Peer Pressure vs. Holy Boldness

Hello lovelies! I'd like to preface this by saying that this has been on my heart for awhile, and I just thought I'd share some of my thoughts with you all! If you read Til the end, you probably deserve a cake or something, cause its pretty lengthy. Anyways, enjoy! 

Okay, so it's safe to say that sin is all around us. Whether you're an adult or a child, no matter the age, you can be tempted by sin. There's sin on tv, in movies, even just walking around your town you probably see sin. And for some reason... Society has just begun to accept this.... Society has accepted it so much that the church has accepted it as well... My heart has been heavy for awhile about this subject, and I don't think I'm the only one.

So, for those of you who don't know, I am a teenager, and still in high school. My school is pretty average, it has a diverse group of students and tons of clubs and activities to join. It also has the normal AP and dual enrollment classes, as well as the sports teams that everyone loves. One thing that it doesn't have, however, is an entire student body of "self thinkers" per say. 

I genuinely love my school and the people in it, don't get me wrong, but I don't believe that all of our students think for themselves. They are influenced by not only their friends, but also by the fast world around them. Between twitter, instagram, tumblr, and Friday night football games or bonfires, the people at my school see a lot of different sides of society. And I know that this is the way that just about every school nowadays is. 

There are so many temptations in the world, many of which we don't even realize we're being tempted with sometimes. For instance, social media. Yes, some people can use it for good (for example: Christian anons & personal accounts that glorify God and all things that are good), but some people do not do that. Some people simply use social medias as an outlet for negativity, misery, and sucking people into sin without even realizing they are doing it. As I scroll through my timeline most days, I cringe at the lack of joy. The joy that our generation once had has been replaced with depression and negativity. Most people are not truly happy with themselves. I truly believe that this is due to one of two things. One, someone has told them that they are not good enough, or that they are irrelevant to everyone. I see these things so often, and it genuinely hurts my heart. These people are so sweet and beautiful, and have a purpose, but they are depressed because of their situation... I just wanna give you all virtual hugs 99% of the time!! Is that possible? I wish! Or two, they are not living the way they want to be. Either stick in a rut because of their friends and what they will say, or running from something, these people are not happy. And that is so heartbreaking. I mean, life is a gift! I would hate for us to be wasting it! Of course, life won't always be perfect, and you won't always be "on top of the moon" but trying to remain positive despite the world's negativity is always a good thing.

Another temptation would be the obvious one: peer pressure. This is one of the biggest things I see people at my school deal with, and even I deal with on a daily basis. Some people may say "oh it's easy, peer pressure isn't that bad." I am not one of those people. I know for a fact that my friends can influence my decisions or my thoughts on some subjects. This is why I've started to do my best to choose my friends carefully. I once heard that you are like the 5 people you spend the most time with... That really hit me in the face the first time I read it, and that still rings true to me today. I dont want to be that person who can't make their own decisions, or who is controlled by their peers. I am my own person, and God gave me my own mind for a reason. I am not going to give someone else the satisfaction of controlling what I think or do, and you shouldn't either.

Something that goes along with that, is the pressure from the world. The pressure to drink, the pressure to date a new person every week, the pressure to give up yourself to anybody.... It's so sad to me that this is what society has morphed into... I just want to say that as clique as this sounds, noone's opinion of you matters except God's. And God says to think of pure things, and that your body is a temple, and that you are LOVED by HIM and that is enough!! He died for YOU so that you can be HAPPY!

So, if your "friends" rag on you for going to church, or for caring around your bible, they probably are not your true friends. If they constantly tear you down and make you feel unworthy... They probably arent your real friends. Real friends will get into fights with you, but you will work it all out eventually. They will make you feel good, lift you up, and hold you accountable to God! And you will do the same for them! Same goes for relationships, if your boyfriend or girlfriend doesn't love God... It will not work. The bible tells us DO NOT be unequally yoked! Don't date someone expecting them to change, because people don't change unless they want to. Let God deal with them, don't worry about "missionary dating." 

Basically, what I'm saying is, there are so so so many temptations in our lives today, temptations that I really wish we could just make disappear, but we can't. We just need to stand up and be bold for Christ! Do what's right, and you will be rewarded one day! So what if people call you a "Jesus freak"? Just reply "thank you, I'll be praying for you." and move on with your day. (Quick story time:There was a boy at my school who started carrying his bible with him everyday, and people would make fun of him. He was a sophomore in high school at the time, and he would bring it to lunch and put it on the table to read. One day a girl looked at him and said "why do you bring your bible to school? Lame." It made me so proud to hear that he turned right around and said "well.... Why don't you bring your bible to school? Where's your bible at? Bring it next time, we can read it together." He didn't turn around and argue back or anything, just responded in a way that got his point across. Ever since I heard that story I've wanted for God to give me that kind of boldness. The kind that makes me stand up and respond in a Godly way rather than shriveling up or feeling defeated. We are MORE than conquerors through Him! 

So, go out, and be BOLD. Stand up for what you believe in, and reach out to this lost and dying world. You never know what kind of impact you will have on somebody. 

Thank y'all so much for reading! Hope you have a blessed week! :)

-Xoxo, @InfiniteFaith17

Waiting.

Waiting has to be one of the hardest things to do. Like really really really hard. It's like a toddler looking at a pile of cookies and his mom saying wait until after dinner. It seems almost unbearable for the little boy. Thats how it is for us too. When we think about our future (our future spouses specifically) we just want it now. But not only is that not realistic, it's not what's best for us. Because just like the mother who says wait, God tells us to wait. Just like the mother, God knows what's best for us just like the mother knows what's best for the baby.

You see, we may all think it'd be so great to just have our husband or wife now, but that's not the case. The thing is, if we all met our husband or wife at the age of 13, we would mess it up. Pretty badly actually. When we are 13, we are still babies. We think that we are so grown up and on top of the world, but in reality, we are not. We aren't mature yet. Those feelings usually aren't love, they're hormones. When we're that young, we don't grasp the idea of love entirely. We think we do, but we don't. As we get older, we get wiser, and we learn to love along the way. 

Learning to love is only part of it though. God doesn't let us meet or rather, date our future husband/wife until we are BOTH ready. Meaning, both people have to grow up.... A lot. If even one person isn't ready, he won't let you two meet. I mean, we'd mess it up! And thank you, God, that you don't let us meet until we are both ready cause we would surely mess it up if it was in our timing.

Being human, we want everything NOW. We want instant gratification, and with as little work as possible. But that isn't how God works. If we want something, not only do we have to wait until we're ready, but we also have to work for it. God tests us in life. He tests us because He wants to know that we are growing in Him and maturing. That may seem so horrible, but it's not. 

So you may be wondering what you should be doing now, until you meet your future spouse. So here's 6 little things that I've compiled:

• Get lost in God. Be so in love with Him that you long to grow in Christ everyday and desire to be close to God. 

• Pray. Pray for your future spouse everyday. Pray for their safety, pray for their health, pray for any trial they may be going through. Pray that they find you when you are both ready, in God's timing. Pray that they are following God with everything in them, and that they know how much you already love them. 

• Be purposefully single. Be single by choice! Society says that being single is bad, and that if you're single then you will be forever alone. That is NOT the case! You would much rather be alone now than with the wrong person for the rest of your life. Being single also means you get to spend more time with God. And who doesn't wanna do that?!

• Pursue your dreams. It's hard to focus on your own dreams when someone else is in the picture. It's like you get so wrapped up in them that you forget about your own hopes and dreams. And even though your future husband or wife will encourage your dreams, the wrong guy or girl will not. So, while you're waiting on Mr. or Mrs. Right, pursue your talents and dreams. 

• Stay pure. Stay pure in every way. Emotionally, physically, and spiritually. There is nothing more attractive than a pure heart. 

• Write a list of things you want in your future spouse. Start with your NEEDS, your non-negotiables like faith, and then build it up to your wants, things that would just be icing on the cake. For example, a need for me is for him to be good with kids. A want is for him to give amazing hugs. :)  Reference your list while dating (making sure they have your non-negotiables) and then, when you get married, check the list again. See how many qualities your spouse has :)

Of course the list could go on and on, but those are just 6 examples. 

But just know today that you are loved. You don't have to have a guy or a girl right now, God is saving you for someone extra extra extra special, someone who is worth the wait. I've heard of couples that waited for each other for 20 years and when they finally found each other they say they would do it all over again if they knew that their spouse would be waiting for them on the other side. How amazing is that?! That's the kind of love I want. The kind that doesn't mind waiting, because they're worth the wait. So, while you are waiting, pray and seek God. God isn't going to give us someone before we even get to know HIM. I mean, He is supposed to be number one in our lives, so until He is, he's not going to give you a guy or girl. He doesn't need someone to compete with Him for the top space in your life. So, love the Lord and guard your heart now. 

Waiting isn't always easy, but it is always worth it. 

I love y'all! And happy early new year! Thank you all for making my 2013 so special! Let's make 2014 the best year yet!

-xoxo, Love always, @InfiniteFaith7 

#ReasonsWhyISmile

So I came up with this idea for a blog post when I came across the hashtag a while back. I love the whole idea behind it! Not only is it talking about what makes you happy, it's positive! So many hashtags and trends are negative & only bring you down, but this one does the exact opposite & I like that alot! 

I have been really trying to be more positive lately! Between online classes, my college classes starting in January, my courses at school, extracurriculars, friends, family, & church, my life is pretty busy & stressful so it's easy for me to fall into the trap of negativity! So, I've been looking for ways to remind myself to stay positive & happy!

So, here's a list of some of the things that make me smile! 

Ps. There may be some other anon's in here too ;p 

#ReasonsWhyISmile Well, frankly, I have an AMAZING God! Words cannot describe how amazing He is, mostly because my human brain can't even comprehend His glory!! 

#ReasonsWhyISmile My sins are forgiven!! I get to wake up everyday to new mercies! Through all of my failures, I am still loved the same.

#ReasonsWhyISmile God's love. It's everlasting. It's uncontainable. It's on fire! It's for me. It's for you. It's for all of us. The creator of the universe loves me & you!!! Whaaaaat? How awesome is that?!

#ReasonsWhyISmile I'm awake, I'm alive, I'm healthy! I get to live another day on this beautiful earth! #blessed

#ReasonsWhyISmile God fulfills all of my needs, so there's no need for me to worry about anything!!

#ReasonsWhyISmile I have the best family in the world. No matter how

much we fight, I know that they'll always have my back. We always say "I love you" too, which is something I take for granted a lot. I'm so thankful to have a family that not only says it, but shows it, too.

#ReasonsWhyISmile my sweet nephew makes me smile daily. :)

#ReasonsWhyISmile even hundreds of miles away, my sister is still one of my best friends & I can go to her with literally anything.

#ReasonsWhyISmile my mom. She's the strongest woman I know, & even when she's struggling, she helps others. She constantly is sacrificing her time, efforts, & money for me & I'm so thankful for that. I pray that one day not only will i become a strong woman like her, but that I can also repay all of the favors & love one day.

#ReasonsWhyISmile my brother. Oh my gosh, we fight constantly but all in all, I know he's always there for me & will always protect me & stand up for me.

#ReasonsWhyISmile um my best friends ovbi. They're the best, & I literally don't know what I'd do without them. 

#ReasonsWhyISmile I am apart of an amazing organization at my school, & I'm so thankful for that! I can literally go in feeling horrible one day & someone will say or do something to make me feel better. We truly are a family, & I love my Student Government family!

#ReasonsWhyISmile I have a bright future thanks to Jesus!!

#ReasonsWhyISmile God will always make a way. 

#ReasonsWhyISmile Jesus gives me new joy every morning!!!

#ReasonsWhyISmile everyday I get a little bit stronger, & grow more in Christ.

#ReasonsWhyISmile even on my worst days God still shows me that He cares!

#ReasonsWhyISmile everyday that passes means I'm one day closer to meeting my future husband. <3

#ReasonsWhyISmile Starbucks. Let's be real here, it's amazingly delicious.

#ReasonsWhyISmile my best friends are so hilarious & stupid (in a good way lol) that I can't help but smile!

#ReasonsWhyISmile Zaxbys. Chick-Fil-A. Cupcakes. The color pink. Friday night games with my friends. Chocolate. Coral, teal, & chevron. The beach. Makeup. Jewelry. Sweaters. Boots. Toms. Music. Pitch Perfect. Owls. Gliiiiiiittttterrrrr. Curly hair. Warm fuzzy blankets. Twitter. Insta. Twix. Boston terriers. Heels. Dresses. Jeans. Surprises. Diamonds. Bible study dates. Starbucks again.

(To name a few of my favorite things... Only a few of course ;p)

#ReasonsWhyISmile you guys of course!! All of my amazing followers put a smile on my face every single day. I love y'all :) 

#ReasonsWhyISmile ugly Christmas sweaters. I don't know why but I love them you guys. 

#ReasonsWhyISmile macaroni & cheese. Like yes please.

#ReasonsWhyISmile Christian pick up lines.... They just make me smile ok!  

#ReasonsWhyISmile songs. I associate songs with memories, so every time I hear certain songs, I think of the memories I've had & the person I have memories with... And I can't help but smile. :) 

#ReasonsWhyISmile I'm so blessed. I know I don't appreciate this life as much as I should, but I really am thankful. Thank you, Lord, for this amazing life & the amazing people in it! 

And now onto some of @NotPerfGirl97's reasons to smile. :)

#ReasonsWhyISmile One Direction are complete goofballs & never fail to make me laugh XD

#ReasonsWhyISmile because I have awesome friends & can turn my frown upside down :p

#ReasonsWhyISmile When I think about the beautiful and awesome future God has planned out for me. With my husband and children, in particular. I know he's going to do amazing things because he's an awesome God. 

#ReasonsWhyISmile I'm weird so when I reflect on my actions, I'm just like "I'm an idiot" but I humor myself!

#ReasonsWhyISmile Jesus loves me despite my many screw ups, He's always there for me which is extremely comforting and He always forgives me when I make mistakes. (Which are plentiful)

So, that's 5 of her biggest reasons to smile! And one of my biggest reasons to smile is because of @NotPerfGirl97, so: 

My #ReasonWhyISmile is because of you, Car. You just understand me, & you have since day one! I'm so thankful that God placed you in my life last year! You can make me laugh when I feel like crying, & you are one of the only people that understand my obsession with beauty products & pinterest, & therefore I applaud you. :p All in all, I'm so blessed to have a best friend like you, & I couldnt imagine not having you in my life. I love you gorgeous! 

Now, @MissionaryWmn has some reasons why she smiles: 

#ReasonsWhyISmile I have the opportunity to go to school everyday and further my future. 

#ReasonsWhyISmile Christmas lights are up and Christ is being praised this Holiday Season. I'll work on the rest!

#ReasonsWhyISmile the Christmas tree is up, which means the smell of evergreen trees emanate throughout the house!

#ReasonsWhyISmile my puppy is laying beside me and has fluffy fur and gives me warmth and something to laugh about! 

#ReasonsWhyISmile God is planning out my future perfectly at this very moment. He's knows exactly what is going to happen in my future because He has already been there. That alone is reason enough to smile all the time.

Anddddd of course I have a reason why I smile that reflects off of you, lovely! So, my #ReasonWhyISmile is you! You have been my bestfriend for almost 3 years now, how crazy is that? We become so close that year that you transferred schools, & I'm so thankful that God brought you to my school! He knew that I'd need you so much over the future! You have always been the best friend to me, & youre always there to offer Godly advice & steer me in the right direction when I need it! So, thank you times a million! I love you, beautiful! 

And here's @ASweetGuy1's reasons to smile:

#ReasonsWhyISmile How Great God is & what He has blessed me with.

#ReasonsWhyISmile I have family & friends who love me.

#ReasonsWhyISmile I am tested everyday by God, which Strengthens my faith.

#ReasonsWhyISmile Ive been forgiven of all my sins.

#ReasonsWhyISmile Im alive.

And obviously I have a #ReasonWhyISmile that is because of you! We have always kinda known each other, since about middle school or even a little before,  but we have gotten so close over the past few months. I'm so thankful to have you in my life, & I'm so thankful that I have an awesome friend like you to vent to, talk about God with, & just be crazy with. So, thank you for becoming one of my bestfriends & for always encouraging me! You're the Bestest! 

So, there are a bunch of our reasons to smile! I just wanted to thank all of y'all for reading this, & for always supporting me! I know it sounds cheesy & cliche, but y'all really are one of my biggest reasons to smile! Y'all are literally so sweet to me & always make me feel loved. It's crazy how people that you've never even met can be your biggest cheerleaders. So thank you all from the very bottom of my heart, & from the top & both sides too ;p 

By the way, y'all tweet me some of your biggest reasons to smile with the hashtag "#ReasonsWhyISmile" & @ me :) I'd love to hear them & retweet them! :) 

Have a blessed rest of your week loves! 

-Love always, @InfiniteFaith7 xoxo

Love. Future. Marriage.

"#ToMyFutureHusband,

I promise to always be crazy about you, no matter what. You're perfect to me, but most of all, you're perfect for me."  

This is a little piece of one of my many #ToMyFutureHusband letters.. Warning: for those of you who don't like mushy, sappy blogs, I apologize because I'm positive that that's how this one will be. I can't help it. I just love love y'all. :) So, keep reading to learn more about love. 

So, as y'all can tell, I write letters to my future husband. Sometimes they're love letters, sometimes they are almost like journal entries that tell about my life & what I'm going through. This may sound crazy, but writing the letters seriously make me feel better. When I'm feeling sad? Write a letter. When I'm feeling lonely? Write a letter. When I'm feeling happy? Write a letter. Of course I lean on God first, & of course I pray, but this is just something that is almost stress relieving to me. I can't imagine the day that I can actually talk to my future husband instead of just writing letters that he will have in the future, & how amazing that will be.

But, now that I've explained that to y'all, let's continue on. :) 

So, I remember when I first began to think about my future husband. I was in the 7th grade, & going to youth group alot. We had a series all about our future spouses. We talked about purity (which led me to get a purity ring as a reminder of the promise I made to myself, God, & my future husband), and we also talked about love. Ever since, I've loved love. I love learning about the bible's definition of love. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 talks about this.

"Love suffers long  and  is  kind; love  does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up;  does not behave rudely,  does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil;  does not rejoice in iniquity, but  rejoices in the truth;  bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails."

-1 Corinthians 13:4-8 

This is the bible's definition of love, and the only kind of love that I want. Basically, it tells you all the things that love is. I'm going to break those down and talk about them specifically, here. :)

1. Love suffers long and is kind.

Basically, love is not something short. Love is infinite. Love lasts forever. Love is kind, which means that love does not try to hurt you, but rather heal you.

2. Love does not envy.

True love is not jealous. If you are very successful in something, your spouse should not be jealous, but rather rejoice with you, and keep encouraging you, and vice versa.

3. Love does not parade itself; it is not puffed up.

Love doesn't need to constantly be "ME ME ME!" It's the opposite actually. Love is a WE. Spouses do not need to make everything about themselves, but rather try their best to make their husband or wife happy.

4. Love does not behave rudely, and love does not seek its own.

Love shouldn't be rude, it should be kind. Respect your spouse, make them feel wanted, and give more than you take. Love also does not seek its own. This goes back to number 3. Real love should try their best to make their "better half" happy. :) Don't worry about yourself, think of your husband/wife!

5. Love is not provoked, it does not seek evil.

Love shouldn't provoke you. Your boyfriend or girlfriend right now (or in the future) should protect your purity, not provoke it. If they really want what's best for you, they will respect your boundaries and think of what is best for your future. There's something I heard one day that really spoke volumes on that subject. My previous youth pastor, speaking to a group of teenagers with raging hormones, said "That girl you're holding hands with? Are you planning on marrying her? That guy you kissed goodbye? Are you planning on marrying him? Well, you're putting your hands on someone else's spouse. Treat your boyfriend or girlfriend like you want your future spouse to be treated." That spoke volumes to me. Obviously, this doesn't mean that you need to become a nun, (unless you want to of course) but it does mean that you need to think. Also, love does not seek evil. If your love isn't seeking God, it's probably seeking evil.

6.Love does not rejoice in iniquity, but  rejoices in the truth.

Love does NOT hide in darkness. Love does not promote lying, cheating, or stealing. True love promotes Goodness, and all of the things that are good and pure. Love rejoices when the truth prevails. Hopefully you and your spouse will celebrate when something is done out of truth. :)

7. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. 

Love is not selective. Love does not say "well I like this about you, but not that. Change it." No, love bears ALL things. Your spouse should encourage you, push you, and believe in your dreams. Hence, Love believes all things. Where there is love, there is hope. Hope for your life together, hope for today, and hope for the future. Love hopes all things. Love endures all things. When you say your vows, you say "Through sickness and in health, for better or for worse.." and all that jazz. That's exactly what enduring all things mean. Enduring life, together. 

And finally, love never fails. Love NEVER fails. Isn't that amazing? True love was founded on the same principles as God's love, although we humans tend to mess it up a lot. But, isn't that awesome? The bible calls for men to love their wives as Christ loves the church. That's a pretty big love. 

So, can you imagine me, that little 7th grader who had never even had a boyfriend, dreaming about love? I honestly can't wait to be in love and get married, although I will most definitely wait. I not only want God's perfect timing, but I want God to mold me into the woman I need to be. The more I think about it the more it makes me want to be a better person. I want to be the best wife I possibly can. But, anyways, ever since then, I've been writing letters to my husband. So, that's almost 3 years of letters that I have. Of course I don't write them every day, or on a regular basis per say, but still. Those letters are one gift that I will give to my husband on our wedding day, and I encourage any of y'all to do the same if y'all so desire. :) I also really encourage guys to do this for their future wife! :)

But, when I realized just how important my future spouse really is, I promised myself a few things. I promised to stay pure, I promised to grow into the woman of God that I know I can become (not only for me but also for my future husband), and that I would take dating seriously. I've never been that girl that all the guys liked, but I consider that a blessing, no matter how different that makes me feel sometimes. I have only had one boyfriend, where most girls my age have had at least 10. I have never comprised myself, and I don't plan to. I promised myself that I would wait as long as it takes. And I mean that. Yes, being single does suck a lot of the time, but in the long run, it will allllllll be worth it. When I'm looking in my husband's eyes on our wedding day I will be able to say that I saved my heart for him. My whole heart. And that... That's worth it all. 

Now, for all of you reading this thinking "well that's nice and all, but what if there's noone out there for me?" I can promise you there is. God doesn't put someone on this earth and not give them a partner. He created someone specifically for you, and y'all are going to be soooo incredibly happy serving God together! I once heard that God will do anything to have you meet "the one." He will take you across the globe if he has to! My pastor met his wife over seas. They both lived in the US, just in different states, but they didn't meet here. They met over in another country while doing mission work. He encouraged us in the fact that nothing is impossible with God. You will meet the one. You just have to be patient and wait. 

Also, girls (and some guys too!), don't compare your love story to anyone else's, whether that be your friend's, your parent's or someone in a movie. Not each love story is the same, and not every person finds love at the same time. Some people meet their spouses when they're 8, and some people meet their spouses when they're 20 or older! God has a plan, just trust it. Don't compare your love story though, because God isn't done with you yet. :) 

So, for those of you still reading, I hope you have a blessed night, and that this encouraged you! You are amazing, and God isn't through with you yet! 

- Love always, @InfiniteFaith7

Insecurity.

Insecurity. It's a problem that I know I face everyday. It's crazy that something so small can trigger it also. I can be fine all day until says something to me. It could be as simple as "you're not looking too good today." or "why are you so weird?" And it will change my mood completely. I'm going to be brutally honest with y'all in this blog post, okay? I want y'all to feel comfortable being honest with me, & that street goes both ways so yeah. I just feel like maybe if Im honest, it'll help someone out there who feels the same way I do. 

I am horribly insecure. Half of the time I feel like I don't like myself, and I know I shouldn't feel like that, but I do. I get upset at myself because I'm not as pretty as the other girls, or I'm not as popular as them, or I don't have as many friends as them, or because no guys like me like they like them. Usually, I feel so abnormal. And I hate that. I hate feeling like an outsider, and I hate feeling insecure, but it just happens. I'm not the girl all the guys like. I'm not the girl with fifty friends. I'm not the girl that has people fall at their feet. I'm not the girl that gets everything she wants. I'm not the cute girl that guys go crazy over. I'm not even the girl that has a bunch of real friends.

But, I'll tell you the girl that I am. I am the awkward girl that laughs at stupid jokes. I'm the girl that has my few true Bestfriends and has the craziest times with all of them. I'm the girl that is 15 and has only had one boyfriend in my entire life. Seriously, only one. I am the girl that loves Jesus with all her heart, and would do anything to show the world that. I am the girl that would do anything to help a friend. I am the girl with problems, but I'm working through them, glory to God! I am the girl that will always yearn for God. I am the girl that shouldn't be complaining for the things I don't have, but for the blessings that I do have! 

A thought dawned on me one morning when I was getting ready. I am soooooo blessed. I have God (um hello that should be blessing enough in my book) an amazing mother, the sweetest nephew (who has my heart because hes so stinking cute), some of the best Bestfriends, my health, and a home. I may not have everything by the worlds standards, but by my standards, I have all I need.  Things could be sooooo much worse, and I thank God that they aren't! I know that I need to work on my insecurities, and I'm trying everyday. It's a battle, just like everything else. But, while I'm going through all of this, I can't help but sit back and praise God for alllllll of my blessings! I deserve nothing, but He gives me everything! 

Basically, if you're the same way I am, I just wanna encourage you. You are beautiful. And I know that seems like a cliche, but it's true. You are SO beautiful. I mean come on! The CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSE MADE YOU! God doesn't make mistakes. You are not a mistake. You are perfect. Don't change, and don't hate yourself. Instead, learn to love your insecurities, and soon enough they will fade. You are so strong, and so incredibly amazing, love. You are going to make a man of God so happy one day! :) 

And for all the guys out there dealing with insecurities, you are so awesome. Literally, you're amazing. You may not feel it all the time, but you are. You may not be the guy that every girl wants, or the jock with a hundred friends, but you are so incredibly awesome. God loves you, and theres a reason that you arent like them. In my book, you're just as good as they are. If you're reading this, you obviously aren't afraid to rep God so you're the one with confidence. Don't forget that! You're so amazing in your own ways, and you're going to make a woman of God very happy some day! :)

"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."

-Romans 12:2 

Just as the scripture says, do not conform to the world. The world may say you are weird or don't belong or that you're not good enough, but that is a lie. Well, not the part about not belonging. We DON'T belong HERE, we belong in HEAVEN! Heaven is our forever home, so of course we aren't going to fit in here! You can compare here to someone else's home. While staying at someone else's home you feel out of place, right? Same with the world. And when you come back to your house, you just feel at home? Well, that's how Heaven is going to be. It'll be like coming home from a long journey and finally feeling completely at peace and at home. So, we don't belong here. But, we were put here for a purpose, and until that purpose is completed and we are called home, we are to live here and tell as many people about their true home as we can. But going back to people calling you weird or not good enough, thats a lie. You are PERFECT in God's eyes, and let me tell you, there could never be a more beautiful you (yes, I do love that song btw). But really, you're so awesome. Don't ever change for anyone. God is the only one who you should look to for approval, and I'm preaching to myself with this whole blog y'all. Basically, God doesn't make mistakes. You are amazing, despite your insecurities. The number on the scale does not define you. The number of friends you have does not define you. Your family situation does not define you. Your hurt does not define you. The only thing that defines you is the precious blood of Jesus that was poured out on the cross for your sins. And that tells me that you are priceless. 

Keep your heads up princesses and princes. You are the beautiful ones, society is the one that is ugly. Stay strong lovelies! I heart yall!

- love always, @InfiniteFaith7

Tips for Girls/Tips for Guys!

Hello lovelies!
I'm so super excited to be starting this blog, and so super excited that one of my friends helped me with it! He's also an anon on twitter, and if you don't already, you should follow him cause well, he's awesome. So a huge thank you to @ASweetGuy1 for helping me with this blog!

So, first I'm going to talk about some tips we both have for girls.And any of y'all that read this all the way through, y'all are awesome and deserve a piece of chocolate or something. Anyways, enjoy. :)

"Charm is deceitful and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the Lord is worthy to be praised." -Proverbs 31:30

Girls, we have things hard. Not only do we deal with those guys who have high expectations of what girls should look like, but we also have magazines, tv shows, and people around us who seem, well, perfect. Along with those things filling our head with the ideas of what women should look like and act like, we have that little voice inside our head. For some reason, we all have low self esteem. Some have it worse than others, but everyone has insecurities. But I'm here to tell all of y'all that you're beautiful & that voice inside your head is wrong. You are more than what you see in the mirror. And wow im preaching to myself here ladies. You are an amazing girl who is shaping into an amazing woman of God. You may not be the most popular girl that all the guys want, but you're perfect. Don't change for anyone. Promise? Good. Because beauty is fleeting, and true beauty comes from the inside. Also, just because you may not be "popular" by the world's standards, & just because you may not have people falling at your feet wanting to be your friend, that doesn't mean you're worthless. Actually, it's the complete opposite. You're PRICELESS. Jesus paid the ultimate price when He died on the cross for you, so you're obvs worth a whole lot. :) Those girls that "have it all" and "have the perfect life" are really miserable inside. They have a status they have to keep up every single day. They have fake friends. They have crazy drama. They're not happy, but they have to make it look like they are. So, just as the scripture says, people's charm can be very deceitful.

Now, on to @ASweetGuy1's tips for girls!
1) A girl should be respectful of herself and others. A girl respecting herself basically can be summed up as modest is hottest. Just because society says you need to dress a certain way to be cool or worth having doesn't mean it's the truth. Dressing immodestly is like rolling around in manure. Sure, you'll get attention, but it will be from pigs. If you want to attract the RIGHT guy for the RIGHT reasons, start with respecting yourself & your body. Also, be respectful of others. Noone likes a girl thats rude to everyone. Take time out of your day to just be nice to people. Talk to the new girl at church, help the kid who dropped their books in the halls, and talk to the girl who is always alone. Just do things to be nice and because God calls you to be a light. :)
2) Have some self confidence. Basically, if someone gives you a compliment, accept it. Smile & say thank you! Don't argue about it. If a guy or girl says you look nice that day or that they love your smile, they genuinely mean it. Accept the compliment!
3) Study your bible everyday. If you want to attract an Ephesians 5 man, you need to learn to be a Proverbs 31 woman. You will be able to achieve that by studying the word and spending time with God.
4) Be weird. Be strange. Be whatever. But always be you. Don't ever change for someone else. The right guy will come along and not only accept all of your little quirks, but LOVE them. Also, any true friend will wanna be your friend for who you are, not who you are not. So, don't change for anyone. All of the little strange or weird things you do make you you. And you is pretty awesome. :) So basically girls, my best advice for you is to better yourself by studying God's word, and work on your self confidence. You ARE fearfully and wonderfully made, and you WILL overcome. You are God's daughter, His beautiful princess, and He is sooo in love with you. Look to Him for your self worth & confidence.

Now, onto my tips for guys!

"For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them. For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them." -Ephesians 5:5-11 NKJV

Basically, this excerpt from Ephesians talks about being clean and pure. God has put a call on every single one of your lives. But, with that call comes responsibility. Just as the scripture says, you are a new creature in Christ. All the old has passed away, and you have made whole. So, after being changed, you can't continue on life as you once did. You are to obey God above all, and keep your heart and mind pure. You are to be an example.

My tips for guys:
1) Be humble. Be a servant. Noone likes someone who is boastful and full of pride. I can guarantee you that I would take the down-to-earth Godly guy over the big headed jerk who is popular. What's more important in the long run? Obviously a guys morals & standards. I want a guy who cares about something way bigger than himself.
2) Be sold out for God. In today's society, being a Christian isn't the cool thing to be. But it's the BEST thing you can be. There's something about a guy who's so in love with Jesus. When I see a guy singing, dancing, and raising his hands praising God..... The feeling I get is indescribable. I can't tell you how attractive a guy who is sold out for God is, and i can't tell you how amazing it is to still see guys like that. You are a rare find anymore, but when I do see a guy like this, I am so incredibly blessed by it. So worship with all you have, show that you belong to God, and don't be afraid to be loud for Christ!
3) Be kind. Be considerate. Be a gentleman. It doesn't matter if it's to your girlfriend, your friend, your mom, or a total stranger, be kind and considerate of them. Take a stand for chivalry. Show us girls that chivalry is not dead and there is still guys who open doors and do the little things for others. Respect everyone.
4) Never be ashamed to be yourself. This is basically the same as the girl's. Don't be afraid to show how weird and crazy you are! Those who really matter will love you through it. Never change for someone. If they really care about you, they won't ask you to change yourself.

So, for the few that are still reading this, thank you so much! It means so much to me that you guys actually care enough to hear the thoughts of this awkward teenager, and I'm so thankful for the opportunities I've had through my twitter account! As you can see, this entry was super long, so those of you still reading deserve a piece of chocolate! Some of these facts are interchangeable, and there are so many things I could still say on these subjects, which Im sure I will some day! I pray that it inspires you! As always, God bless y'all! Thank you for everything lovelies! I love y'all!
-@InfiniteFaith7