So I'm not going to sugar coat this right now. I'm going to come right out and say it, because guess what? What I'm about to say is completely and utterly true.

There is pain.

Sorrow.

Hard times.

Times you want to run away from your life and make it all end.

Times when you wake up and feel like crawling right back under the covers and never getting up.

Times when you look at yourself in the mirror and wish you had the chance to change something about yourself.

I sure know that I've felt this way. As a Christian, I think that some people believe that we should be perfect - that we shouldn't have troubles and trials. That we should just walk through the fire and never get burned by it. That we are immortal.

But we are not. We are human. We are sinners. We are easily hurt just like everyone else. We are burdened, pained, sorrowed. We have so much going on, and we feel like no one takes the time for us. 

But guess what? 

God has time. God wants you to run to him and not away from him. He wants YOU to take the time to go to him - in prayer, in meditation, by reading the Bible. He wants you to turn to him when you're hurting. He wants to help you. He wants to LOVE you. He wants to treat you the way you deserve to be treated. You can't get a better doctor, lover, best friend, healer than the Lord, Jesus Christ. 

So remember, next time you're hurting, even if you don't feel like it - run to God, and not away from him. It might just prove to be the best thing that ever happened to you. Because he'll heal your heart and love you just for you.

Sinner and all.

I keep my eyes always on the LORD. 
   With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
Psalm 16:8


 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

~Ashley

The Mirror Lies

This picture is of my mirror in my room.

I'm sure you know all about mirrors.

They're the things that lie to us, telling us we're less than what we should be. Telling us we're fat. Telling us we are imperfect. Telling us we don't deserve love.

But the truth is... the mirror lies.

As much as I try to remember this... I forget. My mirror is right across from my bed, so every morning, I'm faced with... well, me. And I'll be honest: a lot of times, I don't like what I see. Sometimes, I downright hate it.

Part of the reason I haven't posted on this blog in forever is because it's so hard to believe that I really am beautiful. I've been struggling in this area a lot. I didn't feel like I should be talking about believing that we're beautiful when I don't even believe it myself.

I remember a particularly dark time a few months ago when I was listening to Satan's voice, not God's. When I'm listening to the loud voices of Satan and his lies, it's so hard to hear the still small voice of Jesus.

I felt worthless. Fat. And the biggest lie that Satan shoved down my throat was this: No one could ever love you. You'll never get married. You are not worthy.


That is totally and utterly crap. I know that now. But it's hard to see Satan's lies for what they are when he's got such a strong grip.

It was after this time that I put up those two post-it notes.

You are beautiful.
-God


No one can make you feel inferior without your consent. -Eleanor Roosevelt

And now, when I wake up every morning, I am faced with the truth - not lies.

"Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." 

John 8:32

Girls, deep inside you, you know the truth. The truth is:

you are sacred,
you are treasured,
you are loved,
you are His.

Hold onto that truth with everything in you. Proclaim it. Shout it from the roof tops. Embed it into every fiber of your being.

The mirror lies, but the Maker of the stars never will.

Don't be afraid to believe that you're beautiful.

A post that needs no introduction....

YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL! 

Have you heard that yet today? Chances are, probably not, but if so, great! I'm glad that someone told you! You deserve to be told, every day!

And if you listen closely, you'll hear it coming from inside you. That's God speaking. Telling you that he cherishes and loves you more than anything in the world. How awesome is that?

Sometimes I think we don't realize. We know that Jesus died on the cross to save our sins, but we don't think about that in depth. He loved us. You. And me. He cherished and loved us enough to be brutally killed and hung on the cross and rise again three day later. 

Wow. 

John 3:16 tells us that God sent his only son to die for us. Come on, girls. How amazing is that? I think that we hear this verse, memorize it and don't really listen to the intensity of it. But it's so amazing. 

I'm going to post it here, and I want you to read over it and realize exactly how amazing it is. Read it more than once.

And know today that Jesus loves you.

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only Begotten Son that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life."