On Dreaming {Guest Post by Jessica}

Hey, everyone! Today, I want to talk about something everyone does, (whether they know it or not) and something we can all relate to -- dreaming.

 Have you ever wondered why we dream? Why do those little movies play in our heads while we sleep? Scientists have tried to figure it out, and have been able to come up with a few theories. Let's look at some of them --

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Theory #1: There has always been speculation throughout the scientific community that dreams are simply a side effect of rapid-eye-movement (REM) sleep. However, since making certain discoveries about the psychiatric connection most people have to their dreams, this theory has been pretty much put aside.

Theory #2: Sigmund Freud, also known as the "father of psychoanalysis", was the first to suggest that dreams are outbursts from our subconscious. The things that you deny yourself -- the urges that you repress in the real world -- come to surface in your dreams, in order to protect your mind from keeping things 'bottled up.' 

(For example, if someone who loves chocolate is not permitted to eat it, their brain will most likely allow them the pleasure of tasting it in their sleep.)

Theory #3: Harvard psychologist Deirdre Barrett recently presented evidence that dreaming is your brain's way of sorting out tough dilemmas while you sleep. Her research shows that our slumbering hours may help us to solve difficult problems, through symbols and deep meanings that only our subconscious can understand. (Hence the phrase, "Maybe you should sleep on it.")

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So now we know some of the possible reasons for why we dream... but have you ever wondered what your dreams meant? Every dream has some kind of hidden meaning behind it. For example, if you dream about running from something, it could mean that you're having trouble confronting a problem. If you dream that you're naked, it can symbolize vulnerability that you feel in a certain area of your life. And to dream that you are flying signifies a sense of freedom where you had initially felt restricted and limited. 

What about dreaming about things before they happen? This is called precognitive dreaming, and it's one thing that scientists are unable to explain. Though the Bible says something about it. In Numbers 12, Yahweh says to His people that if there is a prophet among them, He will reveal it through visions and dreams. There are also several stories in the Bible where God sends a vision to His people when they're sleeping. By these examples, we know that some dreams can be sent by the Lord.

If you've ever had a recurring dream, it could mean that your brain (or Yahweh) is trying to tell you something important. Maybe something in your life is harming you, and your subconscious is trying to get you to pay attention to the problem, and confront it.

I did some research, and was able to come up with lots of facts about dreaming. You may already know some of these, but I bet others will surprise you...

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1) You forget 90% of your dreams. 

Have you ever had a really, really, really good dream... only to wake up and be unable to forget the details? This is because, in that time between being awake and asleep, your brain files all that stuff away again until the next time you dream. You only ever retain about 10% of the details from your dreams, if that. Imagine everything you're missing!

2) Night owls have more nightmares.

It's true. College research has shown that students who stayed up super late experienced more of those frightening, disturbing dreams than those students who went to bed early. Yet another reason to go to be when your parents tell you to... ;]

3) You can control your dreams.

I have actually tested this out before, and it's true. If you are thinking intently about something as you fall asleep, you will likely dream about it. Also, as long as you're aware that you're dreaming, you can do things like change the scenario, get out of bad situations, and control what you say to people while you're in the dream.

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4) Animals dream, too.

Studies have shown that animals, especially mammals, dream just like humans. Their brain patterns when sleeping are almost exactly identical to ours. I've seen evidence of this by watching my dog bark in her sleep, her paws twitching as though she's chasing something. It's pretty cool!

5) So do blind people.

If someone is born blind, then they will dream in darkness, only experiencing smells, sounds, feelings and tastes. However, it's been proven that people who go blind, (at ages as young as five years old) can dream just like people who have perfect vision. Granted, they will only see so many faces... which brings me to my next fact.

6) You can only dream faces you've seen.

Did you know that your brain is incapable of creating faces? It's true. So if, in your dreams, you see someone you don't know, you must have passed them on the street or at the store, and your brain filed away their face at a glance. We have all seen hundreds of thousands of faces in our lives, so we have an endless supply of characters for our brains to utilize during our dreams. 

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7) Some people only dream in black and white.

Only about 70% of people dream in color. The other 30% dream in black and white. I know that I've only ever had dreams (that I remember) in color. Have you ever had a black and white dream?

8) Dreams can cause incorporation.

How often do you dream of eating, drinking, or even going to the bathroom, and then wake up to perform the action? If music is playing near where you're sleeping, you'll dream that someone is singing the song, or that you're at a concert. If you're cold because you kicked off your blanket, you might dream that you're outside in the snow. Things in the physical world can most definitely take effect in your dreams.

9) Emotions are high.

The most common emotion to experience when dreaming is anxiety. Studies have also shown that men have more violent dream than women, and that most women have more sad dreams than angry ones.

10) Interrupted dreams can cause mental problems.

When someone wakes you from a dream, are you irritated? It can actually be dangerous to someone's mental health to wake them from a state of dreaming. Research was done on college students, in which they were woken during the REM phase of their sleep. It was noted that the students became irritable, hallucinated a lot, were affected by psychosis, and were finally disinterested in everything they did.

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So, now that I've filled your heads with a bunch of scientific theories and facts, I think I'll go take a nap ;) Thanks so much to the beautiful Raquel for letting me guest-post for her ♥ Sweet dreams, everyone!

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About the Authoress

Hi, I'm Jessica, an eighteen-year-old girl with a passion for all things beautiful, and  a bookaholic who's not looking for treatment. Some call me an artist. I love to blog, play the guitar, and design jewelry. A few of my favorite things include photography, poetry, chocolate, dogs, roller coasters, friends, laughter, and rain. Yeshua is my King -- to Him be the glory in all that I do.

Be sure to come and visit me at my blog, Diary of a Beautiful Soul. I'd love to hear from you!

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The Great Dream {Guest Post by Maya}

As a young girl I used to know exactly what my life would look like. Grow up, go to college, graduate, get married, become a award winning author, have 4 kids, go travel the world, die peacefully at an old age. I thought it was a pretty good plan. Little did I know just how much would change.

The older I got the more I dreamed. Yet the more I was broken by dreams, living in a limbo sort of place between reality and who I really was.

By the time I was a freshman in highschool I was pretty much lost. I had no idea where my future would lead me. The older I got the more I got the questions, "What do you want to do in college?" I had no idea. Be a nurse? A english Major?

One evening I found a bucket list I had made in middle school. Those dreams, I know now, could never be accoplished in my lifetime. They were simply too big.

Yet at the same time were they simply too small?

To live a full-filled life, to truly grasp the saying you only live only, you must realize our dreams for this world are simply too small. The one dream, the one truth, we can truly conquer is the dream to live for Christ. What Joy!

Of all the dreams I've written on my bucket list, only one can bring true happiness. Because in a hundred and fifty years everyone you know and will know will be dead. No one can remember what great goals you did. Only God knows in heaven that you lived your for His glory.

But it's fine to have dreams. As long as they don't take hold you of you, making you a man broken by dreams. Yet my greatest dream is to die and be forever in heave worshiping with all thr saints for all ages on the throne. Heaven itself will be much more lovely than my greatest dream of seeing the nothern lights. And hey....maybe there will be something more beautiful than the nothern lights in heaven for my eyes to see! For this world is simply a preview of what's to come.

I've decided to spend my life as a missionary. I am currently in poland, soon to go back home to study lanague for a few years, before hoping to re-locate permantely. This dream is nothing like I thought in middle school. And stull I have no idea of the dream the Lord has in store for me, which could look completely different.

 I've heard so many times surrending all to Christ is giving up dreams of this world. It's being broken by dreams. Is this true? No, for I believe with all my heart that:

To live for Christ is to give up all our dreams, it is the greatest dream we could possible comprehend.

 

Maya....Simply a girl on a journey to live for her lord. Check by Efflorescence for the scribblings of this life.

A Prism {Guest Post by Hazel Ann}

You have heard it a thousand times. Your Beautiful. Actually right now you might be thinking, Please let this post not be another one of those posts on how beautiful you are. Well, actually it's not, so I'd keep on reading if I were you.

In the christian culture we live in today there's a big deal made all the time on how beautiful one truly is. How they are God's perfect creation and nothing is wrong with them. Of course all young girls insecure about how they look need to hear this message. Yet the only reason young girls find themselves starring sadly in the mirror is not because they can't grasp they are truly beautiful. It's because they cannot grasp the true meaning of beauty.

The world sees beauty upside down. Pretty girls in cakey make-up aren't beautiful. Well, in some eyes they may be, yet this is temporary beauty that cannot last. Telling a girl she is beautiful is almost a lie for true beauty it not outward. Beauty is who you are inside and out. It's the feeling that captivates you when someone speaks words of encouragement, not the feeling when you think another is more beautiful to you.



True beauty is Jesus Christ, the only perfect thing. To truly understand we must realize the only beauty we can have is inside when Christ calls us. We are simply a prism, one who refelcts the light. Beauty can only come from Christ, which is true, lasting beauty.

I'm not a girl of jewelry or make-up. I would rather be plain because Jesus is all the jewels I need. I want to be a city on a hill, a moon reflecting the sun's light.

Christ is beauty and I am His prism and reflect His light alone. How I wish all humans could hear and understand this message!

There's good news for you. If your saved by Christ then you are truly beautiful in Him.

About the Guest Poster:

Hazel. Dreamer. Writer. Passionate. Radical. Romantic. Human. Christian. Brunette. Wacky. Happy.

More from me? Check  The Radical Measure.

Word Love {Guest Post by Natalie}

I've always loved books. Ever since I can remember, a trip to the library was my favourite excursion--even now, I still get giddy when we get to go to the library. The smell of books, the quiet whispers around the bookshelves, and the feel of the worn pages between my fingers is among the best simple pleasures in life.

The excitement I feel when I get a new book with a good reputation is one of the best feelings in the world.

"From your parents you learn love and laughter and how to put one foot in front of the other. But when books are opened, you discover you have wings." ~ Helen Hayes

I learned to read at a unusually young age--and ever since, I haven't put books down. My father read one of my favourite books (Tell Me a Secret--Max Lucado & Ron Dicianni) every night before bed. I remember snuggling up next to him, my hand through his arm, reading over his shoulder and wondering what would happen.

Books allow you to experience many lifetimes, learn invaluable lessons, meet the friendliest of people, and travel the most breathtaking places--it is a simple privilege of a pleasure.

An addiction of books never goes away, and reading more books only makes it a more serious condition, but it's a condition I'm willing to live with. :) 

"Books may well be the only true magic" --Alice Hoffman

**all photos via pinterest**

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I am a just-now junior in high-school seeking to glorify the one and only God in word and deed.

I have a wonderful family: Amazing parents, a wonderful big brother and two lovely sisters. 

I love...the piano, art, writing, studying, photography, anything vintage, rotary telephones, red shoes, shopping, Starbucks, Paris, tea, travel, sunsets, and last but certainly not least, my beautiful savior Jesus Christ and this life He blessed me with. 

My Blog, I dream in French,  ranges from topics of Scripture and Jesus Christ's mercy to books and movies to fashion and random experiences I encounter in life. why don't you stop by and leave a comment?

The Vow

I know I have been planning this movie review for quite some time now, but... I have been swamped with guests posts (which is a good thing, since I love writing for other blogs:) and am only now getting the chance to sit and write this...

Leo and Paige are a recent married couple.  After a car accident, in which they are both in, Paige is left unconscious and is in a coma for a while.  When she awakes, she doesn't remember her life past her highschool years - which includes, not knowing that she had married Leo.  The Vow is about a husband trying to win his wife's love all over again.  It's a beautiful story about how true love never fails...how marriage is forever no matter what...and that faithfulness is one of the biggest parts of a marriage.  The Vow that you say on your wedding day is your swear to stay with this person through thick and thin. 

If you're not one to enjoy movies with lotsa love and kissing, then this one isn't for you.  Also, Leo has his shirt off quite a few times, too, so... ::clears throat:: just a warning for you ladies ;)

I'm going to be focusing mainly on the story/plotline and the two main characters in this review.  Hope you don't mind:)

Oh and just so you know, this movie is in my Top 5.

*Rated PG-13 for an accident scene, sexual content, partial nudity, and some language.

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This is a true story.

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Rachel McAdams as....

Paige

Yes, this is the same actress who played in The Notebook and both of the new Sherlock Holmes.

Frankly, I wasn't a huge fan of hers in the SH movies.  It may just be because I didn't like the character she played.  But in The Vow...she was perfect.

 She and Tatum made the darndest cutest couple ever!

They got married 'illegally' in a museum! haha  Not my type of thing, but I thought it was still kinda cute :)

('illegally' as in: they-weren't-supposed-to-be-getting-married-in-the-museum-without-permission)

Her dress was cute, but...not a wedding dress.  I mean, it was pink.  So yeah...

I wish this ^ photo was a little bigger, because they were kissing under this...really huge arch-like thing.  It was pretty sweet!

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Channing Tatum as...

Leo

 How can you not squeal when the guy she loves stands outside her work window in the rain and watches her open a gift from him?  

I seriously had to put my hand over my mouth at this scene...  

 This scene is heart-breaking.

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 Their relationship before marriage had a very pure aspect to it.  I really appreciated that...

There weren't many scenes of them together before they were married, but in all of them, they were just this happy, cute boyfriend/girlfriend.

 Their Vows:

The biggest thing for me in this movie was...his unwavering love for her.  He loved her no matter what.  He loved her, even when she didn't recognize him when she awoke from a coma.  He loved her even when she was ignoring him...talking rudely to him...when every time he tried to jostle a memory, she would get mad.  There's one scene, especially, when...well...I won't say exactly what happens, but...he's trying to make her remember something that they did together.  And when she doesn't acknowledge it, he leaves the room, leans against a wall and fights back tears.  Oh my word, it was heart-wrenching...

 He was so patient with her.  Even when she pushed him away.

He was caring...and loving...and careful around her.  Never pushed too far, even though, I mean...she's his wife!  They're married!  But she doesn't remember anything about him, so she's ::shrugs:: understandably nervous and awkward and unsure around him.  But he never tried to manipulate her.  He let her have her space. 

Through all the seriousness and love and romance, there are quite a few hilarious parts as well :)  This movie had me laughing, crying, and squealing all at once...

Please remember to have a box of tissue with you while watching this.  

Dear readers, Miss Raquel bawled her eyes out so hard that her dear friend, Elisa, had to literally pause the movie and ask if I was all right.............. ::nods:: yeah.

 

Leo and Paige

Kim and Krickett

(the 'real' couple on whom this movie is based on)

 Oh and yeah, didn't I mention?  This picture ^ is my newest portrait project............ ::excited squeals::

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So...

Have you seen The Vow?

What did you think of it?

If you haven't, does this review make you want to? :)

What's a Young Woman To Do?

During our single years, it is easy to wonder (and complain) about being bored and not knowing what to do with our spare time. We don’t have a boyfriend…we’re graduated…we may not have a job…

What’s a young woman to do?!

Well, you may not know this, but…your single years are possibly one of the best times of your LIFE. The time that you spend being bored and wondering what to do, is the time you can be using to change the world.

In Paul’s first letter to the Corinthian church, he tells them (in verse 34): ‘…the woman who is unmarried, and the virgin, is concerned about the things of the LORD, that she may be holy both in body and spirit.’

Our unmarried, single years are a time to grow stronger in the LORD. More firmly rooted in His Word. It is a time that we are free from the distractions of a husband and family and should have the tunnel-vision to learn more about our God. Not that we should stop focusing on God when we do get married…but that we should have ourselves fully armored now.

And not getting married is a possibility that we must all consider, as well. Not every girl is called to a life of ministry through marriage. God may have ‘singleness’ written in your story. And that is also a beautiful calling. ‘But I want you to be free from concern. One who is unmarried is concerned about the things of the LORD, how [she] may please the LORD…’ (verse 32)

So ladies, during our single years, let us look at them as a challenge. A challenge to be ministers of our LORD and Savior and not idlers at home. Let us keep busy – helping others, serving others, teaching others…and praying that God would speak through us all the way. Stay the course, dear sisters.

::hugs::

<3

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Guest posting over here today.

From a Guy's Viewpoint...Andrew Cole

 

Andrew Cole

Age: 17
Occupation: Student, looking for a job besides yard work for my neighbors.
A few favorite hobbies/pastimes: I enjoy reading my Bible and writing. I participate very actively in a couple of martial arts, enjoy shooting, archery, practically any form of marksmanship-type-stuff actually. I also play piano. I’m not a complete savage. :)
Favorite subject in school: PE. (That counts, right?)
Favorite book: Apart from the Bible, my favorite book is The Screwtape Letters, by
C.S. Lewis.
Favorite movie: I Am Legend.
Something you look forward to every day: Mostly I look forward to my alone time with God, but I also look forward to eating every day. I’m a teenage boy, I can’t help it.

Modesty:

1. What are your thoughts on modesty? When I see a girl who is dressed modestly, it instantly makes her more attractive because it shows that she has self-control. Not all girls who dress modestly are Godly, but the girls who are Godly dress modestly.

2. Some of us feel that we either give too much effort, or not enough, in worrying about the way we dress. What is your suggestion to how you wish girls would dress? What do you like to see girls wearing? Dress modestly and comfortably. Personally I consider shorts and a tanktop to be just

as modest as snow pants and a winter parka. Cardigans are killer: attractive and modest. A girl can never go wrong wearing Converse...heels are neither necessary nor safe.

3. How do you feel about girls wearing makeup? Not a huge fan, if I’m honest. Girls are pretty enough without it, and too much is a major turn-off.

4. A lot of girls worry about looking chic around guys…but what do you consider pretty? I concern myself more with who the girl is and how she acts, but speaking strictly on looks, girls are prettier when they smile a lot. As far as stuff like hair length, eye color, etc. that’s just my personal opinion and I’m not
sure that’s what you’re asking for.

5. Do guys ever notice changes in girls? Hair styles, clothes, etc.? We notice a lot of things, but we don’t always mention it because we don’t want to send the wrong messages to girls.

Your Future:

6. What is something that you want/look for, the most, in your future wife? She has to be a Godly woman-has to live for Jesus through and through. It doesn’t matter how pretty or funny or happy she is if she isn’t Godly.

7. To what point would you like your future wife to be in-agreement with your own theology? The way I look at theology, there are closed-handed issues and open-handed issues. Closed-handed issues would include, (but not be limited to,) salvation, (grace v. works,) election, and the sovereignty of God. These are the issues that I won’t back down on. Open-handed issues would be things like baptism, (sprinkling v. pouring v. submersion,) communion, etc. These are the issues where the interpretation of scripture could really go either way. The closed-handed issues make up the core of what mere Christianity is. A girl has to conform to this mere Christianity in order to be a “potential wife”. So if I happen to like submersion baptism, and this hypothetical girl I am interested in likes sprinkling, it wouldn’t stop me from pursuing her. If I found out this same girl has an issue with my doctrine of salvation, (and wasn’t intent on changing her mind,) then that relationship would be a no-go.

8. What do you consider flirting and what do you think of a girl when she flirts with you? I consider flirting to be conveying romantic feelings in a subtle-ish way. As far as what guys think of girls that try to flirt with them, there are basically two different reactions. The first reaction is when the guy doesn’t like the girl, he’ll just ignore the flirtation. If the guy does like the girl, or at least kind of, then he’ll be interested - so if you think a guy likes you at all, don’t flirt with him unless you’re at least close to ready for a relationship.

9. Do you consider yourself a romantic person? Kinda-ish-maybe-not really...I don’t know? If that counts as an answer...

10. When do you plan to have your first kiss? “You may now kiss the bride.” I believe that is in the wedding vows for a reason, and I don’t plan on kissing any girls until my wedding day. :)

11. How many children would you like to have? Honestly, I have no idea. I’ll just leave it all up to God.

Dating/Courtship:

12. How do you feel about dating? I don’t like it. In my opinion, courtship is better because it carries with it a more serious connotation and a more realistic environment. If you’re only going out on dates with someone, you’re not in the same type of atmosphere you’d be in were you to get married -You have to see
how the girl reacts in everyday life, not in a restaurant.

13. If you agree w/ courting, how much involvement from YOUR parents do you believe is appropriate in helping you make a final choice in your future wife? None, some, or a lot? Please elaborate on your answer. “Therefore shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife, and they shall be one flesh.” Emphasizing the man leaving his father and mother part, I don’t believe there should be any involvement from my parents. I want them to approve of the girl obviously, but the going out and getting her part is my job. A boy has to become a man before he can marry a woman though, so that
independence factor is already there anyway.

14. When you’re interested in a girl, do you focus on her family too? Do you make it a point to get to know them as much as you want to get to know her? Of course! They know her better than anyone else, and they’re the people that she has lived with since she was born. If you don’t see how she is with them, how can you know how she’ll be with you and the children you’d (Lord-willing) have with her?

15. How much importance do you place on having the permission/blessing from a girl’s father before marriage? Getting permission is of paramount importance. The father was placed in the girl’s life to protect her, and if you go around that you aren’t going to earn any points with anyone.

Andrew on far right

16. If you like a girl, when should you tell her? And how should you show her? Ideally you shouldn’t tell her until you’ve talked to her dad...but that doesn’t always happen because guys can be stupid sometimes. How you show her really depends on your relationship with the girl already. If I was really comfortable with the girl I’d probably find a playful way to do it. If I was interested in her but didn’t know her feelings toward me, her dad would probably end up talking to her about it. There are other things too...this is really a  case-by-case question.

17. To what degree should a guy and girl just 'be friends'? If you’re not in a relationship, you’re just friends. Treat the guy as such. #simple answer

18. When would you like to settle down and get married? I would like to as soon as I find the girl...but I have to be ready for it first.

Personal Opinions:

19. What is your view on college for girls? I don’t see why they shouldn’t go to be honest...not even sure why that’s an issue for some people.

20. Do guys like it when girls are tomboyish or more girlie? I like it when girls are girly-ish, but not wimps...they should know/learn how to shoot guns! :D

21. What do you think of Christian girls with tattoos and piercings? Not a fan of tattoos or piercings. Earrings and nose-rings are ok, but the rest of it is kind of just unattractive. The more natural a girl is, the more attractive she is.

22. Is there anything that you would appreciate girls doing differently in order to help you maintain your purity? Girls should make abundantly certain that they aren’t sending any messages they can’t/won’t follow through on.

23. What do you think about guys and girls hugging? Sure. I hug girls I’m not interested in and they hug me. Hugging is good.

24. What is one thing that girls do that you hate? Girls can be a little notstraightforward. Although it’s cute most of the time, it does help occasionally when you just say whatever it is that you mean. Guys cannot take hints for anything.

25. What are your thoughts on young women encouraging their guy friends, in the LORD? Do you think that may be accounted as too forward? I receive some of my most encouraging words from young women, but it serves only as a friendship thing. We’re all brothers and sisters in the LORD right? I think if you’re encouraging the guy in the Lord because you like him there is an issue, but if he’s just your friend I say go for it.

26. What is one thing that sums up a true man/gentleman to you? Is he a Godly man? No? Than he is not a man at all. Godliness is what separates men from boys, because all true chivalry flows from being Godly.

27. Do you have any tips on ways girls can be friendly, kind and encouraging without coming across as over-friendly? Talk about your friendships with other guys and compare them to the guy you’re talking to. If it’s just your personality to be friendly to guys and he knows it, he probably won’t consider you “over-friendly”.

28. What are your thoughts on a girl who is NOW waiting, but hadn’t been faithful on keeping her physical/emotional purity in years past? I really don’t care. We are all dead in our sins without Christ. If you have accepted what happened as wrong and asked forgiveness from God, and you’re now keeping a commitment to him, I would consider you just as pure as any other girl. Plus, teenage guys really don’t have a right to talk...even when we’ve kept our physical purity, our emotional purity has probably been compromised and our mental purity has for sure. Guys are wired to be attracted to gals. If a beautiful girl walks by and the guy doesn’t have to struggle with keeping his eyes forward, it doesn’t mean he’s chaste: it means he’s dead. So if you haven’t kept your emotional/ physical purity, be confident in the grace of God through Jesus Christ. If it’s in his will for you to have a husband, you’ll get one and I’m sure he’ll be awesome. If it’s not in his will, what do you need one for? God almighty loves you, and I promise he’s going to beat the socks off of any guy you like down here.

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Thank you so much for taking the time to share your thoughts with us, Andrew.  Keep focused on the LORD!

Surrending My Precious Dream

This post is in memory and honor of Joshua Steven Eddy, who surrendered his precious dream…and left behind a beautiful legacy as an amazing photographer, a warrior of faith and a servant of God.

Joshua Steven Eddy

 March 5^th, 1993 – May 5^th, 2012

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The last blog post Josh wrote on his blog was one entitled ‘To Surrender a PreciousDream’.  I have read it numerous times…when I first found his blog, when I first heard the news of his drowning, when they found his body, and just a couple days ago, when I stumbled upon it again…it was by accident really, but I’m pretty sure God made it happen on purpose. 

In his post, Josh wrote about how overwhelmed he was with the beauty of a sunset he witnessed on the evening he took his brother and sister-in-law’s engagement pictures.  He says how much he wanted to share that moment with ‘his love’.  How he wanted to ‘pull her close and enjoy this beauty with her’.  But alas, she was not by his side.  He did not have ‘his love’ with him.  He wasn’t even sure he had met her yet.  Who was this woman that would have been Josh’s girl?  We will never know…because God didn’t write that in Josh’s story.

In the closing of his post, he said something that has become his, perhaps, most memorable quote.  And honestly, one of my favorites of all time.

‘To surrender a precious dream is a fearful thing, but to pursue anything but the full measure of the glory of God’s love is a wasted life.’

Josh has challenged me to surrender my precious dream.  And I thought ‘what better place to have a cloud of witnesses than through my blog?’

So readers, witness now as I surrender my precious dreams to my loving heavenly Father.  So that all of my love and passion may be directed to Him alone.  So that I, like Josh, can ‘love God fully’.

And if anyone reading this would like to write a similar post on their blog, I have provided a link-up below.  Write your post, then copy and paste the direct link to the form.

~My Precious Dreams~

>>to marry the love of my life

>>to get married young

>>to get married

>>to have lots of children

>>to see all my children graduate from homeschool

>>to see all my children get married

>>to hold my first grandchild

>>to hold all my grandchildren

>>to become an aunt

>>to adopt a child

>>to publish a book

>>to become exceedingly good at music

>>to become a professional actress

>>to die at an old age

>>to die peacefully

>>to die heroically

These are my precious dreams, dear LORD.  And I am laying them at Your feet.  Take these dreams…these aspirations…these hopes…and use them for Your glory.  Do with me as You please. 

‘Take my life and let it be consecrated, LORD, to Thee.  Take my moments and my days; let them flow in ceaseless praise…’

---

PS:  For those of you who are not aware, I was able to attend Josh’s memorial in Grants Pass, on May 16^th.  His body was found a few days later (on the 19th) and was buried on May 29th, where his body rests in peace, but his soul is soaring in heaven.

 

Friends May Fail Us

Last week I realized something...

...That I had been turning to my friends for the comfort and support that I should've been receiving from my Jesus.  I had been looking to earthly things to satisfy me.  To 'help' me.  To love me.

So this week I decided to do a sort of challenge.  I was going to just 'back away' from my friends for a little bit...and spend more time with God.

And so far, two huge instances have happened that have proven my point.  And a line from a hymn sums it up very well: 'Friends may fail us, foes asail us.  He is with me to the end.'

Instance #1 -

I didn't tell very many people this, but...
I auditioned for a dance/musical at the beginning of this week.  There was a singing audition on Sunday evening.  And if you passed that, they would give you a callback for a dance audition the next day. 

Well, I passed the singing part.  It went fabulously!  I wasn't nervous at ALL.  I sang well (even though I had forgotten to take my water bottle...so my throat was a tad dry).  And yes, they called me back for the next day.

I went in on Monday for the dance audition.  I got there.  I was calm.  I was ready.  And then...I was disappointed.  It's hard to explain all about it, but...it just wasn't what I was expecting.

So...I called my bro to come pick me up (we had our church's ultimate frisbee game that evening...at least my whole day wasn't ruined).  And while I waited for him outside the building, I pulled out my iPad and went to my iMessage.  I scrolled back through texts from a certain friend, but I was still feeling down...disappointed...upset...frustrated...

My eyes wandered away from my iPad and caught sight of my Bible, peeking out of my purse.

'This is where I want you to turn, my daughter.' 

It was almost as if I could hear God telling me that...

This week was supposed to be about focusing on Him, NOT on turning to earthly comforts - that weren't really even comforting me. 

So I pulled out my Bible and started reading through the Psalms. 

You have no idea how refreshed and at peace I felt afterwards.  I had been debating with myself whether I should go back in and have another try at the audition, but...no.  God didn't want me there.  It wasn't the right place for me to be. 

By the time Noah picked me up, I was happy...I was comforted...I was refreshed.  God was with me.

Instance #2 -

I had had a fairly rough day yesterday.  Not super stressful or anything.  But, I had been looking forward to some quiet, relaxing time and being able to chat with a friend.  And here's a word of advice, dear readers...

Don't ever give your friends high expectations.  Because they will almost always fail you.  And I realized that last night.

Like I said, I just wanted some relaxing time...just be able to kick my feet up and breathe a little.  And...well...the friend I was texting was a bit inconsiderate.  I'm not naming names and I certainly don't want any of you to get a bad image of this friend, because I do love them to death, but...I had expected them to be caring and considerate of me.  I had expected some 'me' time.  Some pampering.  Some love.  But they decided, instead, to talk about...other things. 

I felt let down.  A bit hurt.  They didn't even ask me how I was doing.  Instead, I just listened to them ramble on about this and that...

'You should be spending time with Me,' I heard God's voice remind me.

So I said 'goodnight' to the friend...and pulled out my new Bible (yes, I got a new Bible from my church for my graduation:) so happy with it! <3) and read a little before going to sleep.

But here's the best part.  Here is the part of this little story that makes me stand back and realize just how much my Jesus loves me.

This morning, as I was sitting down to write this post, I posted a status on Facebook and Gmail.

'Don't give your friends high expectations. Because they will almost always fail you. But you have a Friend who will never leave you. A Friend who is always there - no matter where you may be. What a Friend we have in Jesus!'

No sooner had I written that status that I got a text from a friend...wishing me a goodmorning...telling me that they loved me.  Now what better timing could God have made that??  It so touched me...and just made my morning!!

---

So remember, dear readers:

Friends will fail us.  They will.  It's a part of life.

But we have a God who is always with us.  Will never leave us.  Never fail us. 

He is with you wherever you go.

::hugs:

Content with God = Content Forever



Have you ever heard that saying ‘Content while single, content while married’?


Well, I have.

And God has been teaching me a lot about what that means lately.

Like you all know, I am a very romantic person. (some of you are probably rolling your eyes… ‘yes, Miss Raquel, we know very well!’) Having that romantic imagination can sometimes get the best of me. And I can get too carried away in dreaming and fantasizing about the future (…I can’t believe I’m admitting all this to the world…). But you have to come back to earth every once in a while. And whenever I did, I found myself being discontent with my life…my relationships…my singleness. And it wasn’t healthy.

Little things that I came across convicted me that what I’d been doing was wrong. And that I needed to learn to be content with where I am in life right now…not where I will be in the future.

A boyfriend won’t make my life better. Love won’t make it more beautiful. A husband won’t make life

 perfect. Marriage won’t make life easier.

My God is the One Who makes life beautiful. Even when I mess up…even when I fail Him…He’s always there to pick me right back up. To help me move on. To help me see the good in this bad world. HE makes my life perfect. A mortal man won’t.

Suddenly, my eyes were opened. I felt like I had been walking with my eyes closed, dreaming. Instead of open, looking at what my life held for me NOW.

My eyes were open to see the beautiful singleness that I am experiencing right now. I became…content. Content with where God has me in life right now. Content with not having a boyfriend. Content with knowing that God has my man for me, somewhere, right now.

No…this doesn’t make me any less romantic:) Yes, it’s a little difficult to hear my friends talk about their bf/gf. To talk about their latest date. To tell me all the wonderful things they love about their significant other. I cannot WAIT to be able to tell others about my amazing, handsome man. But…at the moment…I can’t. I am…learning to be content. If I can’t be content now, unmarried, as a single young lady, serving the LORD in her father’s house…how will I continue to be content as a married young woman, serving the LORD in my husband’s house?

Stay strong, dear brothers and sisters. You’re not in this alone. <3

Content with God = Content Forever.

::hugs::

{all photos via Pinterest}