summer link loving

can you believe that August is almost over?! this year has flown by - which is to be expected, as this year has been amazing and definitely one for the books.

throughout the summer, I spent a lot of my lazy mornings (or those mornings when I knew I needed to get out of bed for work but I didn’t want to start my day yet!) scrolling through blogs, twitter, and instagram, and I ended up finding some great articles and blog posts that I knew I needed to save! and so, instead of doing weekly link roundups like I know so many bloggers do, I’ve compiled all of my favorites from the summer into this one post! enjoy!

blogs

so proud of my good friend’s little sister, who started her own blog this summer revolving around empowerment for girls! so glad I had the opportunity to be featured this month as well.

I’ve followed Brighton for a long time on Instagram and Bloglovin’, but I have fallen in love with the #beSTILLbeBRIGHT series she’s started. she’s candidly sharing her faith and it’s so inspiring.

mary peyton brown is killing it with her blog centered around her senior thesis. (read about what that entitles for her here). although I’m not a vegan, I love seeing her style and just her personality shine through! can’t wait to see what this next year brings for her blog.

articles

25 women give their best advice … who doesn’t want to hear what Mindy Kaling or Veronica Roth have to say about life?

this summer, I’ve made sure that I always have a book on hand to pick up when I’m in need of some time away from the many screens we often fill our days with … or if I’m just craving a book to get lost in. this blog post helped me to find some great books to add to my “to read” list and I’ve enjoyed the ones I’ve been able to pick up! (especially The Art of Fielding!)

john green is always killing it, and this article is no exception. I found it interesting to hear about what it’s really like behind all of those TV interviews, and how Cara Delevingne likes to be different in her answers.

what a typical article that my dad sent me (he’s a home loan officer) … why a teenage bank teller has the best summer job.

etc.

I cannot wait for Kelsey and Kyle Kupecky to release their book this September (only days away!!). I love Karen Kingsbury’s books (Kelsey’s mom), so I know that this book will be no exception!!

speaking of reading … I was very intrigued to learn about how reading can change your health. I’m always in need of a valid excuse to pick up another book.

15 beautiful words that can’t be translated into the english language.

if I have any extra time in the near future, I'll definitely be making this DIY. (Dorothy has been KILLING it with her blog posts recently!!)

what links have you been loving lately?

in Christ,

06 . 26 . 15 + wrap up

{ 06 . 21 . 15 } // { 06 . 22 . 15 } // { 06 . 23 . 15 } // { 06 . 24 . 15 } // { 06 . 25 . 15 }

this last post focuses on the benediction of the prayer, something that isn’t written in the passage of Matthew where we find this prayer, but was added as a conclusion to this prayer with such meaning :

“thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever”

read : Matthew 6:9-13 { The Lord’s Prayer }

“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

“This, then, is how you should pray:

“‘Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be your name,

your kingdom come,

your will be done,

 on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

And forgive us our debts,

 as we also have forgiven our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation,

 but deliver us from the evil one."

*

read : Colossians 1:16-18

… for through him God created everything

   in the heavenly realms and on earth.

He made the things we can see

   and the things we can’t see—

such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world.

   Everything was created through him and for him.

He existed before anything else,

   and he holds all creation together.

Christ is also the head of the church,

   which is his body.

He is the beginning,

   supreme over all who rise from the dead.

   So he is first in everything.

we are his body, as being part of the church.

God was before all things. he is first in everything, and should be first in everything we do.

he wants us to experience his kingdom to the full

in order to do that, we must live through him and allow him to guide us

we will be fully restored in his kingdom! there will be no more pain.

therefore, we must …

believe in God.

trust in God.

work towards his kingdom.

wait.

*

my week at camp was truly inspiring and it has meant so much to me that I have a platform in which I am able to share the great truths I learned there. each night something new was revealed and I am forever grateful for the experiences I was a part of as a counselor. when you can see God revealing himself in your campers, it is such a humbling experience. I cannot wait to go back next summer, God willing!

And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him.

1 John 5:14

in Christ,

06 . 25 . 15

only two more days left to recap! I can’t believe that I’ve almost reached the end … I’ve so loved being able to use these days at camp as separate blog posts and will miss the ease of just being able to look at my sermon notes and write something from the heart.

as far as a life update goes, this month has been great and today marks my second day at my new school. the transition is proving some challenges, but nothing that can’t be worked through. looking forward to updating you all on all the happenings as soon as I have more time to sit down.

{ 06 . 21 . 15 } // { 06 . 22 . 15 } // { 06 . 23 . 15 } // { 06 . 24 . 15 }

today’s post focuses on the last written part of the prayer,

“and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one … ”

{ stand and deliver me }

read : Matthew 6:5-13 {The Lord’s Prayer}

“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

“This, then, is how you should pray:

“‘Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be your name,

your kingdom come,

your will be done,

  on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

And forgive us our debts,

  as we also have forgiven our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation,

  but deliver us from the evil one.’

*

read : John 10:9-10

Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved. They will come and go freely and will find good pastures. The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.

Jesus is the gate.

anyone who enters will be saved!

what great news!! they will find abundant pastures there, for we are His sheep.

the thief comes to destroy, kill, and steal.

BUT! God will allow us to live a life to the full.

*

in Christ, we have an enemy!

because of that, we often pray the words of desperation, “don’t leave me alone”.

we have a need for God to rally by our side!

and so, let us pray to God, “I trust you”.

God is our refuge and our strength, always present in trouble. (Psalm 46)

struggling is a reality of the Christian faith. it isn’t supposed to be easy. (that’s what faith is!)

God will help us and he promises us that he will be steadfast. what great news!

in Christ,

disclaimer : I want to make that in no way am I trying to sound “preachy” or force my beliefs on you. I simply want to share what I’ve learned and hope that, in the process, at least one person finds some benefit in something they read through this series. I am always open to any comments you have and I will read and reply to each one, whether it is for discussion or constructive criticism!