Breaking the Negativity || Seeking the Positivity

What if we had a "Backspace" button with the words we speak? 

As I'm starting this post, I backspaced twenty thousand times because the words just weren't...right.

I was planning on writing an entirely different post, but something struck my heart and I'm going to go for it.

So, like I said, we don't have a "backspace button" for the words we say. Once they're said, they're said. So why is it that most the time, we're hardly even cautious with our words? We hurt and we tear down so easily without even a second thought sometimes? 

One thing I've noticed a lot lately is just how much negativity is out there. It seems like anywhere I go I see/hear people tearing down and there's not always a lot of building up going on. I've noticed how much negativity I have myself.

It is really easy and (unfortunately) natural to tear someone down. We are all imperfect people with flaws just radiating out all around us. So we notice those flaws and for some reason think it's perfectly okay for us to point those flaws out. It's not.

One of my resolutions for 2016 is to break the negativity. 

I hate how normal it has become for me to see the flaws in other people. I want to break that negativity. I want to demolish it completely. 

Going even farther than just "breaking the negativity" I want to be "seeking the positivity"

I want to seek the good in every individual no matter how weird that individual may seem to me. Because newsflash: They're still a child of God, and God values them as much as he values me.

I read this quote earlier that I thought was quite fitting: 

"Be careful with what you say. You say something hurtful in ten seconds, then ten years later, the words are still there" (Joel Osteen) 

Ya know, the tiniest little insults can actually hurt a whole lot. So I think it'd be a good idea to be more cautious of which words we're letting flow through our mouths. 

Philippians 4:8 "Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellent, if there is anything worthy of praise, THINK ABOUT THESE THINGS." (Emphasis my own) 

Fill yourself up with true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent and praiseworthy thoughts, and that's exactly what you'll speak. It all starts when you make a choice to break the negativity. 

OK in closing, I have a challenge. A positivity challenge. 

Every time you think something negative and you want to let it out of your mouth, keep it in. But not only keep it in, but also, replace that negativity with something positive. Compliment that person. 

Mine was my resolution; something I want to work on all year. But set your own date, maybe even just for tomorrow. Learn to break the negativity and add to the positivity. 

Living Victoriously || Overcomers

Living victoriously. This is a really random topic that just popped in my head the other day on my way home from work. (Love when that happens!)

But I've been thinking on it for a couple days and decided to try to put these thoughts into words.

One of the notes I wrote down for this post was "Fighting through life" 

I've been thinking about our fight as Christians. We are fighting through life; fighting for the good we believe in. But I feel like we forget really easily that our fight has already been won.

It's easy to get discouraged at all the darkness in the world that seems to be rapidly taking over the world. But John 1:5 says "The light shines in the darkness and the darkness cannot overcome it."

The darkness can't win. We've already won through Christ. 

So why aren't we living victoriously like a winner would? I don't mean being full of pride and a "I'm better than you" attitude. But an attitude of courage and boldness. We have won. Now it's our job to bring that light into the darkness in the world. 

It just.. really bothers me how comfortable we get. We play church and live mediocre lives and call it "walking the walk"

But we are called for so much more. We shouldn't be content just getting by. We should be living courageously and actually DOING SOMETHING to further His Kingdom and share His love.

I feel like our mediocre should bother us a whole lot more than it does. It really bothers me. But when I'm thinking about it, I think "Well. What are you doing about it then Carlie?"

John 16:33 says "I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have trouble, but take heart! I have overcome the world." 

He didn't say "For I WILL overcome the world." No, he said "For I HAVE overcome the world."

Already done. He overcame, which means WE are overcomers. We've won. So we should live like it, don't ya' think? 

Since a new year is here, I think a good New Year's resolution would be to "Live victoriously" Pray for strength and courage to really live as an overcomer through Christ.

We've already won the war, we're just not done fighting it. Let's live like it.



Also, also, also: Like my facebook page to the right! Or follow my instagram: @keepchoosingjoy
Happy New Year, friends! 

Isaiah ||

YAYAY time to write about a huge blessing in my life that makes me oh, so happy! :D

(If you don't like mushy posts, then you might want to stop reading now.) (That's a joke, keep reading anyways)

Look at this handsome fella! 

God works in the neatest ways, and one of those neat ways was that He brought this wonderful man into my life at just the right time. It's a sort of.. complicated story that I'm not going to share on here. (Feel free to ask me in person though) But my relationship life was something that I wasn't fully surrendering to God. For quite sometime I was holding onto what I wanted. Regardless of anything else. 

Literally RIGHT before I met this wonderful man pictured above, I finally had a long talk with God. Frustrated and eyes filled with tears I said "I don't want to feel like this anymore." and I surrendered that part of my life to Him. Then only a couple weeks later was when I met Isaiah and everything just kinda.. fell into place. 

OKAY SO NOW I'M GONNA TELL YOU ABOUT HOW WONDERFUL HE IS.

One of the things I really admire is that he's CHIVALROUS. Nothin' more attractive than a gentleman! But he is just very kindhearted in general and always does a good job looking out for me and taking care of me.  

He has great parents that raised a great Godly young man. I love how easy it is to feel at home with his family even from the very beginning. Props to Mr. and Mrs. Robinson for raising a gentleman that loves Jesus. It really doesn't get any better than that. 

Another trait I really admire is that Isaiah is a lot like my dad.  I've always been a daddy's girl.  My dad has showed me two very important things. Through his marriage and through how he treats me and my sister, he's taught us just how a lady should be treated. Through his life, he's showed us how a man of God should act. So finding someone a lot like him makes me super happy. 

ALSO he's hilarious and is always making me and everyone around him laugh constantly which is also a very good trait to have. I'm pretty much always laughing or smiling when he's around (Or glaring at him 'cause he's a punk sometimes.. But even then I'm glaring through my smile) 

Okay want to see cute pictures?? Even if you don't... Too bad. Take a look! 

Another one of my favorite things about him\us is simply just always having a bud (Is calling him bud friend zoning my boyfriend..?) around to just hangout and have fun with. Even just going to Mcdonalds is fun with him. Which is really good considering it's his favorite place and we seem to end up there a lot.. :P

We don't even have to do anything expensive or special, just hanging out and having random adventures makes me happy. 

I like that it's never weird or awkward around him. We can just be weird together and make each other laugh. I think that's one of the most important things to have in a relationship. Someone you can just be silly with. We're good at that:

See. He's a weirdo. ^^ But he makes me smile. :)

With him I've noticed that I'm more aware of "moments" They mean more to me than before. Really, really simple moments like just driving around while listening to music together, or walking and holding hands, sitting outside on the porch at night just talking. 

Even just lame things (Like going to Mcdonalds) are randomly really special to me with him. Not that the places are always anything exciting but just because he's special to me and his company just makes my heart happy. 

I'd be happy just to have him as a friend but EVEN BETTER I GET TO HAVE HIM AS MY BOYFRIEND AND HOLD HIS HAND AND HUG AND KISS HIM AND STUFF SO THAT'S EVEN BETTER YAY.

"The best portion of your life will be the small, nameless moments you spend smiling with someone who matters to you."

I LIKE THAT QUOTE AND I REALLY LIKE YOU. THANKS FOR BEING AWESOME. 

Another Poem || Scars

|| Sometimes the cuts once scraped upon the heart

Still haunt and torment you in the dark

You might wish for a hit to your flesh knowing that it will fade 

Because the wounds to your soul often remain for long after they were made

Our hearts will hurt and our hearts will bleed- but those scars are crying something lovely

They're saying "Look! I've made it this far!"  

All taking part in the story of who you are

They're proof that even though you were hurt, you still moved along

The tears once streaming down your face, built you up and made you strong

There's no reason to hide your scars, you're only to wear them proud. 

Tell your stories! Tell them loud.

Maybe you aren't who you were before your heart was hurt

You're like a beautiful flower, once growing up through dirt

So embrace the pain and let the wounds sting

for you never know the strength and beauty that this cut could bring. ||

Choosing to be Bold | Different |

Being different isn't a quality that typically gains a lot of respect.

No, being different in today's world is often looked down on and laughed at. 

Sometimes causing us as Christians to shrink away from our beliefs and hide behind our insecurities. We're human. We want to be accepted. 

Lately I've been learning about what it means to be bold. A verse that has been my "get me through senior year" verse is Hebrews 10:39:

"But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed. But of those who have faith and are saved."

We are NOT of those who shrink back. That sentence alone gives me so much courage. 

Unfortunately, in most circumstances I'm probably better at shrinking back than I am at being bold. I mean sure, I've never directly denied Christ. But we all shrink back and deny Him in our own little ways every day. 

Like when everyone around us is talking about another person in a negative way. It's easy to "shrink back" and join in even when we know that's not the kind of person we are called to be. It's easy to find negative qualities in someone else.

It's not easy to be bold and stand up for that person. Or maybe even just walk away and refuse to be apart of it.

But it's the right thing to do.

Or in any circumstance that you're around others who may not strive to live the kind of life that you do. It's easy to shrink back. Sure, you don't have to take part in what they're doing/saying. But how often do we just sit back and watch what's going on around us instead of choosing to be bold and try to put a stop to it. 

I want to make a difference in people's lives. That's something I've been passionate about for as long as I can remember. 

But I'm learning that in order to make a difference, I have to BE different. 

I fall short of this all the time. It's all too natural to take the easy way out. But I'm praying He will give me a spirit of courage; that He'll teach me to be bold in all my words and actions. 

We have to make the choice. When controversial situations arise, are we going to choose to shrink back and hide behind our fear? Or are we going to choose to boldly step forward with a spirit of confidence, courage, and faith? 

Courageous by Casting Crowns is a pretty well known song from the movie Courageous that came out in 2011. 

One of the lines from the song that really stands out to me from that song is "may the watchers become warriors." 

 

In my own words, may the ones who shrink back become bold. 

This is something He's been teaching me for a while now. I am not of those who shrink back and are destroyed. But of those who have faith and are saved. I am called to be courageous and confident in Him. Boldy stepping out and allowing Him to shape me into a woman after His heart. 

I fail. You fail. 

We all fail and will continue to, but thank goodness we serve a God who doesn't hold anything against us. 

May you have the courage daily to wake up and choose to live boldy for our King. Even when it's not easy to be different. 

Decisions || Every Step of the Way

174 days till I am 18. Since I am almost an adult, I am facing a lot of the new challenging decisions and doubts that commonly come along with early adulthood. 

The biggest one being college. The decision that I've made I have only shared with a couple people. But to come out and say it, I've decided not to go to college. 

*gasp* 

I know, I know, that's not how the system works.. 

You're supposed to go to school kindergarden through graduation then continue on with your education elsewhere in order to be accepted by society. 

But frankly, I don't really care if society accepts it or not. 

What I think: 

Education is not bad. College is not bad. We are blessed to have so many different schools and organizations dedicated just to our learning. If I did want to go, I have endless options and oppurtunities. But it is not for everyone. 

This is something I have been praying about for a very long time. The last year or so I lost my pull towards going to college. Not out of fear, lack of motivation or anything of that sort. Some things simply can't be explained except for something I feel in my heart to be right. 

When I was making this decision, fear that I was going to miss out kept creeping up on me. College is such the normal thing to do that I could already hear all the comments people would make to my parents and I when they heard of my decision. 

But other people's opinions don't rule my life. 

No, I'm not going to sit around my house, bored out of my mind and call it a life. 

I'm going to create a life. It may not include professors, classes, school events and a dorm room.. but I will be content and happy knowing that my Jesus is leading me every step of the way. 

Once I made my decision the fear was still there. This time taunting me with "if you don't go, what ARE you going to do?" 

No one wants to feel like a failure. But the more I prayed and asked him to help me fully trust Him, the more He worked inside of me. He's been teaching me the beauty in letting go and trusting Him.

Earlier today I was looking back at some of my old posts and I read what I had written in my post "joy in confusion" 

I wrote: " I find joy and beauty in the mystery He is unfolding little by little right in front of me. 

When I am scared, I only need to readjust and remember, I am not in control. I don't need to know. 

For when I don't understand, I only have more reason to cling even tighter to my Jesus. To allow Him to teach me, to guide me, and to hold me through out my every move."

That's the mindset I want to keep. 

I am not in control. 

 I will never be in control. 

Not knowing what will happpen is perfectly okay.

 He's got me. 

So even though my next step is unknown at the moment. I serve an all knowing God that already knows my next step and the next thousand after that. Better yet, He is taking those steps WITH me. I have NO reason to fear, NO reason to doubt, and NO reason to be in control. 

Psalm 56:3 says "When I am afraid, I will trust in You. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me?" 

People are going to make unnecessary comments to me and I can't promise they're always going to sit well with me. But I will continually pray for courage, wisdom, and a heart ready to chase after His will for my life.

 I will trust that He is ALWAYS walking with me. Therefore, I will not be afraid.

I found this quote on Pinterest that I loooove.  

So I'm ready to jump into whatever He has in store for me. Whether it be something big or something small. I want to spend my whole life pouring myself out to serve my Jesus and all the people He puts on my path. I want HIM to accept my life. So whether or not anyone else does is.. well, unimportant. 

I just thought I'd share my decision and my story behind it. 

Anywho, like my Facebook page to the right or at the link below if you haven't already! :D  

https://m.facebook.com/keepchoosingjoy/

God bless! :) 

Purity | A Way of Life

"Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity." (1 Timothy 4:12)

My parents gave me a purity ring for my last birthday with this verse engraved on it. Ideally a purity ring is a symbol of a commitment not to have sex out of wedlock. But lately I've been thinking a lot about what exactly it means to be pure. Purity is not a one time decision, it is a way of life.

When thinking about it the other day, I somewhat felt ashamed with that ring on my finger knowing many of my actions have been driven by selfishness and unholiness. 

But He reminded me that He is continually renewing me and making me pure. 

After thinking about it for a few days, the shamefulness in wearing that ring no longer exists. In fact, seeing that ring on my finger means just a little bit more to me than it did before. Let me share with you why: 

To start, I looked up what the word purity means. The online definition says purity is the condition or quality of being pure; freedom from anything that debases, contaminates, pollutes, etc..

In the world today purity is a very hard thing to maintain. We are constantly having evil thrown at us in our daily atmospheres. We can't just want to be pure, we have to choose to be pure. Despite how much evil and impurity is out there to catch us.

But then what? What is choosing to be pure? 

It all starts from within. I love the verse from Philippians 4:8 "Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is PURE, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things." (Emphasis my own)

To paraphrase, we are called to "think holy thoughts"

Another verse I really love is Luke 6:45, where Luke says "..for out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks"

So what we put into our hearts/minds, is what is going to come out.

....and that's where the "purity is a way of life" part comes in. We have to choose what we allow into our heart/mind. Because what we put in, is what's going to come out. In our speech, our actions..everything.

One thing I will admit I haven't always appreciated, is that my parents have done a good job at monitoring the television shows/movies/songs/internet use that my siblings and I intake. 

The older I get, I'm understanding (and appreciating) why they made the decisions about what we put into our heads that they did. I'm learning to make those decisions myself. I'm learning how to choose purity. 

The ring on my left ring finger not only symbolizes my commitment to wait, but my commitment to live a life of a purity.

Now of course, I'm human. Not every action I make is made with the thought of being pure in mind. Unfortunately, that's the case more often than not. But thanks to my wonderful Jesus, I am CONSTANTLY being made pure through His blood. (Jesus to the rescue!!)

1 John 1:7 says "But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his son, purifies us from all sin."

Then in verse 9: "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from unrighteousness."

He is making me new daily through the blood of Jesus Christ. That's something I hear a lot and maybe don't always take it for what it's worth. But like, isn't that actually really super cool??

Every single day I am given the chance to start completely over. I'm given the chance to choose purity. I am given the chance to walk with Purity himself. 

In closing. one of my favorite verses I like to read along with my prayer time is Psalm 51:10 

"Create in me a PURE heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me" 

Pray that verse this week. I encourage you to really spend some time thinking about what it means to be pure. Then ask yourself if the actions in your own life are following that definition. 

Anywho, my Jesus is amazing. and this walk with Him is one heck of an adventure. 

God bless. (: