Guard your heart

The ring was gorgeous! It was everything I had ever imagined. I was planning my wedding and getting married... Except I wasn't. Jake (name changed) had sent the ring via text message after "meeting" me 24 hours earlier on facebook. This should have been a warning sign that this guy wasn't going to be very careful with my heart but I didn't listen. Something about rings and weddings makes my heart beat a little faster as I am sure it does a lot of you unmarried gals. I gushed to my sister about this perfect man I had met and since she is the logical one, she thought this behavior was nuts and warned me that in the past, this kind of guy did nothing but destroy my heart. But I just brushed her advice off. I decided to drive to meet the guy 8 hours away so I could meet my future husband. He was going to be my husband, he was already looking at rings after all. I had a fairy tale weekend with him. I had butterflies more than half the weekend. He did everything right. He said everything right. And when I went home...nothing.

Everything changed. As a woman considering a long distance relationship, it is a necessary feeling that there is commitment in the relationship. But guys move slow. But I was confused cause the ring was moving fast. I expected a commitment after all the hours we had spent on the phone and the marriage talk and amazing time we spent with each other. He should know by now that I was the one. But somehow he didn't. He didn't want to commit to me. He didn't want to give me up but was okay with me seeing other people. I, on the other hand, had a sick feeling in my stomach to think of him going on a date with another person. And this imbalance of what the other person wanted resulted in me pushing him away as men hate pressure but women need commitment. I started behaving like an insecure woman and the (un)relationship ended.

My heart was not okay. Although I had only known the guy for a few weeks, I had already begun dreaming of our wedding. Because I am in my late twenties, I am very serious about marriage. I have a husband list and this guy exceeded everything. My heart had became attached to the idea of being Jake's girlfriend and maybe even wife. I was already in a relationship that had not even begun yet. I started to feel those heart pains that you feel when you know something is ending. The anxiety set in. I began questioning who I was. The enemy sure knows how to sneak his way in when you are feeling down. Don't let him. Fight back! But the great things about being a woman of God is that if you pour your heart out to God and lay your feelings on the altar before him, he always works things out for the good of his children. Always. So looking over that season, your heart is so valuable to your life. It is what pumps life through you not only physically but spiritually as well. GUARD YOUR HEART.

So here are some ways to Guard your heart:

1. Have realistic expectations at the beginning. It could happen but more than likely, no man is going to be madly in love with you in a few weeks. Feelings take time to develop. Yes, you are amazing and it is easy as woman to decide you want to be with someone but men need time. Give love a chance to grow.

2. Be aware of warning signs. A guy that says "I have commitment issues" has commitment issues. Most men do but if a man knows that and is warning you about his stuff, believe him. They are probably pretty bad. He is telling you for a reason. Another warning sign is a guy who moves too fast in the beginning. A guy who is so sold out about you without knowing you will probably slow down a little further down the road and as women, we have a natural tendency to fight that slow down of relationship pace. A man of God needs to be a man of his word so if he is making promises he can't keep or saying things that he doesn't mean, what kind of husband will he be?

3. Don't give all of yourself over to someone so soon. Let him discover who you are. If you share so much intimate talk and time with someone very quickly and it ends, you are left with a hole that shouldn't be there. Slow down.

4. Give them space. I say this but I am the worst at this. I know the few times I have been successful at giving space, it has worked tremendously in my favor.

5. Keep your dignity. You are a woman of God. Don't compromise the things you want in a relationship. If they aren't there, let him go. As women, it is easy for us to love anyone but let's be good to our hearts and only really risk them for someone we could see a future with. If the relationship does end, be filled with grace and dignity. Don't say things you don't mean. Wait a few days if you have to to get your emotions in check.

6. Keep God above everything. Make sure that he is still the keeper of your heart. Ask him for advice. Read his word for guidance. Surrender the guy over to God's will for both of your lives. You ultimately want to end up with the guy God chose for you so let God have his way!

I hope this encouraged someone. God bless!

Being a Finisher

Has anyone ever felt stuck in their life? You want so badly to move forward and be the woman of God you know in your deep gut you are but there is something holding you back? That no matter how hard you press in, you are still in the exact same place you were last month. I have felt like this recently and been really discouraged. I was praying to the Lord to move forward in my life and he gently gave me a reply- "Because you aren't a finisher." Ouch. Ok God. How do I become a finisher? 

"What matters most to me is to finish what God started: the job the Master Jesus gave me of letting everyone I meet know all about this incredibly 

extravagant generosity of God." (Acts 20:24, MSG) 

1. Be faithful in the small things. I realized that I start tasks and do a lot of talking about my dreams and goals but never actually do anything about any of them. Even housework being half finished. So I made my bed. I started to do the dishes as soon as I used them. I didn't wait to take out the garbage three days later. I finished the last two minutes of my workout because I told myself I would do an hour of cardio and I am going to finish that hour of cardio. I started answering emails and texts as soon as I got them that would normally sit for a day before I would respond. It's not that waiting around to do these things is bad in itself, but the Lord has taught me and is teaching me that he is preparing me for a great future filled with advancing his kingdom, and if he can't trust me to finish dishes, how can he trust to use me to heal the hearts of the broken?

2. Make a daily to-do list. It sounds so simple but it is a great feeling when you can check things off that list. Go one step further and make a list of life long goals. I have a several long term goals that include my spiritual, personal, family, and ministry goals. It also is amazing because looking over that list, I am able to see how much God has moved on my behalf to help me accomplish those goals.

3. Tell people about your goals. Ask people to hold you accountable. It can one thing to fail yourself but to fail others is a different story.

4. Do everything you do as you are doing them unto the Lord. When I find myself trying to half-do something, I remind myself that everything I do can be worship to the Lord and to finish for him.

5. Remind yourself that Jesus was a finisher. The last words Jesus spoke on this earth before dying on the cross were "It is finished" (John 19:30). Not only that but he is continuing to do a good work in us that will be completed upon his return. Come on, the person you most want to be like is an amazing finisher!!

Be encouraged to keep running the race and not only running, but FINISHING! 

Why a breakup was the best thing that ever happened to me

Six months ago, I would not have agreed with the title of this article. My heart was broken. I had met the man of my dreams and he dumped me very harshly one unexpected night. For the next month, I couldn't eat, sleep, and all I wanted to do was cry. I wondered why God had let this happen and often cried out to him asking him why. Then one night I heard his gentle still voice say "I didn't do this to you, I did this for you." In that moment, I understood and trusted him that he had better plans for me. I began to thank God for loving me enough to protect me from anything he had not planned out for me even if it meant being hurt in the process. 

As my heart began to heal, God gave me a strength to carry on with my life. I learned what it meant for him to be the lover of my soul. He taught me the true definition of unconditional love. I was able to finally see the woman of God that God saw in me and to truly love myself. And today, six months later, I am the happiest I have ever been in my life. Sometimes you have to go through the fire to refine you and become the woman of God wants you to be. 

Here are 10 Bible verse that helped me get through one of the toughest seasons in my life:

1. "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (Jeremiah 29:11) This is such a comforting promise that the God of the entire world has a special plan for your life and not only is it a plan but hopeful plan filled with a future. 

2."I will be your God throughout your lifetime- until your hair is white with age. I made you, and I will care for you. I will carry you along and save you." (Isaiah 46:4) If he made me, he cares for me. 

3. "Men have not heard nor perceived by the ear, nor has the eye seen any God besides you, who acts for the one who waits for him. You meet him who rejoices and does righteousness." (Isaiah 64:4) Fear tries to creep in but I know that my God is ready to meet me as I wait for his plan for my life to unfold.

4.  "So we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory." (2 Corinthians 4:16-18) These moments of hardship are temporary and prepare me to be more Christlike. I focus my eyes on eternal things, not momentary afflictions.

5. "The Lord your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing." (Zephaniah 3:17) God rejoices and loves me. His love brings still quietness to my soul. 

6. "The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid, do not be discouraged." (Deuteronomy 31:8) I am not alone and never will be because God will never leave me and no matter who walks out of my life, God will always remain by my side. 

7. "But those that wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles. They shall run and not be weary. They shall walk and not be faint." (Isaiah 40:31) Something about the waiting produces a Godly strength. I want to be a strong Godly woman.

8. "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." (Philippians 4:13) There is nothing that life can throw at me that I can't get through because the source of my strength is Christ.

9. "In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." (John 16:33) He didn't say that it was going to be easy. Life will be hard but because he lives in me, I am an overcomer too.

10. "Fear not for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are mine, When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you." (Isaiah 43:2) I am God's daughter and he won't let anything harm me. He will be with you through the rivers and fire of life and nothing will overtake me because he holds my hand. 

I hope this encouraged you. God is so good and faithful. He will never let you go!

These are my Confessions

This might come to a shocker to anyone reading this but Christians aren't perfect. In fact, we are the same as you. Broken. Ashamed. Angry. Sad. But no one talks about it. And I would like to apologize on behalf of anyone representing Jesus that has made it seem like they have it all together. Because we all know deep down that there is no one who has a perfect life or is a perfect person. But why are we so ashamed to admit we aren't perfect? A very amazing woman, Caroline Barnett, who I have the pleasure of listening to speak occasionally at my church once said this quote which I try to live my life by now which is "When you go first, you give others the opportunity to go second." 

So here it goes. These are my confessions. 

I struggle daily. I want to punch my sister in the face sometimes. I think bad things in my head while I am driving about the person on my bumper in traffic. Sometimes I say those bad things out loud. I always wonder what people would think if they knew I was a Christian, like if I had a bumper sticker on my car how much of an embarrassment I would be to God. So that's why I don't have a bumper sticker on the back of my car. Real talk. I am very critical of others sometimes. I always hear Gods small voice reminding me to see others as he sees them. I worry a lot. I am very vain sometimes. I am also very critical of myself. I am selfish. I am abstinent now and will be till I say 'I do' (I had a huge problem before I found God and thankfully he lets me know daily that I am pure and white as snow to him) but don't think for a second I am clear in that category. I think about it and Jesus said that even if you look at someone and think about that person, it is the same thing. I have to ask God daily to control my mind and thoughts. I am lazy. I like to eat too much. I lie. I was a drug addict. And an alcoholic. And it gets way worse than that, anything you can think of, I am guilty of and the truth is I am the same as you- the drunk, the druggie, the murderer, the gay person. I am a sinner. I said I was going to be honest here so I am. Because I am not concerned with anyone who knows Jesus...

I am concerned with the person who thinks they have to be perfect so they have been waiting to come to God. Guess what? That will never ever ever happen. Because then a perfect man who died on the cross for you would have wasted his life and we wouldn't need a savior. But we all need a savior because we all have sinned and fallen short. Do you realize how much he loves you?

 He loves you more than his own sons beating heart.

 He cares for you so much he sent his son to come die on a cross. Jesus was murdered for you. So why are you sitting there doing nothing? He wants you. He wants the broken messed up version of you. Not the one who pretends to have it all together. In His Word it says he is close to the brokenhearted which might just be his way of saying that He wants us when we are broken because he is the only one who can fix us. And being broken is the best place to be. Because then he can mold you into whatever he wants. He is close because he is the glue that holds us together. Without my Jesus, I would be the mess described above. But because I admit I am not perfect, I admit I need a perfect savior. The good news is that he makes me whole and that I am a new creation in Christ Jesus. He looks at me like those things never happened. We don't have to act perfect. In fact, I bet the man who died for us because he knew we weren't perfect would really appreciate it. Stop beating yourself up. He wants you to need him.

My name is Rachel Greene. I am a Christian. I am madly in love with Jesus and you just read my confessions.

Dear Jesus,

Thank you so much for dying on the cross for me and making it possible for me to be free from my sin. You carried my weight so I don't have to.. Help me to come to you when I feel the pressures of life building up and acknowledging that I need you. I need you Jesus. Come into my heart and fill me up with you. I want to be just like you. I love you. Amen. 

He is more

I am writing today because I haven't written in two months! I have so much that I want to share, though I have been having a shortage of time to write. God is so so so good. I have been through a roller coaster of emotions with God the last few months which have led me to my current state. And at this exact moment, I have never been more full of joy than right now. So here are some things that I would encourage everyone to remember as you are going through the valleys and even when you are on the mountaintop.

1. God will never ever leave you nor forsake you. He never leaves. He is always with you. If you don't feel him, don't be discouraged, press in. I have felt this way before but looking back, I realize how much he really was working things out.

2. God is for you, not against you. If something happens that makes you feel like God hates you, TRUST that his word is the truth. And he says he is for you.

3. He has good plans for you. Imagine what you think good is, then take a deeper look and look through the eyes of your Father. His good is way better than our good. Again, TRUST him.

4. He loves you. Let him love you. He understands your pain. It's okay to cry out to him. It's okay to let him know how you feel. He wants to be everything for you. Even your shoulder to cry on. Let him.

5. He is more. He is the love of your life. He is what you have been searching for, what your soul needs, the only person on earth who will always be there for you and will never ever disappoint. He is amazing. He will give you a joy that you don't even understand because your circumstances look like you should be weeping instead of jumping for joy. He is the King of all Kings. Your Abba. Daddy. The lover of your soul. He loves who you are deep deep inside. The person you hide from other people, he loves that part of you too. He loves your dirt. So much he died to cleanse you from the inside out. Let him be all that to you. And he will always be even more. Because he will continue to surprise you with more. More and more and more and more.

Okay, this was a short one but I know this is going to speak to someone's heart. Go cry in your bedroom and talk to him. Or dance with him. Or whatever your spirit is wanting tonight. Enjoy! XOXO

Top Ten Reasons to Embrace Singleness

Good Morning beautiful daughters of the most high God!! I want to encourage all of you single ladies out there because I know what it feels like but singleness is a gift!! Holla.

1. Your entire focus is getting closer to the Lord. No distractions. Just you and Him. I am learning (finally) to cherish these sweet moments with Him as a gift. He is healing my hearts broken pieces and making something beautiful out of it. I love my sweet mornings with the Lord.

2. You can go an entire day without wearing makeup or showering. You can eat an entire pizza and watch romantic sappy movies and no one will ever question you.

3. You can be a crazy cat lady. Or dog lady. Your pets are your children. You can talk to your pets like they actually understand you. It's your world. Anything goes.

4. You don't have to ask anyone's permission to go hang out with your friends. Or you can take a last minute vacay. Just get up and go.

5. You don't have to brush your teeth before you go to bed... if you don't want to. I'm just saying. I know. I am gross.

6. You don't have to share the remote. You can listen to music at the high volume. You can sing really loud and terribly in the shower and it doesn't matter. No one is judging you. Except maybe your dog or cat.

7. You can develop as a Godly woman without feeling the need to impress someone (therefore being ungenuine). Your motives are pure in your walk with the Lord. Just you and Him baby!!!

8. You don't have to shave.

9. You don't have to worry about buying someone's Christmas or Birthday or Valentines day gift. That stuff is stressful. I have never been very good at it and I am glad I don't have to worry about it!

10. You get to fantasize about your future wedding with your girlfriends... without freaking your boyfriend out. Yes, I have a pinterest with all wedding stuff. Yes, I have a wedding dress I am already in love with. It's my party and I can plan it if I want to!

Ok, I hope you enjoyed and feel as encouraged as I do after reading this!! XOXO

8 ways to a deeper relationship with God

Hey blog readers! Okay, so I am going to first update everyone on my current amazing life. I did it. I moved home. I am living in Knoxville, Tennessee again. I always said "Never again" but just like Justin Bieber says, "Never say never." I had been confused about where I was supposed to go and the Lord gently let me know it was okay to go home. So here I am!! God made a perfect way for me. I found the perfect subletter who happened to be a strong man who helped me load up my uhaul, and he did it with a total positive attitude the whole time. He wanted to help. I drove a Uhaul with my car attached to the back about 20 hours back to Knoxville. I had an apartment complex chosen that I loved and prayed that something would be open. I kept calling and someone answered the phone. Finally. She said that someone had just canceled their move in and that it was their only open apartment and I could move in the next day. HELLO GOD! I don't believe in coincidence, especially when too many happen, but I do believe in God. I am all cozy in my perfect apartment and can't wait to spend many mornings and days in the presence of our Lord thanking Him for all his goodness.

Okay, so several people have let me know over the past month that they admire my relationship with our Lord and I want to help you guys get there. First of all, I want to say that I personally am still striving to be as close to him as possible and will be my entire life. He is just that amazing. You want to hear his voice and get to a place of peace in your life, even when everything sucks? Ok. Good. Keep reading.

1. Spend time with Him. This seems really simple but it's not. The devil doesn't want you to get close to God. There will be a million distractions. Shut yourself off from the world and really spend time with Him. Devotionals are great but 5 minutes a day is not going to bring you to a closer walk with God. Any relationship takes quality time to develop into a strong relationship. If you only spent five minutes a day with your boyfriend, would that be a relationship? NO. And the same things goes for God.

2. Turn off your phone. Get alone. Go to the woods. Do whatever you have to do to not get distracted. I love facebook and instagram. But even I sometimes find myself looking at them, when five minutes ago I was reading my Bible and spending time with God. Stay focused.

3. Worship Him. Put on some music that will invite the Holy Spirit into the room. Personally, I love Bethel music. Sing your heart out to God and really means the words you are saying. Close your eyes and let him speak to you.

4. Get out a pen and paper. Ask God what he sees in you. Start writing what comes in your head. You will be able to pursue a relationship with the Lord more efficiently if you know what he sees in you. I know in previous relationships with people, if I know that they love me and the things they love about me, I want to be with those people and spend time with them. I have gotten in the habit of writing and asking things from the Lord and have many wonderful words from God written down in my journal. These are always nice to look through when you are having a rough day and will remind you that God is with you and never leaves you.

5. Obey Him. Are there hidden 'sins' in your life? Do you do things in secret that you think no one will see? Well God sees and knows all. He knows the condition of your heart and sin separates us from Him. So take a deep look inside and make sure you are doing everything you can to obey his commandments. If I ever feel far away from God, I always bring myself to a place of humbleness and ask God if there is anything that is keeping me from being close to God.

6. Serve others. I never feel closer to God than when I am being a servant. Get involved in your church outreach program. Or be a youth volunteer. Or find some clothes to donate. Or encourage someone. Do it for the right reasons and watch how much God's spirit flows in you when you are putting other people before yourself. Why are you so happy when volunteering? Because Jesus himself was a servant and you are more like Him when serving.

7. Watch your relationships with the opposite sex. I am a daughter of God. And I am head over heels in love with Jesus. I will not date a man or spend time with a man who does not love Jesus too. Going to church doesn't count. Yes, he should go to church but there are a lot of people who go to church who do not have a personal relationship with God. I want a man who leads me and he can't do that very well if he doesn't know where he is leading me. Sure, he can lead you to a bar or sex or an inappropriate conversation but find a man who will lead you to a deeper relationship with God. That's the kind of man I want be the father of my children someday. And you should too. Anyone who isn't leading you to God is leading you away. Pursue God and he will send you the right man.

8. Open your eyes. Take a walk. Open your ears. God is everywhere. There is not one place you can go that he is not there. He speaks in more than one way. Nature is often a way the Lord speaks to my heart but can also in a persons confirming word or in the Bible when scripture seems to be the exact thing I needed to read that day. Look for Him. And then don't be quick to take what he is trying to tell you for granted. Receive it.

I hope these tips help you get to a deeper walk with our Lord. Press into Him. Let Him be the love of your life. Worship and praise Him for everything he has done in your life.Can't wait to hear the stories of how God is moving in your lives!