Are you Serious?!

Well Hey there everyone.Hope you guys didn't miss me to much.  First of all let me apologize for not posting anything since November. I know, i got really lazy and it didn't seem as though anyone was reading my blogs. But that doesn't bother me now, because i know that someday, weather it be today or tomorrow or next week that someone is hopefully getting something out of what im saying.
Now alot has happened in my life since last year November. God has worked immensely in my heart over the past couple months. I've had to make many sacrifices in order to let God work in me even more. Also I've had to open up my heart and let go of things that i know will not happen again ( Boy Problems :P). But other then that my life has had it's ups and downs but I've been learning to deal with them, take them seriously, and let go and let God.
What I've learned from my past experiences is that the way you take things, the way your attitude is towards people or your problems is something that is very important in life. For myself i know that if i tell myself i will stop thinking negatively towards my friends or others one day, the next day i will be faced with the same problems. Why? because im not taking it seriously. Same goes for any other subject or topic out there. You may have a problem with language, maybe your struggling with keeping yourself pure (mind, body and spirit) or biting your nails. I have a problem with not sticking to my word, Not carrying it out. Which basically means im not taking it seriously. Even though i beat myself up the next day (Not literally speaking) for not carrying out my word, i still fall and do the same thing i say i wouldn't do over and over again.
Sometimes you may tell yourself one thing one day to satisfy your needs for a moment. I know for myself that i tell myself i will stop biting my nails just to make myself feel better.but i have no intention of actually stopping it. Does that make sense? But the core of it all is being serious about it and taking it to the Lord .God can and will take it all away if you let him.
God know what are problems are before we admit them but it helps to say them out loud and confess them. He knows what were going through but i think he also wants us to Man up or Women up and admit that we have problems and that we need help. He wants us to take it seriously!! What good does it do to say something and not take it seriously? Be serious about your problems or concerns, they are not going to up and leave or fix them selves.
Psalms 145:18 says "The Lord is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on him in truth."
And through it all in the end God will come back and continue to Amaze you. He will forgive you. Even though we don't deserve to be forgiven he will because we are finally taking a stand and being serious about Him and being serious about what were going through. How Wonderful is that?
I hope you will Let go and Take God seriously. Until next time.
Sharon<3

Jealousy?...

There are time's in  my Christian walk with God that i hit a valley, a very low point in my Spiritual life.Right after I've been on a "Spiritual High". These are very trying times for me. There is a lot of struggles that i go through. So far I have been on a Spiritual low for about a week. I admit it my Walk with Christ is definitely not where i would want it to be. As much as i Trust in God to get me through each day, i can't help but doubt him. And i know this is very wrong. We should never ever doubt the Lord!
I don't feel like doing anything these days, except watch movies all the time, it keeps me from thinking about my problems and sends me into a non-realistic world for a bit. And thus is why i have not updated my blog. Sorry about that. forgive me?
The thing that i struggle the most with is Jealousy. I hate being Jealous of people. But apparently it's the one thing that come's very naturally for me. My Jealousy prevents me from having the right attitude towards people. or having a great time with my friends. When i hang out with two of my good friends, i often feel like a third wheel, and i feel if i don't get as much attention as the next person, then i have to be jealous of them.Because they have something that i want.Does this make sense?
I have been Learning to deal with my Jealousy by ignoring it and  thinking about what Jesus would do in that situation, or telling myself it's not what it seems and everything else will turn out right in the end. I Pray that God will take away this struggle of mine and replace it with Joy or love, so i will be able to show and feel love/Joy instead of the painful feeling of jealousy.
One of my friends showed me Philippians 2:1-11,but versus 3-4 really stood out to me "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, In humility value others above yourselves. not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others."
I realize that when i get jealous i am usually just thinking about myself and how i feel, that i get blinded from anyone else's feelings.I don't know if anyone else is feeling the same way, or is hurting a lot more than i am, because i am focusing on dealing with my own problems. I am being selfish, and not putting the interests of others before my own.
I am slowly learning to get past all these feelings of jealousy and hate,and to praise God instead. Ask God to forgive you for feeling jealousy or hate towards a person, so you can be free from that bondage and no longer have to worry about it.
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition,with thanksgiving, present your requests to God, which transcends all understands, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus". Amazing words that always keeps me going after a long day from Philippians 4:6.
Do you struggle with Jealousy? You can give your request to God and he will set you free.

Your Beautiful....(Part 2 of 'Your wonderful')

Honestly this is my all time favorite topic to talk about (besides boys, just kidding). To me this is so important. 1 Timothy 2:9-10 says " I also want the women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, adorning themselves, not with elaborate hairstyles or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, but with good  deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God."  
These days things that are called beautiful is the clothes that you wear or the type of hair that you have. How much cleavage can you show without everything falling out? Maybe if this shirt was a little shorter It would look better on me! Media these days doesn't help with what the image of beauty actually is. They think you have to get your nose done, or have this cream to make your wrinkles go away "It helps you look 10 years younger!."
Being beautiful shouldn't come from the clothes you wear or the make-up you wear.I must confess, I love make-up. I cant leave the house without at least putting mascara on. But remember don't make these things your everything. It's alright to like these things, but dont get so wrapped up in that's all you care about.You should first make God your everything.  I'm sure that your friends don't love you because of how pretty you are. God does not just love you because of what you are on the outside, but he loves you for what you are on the inside.
Beauty is about Lighting up a room with a Smile. Its about showing someone that you care, It's about believing how beautiful you actually are. You don't need a magazine to tell you how beautiful you are. God tells us in 1 Peter 3:3-4 that "Your beauty should not come from outward adornment such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight."         
I know your probably like 'I get it, I'm beautiful'. I could talk about this for hours, but then i would start repeating myself. I think God had given me a heart for this topic. This is so so so important to me. My heart hurts for people who don't know that there Gorgeous.But seriously, your outrageously special to God. You might not feel like it because you grew up in a hard family environment, or you've had a tough life. You should always feel Gorgeous wherever you go, whether your wearing make-up, stuffing your face with food or wearing sweat pants. God loves you for what your heart says, and so should others. YOUR BEAUTIFUL AND YOU BETTER BELIEVE IT!!!
Sharon<3                                                                                                                                                                                     

Your Wonderful...

Every girl has the desire to look beautiful!! I hope every girl does.
I know that there are days when you just feel like poop (figure of speech, not actually literally), and you don't feel like doing anything. I know what it feels like to not care, just thinking that no one even notice's you so whats the point of making any effort. I felt almost everything that could be felt about not being pretty enough, not being good enough, not having the right clothes or the friends. All through out junior high and high school, and trust me i still struggle everyday. Am i good enough? is my hair OK? does my outfit match?
Junior high (grades 7-9 for me) was tough. I struggled with friends who didn't like each other very much and they  fought over who would get to hang out with me during recess. They were not the best of memories that i have. But i remember during those times that i was convinced i was not beautiful. Even though you get the "Your so beautiful." from your friends and aunts and parents. But making yourself believe it is really hard. I hated my arms (still do) but then i hated them. I would where huge sweaters to cover up my body and arms, or a huge red jacket. I never took them off, if it was hot outside that jacket or sweater would stay on until i got home off the bus. I was not proud of my body at all.
High school was better than Junior high, i opened up a lot more even made some new friends. Anyways...enough with the sad story. I finally realized how beautiful i actually was (I'm not trying to sound vain or anything), but God showed me that i am beautiful if i just be myself. Being yourself is the most beautiful you can be.It doesn't matter what others think. As long as you know that you are the most important and amazing BEAUTIFUL girl that God has made. You are his princess, and no one can tell you you're not because its not true. Psalm 139:14 says "I praise you because i am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, i know that full well." I love this verse. I go back and read it every once in a while just to remind myself  I am Fearfully and Wonderfully made. I'm Beautiful.
I know that it hurts to feel like your not worth it and that no one cares, or that you don't think your gorgeous. But in the eyes of the Lord your so Precious to him, He wants you to set your eyes on him. He wants you to become one of his princess`s.
I cant even explain how much this topic means to me. It hurts me to see others not feeling beautiful. I dislike when people say they are not beautiful, or they are not skinny enough. Sometimes i feel like slapping a person who that, and knocking some sense into them, telling them there Amazing and Beautiful. Be Happy. God made you the way you are. Be Beautiful. Be You. (That`s kinda cheesy, but it works).
Sharon :P

Contentment..

"Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and i will give you rest.Take my yoke upon you. let me teach you, and you will find rest for your souls." (Matthew 11:28-29)
Hey everyone sorry for the couple days of no posts. I currently came back from my churches Ladies retreat. What an Amazing and encouraging time it was.
One of the questions that was asked while we were doing our morning devotions was "What makes you content?". 1 Timothy 6:6 says "But godliness with contentment is great gain".
I thought about this question for a while afterwards. There is many things that make me happy or Content. Like eating, oh man! Do i love to eat; Pizza, Cheese Cake, Chicken Fingers, Corn-on-the-Cob, Home made chicken noodle soup. Yes, this stuff only fills me for a little while, then i get hungry again. These things only make me happy while I'm stuffing them in my mouth.
But, then i really thought about it, The only time when i am truly happy is when i draw. That's when i feel like I am using the gifts God gave me for good. Then all my fears and troubles go away, and i think about nothing. That's when i feel close to God. I feel Content with what i am doing then, I Spend hours just sitting and creating my art.
What makes you Content in life, when do you truly  feel like your close to God? When are you happy?
Sharon<3

Patiently Waiting...

"The Lord must wait for you to come to him so he can show you his love and compassion. For the Lord is a faithful God. Blessed are those who wait for his help." (Isaiah 30:18)
I think that every girl has dreamed of her wedding day, or the Man of her dreams to come by on a white horse. Honestly i think about the Guy God has planned for me at least once a day. Sounds kinda creepy doesn't it? But i just cant help but be curious.
I know and trust that God has someone special for me. When and How i will meet him is totally up to God. Truthfully i have not always been so willing to let God be in charge of my love life. I have definetly had times were all i wanted to do was have that special person right now, and i jumped at the chance whenever i thought a guy would flirt with me or smile at me. And then i would mess everything up because i wanted to do everything on my own. I've learned that pushing God way out of the picture and forcing guys to like you is not the way to go..trust me it hurts alot more without God standing there.
So now what i do is wait...Patiently! At least i try to. Sometimes it can be difficult. But whoever it is that God has in mind, i definitely cannot make that time go faster by sitting around and waiting for my prince in shining Armour. But what i do do is use my Talents, what God has given to use. God gave me them for a reason, might as well use them. And i love it!!! Use the Talents or Gifts God has given you, whether it be Arts, Music, dancing, maybe you like to do Math. whatever you love to do, do it all for the Glory of God.
Psalm 37:4 says " Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart's desires." 
So while your waiting it will get difficult and you may make mistakes and try to find that someone on your own, God is always there, He wants you to go out and enjoy life, go out and fulfill your dreams.Spend some time in prayer. Pray for your future spouse. That God will work in their hearts, that they will live pure and honest lives for Him. Do what makes you happy, literally joyfully happy on the inside. Then God will show you the desires of your heart...
Sharon<3

Believe in Prayer...

In my experience being a Christian girl nothing comes true unless you believe that it will. You can say that your going to ace that geography test tomorrow, but then in your heart say its gonna be a complete flop. well, then obviously your not going to do very well. God wants us to believe with all our hearts that we can do things. He wants you to say that "I AM going to do Fantastic on that test tomorrow!"
Philippians 4:13 says "I CAN do all things through Christ who strengthens me." We can do anything, as long as we put our minds to it, and believe that God can get us through them.
Prayer is one thing that every Christian should not, and can not live without, (This is one thing that people cannot do). I often think that i can do everything on my own, without the help of God. These are the times when my relationship with God has gone so far down hill the only way i could ever have gotten back up is having Jesus take my hand and lead me all the back up. I Just found this Amazing verse in the Bible that really stood out to me,"Have faith in God," Jesus answered. 'Truly i tell you, if anyone say to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will do done for them. Therefore i tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins" (Mark 11:22-25). Without the help of God, without having faith to get back up that hill, Without praying wholeheartedly to God. Nothing we do can get us back up that hill. But when we pray earnestly to God, believing that what we ask God to do will come true. And most importantly, asking God to forgive us our sins, to forgive us for everything we have done (Even holding a grudge on someone, or even something simple like taking that bag of candy that your mom told you not to eat). God can and will forgive you for anything and everything you have ever done.
The best feeling in the world is being forgiven for your sins. Jesus wants us to Love him, and we wants us to believe that we can do anything. that we CAN get back up that hill. All we have to do is Believe that we CAN! He loves to answer our prayers.
This is something that i still struggle with every single day. When i get put into awkward or tough situations I send up a quick prayer ," Dear Jesus, help me get through this.amen!"  I doubt that little prayer ever makes it half way there. I rarely have faith, that my prayer will be answered. Because i don't believe it.
So my Challenge is that you will Pray earnestly to the Lord. Trust him, and not just give a sad sort of prayer directed upstairs. Believe like James 1:5-6 explains "If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind."
 I have had people tell me that they don't know what to pray about, or they don't know how to pray. How do you pray? Its very simple, Just remember that your talking to God,  Talk to him like your talking to your best friend. or someone that your very close to personally. Sometimes i like to write my prayers down. When i don't know how to say things or put them into words, i write it down. Start a prayer journal, decorate it with what describes you. And write down your prayers,You can tell God anything He's always listening. Thank him for everything, ask him questions that you don't know the answers to. He will answer you, even if it does take a while. But Remember....Believe.
Sharon<3

Encouragement...

I thought i would just share some of my all time favorite Bible versus...hope it encourages you to trust God in everything you are, and everything God is showing and teaching you to be.

"Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you." (Matthew 7:7)
I think sometimes we get discouraged when things don't go right, or Don't go exactly the way WE would like them to. When we ask God for something, and he doesn't deliver on time. I believe that we have to Really mean it in our hearts, really feel that what we are asking for is right. And believe that God can do this. If we keep on asking, and keep on knocking on that door, it will be opened. Maybe not exactly right away, but God will open it.
"Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember  that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward." (Colossians 3:23-24)
Always work for the Lord, whether it be when your at your church helping get ready for a sunday lunch, or in school when someone has dropped there book. Help people. Work hard, even when people don't notice. GOD DOES! If you have a job work even harder, have fun doing it. Just Glorify God in everything that you do, Smile. Someone will eventually notice. And then well...if you don't have job, work at home. Do dishes, fold the laundry. Make it easier for you parents, they already have enough pressure and stress on there shoulders taking care of us teens and our sometimes not very good attitudes. Always Smile when asked to do something, Show that you love to do your job, work hard not just for your boss but also work extremly hard for God, because that is when we will truly be happy. That is when we will truly be rewarded for our work.
"Three things will last forever-Faith, Hope, and Love-and the greatest of these is Love." (1Corinthians 13:13) 
Even though it can be hard sometimes show Love to people. You never know what they have gone through, and if you show someone just the slightest simplest act of kindness, a smile in their direction can make all the difference.  Jesus showed love to all his disciples and all who believed in him. We should also have Faith in every situation, and especially Hope. Hope gives us reasons to go on, it gives us a thought, that maybe just maybe there is a chance out there for us. Have Faith, Hope, and Love to climb those tall mountains and those low valleys, and then we can finally walk with God on the path of righteousness. He will make it all right.
Sharon<3

I Trust you...

Proverbs 3:5-6 says "Trust in the Lord with ALL your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. Acknowledge Him in all your ways and He will make your paths straight."
If you have ever gone to a corn maze, you know that its pretty simple to do. You either have the choice of going Right, Left or Straight ahead. I figure that a corn maze is a lot like our relationship with God. You start off going straight ahead, Life is going great, your absolutely on fire for God. Nothing is stopping you from just taking that straight path all the way through to Jesus. Then you come to a fork in the road; Right, Left, or continue going straight ahead are your options.
In my personal walk with God i have the option of going Right or Left, or continue to keep going straight ahead. Sometimes going straight ahead is not an option in a corn maze. In life you have to trust where God is taking you. Wether it be Right or left. During these times, we have to be careful not to get lost on the way.There are so many distractions, that you can easily lose sight of Gods plan for you.
The world we live in give's us so many things that can distract us from the straight and narrow. Distractions such as Boys, clothing, makeup, movies, internet (huge factor in losing our relationship with God), etc...
A couple weeks before i graduated this past summer a bunch of friends and I were playing soccer (We were all barefoot, and the grass was extremely slippery). We were having a great time, everything was going good. Then I twisted my knee and it popped out. It literally felt like someone just took my knee and twisted it all the way to one side. It has to have been the most extremely painful thing i have ever experienced. Anyways, I love to play soccer. i have 3 younger brothers. they basically all live and breathe soccer (well not all of them to that extreme), but now i cant even play soccer with my brothers. I have friends who love to run.When we hang out and they start running full speed, I cant just run full speed after them, my knee will give out right away, hurt really bad or collapse and roll/twist again. Its not fun.I know it may seem like its just my knee and what's the big deal, for me it was a big deal.
 For weeks after that happened I was pretty bummed, I walked with a limp. I felt angry and mad that I couldn't do anything except sit. I was especially very angry at God, why did he have to have this happen to me? This was not my plan? I'm only 17, way to young to have knee problems already? My questions were endless.
 Gods plan for our lives is usually way different then what we have in mind.
But i know now why, and my questions are getting answered. Sometimes God takes something away from you, something that you really love and replaces it with something that He knows you will learn to love more than ever.
And Sometimes God also takes you and slows you down a bit, like with my knee. I do everything a lot slower now then i used to. I believe that God slowed me down, so that i could just look around and enjoy life, notice things and people. He has shown me to be Thankful for everything!!! I have learned to Love people, to accept love to Give love away. And i am still learning new things everyday. I trust that God did the right thing, slowed me down a couple notches and taught me to love, have joy, and be thankful.
I still struggle every day with my knee, i have pain almost everyday. At times its very discouraging, but then i remember, God has greater and more important plans for me now. I can and will Trust him in these times.
So most importantly Trust God, whether you go Right or left, through all the distractions of this world, through the good times and the bad, the painful and the hateful. the boring and the lonely. God has plans for you. So trust Him.
And then everything will be alright!
Sharon<3

Mistakes

Today I took my first written test for getting my learners. Let me tell you, easiest thing i have every done. To bad i failed. But what is life without mistakes, I Got 8 questions wrong on that test, in life we make hundreds in a day. Lucky for us, Christ died for us. Its often really hard for me to believe how one Man would die for some girl like me. After all the Mistakes that i make, After all the things that i have done, Said and thought. How could he? I am sinner. And i don't hesitate to say it.
Its Amazing how much God put on the line for us, His own son!!! How incredible is that?! I have felt the real and astounding love of Christ in so many ways, even through all my struggles, trials and temptations God still love me no matter what. To me, that is Amazing!
Yes, of course i make mistakes day to day, unlike my test i took today (which i can retake), Some of my life choices and mistakes i cant go back and retake them or live them over again differently. As much as i wish i could. There is one way though, Jesus!!.
"All of us, like Sheep, Have strayed away. We have left God's path to follow our own.Yet the Lord laid on Him the [Sins] of us all." ~Isaiah 53:6
It just gives me pure joy to know that even through all my mistakes i am freed from them. I dont have to worry about them any longer.
Now, even though i did fail my test today, i did shed a few tears. But then obviously that wasn't Gods plan for me today, Maybe i should studied harder? Maybe i should have taken it more seriously, Or maybe just maybe God has Greater and more Incredible things in mind for me. :D
What do you think God has in store for you today?