Many times I ask myself while we're driving somewhere, or in my room alone, or just chilling out on the Internet: is this it? Is this all I have to live for is boredom on line when my friends aren't available and there seems to be nothing happening in my life?
I'm sure everyone has asked themselves these same questions. There is an answer, no. No this is not all there is to it, no there is more to life, and no you are not a failure.
Too many times we go about our lives without knowing who we are, who we truly are.
You of course know your name, your height, weight, looks, and your social security number, but that is not it.
I heard a sermon last summer that changed my life. I couldn't figure who I was, I was so irritated with the things that I did and I felt like I was chasing people away from me. The pastor who was preaching that day said this, "Christ is your identification." Click. Everything in my head suddenly made sense, I had accepted Jesus into my heart, and I knew who he was, but who could he be inside of me? It is still Him. He is the one who will empower you when things get tough, he is the one whose healing power will flow through your hands when you lay hands on someone to heal them. He is the one who knows every little detail about your life and will use other people to encourage, uplift, and cheer YOU up by showing you that he truly cares.
You were born with all kinds of talents, gifting, loves, passions, and all those things truly come to life once you accept Jesus and recognize who he truly is. God made you to be who you are for a reason. You were not a mistake, let me say that again, NOT a mistake. God formed you from inside out, he has a very special purpose for you. One to be his child, for him to love and adore, and he wants you to love him back because you want to! He wants a relationship with you, to talk with you, love on you, just be with you. Two, he has a very special purpose for you in life, to go about his business. And he will show you what he wants you to do in life, just ask him. Whether to be an Evangelist, Prophet, Healer, Intercessor, etc. You are the sons and daughters of the High King. That makes you Princes and Princesses! You have a royal seal on your heart, one that marks you as the King's kids.  If you feel like there are things in your life that needs to change, then change them. But don't change who you are, we all have little things we need to take care of. But we are no longer a part of this fallen world, we have been redeemed from the curse! You can get rid of whatever junk you feel you need to loosen. God will help you, he'll help you get through whatever you're going through.
Don't change who you are because some people might not like who you are, they're just insecure themselves or don't see the plank in their own eyes. You were made very extra special, and God loves you SO much! I can't even begin to tell you how much God loves you. Everything you've been gifted with is there for a reason. Everything you are is there for a reason. I do not count sickness and diseases, those were not put there by God and God wants to take all of that crap away if it is there.
The things you love, was a desire that God put in your heart for a reason as well.
This is my tid bit, let God take you to the higher levels. I can only encourage you, you must be the one to walk in the foot steps of the High King.
Love you guys so much!
Wren

I've been thinking lately, about what an awesome life that we as Christians have to live.
We serve a great God! We are constantly taken care of, and loved beyond measure.
I find it interesting that when I talk to people they are worried about the economy and how scary things are; people losing jobs left and right, people can't get work left and right, people keep complaining up and down.
Jesus lived in an even crappier time than we are living in now, and he was well taken care of. Fish coughed up coins, (the fish must have had an interesting time trying to digest a random coin, right?)
A little boy bringing what all he had, which was three fish and a bread loaf (man, there's that fish again)
Jesus turned that into leftovers for over five thousand people! You may say, well he's God and he can do whatever he wishes. Well, that same God that you just said could do whatever he wishes is living, guess where? in you! But, Jesus didn't make those fish come out of thin air, a little boy came to him and gave him what he had, then Jesus was able to use what he was given and turn it into a plethora of food! Jesus also told the rich man that if he gave up everything he had, he could be one of his disciples, and yet the rich man walked away sad because he didn't want to give up what was dearest to him. Now, Jesus wasn't saying that we all have to give up our lap tops, jewelry, ipods, etc. What he was doing was seeing if the man really wanted to follow God. Would he really trust God to be happier then he was with his present money? Or see the even bigger riches that would come in future because he would lay down his life and let God take control. Sadly, this wasn't the case for the rich man. Did he love God more then the food in his belly or the watch on his wrist?
We as God's children are completely taken care of, yes we may have to work a job, but God will exceedingly bless you through that because you are following him with your heart instead of following the dollar. By not following the dollar and giving God all you have Jesus can take that and multiply it by the tenth power. I am NOT saying sell your stuff, but give it to God, just say: Hey God, my life is yours, my things are yours, I'm willing to lay them down for fifteen minutes a day to see what you have to say to me. God will take what you were able to give to him and spoil you rotten because you first gave it to him, you gave him a little bit of a bubble! Jesus is not going to make you poor to follow him, that is not what I am saying at all. What I am saying is that are we really willing to lay down the things that are most dearest to us, at his feet and say you matter more, I give you room in my life to really work. I trust you, God has the most out of this world faith in us, why can't we just say: God, I have faith in YOU that you will supply me with all my needs. God already knows everything we went through, going through, and will go through, He already has a plan set in motion to help you, now will you LET him help you by letting him work in your life. Don't let the words of doubt fill your head. The enemy wants to try to keep you in shackles by trying to make you think you messed up, so God wants to hurt you or you have to be poor to follow him. No, Jesus will bless your socks off if you are willing to trust him and let him do so. For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome." Jer 29:11 There was also the time Jesus appeared to the disciples after he was resurrected, and he told them to cast their line on the other side of the boat, and it was LOADED with fish. I think it is time we start listening to God and where he wants us to cast our line, if we do that, he'll be able to bless us because we obeyed and allowed him to work in our lives. You know? I'm really starting to think Jesus had a thing for fish....I'd hate to be a fish when he's around. However, I wouldn't mind being a fisher of men for Jesus. Now that would be cool! To be able to bring people to God as easily as Jesus captured fish! Bring it on.

Love you guys!
~Wren

Expectations

Standing up, rising above, shake the dirt off your sandals.
These three things share something extremely important; going beyond what the world says you can or can't do.
I have put myself in my little colorful box one too many times! I call it a colorful box because people don't want to step outside of their safe zone, so they make themselves comfortable in their own little world, so they decorate it with all the things they wish to do instead of going after it.
I wanted to do so many things and I quit because I either lost interest or thought it was too hard to accomplish, because I'm just me. I'm not Miley Cyrus, Vanessa Hudgens or Leona Lewis. But, should I give up wanting to follow one of my dearest dreams of all time because I'm not any them? No. Yes, I want to be a singer, am I willing to go after it? Yes. I've had different opinions said about my voice, I know I need training, but that doesn't mean I'm a failure; we all have to learn. I almost gave up that dream about two years ago, because I let thoughts of doubt fill my head. There are still many times I struggle with it. So, I sought God over the entire ordeal, and now I have full confidence that he wants me to be a singer.
Not following expectations isn't always denying that your Mother wants you to be a dentist, or your Father wants you to be an athlete. No, expectations are the things you set up for your life. Will you set yourself up to fail or will you set yourself up to succeed? That's the important question, "will you or will you not?" What are your expectations in life? The things that you would love to do and then you turn and say: I can't do that, I'm not good enough. You are only as good as you let yourself be. God knows you, and who you are, he believes in you. Obviously, the God who created you, would know what you can or can't do; he put you together in the first place. The thing is that He believes you can do anything you put your mind too. Phil 4:13 says, "You can do all things through Christ who is the strength in you." Christ is your strength, it doesn't matter if you 'look' weak, or don't 'look' the part. The thing that matters the most is the heart behind it all. Knowing that my God is with me, then who could be against me? Trust me, people such as Cyrus or Hudgens did not get where they are because they had it easy, they had heart. I fully intend to live my life to its fullest, and not discard the idea of I can't do that because I'm not smart enough or pretty enough. No, I will keep walking with my head held high and my God in my heart. Supporting me with all his strength. He's supporting you, his strength will hold you up because he believes in you. My best friend believes in me to the fullest extent, her support helps strengthen me; God will be there for you like that too.
Set up your own expectations and go after it with all your heart!  
Don't be afraid to be you, if people think you're weird or unacceptable because you don't meet their expectations then they can get over it. You are so special! Be who God made you to be, because He made you for himself. It only matters what he thinks of you, not what the world does.
Love you guys!
~Wren
Ps 139!

The easy vs. Hard

Math is an interesting thing in my life, there are days I hate it because it's hard and there are days I love it because it is easy.
Why is it so easy to despair when things become tough? Something I've been trying to hold onto is that Jesus is stronger than I am, and he already knows all the answers to all these so called, 'hard math problems.'
He'd take one look at that and say: It really isn't as bad as you think, here let me help you.

So then, when we tell God he's smarter than the math book, isn't He also smarter than the worlds problems?
Everything in this life is just like trying to solve an Arithmetic problem.
There is always a different method to finding the answer, but God has all the answers. Thankfully though, we have a book that is much better then a typical math book, we have the Living Word, aka, the Bible.
He shows us everything we need to know to live for Him, what we need to prosper in a fallen world. We have the book of answers to our problems. Also, if God would go so far as to convince your boss to give you a raise or use someone in your life to give you a gift; wouldn't He go so far as to take care of your bills, family, life insurance, taxes, etc. He cares about the little things as much as the big things. Truth be told that these things that look big and complicated, ABSOLUTELY impossible to us, he'll respond: It isn't as hard as you think, let me help you. God has already provided for us everything we will ever, ever need in this life.
He's there for you, he'll speak to you personally, and through his Living Word. His word truly is the answer to all our problems. Healing of Sickness and disease, freedom from sin and death, curses broken over your life, and much, much more. There is a saying that I've loved for years, it's from the movie Galaxy Quest, and I quote, "Never give up and never surrender." Don't let these things in life beat you, whether it's a job, relationships, or anything else for that matter; for you are not of this world. Hold strong and stand fast. Phil 4:13 states, "I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who ^[a]infuses inner strength into me; I am ^[b]self-sufficient in Christ's sufficiency]." I like the part where it says, "equal" to anything. You can set yourself up to succeed or you can set yourself up to fall. Believe in who God made you to be, and even more so believe in the one who is IN you. Like I've said before Faith is something very unique and important. Keep your head held high and don't let the world tell you what you can or can't do. Go by what God says you can do, and He says you CAN do anything through Him.
Love you guys!
~Wren

As of late I've been discovering my relationship with God.
I find it interesting that the minute you accept this precious savior into your heart, he already knows everything about you; because he made you. And yet, we tend to go through life not even trying to get to know Him better because we already have preconceived ideas about Him.
Have you ever taken a small amount of time to really think about Him or read your Bible specifically for God, not because your Pastor asks you to do it? It is a good thing to focus on what he has done, but have you ever wondered what he will do next? He wants to share these things with you just as personally as you would with your own spouse, girlfriend, boyfriend. God wants to reveal who he is to you, through his word and by conversing with you. That's right, I said conversing. God can use his word to jump out at you and speak to your heart, but if you take the time to listen to Him, you will hear him speak to you as well. I think it is the coolest thing in the world that we have a God that we can talk to at any place at any time and hear his response. I'm not talking about just talking to Him about your problems, taxes, jobs, etc. What I am saying here, is that you can also talk to him as you would your Best Friend. Everything you can possibly think of under the sun, will come flying out of your mouth. The Bible talks about a still small voice that will come to you. He is a very personal God, and even though he already knows everything about you; that sure doesn't mean he doesn't want you to talk to him about your life. The Bible also says ask and you will receive. "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." Matt 7:7 By the looks of this scripture he will show you things if you're willing to ask Him.
Here is another thing I think is very special, that our loving Abba(Father) spoils us. I've found that a lot of times that by just asking God for something, almost every time I've seen Him get it to me one way or another.
I'm not saying God is your ticket to getting everything you want, that's not why he is here. But, I believe that because he loves you, he will spoil you. Also, there is a scripture that says once you've asked BELIEVE that you have already received it. That sounds an awful lot like imagining it as already yours doesn't it? God moves entirely by Faith. "Faith assures us of things we expect and convinces us of the existence of things we cannot see." Heb 11:1 God's word translation. We need Faith to completely believe in our God, because we can't see Him, yet we know he's there. "Therefore I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they will be granted you." Mark 11:24 NASB. But, always remember that just because you believe in if it, and it doesn't seem to be happening right away, that doesn't mean it is not coming at all.
My best friend once told me these very true and inspirational words, "There is only hope so long as you are willing to fight for it." These words stick with me wherever I go. Always remember that God does want to spend time with you, and he wants to not only hear from you what is important to you and see your desires come through, but he also wants to reveal more of himself to you; on a much deeper level.
Love you guys!
~Wren