john mark mcmillan

daylight.
obsessed.
obsessed with John Mark McMillan's music.
if you like this, i'd advise you to check out "Skeleton Bones".
amazing.

This Christmas

"When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy!" Matthew 2:10

"He hath God exalted with His right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of all sins." Acts 5:31

         This Christmas season has been filled with laughter, happiness, fun, and good times—everything ideal for this time of the year. But the one thing I have missed out on this season happens to be the only thing that matters at all. I am guilty of getting wrapped up (no pun intended) in the busyness of the holiday season. Any chance I got to run to the mall, pick up gifts, or wrap presents, I took it in a heartbeat. I loved seeing old friends, spending time with my family, helping out at my church, etc. All these things are good things, don’t get me wrong. But I have missed out on sweet time with my Jesus, the real reason for the holiday season.

         This afternoon at Second Baptist Church’s Christmas Eve service, Pastor Dave Riggle gave an incredible sermon about the true meaning of Christmas, as he chose to share with the congregation a story he heard recently about a member at our church. It goes a little something like this: A woman took her 6 year old grandson to the grocery store about a week ago, where they saw a friend of the grandmother’s. The friend bends down and asks the little boy what most adults ask children around Christmastime, which is: “what are you asking for for Christmas?” He looks up at her, “um, you asked the wrong question.” She chuckles and looks at him curiously as to what he has to say next. He says, “its not about me, its about Jesus. Its His birthday, not mine. We should be asking each other what we’re going to give to Jesus for His birthday.”

        I love this. What a great reminder of why we celebrate this holiday. So, what are you going to give Jesus for His birthday? All He wants from you is you. Your heart. Your life. This Christmas, give Christ your heart. This Christmas, celebrate who He is. This Christmas, thank Him for His unfailing love. This Christmas, make memories with Jesus. He is the sole purpose of this day. He is the sole purpose of your life. 

Merry Christmas to all! 


“For God came not to be served, but to serve and be a ransom for many” Mark 10:45

these girls are truly radiant

This summer, I had the wonderful opportunity to be a counselor on my church's high school beach retreat. In my group, I was given the most amazing amazing girls on the face of this earth, four of whom I've gotten extremely close with! And let me tell you, it has been life-changing. I went to serve on beach retreat hoping to pour into these girls, give advice, etc. Instead, they changed my life. They have impacted me in ways I could never explain. As I continued my internship at the church the remaining time of that summer, I got to see the girls all the time! And maintaining deep friendships with each of them since last June has been incredible, even since I've been away at Baylor! When I come back in town from school, I get SO excited to see them, to hear about their lives and their precious hearts. They make it sound like I've influenced them, etc. But really, these girls are the ones that keep me grounded, joyful in Christ, proud to be a radiant woman of God.

"For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty Savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With His love, He will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs." Zephaniah 3:17
       This verse reminds me of this group of girls especially because of the joy they contain in their hearts. These are the kind of girls you can just tell that they are radiant. They are literally glowing with the light of Christ! They have "Jesus eyes", as Karen Kingsbury would say. They are beautiful, inside and out. And I am more than confident that God has incredible plans for their lives.
....Hopefully starting with them all attending Baylor...just sayin' haha

I love you girls more than you know.
Praying for each of your hearts every single day.
I am always here for you.

Psalm 34:5 will ALWAYS remind me of you girls.

Keep pursing radiance.

Child of God

"For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God's Spirit when He adopted you as His own children." Romans 8:14-15

"Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment, now that you have had a taste of the Lord's kindness." 1 Peter 2:2-3

Dear Father,
Thank You for humbling my heart, reminding me time and time again that I am Yours. Sometimes its easy to forget that You have my entire life in Your hands. Many times, I fall into thinking that I have to be spiritually perfect and mature before You, but all You want from me is my heart, my broken yet humble heart. My salvation experience is yet to be finished; for I am still yet a newborn baby craving for this satisfying nourishment from You. So, Father, I cry out for more. I cry out for more of Your Love and Kindness.
I love You. In Jesus' holy and precious Name,
Amen

Restoration

"The Lord rewarded me for doing good. He restored me because of my innocence." [Psalm 18:20]

I woke up this morning with the most thankful heart. Thankful for God's active hand in my life, restoring and mending my heart. Humbled as ever, I have realized how undeserving I am of His healing power directed towards me.

"God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in His holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. 'Make level paths for your feet,' so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed." [Hebrews 12:10-13]

"For this people's heart has become calloused...and I will heal them." [Matthew 13:15]

Jesus desires for His people to humbly turn to Him so that He could heal them. God wants to restore us. As Ephesians 1:4 says, God created us to be whole and holy through His love.

One thing I've especially learned through my healing process is that I cannot be truly happy until I am completely His and He is my everything. We are created to enjoy life. But sometimes we often worship the gift instead of the Giver. We seek for happiness and look to God as a crutch or assistant in the endeavor. John Eldredge explains this beautifully: "And so God must, from time to time, and sometimes very insistently, disrupt our lives so that we release our grasping of life here and now. Usually through pain. God is asking us to let go of the things we love and have given our hearts to, so that we can give our hearts even more fully to Him....Until we are holy, we cannot really be happy. Until God has become our all, and we are fully His, we will continue to make idols of the good things He gives us" ("Walking With God" by John Eldgrege).


"How pleasant to see a new day dawning." [Ecclesiastes 11:7]
Praise the Lord for restoration.

Sunday Morning Worship

This morning at Harris Creek Baptist Church, Waco, I have been given the wonderful opportunity to help lead worship. One of the songs we'll be playing is "Take My Life", which is one of my all-time favorite worship songs. The lyrics convey such a humble and surrendered spirit, which is the true way to worship. Rather than asking the Lord to heal my pain, mend my broken heart, or give me things I think would satisfy me, I must humbly give him my worship, my heart, and my life. "Lord, take my life.." What an act of surrender! We serve a God who offers us life in abundance if we give up our lives to Him. The chorus especially proclaims that He is Sovereign, and that our lives were made for His glory and not our own.
"Here am I... all of me.
Take my life... its all for Thee."
Apostle Paul proclaims the same concept when he writes, "Living means living for Christ..." (Philippians 1:21). From the depths of your soul, cry out "take my life", and experience true surrender.

"This people I have formed for Myself; They shall declare My praise" (Isaiah 43:21)

"I will bless the Lord at all times; His praises shall always be on my lips" (Psalm 34:1)

"As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a loyal heart and with a willing mind; for the Lord searches all hearts and understands the intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will cast you off forever" (1 Chronicles 28:9)

Shine On.

"No one lights a lamp and then hides it or puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where its light can be seen by all who enter the house." Luke 11:33

For those who have put their faith in the Lord, the light of Christ gives us the ability to shine unto the entire world. We are more than capable to make a difference; we develop confidence. God did not illuminate your heart to just live under the radar, etc. He gave us this incredible Light to stand out! And to be RADIANT.


This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine.
This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine.
This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine.
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.