When God Throws You a Curveball...

If you know me, you know I have to always have things figured out. I don't like the unknown. Never have. When I was little, I always needed to know where we were going, what our weekend would look like...by like Tuesday lol, and just needed everything planned. I hated the unsure. I couldn't stand impulsive and rash decisions. If it wasn't premeditated, I wanted no part in it. Yes, I was that kid.


Now here I am, 18 years of age, and graduating this Friday. As of last Friday, I had it all figured out. My plan was to go to Clayton State University (I was even accepted!) for around a year to major in Film. Then after a year, I wanted to transfer to The Art Institute of Atlanta to one day become a Film Editor. I even spent my last year of high school doing dual enrolled college classes. I had it planned. I had the ends and out all worked out. I had no stone unturned.

I did it all.

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But God had a different plan.

Doesn't He always? It's like this: Picture a toddler just learning to walk. The child sees their favorite toy and takes off after it. The parents sees all the dangerous objects in between the child and the toy. The parent then takes the child by the hand and redirects them. The child is torn and upset. All they wanted was their toy. That's all they could see from their angle. The parent wanted what was best for their child and could see the dangers.
God is the same way. He sees all the dangerous things that we just can't see. A lot of times He has to take our hand and redirect us. Most times we don't like it. It makes us uncomfortable. It's not planned or organized. A lot of times we don't understand God's way of thinking. All the same thoughts the child has. But we can look at it and see it was for the better. God is thinking the same thing.
"Child,  I got you. You are mine."

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God has been tugging my heart in a different direction the last few weeks. He showed me that what others think don't matter. That's hard for me. I have always had all these expectations put on me from different family members causing me to always put others opinions before my own. God was trying to show me it was okay. I was okay.
But of course I went along my own way and ignored Him. I kept my well planned out future and went about my life. And again God came to me. He said there's something you're trying to do that you shouldn't be. At that point I was confused but also a tad guilty. I knew what God was getting at. But I didn't want to let that go. I needed my plans. I need my calendar. I needed something in my life that is stable.
You see not only am I quickly graduating, but there are sooo many more changes in my life from the last year. I started college and finished my last year of high school. I have started and led a missions team to Nicaragua. We leave in 2 weeks. I started dating an amazing man. I became an active member of the church my dad helped open. I led clubs at my school. I was always going and doing. Knowing my next step helped me stay grounded. I had a stable plan. I didn't have to look far into my future because it was already all worked out for me.
Everything God has been nudging did not line up with my plans. It's not what I wanted. I LOVE film editing. I love creating movies. I love the editing, the filming, that joy it comes with creating something completely of my own. I love it. But God says "Child,  I got you. You are mine." 

So I am not going to college. Yep, you read that right. Me. The one who always has it all figured out. I am not going to college. I don't know if I ever will. I hope too, but not this season in my life.

God has a way that completely baffles me but I completely trust Him. Completely. So although He hasn't shown me my next step, I know where my trust lies. As shown in Romans..."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." I know that God has what's best for me in mind. 

How can I worry?


So here I am, 4 days before I graduate and I have no earthly idea what my plan is. I know I am trusting in Him. It would be easy to continue in my thought-thru plans but it's not what He has for me. I am asking that all of you that read this take a minute to pray for me. Pray that I continue to listen to His voice. It's not the easiest, but it's where I want to be. 


I am relieved. I am happy. I am home. 

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"Father, lead me, 'cause I can't do this alone."

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Look for my next post, "Earthly vs. Spiritual....is there a difference?", to see where my heart lies. It has to do with this post and you know, my heart and passions.

Thanks for reading,
Savannah

Know Your Worth...

Have you ever just sat back and wondered what Jesus was thinking, when He walked around our sin filled world? How disappointed He was with our actions?

I think about it a lot...today more than others...

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I feel outraged!! I get on social media and I see the new trend to change ourselves. Yes, I am talking about this crap- "Kylie Jenner Challenge".

REALLY?! 

It angers me that all these young people don't know their worth. They feel like they aren't enough and that they need to change.

I get outraged.

I get angry. 

I get disappointed.

...Who's to blame?

I know I am. I have lacked in telling someone their worth. 

Many days I am upset, sad, angry, and more. I deal with this by shutting down and keeping it to myself. People notice. What light am I shining on those days?

None. (Simple. No glory is brought to God, when we walk around sulking.)

I know plenty of times I have missed opportunities to tell someone their worth.

I missed out on telling them:

You're Beautiful...
You Matter...
You're Loved...
You Are Worth So Much More...

I missed these opportunities. So as I sit here seeing all these young people desperately trying the next thing to "fit in", I realize I am to blame. 

You are to blame.

Us as Christians are to blame.



It's time we take every chance we can to lift someone up. Even on your worst day, lifting up someone else can lift you up.

Take a minute and read over what God thinks about you...

• “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has gone, the new has come.” 2 Cor. 5:17
• “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.” Matthew 5:14
• “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.” 1 Peter 2:9
• “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10
• “Now if we are children, then we are heirs- heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ. If indeed we share in His sufferings in order that we may also share with His glory.” Romans 8:17
• "No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you." John 15:15
• "Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you?" 1 Cor. 3:16
• "She is worth far more than rubies." Proverbs 31:10

God tells us over and over again what we mean to Him. But sometimes we forget and we need that little reminder.

Here's your reminder!!! lol.


I challenge you right now to go and tell someone of their worth. Tell them what they mean to God and what they mean to you. 

Plant that seed and let's see this world start to change.....one thin lip at a time.

Just Keep Swimming...

Imagine you're drowning...What do you do?

Panic

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You scream.

You fling your arms out.

You kick your legs around.

You choke on water.

You lose it.

You give up.

You can't go on.

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And what does every single person tell you to do when drowning?
1. DON'T PANIC
2. Stop flailing around
3. Slowly swim or float around and wait for instructions.

You see, in times we don't feel in control we begin to panic. We don't see any future and we know it's over from there.


It's the same way with God. A lot of times we feel at our end.

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We scream in frustration.

We fling ourselves out.

We kick our legs out.

We choke.

We lose it.

We give up.

We just can't go on.

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We simply cannot go one more day, so we panic. We try to take control and run things our way. We begin to drown. We are choking and being sucked into the depths of everyday life. Did you know the whole time God is saying:

1. Don't Panic
2. Stop flailing around
3. Wait for instruction

God's got you. God's got you. God's got you.
You get that? HE. HAS. YOU. He won't let you drown.
It's time you quit taking things into your own hands. God already has a plan for you and you're just making it worse.


The problem with our generation is we want things our way and we want them now! We try to go ahead and take care of things even though we know God has perfect timing.

This post is just a reminder today.
Quit choking.
Quit screaming.
Quit moving.
And just keep swimming.


So, in the wise words of Nemo's Dory

| Jesus' Miracles |

I went searching to learn more of His miracles and I came across the book of Mark chapter 1. Wow. Back to back to back Jesus performed miracle after miracle.

He demanded a demon to release himself from a man, He healed Simon Peter's mother from an illness, He stood at the door of Peter's house and healed many people as the village caught word of Jesus. He healed a man from leprosy because "[He] was willing".

After reading of many, many more miracles performed I remembered this scripture:

“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father." (John 14:12)

Do you understand this?! ALL these miracles being performed by Jesus Himself WE HAVE THE POWER TO DO ALSO!!! Whoa. That's mind blowing. I believe in Jesus, therefore I have the power IN HIM to heal you. I have the power IN HIM to release the demon holding you back. I have the power and so do you, Child of Christ. Why don't you start acting like it?


I pray for each of you today to accept what you have the power to do IN HIM and begin performing miracles to HIS GLORY!!

AMEN!

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God has been saying the same word over and over my entire life. 

| W . A . I . T |

Seriously. My entire life. No joke.

Wait to go on a mission trip...

Wait to date...

Wait to get money...

Wait to get answered prayers...
Wait...
Wait...
Wait...

 

I waited. A lot. And if you know me, you know that  I am not a patient person. 

But I have learned a lot in the time I have waited. 

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Missions

I was called to missions when I was entering freshmen year. I was scared and didn't know what to do. There wasn't an opportunity yet, but I knew what God wanted. After I waited two years, I went on a trip that changed my life. Now two years later I am heading up a team to go to Nicaragua. I know it's my calling. God made me wait but during that time He was preparing me. I spent that time getting closer to God. I prayed. I went on local missions. God was building me up. Reminds me of David who was a shepherd. His job was to spend days with the sheep fighting off wolves and other animals wanting to attack them. All he had was a staff. Do you not think God was preparing him? Who but God knew that he would have to one day stand against Goliath? No one. God knew and He knew what was needed. I am pretty sure David sat around asking God why. Asking God to give him something better. Just imagine all the physical labor David endured just to one day stand before the biggest guy around and take him out with a single stone! God prepares us even when we don't know it. Even when He tells us to wait.

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Dating

I waited to date. 18 years, people. If I can wait, trust me- you can too.

"Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it." (-Proverbs 4:23) 

He calls us to protect ourselves. God called me to stand out. My life verse, Romans 12:2, is a constant reminder to not be of the world. Waiting to date was something that God laid on my heart. I knew I didn't want to mess up any future relationship by dating around while I was young. It is hard. I know. I am not perfect nor am I emotionless. I feel things but I had God in mind. Strict parents were a bonus too. Haha. I knew that if I obeyed God, He would prepare someone for me. Someone that He handpicked and knew would be perfect. Now am I saying I am ready to be married and settle down? No, not necessarily. I am saying that waiting isn't as bad as you think. After all that waiting, what you get is so much better. You don't get heartbreaks and tears. You get joy and happiness. God prepares us during our time of wait. Imagine your future spouse right now. What if they are dating person after person? Doesn't settle well with you does it? Don't do that to them either. God wants you to wait. He wants you to find love in Him before you try to find love in some man or woman. Waiting isn't as bad as you think. ;)

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Money

God likes to play with me in a sense. He knows that I am impatient so He tests me. You can read in my last post how I was doubting getting money for my trip and He came through just when it was needed. It's all in His timing. I've learned that with money, if you do what He demands of us, than He will bless us. God asks that we give back a tithe. A tithe is 10%. That's barely anything. God blesses you and then asks for a little back. As I learned more and more about tithing I started tithing. The blessings that poured from it was overwhelming. It's not like money is going to fall out of the sky. But my relationship with Christ became more personal. My needs were met. It's amazing what obeying God can do! haha. While I'm waiting, I have learned to put my trust 100% in God.

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Prayers

God knows all. Can we agree on that? Because He knows all, we can surrender our trust and belief over to Him. We are an asking generation. We have grown accustomed to "What's it hurt to ask?" Now while this can apply to a lot of things, God isn't one of them. How many times do you find your self begging and negotiating with God? You know what I am talking about. "God let me pass this test and I promise I will study an hour every night for the rest of my life!" or "God, please let this be a warning. You know I don't have the extra cash this week for a ticket. I promise I will put an extra $5 in the basket on Sunday!" Sound familiar? We have grown used to just asking asking asking and then being let down when we feel God isn't listening. Have you ever thought of this? God knows all. Therefore, He knows what is best for us. He knows what we need and when we need it. What if that cop pulling you over actually preventing you from a head on collision 5 minutes down the road? God has YOU in mind when it comes to deciding things for you. God's timing is a complicated thing most of us don't get. We want our prayers answered and we want them now! That's not how we are meant to live our lives. We are meant to trust God. Pray to Him. About everything. But we also need to be willing to sit back and say "God, you got this."

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Now while waiting is a scary word these days, sometimes you can find the most peace in a time of waiting. Next time you find your self waiting for something, stop and pray! God is already working on something beautiful for you!

God say whaaat?

God calls people to some amazing things. 

He calls people to preach to a crowd of hundreds.

He calls people to start ministries feeding the hungry in their community.
He calls people to lead the young people in small groups. 
He calls people to travel across the world for 7 days even though they've never spent the night off anywhere……huh? Oh wait, that’s me!

5 years ago God called me to be a Missionary. 

Now that title is pretty scary. Especially when you’re not saved, just started this church thing, about to start high school, and you have some pretty strict parents. The odds were against me in every way. So I decided to play hide and seek with God. Remind you of anyone? (Hint: Adam and Eve-Genesis 3:8).  Two years later God spoke to me and I was on a flight to Nicaragua 6 months later.  

I say it’s funny the way God works but really it’s just Him. It’s his ways. So now 2 years later, I am embarking on my second journey on a mission trip going to the same place as last time-Nicaragua. I am going with my church, one my dad started 6 months ago. Since it’s a new church there was no foreign missions team. I prayed about it and I knew God was calling me back. I started praying and things started lining up perfectly. God’s hands were all over it. I began to get together and lead a team of 20 people interested in attending.
As the months quickly passed, I began to worry and panic more and more. Each person needed over $1,600 and fundraisers just weren't cutting it!! I began to let my worry and doubt consume me. I began to think of the money and try to work out every detail to get the exact amount. I felt everything I tried was just squished down. My whole life began to become stressful and God got further and further. The last few weeks have been an eye opener for me. I have realized the hole I've dug myself into and I was ready for His hand to pull me up!
Positive thinking. That’s the key to everything. Even if you don’t feel positive, you must act it. You fake it till you make it, lol. I decided I will no longer go around stressing and doubting. God promises us: "But my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus". That's Philippians 4:19. Shall supply. Not maybe. Not if you stress enough. Not if you send out just one more message to the team. He shall. It’s that simple. While I am over in my own world breaking down, Jesus is in front of me waving his hands around pointing to himself. He’s saying “I am right here. Hello? Don’t you see me? I want to take this burden from you. Let me help you” and the whole time I am looking down when the whole time Jesus never left.

I read in a very beautifully written post the other day 

“The problem is you need to stop getting so close to the problem…does this make sense? Think of it like a canvas. If you stand too close to it all you will see is black. You see the darkness and it begins to overwhelm you because that's all there is. But when you take a step back and view the bigger picture on the canvas… you realize it was just the inner coloring of a flower being painted on the beautiful picture that is your life.
Now… I'm going to speak this next part into my heart and I want you to do the same.
Back away from the canvas and see that the problems are not problems and the pain is creating something beautiful that is needed to complete the entire picture.
Finally, keep going. Don't stop here because He has brought you too far and I bet if you look back you will notice that He has never left you.
Consider it joy when you face trials, and let them give you perseverance to keep going.
You've got this, and He's got you.” -Anissa Lotti in "When 'impossible' makes more sense"

She put it so perfect there was no other way to word that. It’s time for us, for me, to step back and see the whole picture.

Now GET THIS!

As the way my thinking began to change, I began to see God everywhere. Yes-He’s been there all along but I began to look up. Personally for my trip I had to have $96 by March 1st. I started stressing really bad. I had no clue how I would make that. I scheduled a group fundraiser for the day before the money was due. I knew I would only make a portion and I let my worry take over. Then I remembered Jesus waving. He’s got this. I prayed. And prayed. I prayed a lot. I prayed for my heart to trust God. I prayed my heart to be in the right place. I prayed questioning if this was even my calling still. Friday night, the night before the fundraiser, someone gave me $50 towards my trip. I was so overwhelmed. It was unexpected and God showed through! That meant I needed to raise $46 at fundraiser and that’s very possible. At the fundraiser we sold out very quickly, thank God cause it was cold. Haha. Once all the money was counted up and divided among the volunteers there, we each rasied….$46 and some change. FORTY-SIX DOLLARS! Do you get that? “But my God shall supply all your needs…” Oh he supplied all right. It’s all in God’s timing. When I saw that, I wanted to cry out! God is so merciful. Even after all my doubt and negativity He showed Himself!!

But it gets better…..

I discovered a member of our team who did not make it to the fundraiser due to building a ramp for a member of the church who recently had to get a wheelchair because of health issues. It was decided we were going to count him at the fundraiser and give him an even portion as everyone else. The way the math worked out, I personally would need $5 to meet my $96 goal. I could do that easily. I was still thanking God for his wondrous ways. Well as I am about to leave this member of the church's house, they gave my sister and I $10 to split between our trip....that's $5 for me. It's not because I didn't have it, but that God still wanted to show me He's got me. Something as simple as $5 made me want to cry. 

 

So as I go along the next 3 months before I leave for my trip, I am deciding to trust God. I know He will supply. 

Okay, God. I trust you.

Thanks for reading! 

~Savannah :)

| R E V I V A L |

There comes a time in your life where you look around and start to wonder what has been going on. You feel like you've just floated through the last few weeks, months, years. You start to wonder where the real you has gone. You begin to question God, your friends, and your existence.
Well I have been in that state the last few months, yet I wouldn't call it a negative state of mind I had. It was more that I was very okay with the way I was living. I was okay with the friends I had, the way I spent my free time, the less time I spent with God. I was okay with all that, so I am not describing this as a dark, depressed time. It was a time that was "just okay". God got further and further from my everyday life and I slowly felt Him slipping through my fingers. -Let's stop right here and address something. When distance is put between you and God, it is ALWAYS you pulling back. God is constant and reliable. He never leaves nor forsakes you. (Deut. 31:6)-So as I felt God slipping I just let my grip go. It began to get easier and easier to make my own decisions and lived my life for me. Funny, right? We all know that never goes as planned. God being God, He started placing people in my path that needed prayer and guidance. I started going to God on their behalf and started to form that connection again with Him.
After a conversation with a friend recently, their words played in my head over and over. "I never pray for myself-only for other people." I didn't know what to make of that, until I realized that's exactly what I had been doing.
 God calls you to shepherd His sheep. Imagine back when King David was a shepherd. He had to physically beat so many wolves, bears, and such to protect the sheep. Could you imagine the difficulty if his arm was in a sling? This is what we are doing to ourselves, when we neglect our Spiritual side. We are disabling ourselves to reach the full potential God is calling us to, when He sends these people our way.
God is calling YOU to a revival right now. He is wakening up our sleeping Spirits.

God I call your Holy Spirit right now. Move throughout Your world. God, open the hearts and minds of everyone that this message reaches. Help them to see You. God, I pray a Heavenly Fire RIGHT NOW to shaken this town up. No more "lukewarm" church goers and no more empty promises. I command right now in the name of Jesus that every chain is broken. Not one more person will be held in bondage tonight. No more bondage of loneliness, no more bondage of floating around lost, no more bondage that separates them from You. You are the Lord of Lords and the King of Kings, I pray tonight that you show each one of Your children tonight just how much they mean to You. I know you have felt every tear and every pain. God, comfort Your children tonight. God show us what it is that we must change in our lives. Show us how to get back to You tonight. Not one more day will go by that You aren't glorified. I thank You so much for this revival in my Spirit tonight. I thank You for using me as Your vessel. I love You so much. Amen.

It's been almost 11 months since my last post and I am quite ashamed of that. Tonight, God had a word for you so I must obey. I love this feeling of writing again. I love letting God use me to speak to His children.
I encourage each one of you tonight to search your heart. Where are you with your walk? Are you in the state of "it's okay" or is the Holy Spirit waking you up? My prayers are with you all tonight. I am excited to see what God is about to do. Pray with me as God begins to revive this nation. It is time.