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.