I have loved Jon Foreman's solo albums for many years now but I just found this gem yesterday. After listening to it and reading the lyrics, I noticed how much it resembles a poem. If you are familiar with the song, try to to sing along, but instead read it through. Speak the words out loud like an actual prayer. Instead of telling you what these words do to my heart, take the opportunity to create your own personal revelation out of it.
Your Love is Strong by Jon Foreman
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Last semester in my Psychology class I learned that teenagers have a tendency of believing everyone around them is watching what their doing. And the funny thing is that there is a name for this mentality. In learning more about this, I realized I related so much. When I was a freshman and sophomore in high school, I was not comfortable in my own skin and who I was. I had a hard time making friends at school, and I usually felt like an outcast. I had this distorted idea that people at school didn't care about me, didn't want to give me the time of day, and that I was some sort of burden to be around. Most days after school, I had to walk a small distance from the school to a park where I was going to be picked up. I always dreaded that walk because I felt as though so many people passing by in their cars would be looking at me and seeing me, and I was not comfortable in what I looked like. I was not comfortable and happy with my body image. So after a while I asked a friend for a ride down the street to the park just so I wouldn't have to go through feeling like that. When I look back now, I realize how wrong those thoughts were. For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. - Psalms 139:13-14 Today, I am comfortable and content in my body and who I am. I love who I am. If I find it necessary to drop a few pounds, then I have the power and determination and strength to do so. But my body is unique and different than anyone else's, and I love it. I have friends and people in my life who remind me of this truth. I am not an accident or a mistake or flawed. I've learned that once I wholeheartedly invest this truth into my life, it doesn't only change the way I think but it also changes how I act. It means i'm okay not wearing make up every day because I feel the need to impress someone. I'm okay with acting really silly and quirky sometimes just because I can. I'm okay wearing or doing things also just because I can. I'm okay not caring what someone else thinks if I decide to eat a lot of something. And it means I try my best not to take into consideration the opinions of others when making a decision. It's so important to be as comfortable as you can with who you are. Are you not always comfortable and content with who you are? Just recently I finally found what I consider to be the perfect name for this blog and my little corner of the internet, Young and Lionhearted. It originated from a workshop at a women's conference I went to earlier this year. I absolutely love the message it sends in two words. That I am young and I have the heart like a lion. I am brave, strong, determined, and courageous.
In twenty-five days I am venturing out and traveling to Ouanaminthe, Haiti. This trip is guaranteed to fulfill a lot of "firsts" for me. My first time going out of the country. My first time going on a missions trip. ... going to a third-world country. ... visiting a completely different culture. ... being surrounded by people who (mostly) don't speak English. In the couple months leading up to Haiti, many have told me what to potentially expect on a spiritual or emotional level. Expectations such as, I'm going to experience and see things I've never seen before. Or my heart will begin to have a burden for the needs of Haiti after I come back home. Or I will begin to have a renewed faith instilled in me. These are just a few of the examples among others. The most common expectation friends have warned me of is that going to a country, such a Haiti, will change my perspective. While I completely agree with that, I want to leave the airport the night of August 14th, with a very open mind and heart and sense of perspective. I am sure and convinced that my heart will be stirred and my perspective and mindset will be shaken and potentially changed while in Haiti. The problem with expectations is that I have a tendency of being disappointed when they are not fulfilled. I start looking forward to something, or an idea, or an event. Then when it doesn't happen, I wonder why. I wonder why I didn't have this experience or that realization. I believe the better idea is to travel to Haiti hoping for certain things instead of expecting them. Expectations seem to hold high standards. I don't think it's about what God can do in my heart and mind before I go, but more so what He can do in me while I'm there and after I come back.
I'm deciding that my mission for the week in Haiti is about having a need introduced to me in such a country and living a life representing Jesus. |
This is a blog about the ups & downs of early
adulthood, God's goodness & faithfulness, & life in other countries. “Look at the nations and watch— and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told."
Habakkuk 1:5 NIV Archives
June 2017
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