Best Advice: Be The Best You

I've had a few emails and FB messages ,from people who know me and who have read my story(blog), asking me what is the best advice I could give them about going through a long distance relationship(deployment) or how I handle my parents' divorce
.As I've pondered  about it for quite sometime I still don't have any clear advice of my own to give, given that I don't really know how I handle it. Saying that meaning, " I just do it (kicking and screaming;))".(Not that my circumstances are oh so terrible.) I try my best to give my troubles to God, and what I have control over I ask for guidance. I may not make the best choices all the time, but I try my very best at whatever I do to let God lead my footsteps.

In reply to my messages here are some pieces of advice I have gotten from tons of wonderful people that God has blessed me with in my life. These are simple but good, maybe this will help you.

Be a leader
  Don't get discouraged when you see your parents, friends, boyfriend/girlfriend,doing things they are not supposed to. Be a leader and lead by a godly example. Be encouraging through actions. You keep being kind, caring, forgiving, loving, and morally good even when no one else is or even seems to notice. God notices and will bless you for that.

 Be your Best
  I wish I was good at gymnastics, but I have horrible knees and I just can't without breaking another ligament. I could thrive on this and get discouraged, but instead I focus on my strengths: I am musically inclined, I can dance, play basketball, I can run really far, I build muscle pretty fast, I have great hair, I'm a people person, I'm creative, and I've been told I am an awesome daughter and girlfriend;)! Instead of focusing on stuff I can't do I focus on my strengths and even improve them. Nothing wrong in trying new things but instead of trying a bunch of things and only being mediocre at them, why not improve your strengths first? God blessed you with unique gifts, appreciate them,use them.

Keep Busy
 One of the worst things to me is feeling lonely. The best thing you can do for you, your love, and your family is keep busy. If you don't you will having nothing to do all day but sit, think, and worry. You will drive yourself crazy as well as them. Do things you love. I like to go fishing, running, church events, girls nights(dinner and a movie), holiday events, local games, coaching basket ball, pick up games etc. 

Quit worrying
  This is the hardest one for me, but I'm getting better:). Don't waste your time worrying about all the bad things that might could happen. Prepare for the worst and hope for the best. If you are a child of God, He's got you in His hands. Rest assured in that. 

YOU
  There is only 1 you! God made you the way you are for a reason, so be you! You can only be the best you through Him so let Him guide you. He can use you if you let Him. And be happy for others who are doing the same. No need to compare yourself to others bc your are uncomparable. No one is like you.

Bottom line: Pray. Read His word. Love God.Love people. Live Gospel. Enjoy what God gave you.

Wedding Fun!

                         Congratulations To my aunt Joyce and Jeff Bradford!!!!

YOLO

"You Only Live Once"

This year my hometown of Blountsville, has lost 4 kids. Alyssa Huffstutler (19)

, Christian Stipes(17) & Wesley Wescott(20), & Wesley Estes (22). All attended J.B. pennington High School, where i graduated. Too many young lives are going without a warning. We may not understand why God lets these happen ,but we can make sure that the short time we are here isn't wasted.

"YOLO" A common "motto", if you will, in 2012-2013 for young teens and free spirits. YOLO standing for You Only Live Once,Originally coming from the hit song "the motto" by Drake.

The question is "do we really live once?"  This life is temporary(on earth). You move on to your eternity ,which is either Heaven or hell. I have so many people tell me ,"live everyday as your last", but in their minds that means something fantastic everyday like; bungee jump, skydiving, making a bucket list etc. 

Did you ever think that Living everyday as your last actually could be spent sitting still, enjoying What God gave you, being thankful, and living selflessly. 

 God gave us too precious of a gift, Life, a payed debt and freedom of our sin. Too precious to spend our time wasting it on ourselves. When Jesus said in 

James 4:14

English Standard Version (ESV)

14 yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.

He meant Living life abandonment through Him, not necessarily spending a bunch of money, buying anything you want, telling people off you have been bitter towards for years. quitting your job, taking awesome trips, and just thinking about yourself.

He wants us living everyday growing in Him, Having a personal relationship. When you really think about it, living everyday as your last is spending it with the one whom you will spend eternity with. This earthly life is not the only one, and it's short. 

Christ calls us to love others, live selflessly, and die to self. I would rather die knowing that I sacrificed my life for others, helping people, making a difference in someones life and living for the One who created me than be known for how awesome i was at sports, or how pageants or awards i won, and my talents that i didn't even achieve on my own in the first place. 

Skydiving, bungee jumping, rock climbing, nothing is wrong with any of those, but I think we focus so much on how much we can go out with a big bang than really slowing down and living day to day with nothing to lose.

Philippians 1:21

New International Version (NIV)

21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.

Do we really think like Philippians 1:21? So I encourage you,as I have been convicted myself  We could all go at anytime. I could even be taken up in mid sentence. Or the next hour... Would you be ok with that? Who's life did you impact for the Glory of God? 

Tell people you love them if you love them. If you don't ask God to help you see them the way He does. 
Give people compliments, they are wasted thoughts if not shared. Like that girls shirt? tell her , might make her day. 
God lay someone on your heart? Let them know.
 God has a reason and a purpose for everything and everyone. 
If you are still living and breathing on this earth God still has a purpose for you. I don't care who you are or what you've done, He still wants you here for a reason. Use it wisely, for Him.

Praying For the friends and families of all these precious missed ladies&gentlemen  For peace and strong heartedness  for trust.