february 2023: what GOD is teaching me

Hey sweet friends! I hope that you are doing amazing. It is so crazy to think that another month has already come and gone! I am praying that God would bring to my mind the exact things that HE would have me share of what He did this month. Our GOD is faithful and I am continually in awe of HIM. All your Glory Jesus!

Our God is faithful--- during this past month, I went through a hard time and it led me to the feet and heart of Jesus; James encourages in the midst of hardship to "count in all JOY" (James 1) but if we are being honest, isn't that hard in the moment? During this time, God was comforting my heart, teaching me to seek Him and talk to Him. I loved getting to walk and talk to God too- moving my body and talking to my best friend. He also let me see how these times are truly beautiful as they lead me to Him. I am grateful for trials; that is when my faith is being put to the test, when my relationship with God deepens when I learn more and experience the character of my God in different ways.... thank you Jesus for the hard times-- they are truly a beautiful thing where you give us a glimpse of what our life is... only a moment... compared to eternal life you have waiting for us! Thank you, Father!!

GOD is faithful (continued)!! I am so grateful, sometimes I feel I cannot explain to GOD or find the right words to ever fully describe how grateful I am to Him. He is faithful. He is my rock and my strength. A verse that God was teaching me during that hard time// and still now as I see it often, are 2 verses from Psalm 73.

"Whom have I in Heaven but YOU? And earth has nothing I desire besides you." -Psalm 73:25

"My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." -Psalm 73:26

God is HOLY and perfect. He is mighty and worthy. but only He could do this, HE is also our friend. He cares about every detail of our lives, when we are hurting, sad, happy, etc. Our God knows everything. He acknowledges our tears and our feelings, and He loves us. When I bring my heart to HIM and pray for HIM to direct me, search me, know me (psalm 139:23) test me and create in me a new heart (psalm 51:10), God is right there!! What a GOD!! Thinking about what He taught me during this difficult time, there are many lessons, but seeing now how GOD was there with me, and now, GOD is still with me + how He works things out is just so beautiful! HE is faithful and good, thank you, Jesus!!

One thing GOD taught me was about how I need to grow in maturity about being an individual. He showed me a part of my personality is to be very dependent; I love to make other people happy. Sometimes it works out well, other times it causes me to limit myself or my own preferences if I just choose what others want. Another is people pleasing, I struggle with that (Galatians 2:20). I need God to grow me in doing things for myself because I want to do them and not because others may want me to! I need to grow in finding what God has given me a passion to love and to do, and do it for HIM + myself!

Cheer--- this month there were lots of lasts, but also some sweet beginnings!! during the first part of the month, my cheer team was blessed to go to Disney to compete at Nationals! It was a wonderful memory! I competed on the mat with my cheer girls for the last time on Feb. 12 then cheered my last ballgame the next week after that!! GOD is so sweet; He blessed me to make UCA staff last weekend to travel and work cheer camps all summer 2023! I had been praying about this opportunity for a while now. I would go and try, but I told the Lord that I wanted HIS plan, if that is what He wanted me to do for the summer, it would work out; if not, then I would not. Praise: He allowed me to serve HIM this way, this summer. God, it is for your Glory! I am so grateful, God is so good!! I cannot wait to meet the people I will be traveling with and the ones who I will be teaching and building friendships with and to share the Gospel with them!!

Ruth, God's providence--- During the month of February, I read the book of Ruth. I am still slowly making my way through the bible. Reading through Ruth was so fun and there is so much to learn through the way she lived her life and how GOD providentially ordered every step she, Naomi, and Boaz took. The same GOD is with us!

The goodness of GOD--- over this past month, God has been mooovviinggg at first priority at my high school, with new students coming and attending. Also, at our youth group with sweet new friends + my friend Chloe got to come. And, God has been teaching me so much on Sunday mornings at church, but also our sweet times at Sunday school. There is JOY in the presence of the LORD!

Matthew 5:16--- God showed me how awesome He is at being near to us and hearing us. He satisfies our hearts, like nothing else but He could. This verse was one that I was challenged to memorize with Jackson and of course, I am behind but he has stayed on track because he is so awesome;) + I love him so much-- God uses him to push me and encourage me so much in my walk with the LORD aawwhh--- BUT through this God did amazing things only HE could do or get the credit for. GOD storytime: in the midst of me playing catch up, God let me read Matthew 5:6 from week 6, way later into probably week 8-- anyways, HIS PROVIDENCE in the timing. I read that on the weekend sometime, then that Sunday morning at church for Sunday school we did something that we do not usually do (also GOD's providence). We all met together on Sunday in our youth worship center and did a big lesson together.... we had a speaker share, who was not our youth pastor, and he got up there and said he wanted to share what God had been teaching Him in the Beatitudes, Matthew 5. WOW, GOD... AMAZED AT YOU JESUS!!!

"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled!" -Matthew 5:6

When we pray this to the Lord and meditate on His WORD, HE begins to show us and grow us in our very lives, right before us because HE is GOD and HE is SO amazing like that!! WOW what a GOD moment... I had to share with yall in hopes to encourage you that God is all around us + His Word is Alive and Active (Hebrews 4:12). He is continuing to teach me that verse and how when we seek Him, He will satisfy us. Also, cool nugget GOD showed me through me a commentary that said how awesome of the Lord, that the same people that are filled, are the same people continuing to hunger and thirst after GOD and FOR GOD!!

THE GOSPEL-- God spoke to my heart first at First Priority, that many people think or claim to know Jesus, but really the TRUE Gospel of Jesus is so different that what they think it is. Some do not understand how the Gospel is good news because they do not understand the bad news.. our sin problem. God opened my eyes to see that even Christians need to hear the Gospel + ask other Christians about their faith. May it be something we talk about. Some who might say they're a believer might not have never truly given their life to Jesus, and by us following in obedience by asking them about their faith/testimony, God can use it to draw them to Himself in SALVATION!!! USE me, Jesus!!

Praise you LORD for a beautiful month of growing closer to you, repentance, surrender, and praise. I love you, JESUS AMEN!!!