Monday, June 21, 2010

Find Your Wings and Live Like You're Loved

"I pray that God will fill your heart with dreams. And that faith gives you the courage to dare to do great things. I'm here for you whatever this life brings. So let my love give you roots, and help you find your wings." - "Find Your Wings" - Mark Harris

Upon graduating high school, I've taken a look back at the way I have come the last 4 years. My journey has been one that has shaped much of my life, but even more so, the people that I have come to know through those years have been an influential part of who I have come to be. I think it is safe to say I wouldn't be where I am or who I am without them in my life. Looking back, I see how God had a plan and a reason for each person that stepped in my life. When as well as how long they stayed or if they're still there were all part of God's plan.

Sometimes people are only meant to be in our lives for a season, sometimes longer. But no matter how long they are there, they have a reason to be there. God placed them in your life for a reason, whether it be you help them, they help you, or you help each other. And when they leave, they almost always leave a mark, a reminder of what they did in your life. No matter where we go in life, how close or how far apart we become, we always carry a bit of each other everywhere.

It is those people that came into my life that slowly helped to bring me about. It is those people that came in my life at certain seasons and were always there, always praying, and who invested into me and encouraged me to keep going that made such a difference in my life. And because of their love and encouragement, I am finding my wings. I'm getting ready to fly. Those people were such an influential part of my life and ultimately directed me to seek God in everything.

Under their encouragement and guidance I really began to seek God. And little by little, my dreams of what I would be in the future changed. Slowly what I once dreamed of began to seem empty and meaningless, and God's dreams for me, became my dreams. At first they seemed unreachable. But on more than one occasion, God has proven that He is faithful and that He will bring me through what He has called me to. I just have to listen and obey His voice. All in all my heart is fully driven to achieve the dreams that God has laid in my heart...

"May passion be the wind that leads you through your days, and may conviction keep you strong and guide you on your way. May there be many moments that make your life so sweet. Oh, but more than memories..."

It's my faith that keeps me going after these dreams placed in me. And my faith is the reason that I am still standing. I'll be honest, sometimes it can be easy to forget how good God is, and all that He has done. (Which happens when you give into circumstances and take your eyes off Him). But sometimes I like to look back, because it's the memories of where He brought me from that keep me moving forward. There are times I would love to go back to how things used to be. But that season is over. It was a time of growth, and now it's time to move on. God had me placed there for just long enough, but now a new season has come and looking back, I have far more than just memories from the last season. I have much more that I carry from that time in my heart. And what I carry from that is much of what keeps me pushing forward...

"Visions that can change the world trapped inside an ordinary girl
She looks just like me too afraid to dream out loud
And though it’s simple your idea, it won’t make sense to everybody
You need courage now If you're gonna persevere

To fulfill divine purpose, you gotta answer when you're called
So don't be afraid to face the world against all odds


CHORUS
Keep the dream alive don't let it die
If something deep inside keeps inspiring you to try, don't stop
And never give up, don't ever give up on you
Don't give up

Every victory comes in time, work today to change tomorrow
It gets easier, who’s to say that you can’t fly
Every step you take you get, closer to your destination
You can feel it now, don’t you know you're almost there?

To fulfill divine purpose, you gotta answer when you're called
So don't be afraid to face the world against all odds."


-Never Give Up - Yolanda Adams

God has given me a vision that I choose to go after with everything in me. It hasn't been an easy journey, and it is not going to be. But It is what He has called me to. It's my destiny, and I'm going to be sure that I am the one who will fulfill it and that He won't have to send another to take my place. Obedience is key. I will not run from the way that God has planned for me. I'm just me. And although it might not always be in the worlds eyes, "just me" is enough for God. But he has to take ALL of me. Not just a part of me. And because I'm giving Him my all, I know that my life is in His hands. And thus, I go after what he has called me to. And I know that He will bring me through. I will have the Victory in Jesus. It will come one day....I heard once that "We are called to be today, what we will be when Christ comes." So I press forward. I want to fulfill the dreams that God has placed in me.


"Go make the best of everything you want to be
With ambition pushing forward
Your dreams upon your shoulders"
-"We've Only Just Begun" Run Kid Run

I'm running. I've just hit a milestone. Each day is bringing me just a bit closer. A good friend told me that "We have to be who God called us to be." Those ten words changed my life. With that reminder I continue. Another friend told me to "Call on the promise..." which through that I learned to call on the promiser. These four years, I could never summarize well. It would make a novel just to begin. (Thus this is my terrible summary). There is much written between the lines, and even more written across my heart.

All in all, what I've learned these last four years, I pray that you don't need to see what I write to know what I have brought with me. Because what I have learned, I pray that you see it daily in my life. That you will see how I've learned to love, and how I've learned to give, to sacrifice, to live all for God and to seek and find. I pray that you see daily how my struggles have made me strong, and that God in me who brings me through those trials makes me even stronger. I pray that when the time comes, you will see me fly and as I do, that you will see these last four years through my eyes.


"Live like your loved by the Lord up above. Spread out your wings and never give up. Cause you can do anything, be who you're meant to be. Always remember to dream. Keep your head up, and live like you're loved." - Live Like You're Loved by Mark Schultz.


To all who were with me -- Thanks for coming on this journey. Your influence in my life changed me and made me who I am today. Above all, thank you, Jesus for being my rock, my fortress, my deliverer, my savior, friend, help, my light, my strength, my God. Thank you for bringing me here. My life is all yours. Take me as I am and mold me to your dreams for me. I love you, Lord! <3

Dancing in the shadow of His cross,

Brittany (1 Peter 3:4)