ABOUT BEING BOLD AND WHAT IT MEANS TO ME

one of my personal new years resolutions was "be brave. be bold." 

being bold, and taking risks has always been hard for me. a couple years ago, I struggled to say something that might come off as different. even if it was the truth, it was still hard

I've retaken the personality test recently and I'm now half introverted and half extroverted. and I've realized, yeah. it has been easier to speak up when I feel something isn't right, say what I want to say (not blatatly hurting peoples feelings tho). and it's easier to speak my feelings..and..be bold. yes, its still a struggle. its hard to step out. sometimes I just want to crawl back into my shell and be like NOPE THX ANYWAYS and you know what? and thats a-okay

but it can't always be that way. Jesus calls us to stand for Him. now, that doesn't mean we have to go around everywhere shouting and shoving it in peoples faces...it can be an act, too. 

what being bold means to me:

• laughing in public with your sisters and seeing who can find the ugliest piece of clothing and not caring what others think
• asking someone if they were in line and if they'd want to go first
• including people (at events, in your friend groups, etc.)
• doing what you think you cant
• listening to that prompting from Jesus
• being willing to say you don't agree, and why, but saying it calmly and not shoving it at people
• not always following the crowds
• making random conversations and laughing with people you don't even know when they see you and your sisters having a blast
• grinning back when people look at you with that "you are so weird" look
• doing what you don't feel like doing
• speaking up for someone
• sitting next to someone you don't know
• being confident in what you believe, knowing why you believe, so when asked you can speak clearly your believe
• crying in front of people
• saying "no" when you know you should, even if its abnormal
• being the first to say "hi"
• smiling first

being brave is going against your automatic response. so, BE BOLD, bc you don't always know the impact you are making

these are just some my own random thoughts and resolution..its something i'm working on. lets be brave bc He loves us. lets be bold, bc with Jesus, we have nothing to fear

KNOWING IF GOD WANTS YOU TO DO SOMETHING OR NO

I start my senior year this fall. the "what after" question starts to pound in your brain a little, lol. so I've been praying about it (and kind of wishing that God did just say "yes" or "no") BC THAT WOULD BE LOADS EASIER THANK YOU

instead, I'm over here wondering: how do I know if God wants me to do this? -- and not just for these questions, but for a lot of other things I'm considering/thinking about lately. 

how do you know if God is calling you to something? Is it because..things line up right? because it seems like the only option? because it's pointing to that? or should you not bc that's too obvious?????????????? how much should you love something for a job? or is it just a job???

I've always known I haven't wanted to go into college unless I was going for something I loved to do. I did research a lot about colleges and different degrees, but I kept coming to the same answer: no go.

now, this may change, but it just doesn't feel.....right for me. I've always felt this way about college: why spend a ton of money on something I might not like doing, and it's time, and then there is debt and stress and more school?? I guess I'm just a practical person. I like to work. And save. that's it. Is there anything wrong with that? idk. but like I said, it just doesn't feel right for me.

so right now, I'm looking at internships. Why? because I'm a hands on learner and I can gain experience in something that interests me (where there is lots to learn + no college) in a nearby location I like. and guys, things are lining up if I decide to go for it.

but the question I'm asking myself now is: is it obvious, or is that God?

so this is where I'm at. not a usual post for me, really, a little more raw then usual but hey xD i'm praying about lots, and would really appreciate your prayers/thoughts as well! thx guys xx 

DONT LET THE WORLD TELL YOU WHO TO BE

we are surrounded by books, sayings, internet (particularly the internet) that try to fill us with things that the world say to replace God and what He says. for example the:

"BE YOURSELF" "FOLLOW YOUR HEART" "DO WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY"

and MAN. at a first glance, those things sound good, and usually do......but sometimes when things sound right and good, that doesn't always mean they are

we aren't supposed to be ourselves. CUZ GUYS. why would we do that?????? at our cores, without Jesus, we are lost sinners. without God, we are BROKEN and HOPELESS. why would be want to show the world that? so instead of "be yourself", BE JESUS

things effect us, probably more than we think. We let people change who we are, with or without us noticing. maybe someone says something to you about the way you talk, or act, or about the way you think or believe.

so. be the person God created you to be. don't let the world tell you who you are, what to be, and how to act. bc guys, thats like telling God He made a mistake (and He didn't, k)

what others say and think DOES NOT DEFINE US, but it's an easy thing to fall into (speaking from experience). so when you hear or read something, or if something says something to you -- before you do anything else -- ask yourself this: is it true ??????  << my mom always says to write whatever you are thinking about down, and go to the bible. cuz hey, if you want the truth, its there