Dare To Ask Boldly

Our God is beyond capable and more than willing to provide for the things we ask for if we ask with right motives and believe Him for it. Recently in my life, I found myself challenging God as if to say, "okay God, I'm only going to ask for this because I don't want to ask for too much". He spoke to my heart saying, "Amy, do you realize that's like Me saying 'I know you're capable of performing at this level, but I only want you to do the minimum'?" For instance, dance is something I am passionate about and have had the opportunity to do since I was three years old. It's something I like to be challenged in. Then God put an example on my heart. "Limiting Me is like saying I know you can do three pirouettes, but I only want you to do one." I grew up watching my brother play baseball and thought what if God said, "Richie, I know you're capable of hitting a home run, but this time I only want you to hit a single." When we are gifted with something we delight in using all of our talents, not just the bare minimum. God delights in amazing us. He loves giving us immeasurably more than all we can ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20). 


So the first step is simply asking. Next, we must believe that God is working behind the scenes and thank Him in advance, as an act of faith, for what is to come. It's important to go to His Word, find promises that line up with what you're believing, and memorize them. Get them deep down in your heart. Then, when satan tries to bring doubt you will be left unshaken, able to stand on the Word of God because you know that you know that you know God is faithful (reliable, trustworthy, and therefore ever true to His promise, and He can be depended on) 1 Corinthians 1:9 


God would love nothing more than to leave you standing in awe of Him. He is a loving God who wants to bless every area of your life. How much more will your Father Who is in heaven [perfect as He is] give good and advantageous things to those who keep on asking Him! (Matthew 7:11). He wants you to ask. Don't hold back. Don't be hindered by what you see in the natural world, or circumstances that look impossible. God is a God of abundance and nothing is impossible for Him. I'm standing on the promise that The same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from His glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19

You Are Chosen, Don't Wait!

 As I was sitting in my social work class on September 1st, 2011, I heard a quote that I will never forget. "The thing you most grumble about is the thing you are the answer to. Don't wait!"(Cindy Jacobs). I sat there repeating it over and over again in my head. Immediately my heart began to stir and those issues that got under my skin began to fill my mind. How much longer could I go just thinking about the number of children who are abused and neglected each day, or children who are placed in foster shelters left feeling abandoned without a mother or father to kiss him or her goodnight? What was I waiting on? 

 Two weeks later, I got the opportunity to visit a children’s shelter where the kids were taken out of their home because they had been abused or neglected. When I went outside to the area where the young children were playing, I noticed a boy about a year old running around with one shoe on. The minute he noticed me watching him, he ran over and reached out his arms to be picked up. As soon as I picked him up, his face lit up with the biggest smile I have ever seen and he hugged me tightly. The joy of being able to care for a child in need like this is indescribable. It was hard to leave the little boy that night, but I knew that I poured out all of the love I had and I left knowing that he was in God’s hands and God had his best interest in mind. 

 God is not looking for someone who holds the perfect resume and all of the tools needed to change the world. He is simply looking for availability. First, we must become available to be used by Him, asking for the help and guidance of His Spirit. Then, His Spirit living inside of us will do the work of which we cannot accomplish in our own human strength. He will download God-sized visions and solutions into your heart. Paul writes in Ephesians 2:10 For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. He already created you to have specific passions long before you knew what they were. He has chosen you. "You didn't choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name." John 15:16  

 I don't know about you, but knowing that God has chosen me makes me feel desired and wanted. His promises give me the faith I need to believe when He says to ask for what we need. Next, we must take action. God has different plans for each of us but one thing we can do is reach out. We have the answer inside of us, Jesus Christ, and the hurting people in this world are just waiting to meet Him, whether it be through serving, a conversation, or simply the joy of the Lord shining through you.

  Find that thing you most grumble about and take action. We are called to speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves (Proverbs 31:8). We are to be advocates for those who are in need, just as Jesus is our Advocate who pleads our case before the Father (1 John 2:1). 

 While I, myself, don't have all of the solutions to poverty, child abuse, or world hunger I'm continuing to trust my Creator, be led where His Spirit leads me, reach out and take action when He downloads creative ideas into my heart. For He who calls you is faithful, and surely He will do it. 1 Thessalonians 5:24

The Wardrobe God Designed For You

So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It's your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it. Colossians 3:12-14 (The Message)


Keeping up with the latest trends and fashions cannot only be tiring but unfulfilling as well. Instead, we are called to dress in the wardrobe God has uniquely designed for us. First we'll start with compassion. Having a heart that breaks for others just as Jesus' heart does. That feeling you get deep down in the pit of your stomach that doesn't go away until you do something to help solve the solution. Next is kindness. Showing kindness simply means being friendly. Kindness is going about your day sharing the beautiful smile on your face that God has given you. Humility. Putting others before yourself just as Jesus did. Humbly serving others despite whether you are rewarded or complimented for your good deeds. As a woman, this next one may be tough for some. Quiet strength. It has been said that an average woman speaks approximately 20,000 words a day. Whether you're below, average, or above average, God's wardrobe calls for a quiet strength. This is not to say you must be silent, but rather listen twice as much as you talk. When you talk, talk because you have something to say. Encourage others, giving advice in love when the door is opened to speak. Discipline is an act of training, a motivation deep within, striving towards a goal. Ceasing to quit until that goal is reached. This could mean being discipline in your prayer life, refusing to give up praying until God has accomplished His purpose. Be even- tempered and not easily irritated. Content with second place. There are much bigger things in life than having to be first all of the time. God will not overlook you. We are also told to be quick to forgive others just as quickly and willing as Jesus was to take up the cross and  die for our sins. Last but not least, love. A word often taken all too lightly. To love someone is to care for them just as Christ cares for us. He is our ultimate model of love. No matter what their past looks like, their race, their size, or who they hang out with, we are called to wear love. Never leave without it. Even the most beautiful dress in the world does not compare to God's wardrobe. A mysterious beauty is added when a worldly wardrobe is set aside and replaced with God's wardrobe. People will begin to see that radiant shimmer of hope in your life, Jesus Christ, and be left standing captivated in awe of His beauty.

A Set-Apart Girl For Christ

A Set-Apart Girl...

• Encourages those around her
• Loves all, but is not afraid to speak in truth when the door is opened
• Lets the man be a man, respecting him and encouraging him 
• Is willing to lay down her own selfish desires to follow her Prince
• Lends a helping hand to those in need 
• Possesses a servant’s heart
• Realizes that true beauty can only be found in her Prince
• Honors her father & mother and respects authority
• Is aware of the power of the Holy Spirit living inside of her
• Prays with unwavering, immovable, persistent faith
• Uses words that are honoring to her King
• Delights in honoring her King through the music she listens to, tv/ movies she watches, and magazines/ books she reads
• Does not look for desires to be met by earthly things that will not last 
• Is joyful in all that she does without complaining
• Carries herself well with a purpose
• Dresses modestly, not causing her brothers to stumble
• Is discontent with everyday living
• Lives each day adventurously with her Prince
• Puts others before herself 
• Continually thanks her Father for all that He has done and is doing in her life
• Does not worry, she trusts God will supply ALL her needs
• Believes that her Prince will satisfy the desires He has placed in her heart
• Is a world changer
• Portrays polite and lady-like characteristics