Welcome: The Heart

The Heart ❤️

Most of you have caught on to the theme of this blog, but I would love to fill you in on the heart behind it all about....the "foundation" of my home if you will. I have been dreaming of this blog for over a year now and I cannot believe it is finally in the making! God has blessed me with a love for writing and a passion for encouraging young women and I pray that God will use both of these gifts to bless you and me.

At the heart of my home is the powerful love of God which He so graciously lavishes upon each one of us. It is because of this love that we can find freedom in Christ. About a year ago I read a book entitled Graceful beautifully written by Emily Freeman. This book inspired the theme of this blog as well as its title. In her book, Freeman highlights several different profiles of your typical "good Christian girl", one being "The Girl Next Door". 

The Girl Next Door  grew up in a Christian home and her mom practically gave birth to her in a church pew. The Girl Next Door's To Do List looks similar to this one:

Read my Bible. Check. 

Say yes mam. Check.

 Go to Church. Check. 

Listen to Worship music. Check. 

Post a Bible verse on twitter. Check.

And the list goes on. 

She gets so caught up in her good reputation that she easily disappoints herself when she does not check off an item on her list of Christian duties. She gets so concerned about what others think of her that she does "good things" in order to gain positive attention and feedback. On the days where she feels really good about herself and has checked off everything on her list, her righteous acts are like filthy rags compared to the righteousness of her God. He is so much bigger and holier than she can ever imagine and He died on the cross to save her and everyone else from a list of do's and don'ts. 

If you are anything like The Girl Next Door, than you know how easy it is to slip into a mundane "godly routine". She may seem put together and perfect on the outside, but on the inside she carries the burden of a stressful legalistic schedule and a judgmental heart. This girl could be me. This girl could be you. This girl could be right next door. But know that God has the power to place this girl right next door to freedom.  

{ It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slaver. Galatians 5:1 }

When you let people down, God continues to find importance in you. When you let yourself down, God continues to show off His strength through your weakness. When you feel insignificant, God continues to value and delight in you. When you sin, God continues to see you as perfect. When you do not feel happy, God continues to offer you supernatural Joy through the hope of His sovereign plan for your life. These truths should be what drive you to bring glory to His Name through what you say, think, and do. 

You do not have to do anything. You get to.

{ "For am I now seeking favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ" Galatians 1:10 }

The Girl Next Door