1 Corinthians 2:9

"That is what the Scriptures mean when they say, "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him."

"Do not let anyone limit because if who you are or where you come from…Your only limit is your soul…But only the fearless can be great.” -Gusteau 

Let your past inspire you, let it motivate you. Never let it hold you back. Prepare your heart & soul for God to move in more ways than you could ever imagine!

2 Corinthians 4:16

"Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal."

"All those days watching from the windows. All those years outside looking in. All that time never even knowing just how blind I've been...
Standing here, it's all so clear I'm where I'm meant to be."  

Your journey has shaped you for a greater good. Don’t think you’ve lost time. It took each and every day, situation, and circumstance you’ve encountered to make you who you are today. Step out of your comfort zone. "Sometimes the only transportation is taking a leap of faith.” Seek The Light of the world!

"I can't! I have a bad fin!" -Nemo

God can use you. Next time you feel like He can't use you, just remember...

Noah was a drunk
Abraham was too old
Isaac was a daydreamer 
Jacob was a liar
Leah was ugly
Joseph was abused
Moses had a stuttering problem 
Gideon was afraid 
Sampson was a womanizer 
Rahab was a prostitute
Jeremiah & Timothy were too young
David had an a affair & was a murderer
Elijah was suicidal
Isaiah preached naked
Jonah ran from God
Naomi was a widow
Job went bankrupt
John the Baptist are bugs
Peter denied Christ
The Disciples fell asleep while praying 
Martha worried about everything 
The Samaritan woman was divorced, more than once 
Zaccheus was too small
Paul was too religious 
Timothy had an ulcer
AND Lazarus was dead!

You and your gimpy fin will be used for God's glory!

*inspired my my former youth pastor*

Psalm 139:14

"I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well."

"Everyone here says I'm just a mistake." -Vanellope Von Schweetz

The world has a way of convincing us that we're not good enough, that we're unqualified, that we're a mistake. King Candy brainwashed Vanellope so that she thought was a glitch in the system and she believed it because she didn't know the truth about who she really was. In the same way, Satan can just as easily persuade us that God will never forgive us for what we've done, that we are defined by our past, that we aren't capable to change the world. We are susceptible to believe these lies if we don't constantly remind ourselves that, in Christ, we are fearfully and wonderfully made! You're no glitch, you're a child of God!

Psalm 16:11

"You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand."

A year ago, I would've never pictured my life the way it is now. There's been times of worry, times of optimism, times of anxiety, and times of prosperity, but never once has there been a time when God wasn't at the center of it all. There's a quote by C.S. Lewis that says "We may ignore, but we can nowhere evade, the presence of God. The world is crowded with Him. He walks everywhere incognito. Never once does the bible say "figure it out for yourself!" Because we have a God who's omnipresent and who will never fail us. Psalm 16:11 reminds us how God will make the path of life know to us & fill us with joy in his presence. It's a crazy world out there, and with God, it will be the greatest adventure!

Ephesians 5:16-17

"Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do."

"Life's not a spectator sport. If watchin' is all you're going to do, then you're gonna watch your life go by without ya." -Laverne

As I'm starting a new chapter in my life, I've been reflecting on my past 4 years in High School recently. I love the school I attended and adore & cherish the friendships I've made, but my main regret is not taking advantage of opportunities I was presented with. In Ephesians 5 it says "make the most of every opportunity" while still at the same time, seeking God constantly for His wisdom and guidance. My encouragement to you: make the most of your life. Don't get to the end of whatever season your in and think to yourself "I wish I didn't watch my life go by without me..." God has so many crazy, beautiful moments planned out for us, and it's our job to see and understand that it's Him working in our favor. So don't just live-thrive!

James 4:13-16

"Look here, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit.” How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone. What you ought to say is, “If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.” Otherwise you are boasting about your own plans, and all such boasting is evil."

"We'll always be good company. You and me. Yes, together we'll be..." 

Life is hard. Life throws thing at us that we can barely handle. Life is beautiful chaos that seems to tear us down to the point of destruction. Sometimes, we can feel like the runt of the litter that no one wants, stuck in the rain...alone. But the thing is- our situations are conditional. Our circumstances were strategically orchestrated by a higher power who has much greater things in mind for our lives. When we say "God won't give me anything I can't handle.." I think we're simply fooling ourselves because that's the point of faith- to be in a position where your only option is to turn to God and watch how he moves in your life. The sooner we realize that, the faster our hearts will begin to heal, and our faith will grow strong. You always have someone who will always keep you company in tough times...

Philippians 4:19
And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.

"The irony is that while God doesn’t need us but still wants us, we desperately need God but don’t really want Him most of the time." -Francis Chan

Don't spend your time looking around for something you want, but can't be found. The simple bare necessities that's why a bear can rest at ease, with just the bare necessities of life.

We need God more than we can imagine. We need His love, His power, His grace every day. It's a necessity.

James 1:12 

"Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him."

 "...trials and tribulation, I've had my share. There ain't nothing gonna stop me now 'cause I'm almost there." 

Little encouragement for today- 
I know some of us have gone through some pretty significant trials in our lives and it's tough to carry on but just be reminded that James says "Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial." Life is hard. Life gets extremely tough. I just hope you're encouraged knowing that you have a God who cares about you VERY much and only wants the best for you. He will use your situation for His glory. Stay steadfast because you're almost there.

2 Thessalonians 3:5

"May the Lord direct your hearts into God's love and Christ's perseverance."

Often times when we think of "Wonderland" we think of the singing flowers, talking animals and the tea party... an escape from reality. All of this was attractive to Alice until she found herself alone and said "I never stopped to reason. I should have known there'd be a price to pay, some day." We don't see the forest for the trees, or in this case, the danger in Wonderland. By making such a thing seem "attractive", Alice fell into a trap that she was lucky was "just a dream." But that's not always the case for us as Christians. Satan, the tempter, will use anything to deceive us. And if we're not careful, we will give in to his trap instantly. Before making decisions, think to yourself- what price (positive or negative) will I pay, someday...for this?

​

1 Corinthians 2:9

"However, as it is written: "What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived" -- the things God has prepared for those who love him."

False expectations feed our sense of entitlement. When you begin to measure life based off of what you are or aren't getting, that's when your identity becomes clouded and questionable- leaving you feeling disappointed, empty, and unsatisfied. When you focus on those, you miss out on the BEST thing. God never promised daisies and roses. Our reality is that life is hard. Love is hard. We live in a fallen world. Our reality is also that we are loved and pursued by a loving, gracious Savior who loves it when we depend on Him for realistic guidance, clear direction and a dream with him. We can't even imagine what the Lord has prepared for our lives. Maybe it could a life feeding the homeless, becoming a missionary, or even marrying your "Prince Charming" based on extremely unrealistic but somehow practical circumstances. Who knows! All we know, is that we can let our false expectations fule what we strive for, rather prepare ourselves for God's divine and perfect plan.

Philippians 3:13-14

"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, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."

"You will be alright. There, there..."
-Baymax

Wanna know a very freeing thought? NO ONE HAS IT ALL TOGETHER! I heard a quote recently that said, "the reason we struggle with insecurity is because we compare our behind-the-scenes with everyone else's highlight reel." As we are at the beginning of our new year, no matter what happened last year, yesterday, or even a few hours ago, be encouraged that we can move forward and not let our past define who we are. God does not require perfection, rather holiness, godliness, and growth in living out lives that are fully surrendered to Him. He has the power to heal, restore our lives, and be the hero of the world! Just like Baymax's cared for Hiro, our Father wants nothing but the best for us, His children. He can use our flaws and failures for a greater purpose!

Romans 8:18

"I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory will be revealed in us.”

Just a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down..." -Mary Poppins

This advice is practically perfect. Every sour, bitter, or unappetizing situation can be sweetened with a little bit of change in perspective. Oh... And a literally spoonful of sugar could also do the trick!

James 1:17

"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows."

"Not all treasure is silver and gold, Mate." Captain Jack Sparrow 

Everything we have, everything we own, everything that is good and perfect comes from the Lord. It's important that we don't take any of these things for granted. For everything- the janky car you drive that has duck tape literally holding the dash together, money in the bank even if only a few bucks, that one pet that chews up everything in sight, a dysfunctional family, best friends, the ability to read, waking up today, having a home, laughter, sunshine, the moon and the stars, freedom of religion, etc! All of the things we treasure may not be "silver and gold", but they are given to us by our Savior, our God; show thankfulness not just today, but always!

Jeremiah 1:5

"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart..."

Don't let your insecurities, your struggles, your past get in the way of you doing incredible things for The Kingdom. The very things that you see as a weakness are going to be the very thing that God is going to use to inspire and encourage those around you. So please- don't be afraid to fly! Before you were knitted together in your mother's womb, before you were even born God knew who you were going to be and He has set you apart. "The very things that hold you down are going to life you up." -Timothy Mouse

Believe that you are special.
Believe that you are capable.
Believe that your story has power.
Believe that Jesus can change you and change others through you...
All for HIS glory.

Isaiah 55:8

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” declares the LORD.9“For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts."

In his boredom of the routine, Jack Skellington came across a new world in the form of Christmastown and was so inspired by the things he saw that he wanted to give the whole Christmas thing a try to change things up. Despite Santa Claus and all his helpers already being in place to handle Christmas, Jack wanted himself and the rest of Halloweentown to jump in and give Santa a "break". But let's face it, the Christmas spirit wasn't the same coming from a skeleton and other fearsome creatures. Even his best efforts and intentions almost ruined the holiday for the rest of the world because it simply wasn't his place to run the holiday that wasn't his. 
It's easy for us to try and do things our own way, disregarding God's will and what's been set in place. He's established our lives to be what they are for a reason. He tells us in Isaiah 55:8-9 that his ways and thoughts are higher, and even when we try to make our own paths or shortcuts his will always prevails because his will is good and perfect. In the aftermath of Jack's attempts to make Christmas his own, Santa returned and was made able to restore everything to the way it was meant to be; how much more is God willing to show grace to us by picking up the pieces and restoring balance to our lives when we fall? Trust that God's in control, because the way he's set things to be is for our benefit even when we don't see it.

1 Timothy 5:8

"Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever."

I was asked how I choose what posts I do for Disney Gospel. In response, I explained how it's a combination between suggestions from the DG Ohana, and simply things God places on my heart... This one is purely a "God thing." If I'm being real, I can say that I've struggled a bit at home which has cause me to make unwise decisions. I can honestly say, though, that some of the struggles in my family come from me which has resulted in heartache and broken relationships.

We've all had these moments, when things just don't "click" at home and our human nature is to flip out which just makes things worse. Been there. Done that. 
The bible tells us to honor our father and mother and take care for our families. Point blank. It hard to not let feelings and emotions get in the way of our respect for our authorities.

From personal experience, prayer and allowing God to soften my hardened heart has allowed me to start rebuilding some relationships. 
Talking it out helps too, whether that's a person, writing it out (personally I've found writing out feelings and thoughts has helped tremendously.) I believe that with the right intentions, the right heart, and the right mindset, reconciliation is possible. I know God has my situations in His hands, and because of that, I choose to let him run the show because His plan is incredible!

Matthew 6:25-36

“For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? “Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? “And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life? “And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. “But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith! “Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ “For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. “So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."

"You see our tree? Everything that is in that giant tree is contained inside this tiny seed. All it needs is some time, a little sunshine and rain, and voilá! ...Now, it may seem that you can't do anything, but that's just because you're not a tree yet. You just have to give yourself more time. You're still a seed." 

You are God's seed. You may not seem like you can do much now but believe me, He has a plan for you. 
Why?

Because you have worth.

1 Peter 2:9

"But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light."

Her whole life, Rapunzel did not know who she really was, and by that, I mean a princess. As a baby, she was kidnapped by evil and her true identity as royalty and real belonging was disguised. -

Has this happened to you? You've been overcome by the things of this world that you've forgotten who you really belong to? Has darkness striped you away and covered up your true identity? Accepting this has been a struggle for me. Finding my identity in Christ rather than someone or something has really taken a toll on my life. The phrase "royal priesthood" is a weird concept to wrap my mind around. My Father, the Savior, the King of the world...and that make me...royalty. 
I'll speak from personal experience and say gripping tight to being "God's chosen people" is NOT easy for me. I've made some pretty significant mistaken in my life which have left me depressed and broken. I worry that nobody-special-me who's supposed to be this great, spiritual role model is only going to let people down if they know my dirt. I'm scared that the people I love and care for the most will hate and disown me if they only knew the sins I struggle with. How can someone so messed up and so troubled be "chosen" let alone "royalty"? Looking back, all of those thought only came from the enemy. Despite how I feel, God is the only who has labeled my as His own. Letting go of the guilt, the worry, and the fear of the unknown has slowly begun the process of healing my heart and finding Joy in the Lord.

I want to challenge you this week to find your identity in the one who loves you more than anyone else in the world- Jesus. The enemy will disguise your life in subtle ways to make sure you never believe what worth you really have in The Lord's eyes. "You is kind, you is smart, and you is important." You are a very, very special human being. So much so that you are called a prince or princess. That's a titles to wear proudly- "Child on The King". -

You are deeply loved...remember that.

Psalms 89:37

"...it will be established forever like the moon, the faithful witness in the sky."

Fun fact about me... I have a "thing" for the moon. I don't know what it is, I just find it extremely fascinating. 
La Luna is a Pixar Short that appears before Brave about a boy named Bambino, his father, and his grandfather who modify the moon's glow into a beautiful crescent moon.
-

The moon's purpose is for signs, seasons and days. It also affect ocean tides and water temperature. But for me- the moon's purpose is a bit different. Whenever I look up at the moon, I think of how many other people have looked up at the moon throughout the years and even at the same moment I am. We are all on different paths of life- in different cities, states, countries, and continents, yet, when I look up at the sky, I see the most visually stunning entity that is 238,900 miles away from me that was hand crafted by the creator of the universe. "His kingdom...will be as eternal as the moon..."
-

The moon to me is a symbol of God's sovereignty over my life- how when I look up, I see this celestial object that brings light in the darkness. It's a reminder that Jesus is my light when everything around me is dark and chaotic. It may seem a bit weird, but the moon bring me peace, because I know whose Glory it represents.

Sometimes you need to take a step back to see things clearly. Someday everything will make perfect sense so for now: laugh at the confusion, smile through the tears, and remind yourself daily that everything happens for a reason.

Philippians 4:8
"And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise."

"I was so sad I forgot to be happy." -Eeyore

It is very easy to get caught up in the things that break us down- someone hurt us, we hurt someone, there's just a unfortunate situation- it's important that we remember one thing: in the midst of our brokenness, God is our comfort. I know I'm not the only one who feels beaten down and under attack by this world, right? I've found personally, my greatest weakness are my thoughts- "why didn't I see it coming, why didn't I fix things when I had the chance, will it hurt this bad forever, if only I could....." The list goes on and on. Sometimes I'm so consumed by my circumstances, I forget about what I still have to live for. The only way I snap out of those toxic thoughts is not allow myself to entertain them, but rather redirect them to everything I was protected from and everything I've still got. There's another quote that he said "it's okay, I guess I'll learn to live without it" which I don't think is necessarily true. Rather than 'learning to live without' something or dealing with consequences from any actions, we should learn to live with the power of God dwelling in us daily. We need a constant reminder of how much we need Jesus, heck, I need a hourly reminder. If you feel like your rain cloud is beating you down, just know that blessing come through storms. Sometimes it takes pain and sleepless nights to know that God is near. -

I'm constantly praying for this page and the people following it. If there's anyway I can be praying for you specifically, DM me, comment, whatever... I would be more than honored to be praying for you by name. 

Hebrews 11:7-11

"By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that is in keeping with faith. By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. And by faith even Sarah, who was past childbearing age, was enabled to bear children because sheb considered him faithful who had made the promise."

Do you have a power song? One that even just when the first chord is played you can feel it in your soul? One that is extremely impactful to you? My current one is by Bethel Music called "You Make Me Brave." The reason this song is so significant to me right now is because of the lyrics- 
You make me brave
No fear can hinder now 
The promises You've made.

God promises us that He'll take care of us. We have no power on our own. I know personally, it's terrifying being in a situation where I'm pretty much screwed if God doesn't come through. In Merida's words "Our fate lies within us. You only have to be brave to see it." In this case, our fate is the power of the Holy Spirit nudging at our hearts to let him in. And it's a crazy/scary thing to find it within us to believe in something we can't see but believe me, when you keep your heart open, He will come in and radically change your life. Jesus is always with us, but sometimes life gets in the way and we neglect the one who gave it to us. Will you be brave? Will you have faith? He is the only who can "change your fate." The question is... Will you let him?

Romans 8:28

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.

 "Everything in the forest has it's season. Where one thing falls, another grows. Maybe not what was there before, but something new and wonderful." 

I've been in need of encouragement and comfort lately. Rather than trusting God's plan, I worry about my situations, anxious about the outcome. Romans 8:28 is my life verse- "it all works out for the good of those who love Him..." I know Jesus has a plan for my life, I'm confident He has one for you too. He wants the best for us, and sometimes that means changing the seasons of our lives. It may never been the same, but He's got something SO incredible better in mind for us, something new and wonderful. In the words of Bambi's mom "it may seem long, but it won't last forever." Let's turn this season into a season of love, falling in love with Jesus more and more everyday, putting all that we have into our relationship with Him with open hearts to allow God to guide our paths. Take a deep breath and say to yourself "I can't change my season, but if God brought me to it, He can bring me through it." 

1 John 4:16-19

"We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. By this, love is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment; because as He is, so also are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love. 19We love, because He first loved us. If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God should love his brother also."

Have you ever noticed how EVE changes as a character as she becomes more acquainted with Wall-E? She started out as a cold, hostile robot who's world controlled her. As Wall-E show her love and compassion through simple gestures, EVE started to rediscover what love is and how it can be affective.  Now I know this isn't the "main" theme in the movie, but it got me thinking about my personal life which lead back to this verse. "We love because he first loved us." Many times, when I read this, I catch myself feeling heavy-hearted and guilty. For me, I (much like EVE) have a tendency to be stubborn and reluctant. When I mess up, my automatic response is to feel bad about hurting the people I love, then to accept the fact that I don't deserve them to love me anymore. And the funny thing is... It rarely turns out that way. When I assume that my sinful nature can/will overrule love I'm heavy mistaken.

I'm always shocked when the people around me continue to love me even after a significant mistake. "We love because he first loved us." The people in our lives who are Spirit-filled and Christ-like show us unconditional love even when we feel like we don't deserve it, just like Jesus would. 
The love shown to me slowly starts to soften my heart, just how Wall-E affected EVE.

To the ones who still love me, even just an ounce, thank you for hanging in there and believing in me when you easily couldn't have. I love you a ton. 
To the ones who don't feel like they deserve to be loved, everyone makes mistakes. And what matters is that you learn from them and strive to be better and move on.

But most importantly- "we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love." Making things right with our Heavenly Father and embracing the love He has for us is what ultimately matters in the end! Let God lead you where your trust is without boarders, don't allow this world to take ahold of your heart. Trust Him, because He loves you, and he knows what's best for you.

Ephesians 6:12

"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."

The power of perception. Eric didn't know any better. Ariel did nothing wrong. Ursula knew exactly what she was doing. 
This often times happens to us as humans, especially us as Christians. When we look superficially, then we tend to respond by flesh and we neglect to see who the real enemy actually is. In Ephesians, we see that the real struggle is not with people. There's no doubt that they play a part. Paul is saying that there are many spiritual forces that are influencing people around us. Satan's plan is easily noticed by all the accusations, suspicion, hatred, and bitterness that arise and he uses the people around as his army of manipulated agents. When we live by sight, we fight these people and unknowingly get caught up in the enemy's alliance. God wants us to engage in prayer for their release. These three solutions will help us better handle when the power of perception is against us-
1) Power Restored: reunite with Christ.
2) Protection Reapplied: put on the spiritual armor through prayer.
3) Perception Rectified: Fight the real enemy, not the people. 

God has revealed this truth- our real people stems not from those around us, but the evil one working through them. It could be as small as subtle doubt put in their minds, or as big as outward displays of dislike or concern. By following God's ways, the enemy is disarmed and his attacks are foiled. Hang in there. It can and probably will be hard to fight back when the pressure can be to deep. But the best thing to do is rest in The Lord. He knows your heart. He wants to help our poor unfortunate souls that are in and and in need. And He loves you...SO much.

Matthew 17:20

"He replied, "Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."

"Put your faith in what you most believe in."

As Christians, it is safe to say that we believe in God, that he sent his one and only son to save the world from sin, that he is our Lord and Savior. Often times we stop there. I can speak from personal experience that I can tend to neglect the "putting my faith in the one who died on a cross for me and is offering me enteral life" part. He's literally saying faith the size of a mustard seed can move mountains. There's no need for worrying, anxiety, or emotional constipation (shoutout to Tantor) when we put our faith is Jesus Christ. Through him, everything is going to be okay.

1 Samuel 16:7

"But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."

"If you walk the footsteps of a stranger, you'll learn things you never knew." 

Perception is a mental impression we make on something or someone, a way of interpretation. Often times we make these judgements on others we don't know fully based on what we see and hear and develop a negative perception.

A core reason for one's actions is because of the experiences they've been through whether thats how they were raised, choices they've made, things that have been done to them, etc... My encouragement to you today is to take a step back and truly look at your friends, your family, the people you don't know all to well and the people you know very well and take a step in their shoes. We have no idea what challenges God has asked some of us to go through. If Jesus Christ accepts our brokenness and bad choices we need to try and do the same for our fellow brothers and sisters in Him- because we would want the same from them. We need to come along one another and support each others past, current status, and future, reassuring them that you've got their back whatever the circumstances. Imagine how that would make someone feel if you genuinely cared about them? Imagine how one person's encouragement could help someone take their next step closer to Jesus. Be that one person. Be a representation of The Lord in someone else's life. Look beyond their shame, their hurt, their dirt, their outer appearance to see them the way He sees them...as important. 

Walk the footsteps of a stranger, acquaintances, your parents, your best friends...you'll learn things you never knew.

Proverbs 3:5-6

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding."

Do you ever feel like God is saying this to you? I don't know about you, but for me, the thought alone of the maker of the universe holding my life in his hands overwhelms me with peace. 
Our Heavenly Father is reaching out his hand- "Do you trust me?" Let's hold on to Jesus and let him carry us through this crazy, beautiful life, because his plan may not be crystal clear to us, but he can sure show us a whole new world when we're right by his side.

James 1:12

"Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him."

"The flower that blooms in adversity is the most rare and beautiful of all." We as Christians are told that this life is not going to be easy. We are informed that we will go through trials, hardship, and persecution. It can be difficult to snap ourselves out of the darkness that the enemy loves to hold us under. But here's the thing- we don't have to do it alone. I know it sound cliché or like a broken record, but that's what we need to be told over and over to solidify that concept in our heads. We have no reason to worry. Once we have a grasp on the hope we have to endure difficult situations, we need to constantly remind ourselves that the holder of the universe...is holding us in His arms. When we bloom in adversity and allow the Father to be our soil, His hope to be the water, and His love to be the light that guides our way, we will become the most rare and beautiful of all.

Isaiah 41:10

"So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

Do you live in a world that's powered by fear?

When the storm is rough and the tides are high, when the current pulls you under and you get scared, when the "monsters" in our lives seem more than real- what's your first reaction? I know mine can often times be fearfulness, when I know my response should be turning to Him. It's amazing how many verses there are about what to do when we're scared. It's comforting what it says: Focus on the echoes of mercy; if what's ahead scares you and what's behind hurts you, just look up, His love never fails. When the world is enticing you with fear, keep fighting. The definition of "incorporated" is "combined in one body". We need to be combined and become one with the body of Christ. When we embrace the presence of Jesus Christ, when we know that if our God is for us, nothing can break us down because He is our anchor. We have nothing to fear because our God is bigger than our circumstances. We wouldn't have nothin' if we didn't have you, Lord...

Matthew 5:1-5

"Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them. He said: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth."

In One Hundred and One Dalmatians, Roger and Anita, along with Pongo and Perdita, are blessed with happiness that isn't out of vain or prosperity, but by the humble enjoyment in their relationship with one another along with their precious pups.

The joy of uncovering life's highest gift may not mirror the passion of our society, but true happiness is a gift. Jesus seeks to change the point of view of our society with these verse: "Blessed are the poor in spirit"
Happiness that is imperishable does not come from our belongings, but from our belonging. We belong to a higher source of life than ourselves alone- a blessing of higher dimensions. "Blessed are those who mourn"
There's no denying that this life will come with trouble, pain, and mourning. We serve a God of love, of care, of compassion. God will never abandon a broken heart. He seeks to make his presence known. His presence is the gift of comfort and hope. "Blessed are the meek"
Meekness is not weakness. This doesn't mean we become push-overs, but brutality and aggressiveness will not help us win others over for His kingdom. We should be gentle with our words, striving to be representations of Christ.

I'm not saying that it will always be easy remain faithful when Cruella de Vil gets in our way. I know it's hard, I know it hurts. My best advice would be to hold on. Hold on to the promise. We as Christians, as we come to know and love Jesus, we get to discover a promise of joy that redefines the world's idea of happiness. We get to learn what it truly means to be blessed.

Those blessing are beyond counting- one hundred and one and more! The grace of God is inexhaustible and eternal...and that's something to be truly happy about!

*Inspired by my recent trip to Africa where I spent about 3 weeks in 3 different countries.*

One thing that stuck out to me while in Africa, was how much the Christian community told me they were "so blessed". At first, I was having a hard time wrapping my head around it, given the terrible living conditions and extreme poverty. But after a few days, I started realizing...they didn't feel blessed because of material thing, but because they have a spirit of contentment along with a grasp and understanding of what true happiness is.

Hebrews 10:25

"And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds,25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching."

"Now Woody...he's been my pal for as long as I can remember. He's brave, like a cowboy should be, and kind and smart. But the thing that makes Woody special is he'll never give up on you, ever. He'll be there for you no matter what."

It's safe to say we're all familiar with the friendship between Andy and his favorite toy, Woody. They were inseparable during Andy's childhood years, going on every single adventure together and sharing countless moments and memories; but we're also familiar with the fact that as Andy got older, his interests changed, as did the level of significance Woody had in Andy's life. Woody was packed away with the other toys, left to collect dust. Thing is, as discouraging as it was for Woody to see Andy grow up and not be as interested in playing with him, it didn't stop Woody from loving Andy all the same and being there for him; he waited in the hopes that one day he would get picked up and played with just like old times.

As much as we don't want to admit it, we can treat God the same way, shelving him in favor of other things that might seemingly better occupy our time. We can get so caught up in our daily routines and easily forget to spend time with our Father. However just like Woody, God remains in our midst, desiring for us to include him, to keep him close to our hearts. Because of his unconditional love, he won't force us to do that, because he's given us the power of choice; he patiently waits for us to choose him, and whether or not we do, he sticks around and continues to love us. Don't treat him like a childhood toy and neglect him; instead keep him close and bring him along for the adventures so you can share countless moments and memories together. He's the kind of God, the kind of friend that will help you fight your battles, show you the greatest kindness, give you wisdom and direction, and never give up on you. He'll be there for you, no matter what.

Acts 5:12-16

"The apostles performed many signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers used to meet together in Solomon’s Colonnade. No one else dared join them, even though they were highly regarded by the people. Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number. As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by. Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by impure spirits, and all of them were healed."

In the movie “Peter Pan” we see the affect Peter’s shadow has on John, Michael, and Wendy when it is let loose in the nursery. In the same was, Peter (from the Bible) affected not only the people he came in contact with, but also on the Christian church. Just like throwing a rock into water, everything we do in this life, knowingly or not, causes a ripple effect, whether that’s good or bad. As long as we are in the light, we will cast a shadow. That shadow has the power to influence those around us: lifting them up, tearing them down, shaping them, inspiring them, etc… Likewise, we too are affected by the shadows of those around us- what they say, what they do- the invisible pull of their lives on ours. They can cast an impression. 
So here’s the question: What does your shadow look like? Does it influence others in a positive way? Building up one another in Christ, encouraging each other, etc… are you being influential in a fruitful manner? Also, whose shadow is affecting you? Is it in your best interest that you are being affected, influenced, and inspired?

May the “shadows” in your life ultimately be an influence for good and for the glory of God so that you may be able to stand in the light of His love: the LIGHT never fails, the LOVE that never ends!

Ephesians 6:11-17

"Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.  For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.  Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.  Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place,  and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.  In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.  Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God."

In Sleeping Beauty, Prince Philip has to prevail the forces of the enemy to rescue Princess Aroura. The three good fairies give him a “shield of faith” to fight off death and a “sword of truth” to help him overcome darkness. God has his full armor laid out for us, and He's just waiting for us to put it on. He wants to be able to help, but because we are human, we think we can handle it ourselves. Our armor may get dented, scratched, and dirty through battle, but our armor is protecting us from an outcome that could of been a lot worse. What are you waiting for? God is literally saying "I'm here. Let me protect you." It's time for us to embrace Him. He wants to be our safe place. He wants to be our protector. He wants to be our hero. He wants to be our Savior...

P.S. Three good fairies? Coincidence? Trinity? The world may never know...

Psalm 90:12

"Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom."

 
In Beauty and the Beast we see the element of time pertaining to the curse which is on the Beast. He had until the “the last petal falls” to find true love, which would break the curse, or he would be doomed forever. Belle did not know when the last petal was going to fall- neither did the Beast. 
Just like they didn’t know the exact time, neither do we. We don’t know the exact time we will die, the exact time Jesus will return, all we know is that we have a certain amount of time on this earth. A certain amount of time to find true love in Christ…before it is too late. God alone knows the timing. It's time to start taking this whole "Jesus thing" seriously. We MUST urgently share the gospel, the true love, with others. We’ve got to pray they will see it and accept it before its too late.

Hebrews 4:12-13

"For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account."

Pinocchio is a puppet made by Geppetto who is turned into a real boy by The Blue Fairy. By becoming a human, Pinocchio is immediately tempted by what this world has to after. Jiminy Cricket, his conscience, intervenes to try and warn him, but he's too excited that "there are no string on me." Just because Pinocchio doesn't have physical strings attached to him, he still has strings that are attached to all the decisions he makes. He gets a scary lesson when Stromboli locks him up because Pinocchio gave into temptation. We can't escape our decisions. Eventually we must face the consequences, good or bad, of the actions we make. Pinocchio's response to his action is to lie his way out of it, causing his nose to grow every time he does. "A lie growing and growing until it's as sin as the nose on your face." We as humans think we can hide from our sin, bury our dirt, and run from our past. Then we find ourself locked in a birdcage waiting for our saving grace. A little wooden puppet saw the effects of being a human. We...have no choice. Nothing is hidden from God because he is omniscient. We might as well embrace our humanness with selflessness, realizing and accepting that we are sinners and strive to encounter Jesus Christ, because lying our way out of our sin is never going to take us to eternity. Jesus shouldn't be our back up plan when things get bad, he should be the person we run too before, after, and during the storm. He will unlock our cage...

Isaiah 43:18-20
“Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing;
now it springs forth, do you not perceive it. I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. The wild beasts will honor me, the jackals and the ostriches,
for I give water in the wilderness,
rivers in the desert, to give drink to my chosen people.

I know it's hard. I know that the things of your past can be something that you feel bound by, makes you feel guilt, makes you feel broken. "Yes the past may hurt, but the way I see it, you can either run from it, or learn from it." You past experience can either tear you apart or shape you to become the disciple and the light that God wants so badly for you to be. Don't let your past get you down, depress you, make you feel less of yourself. Stay optimistic and be confident that you can overcome what's overcoming you. God will never love you any less. You are cherished and adored by the almighty creator of the world. Find your strength in The Lord, because running towards him is what going to be your rock.

Genesis 3:1-7

" Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden,  but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’" “You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman.  “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves."

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is the first full-length animated feature in history based on an old fairy tale by the Grimm Brothers. Such a well known movie is famous for its key elements- and evil queen, a princess, and a poisonous apple. As an intro to the movie, we see The Queen asking her mirror every day "who's the fairest of them all?" Until the day that the mirror answers "Snow White", The Queen shows the true evil she obtains within. Fast forward, her evil plan is to kill Snow to hold the title of fairest in the land. After the huntsman fails to do his job (because he "accidentally feel in love with the princess) she takes mattes inter her own hand, disguising herself as an old women, and brings Snow White a poisonous apple. To get her to eat it, she promises that "with just one bite, all your dream will come true." So what does she do? She eats it. Just one bite, and Snow became a victim to the evil curse. 
Just like Snow was tricked into eating an apple, in Genesis, we read about the serpent tricking Eve into eating a fruit from the tree God had told her not to eat from. Just a bite "...and you will be like God." Sounds great, right? Seem alluring? Poison doesn't look deadly, in fact it's the exact opposite! It looks attractive. Though the promise may be wonderful, the deliverer is dreadful. As beautiful as poison may appear- drugs, drinking, parting, a romantic obsession, a ungodly passion- the reality is that if God isn't at the center, it will be deadly. It's so easy to be seduced by deception. We need to put aside the logic of everything so we can know the truth to peruse the promise. The rejection of God in our lives is lethal. What if Snow White didn't define herself by the world? What if WE didn't define ourself by the world? We have to keep in mind that we are in the hands of a divine creator who has the power to make all dreams come true. God is capable of creating a world, God is capable to move mountains, God is capable of radically transforming our lives if we let him!

Isaiah 55:8-11

 “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts. “The rain and snow come down from the heavens and stay on the ground to water the earth.They cause the grain to grow, producing seed for the farmer and bread for the hungry. It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit.It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it."

In the movie Finding Nemo, Marlin, the father of Nemo, sets out on a bit of an unusual adventure accompanied by a fish named Dory to find Nemo who was separated from him by scuba divers. Battling sharks and jellyfish, Marlin and a Dory encounter a whale and end up being eaten by it. In the picture, we see the moment as the whale is going to swallow the two. Holding on to the tongue, they have a choice: to hold on, or to let go. Dory says to Marlin "you have to let go, everything's going to be alright." Marlin responding "How do you know? How do you know something bad isn't going to happen?!" Do you ever feel like this? Scared of the future, of " the next big move", of the outcome of your decisions? Personally, I find myself holding on tightly to the thing I feel I have control over. But in reality, I know God will have his way regardless. I like these verse because I shows that God is bigger, greater, and higher. When we " let go, and let God" he will use us in bays we could have never imagined. He will make a way for us to prosper and be victorious for his glory....