Daughters of Tears: A Call to Cry Out to God

I’ll be honest with you? Shedding tears helps me now and then. There are days when I cry a lot, and I also have days when I barely shed any tears at all. Shedding tears for me feels like having a gigantic mountain of snow melting off my back. I have another confession: I cry a lot. It doesn't take a lot for me to cry.

“You’re a master of manipulation!” 

“You cry to get your way!” 

“Oh it’s because you’re a basket case!” 

I've heard these statements many times before, and maybe—for those who cry a lot like me— hear these things about themselves as well. On the other hand for those who don’t cry a lot, you attach these statements to those who cry in the drop of the hat; maybe you just desire to know why people shed tears. While it may be true, some are manipulators, attention seekers, or a little rough around the edges.

But there is this truth. We all cry.  For whatever reason. Shedding tears is a physical occurrence that let’s ourselves and others know that there is some sort of connection, expression, or emotion that has captivated our hearts.

Crying Myths:

•  “Crying isn't for men. Only women are supposed to cry.”
•  “Crying is for weak people.”
•  “Crying is a sign of insecurity.”

IF these myths were true then Jesus would have not wept because He felt empathy and compassion for Mary and Martha due to Lazarus death (John 11:35).

IF these myths were true David would have not expressed his emotions through the book of Psalms and revealed to us that he was sometimes depressed, in despair, and spent many days and nights crying out to God.

IF these myths were true then Jeremiah would not be known as the “weeping prophet”. Jeremiah cried because he constantly suffered agony, pain, and ridicule for telling people what thus saith the Lord.

IF these myths were true then the women who had lived a sinful life would have not anointed Jesus’ feet with an alabaster jar of perfume and wet His feet with her tears (Luke 7:38).

IF these myths were true then God would have not told us to cry out to Him! God reminds us in His word to cry out to Him when we are going through hard times and when we are not going through hard times. He said in His word that He is attentive to us when we cry out to Him. Since God let us know that God listens to us when we cry should encourage our faith in Him and be at rest.

Cry out!

The book of Psalms is loaded with chapters of David crying, pleading, groaning, and moaning to God to save, help, and deliver him. Look at some of these things that David wrote in Psalms. We can say these things when we cry out to God when we need to be saved, helped, and delivered by Him. From time to time we may even feel just like David. Do these sound familiar to any of us?

Psalm 34:6 (NIV)

“This poor man called, and the LORD heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles.”

Psalm 57:2 (KJV)

“I will cry unto God most high; unto God that performeth all things for me.

Psalm 130:1 (KJV)

“OUT of the depths have I cried unto thee, O LORD. Lord, hear my voice: let thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications.”

Psalm 69:3 (NIV)

“I am worn out calling for help; my throat is parched. My eyes fail looking for my God.”

There are many more Scriptures that can reveal what was in David’s heart. He felt pain, discomfort, burdened, perplexed, but there is great news! There is encouragement when we cry out to God. God wouldn't tell us to cry out to God if it doesn't give us strength or relief. If we are oppressed, depressed, weary, drained, or tired God still encourages us to cry out.

God hears us and encourages us as we cry out. Though we are afflicted He gives us energy and strength to press through.

Psalm 10: 17 (NIV)

“You hear, O LORD, the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry, defending the fatherless and the oppressed in order than man, who is of the earth may terrify no more.”

God will not ignore you and hide his face from you when you cry. God is listening. He knows what you’re going through. He just wants you to come to Him with your tears. Ask Him for help and He will!

Psalm 22: 24(NIV)

“For he has not despised or disdained the suffering of the afflicted one; he has not hidden his face from him but has listened to his cry for help.”

God is mighty. God operates with a strong hand. He is the only One who can deliver us. He is the only One who can bring us out. When our hearts are broken into pieces, God steps in and saves us. He is close to the down and out. God is greater than all of our afflictions.

Psalm 34: 17-19

“The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles. The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.

Secondly, in the midst of tears we may feel that God has left us and forgot about us. God promised that He will never leave us or forsake us. We are on His mind and He thinks about us. He is concerned about us. He cares about us. He loves us. Jesus Christ felt this way when He was crucified on the cross (Matthew 27:45). David thought that God forgot about him because he was being attacked and tormented by his enemies (Psalm 42:9-10). Trials, tribulations, and attacks from the enemy can make us question that God has left us to fend for ourselves. God fights for us. God is our vindicator. God is our refuge. In addition to that, God keeps record of every tear we shed (Psalm 56:8). Our tears aren't even despised by Him so why do we think God forgets us?

Now that we have accounts of people in Scripture who have cried including our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, I hope we are encouraged to seek God’s face whenever we have tears in our hearts and our eyes. Here are some instructions on how to release tears from ourselves and right onto God.

Step One: Allow the tears to come and don’t hold them back.

This is easier said than done. I remember there was a time in my life when I held every tear inside. I didn't know how release what was inside of me so overtime the pain grew. Once I let them out (in private or to someone I trusted and confided in) I felt better. I felt even better when God told me to cry out to Him whenever I needed to. If this is hard for you, give it a try. When you feel the urge to cry, try and go off somewhere where it’s just you and God and let the tears roll. Keep in mind what made you tear up or cry. This may sound crazy but if you continue to weep, continue. Everyone needs a release. That may be your time to do so.

Step Two: Approach the throne of grace to receive help, grace, and mercy that you need. In other words, PRAY!

Prayer is vital in every believer’s life. Without prayer we’re not connected to God. Without prayer we will not hear what the Spirit of God is saying. Tears, groans, and moans count as prayers to God. This is also praying in the Spirit. It’s not just limited to speaking in tongues. The Spirit intercedes on our behalf. The Spirit KNOWS the will of God. Since the Spirit knows why we are crying, groaning, or moaning, and knows the will of God, we can cry out even when we don’t know why or understand. All of this is located in Romans 8.

Step Three: Praise and worship Him!

We ought not to stay down because we cry. It’s easy to weep and be distressed while we are going through, but God is worthy to be praised! God reigns forever. God is Almighty! God is Awesome! Having an attitude of gratitude in the midst of our troubles puts the focus on God and gives Him the praise that is forever due to Him!

“…weeping may endure for a night but joy comes in the morning!” – Psalm 30:5 (KJV)

[photo source: Whispers of the Heart]

About the Author :

Kendra Jackson is a young woman with a huge passion for Jesus, Evangelism, and salvation for all people. She has decided to dedicate her life to teaching, preaching, Evangelizing, and encouraging all people from all walks of life to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ through and by hearing the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Connect with her on :

My Secret Love Affair

How I fell out of love with Beauty.

Have you ever fallen in love with someone who wasn’t good for you?

A few years ago I fell in love - hard. I thought it was with this guy I met in college, who seemed wonderful. But soon enough it became clear: There was someone else.

Night and day, this love consumed my thoughts and dreams. It haunted me, controlled me, promised illusions of great things, and broke me.

I called this love “Beauty.”

But it had many nicknames - Thin, Skinny, and Good Enough, to name a few.

As the relationship with my college boyfriend grew sour, as he encouraged me in losing weight and compared me with other women, my love affair with Beauty grew stronger. Beauty promised to make me good enough, to make my boyfriend fall in love with me, to give me an intoxicating kind of power.

And I believed every single lie.

I’d never been fully content with myself; my face was too long, my stomach too curvy, and my sense of humor too dull. But until college, those insecurities never consumed me. I had an idea of who I was. I knew some of who God was. That was enough.

Until the insecurities came at me with fury! They attacked me every moment of every day, leaving me in tears at night, begging God to make me beautiful.

My boyfriend and I broke up eventually, but my love affair with Beauty only intensified, and my struggles with disordered eating nearly swallowed me whole. I lost far too much weight, but never enough to please Beauty. I got a new wardrobe, which was nice until I went out in public and saw what the “truly beautiful” girls were wearing.

I was willing to do anything to make Beauty happy, and I did things that hurt my body. Things I never thought I would do, not in a million years.

And yet none of it worked. The further I fell into the affair, the more broken I became. I lost myself so completely that I had no idea who I was anymore. Nor did I know who God was. All I knew was the perfect facade I wore at all times, the mask I wanted people to see of the girl who had it all together.

But that wasn’t me. The real me was curled up in the fetal position, and numb all over.

One day my dad walked over, took me in his arms, and said some of the most beautiful words I’d ever heard:

“Tiffany, I don’t love you because you’re good enough. I love you because you’re my daughter. And nothing can ever change that.”

My world was awakened, my thoughts clear for the first time in months, as I heard God saying the same thing to me: “Tiffany, I don’t love you because you’re good enough. I love you because you’re My daughter. You don’t have to try and impress Me or earn My love, like you did with your ex-boyfriend. You can’t ever earn My love; even your most perfect deeds are like filthy rags. So stop trying! Just come close to Me, let Me show you how much I love you. Let Me tell you who you are. Find yourself again ... find yourself in Me.”

The spinning stopped in the blink of an eye, and I saw a heavenly Father I’d never fully known. Not in all my life.

A Father who delighted in me - delighted even in my feeblest attempts to come closer to Him. A Father who rejoiced over me - just wanted to have me near Him. A Father whose love would never change - whose love would always remain, no matter what I did or where I’d been. I’d finally found a love in which I could rest.

Ending the love affair with Beauty was anything but quick and easy. It was one of the longest and most painful journeys of my life. I had to ask lots of people for help, particularly my parents and mentors, who walked with me through the brokenness over several years.

But what changed me more than anything was a daily discovery of my Father’s love. Every time I just knew I’d blown it; when I’d turn and run for dear life... Each time He caught up to me, wrapped me in His arms, and said, “I don’t love you because you’re good enough; I love you because you’re My daughter. I just want you to stay close to Me.”

Along that journey I found myself. I know who I am because I know Whose I am - a daughter of the King. I no longer struggle with disordered eating. I like what I see when I look in the mirror, but it doesn’t matter so much whether or not others think I’m beautiful. My Father delights in me. Somehow that eclipses every other opinion.

I have a new love - a true love. A love that is for my good, not to hurt me. A love that heals me and makes me whole. A love that sets me free.

And all I want to do is give Jesus all I am. I want to live every breath for Him. Because when you see a love like His, surrender is the only response that stirs up from your heart. I am my Beloved’s, and He is mine.

And that is when freedom erupts.




Tiffany Dawn, is a 27-year-old author, speaker, and singer/songwriter. She shares her journey into freedom from struggles with body image and identity through “The Insatiable Quest for Beauty” book and seminar. With her master’s degree in music therapy, Tiffany serves as adjunct faculty at an online high school, where she teaches music classes, including “Intro to Songwriting.” Some of her favorite things to do are watch spy movies, take long walks, eat marshmallows, and grab coffee with her girlfriends.


[photo: Angelo Gonzalez, Creative Commons]

Singles: What Kind of Husband Are You Praying For?

One time, I made a list of the qualifications I wanted in a husband.

Cute. Tall. Funny. Smart. Christian.

But I think most girls want that. What was to set the guy I wanted apart from every other guy who was cute, funny, tall, smart and a Christian? I had to really think about it.

Over the years, my list grew more detailed. I don’t remember ever writing down all my qualifications, because some of them sounded so shallow. Turns out, most of us have a list we don’t share with anyone for fear of sounding vain. But that is what separates us—what shows our individual preferences.

It’s OK to have a shallow list!

Do you want to know my ultimate shallow qualification? I wanted a man who was “cool” in the eyes of the world but chose to be a Christian. I wanted a guy who could hang out with anybody, whom everyone liked and respected—a guy who was popular and didn’t use the church as a crutch or need it in order to have a place to belong.

I wanted to find a guy who chose God because he needed Him.

Because he wanted Him.

Not because God was the only one left to accept him.

God delivered. Justin partied with the best of them (not an endorsement) but gave up that way of life for something better. Something eternal.

All right girlies, let’s make a list! Break out your notepad and pen. We’re gonna make a shallow list!

To be fair—and to get it out of our system—go ahead and write down the obvious ones:

• Christian. Hopefully that’s your first non-negotiable since the Bible says not to be unequally yoked (2 Cor. 6:14).

• Tall. Maybe you don’t care about his height. In that case, don’t write it down.

• Smart. Yes, he needs to be able to have an intelligent conversation!

• Funny. This one backfired on me, since my sister is literally the funniest person I know. I can’t breathe most of the time when she makes me laugh.

OK. Got those typical answers out of the way. So, what’s next? Does he need to have a job? A goodjob? Do you care how much money he makes?

Does he have to like children? What hair color are you hoping for? Does he need to be sports buff, or would you prefer someone who hates sports as much as you do?

What kind of family do you want him to come from? Does he need to share your favorite interests? Can he be a vegetarian? (I know the vegetarians are screaming, “Yes!”)

Can he have any type of disability, be it physical or mental?

Feeling shallow yet?

I don’t think we should squash our dreams of our perfect guy, so go ahead and write out every shallow little thing you can think of. Sometimes we try to be so holy and righteous that we squash the natural feelings and inclinations we have.

I heard a long time ago that since God knows exactly what you’re thinking and feeling, you might as well tell Him. So I do. If I have a shallow thought, I share it with Him, and sometimes I have to ask Him to change the way

I feel since it’s not what He wants from me.

I know I’m not the only girl to have a shallow list, and as my youth group girls and I were going through the chapter in my book that covers this, they shared their shallow lists as well. At first, they didn’t go very deep—because, after all, who wants to be seen as shallow?

But after a while, some really good answers poured out. And what I saw was not a group of shallow teenagers but maturing young women who wanted to be intentional with the men they would eventually date.

The higher the standard—or rather, the more particular the qualifications list—the less likely these girls will be to settle for someone below par. And I want my girls to marry the best. I know God has amazing men for them to meet one day.

And while we’re talking about qualifying the guy, we have to also look at ourselves. If we want to marry a man who is 5 percent body fat and works out every day, then we might not want to be stuffing our faces with pizza every night. If we want to marry a godly man, then we need to be in God’s Word so that we have a strong relationship with Jesus as well.

What I found was that as I grew older, and thankfully a little wiser, my list started to change. What I thought was important in middle school differed a bit in high school and transformed some more when I was in college.

As the expectations I had for myself were nurtured and developed, my qualifications for a husband changed too.

I no longer had to marry a guy who worked a 9-to-5 job in a business suit and made a ton of money. Instead, I married a Marine who chose to go into the ministry.

Instead of marrying a man who loved dogs, I married a man who is allergic to everything. Bless his heart.

I married my opposite in many ways, and as my shallow list grew smaller and smaller, God blessed me in bigger ways—although He did grant me a few of my shallow wishes!

Just remember, the fundamentals are the most important.

I married a man who loves God more than he loves me. A man who studies and reads about God in his free time. Because he wants to. Because he can’t get enough of Him.

Justin takes our little boys outside with him when he’s fixing a tire or changing the oil or building a set of custom bunk beds. While most people would see having little fingers grabbing tools as an annoyance, Justin sees working with his children as a bonding opportunity and a teaching moment.

I wouldn’t trade that for all the dogs in the world.

Bethany Jett is an author and speaker from Tampa, Fla. Her dating book for young women,The Cinderella Rule, is available online and in bookstores everywhere. Find her at bethanyjett.com.

Reprinted with permission from Charisma. Copyright © 2012 by Charisma Media, USA. All rights reserved. www.charismamag.com

[photo: John Hope, Creative Commons]

What Has He Done For You Lately?

There’s something inside of you that you have to let out. You might feel scared, you might feel unqualified, or you might feel as if there isn't much to it, but you have to share your testimony. You have to share the good news. You have to tell people about what Jesus has done for you lately.

Before Jesus ascended to the heavens to take His place at our Father’s right hand, He commanded His disciples (which includes us, centuries later) to go out into the world and "preach the good news to all creation” (Mark 16:15).

But we don’t. We’re numb to the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20) and tight-lipped towards those who really need to hear about our encounters with Him. We don’t want to share because that makes us easy targets for the doubters to criticize and berate our proclamations. When attacked, we feel as if we need to retaliate with counterarguments. But we don’t have to.

We weren't called to defend our God.

To preach means to publicly proclaim, to announce. It doesn't mean to argue or to defend. Jesus asked us to simply share the good news so everyone can know they are no longer condemned by their sins. They have been washed clean by His blood, which allows them to come freely to the Father’s throne and be accepted with arms wide open.

The good news sounds too good to be true. I can hear the unbelievers shouting out with distrust. I don’t blame people for their skepticism. Christians, the followers of Christ, the people who say that God is love, don’t have the best track record in portraying that truth. We can be hypocritical. We can be arrogant. We can be unforgiving. We can be the opposite of everything we claim our God to be. But what they don’t understand and I pray you caught the revelation that even on our best days, when God’s grace and His glory shine brightly through us, we are but shadows of the one true King.

“Hypocrisy does not undermine the credibility of the Christian faith.” Corey Widmer

Our God is so much better than us…so much better.

And that’s why God doesn't need prosecutors, defenders or judges. God isn't on trial. He called us to be witnesses, to be lights for this very dark world. Besides, God has enough evidence to back Himself up (His Word). He can definitely defend Himself.

In 1 Samuel 5, the Philistines, after capturing the ark of God from the Israelites, placed it in their god’s (Dagon) temple. The next day, the Philistines found the statue of Dagon faced down on the floor in front of the ark of the Lord. They placed the statue upright again, but the next morning they found Dagon in the same position with its head and hands cut off. God proceeded to afflict them with so much trouble; the Philistines were desperate to return the ark back to the Israelites with a guilt offering.

As you can see, God doesn't need your best defense, your best argument. Nothing can stand against our God. Anything counterfeit, anything not of Him, falls at His feet, broken and useless.

What He needs is your obedience. He needs you to share your story of the good things He’s done for you. And don’t worry: no one can negate your experiences. No one can dispute your past. Even if you meet opposition, you need to remember that someone out there, who’s going through a similar situation God just delivered you from, needs to hear there’s a way out of the darkness; dawn will break with a new promise after a night full of tears (Psalm 126:5-6).

Even if your voice shakes, speak. Don’t hide His goodness. Don’t keep the good news to yourself. Speak out and share because your words, your experiences, can be a seed in someone else’s life. In God’s timing it will bloom into a new testimony and new praise.

Speak and share that seed.

Guest Author, Regine Darius is a recent graduate of University of Miami and has plans to pursue her Masters in Creative Writing at California Institute of the Arts this fall. She blogs regularly at http://msmprettylipssealed.blogspot.com/ and has plans to become an author one day. Right now, she is learning to enjoy the ride God laid out for her and to trust Him with all her heart, mind and soul.

The Beauty of a Weed

The dandelion now stands a chance at becoming my favorite flower. Not because of its beauty, it's color, or name, but because of what it represents.

Considered a weed, dandelions are viewed as pests, vermin, and annoyances. Over the years, sprays and other defense forms have been created to kill our perfect garden's enemy. But why is this poor flower treated so harshly? Probably because it is quite the invasive species…

A dandelion grows as any flower does. Rooted in the ground; water and sunshine make it grow. It grows into a small flower with countless sun-yellow petals. It thrives for some time and dies as other flowers do. But a dandelion's death gives way to new life almost immediately. Where the yellow flower once stood now stands a white puffball. A circle made entirely of small seeds ready to fly away at the slightest breeze. Each seed makes a new home for itself and does its best to grow and perpetuate the cycle, but they have no choice of where to land. They simply grow where the wind places them.

Wonderful, I've recounted the life of thousands of weeds across the world... And for what? For this... Consider Christ for a moment. Sent down to earth to redeem mankind for God. The word became flesh, said John. Isaiah 55 says, "I send [my word] out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it." Are you starting to catch my drift?

Christ was planted, raised, and died. He grew into a flawless, spirit-filled man who so clearly reflected His Father. Quite similar to the dandelion that grows into a beautiful flower that resembles the color of the sun. In the prime of his life, he died. But the word did not die with him. No, it gave way to new life brought about through his sacrifice. The apostles and other followers, as seeds of the flower blown about, went wherever the spirit led. "You will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere... To the ends of the earth. (Acts 1:8)" They had little choice of where they ended up, but they knew that they would plant the seed they'd been given and allow it to grow.

Christ was also seen as a weed. An invasive vermin that threatened society… An antidote was created that would surely rid the world of this pesky plant... The cross. But just as weed repellent does not always do the trick; the cross did little to keep Christ from spreading.

So rather than scowl every time you see a dandelion, try praising God instead. For just as we shall never cease to proclaim the gospel, neither will that little weed.





Kira Echeandia is a recent graduate of Lebanon Valley College who intends to spend the next year serving God and people in Houston, TX through a missions organization known as Mission Year. She intends to pursue a Master's in International Development, and pursues writing as a dearly beloved hobby.

Tears for Harvest

Guest post by Jasmine Hernandez

"To err is human, to forgive, divine." - Alexander Pope


Tonight I felt my heart break. Not some figurative emotional state that we often succumb to describing when our feelings have been hurt by someone. I felt the literal pangs of heartache and a numbing sensation encapsulated my chest cavity as I drove home this evening. Then I heard God’s voice telling me it was time to let him heal me completely.

I’ve allowed myself to become so drained and feel so empty. I’ve lived so much of life on autopilot. Robotic responses after there are no tears left to cry. Then He told me to write. He instructed me to use my words to express this heartache to reach out to someone else who feels the same pain.


Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.
Galatians 6:7-9


As women, we are so impatient when we want something so badly. We grow even more impatient when God has given us glimpses of what could be but hasn’t brought into fruition. We see plant these seeds with so much hope and forget that great things take time before they even sprout. Yet, we grow impatient because they haven’t completely grown for harvest.


This is all especially true when it comes to love. God gives us these visions, let’s call them premonitions, of what we deserve. Then He places the person whom He has deemed worthy of our gifts. And what do we do when that person seems to be waning? We impatiently involve ourselves with someone else whose presence becomes like pesticides to our bountiful harvest. And the seed that was planted with hope that God has been watching over begins to die. We don’t even notice the leaflets sprouting from the earth. We seem to forget that a plentiful harvest takes ample sunshine as well as rain. We get so blinded by the downpour that we find ourselves in that we overlook the harvest and begin planting weeds and thorns amongst the fruit God wants us to have.

No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. I Corinthians 1-:13


If only we could remember that things that take time. For every action there is a reaction. And though err is human nature we forget what it feels like to be hurt when we’ve hurt someone else. The harvest we’ve destroyed hurts worse than we do when we witness its destruction.

He heals the brokenhearted And binds up their wounds. Psalm 147:3

I’ve been chastising myself for my impatient ten-fold. Crying to God and praying that these tears will bring back the life which I so easily destroyed with one thoughtless and emotionless action.

And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:13

But now I must shift my focus.

To lose one harvest isn’t the end of the world. A good farmer plants many seeds for harvest. If we only focus on the one seed we planted in hopes of a relationship, we blindside ourselves from tended to our other crops. The farmer doesn’t cry when he loses one harvest because he knows he will be sustained through the other harvests which he tended.

What about the seed planted to harvest a true relationship with God? Are we truly tending to all of our crops as much as we are the one we’ve already ruined with impatience?

Impatience has some silver-lining. It redirects our focus to what we never should have turned from in the first place. Instead of begging God to bring back a lost harvest, I’m learning to trust Him to redeem the harvests which I’ve let struggle for growth because I’ve only kept the ground fertile for that one harvest.

And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away. Revelation 21:4

Let your tears from the loss of one harvest water the crops of the ones you’ve been neglecting. Let them fall on the fertile ground of your relationship with God and He will help till the ground for many more harvests. For the tears He cries out when we turn from Him are greater than any of the tears we can ever cry. In every teardrop is His healing power. Let God use your tears for harvest.

Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. I Peter 5:6-7



[Photo Credit]


Jasmine Hernandez is a young woman growing everyday in her walk with Jesus. After years of struggling to define Christianity by her own terms with dictionaries and textbooks, God met Jasmine at her well on Valentine's Day. She was saved countless times over the span of her 23-years, but this time it was different. She actively writes for a Christian-blog, is a member of a spoken word/poetry group, and does freelance content writing. 

The Author of Life, Part Two

Guest post by Jasmine Hernandez 

As believers, we understand and accept that God is the author of our lives. But the letter of recommendation that He writes upon us; once we’ve given Him full creative control over our life story, is what grants us publication rights.

“You yourselves are our letter of recommendation, written on our hearts, to be known and read by all. And you show that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.” (II Corinthians 3:2-3)

Your past is a resume. And written on it are all your past deeds and sins. My own resume lists the men and women I’ve shared my body with, the drugs I once inhaled, the alcohol I once consumed, all the things I stole and lies I told. To say that it’s imperfect would be an understatement.

Every excuse I made as justifications for my actions and lifestyle choices acted as my cover letter. We write cover letters to our employers to highlight our experiences and what we’ve learned from the things that our resumes fall short to explain. The world does not easily accept our own assessment of ourselves nor should we accept our own evaluations.

“If anyone belongs to Christ, there is a new creation. The old things have gone; everything is made new!” (2 Corinthians 5:17)

Let God write your letter of recommendation for life. His letter acts as the review for the book of your life. He is the one who knows you beyond what you know of yourself. He has both written and read your life from beginning to end. The person on your resume is no longer the person you've become through believing in Christ. With His letter of recommendation, He tells the world to look beyond the resume, the preface, and trust His word in who you are.


“Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven." (Matthew 10:32)

Jesus attests to you as God’s child when you acknowledge Him as your savior; you become a living vessel that belongs to Him. When you realize He’s written your letter of recommendation, you understand that you’ve have inherited His Kingdom despite the tarnished and ink-blotted resume you wrote yourself. This isn’t to say that we should negate our resumes once we’ve started our walk with God. Instead, use it as a guide of what signs to avoid to keep from repeating the same mistakes. Make sure at all times your choices align with God’s word.

“You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matthew 5:48)

Imagine the handwriting of God upon yourself; the beautiful calligraphy more immaculate than any handwriting that man can emulate. You were called to perfection. Let Him use your blemished resume to rewrite the title of your story and turn your life into a work of art!

So implore you to look in the mirror and look beyond what the world can see with the naked eye.

What does your letter read?

Have you read part one of "The Author of Life?" Read it here.

Jasmine Hernandez is a young woman growing everyday in her walk with Jesus. After years of struggling to define Christianity by her own terms with dictionaries and textbooks, God met Jasmine at her well on Valentine's Day. She was saved countless times over the span of her 23-years, but this time it was different. The pull on her heart and the way He spoke directly to her had her standing at the altar screaming out for Freedom! She actively writes for a Christian-blog, is a member of a spoken word/poetry group, and does freelance content writing. She prays that God uses her words to touch those who have similar stories by being completely transparent about her tarnished and now redeemed past.

The Author of Life, Part One

My life is an open book. The problem is too often people are blind and God did not write my story in braille.

I like to believe that I am an open book: pages easily accessible and legible to anyone willing to read. What I’ve found is that most people would rather skim through the pages and paraphrase what they can understand instead of going in depth. Even more, people will read the back cover or preface to decide whether it’s even worth the read.

There are many pages of my past that I used to wish could be ripped out and burned. But, growing in my faith has shown me those chapters were necessary for my character development. Without those chaotic back stories of abuse, molestation, self-mutilation and homosexuality (oh how the the list could go on and on), my salvation wouldn't be as climactic as it’s been.

People read one another every day. Some are easier to read than others. As Christians, believers of Jesus Christ’s sacrifice, we should be the easiest to read. Like open books with the pages amplified, when someone crosses our paths, without knowing anything about who we are as people, we should be read as God’s children.

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. “ (Philippians 2:3-4)

The title of our life as written by God has no problem captivating the hearts of others. It’s when we choose what chapters we want people to read that God’s AUTHORity is questioned and we keep ourselves and our stories from bringing others to Him. Think about how many stories from your own past that you've kept from people just to keep them around.

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)

When God came after my heart, I stood in front of a congregation of people I had never met and admitted my sins. Someone came to me afterwards and told me I was “bold” and that she would never have had the nerve to do what I did. I am now understanding the impact my salvation could have had on someone in that room. We never know who shares the same struggles without sharing our struggles.

“There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save and to destroy; but who are you who judge your neighbor?” (James 4:12)

The first steps in walking in faith are always the hardest as we try and forget our pasts and create Christian relationships separate from anyone knowing the real reason we've allowed God to take control. We are often so afraid of what others will think of us. But, when we learn to love as Jesus loved and the Father loved Him, we love ourselves enough to share our stories to reach others.

“ Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment.  And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”’ (Matthew 22:37-40)

In the way that we carry ourselves, God’s commandments should be written on our lives and our stature. A complete stranger is able to see us from a distance and read all over us that we love God wholeheartedly and that we love others as we love ourselves. How can we expect to love anyone if we do not love ourselves enough to be vulnerable with one another?

Like a feather-tipped pen dipped in eternally bleeding ink, our skin should be like paper soaking in every drop from the words scripted beautifully upon our lives.

Sift through the pages.

What is written on your life? 

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Read part two of "The Author of Life," here.

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Jasmine Hernandez is a young woman growing everyday in her walk with Jesus. After years of struggling to define Christianity by her own terms with dictionaries and textbooks, God met Jasmine at her well on Valentine's Day. She was saved countless times over the span of her 23-years, but this time it was different. The pull on her heart and the way He spoke directly to her had her standing at the altar screaming out for Freedom! She actively writes for a Christian-blog, is a member of a spoken word/poetry group, and does freelance content writing. She prays that God uses her words to touch those who have similar stories by being completely transparent about her tarnished and now redeemed past.

A Thousand Years

Guest post by Brandi Fanell

I am a big, big, BIG Twilight fan.

I am sad that there won't be any more movies, yet I am very satisfied with how it ended.
Today, I heard the song from the soundtrack: "A Thousand Years" by Christina Perri

I love this song. Besides this being a love song (obviously) the lyrics just speak so much to me.

"--- I have died everyday waiting for you
Darling don't be afraid, I have loved you for a thousand years. I'll love you for a thousand more.
--- And all along I believed I would find you
Time has brought your heart to me, I have love you for a thousand years. I'll love you for a thousand more.
--- One step closer"

Now I don't know anyone who has or can love anyone for a thousand years... and in 2013, a couple lasting longer than 5-10 years is so rare that upon meeting me, guys ask "Are your parents still together?" And that is not only sad, that is a post for another day.

There are a lot of single people out there. They say that they haven't found the right one or they prefer to be single. For those who prefer it-good for you. For those who don't, let's talk about those lyrics I love...

"----I have died everyday waiting for you..."

What does that mean? Obviously, it is not literal. If you physically died you could not live to see another day. I believe that this lyric means a part of her died everyday until the love of her life found her. And what does that mean? If we want to be in a relationship/married we have to die everyday. A little piece of us has to die in order to make room for someone else. We have to die everyday to ourselves. Because once you are in a relationship and/or married it's not about you anymore. The world does not revolve around you. You can't do whatever you want, move wherever you want, or make decisions on your own anymore. You begin sharing a life with someone. So that means you have someone to be accountable to and responsible for. Someone depends on you. Someone needs you. Someone expects things of you. And if you have not died a little everyday to every selfish desire and every "me" attitude you have, you will have to keep waiting...

And ladies, that is the key word for you. If you want to be married you must wait. Wait. Do not go looking. Do not "put yourself out there" like society (or your friends) may say. Just wait. I read something recently that said, when Eve was being created/prepared for Adam, God put him in a deep sleep. And it wasn't until Eve was complete that God woke Adam up and then presented Eve to him. {Genesis 2:21-23}

So ladies, what we can get from that is:
1) We have been created for our husband - there is someone out there for us. Just for us. We were made for that one man. Therefore he won't be with someone else. And if he is, he won't be for long. Remember, Adam was sleeping. What God has for you is for you. But also remember, thou shall not covet!
2) When single, we are being prepared for our husband- so don't sweat it. If anything, just love God, love yourself, and get ready. Do what you need to do to be ready for that life with someone you want. Finish school. Start your career. Learn how to cook and keep a good house. Clean up your credit. Forgive and let go of the past. Take your focus off getting a man and put it on living right and being whole.
3) While God is preparing us, our man is sleeping- so that is why I say don't go looking or put yourself out there. Your man is sleeping right now and won't see you anyway!
4) When we are ready, God will wake up our Adam and present us to him- We will be presented. We won't have to present ourselves. We won't have to wear our “freak'um” dress to our friend's birthday party to grab his attention. God will work the situation and timing out just right that our Adam will see us (when we are ready) and he will claim us and call us his woman (fiance/wife/ Mrs.) just as Adam did {Gen 2:23}

"---All along I believed I would find you..."

All the while you are waiting (ladies) and looking (fellas) believe.

If you can believe it you can achieve it. That's what one of my Old Catholic schoolteachers used to say. And it is true. Once we make our mind up about something or decide something it is as good as done and nothing else matters. So make up your mind that your mate exists and you will come together at the right time and the right place. Decide not to worry about the details. Decide to just believe.

Believe that there is someone specifically made just for you. Who will be everything you could ever want and exactly what you need. Believe it like I believe I have the cutest kid in America. Believe it just like you believe can't any choir sing like your church choir. Believe it just like you believe that your mama's cooking is the best. Believe it like you believe you look good in your favorite jeans. Believe it like those folks who go on American Idol, with no talent whatsoever, believe they sound like Mariah Carey or Whitney Houston. Believe it like that!

Don't fear. Don't doubt. Don't get dismayed. Don't watch your biological clock. Don't worry about always being a bridesmaid and never a bride. Don't worry about all your boys having kids and here you are with no kids AND no girl.

It's better to wait a thousand years for the right one than live a day with the wrong one.

And remember, each day that passes you're "one step closer...." 

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Brandi is thirty-one year old, single mother. She is a Praise and Worship leader at her church and Sunday School teacher. Brandi works as a clinical trainer working with children with Autism. She has a passion for writing and presently working on a book. Brandi strives to seek out ways (with the leading of the Holy Spirit) to touch people's hearts and change lives one piece (of writing) at a time.

Vegan Super Bowl Recipes

Guest Post by Natalie Borton

Apparently the Super Bowl is on Sunday. I admit, the only reason I know that is because Brian and I were invited to a party to watch the game. While I can't tell you who is playing without checking with Google, I can provide you with several recipes to make this weekend while watching the big game (or the commercials). Happy weekend, friends! Hope you use the game as an opportunity to connect with people in your community, and of course show people how tasty vegan food is :)

Guacamole and Chips // Cupcakes and Cashmere

Asian Corn & Avocado Salsa // Scaling Back

Sweet Potato Vegan Lasagna // Engine 2

Perfect Veggie Burger // Oh She Glows

Slow Cooker Vegetarian Chili with Sweet Potatoes // Real Simple

Walnut Lovers' Chocolate Chip Cookies // Healthy. Happy. Life

Raw Brownies // Scaling Back

Will you watch the Super Bowl, or are you more of a commericals kind of girl like me?

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This post was also published on Natalie's blog Thoughts By Natalie.

Natalie is a lover of the written word, avocados, beach picnics and champagne. She lives in San Diego with her hilarious and charming husband Brian and scruffy puppy Maggie, and is a Managing Editor for Darling Magazine. In all she does, she strives to inspire and empower women to live healthy, confident lives of true beauty. See more of her work at www.natalielynnborton.com, and find her blogging at www.thoughtsbynatalie.com.

Put Your Income Tax Refund to Work!

Guest post by Olivia West

Since we are in the midst of tax season, many people are probably making plans on what they are going to do with the money that they will be receiving back from the government.  

Some people are probably planning on going on a trip, a shopping spree, or buying a new car while others are planning on paying it down on some debt or invest in a safe market. 

However, studies have shown that most consumers, even when given the opportunity to pay off personal debt, do not.

So, here are a few options for using your tax refund:

Pay Off Some High Interest Debt -  Whether it’s department store credit cards, a car loan, or even a student loan, try to pay off some debt with this year’s tax return.  If you are still trying to pay down some holiday debt, knock those balances out immediately.  Department store cards’ interest rates are on average 10% higher than commercial credit cards.  It would be in your best interest (pun intended) to leave the plastic at home and use cash instead.   

Put Money on the Back Half of Your Mortgage - With one extra payment per year, you can reduce the life of your fixed-rate 30- year mortgage by up to seven years.  Not only will you be making one extra payment a year, but you may also get an extra month’s worth of mortgage interest deductions that will benefit you during the following year’s tax season.  

If you do not own a home, take this opportunity to start saving for one.

Establish An Emergency Fund - Every family should have an emergency fund with at least 6-9 months’ worth of living expenses for a two-income household and a 12 month safety net if your family is being supported by one income.  

If the breadwinner in the family loses his or her job, this cushion will allow enough time for one to do a thorough job search versus settling for a position due to time constraints.  In an economy where the average American stays in his or her position for less than 5 years, having cash on hand is an absolute necessity.

Seek Out Assistance - If you are unsure whether or not you are making wise decisions with your money, seek out assistance.  Feel free to go to www.westadvisorygroup.org to find a financial coach.  Someone there will be glad to work with you to develop a plan for your financial goals.