eyes.

Jesus is bringing sight. 

Sight for all of the miracles He is doing in your life daily. 

Let the New Year be one of new vision, as you see things as God sees them. 

Nothing is impossible with God.

Bragging- The Only Good Kind

My mouth is filled with your praise,
    declaring your splendor all day long.

My mouth will tell of your righteous deeds,
    of your saving acts all day long—
    though I know not how to relate them all.

I will come and proclaim your mighty acts, Sovereign Lord;
    I will proclaim your righteous deeds, yours alone.

Since my youth, God, you have taught me,
    and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds.

My tongue will tell of your righteous acts all day long,
    for those who wanted to harm me
have been put to shame and confusion.

~Psalms 71:8, 15-17, 24

Psalms 71 is one of my favorite chapters. I have a bunch of markings all over it. 

I’ve underlined so much- and circled phrases that stood out to me.

[Side Note: If you want to start reading your Bible, but don’t know where to start, try Psalms. It’s so relatable.]

So anyways, I’ve read this chapter dozens of times and this time, I learned something new. Those verses stood out to me, not because they were underlined or circled, but because they all talk about God-bragging. Each verse boasts about God’s splendor, righteousness, salvation, mighty acts, marvelous deeds, etc.

God-bragging.

We know that bragging about ourselves is not very classy, but bragging about God?... Oh, it’s more than classy!

Did you know that we’re actually supposed to brag about God?

God says in Jeremiah 9:24, “If you brag, brag of this and this only: That you understand and know me. I’m God, and I act in loyal love. I do what’s right and set things right and fair, and delight in those who do the same things. These are my trademarks.”

He wants us to brag about Him, 

praise Him, 

and thank Him 

for all He is, 

all He’s done, 

and all He will do.

Praise Him for His loyalty, His righteousness, His amazing acts. 

Don’t you think He’s deserving?

He saved you from yourself. Brag about Him.

He redeemed and freed you. Brag about Him. 

He picked you up and carried you. Brag about Him.

He healed you. Brag about Him.

He called you by name. Brag about Him.

“Because of God you are in Christ Jesus, 

who has become for us wisdom from God. 

In Christ we are put right with God, and have been made holy, 

and have been set free from sin. So, as the Scripture says, 

‘If people want to brag, they should brag only about the Lord.’” 

~1 Corinthians 1:30-31

God Can Use You

If you read this title and said  Amen, He uses me, then I want you to keep reading.

If you read this title and said Amen, but thought to yourself Me? He can’t use me. I don’t even have any talents. I can’t even do anything, then I really want you to keep reading.

You see, I’ll be brave enough to say that at one point, I didn’t think God could use me. This might sound like I’m fishing for compliments, but believe me, I’m not. 

Use ME, God?

Yeah, that’s funny.

I’m not super talented. I’m average.

I’m not funny. I’m corny.

I’m not bold. I get too scared.

There’s way too many things I can’t do. 

Then I read it. 2 Corinthians 12:9.

Then I read it again.

But he said to me, 

“My grace is enough for you. When you are weak, 

my power is made perfect in you.” 

So I am very happy to brag about my weaknesses. 

Then Christ’s power can live in me. 

~2 Corinthians 12:9

And for some reason, when I read it that time, I got it.

I understood that God can indeed use me.

In fact, Christ’s power can LIVE IN ME.

I have to focus on Christ in me, the Hope of Glory- not on the me in me.

I have to focus on His Word, not mine.

I have to focus on His power, not mine.

Those things I said about myself are true. I am average, corny, and timid. But it’s totally not even about that at all. It’s not about me. It’s Christ in me! 

No matter what you are (funny, corny, talented, not talented, shy, bold, old, young, sick, healthy) - it doesn’t matter. The people who are using their talents for His glory, that you idolize, are only doing it through His power too. Just like you. He takes your ordinary life and makes it all for His glory. He makes it extraordinary.

Because when Christ lives in you, He changes everything. 

You+His power= Perfectly Usable.

Yes, you the child.

Yes, you the teenager.

Yes, you the young adult.

Yes, you *cough* old-ER person. 

Yes, you who is sick in bed.

Yes, you the teacher. The accountant. The secretary. The stay-at-home mom.

Yes, you on the stage singing and preaching.

Yes, you in the back, trying to not be seen.

Yes, you who still doesn’t believe me, with all your quirks and doubts, 

God can use you.

Yes, YOU.

I dare you: Quit thinking that God can't use you because you're not _____ enough. It's not even about you, it's Christ in you.

The Thing That Keeps Me Up Late

What is it, you may ask, that keeps me up at 11 pm on a Thursday night, writing?

Well, it's actually pretty easy to answer.

It's the same thing that makes me pray for someone I don't know.
It's the same thing that makes me cry for those in pain.
It's the same thing that helps me be patient with the little kiddies.
It's the same thing that compels me to pay for that lady's meal.
It's the same thing that weighs so heavy on my heart. All the time.

It's the same thing that God had when He sent His Son to take my place.

It's the same thing that Christ had for the sick, blind, mute, deaf, dead, lost in sin, and suffering.

It's the same thing that drives pastors and teachers and doctors and missionaries.
It's the same thing that inspires people to open shelters and feed strangers and adopt babies and love the broken.

It's the thing that changes the world.

Compassion.

Pure, painful, compassion.

You see, this feeling in my chest right now is not pleasant.
My eyes burn as it brings tears to my eyes. My throat is getting tight.
My heart is beating faster and faster, as compassion wells up inside of me.

Compassion is literally the breaking of your own heart for others. 

Only, you don't do nothing with the heartbreak.

You act. You get up at 11 pm and write.
You pray. You give. You bless. You cook. You clean. You hug. You fix. 
You love.

You don't talk about it.

You just get up and do it.

Compassion.

When Your To-Do List is Too Long

You do not want to hear my to-do list for the next few weeks.
It's scary and unending. I'm usually busy, but now I'm extra-busy.
In fact, I really don't even have time to be writing this, but if I read one more article on childhood vaccinations- I may just throw this water bottle sitting on my desk... :)

The thing about to-do lists is they make me stressed. I think about every single little thing that has to get done. I have to study, I have to work, I have to babysit, I have to say Yes to absolutely everything, I have to go here and then hurry and go there... I have to practice and read this book and write that essay.. And at some point I'm supposed to eat, sleep, and live a healthy life.

I have all these things I have to do. And sometimes, it becomes so common that it stops feeling like living. And feels more like prison. I know it's not. I'm just saying that sometimes it feels like it.

To-do lists make me feel so very tiny, like I never accomplish anything.

So, how about making an It's-Done list? 
Things that have already been accomplished.. 
Trials that God has already brought us through..
Miracles He's already performed..

It's-Done:
*an essay
*Science test
*clean room
*redeemed, debt-is-paid
*wrapped in His goodness and grace

I could go on, but you get the idea.

My point is that God is always working in our lives, despite how long our To-Do lists are.
And it's important to take a few minutes and reflect on all that He has already done.

There's a Psalms that I just absolutely love and you should go read the entire thing. But I'm going to post two verses as a quote for this post.

I told myself that every time I got stressed or worried, I would write this verse down:

Though You have made me see troubles, many and bitter, 

You will restore my life again;

from the depths of the earth You will again bring me up. 

You will increase my honor and comfort me once more.

                                                          ~Psalms 71:20-21

I'd love to hear your thoughts on the verse and/or making an It's-Done list...

Feel free to comment as "Anonymous" and then just put your initials or name at the end of your comment.

Blessings...

Please, Never Stop Giving

Quote:

“One thing I ask of you: Never be afraid of giving. There is a deep joy in giving, since what we receive is much more than what we give.” ~Mother Teresa

Mother Teresa: 

Mother Teresa was born on August 26, 1910 and died on September 5, 1997. In her 87 years of life, she came to be one of the most admired women in the world. This wasn’t because she was a celebrity, with millions of dollars- but because she cared. She cared for the poorest of the poor. She received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979, but asked that the $192,000 (which I’m assuming was the prize money) be given to poor people in India.

Thoughts: 

Giving. Compassion. They are such beautiful words. There really is an unspeakable joy that comes when you give of yourself. I like giving to others and be sneaky about it. 

One time, I was at IHOP, and I heard this single mom ask about a special they were having for some kids meal. The waitress explained that the special was actually over already. The mom's face broke my heart as she looked for something cheaper to order for herself so she could afford her and her daughter's meal. I took $10 out of my wallet and went up to the front, where you pay for your meal. I asked the host to please tell that woman to order whatever she wanted, because her meal was covered. I also asked the host to not say that the money came from me. I'm not saying this to brag, rather to tell you, PROMISE you, that you will get an incredible joy from giving to someone else.

When we give, we are sacrificing our own desires and needs for someone else. 

Giving is a hands-and-feet-of-Jesus-kinda-thing. 

Relevance:  

I feel that everyday there are opportunities to give, to bless, to inspire. Most times we just move too quickly to notice.  Compassion is contagious. 

I dare you to do something for someone else today. 

The day is not over yet- there is still time. 

Hold the door open, fold that basket of clothes, unload the dishwasher. 

Leave a big tip, use kind words, and smile at that person you always see on your way to work. It’s usually not anything big or earth-shattering; it’s just something simple. 

But the simple things add up, though it’ll feel more like they’re multiplying. 

Trust me.

Going to put some dishes away now... What will you do? 

If you'd like to comment on this blog and don't want to create a username...

Click "Anonymous" as the way to leave the comment.

And then, at the end of your comment, just leave your first name or initials- 

some way for me to know who you are :) 

I'll leave a comment- so you can see what I mean!

Remember: I want to hear your thoughts on the quote! Does it remind you of something? What will you do to bless someone today?

Feel free to share! I'm trying to create an online community here...

Blessings...

Vanessa

Expect Some Changes!

Okay guys, anyone who reads this...

I won't be posting any new posts for a little while, as I'm working on my first book! I'm beyond excited to start what I'm sure will be a long process. However, it's a dream of mine. And I'm finally done talking about it. I'm ready to just do it.

But I don't want to stop this blog at all. 

So instead of completely disappearing, I'd like to change it up a little bit. 

I'm going to post a scripture verse or a quote (perhaps one you've never heard before!) and talk about it a little bit. My thoughts on the quote, some background on the person who said it, and how it relates to us... today.


Here comes the cool part:

I don't just want my thoughts.

I want yours, too.

I want to hear your thoughts on the quote! Do you like it? 
Does it remind you of another quote or verse or sermon you've heard before?
How can YOU apply it to your life?

It doesn't have to be long or super spiritual. Just real.

All I ask, is that you speak life and encouragement. 
Please, please, don't bash something that another person person comments on... 
This is not a place to dump all your opinions about someone else's opinions. 
I really can't stand that kind of stuff.

I'm excited! I'm excited to hear what you have to say :)

I'll post my first quote tomorrow- so be on the lookout for it! 

(I'll explain how to comment without having to set up a user name and all that jazz...)

Dear Me: A Letter to a Younger... Me!

Dear younger, awkward-er, self:

You don’t remember this, but Mom told the story to you today, recalling it as if it was yesterday. You were just 4 years old, at a good friend of the family’s house. Her young relatives were there, but they were older than you. They did  NOT want to play with a little four year old. You cried and cried, wanting to know why people acted this way. Mom just told you simply, that if you excluded others, it would make them cry and feel the same. 

You won't look like this forever, I promise!
You'll grow into your ears(a little!) and you'll realize
white stockings just don't work for you.

You do remember being in First Grade, with your favorite teacher, and playing outside by the old tire playground. That girl, nobody wanted her to play, but you saw the look in your teacher’s eyes and felt the thumping in your heart and knew what Jesus wanted you to do. You marched your itty-bitty-First-grade-self over to her, and asked her if she wanted to play. Your friends were a little upset, but they got over it. And you all played together.

Remember when you were eight years old and all you wanted was to help in the Sunday School class for kids with mental disabilities? Remember how your family thought you were kidding?

Well, you weren’t. And the day you turned nine Mom said she’d let you try it. But she HAD to come with you. The kids in that classroom were all older and bigger than you, but it didn’t matter; you had found your spot.

You would join the little circle, as the teacher prayed for the students, and the little boy with Autism, who couldn’t even use the toilet by himself, would put his hand on yours. You would just about cry as you thought, God, you are so in this moment.

Little did you know that God was creating a place in your heart for the people that no one has a place for. 

Little did you know that a decade later, you’d still be loving those children, and preparing yourself to teach them.

Self, I’m looking at your life, and all the events that have happened, and all I keep coming up with, is beauty. Not beauty because you’re perfect and always say the right thing and never get angry (ha, yeah right!), but because God is loving you like He always has. Because God is showing you compassion over and over and over. He’s pouring out His blessings- so many you can’t even count.

You’ll really learn about that compassion business when that preschooler cries for the Nicaragua-girls. You’ll tell this preschooler about the poverty, the no-shoes-no-toys-girls. You’ll see that four-year-old cry, deep and heavy compassion-tears, as her heart is literally broken for children in need. And it’ll break your heart. 

But don’t worry, in the broken heart, the things of self will drain out, and God will fill it, fill it up  with compassion.

You will find yourself amazed.

Please, do not ever stop believing that God is a good God, who cares for you and knows you by name. He has a plan, a job for you that no one else on this earth can do. He is all you need.

Keep serving. Keep loving. 

Keep writing.

And keep reading, you’ll discover some pretty amazing-inspiring books. (Grace For the Good Girl, One Thousand Gifts, and Cold Tangerines- just to name a few!) But more importantly, keep reading HIS Word. 

Keep learning, keep growing. Don’t ever stop. 

You’re never done growing in God.

XO,

A slightly taller, 19 year old version of YOU

Walk the Walk: On a Volcano in Nicaragua

Two roads diverged, not in a yellow wood, but in my spiritual journey. 

There are two paths, it’s really true!

One of these trails is taking you downhill, which doesn’t seem too bad. 

It’s seems like an easy walk on your tired knees. 

You can feel the wind whipping by you as your pace quickens. 

Watch out though! 

If you go too fast, you’ll tumble forward. 

Bruised and broken, you’ll be down in the dumps- both literally and figuratively. 

The other trail is uphill and it’s steep. It looks challenging 

and your chest gets tight just thinking about it. 

Your calves begin to burn as you push onward. 

You probably get tired and feel like stopping. Maybe you’re afraid 

if you stand up too straight, you’ll fall over backwards. And every few steps, 

off to the left or right, are mini-trails. They linger, tempting you to take an easier, 

but less direct course. Exhausted, but strengthened, you reach the top. 

And waiting for you is a breathtaking view.

Can I tell you that it’s the steep path you should be on? 

It’s the way to go, the trail to follow. 

It’s tough and seems more like a curse than a blessing, 

but your reward is waiting on top of that mountain.

It’s a reward that no man can buy or place value on. This gift? 

It’s life, Life everlasting. Peace and assurance. Hope. Trust. 

It’s relaxation in the Consistent Father. It’s blessings. 

It’s love, more deeply than you have ever felt. 

It’s happiness, the ear-to-ear-kind-of-smile. 

It’s jump-up-and-down-joy. 

It’s take-your-sweet-time-patience. 

It’s heaven and it is perfect.

Choose the steep hill, challenges and all, and you’ll find God at the top. 

He’s calling us, saying, “Choose life in Me, my children, and then come home.”

~~~

I wrote those words a few months before my Senior missions trip to Nicaragua. On one of our last days there, we had a “leisure day.” I put that in quotes because my leisure day consisted of hiking up a volcano. 

No, I’m not kidding. And no, I didn’t bring my good sneakers.

Nevertheless, as I’m climbing this steep volcano with a crazy incline, it hit me. I literally stopped walking and felt like I would fall over backwards. I was speechless. God was so funny to open my eyes to this steep-hill-theory and then make me walk the walk.

I laughed aloud. I kept climbing. Calves definitely burning and chest quite tight. However, as I reached the top, the view was indeed spectacular. The group could see lakes and whole cities from where we stood. We saw the beauty and could appreciate it better with our new perspective.

Yup, I took this picture:)

When the time came to walk back down, I was a little fearful. Didn’t I say how going downhill was the dangerous one?!

Some group members held hands, some angled their feet funny, and some fell down. My friend’s sister fell like 4 times. And to make us sound like bigger wimps, local construction workers were carrying (by hand) heavy blocks to be laid as a walkway. They carried these blocks up and down the volcano.

I noticed though, that no one was falling up the volcano. Sounds stupid, right? But when you serve God and are chasing after Him, He has your back. He’s helping you, supporting you, sustaining you. But when you turn your back on Him and deliberately do your own thing, why should God support your sinful actions? Don’t get me wrong, He still loves you and is calling you to return to Him... But if you aren’t for God, then you’re against Him. No one can serve two masters. (Matthew 6:24) I don't want to be against God. So I'm going to climb the steep hill, no matter how hard, for my reward is up there.

I took this one too! So breathtaking...

I lived it. On an old volcano in Nicaragua, I practiced what I preached. It was one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences I ever had. And I’m thankful. I’m thankful that God choose to reveal to us glimpses of His goodness and helps us climb the steep hill.