You ARE Important!

Recently I have been struggling with guilt and shame for quite a few days now, over something that I did DAYS ago. My wonderful Mother has been trying to help me and love me. She has been giving me her wonderful wisdom and knowledge too. My own mother probably knows more about me than I do honestly. I struggle so much when it comes to making mistakes. I know that probably sounds strange because obviously when you make any mistake you obviously have messed up and struggled with whatever you've done or are doing. Here's what I'm really trying to say, when I mess up in ANY way I beat myself up and start acting kind of depressive like because I think I've ruined SO much! I am a very dramatic person and things are in extremes as my mother would say "You live in extreme's." It's completely true though! I don't want to live that way though. I want to overcome my problems and the things that hold me down in life. Just today my mother had a conversation with me about repenting, forgiving and moving on with life. You see, when I see my mistakes (which I DO A LOT) I feel like I've ruined my life and there's nothing else I can do. Once my mom had told me how to repent, forgive and move on, she also said that I am a very passionate person and that is a good thing. She said "God has shaped you and made you into a beautiful woman...Sometimes you're so passionate that it can become intimidating to other people...you have a beautiful heart, you love others and God has really changed you and made you JUST THE WAY He wants you to be..."

I am one of those people that likes to be praised for what I do and what I have done. It makes me feel good. I know that that is a weakness of mine. My mom also said "You are a wonderful person, you just have some rough edges that need to be smoothed out." I HATE making mistakes. I want to be JUST LIKE JESUS SO BAD that when I make a mistake it makes me get a little depressed. I have learned and am continuing to learn and grow in the knowledge that in my weakness, God is made perfect. If I was perfect, I would have no need for Jesus. If I was a complete heathen and didn't care anything about God and didn't care about NOTHING that wouldn't be good either because I would never change, but since I want and try (with God's help and guidance and love in my life) to change and live my life for Jesus, He is able to change me and make me into who HE wants me to be. I am not perfect, but I am not a quitter, when I am committed to something I will NOT stop!  I wanted you to read a letter that my Mother wrote to me 2 years ago for Valentines Day. I keep it by my bed to remember. :) Here it it:

"Traci,
'He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.' Revelation 21:4

'Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.' Philipians 1:6

What a beautiful young lady you have become, both inside and out. God's love radiates from your being. I don't say enough how proud I am; your heart is pure, your faithfulness undying, your passion inspiring, and your joy infectious. The purity of your heart puts God first in everything you do. Even if your response is questionable, it usually stems from a righteous motive. The pureness of your heart directs you in your faith. Belief for you is strong - in God and in others which can at times make you vulnerable to hurt due to other people's failures. Keep your faith in God supremely - He won't fail you even when others do. Just as your faithfulness perseveres, so your passion will light fires. Your passion will carry you places others can't go and open doors others can't open. I love your passion; it inspires me and sometimes intimidates me in its power. Though each of these God-given characteristics will do much in your life, the joy of God will be your strength. Keep smiling dear, keep getting excited over the little things in life. Keep watching for jet streams and letting them be proof of God's love to you for you are definitely loved - by God, by me, your father, your brothers, your friends and everyone you meet. I hear so much response from others of how special you are and how much they appreciate you. YOU ARE LOVED!

          Happy Valentines Day Dear!
             Mom"

Sometimes

Do you ever just have bad days, or bad weeks?  I do-this past week has been one of them... :( Have you ever done or said something that you regret and wish that you did not say or do that thing? Well, That happens to me a lot. I can have a GREAT heart about things, but sometimes when I am struggling and/or hurting on the inside or when I am confused or don't know how to do something or say something, things I say and do come out wrong and then later I regret saying and/or doing them the way that I did. In those moments though-I always run to Jesus. He's the only one who can make me feel better. It can be difficult when you think you have ruined something or said something that you know or weren't sure you should have said or done that thing and then it turns around and bites ya in the booty! Sometimes if we think on the problems we have, we can become depressed-like and then things get worse. I have had moments and days like that, where I just want to bury my head in a pillow and go to sleep and I have done better on other days when I just run to God asking me to do better next time and help the other person really know what I meant to say or do. That's my better days. God heals my heart and makes me whole! I then focus on Jesus and pray that God breaks me into who he has created me to be! I love God's correction! He always does it best! I want to do better and live my life like Jesus and I want to be like Him in every way!

Have you had a good or bad day recently? How did you handle it?

Advent

Advent is a time to remember the true meaning of Christmas. Each candle in the advent wreath stands for one character of Christmas and of the Christmas story. For example Joy is one. In our family for advent we take one day a week for the four weeks leading up to Christmas day (Sunday is the day we chose) and we get together as a family to sing Christmas songs and read and hear a story of Christmas. We will light a candle and turn out the lights while we sing. Then one of the kids will blow out each candle that we have. We then pray and we are done with "Advent."

I really like Advent because it reminds us that Christmas is not about "Santa" or "toys" or any other thing, but it's about Jesus and how He came to earth to do the greatest thing of all. He showed love to the world the day He was born into this world. He took the form of a man and became a human for our sake. We did not deserve this wonderful gift, but He chose to give it to us. In that same way, love is a choice. Love is not forced onto anyone. We make a choice to love everyday and to celebrate Jesus and what He has done for us and in us and in the lives of so many. He has set us up, wiped the tears from our eyes and has given us a new life. This Christmas season I will rejoice and be thankful for all that He has done and I will love Him more! God is Love, so without Him I would not grow in my love for the lost and the people who need Him above all things!

The true meaning of Christmas is Christ coming to earth, showing love when we didn't deserve it at all! I encourage you to thank God for everything He's given you, even the very breath you breathe is HIS! Christ is the center of my world! I pray He is the center of your world! What are you choosing to do different this Christmas and how will you do that?

"The List"

I don't know about you ladies and gent's, but I know something that I do that is very helpful that I do to help me keep my focus on Jesus and my heart on my future man of my/God's dreams! Here it is: I write letters to my future husband so that I can give them to him on my wedding day to show him that I thought about him and that I then directed my feelings to God and my future husband in my letter, instead of another person. Another thing that I do is write a list of necessities of what I want and desire in a future spouse. In my prior post I showed you an example of a letter that I write to my future spouse. In this post I will show you an example of "the list" of what I want in a future spouse. I will not tell you everything, well, because you don't need to know everything and it's kind of personal. I will give you an example of some things that I have written down in what I do desire in a spouse and hopefully it will help you and maybe help you brain storm and make a list of what you want in a future spouse! It is important to set your standards high and keep them there because you are valued for you and for the person God is making you into! Just like your future spouse should develop character and godliness in their lives while they are waiting for you! PRAY FOR HIM/HER! Your future spouse (whether you meet the entire "list" or not) should love you for who you are. I know that the most important thing to me in a spouse is that he has a great relationship with Christ and his family! So here I go, I will start "the list" and if you have any questions, please feel free to ask! Leave comments too! :) Thanks!

"The List"
1. Christian who has a good, firm relationship with Christ.
2. Faithful
3. Has a good relationship with his family
4. Honest
5. Makes pretty good money (doesn't have to be rich, just is middle class, so that way he can support our family and so we are not poor, OR has a good job that he can save up, doesn't have to have all of the money when we meet and get married, but at least a good job).
6. Is obedient to God, no matter the cost (which that could mean traveling or selling all we have, etc...if God says it, we do it!)
7. Brave.
8. A Gentleman
9. Respects my parents
10. Get's along well with my siblings
11. Forgives and Forgets
12. A good, strong leader
13. LOVES children LOTS!!!!
14. Loves me <3
15. Works through problems and doesn't hold grudges.
16. Hates divorce and abortion
17. Has and lives with Self-control
18. Not ashamed of Jesus.
19. Handsome, of course! (but character is more important, but looks are important too).
20. Lives out the Bible and goes to church as a member and as a lover for Jesus!
21. Smart.
22. Humble
23. Bold
24. Does not fight.
25. IS RIGHT FOR ME! <3 GOD, YOU KNOW WHO HE IS! SEND HIM TO ME WHEN YOU'RE READY, UNTIL THEN I AM WAITING FAITHFULLY AND WON'T GIVE UP! <3 :)

Dear Knight In Shining Armor

My Dearest Knight,

As I write this letter, all I can think about is the love I have for you! I dream about you and our future and I can't wait to be with you. I just want you to know that I love you and I am growing in Jesus every day! I know that He has great plans for us and I am so excited for that adventure and that love story to unfold. I know you are out there somewhere. I don't even know if I do or do not know you right now, but no matter which way it is, I DO KNOW that I love you more than anything and I can't wait to meet you and hold your hands. I can't wait to look into your eyes and see the man that God made for me! You will be mine and I will be yours forever. I want you to know that right now I am learning many character traits that I believe are important and that God is growing in me. I just can't wait to love you and marry you! I know that I have to wait and am waiting, but I just wish you were here with me to share our lives together forever! I know that we will always love each other in the good and bad times. I am always here and will always love you, no matter what!

All My Love,
Yours Truly,

Traci Elizabeth Daly