Until Summer!

Hey everyone! Sadly, I am going to have to put off writing this blog until this Summer so I can finish school. But in the meantime, please send me topics you would like to talk about! Send me a facebook message, or comment here. Love you all and can't wait to get back to writting! Much love, Brittany

You, Me and Axheads...

The other day I was reading 2 Kings and I came across this awesome story called “An Axhead Floats.” Funny name, huh? Well, read on!  “The company of the prophets said to Elisha, ‘Look, the place where we meet with you is too small for us. Let us go the Jordan, where each of us can get a pole; and let us build a place for us to live.' And he said, ‘Go.’ Then one of them said, ‘Won’t you please come with your servants?’ ‘I will,’ Elisha replied. And he went with them. They went to the Jordan and began to cut down trees. As one of them was cutting down a tree, the iron axhead fell into the water. ‘Oh, my lord,’ he cried out, ‘it was borrowed!’ The man of God asked, ‘Where did it fall?’ When he showed him the place, Elisha cut a stick and threw it there, and made the iron float. ‘Lift it out,’ he said. Then the man reached out his hand and took it.” - 2 Kings 6:1-7

I absolutely love this story! This story perfectly illustrates that God cares about anything and everything in your life. The big and the little. We always hear that nothings too big for God, but nothings too small for God either. This guy’s borrowed axhead popped off his stick and fell into the water! God could have looked at it and been like, “Whoops! Too bad for you. I have bigger things to take care of.” But no! God saw this guy’s little issue and took care of it for him. Why? Because this thing was so big to this guy, God wanted to help and fix this problem for him.

This applies directly to our lives too. I think sometimes we, especially as girls, look at our small problems, like when our feelings get hurt, and just push them aside with the mindset that God has other problems to handle and doesn’t need to add our “small issues” to his load. But let’s ask ourselves this question: Is this issue a big deal to me? If the answer is yes, then it’s a big issue to God! God is more than happy to fix our problems for us. All God needs us to do is ask.

Much love,

Brittany

P.S. I will do my very best to update this blog once a week… but I am so extremely busy, that I am literally squeezing this in. Seriously, I’m sitting waiting to get my haircut while typing this! But I’ll do my bestest!! :)

Because He Made Me This Way

 The other day at a track meet a little girl, I had no idea who she was, came up to me, stared for a bit and then said, "You're pretty." Well, I sure wasn't feeling very pretty that day... all sweaty, red from the sun, exhausted, and my hair in a mess!! I just thought it was adorable, told her she was pretty, too and went on with my day. But the more I think about it, the more I relate this story to how God thinks of us. He thinks we are beautiful no matter if we "feel" like it or if we think we look beautiful or not, because He made us that way! Thinking you are pretty is more than having a good self-image about yourself. It's more than being confidant in who you are . This is about allowing God to come in and change our hearts. Today so many girls think they are ugly. Just ask a few girls and I'm sure more than one will say there is something they don't like about themselves. But let's get past the whole, "I'm not pretty," spill. Let's go further into the real root of this problem. The world tries to fix this problem, but still more and more girls are becoming miserable. I truly think this is sad. It really is sad that we, as Christian girls, can't be content how GOD made us to be. WE are the daughters of the Most High King, and yet we dare to basically say, "God, You did a horrible job making me. Why are my eyes so small, my skin so blemished, my hair so thin/thick, my hips too big...?" Do you see now what we are really saying to our Creator? We are just plainly telling Him we hate how He made us! This is more about just being beautiful. This is more about being content in our bodies. This is about saying, "God, I love the way I am because You, my Heavenly Father, made me this way." This doesn't mean we won't ever feel disappointed by how we look. But we have to get past wanting other people to like us so much. There is one thing that girls strive for when they long to be "pretty." Getting noticed. Think about it. We want guys to notice us. We want people to notice us. It's truly all about attention, attention, attention!! Every girl wants attention! But why? Usually to become friends with a certain person, or to get a certain guy or to become popular. It's true! It hurts me when I see Christian girls say they aren't pretty because they long for attention. But how much more does it hurt God to see His daughter discontent with how He especially created her?! I know that when I put on my make-up, I wonder if people will notice me more. But then I have to stop and re-evaluate myself. I have to tell myself, "So what if people think I'm pretty or not. Why should I care what they think? I don't need make-up to be the person God made me to be, despite my flaws." I need to stop worrying about myself and how I look on the outside and worry more about what they see on the inside. Besides, if people only like me when I look my best, they don't truly like me. It's really as plain and simple as that. So, how do we learn to be content with how our Father made us? We must put our identity in Him, and that starts with prayer. Ask God to help you stop worrying about what other people think. Ask God to help you stop feeling the need for attention. Ask God to help you change on the inside. Ask God to help you to stop caring so much about yourself and help you to start caring more about others.
 We are beautiful, ladies. Not because we have pretty eyes, or beautiful hair. We are beautiful because we have learned to be content; saying that God made me this way and He thinks I'm beautiful. We are princesses, daughters of the King. Therefore, we are beautiful.
Much love,
Brittany(:

Highlights of Retreat 2011 sermons..

So, this year at Realife Retreat 2011, our speaker was Jeremy Johnson. He was absolutely hilarious, yet God used him in powerful ways. I really enjoyed him, so I thought I'd put some of my favorite parts of his stories and what God spoke to me through his sermons here. Even if you didn't go to Retreat, I'm sure you'll enjoy them!! Of course, they will be in my words.
"One year, as a kid, I wanted to go trick-or-treating. I told my mom, "I wanna go trick-or-treat and dress us as a smurf." But my mom said no. She told me we were attending an alternate Halloween event at my church called the 'Hallelujah, Jesus Has Risen Harvest Party.' But I didn't want to go to the 'Hallelujah, Jesus Has Risen Harvest Party', and have some teenager behind a black curtain put a tootsie roll on my fishing pole and tug on it. I didn't wanna throw a ring around a bottle neck for candy, I wanted to go trick-or-treating with my friends. Not having a choice, I said okay, I'd go the the 'Hallelujah, Jesus Has Risen Harvest Party', but I still wanted to be a smurf. But then my mom told me I had to dress up as a Bible character.  But who can tell the difference between a Shepard and priest. They both wear their dad's bath robes and carry a stick! But really, there are a lot of Bible characters you could be! How about the 7-headed beast out of Revelation? Or the naked, demonic man? Those are clearly in the rules, right?"

"Stop fighting small, useless fights. Focus on your own spiritual battles to prepare you for God's calling and to fight the big, eternal fights."

"When I was 5, my dad asked me, "Why are you so fat?" I just looked at him and said, "I'm not fat! I'm just hard to kidnap."

"You don't have to be accepted to be accepted. You don't have to be chosen to be chosen."

"Normal is overrated!" (;D I like this one, haha)

"You can ask God to change you, but just like you can change in and out of a shirt, you can "change out" of what God did in you. But, just as a butterfly changes from a caterpillar, inside and out, we should ask God to TRANSFORM us. Because you can't transform out of something."

"We are valuable because we are Loved."

"'Oh, Sammy-poo! Tell me the secret of your strength so I can kill you!' And Samson, until the last time, lies to her. And so, she says, 'Sammy-poo!!!!! How could you?! You lied to me about how to kill you! Tell me the secret, Sammy-poo...' (How stupid is Samson?! Of course, this is paraphrased, but still!)
And every time Samson defeated the Philistines, it was SNAP, CRACKLE, POP. SAM-SAM!!"

"Your dream will be a curse until you start fulfilling it."

"Create an environment to live for God."

"Your personal life will make or break you."

"Whatever gets my attention gets my direction."

"Daily feed the Spirit. Daily starve the flesh."

"It will cost you a lot to live for Christ, but it will cost you more not too."

I hope you enjoyed!!!

Much love,
Brittany(:

Something Much Better...

Today I want to talk about relationships and premature love today. My favorite book that happens to be on relationships, I Kissed Dating Goodbye by Joshua Harris, really shaped my view and mindset on dating, so a lot of what I say will be based out of his book. To me, premature love to me was okay and normal. Well, it's normal to have those feelings, but being in relationships, whether dating or "having a guy," really isn't okay, but it's not a sin either. The Bible never clearly states: No dating. But, in chapter 8, verse 4b of Song of Solomon, it does say this: "Do not arouse or awaken love until it so desires." So, basically, don't mess around with love until the right time comes. Sure, there are always those special people who actually do find their life long spouse in high school, but come on, how often does that really happen? I truly think each Christian girl knows the better way, but we tend to talk ourselves around it. "But I think he's the one." "But this is different..." But is it really? I've thought that before... But it's always come out as heartbreak. I was so sick and tired of it after a couple times. I was tired of wrestling with myself. I knew the right way, but... but... We all do it! It's so hard not too! But we have got to ask ourselves and answer honestly a few questions. Why am I doing this? Am I being selfish? Do I truly think that this will last? We all know the right answers to those questions deep, deep down in our heart. But without the guy, we feel empty and alone, don't we? Well, that's why we must fill that special space in our hearts with Jesus. Letting him decide when the right guy comes along to fill that space He's created for us. I want to end this with a story Josh starts his book with. He tells the story of a girl named Anna. Anna had a dream that it was her wedding day. She and her husband soon to be were kneeling at the altar. In the middle of the ceremony, girl after girl starts to line up beside David. Anna whispers, asking David, "Is this a joke?" David replies, saying he is sorry, and that what is left of his heart is hers. I don't want to be the person that has guy after guy trailing behind me on my wedding day. I want to be pure and ready for my man on that special day. Sure, I've made mistakes. But I've stopped in my tracks, ask Jesus for forgiveness, and asked Him to make my heart whole again. I want every single part of my heart to be there for my future husband, and I pray that he is saving his heart for me too. I hope this has made you think about how you view premature love and relationships. We are strong ladies. We have Jesus to fill that void. It won't mean we won't desire to have a special guy in our lives right now, but that should turn us back to Jesus, asking Him to help us have the right mindset and wait until the right time.

My favorite quote comes from the introduction of Josh's book. He says: "Dating is like fast-food restaurants- it's not wrong to eat there, but there is something much better available."

Much, much love, Brittany(:

Mary or Martha, Mary or Martha, Mary or Martha...

First off, sorry for no Thursday post... I had an allergy attack and between sleeping, school and chores, I didn't have any time! And now that Track will be starting up next week on Tuesday and Thursdays, I think I'm going to update my blog on Saturday instead! So no worries! I haven't forgotten!!

Anyway! Back to the point. Today during part of my devos (devotions, for those of you who don't know) I read Luke 10:38-42. It reads as follows: "As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”
“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”
I've read this passage many, many times, and having heard the monotonous question at least 100 times, "Are you a Mary? Or a Martha?" I tended to pass this passage up without taking time to really think about it. I more read it instead of really thinking about it. But today, a couple things about this verse really stuck out to me, things that were different, not just the typical "Mary or Martha" question.
In verses 41-42, notice how patient and kind Jesus was!!! Martha really just lashed out in anger at everything and everyone, even Jesus!! Jesus calmed her, and kindly showed her what was more important, which was spending quality time with Him. This is so amazing, because I know that if someone bossed me around and yelled at me like that, I sure wouldn't have responded this way! We can learn so much from how He handled this situation. Guess what would have happened if Jesus had yelled back at her and said, "Excuse me! Who do you think you are to yell at me like that? And to boss me around! I am the Son of God. No one talks to me that way!" Well, that sure wouldn't have helped this situation, would it? Of course not! Jesus could have yelled back at Martha. If anyone had a right to yell back at her, He sure did! But He didn't. By not yelling at her, He took the fiery situation, and instead of throwing fuel on it, He threw water on it, extinguished Martha's fiery temper and helped her get her priorities back in line. Think how much better off we would be if we handled out situations kindly and calmly like Jesus did!!
And then verse 41-42b really opened my eyes. “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed." When you are flustered, stressed, worried, upset and angry, what do you do to get your mind off of the stresses and strains of life? Answer this question honestly. For me, I tend to go to my iPod; listen to music, check Facebook, play games... but when I'm done messing around on my iPod, I still feel upset and empty... Why? Because the only true way to get your mind off of your problems, calm down and *still* be calm and feel complete when you are done is to spend time with your precious Jesus. Taking time like Mary did to get away from everyday life and relaxing with Jesus, telling Him *everything*, is the most rewarding thing you could do! Notice how Jesus says, "... but only one thing is needed." That one thing is Him!
Try to remember as a new week starts to go to Jesus first when you are upset and stressed out. And try to remember the way Jesus handled poor, upset Martha when people come to you and lash out at you.
Much, much love,
Brittany(:

Welcome to 'in full bloom'!

Hi! Welcome to 'in full bloom'! I'm Brittany! I'm a high school girl who loves Jesus, just like you. This blog is just for you. And I promise, it will be down to earth... but I also want it to be deep. Stuff you can understand, stuff that will make you think, and stuff that will help grow. That's the point of this blog. Not everything will be "Bible talk," but everything I talk about will center around God, just like we all should be. Our lives should never be centered around anything else, therefore, this blog won't be either! Well, just so you aren't reading some random girls blog, here's a little random info about me: I'm in high school, obviously. I play Indoor Soccer and run Track and I play the piano (have for over 8 years). I love onions, and do not like pop (or soda... or soda-pop... whatever.) Anyway, I love the Bible with a passion. It's literally a guide for every situation in life. I love to run, and I hate volleyball. (sorry girls...) I hate make-up, and don't wear very much of it. I love music: Lecrae, Tenth Avenue North, a teensy bit of Taylor Swift, Skillet and Thousand Foot Krutch. My favorite book (besides the Bible) is 'I Kissed Dating Goodbye' by Josh Harris. If you haven't read it, you need to. Oh! and I also love chocolate and doggies! (Told you "random" facts!!(; ) I like knowing random things about people, and now you know random things about me!
So, every Thursday afternoon, I'll update my blog. I hope, that through God speaking through me, I can help you find your way through life's ups and downs and making a difference in this twisted world.
Much love,
Brittany(: