Christmas breakkkk!!

I feel like this cat today.

Let's just say Microeconomics...not really my thing. Exams...not my thing either.

Oh well.  I'm just going to eat chocolate and watch mindless movies until the grieving process ends.

on a brighter note, I'M OFFICIALLY ON CHRISTMAS BREAK NOW! WOOHOO!

Commence messing around reading pointless articles, spending time on social networking sites, reading books I actually like, watching TV, and procrastinating on 2 (count them! 2!! and one is a poem. I have to write a poem...) extra credit lit projects and 2 (count those!!) required biology projects. Fun stuff :) 

Oooh and my grandparents are coming!!!! Double yay!!!

What are you doing for Christmas break? (not begging...comments, cough, comments XD)

**

To actually be serious, I'm reading 1 Peter now (the first chapter is where I got my blog name!). It's extremely convicting...did you know God calls us to be STRANGERS in this world? That's a pretty strong connotation of "in but not of."  We should not have fellowship with darkness. I really need to work on that! My heart prefers the ease of the world. It need not be that way. I find joy in the Lord.

~Elissa

My 2nd devotional for True Beauty Devotionals

I'm so excited! 

"Striving for perfection

by Elissa Branum

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment.

~1 John 4:18a

Have you ever felt afraid or unsure?

I'm almost sure that almost everyone one has.  One major reason I feel afraid is actually because I fear failure. I feel like I'll never be "perfect."

We strive for perfection.  It's like we are hard-wired to want the very best...yet we always fall short. Why is it so integrated in our psyche to admire and to desire perfection? Why do we envy those people who seem so "put together," like everything is great in their lives? Why do we point out the loveliest houses, cars, and other belongings?

Maybe we were meant to live for Someone capable of the perfection we fall short of. Maybe our hearts are tuned to the One who is perfect. Perhaps we are inwardly seeking and longing for His purest, closest, most right embrace. Jesus is the reason for our adoration of perfection.

Reflection:

Do you fear imperfection?

Application Step:

Maybe you, as I do, need to let go of your fear of falling short. Realize that God paid the price for our sins, and there is nothing we can do to earn that salvation.  Talk to a godly adult if you are unsure, and fall into the arms of a perfect God.

Prayer:

Thank You, Lord, for being a perfect God. What more could we long for? Who else could fill us and take away our emptiness?  I was made for you, Lord.  Help me to believe that you are the only perfect One.  I love you, Lord!

To purchase a print copy of these devotionals click here:  www.findyourtruebeauty.com/devos-book

For more help finding your true beauty in Christ, visit: www.FindYourTrueBeauty.com"

--All ownership to True Beauty Devotionals.

Lately

1. Reading these books

boring cover is WAY better than the gross covers....

I love CS Lewis. I can't say that enough.

Reading this still/again. Still beyond amazing.

that's all I'm reading...are you shocked??

2. Watched these movies last night (yup, all of them):

the latter two had me crying legit the whole time :'P

3. Loving Christmas music:

What are you doing lately?

~Elissa

What if we were real?

(disclaimer: I know there is a cd by that name, which I still want to get, as it sounds awesome-sauce)
(disclaimer 2: I may become personal/mushy/ridiculous in this post...tired...)

What if I stopped trying to be "the perfect Christian" and just admitted that at times, things in the Christian life don't make sense?

What if I told you that waiting is the hardest thing for me and I tend to have this attitude toward God?

***

Me: "This doesn't make sense anymore, Lord. You showed me the Way last month (or last year, or yesterday, or at that camp, or at that revival, or in that book), but I just don't get it anymore."

God: "Wait on Me."

Me: "But God, I don't think You heard me. I said 'this doesn't make sense to me right now'. Why can't You make it make sense?"

God: "Wait on My timing."

Me: "But Lord, that is NOT what feels good to me. My emotions say I should throw reason to the wind and ignore You. *goes on my own way, struggling*"

God: "I'll lead you if you will wait on Me."

Me: "*not listening* God, I can't hear You! Are You even there?"

God: "*softly, through the chaos* just wait on Me."

Me: "*breaking down in tears now* God, I've tried everything. I waited until all else failed, but now I'm going to listen to You, what should I do?"

God: "Trust Me."

***

That may not be the most spiritual prayer ever, but that's been how God's spoken to me lately. I'm really learning that tuning Him out is so easy to do, and such a bad idea.  He's there...I just need to listen.

What have your conversations with God been like lately? (Remember, if you're like me, it's hard to say that you've "heard God speak." But anything--from a Christian lyric to a hard-hitting verse can be His voice reaching you in love.)

~Elissa

While I'm Waiting

I watched Fireproof for like the second time ever yesterday (what a horrible homeschooler I am).

And, yup, it's an amazing movie. 

And it had this song in it.

And God is totally using those words in my life, right now.

Why did it never connect with me that sometimes the "big things" God will call me to do will just be waiting on Him? Simply obeying Him when He says "Not now. I have something better."

Simply worshiping when I feel like crying in frustration.

Simply adoring my loving God when all human relationships are driving me insane.

Simply letting go of this fear that held me back.

Simply waiting.

And prayerful decision making. That, I'm telling ya, is tough stuff for me. I can't tell you how many times I've prayed "God, please tell me what to do right now" and felt like there was no answer. I'm gonna bare my soul and admit that I've completely given in to the lie that He can't, or won't speak to me.

But I can "barely hear You whisper through the rain". And faith is acting on that tiny little voice...

He gives us the choice to listen. The choice to act. The choice to trust. 

It's called free will. I sometimes wish that He hadn't given me free will, because I mess it up so much.

But that wouldn't have been love.

What are you afraid to ask Him about? What have you been praying for without hearing an answer?

Keep praying. I know that doesn't sound very helpful, but that's all you can do! & the answer may not be what you expect, or want. 

Still, worship, even while you're waiting.

~Elissa

Joyful Monday

Today is an inexpressible joy day :)

My little sister asked Jesus into her heart today! Very happy :). Our God is a mighty God; there's nothing beyond Him.

~Elissa

Christmas music...I can't express my love for you

Yep. I'm pretty much head over heels in love with Christmas music. Air 1's constant streaming Christmas radio feeds my addiction.

However, this is now my favoritest (yes mac I'm keeping that word) song in the whole world.

I've been crazy about the song since reading Immanuel's Veins. It's really not a spoiler to say the lyrics are in the book :P.

On the above pianer (keeping that word too) cover, they included this verse which I really liked:

On that day a fountain will be opened to the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and impurity--Zechariah 13:1

Woah, right? I didn't know that Jesus was actually prophesied as a cleansing fountain for sins! A lot bigger deal than a pretty metaphor. In light of sacrificing, the prominent worship of Zechariah's day (i believe) it's quite a concept to imagine actually being covered in the sacrifice's blood, in a foundation or pool. Gross maybe, but uber powerful. Not only were the people promised a death and sacrifice but a cleansing pool of blood that would literally wash them clean from impurity.

I know I need that. I sometimes feel so covered with sin--intruding my thoughts and staining my soul. But "There is a fountain filled with blood drawn from Emmanuel's veins; and sinners plunged beneath that flood lose all their guilty stains."


It's way more than someone's idea of a cool song. He really was born to die and become a literal cleanser of sin. 


+Elissa