the opposite of change.

Its sad that sometimes being home alone feels the same when there's 8 people here.
I wish things would change.

Jesus is still my hope.

xoxo.

lizzie.

I consider my life nothing.

Today has been a very hard day.
Its been tough, even from the moment I got out of bed.
It's just been "one of those days".

Normally I would be grouchy and upset and just want to curl up and go to sleep, but throughout this entire day I have felt an overwhelming calm.

There is so much wrong in this world. So much hurt. So much pain. So much sin.
It's easy to become overwhelmed with the struggles. The mountain's that keep growing and growing for years, the one's you think can't be concurred. But the pain will end, and the sorry will cease. Tears will be no more, and joy will be all there is.

I love the entire book of Acts, but chapter 20 verses 22-24 are so beautiful. "And now, compelled by the spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, in only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me-the task of testifying to the gospel of God's Grace."

I hope that changes your perspective..your life. I know it changed mine.

Jesus really really loves you.

xoxo Lizzie.

give it all away.

Here's my question.

Why do we give our hearts away so easily. Seems like there's a new obsession on every corner. Weither thats a guy or clothes or working out..it sure seems to be true. I don't know about you, but I want to be in love with Jesus.

No matter how Godly or Truthworthy the guy or girl in your life may seem, they are still people. And people let you down. True love is an acceptance of all that is, was, and will be or will not be.

Lets just give our hearts to Jesus. For real.


xoxo.


Lizzie.

relationship.

I was raised in a home where performance was everything.
Unconditional love may have existed, but I never saw it.
Failure was met with severe consequences. Dad was my authority; that was all there was to it.
I'm not one to blame my lack of faith on circumstances, but our umbringings definitely create challenges for us.
Some of you have wounds so deep that you wonder if you'll ever be able to trust.
Perhaps you've subconsciously taken the failures from sinful human relationships and imposed those shortcomings onto a perfect God.
Now uncertainty creeps into even your relationship with God.

It is the Holy Spirit who keeps us from this path and gives us confidence so we can enjoy intimacy with our Creator.
Though I do not belive God gives us His holy Spirit solely for our personal benefit, it is undeniable that one of the greatest aspects of being in a relationship with the Holy Spirit is the intimacy, security, and encouragement He brings us.
It is then we can serve God as a beloved child..rather than a stress-out, gult ridden slave.

-Francis Chan "Forgotten God"

My Strength.

Nehemiah 8:10 has taken on a new and deeper meaning for me lately.

The Joy of the Lord is my strength.

So much in few words.

When I have no joy..I have zilcho strength. It's so clear, so obvious. Jesus Christ died and spilled HIS blood for me and the WHOLE world. If you're reading this..dance, shout, sing, and PRAISE. Jesus loves you immeasurably...be joyful!

Sometimes its easier said then done. That cruddy guy named "the devil" comes and tries to steal our Joy. Guess what? God is bigger. and stronger.

When I don't have joy, I feel so weak. But..don't believe the devil's lie! Even in that saddest of times there is ALWAYS hope. always. If you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord you always always always have hope. NO matter what happens, so matter what DOESN'T happen..there is ALWAYS hope. If you have NOT accepted Jesus Christ and asked Him to take the reins of your life..what are you waiting for?! A life of Joy awaits you..

Pray for the Joy of our LORD. You will be strengthend.

xoxo.

Lizzie.

healing begins.

Focus on the little things in life, the big things will just let you down.

Its so true.

A smile, a laugh, or that quick note can mean the world to someone. Passion is contagious, so let your light shine. In my life, I let so many people let me down. I focus way too much on all the "big things". In relationships, there can be hurt. That hurt isn't going to just go away. Little by little that hurt needs to be chipped away. It starts with the little things. A simple "how are you?" (a real "how are you") can bring relief. A simple way to show someone you care can create healing. A sincere apology is a promise for tomorrow. One thing is for sure: Ignoring a thorn isn't going to make the thorn go away. It just causes infection. No matter how hard it may hurt to remove that thorn, in the end..it will be better.

This is where the healing begins.



xoxo.

-lizzie.

Never A Goodbye.

I don't know what it's like to have a home.
I place that I can really call my own.
I wonder what it's like to really feel like I belong.
The only thing I can count on is my Jesus; my strenghth and my song.

Lord, You are my father, my daddy, my friend.
With you I'll never feel alone again.
You know me completely, you hear every cry.
I trust you and I believe that you'll never say good bye.

xoxo.

Lizzie.

Everything.

man.

life is a journey. that's for sure.

I love how God knows me. It's such a comfort to know that my Father knows me better than anyone else ever will. I don't have to be scared. I don't have to worry about Him disappointing me. I can trust my Father. I can give my all. I can tell Him how I feel and even when I don't understand myself..He gets it. When people fail me, my Father is right by my side..inviting me to lean on Him.

There are times of silence. There are times when the feeling of His presence knocks you to your knees and all you can do is raise your hands and praise. Regardless of our feelings, His love for us never changes. His love endures forever. forever. He accepts you as you are, but loves you too much not to have you change. But don't fear, the change is for the good. He promises he won't leave us, but sometimes we will experience pain. He is the healer of all pain. He is the Father to the fatherless. He is the savior to all who call upon His name.

He is anything and everything that You and I need.
He can do anything but fail.

Jesus really really loves you.

xoxo.

Lizzie.

untitled.

Time and Energy.
Love and commitment.

When you put these things into a relationship..it matters.
When someone completely shatters these things...its matters.

Hurt is something that's bound to happen.

Relationships nearly always have hurt. People are people..and people fail. This is probably why God tells us so many times in His word to Trust God..not man.

I don't know about you, But I'm sure praising Jesus for his unconditional, unfailing love. Jesus..well..we can trust Him. <3

xoxo

Lizzie.

All I'll Ever Need.

I opened myself to you.
Told you all my dreams, showed you all my scars.
I cried and laughed.
We were friends.
When I didn't understand, you did for me.
When I needed someone there, you were there to hold me.

You spoke about all the people that hurt you.
I told you of the pain that I still hold onto.
I thought I had a friend.
After all this time, I feel like it's finally the end.

Honesty,that's what was missing.
Eventually it all slipped away.
Now I'm here, feeling like a fool.
Looking up to you is over now.
I could cry, I could yell.
But all I can do is sit here.
silent.
Knowing that things will never be the same.

and thats ok.
Cause I've got all I'll ever need.
Right here beside me,
is a man I can always trust.
He doesn't lie.
and there's always hope.

I thought I needed you.
I worked so hard trying to make myself into the person you wanted me to be.
I wanted acceptance, I wanted to be special.
I wanted this from you.

And now all I can say is that I'm thankful God doesn't always give me what I think I want.

So, I'm just gonna keep being me.
The way God designed me to be.
No one can change that.
And you never will.

It's all over now.
I'm me and thats ok.
Cause I've got all I'll ever need.
Right here...beside me.

xoxo.

Lizzie.

Imagine.

What would this world be like if everyone was honest?

If there were no ulterior motives? No hidden feelings?

I can't wait for the day when there's no hurt. No sickness. No death. No pain.

I can only imagine.
There will be a day.

keep shining til you see HIS face.

xoxo


Lizzie.

More Like You.

I want to know You for who You are.
I need to see this world through Your eyes.
oh Jesus. Make me more like You.

Cleanse me of this world's dust and dirt.
Wash me clean. Make me shine for You.
My hearts desire is to worship You..but my own self keeps getting in the way.

Clear me out. Fill me up. Oh Jesus. Make me more like You.
This world is so full of evil and darkness.

Let your light shine on me, Oh Lord.
Shine on me.
Make me bright, all for You.
This is my desire.

Break me down, so there's nothing left but weakness.
For when I am weak, all I can do is rely on You.
You are my strength. You are my song.
Without You, I am nothing.
So wash me clean, make me shine for You.

Oh Jesus. This is my desire.

Make me more like YOU.

[xoxo. -Lizzie]

product of mercy.

I'm a product of mercy.
the target and victim of YOUR perfect love. <3

Music For The Dance

My dear friend, Stan, sent me this email--i thought it was RIGHT ON.

Music for the Dance
by Max Lucado
Let's imagine that you want to learn to dance. Being the rational, cerebral person you are, you go to a bookstore and buy a book on dancing.
You take the book home and get to work. You do everything it says. The book says sway; you sway. The book says shuffle; you shuffle. The book says spin; you spin.
Finally, you think you’ve got it, and you invite your wife to come in and watch. You hold the book open and follow the instructions step by step.
You continue to read, then dance, read, then dance, until the dance is completed. You plop exhausted on the couch, look at your wife, and proclaim, “I executed it perfectly.”
“You executed it, all right,” she sighs. “You killed it.”
“What?”
“You forgot the most important part. Where is the music?”
Music?
We Christians are prone to follow the book while ignoring the music. We master the doctrine, outline the chapters, memorize the dispensations, debate the rules, and stiffly step down the dance floor of life with no music in our hearts. We measure each step, calibrate each turn, and flop into bed each night exhausted from another day of dancing by the book.
Dancing with no music is tough stuff.
Jesus knew that. For that reason, on the night before his death he introduced the disciples to the song maker of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit. (John 16:7–9).
Of the three persons of the Godhead, the Holy Spirit is the one we understand the least. Perhaps the most common mistake made regarding the Spirit is perceiving him as a power but not a person, a force with no identity. Such is not true.
The Holy Spirit is not an “it.” He is a person. He has knowledge (1 Cor. 2:11). He has a will (1 Cor. 12:11). He has a mind (Rom. 8:27). He has affections (Rom. 15:30). You can lie to him (Acts 5:3–4). You can insult him (Heb. 10:29). You can grieve him (Eph. 4:30).
The Holy Spirit is not an impersonal force. He is not Popeye’s spinach or the surfer’s wave. He is God within you to help you. In fact John calls him the Helper.
Envision a father helping his son learn to ride a bicycle, and you will have a partial picture of the Holy Spirit. The father stays at the son’s side. He pushes the bike and steadies it if the boy starts to tumble. The Spirit does that for us; he stays our step and strengthens our stride. Unlike the father, however, he never leaves. He is with us to the end of the age.
What does the Spirit do?
He comforts the saved. (John 16:7).
He convicts the lost. (John 16:8).
He conveys the truth. (John 16:12).
Is John saying we don’t need the book in order to dance? Of course not; he helped write it. Emotion without knowledge is as dangerous as knowledge without emotion. God seeks a balance. “God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth” (John 4:24).
What is essential is that you know the music is in you. “If Christ is in you, then the Spirit gives you life” (Rom. 8:10). You don’t need a formula to hear it. I don’t have a four-step plan to help you know it. What I do have is his promise that the helper would come to comfort, convict, and convey.
So think about it; have you ever been comforted? Has God ever brought you peace when the world brought you pain? Then you heard the music.
Have you ever been convicted? Have you ever sensed a stab of sorrow for your actions? Then you’ve been touched by the Holy Spirit.
Or have you ever understood a new truth? Or seen an old principle in a new way? The light comes on. Your eyes pop open. “Aha, now I understand.” Ever happen to you? If so, that was the Holy Spirit conveying to you a new truth.
What do you know? He’s been working in your life already.
By the way, for those of us who spent years trying to do God’s job, that is great news. It’s much easier to raise the sail than row the boat. And it’s a lot easier getting people to join the dance when God is playing the music.
That’s what makes God, God.


(thanks Stan!)

insecurity.

What is the definition of insecurity?

I say it's not seeing ourselves as God sees us.

He created us. Made us from "dust". He see's HIS children as beautiful. As perfectly shaped and molded to live for Him. When we see ourselves as ugly, not worth it,or not "good" enough..then we aren't seeing ourselves as God sees us. God loves us just that way we are. There could never be a more beautiful you.

xoxo.

Lizzie.

the little things.

"Find joy in the little things in life. The big things just tend to disappoint us."

xoxo

Lizzie.

No Other Way In.

Some days she's just so weary.
She wants someone to hold her
and whisper in her ear, that it's all gonnna be ok.

She's leery, of everyone in sight.
They all tend to fail her
and it stings her hurting heart.

The walls around her heart, tend to be quite high.
The one who wins the key,
will have to learn to climb.

She's slow to learn, but apt to try..
She's willing, but so scared.
Scarred from the past, She seems to trust no one but Him.

So it's plain to see
the one who wins her heart will have to know the One who holds the keys..
for there is no other way in. <3

xoxo

Lizzie.

Consume Me.

I love too much
and hurt too easily.
If mistrust is a disease
then I'm dying.

Inadequacy fills up my heart
crushes my hope and flattens my faith.
I feel like its time for a fresh start.


Sometimes I wonder if things will ever change.
Is anyone willing to try?
will there ever be someone who knows me for who I am?
expectations are high, but hope tends to run dry.
I wanna be in love with You.
Consume me like a fire. Oh please, make me new.

I wanna have You on my mind all the time
sick the of the games that I've been playing.
face down, hands raised, I am praying
for the day when I can be with you forever.

My father. My friend. My savior. My lord.
you are everything to me.
To you, I am beautiful.
You're the only one that will never leave..
I believe, oh I Believe.

No Limit.

sometimes I think it'd be easier to be alone
than to carry the weight of hurt that I call my own.
cause when the person you thought cared just up and leaves
all that's left are the scars and hurts that no one sees

honesty hurts, but lies are most painful.
ashamed,confused, and scared.
the words, they cut.
the looks, they kill.
lost and alone, with no place to call home.

Here I stand, not knowing who you are anymore
I want the old you back,
but I fear you've walked out the door.

trust, what a concept.
if only it were easy.
if only the promises had been kept
then maybe my heart would be free for the taking

well there's only One who holds me and never lets go
He holds the keys to my heart and wipes the tears that I cry
He whispers comfort and tells me He loves me so
unconditional love, only He can offer
He promises He will never let me go.

So come to my Savior, my Father, my Friend,
Your heart He will mend and Grace, He promises to send.
With Him, there is so end.

For with His love there is NO limit.


xoxo

Lizzie.

blinded.

she watches the skies.
anxious, waiting,
ready to go be with the one who made her.

some days the pain pierces her heart
each day a little more dies
she's just waiting for the day when there will be no more tearful goodbyes.

all through the night she cries
does anyone hear her?

if they could just see through all the lies..


they'd see the beauty in her bright eyes.
no more tears..
healed scars.

lets break through these man-made chains and bars.

[Lord, open our eyes.]

xoxo
lizzie.

words.

alive. eternal. unconditional. unfailing. courageous. passionate. faithful. joyful. strong. godly. zealous. beautiful. hungry. willing. ready. obedient. loving. victorious. hopeful. unashamed. righteous. pure. humble. never backing down.

xoxo

lizzie.

blind.

What this world needs is to care more about the inside than the outside. Have we become SO blind that we can't see? God's gotta change her heart before he changes her shirt.

Humans can be so lame. Really. Why do we judge the outside appearance so harshly. Sometimes that's all we look at. Sometimes that all we look for.

I wonder how many opportunities we'd have to talk to an angel in disguise if we'd just learn to get over our judgemental thoughts and our own personal feelings about the way we think someone should look like.

Sometimes I wonder what we'd say or do if we lived back in Jesus's time. Maybe we'd see his long hair and flip flops and write him off as well. Maybe we'd see a man hanging out with prostitutes and we'd automatically assume that he has nothing good to offer or that there's so possible way he has the spirit of God.

Who cares what people think? Someones hair is too messy for certain standards, someone has 8 million piercings and a few tattoos. A man reeks of cigarette smoke.

Guess what?

Jesus loves them just as much as He loves you. The Bible says several times that God is no respecter of persons. God looks at your heart. That girl with those tattoos may have the kindest heart ever.

Lets love them. Not leave them.



Lizzie.

Unconditional.

I just started a Bible study with my aunt. We're doing "The Practice of Godliness" by Jerry Bridges. Man, I'm not even through the second chapter and I've already learned so much!

One thing that really hit me was this quote by the author. "Devotion to God is the mainspring of Godly character." Godliness isn't something that people are just "born with" or "born without". True Godliness relies on devotion to God. Devotion requires a real, personal relationship with God. You may be devoted to a certain ministry or your reputation as a Christian, but this doesn't mean that you've got Godliness down. "Only a strong personal relationship with the living God can keep such a commitment from becoming oppressive or legalistic."

True devotion to God always results in Godliness. Another valid point made while I was reading was that it is impossible to be truly devoted to God if one's heart is not filled with the fear of God. Not fear meaning "scared"..but fear being "in awe".

The section I was reading this morning really hit me hard. The section was about God's unconditional love. unconditional. Jerry Bridges says it like this.."It is not enough to believe that God loved the world. It must be gripped by the realization that God loves ME, a specific person. It is this awareness of His individual love that draws our hearts in devotion to Him."

Here's the thing ladies and gents. We ALL want to be loved. We, as humans, need to feel supported, loved, and encouraged. We all want to be understood. We secretly (or not so secretly) want to be loved unconditionally.

So, guess what?

God can do this. God does this. So stop searching for that someone to love you unconditionally. Because He's right here. Waiting. for YOU.

xoxo

Lizzie.

storms and sunshine.

Isn't it amazing to know that God knows each of us SO intimately and knows what we need at exactly the right time?

We don't deserve this. We certainly can't earn this. He just GIVES His love to us. Crazy. Awesome.

Yesterday at church I was overwhelmed by God's love. From the moment I walked in to the moment I walked out I was in awe of God and how awesome He is. It wasn't necessarily the sermons or the praise. It was the people. Those certain people that just look in your eyes and just "get it."

One of my dearest friends asked me how God is working in my life. She stood there prepared to listen for 5 hours if thats what it would take. My other friend held my hand and whispered words of support at the exact moment when I needed it most. Another dear friend looked at me with tears dripping down his cheeks and told me to never forget how much he loved me. The biggest bear hug followed those sweet words. These friends are family. These friends are a gift from God. Unconditional love and support. This is something that is really priceless.

All of this love and support was overwhelming to me. I was sharing my feelings about this with another one of my close friends. Her response? "Just think, Kristi! God loves you 100 times MORE than this!!" Praise Jesus.

God is good, all the time.
In the storms and the sunshine.
God. Is. Good.

"Two are better than one, because they have a good retrun for their work; If one falls down, this friend can help him up!"

xoxo

Lizzie

little things like french vanilla coffee.

mmmmm.

light rain.
brand new AE cozy Hoodie.
hot french vanilla coffee
my Bible and a great friend.

It's all about the little things in life.

Like yesterday, when I was aiding at Kings Kids Preschool..

Little Logan, a quite type, looks up from meticulously painting his picture and says..

"Miss Kristi..where is your coffee today?!"

Oh, how I laughed. He was totally shocked that I did not have my ever present coffee tumbler in hand that day. :) This is probably evidence of my addiction. Kids are just too cute.

You know, I can get so caught up in the big things in life..like college tuition and grades and all that junk. I can get caught up in how I'm going to handle a certain situation or what this person thinks of me or how I came across to that person..and so on. Useless worrying.

If I just focus on the little things, life seems so much more beautiful. Cruising in the car with the windows rolled down, great tunes ,and sunshine. awesome. Hearing your little sisters praying together. beautiful. Little "I love yous". A eruption of genuine laughter. Those insane moments when you stand in awe of how much God loves you. Focus on those things. They are what matter.

xoxo.

Lizzie. :]

Home.

It's funny how sometimes the people you are around the most are the people that don't really know you. It's odd how sometimes "home" doesn't really mean "home". Do you ever feel like no one understands you? I do. Alot. The beautiful thing is that you have Somone who does know you inside and out. This person knows you better than anyone in the world will ever know you. After all, He created you. His name is Jesus. And He loves you. Ever wonder if someone will ever truly understand? Run to Jesus. You'll always be at Home with Him.

xoxo

-Lizzie.

liveinlove.

Live In Love

Don’t give up on me
We make this harder than it has to be
Our eyes are open but yet we don’t truly see
No one is perfect
Yet we can all be redeemed
Cause He died on the tree
For you and for me
So live in love
His perfect love
Cause that’s the way we were created to be

You’re hurt and you’re scared
Well, I’ve been there
Feeling like no one cares
Crying all through the night
But by the power of His might
He’ll make your heart light
So live in love
His perfect love
Everything's gonna be alright.

I’m running dry
I’m feeling so empty
I’m crying out, but no one hears me calling
Everything in me is weak
The only thing that stays strong are the chains of these fears
Holding me back
Causing me to doubt

Even when I can’t see You
Even when I can’t feel You
I know that you’re here
Seeing me through my fear
In Your hands you hold all my tears
You wash me with your blood
You breathe your strength into my weak body
You whisper your promises to me
Like a melody in a song
Your loves goes on.

So live in love.
His perfect love.

restless.

Do you ever feel like maybe we're meant for more?

Maybe I'm just crazy. Or maybe I think too much. Or maybe not enough.

Isn't there more to life than just robotically going through life.I mean what really is the definition of living? A new day is more than just getting up to eat breakfast, go to school, eat lunch, go to work, eat supper, do homework ,and then go to bed..isn't it?

I don't think God wants us to just go through life motionlessly without any passion or goals. A new day...well it's a miracle really. As followers of Christ we're supposed to be a part of the Great Commission. Preaching truth to those who don't know It. Jesus has worked a miracle is us. His spirit is living within us. Shouldn't our joy and passion be busting out of us?

When was the last time you shared the Gospel?

I think that sometimes we are so sheltered. I know I am. We have "everything we could ever want" at the touch of our fingers. I think that sometimes we forget that all that matters is Jesus.

Recently I went to Peoria Rescue Ministries on an early Sunday morning with some dear friends of mine. We got there in our "Sunday best". (AKA: dresses and suits) I stepped out of the car and looked through the foggy air to see several men standing around. Some were dressed in nicer clothing, but the majority were in what we would call "rags". These were the people that were hungry for God's Word, and they didn't have any other place to go.

No Home. No Church.

We stood up and sang songs of praise to our Heavenly Father. These men, all of various different races and sizes, closed their eyes and sang.

We talked about miracles, prayers, end times, God's love. All sorts of amazing things.

It's funny how when you have nothing your perspective is so easily changed.

My friends were talking about how one of the men at the Mission called himself a "traveler". I immediately thought "oh he has no home and a great sense of humor". Nope, not necessarily the case.

This man traveled around the areas, to different states and various places, to preach the gospel. His sole purpose was to spread the Good News.

Now, I'm not saying we should just sell our house, car, and clothes and go live on the streets, I'm just saying I hope we can all live life with the right perspective.

"God, please give me YOUR perspective. Passion. Love. Joy. Help me to see through Your eyes. I love you. Amen."
xoxo.

Lizzie.

Oh, How He Loves.

On February 5th I was driving into Peoria after having an amazing dinner and game night with my dear Aunt Deb, Uncle Brent, and cousins..Tanner,Ellie,Alaina, and Dallas. It was a great night, full of laughter and smiles.

I was cruising along listening to a heart pounding sermon given by David Jeremiah. All of the sudden a car pulled out in front of me and before i knew what was happening i was flying over a median and into oncoming traffic. Lights flashed before me and I cried out to God to protect me. The next thing i knew I had glass all over me. My car was in the ditch, on the complete other side of the road from where i was originally driving. The car I collided with (a mustang, go figure) was 20 ft away from me. David Jeremiah was still preaching. I reached up and felt my head, I pulled my hand away and saw blood. To put it lightly my head was pounding. I looked over to see the passenger side door of my car two inches away from me.That's what smacked my head, hence the migraine. A man ran over to the ditch and helped me swing my legs out. He asked me if i was ok. He gave me his phone to call my parents. He gave me a hug and offered me his coat and earmuffs. He called my "honey" and said he was glad I was ok. He told me I was "lucky". I like to think of him as my earthly guardian angel. I was rushed to the hospital and was there for several hours. My Aunt Deb, my brother, and his girlfriend came and stayed with me. It's an act of God that I only had a severe concussion and a few bruises.

A week later, after recovering from my accident I came home from school with severe stomach pains. The "bent-over-not-able-to-walk" kind of pain stayed for several hours. After about 6 hours of this insane pain I went to the ER again. After hours and hours of tests the doctors decided to do surgery for what they thought was an ovarian cyst. The doctors had told me my ovaries were probably detroyed. Lets just say me and Jesus did alot of chatting that night. He's a fantastic friend. Turns out the cyst was ruptured and my ovaries are fine. Having kids of my own has always been a dream of mine. God is good, all the time. All the time, God is good. He does answer prayers.

Lots of miracles have happened in my life.

Recently i was just thinking, comtemplating life and all it's mysteries. All the sudden it hit me.

Jesus took the hit for me.

I like to picture angels flying around my car as it slid across the road on that cold Friday night. Jesus is always with me. And He was with me that night. Right in the passenger seat. protecting me. He took the hit for me.

The night when I basically passed out from my stomach pains, He was right there with me, holding my hand.

He took the hit for us ALL.

Have you ever had a burden? A problem? A hurt? A worry?

Guess what?

Jesus overcame ALL of that. Every single thing that has worried you, hurt you, or caused you stress. Jesus bore all of that on the cross.

He bore our sin. OUR sin. not His. ours.

He died so that I didn't have to.

So that WE don't have to.

"Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends" -John 15:13


The least we can do is turn our hearts and lives over to Him.

Thank you, Jesus.

With all of my heart I thank you, Jesus.

How deep the Father's love for us
How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure

How great the pain of searing loss
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the Chosen One
Bring many sons to glory

Behold the man upon a cross
My sin upon His shoulders
Ashamed I hear my mocking voice
Call out among the scoffers

It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that it is finished

I will not boast in anything
No gifts, no power, no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ
His death and resurrection

Why should I gain from His reward
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom
--------------------------------
He is jealous for me,
Loves like a hurricane, I am a tree,
Bending beneath the weight of his wind and mercy.
When all of a sudden,
I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory,
And I realise just how beautiful You are,
And how great Your affections are for me.

And oh, how He loves us so,
Oh how He loves us,
How He loves us all

Yeah, He loves us,
Oh! how He loves us,
Oh! how He loves us,
Oh! how He loves.


We are His portion and He is our prize,
Drawn to redemption by the grace in His eyes,
If grace is an ocean, we’re all sinking.
And Heaven meets earth like an unforeseen kiss,
And my heart turns violently inside of my chest,
I don’t have time to maintain these regrets,
When I think about, the way…

He loves us.

support.

"Good Job"

"I Love You"

"I'm proud of you"

Aren't those things great to hear?

Sometimes we don't get to hear those things from the people we want to hear them from..the people we need to hear it from. And that's ok. Because when you're least expecting it, people that you couldn't ever imagine sharing your heart with, come into your life. For good. The support of true friends, real friends means the world to me. The people that love you for who you are. The people that listen to you blabber on and on for hours and then say exactly what you need to hear. The people that tell you "You. can. do. this" all the while holding your hand, helping you. The people that wink at you and just smile..because they know exactly what you're thinking. Isn't that just grand? Lets not take that for granted. It's a rare find. Friends are amazing. Thanks Jesus, for my friends.


thanks for listening to my endless blabber. :)

xoxo

Lizzie

Falling in Love

"More Like Falling"
-Jason Gray

Give me rules
I will break them
Give me lines
I will cross them
I need more than a truth to believe
I need a truth that lives, moves, and breathes
To sweep me off my feet
It ought to be

More like falling in love
Than something to believe in
More like losing my heart
Than giving my allegiance
Caught up, called out
Come take a look at me now
It's like I'm falling, oh
It's like I'm falling in love

Give me words
I'll misuse them
Obligations
I'll misplace them
'Cause all religion ever made of me
Was just a sinner with a stone tied to my feet
It never set me free
It's gotta be

It's like I'm falling in love, love, love
Deeper and deeper
It was love that made
Me a believer
In more than a name, a faith, a creed
Falling in love with Jesus brought the change in me.

<3

xoxo

Lizzie

[love is an action]

I've been thinking about how much I am missing out on. Sometimes I'm so focused on myself, that I miss all these "tiny" blessings and miracles that go on all around me. I need to take the time to smile at someone. You never know how much that could help a person. They may see Jesus in that smile. What about a simple hug? I know there are days when I just need a hug, someone to reassure me that it's all gonna be ok..that God's got it under control. Sometimes that's all it takes. A quick text or phone call can brighten up someones day. A warm smile, an "I love you", or even a few hours of shared feelings and struggles, joys or burdens, could change someones life for the better.

"Open my eyes, Jesus. Help me to see through Your eyes. Break my heart for what breaks Yours. Help me to be more focused on others than on my own feelings or needs. Fill me with your love and compassion. Help me not to miss opportunities. Help me to be filled with Your passion and love for others."
Lets open our eyes.

xoxo

Lizzie.

Lets Open Our Eyes.

I can't stop thinking about how seriously ignorant we Americans came be at times.

I mean seriously. Today I was at work, in a warm building with plenty to eat, getting paid what probably over half the world's population would consider a fortune. And guess what I'm doing?

Complaining about my bad hair day!

Ridiculous, I know. I'm quite ashamed.

I should be praying for those who don't have hair, due to some awful disease like that nasty cancer.

I should be praying for those who are in Haiti right now. The missionaries, the lost, the buried, the deceased, the living.

I should be praying for those individuals who are kidnapped and trapped and forced to prostitute themselves at the price of their next breath.

I should be praying for those who don't know Jesus.

But I just sit there complaining about my bad hair day.

silly, silly me.

Can you imagine what this world would be like if we all did what we SHOULD be doing? It'd probably be a lot more beautiful. Thank you Jesus for Your Grace.

So we mess up. I don't think any of us will deny this.

But lets keep on keeping on. Lets move on. Lets improve.

In this coming week (or even tomorrow!)ask God to help you to see things, people, and situations through our Father's eyes.

Ask Him to break our hearts for what breaks His heart.

And then maybe, just maybe, this world can see what it's like to let Jesus live through you and me.

Stay Focused. [on HIM]

xoxo

Lizzie.

Be You.

I see your true colors
Shining through
I see your true colors
And that's why I love you
So don't be afraid to let them show
Your true colors
True colors are beautiful,
Like a rainbow

Be true, Be you, Be REAL.

xoxo

Lizzie

Life Abundant.

God has been teaching me a lot lately. One thing He's been telling me is that there seriously is more to life than just going around stuck in my own little world just letting time pass me by. I'm sure you're all like "DUH..of course there is"...but sometimes this girl gets too caught up and needs to just stop and think about life. Think about Jesus. Think about the fact that we're sitting on a giant ball right now that is flying around however fast and we're just like "oh life is fine".

See..a life without God may be "fine"..individuals that don't know Jesus Christ as their personal savior may be very successful people..they may have a good family and a fantastic job. Seriously though, just stop and think. Even people that have been born again can be victims of this. I can totally fall into this trap. Life is "fine". Life is "working for me". Hey, I'm not saying this is horrible. I don't want people going around hating their life. But this is one thing that God's word says..and it's really stuck out to me lately...

"I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly."

Our Savior Jesus Christ said this in John chapter 10 verse 10. He doesn't want life just to "work" for us. He wants us to have LIFE...and not just that..but life ABUNDANT. This abundant life comes from and through Jesus Christ.

When we're following Christ and His seriously amazing example He can give us an insane amount of JOY. I admit it, there may be times when someone asks me how I am and I want to say "TERRIBLE". But really. I have the abundant life. I have Jesus Christ. I am beyond blessed. He has saved me and given me ETERNAL life with HIM. Now..what rocks more than that?

So really..I'm not doing "just fine". I'm not "okay". I'm GREAT. I'm better than GREAT. I have abundant LIFE through Jesus Christ. Guys. I'm feeling amazing. :)

xoxo.

Lizzie.

Love Like Crazy

The power of Prayer. It's beyond comprehension. It's so amazing the Power God has. Sometimes when we ask God something we don't really think it's going to happen..or be answered. We just hope it will. God loves us SO much. We can't even comprehend the depth of His amazing Love. He knows each of us in such a personal way..even better than we know ourselves. I mean, He's the One who created us anyway. He knows what we need. He knows the desire of our hearts. He loves when we talk with him..when we commnicate what we're feeling or thinking. When we ask something, He is going to answer us. It may not be what we wanted or the way we thought it would be answerd..but He ALWAYS has our best interest in mind. God has been teaching me SO much lately. Love. Love. Love. Even when it's hard. Especially when it's hard. Do it for Jesus...He's already overcome the whole WORLD for us. It's the least we can do.

Love like Crazy.

Because Jesus loves YOU.

xoxo

Lizzie.

My Wish

"Sometimes I wonder If I've got too much passion built up inside of me. I want to LIVE. I want everyone to look at life and make the best they can of it. I don't want to miss all these opportunities. I want all of us to wake up, snap out of it, and actually SEE for once. I want all of us to love each other like Jesus loves. A perfect love. I want all of us to stop being practical and do something radical, for Christ's sake. For His glory. I want all of us to see people for what they CAN be, not to just pin point all the faults. I want all of us to stop looking at people, and start asking JESUS what we should do. I want to do what is right. I want dads to treat their daughters like God treats His daughters. I want all of us to embrace our differences. I want love to be enough. Enough for everyone. That's what I want."



xoxo

Lizzie.

It's All About LOVE.

Well, The Stahl Family "vacation" is off to an interesting start.

After traveling about 2 hours north of Brimfield, my family of ten finally arrived at our destination: Grand Bear Lodge. Cabin #23. All of us Stahl kids bounded out of our huge van and ran up the steps to our "Log" cabin. Kaylie and I quickly decided that our room would be in the basement; the room with the jacuzzi and big screen tv. :)

When we eventually finished settling in, my siblings and I decided to check out the "Amusement Park". We went with Kasssie on the little kid roller coaster and dad and the girls watched me fail at Dance Dance Revolution. Kelsie then proceded to talk me into going on a "big kid ride". Big mistake. The even bigger mistake? Letting her talk me into going on it TWICE.

I then spent the rest of the evening camped out on the coach..moaning about how I was nearing death.

But it's all ok now. After a glass of Sprite and a little help from the jacuzzi I'm alive and well.

Kendall and the girls are currently hitting up the arcade games while Kels and I enjoy Coffee and Wi-fi. :) Life is good today. <3

Love like crazy.

xoxo.

Lizzie.

It's A New Day.

Hello 2010!
This year has already proved itself to be a fresh start, full of new adventures. I'm normally NOT one for new years resolutions..but..I have a little list this year. One of my goals for 2010: Start a blog.

SO! Here I am..Kristi Elizabeth if you didn't already figure that out. A few facts about me: Jesus is number one. He's my Best Friend, Savior, Lord,and Father. He's everything I could ask more plus a ton more. Coffee is close to my heart. I love beling alone with just me and Jesus and learning more about Him and how Awesome He is. I love to write. Hence the blogging. I love music..any type of music..but mostly the type that sings praises to God. I love people...of all shapes and sizes, ages, and races. I love little kids. I love dancing and singing. I'm a faithful "list maker". I love my friends. And..I love to LOVE, even when it hurts.

OK..so here's my list of goals I hope to meet by the end of this new year. Day by day I plan to work at them.

1. Start a blog (check)
2. Study the Bible more and grow closer to God (currently in progress)
3. Eat right, be healthy, take vitamins (in progress as well)

...and so on. Not much..but I like to set goals. well..thats enough for now. I'm sure you'll be seeing more of me in the near future..

May God bless YOUR day. :]

xoxo.
Lizzie