Outcast

Have you ever felt like a loser? Like no one cares if you are around or not? Have you ever thought you have no purpose in life? Do you find yourself being the "outcast"? The awkward one that hasn't found a group that they click with and the one who feels like they stick out? Well, I've got news for you.

You Matter.

That's right, I said it. YOU have a purpose and you are loved. God didn't make a mistake when He made you, and He knew before the beginning of time how YOU would change the world. You have a purpose. You have a calling. YOU are loved.

I spent a lot of my childhood and teen years dealing with insecurities and lacking confidence. From what I hear, people would've never guessed that! When I was younger, I used to keep a wall up and I looked serious a lot. To the point where some people said they were scared of me or that they thought I was constantly mad about something.

I worked on that and found a way to loosen up, relax, and just have fun. I remember talking to one of my guy friends about how I used to be shy, and he almost spit out his drink. He said he couldn't picture that because of how outgoing I was now, and how I'm always so happy.

That was a huge compliment to me. It was great to hear something like that, especially since I was standing there having that conversation, feeling like a was sticking out like a sore thumb.

I have never been the "glamour girl" or the girl that guys are automatically drawn to or find instantly "pretty". I've always been the "good friend" and the girl that everyone could come to for advice and talk to about their problems, but I've never been the "IT" girl.

That was hard for a long time. I wanted to be accepted, I wanted to feel like I mattered. I wanted to feel beautiful.

Over the years, I felt like I had no one. Sure, I have an AMAZING family and the most amazing, supportive parents a girl could ask for, who always told me they loved me and that I was beautiful. I've also had some amazing friends in my life. But inside, I was hurting. I had no one to turn to, except for THE one to turn to. Jesus.

I started running to Jesus with everything. And I do mean EVERYTHING. He became to me, what He longs to be for everyone - My best friend.  Over time, He started showing me how I mattered. He showed me my calling in life, and He showed me that Jeremiah 29:11 is true. He DOES know the plans He has for me, and they are SO amazing. I finally felt accepted and I believe I've learned (and am continuing to learn) what TRUE love and acceptance is. There's nothing like it. It's something that NO human can fulfill for you. I  became an "It" girl. :)

Guess what? He is no respecter of persons. He wants YOU to know true love. He wants you to realize that you matter. You have a purpose. You NEED to be here to fulfill the AMAZING plans He has for you. Trust me, they're amazing!

You are beautiful. Let me say that again. You. Yes, You. You are beautiful. You are fearfully and wonderfully made. Never forget that. Please. If all you get out of this is that you matter, then I've done my job.

Stay strong. I believe in you, but more importantly, Jesus believes in you. He is always there for you. ALWAYS. There is nothing that can separate you from His love. And I do mean NOTHING. You are worthy. He finds no flaw in you. He will always be by your side. Even when you make mistakes, or feel like no one is there for you, He is.

Believe in that.

Song of Solomon 4:7 (Amp)

"[He exclaimed] O my love, how beautiful you are! There is no flaw in you!"




Till next time...

The Last Song

So, I was watching "The Last Song" today (for the 3rd time) with the girls I nanny for, and some thoughts were hitting me kind of hard.

Mostly, the importance of forgiveness.

In the movie, Miley Cyrus' character, Ronnie, doesn't have the best relationship with her dad. She has a lot of hurt and anger because her mom and dad split up.

*SPOILER ALERT*


However, later on in the movie, she starts to let her guard down and let her dad back in. ONLY to find out that he has cancer, and not much time to live. She's devastated by this news, and ends up not leaving his side.
She regrets how long it took her to forgive him, and get close to him again. He ends up dying, and the only thing she has left to keep her "connected" to her dad, is their shared love for the piano. So much time that could have been spent with him, had been wasted because she was hurt and couldn't let go of the anger.


____________________

This movie really made me think.

We spend SO much time sometimes, holding grudges or hurt feelings against people and honestly, it's rather exhausting at times. When you really stop to think about it, life is short. We should live EVERY day to the fullest. Getting the most out of life that we can. Sure, we're still human. We have emotions, we get tired, cranky, frustrated and annoyed. But it's the heart behind it all. Do we WANT to feel crummy because we haven't "let something go"? I know it's "easier said than done", but I think if we all made an effort to try to wake up every day and forgive the people who have recently hurt us, and just move on, trusting GOD to be our avenger, the world would be a better place, and we would be much happier people.

I for one, want to be friends with everyone, and have nothing holding me back from all of the amazing things in life that God has in store for me!

I know it might sound like a lot, but I have faith in you!

Let go, and Let God...He won't disappoint you. :)

'Till Next time...

Boys

Have you ever noticed how guys and girls are wired SO differently? I've always heard the saying "Guys are like waffles, girls are like spaghetti." 

Boy, is that ever true. 


I personally like hanging out with guys over girls. Less drama right? Now I'm not so sure. 
Guys always come off so calm, cool and collected. What I really believe though, is that they are sensitive. Sometimes, more sensitive than girls! Guys are afraid of being "found out". Like, if we see who they "truely" are, they won't "measure" up in us girls' minds. 


What I don't think they realize, however, is that they don't have to be "Superman". Yes, while it's true that girls want a knight in shining armor, and some superhero to come in and save the day, they don't have to hide their feelings.


If there were a few things I could tell guys, they would be: "Be honest. Silence is not golden. If you like a girl, or DON'T like a girl, tell her. The silence is worse for us than not knowing. Don't run away from us when we try to talk to you, annnnd, NOT every girl is flirting with you when she's being nice. Sometimes, we really do just want to hang out...no strings attached."


Sometimes guys can just be frustrating...yet amazing at the same time. How does that happen?


If any of you girls out there are struggling with the same thing that I am right now, here's some things that get me through the day.


1) God is still in control. He knows everything, and He WANTS us to have good friends and that "perfect" relationship...in HIS timing.


2) Romans 8:28 is STILL in the Bible. ;) 


3) If that ONE guy is being a pain,  and frustrating you to no end, just remember, God has the perfect one for you out there. Either, it'll be him, or....Someone you would have never thought of - and he'll be even BETTER than anything you could have ever dreamed of.


Be encouraged. It's ALLLL good. :)




'Till next time...

1st blog

Hey Everyone!


I'm Brooke. A few friends of mine have had blogs for a while, and I finally decided, "You know what? It's a good idea!"


So, I'm here to post random posts, thoughts and issues I think need to be discussed! I hope you all find it interesting, and thought provoking.


'Till next time...