What's In Store

I laugh inside. I laugh outside. I laugh because I am joyful in uncertainty. Funny right? Well I think it is. I have had a couple things on my mind recently and wasn't necessarily seeking answers for the questions that arose. Now that I have realized what those questions are its time to start seeking out some answers. I know these things for sure: I need to be praying, reading my bible, going to life-groups, and journaling. I need to be seeking God. I need to learn how to listen.

I'm excited for whatever it is that is coming.

John 12:26

English Standard Version (ESV)

If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.

Taking new steps. Learning how to walk in new shoes. Day by Day.

3 things I pray:

To see thee more clearly

Love thee more dearly

Follow thee more nearly

(Godspell)

Learning Every Day

Although learning may be very hard at times I am thankful for learning. I have been learning so much recently and I have been presented with opportunities to use the things I have already learned. I have taken action! I'm happy for the progress I have made in guarding my heart as of recent, believe me it has been a struggle. My joy has been so overwhelming at times I just want to dance. Thank God for mistakes that make me realize that I can't do things on my own. Thank God for grace that allows me to be forgiven. Thank God for wisdom I am gaining through it all. Thank God for the discernment I have been able to share with other young girls recently. I was able to encourage a friend last night with the new excitement I have gained. :]

Psalm 49:3

New International Version (NIV)

³ My mouth will speak words of wisdom;
   the meditation of my heart will give you understanding.

These are just some happy photos from life as of recent:

Jamie is an inspiration.

Ashy is Wedded

hangin at keifs house

keifers and me and flamingo

My roommate is so sweet!

Shes possessed.

Ewica

Underage haha

I miss her a lot sometimes

Chuck Butt :)

Crazy and Fun and Funny. I love this girl!

This girl makes my heart smile!

Tivis is such a blessing in my life!

This is how we do.

Crazy!

New Friends are wonderful!

Weddings make me smile!

Jenny is so joyful!

My Father made this for his school as a flyer. I laughed.

Regent University Theatre Presents: The Three Musketeers

When You are the Leper: Part I

Lies. We all know them well. We have been told them. We have told them. We have been consumed by them. We have overcome them.

lie ² |laɪ| |lʌɪ|

noun

an intentionally false statement 

• used with reference to a situation involving deception or founded on a mistaken impression 

tell a lie or lies :

• ( lie one's way into/out of) get oneself into or out of a situation by lying 

• (of a thing) present a false impression; be deceptive 

From experience I have found that it is easier to believe a lie when a person is vulnerable. Many different things can make one vulnerable to falsehood. 

• Naivety
• Stress
• Haste (ready to believe the first thing said)
• Sickness
• Depression
• Foolishness
• Self Pity
• Weakness of heart
• and many more...

If anything we are always vulnerable because of our own foolishness. Tough, but true.
So when vulnerability kicks you in the butt you can find yourself drowning in the lies. Small ones start and they feed at the core of your being and begin to slowly deteriorate the truths your mind knew before. One acceptance of a small lie is just a hop, skip and a jump from birthing a rumor weed.
Lies are the start till the rumor catches on and spreads devouring all in its path. No mercy. No grace. We see this outwardly among us all. Friends talking about friends. People talking about People. Family talking about Family. But, the lies that I address today are not the ones that others are speaking from their lips, but the ones that are fed to us by the enemy.
The enemy of any spiritual walk or journey. Our worst enemy. The enemy longs for us to accept him so that we ultimately become our own enemy. Let's hope that it hasn't got that far. & if it has, there is a way out, you can fight yourself with help from the Lord.

Ephesians 2

By Grace Through Faith

 ¹ And you were dead in the trespasses and sins ² in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— ³among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. ⁴But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, ⁵even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ— by grace you have been saved— ⁶and raised us up with him

Click here to read all of Ephesians 2
Lies that I have been recently flooded with are so silly to even type here. There should be no doubts to any of these lingering questions. But, if you are honest with yourself, there has been a time in your life, if not right now, that you also have struggled with these. We are all in the same rocking boat.
The Lies:

1. Will God answer my prayer?
2. What if He doesn't?
3. There's nothing that can really be done.

The Truth:

1. He will always answer prayer. His listening never stops. He is always hearing our thoughts, our words, our spirits, our souls and our hearts. There isn't one second that He is too busy to pay attention. Believe and Receive. Have faith. Take heart. We often mishandle our faith which creates doubt. I am praying through my doubt currently. Doubts that I shouldn't have I am asking the Lord to help me to overcome. Who better to ask to gain faith from then the One who has always had faith in us and is eternally faithful to us. Hebrews 11:1 (KJV) "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."
2. You Have Not because You Ask Not::: We make the mistake of dwelling on the issue, we get lazy and we don't put our lips into action. We must find our humility. To bow before the throne knowing that God has all power to do anything. We must not limit the Lord. God has NO LIMITATIONS. How silly we are to think God can only do "so much." Still think God has limitations? Watch this and I guarantee you that you will change your mind: Crazy Love Universe. 

   James 4:2

   New International Version (NIV)
   You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God.

   2 Chronicles 7:14

   New International Version (NIV)

   
   

   if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

   
   

   Hebrews 10:22

   New International Version (NIV)

   
   

   let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.
3. Matthew 7:7-11

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. "Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!
If we are not asking then how can we expect to receive. If we are not seeking how can we expect change. If we will not knock on the door it will never open.

Matthew 21:22

If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer."

Mark 11:24

Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

John 15:7

If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.

Mountains can be moved by the power of prayer. The Lord rewards those who seek His face. He longs for us to come to Him in our weakness because He is stronger. FAITH. We can have faith that the Lord will become our warrior when we have lost the battle. He will raise us up and renew our strength so that He and we can fight the battle together.

People do not pray because they think that their prayers don't make a difference. This is something I have struggled with at times. So this is where I begin to make a change. I pray that the Lord would help to humble me. I cannot go through this life doing things all on my own. I need my knight in shining armor to suit up and put me back on my horse; to ride into battle with me against the enemy. I pray that the Lord would help me to uncover the lies and see them for what they are: worthless. I pray that the lies would be replaced with truths. I pray that this leper would grow in faith. I pray that this faith would bring favor in prayer. I am casting out all lies and deception. Sweet relief. It shall come. Lord teach me how to have more of your unfailing faith. I pray that I am freed from these bonds. Amen.

Major Flashback

Inexplainable

I don't know what it is. But it happens every time. An inexplainable warmness comes over myself when I see certain people. You would think... 'Oh. Friends right? People You know and care for?' People I know, yes. People I care about, yes. But not necessarily friends. Not people who I share deep life meanings with. Just people I see in passing. People I know. People I care for. People who need a little kindling to their dying fire. It's not like I make a point to show warmth towards these people every time I see them. It just happens. I can see now that it is not from me... it is through me... from the Father. I am seeing again what once was in this life. It's beautiful. I'm thankful.


(2 days in a row! WOAH! Yeah I know)

It's Been A While

I haven't visited my blog other than to read up on other peoples lives. I haven't blogged since June 28th. Weird to think I logged on today July 28th to blog. Well. It has been almost a month since I came home to TX. Since then I have done many things. One of my goals was to abstain from surfing the internet so much. 

Things i have done this month:

• Shut down my facebook
• Spent some quality time in Denton, TX (where I grew up)
• Went to My family reunion
• Went to a Texas Rangers Game
• Went to the Pony Races
• Ate at a Tea Room with my mother
• Shopped around a little town
• Read a script (Doubt)
• Picked out my Fall Audition Monologues and began to work on them
• I also got invisilign... if you don't know, invisilign is a clear teeth braces system (9-13 mo.) Hopefully I will have completed all my trays by my 21st birthday :)
• I have been working out a lot recently preparing myself for the wedding in Chicago

Ok... I hate fads and I don't usually follow them... but I love the feather in the hair look. I have a couple that I can put in and take out with a clip. 

So anyway... I have about a little less than 2 weeks and so much to do left!!! ahhh! :\ 

Then its on to Chicago :D 

Waiting Patiently

“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9 NIV

If you think about it… our lives are but the smallest fragment of time. When it comes to waiting I can be super impatient. Normally this happens when I am excited about something (an event). I cannot wait till friday… but the rest of this week doesn’t care about how I feel, it is going to take the same amount of time to get to friday from today as it always does.
After learning some hard lessons of life I have observed that some things are worth waiting for. We may think that our timing is what is best for us, but, ultimately it is God’s timing that is perfect. I am thankful for the lessons I have learned in having patience. These lessons have brought me discernment and wisdom in times when I needed to settle my heart.
I am in the process of finding promises God has made in my life, and I am claiming them. Seeing these promises as truth. This is when the tough part comes in. Training my heart and spirit to not become anxious. The thing that reassures me most is the fact that I know God’s timing is perfect and I will be overjoyed when the times come when He fulfills those promises.
The Lord will reassure me in my weakness and grow me to hold out for another day, week, month, or year.
I’m super stoked :)
Thank you Lord for being patient with me and my anxious heart. Forgive me for doubting your will and timing; for my pride in thinking my way is best for me. I will wait. This is my desire: to be used by You.

This is My Desire to be Used by You

Run & Hide

Some days I just want to run away. I want to hide. & who am I hiding from? I am hiding from myself. There are times in life where I need to pull myself away from everything it knows and settle somewhere peaceful... under the wings of God. I am so ADD sometimes that I get distracted from what I should be doing and I do something else. It's selfish really. My relationship with the Lord is "indispensable." There is no other relationship with any being that is such. Sure, when you get married that relationship becomes even more indispensable, but, if that bond is broken (death, divorce... etc.) the person is not indispensable themselves... but rather their essence is indispensable. Who they were, & their impact on our lives is something of worth that can never be replaced. It brings me back to scripture talking about "storing up our treasures in heaven and not on earth." I find myself in need from my friends rather than coming to the Lord in prayer. Trust needs to be put in Gods hands. So as I run from myself and learn from myself & grow... I pray I can gain wisdom and strength to press through the challenges of life.

Day 7: We are a Family full of Drama

I have been acting since I was around 7 years old. I started out in our churches productions where I was a servant to one of the three kings or a child follower of Christ. From there I was inspired in 4th grade. Mr. Michael Bailey was such an inspiration to me. He was a theatre teacher at the local HS. I saw a production there and decided then that acting was what I wanted to do. So middle school comes around and I find myself filling my time with basketball and theatre. When I reached High School I was placed in a newly opening HS called Guyer High. I joined theatre and basketball my 1st year. Funny thing is that the theatre was designed by Mr. Bailey himself. He made sure that our theatre had everything and anything we could need. Electronically run fly space! Oh yeah! Sadly the second weekend of our 1st opening production Mr. Bailey passed. It was a time of grief and mourning for everyone in Denton, TX. All the theatre depts were heavy for the sister school and its family of thespians. I had just seen Mr. Bailey that weekend when he passed. He came into the theatre to visit and told us he would be joining us for a show coming up. Sadly he did not.
This time was one of the most important times in my life. I found what was most important to me, my theatre family. We cried together, laughed together and held one another. It made us stronger. From time to time I remember Michael Bailey as my older sisters teacher, as a fellow thespian, and as the beginning to my inspiration. Although theatre students are so outgoing and crazy I feel like it has helped me in life. Where would I be without my crazy friends. It made me a lot more confident in who I was as a person. Theatre people tend to be a lot more accepting than any other group in High School. So when teen angst sets in its ok to wear the heavy eyeliner and dark clothes; it’s all about expression and experience. We explore so many different parts of the human life it is crazy, but it makes us better at what we do and what we seek to do: To have a sense of truth. I have had the chance to explore being so many different people… and it helps me to know exactly who I am. But, its always fun to pretend to be someone else, to become that person for a while. I have learned so much about people. Communication skills. No matter the circumstances, they are there for you, they are some of the most understanding people you will meet. They connect at the heart.
I am thankful for my theatre family & for how they’ve changed my life for good.

****NOTE : I feel like my writing totally failed in this post, i was exhausted when i wrote it. forgive me for being scatter brained

~Brielle

20 Years of Life Countdown ::: Introduction

I have had to do some things recently that quite possibly could be some of the hardest things I have ever done. God has been teaching me so much recently and I have been presented with many challenges on this road. I guess here is me realizing that these things all come because I have laid down my life and my wants to have God mold me into a Woman of God. So growing up hurts, and stings. I have only 7 days left as a teenager. I have experienced much and I know there is even more to come in the adult years. I am super stoked as well as terrified. So here is post one of 7. A count down to my 20th birthday. I will be reflecting on the most important lessons and memories from my adolescence. This means from age 13-19. They may not be in age order but I am going to try. You may learn some interesting things about me as well as hear some really great stories. I am apt to open up and would love to hear from you all :)

So I will post another post later this is just an Intro to day 7 which is today!

An Evening Prayer

Lord you know this heart of mine... Help me to know it as well. Amen.

Prayer

Prayer is one of the Christian disciplines that many of us struggle with daily. We all have problems with being a person of humility; not being able to set aside time in our busy lives to have intimate conversations with our creator. If you think about it, this life of ours that is so busy, isn’t ours to begin with. So when we set apart the time to engage in prayer we find it difficult because of the following reasons:

We are afraid to be bare before the Lord. In a time of prayer and one on one conversation it can be scary to lay everything completely on the table before Him. We think we can hide our lives but the truth is that God sees it all. Better us to lay it all down and be real with the Lord. He created us to have feelings and thoughts; if you know your friend is going on a first date you always want to have all the details although you can guess what happened. God wants the details and to talk with us.
We assume. When in prayer, if we pray about something once, sometimes we will assume that If our prayer isn’t answered the next day or right then that God said no. Or, we assume the answers before coming to the Lord in prayer about something. God is faithful and we are called to pray without ceasing.
Is God really there? At times people can feel so far away from God that they don’t feel Gods presence or they don’t think God cares about them. So what’s the point in praying when He’s not there? As we discussed in our Rhythm Life Group tonight, God is never more than even an arms length away and He longs to hear our voices speaking to Him.
Wrong answer. This somewhat agrees with assumption; we are afraid to get the answer we don’t want, most of the time its ‘no.’ We are unable to accept anything other than what we want, selfish right? God only wants the best for us, so He will always let His ‘yes’ be ‘yes’ and His ‘no’ be ‘no.’ Do not fear for the future because the Lord already has marvelous plans.
We don’t know how to pray or what to pray for. Struggles with praying for something when you aren’t even sure what is going on. Romans 8:26-28 says: “ In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God. And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Holy Bible, NIV).

It is essential to our walk and growth in Christianity to spend time in prayer. Prayer brings so many bountiful blessings, ones we could not even fathom. When we pray we can be at peace, I loved the quote from McDonnell that stated just this: “True rest is happening when we pause regularly amidst daily routines to sort out the truths and commitments by which we are living” (McDonnell, p. 196, 2003). When I find myself frustrated with urn-answered prayer I have to remind myself that the Lord is at work every moment, and He always knows what is best. A testament to that is when I fasted and prayed last summer for 2 specific friends and the prayers were carried out not instantly but over this year and have found themselves in full right now. I could not help but cry and thank the Lord for being faithful and showing me that I can rest in Him and trust Him to listen and answer prayer.

Finishing Well

I cannot even begin to express my excitement about Boa’s “Finishing Well” chapter and I will tell you why. This past Sunday afternoon I came home from church and laid around for a bit, then I got anxious sitting in the house so I put on my running shoes and headed out to Regent’s Campus to take a walk and I brought my bible. I made it to The chapel in the library and sat down to have some quiet time in the word. I was lead to verses about strengthening my faith. My whole summer theme is about strengthening my faith, seeking God to know Him so that I may know the woman that I am and will become. So over my quite time I read through verses about finishing the race. The Lord spoke to me that now is the time to run and strengthen my endurance for the road ahead, to run the race to receive the prize, “...all the runners run, but only one gets the prize…” (1 Corinthians 9:24, Holy Bible, NIV). So here I am finished with reading the “Finishing Well” chapter and I am just in awe. This is further confirmation of what the Lord spoke to me Sunday afternoon. I have just been strongly encouraged with the text. 

As for the seven characteristics of people who finish well I would rate myself accordingly, (1-10) 1 being in need of improvement and attention and 10 being where most of my efforts lie:

1. Intimacy: 7 - This comes along with discipline, I cannot be intimate with Christ if I do not discipline myself to commit to spending time with the Lord. Growing to know Him. I am slowly, but surely improving in this area, of spending valuable time with the Lord. 
2. Discipline: 4 - I have major trouble in this area. I was just discussing this morning with a close friend about how we are both very stubborn and set in our ways. So here is where I need to break the chain of being undisciplined. To practice with consistency so that I may being to live out the disciplines naturally.
3. Perspective: 7 - Over the past 2 years I have been pushed, thrown, poked, hit, and taken quite a beating by means of my own decision making and the trials that came my way as a result of my decision making. It has revolutionized my thinking and heart. I used to have a life with less anxiety and more freedom, but I lost that because I wasn’t trusting, I didn’t have strong hope. The need is to remind myself that God has it all figured out. “This personal knowledge increases our faith and our capacity to trust His character and His promises” (Boa, 453, 2001).
4. Teachable: 7 - When I discipline myself to learn and dig deeper I am teachable. I guess my interest has to be sparked most of the time. “In our youth, we have a problem with foolishness and lack of focus…” (Boa, p. 454, 2001).
5. Purpose: 8 - Such a big influence on my goals for this summer. Lord what is my purpose? Where lies my purpose in becoming this Godly woman? I love it!
6. Relationships: 8 - I have begun to develop many beautiful relationships with friends whom I invest in and they invest in me. There is Godly council and wonderful encouragement. I could not thank God enough. He is showing me which relationships are important for my growth and for this road I travel.
7. Ministry: 6 - 

I feel as though I am in a mediocre stage of my spiritual finishing well characteristics. I need to draw my own attention to the many areas that I have to work on.

Be Still...