"I am a storyteller."

Several months ago in the social media world, I began hearing this buzz about a girl who was leaving letters for strangers in New York City and mailing hundreds of subsequent letters to people she had never met. My attention was instantly piqued, and I just had to learn more about this girl.

You see, I thought writing letters was a dying art form. I thought I was one of the last people on earth who still cherished exchanging correspondence through hand-written form. Don't get me wrong, I'm a social media nerd. In fact, it's an area I'm studying at school. However, there's just something about tangible thoughts on paper that still grips my heartstrings like nothing else can.

Enter Hannah Brencher. What was initially birthed as a form of therapy, became her life mission. "I am not a strategist or a specialist. I am a storyteller," says Hannah. Since leaving letters on the train in NYC, she's sent over 4,200 letters around the world, spreading a message of love and ultimate hope. The stories from Hannah & her organization, The World Needs More Love Letters, are absolutely INCREDIBLE. Rather than trying to re-count what Hannah is passionate about, I'll let her tell you herself. Watch her TED video below:

Just a Little Act of Service

Serving others really does feel good. Tonight I had the privilege of serving dinner with so many dedicated volunteers at my church. I absolutely loves asking people if they wanted veggies and fish or fish sticks! I mean it was just a lot of fun!

Serving others can be not only a blessing to those we're serving, but it is also a big blessing to us! When we serve others, the joy of Jesus literally shines through us--and that feels great!

Look for little ways to bring light to someone today. God might just encourage you too!

Some Great Marinating Sauce!

Today I wrote some verses that I want to mediate (or marinate!) on. I thought I woukd share these timeless truths with you:

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

-Galatians 2:20

Yes, LORD, walking in the way of your laws, we wait for you; your name and renown are the desire of our hearts.

-Isaiah 26:8

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

-John 3:16

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

-Philippians 4:6-8

Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame.

-Psalm 34:5

Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight.

-1 Peter 3:3-4

But godliness with contentment is great gain.

-1 Timothy 6:6

Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.

-Colossians 3:5, 9-10

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

-Colossians 3:17

But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

-Isaiah 40:31

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

-Romans 8:37

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

-James 4:7-8

"If you can?" said Jesus. "Everything is possible for him who believes."

-Mark 9:23

I will extol the LORD at all times; his praise will always be on my lips.

-Psalm 34:1

When I am afraid, I will trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me?

-Psalm 56:3-4

I'm So Excited!

Have you ever experienced Jesus' love in such a powerful way that you just wanted to "jump for joy"? Today I have been literally on the edge of my seat and tapping my toes to the song that God has written on my heart. It is so refreshing to experience the "light at the end of the tunnel". When God shows His love for you after some major beauty from pain moments (check out my posts under "Beauty from Pain") you literally want to dance or scream or cry! Today I feel God's love pouring into my life in an indescribable way! As my mind begins to drift towards Thanksgiving, I am already thanking God for everything that He has blessed me with. Right now the cry of my heart is to love God with my entire being and radiate His love unto others. I want to soak up the love He is pouring onto me and reflect it onto the kids I see at school every day, my family, my neighbors, the workers at Publix....everyone that I come in contact with!

"Teach me your way, O LORD, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name. I will praise you, O Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify your name forever."

~Psalm 86:11-12

Jump for joy with Jesus today...literally!

A Blessing For Life

Today I challenge you to be a blessing to those around you. Make a difference by the way you live each and every day. People are watching you. They watch how you react to the circumstances that you are faced with everyday. Let it be said of us that we will choose to be a blessing for life.

The Blessing by John Waller

Let it be said of us
While we walked among the living
Let it be said of us
By the ones we leave behind
Let it be said of us
That we lived to be a blessing for life
Let it be said of us
That we gave to reach the dying
Let it be said of us
By the fruit we leave behind
Let it be said of us
That our legacy is blessing for life

This day You set life, you set death right before us,
This day every blessing and curse is a choice now
And we will choose to be a blessing for life

Let it be said of us
That our hearts belonged to Jesus
Let it be said of us
That we spoke the words of life
Let it be said of us
That our heritage is blessing for life

For your Kingdom, for our Children
For the sake of every nation

This day You set life, you set death right before us,
This day every blessing and curse is a choice now
And we will choose to be a blessing for life

A Little Encouragement...

Have you ever noticed how much fun it is to encourage others? I absolutely love to surprise people by sending them a little note or baking them a batch of cookies. Even something as simple as a smile can brighten some one's day! Set an example for others today in encouragement. You might just start a ripple effect!

Here are some great ideas for encouraging others:
1. Send your youth pastor a note letting him know you appreciate him.
2. Smile!
3. Bake some cookies.
4. Volunteer to babysit a single mother's kids so she can have a day to herself.
5. Help your Mom around the house without complaining.

How do you like to encourage others? How do you feel when you brighten some one's day? Let me know!

1 Timothy 4:12
"Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity."