Forget What Is Behind & Strain Toward What Is Ahead

"But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. ⁸ What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ⁹ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in^[a] Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. ¹⁰ I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, ¹¹ and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.

 ¹² Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. ¹³ Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, ¹⁴ I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 3:7-14)

This passage tug at my heart strings today. I think sometimes we forget how big God is. We tend to focus on the garbage in our lives and the drama, but what is all of that worth in the end? What is that compared to faith in God? Christ sent his son to die on this earth and to go through all the sufferings that we do. He KNOWS what you are going through! Forget what is behind, it is nothing compared to the surpassing glory of God and what is ahead for you. Move on, but also remember where you came from. People might not have the grace for you and you might feel like your life is falling apart, but there is NOTHING you could do that would distance you from God's grace. His grace is abounding!! He is always there welcoming with open arms. There is NOTHING you can do to runaway from his love. It chases you everywhere you go. He never lets you go. 

"The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing" (Zephaniah 3:17)

So strain toward that prize of becoming like Him. 

Push yourself to look on the positives of life. 

Push yourself to love like God does.

Push yourself to focus on the never-ending ending of His story.

Remember that nothing you can do will ever separate you from Him;

nothing you can do, no one, NOTHING.

“Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that made us.” ~ Abraham Lincoln

^"10 For what was glorious has no glory now in comparison with the surpassing glory. ¹¹ And if what was transitory came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts!

 ¹² Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold."

2 Corinthians 3:10-12

"Just Believe.."

I hear the question a lot,

"How can I believe in God when I can't even see Him?"

To you I ask,
Do you believe in love? Do you believe in joy? Do you believe in miracles? These are things that you cannot see. Everything right in front of you is all of the proof you will ever need. God has painted the sky with colors. He's brought joy and peace and love into this world.

I would like to share with you just one of the many miracles God has showed me to prove He is always there: (This happened not but many months ago)..

I grew up in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. Not only did I have one family, but I had two! The Gonzalez' were our next door neighbors and they had a daughter named Jasmine. Ever since we met, we have been best friends. I basically grew up and lived in their house. I would have sleepovers on school nights there and come home from school to there house. At the time, my parents owned a business, so going to their house was like a safe haven, and I felt like I was really a part of a family. They believed in God, but not really like my family did. It was the typical, go to church on sundays do good deeds religion. But that didn't matter to me at the time because I did not even truly know God yet. At the age of six, I got a little brother. Nothing changed though, I was still a part of their family. But three years later my parents sat me down and shared the news with me that my brother had autism and we would be moving to Orlando. My heart sank into my stomach. I would be leaving my best friend.... But I didn't have a choice. I still remember the day our car officially left the house. As it passed my second home that I grew up in, I couldn't help but cry. I felt like I was leaving my family. But life moved on after that. I never really talked with Jasmine, although i would always think about her. As my relationship with God grew stronger, I womdered how she was with God. Eventually, she found me on facebook! We started talking and as I looked at pictures, I could tell she wasn't the same Jasmine that I knew before. She had changed, not in the way I had planned. After that we would talk ocasionally, things just weren't the same. Not too long after that I found a news paper on the counter. My parents informed me that Jasmine was in the newspaper.. she submerged her car. Immediately I began to cry. As I read this, the tears started to turn into tears of joy: 


http://miami.cbslocal.com/2011/07/28/good-samaritans-rescue-broward-teen-from-submerged-car/

I will forever thank God for saving my best friend. This is one of the many amazing things He's shown me. I find that even when I stray away as far as possible from God, He is always right there saying, "I'm still with you. Just take the time to look around and believe.."

"God is in the sadness and the laughter, in the bitter and the

 sweet. There is a divine purpose behind everything; and 

therefore a divine presence in everything."

-Neale Donald Walsch

Men & Women of The Author

So this weekend I made some pretty cool shoes!

Anything that has to do with Jesus is cool right? ;)

Anyways, when I came across this passage it totally opened my eyes up to what a true woman of God really is and what men should desire in women! I thought this was amazing: (I also included The Message version for more modern translation underneath in pink)

Psalm 31:10-31 (NIV) (MESSAGE)

Epilogue: The Wife of Noble Character

¹⁰ A wife of noble character who can find?
She is worth far more than rubies.
A good woman is hard to find,
and worth far more than diamonds.
¹¹ Her husband has full confidence in her
and lacks nothing of value.
Her husband trusts her without reserve,
and never has reason to regret it.
¹² She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.
Never spiteful, she treats him generously
all her life long.
¹³ She selects wool and flax
and works with eager hands.
She shops around for the best yarns and cottons,
and enjoys knitting and sewing.
¹⁴ She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from afar.
She's like a trading ship that sails to faraway places
and brings back exotic surprises.
¹⁵ She gets up while it is still night;
she provides food for her family
and portions for her female servants.
She's up before dawn, preparing breakfast
for her family and organizing her day.
¹⁶ She considers a field and buys it;
out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
She looks over a field and buys it,
then, with money she's put aside, plants a garden.
¹⁷ She sets about her work vigorously;
her arms are strong for her tasks.
First thing in the morning, she dresses for work,
rolls up her sleeves, eager to get started.
¹⁸ She sees that her trading is profitable,
and her lamp does not go out at night.
She senses the worth of her work,
is in no hurry to call it quits for the day.
¹⁹ In her hand she holds the distaff
and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
She's skilled in the crafts of home and hearth,
diligent in homemaking.
²⁰ She opens her arms to the poor
and extends her hands to the needy.
She's quick to assist anyone in need,
reaches out to help the poor.
²¹ When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
She doesn't worry about her family when it snows;
their winter clothes are all mended and ready to wear.
²² She makes coverings for her bed;
she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
She makes her own clothing,
and dresses in colorful linens and silks.
²³ Her husband is respected at the city gate,
where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
Her husband is greatly respected
when he deliberates with the city fathers.
²⁴ She makes linen garments and sells them,
and supplies the merchants with sashes.
She designs gowns and sells them,
brings the sweaters she knits to the dress shops.
²⁵ She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.
Her clothes are well-made and elegant,
and she always faces tomorrow with a smile.
²⁶ She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
When she speaks she has something worthwhile to say,
and she always says it kindly.
²⁷ She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
She keeps an eye on everyone in her household,
and keeps them all busy and productive.
²⁸ Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
Her children respect and bless her;
her husband joins in with words of praise:
²⁹ “Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all.”
"Many women have done wonderful things,
but you've outclassed them all!"
³⁰ Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
Charm can mislead and beauty soon fades.
The woman to be admired and praised
is the woman who lives in the Fear-of-God.
³¹ Honor her for all that her hands have done,
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.
Give her everything she deserves!
Festoon her life with praises!


.....These days, this is definetly not the world's standard of a true woman is it, huh? So women, strive to be the woman that GOD want's you to be! Be a woman of beauty on the inside, say kind words, and remember that you ARE beautiful to God. He looks at the heart. He fills the all desires of your heart! (1 Samuel 16:7, Psalm 37:4)


And men! Who wouldn't want a girl like this!? So do not lower your standards, don't stop till you find a Proverbs 31 woman! Be a man of God and be strong in the heart. Even the greatest men of God still faced temptation and heartache! For more info, dive into 1 Samuel 16 and read about King David-the man after God's own heart. God gave us a clearer picture of what that is when he selected David to be king. When the people selected a king they picked Saul because of his physical characteristics (he was head and shoulders above the rest).

Outward beauty & strength always fades, but The Author never does. Always rely on Him to write your story.

Footprints In The Sand

Thought I would share with you today one of my favorite poems:

One night a man had a dream.
He dreamed he was walking along the beach with the Lord.
Scenes from his life flashed across the sky
and he noticed two sets of footprints in the sand,
one belonging to him and the other to the Lord.

When the last scene of his life had flashed before him,
he recalled that at the lowest and saddest times of his life
there was only one set of footprints.
Dismayed, he asked, "Lord, you said that once I decided to follow You,
You'd walk with me ALL the way.
I don't understand why, when I needed you most,
You would leave me..."

The Lord replied, "My precious child.
I love you and I would never leave you.

When you saw two pairs of footprints was

when i was walking beside you.
During your times of trial and suffering
when you saw only one set of footprints...
That was when I carried you."

Sometimes, it is so hard to believe that God is there. But He is in everything you see.

He is with you always and will never let you go.

Hebrews 13:5

He is with you will the end of time.

Matthew 28:20

His thoughts towards you are as countless as the sand on the seashore.

Psalms 139: 17-18

When you are heartbroken, He is right beside you.

Psalms 34:18

He gave up everything for you just to love you.

Romans 8:31-32

You are HIS.

Song of Solomon 7:10

Footprints In The Sand - Leona Lewis

Credit To The Author

Hello! :)
Welcome to my blog! :) To begin, I would like to explain the title 'Writing For The Author'....


We all are writers, writers of stories, writers of pain, writers of mystery. We write but never erase, although sometimes we wish we could. We write to free our minds. We write and sometimes, we get so consumed with writing that we make ourselves to be the author even though we only contribute a little. We can use the ctrl button too much sometimes and try esc... although sometimes they don't work. But as much as we try use them on our own, we do not write like the Author. We all contribute but there is only one who is the Author. His stories can bring pain and sorrow, but they always bring peace and joy. They are always comforting and abounding. He is not only the Author of numerous historical and political stories. But, He also writes on astronomy, nature, psychology, love, and even humor. He spends eternity writing and knows anything about EVERYTHING. His writings appeal to everyone and all writers can look to Him for editing if you seek it. Here's just some of His best work:

God is the greatest Author of all time. So, this blog is all credit to the Author, who inspires all of my stories and who has already written everything from beginning to end.

"For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together." Colossians 1:16-17