7 Days of Hope // Blog Tour

Hey y'all! I got the privilege to be asked to participate in this blog tour and I couldn't pass it up. The point of this tour is to spread hope, and it is my goal for this post to be of hope for you today. Also, thanks to SawyerMarie and Abby for setting this up!

Bible Verse:

Romans 15:13

“Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” NKJV

Quote (from Pinterest): 

"Hope is putting faith to work when doubting would be easier." 

I chose this quote because I felt like it helped understand how having "hope" is not always easy. Doubting is easy, it might even be our first reaction to hardship. But, being hopeful (to me) means not settling for believing in the doubt or fear. It means to rise above the human reaction to be negative, and to be positive instead. To put our hope in the Lord is to have faith. 

Song: 

You Will Make a Way by Mallary Hope 

Not only does this artist's last name imply "Hope" but the song itself is hopeful. Because it's not titled "Maybe God will Make a Way." It is direct, without question that He will make a way for us. God has done so many things for us, and we know that He is capable. He is more than enough for us to put our Hope in Him. 

My Two Cents: 

Hope in Jesus is a choice. Without hope, life would look pretty bleak. Doubt would creep in, and sadness would overcome us. But by placing hope in our Savior's capable hands, we can rest assured that He is fighting for us, making a way for us in this crazy world. In the end, I think that having hope in Jesus is worth the struggle of surrendering to self. Because, if God is for us, then who can be against us? 

Make sure to stop at all the other blog tour stops on each of these days! 

Day 1 (August 16) - SawyerMarie

Day 2 (Today!)- Brooklyne Elysse

Day 3 (August 18)- Katja

Day 4 (August 19)- Brooklyn

Day 5 (August 20)- Emma

Day 6 (August 21)- Ellen

Day 7 (August 22)- Abby Elissa

What is one Bible verse that brings you Hope? Do you have a favorite song that brings you Hope? Have you ever read that quote I mentioned above? Comment below!

Many Blessings,

Brooklyne Elysse

10 Pinterest Quotes I Find Encouraging

Today, I thought I'd share with y'all a few Pinterest quotes I find encouraging! Check out more of my encouraging quotes I've saved HERE! Whenever I go through a rough time, I like to find good quotes. Quotes and pretty words won't fix the problems, but maybe they will give you a small bit of encouragement today. <3

Lets talk quotes! What's your favorite quote?? Tell me in the comments below!

Many Blessings,

Brooklyne Elysse

s o m e d a y s . . .

Some days just don't work out like their supposed too. Some days life is just strait up hard. And you've been there, I've been there, we've all had off days. Days where we get overwhelmed and discouraged with what's going on in life.

So in today's post, I thought I'd give you a couple things to do when you feel like this. Basically a list of how to turn around a bad day:

Journal

If you are anything like me, when life gets messy, its easier to write down those feelings then to speak them. So grab your journal and spill. Sometimes seeing things out on paper makes it more manageable.
If you try this, but don't really know how to get the words out, here's some prompts for you:
Why do I feel this way?
Can I control this situation?
Is this a lie I'm telling myself?
What is the facts about this?
What does my next baby step towards this goal look like?

Pray

Lift up your burdens to Jesus. He already knows what your going through and is asking for you to talk to Him about it. So talk to Him like a friend.

Talk to Your Mom

She always makes it better. Or, you could talk things over with a sibling, or close friend. Someone that will listen to your rambles and encourage you through your rough day.

Work Out

So it may not sound like a very fun thing to do when you already feel stressed and tired. But give it a try. Put your phone down and get outside for a walk or jog. Or, if you need to let off some extra steam, lift weights with some music. Get motivated about working out and that really helps a stressful day.

Do Something that Brings You Joy

Find out what brings you joy--what makes you sparkle--and do it. Take a break from what is frustrating you, or get your mind off of something that is overwhelming by doing a hobby. For me, some of those things might look like reading a chapter, writing, painting, baking, spending time with animals, etc.

Make a List

List making isn't for everyone. But if you like making lists, definitely do this! Make a list of your priorities, make a list of goals, make a list of lists you want to make, make a grocery list! Just get those ideas and plans out on paper to better visualize it... But if you don't like lists, you better skip this one, because they can also get overwhelming in and of themselves.

I hope this post gave you a few new ways to handle those "some days" and I'd love to hear a few ways you handle a off day! Comment below!

Only in You, LORD // A Poem

Only in You, LORD 

Written by Brooklyne

Though mountains shake

And rivers rage

I will not break

I’ve found courage

Only in You, LORD

I cannot conquer

I cannot succeed 

I cannot become stronger

I cannot be freed 

Without you, LORD

Though nights are tough

Peace is rare among worries 

Facades harder to bluff

I can rise above the flurries 

Only in You, LORD

I cannot survive 

I cannot bond 

I cannot thrive

I cannot go on

Without You, LORD

Though I sink and slide

The slippery slope

Where darkness will hide

I place my hope

Only in You, LORD

I cannot grow

I cannot fly

I cannot bestow

I cannot try

Without You, LORD

Though I am weak
You are teaching me
To ask and seek
To knock and believe 
Only in You, LORD

Philippians 4:13
"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

Have you been going though a time in your life where you need to rely on God's strength to get you through? If so, know I am praying for you! I hope this poem was able to encourage you today! 

Never-Failing Love // A Poem

Never-Failing Love 

Written by Brooklyne 

God, You always go before me, 

Your light shines through my dark. 

You’re the Author of my story. 

We sing, “How Great Thou Art.” 

God, You’re never-failing, 

You’re alway’s there for me.

God, you pave the harsh and steep way. 

You redirect my road. 

When I go completely astray, 

Your loving care flowed. 

God, You’re never-failing, 

You’re alway’s there for me.

God, You are my most faithful Guide, 

Through what’s unknown to me. 

In You, I safely will confide. 

For you give me mercy. 

God, You’re never-failing, 

You’re always there for me.

God, You hear my cry when I call,

Upon Your mighty name.

You reach out Your hand when I fall. 

Casting on me no blame. 

God, You’re never-failing, 

You’re always there for me.

God, You hold my hopes and You’re plans, 

May my hopes be Your plans.

You hold my future in your hands, 

No matter what happens. 

God, Your never-failing, 

You’re always there for me! 

Corinthians 13:4-8 

"Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away." 

God is Love and Love never fails. 

I'm not talking about the kind of love we tend to throw around when we talk about random everyday things such as me saying I love chocolate. No, God's love is agape love. It's lasting love. It's the kind of love that covers a multitude of sins. A love that forgives. A love that is selfless and sacrifices for us. A love that flows deeper than the sea.

What an amazing God we serve! We are so blessed to be truly loved by our Heavenly Father! Today I encourage you to make a list of how you see God's love in your life and post it somewhere will you can see it. A sticky note on your bathroom mirror, taped to the wall of your bedroom, stuck in your back pocket, wherever you like! It might look something like this: 

God show's me His love through... 

-Nature

The way the flowers bloom and the trees sway in the breeze. 

The sun that cuts through shadows making patterns. 

The animals and their soft coats and sweet personalities. 

-The Bible

Each verse that talks about God's love.

Each verse that takes about God's forgiveness and second chances. 

Each verse that talks about how God will never leave us or forsake us. 

-Family 

For blessing me with a wonderful family who loves me. 

For giving me people to care about.

For keeping us healthy and for God's protection. 

-Talents

A passion that makes me excited. 

A gift that can be used for God's glory. 

A opportunity to show God's love. 

~*~ 

The list could go on and on, really! Each of us have different lists! But my point is that there are many ways to see God's love in our lives. And by making a list, we acknowledge that. And when we acknowledge that we are loved deeply by our Father, then we will praise Him and His love will shine through us to be a light to others. 

What are some other ways to acknowledge God's love? Does your list look similar to mine, how is it different? What did you think of this poem? How can I pray for you today? Comment below! 

Does My Problem Qualify for Peace that Surpasses?

Today's post goes hand-in-hand with last weeks poem, therefore I am making it into a two part series! I will post both last week and this weeks posts in my "Blog Series" page! 

Also, notice the lovely new arrows and sign off graphics that I will be adding to each post to make things more aesthetic! *winks* 

~~~

Does my problem qualify for peace that surpasses all understanding? 

I found myself asking this question when I was going through a rough time in my life. I felt like I was at the end of my rope, but when I saw those around me going through so much more than my “petty problems” I questioned whether or not I qualified for peace. I am so blessed. Can my small (compared to others) problem qualify for God to give me peace? Is His peace needed elsewhere to help someone who has a more worthy problem? If you have ever had these thoughts, let me tell you this:

There is no qualification process when it comes to God’s peace. 

God’s peace is given to comfort and calm His children, no matter how big or small their situation. 

All kinds of problems weigh us down and eventually we become so tired and so worked up that we don’t even know if “peace that surpasses all understanding” is even out there. We worry, we hyperventilate, we cry, we feel hopeless. These problems that we face can be set off by the tiniest of things but go way deeper. Things that are unsettled from months or even years past can resurface themselves with a vengeance no worldly peace can quench. 

Peace from the world is temporary, it lasts for a moment until we can cover up our true feelings, pushing them down, and locking them away. That is, only for them to come back up again in the future. 

Peace from God is felt deep down, a peace that starts from the inside first. It’s that still small voice when the world around you is in chaos. It’s that presence you feel when you are calm and still, despite the circumstances. God’s peace is felt the strongest in the times when all you want to do is sink down on the kitchen floor and bawl your eyes out. The moment that seems hopeless is the moment when God works in our weakness and shows us Hope. 

Some might feel a peace settle over them in a Divine Presence. I have read about how people will be in a stressful situation and then they will pray. Immediately they will feel a peace that surpasses all understanding. Umm, am I the only one who has not experienced this? I’m not saying this cannot happen, but I do believe that peace comes to different people in different ways. 

Peace doesn’t always come in a form of perfect calmness and control. It doesn’t always instantly settle over us. Peace can be known in the craziness. 

Finding peace is when your exhausted, when your at your lowest of lows, you’ve hit rock bottom, and yet you know…And because you Know, you take a step of faith, and ask God to give you peace.

 Peace is knowing that God is in control even when your not. It’s knowing that He is with you and that you are not alone. It’s knowing that He has a plan for you. It’s knowing that He is all-powerful and faithful. It’s knowing that He is the ultimate giver of the peace you so desperately need. It’s knowing and believing in His peace.

I challenge all of us to start searching for God's peace in our lives. Because, there is no qualification process when it comes to God's peace!

Have you ever felt like true peace from God is hard to feel? Have you ever doubted that peace that surpasses all understanding even exists? How can we find this peace in our stressful situations and painful problems? 
Also, stay tuned for next week, because I have a fun bookish related post!!

Lets talk in the comments below! 

Bible Study Blog Party

Hi everyone! Today I'm participating in a Bible Study Blog Party hosted by Faith over at I Like That. 

Let me first start by saying, this is going to be a very long post! If you don't have time to really read this, and not just skim over it, then you might want to save it for a more convenient time. A time when you can read along in your Bible and study these verses.

Without further ado, lets begin!

When I think of a bible study, there are two pictures that come to mind. 

The first one is more of a school-like scenario where you have one teacher who loves to dig deep into the scriptures and uses long words that are sometimes confusing, with a class room of students quickly jotting down in notebooks, hoping to come away with a small bit of information to then apply to life. 

The second is of a smaller group of people, lets say a group of blogger friends, who open their Bibles together, who share what they have learned, who ask questions even if they don't know the answers, who care about understanding what puzzles them, hoping to come away with a small bit of information to then apply to life. 

You notice that I ended these two scenarios the same. Because no matter how you study, the overall goal is to apply what you have learned to everyday life. 

Lets study Romans 8 more like the second scenario, shall we? Because, I am not a teacher with big words, and I try not to be confusing. :)

Lets open out Bibles together and share whats on our hearts, lets ask questions, lets care about understanding, and let our goal be to apply this small bit of what we learn to everyday life.

If you study better taking notes, then go for it! (I know us bloggers love to fill up our favorite notebooks!) And this wouldn't technically be a bible study if you didn't open your Bibles, so get your Bibles out to look up the verses as we go.

My take on Romans 8... I will break it up into seven sections with a few verses at a time and then tell you what these verses mean to me. At the end of each section, I will ask a question, feel free to answer in the comments.

The first half of this chapter was harder to understand than the last half. Since this is a bible study, I think it is very important to dig deeper and try to fully understand these verses than to just scratch the surface. (And just so we all our on the same page, my Bible is NKJV.)

Section 1. Read Romans 8:1-5
In my version, it starts by saying that there is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus. Condemnation means a strong disapproval. So there IS approval in Jesus. These are the people who walk according to the Holy Spirit, and not those who walk according to the flesh. 

This first part is important, because it kind of sets the stage for the following verses. These first few verses talk about the law of the Spirit and the law of sin and death or, flesh. When you walk according to the law of the Spirit, you are following Gods will and direction, but if you are walking according to the flesh, then you are following earthly desires and selfish motives. 

What is sin? Sin is the consequence of disobeying God. Wait, read that again and let that sink in for a minute.

It says that the law of the Spirit sets us free from the law of flesh.  Yes, we are sinners, but God has made a way for us to be free from that bondage. Jesus came to die on the cross for our sins. He burdened our sins so that we can have life with Him. That means that we have a way out, if we choose it. 

How did you understand verses 1-5? 

Section 2. Read Romans 8:6-11
These next six verses are very bold and pretty clear. There is no sitting on the fence, no grey zone, no serving two masters here. It's one or the other. We can either fall into Satan's trap, or live for God who gives peace and life. We can not please God if we walk according to the law of flesh. 

If the Spirit of God dwells in us, even though our sin makes us subject to death, we can have life because of His righteousness.

How would you explain these six verses to a friend who did not know God?

Section 3. Read Romans 8:12-15
We are not in debt to the flesh. We do not owe the law of flesh anything. We are not beholden to live as the world. Because if we do live according to the flesh, the result is death. But if we live by the Spirit, we will live. 

If we believe in God, and follow His guidance, we are sons of God. We are His children! We have not received the spirit of bondage, of fear. We have received the gift of adoption, so that we can cry out, "Abba, Father." 

Abba means, "daddy." Whenever we are afraid, anytime, anyplace, if we are scared too death, just say His name. Our Daddy, our Father is right there. He is our help in times of need. God is bigger than the boogie man. (Is anyone singing the song? :D) 

Have you ever been scared and remembered these verses?

Section 4. Read Romans 8:16-21
Just because we are children of God, doesn't mean that we will be spared from suffering. It actually says that we will suffer. We will have difficult times. We will have trials and tribulations. But it doesn't all stop there. There is hope. Because the things we suffer today can not be compare to the glory that will come. We will be glorified together with Him. 

Jesus is coming soon! And one day...

When we all get to heaven,
What a day of rejoicing that will be! 
When we all see Jesus,
We'll sing and shout the victory!

Look that hymn up and really read the words to that song, and notice in one of the verses it says, "Just one glimpse of Him in glory, Will the toils of life repay." 

Whatever we are suffering now, God is our hope.

Do you believe that Jesus is coming soon? 

Section 5. Read Romans 8:22-25
The next five verses correlate our sufferings with birthing pangs. These are painful times. It talks about how our hope saves us. This next verse stumps me a bit. In verse 24 it is kind of hard for my mind to wrap around and understand it. It says, "For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees?" 

Lets try to understand this more with a object lesson.

Ok, so lets say that two people are hiking in the woods on a trail that crosses a raging creek. One person is blindfolded, and the other can see. The first person hears the roaring creek and hopes there is a bridge to cross it. But the second person sees the bridge and walks across without pause. The person with the blind fold would need to trust someone to help them across so they would know where to step, whereas the second person would go to the bridge without hesitation and cross without need of a guide. 

I think it would be way scarier to cross a creek blindfolded. All I would hear would be the raging waters, the troubles and trails. I would be unsure of where I was stepping and have to hope and put my trust in Someone I can count on. 

Do you get the picture? Can you see how being blindfolded causes one to hope and have faith, vs. if you can already see whats ahead, then you are confident and don't need help?

Well, we cannot physically see God, but we can see him in nature, in miracles, in creation. We can read about Him in our Bibles and talk to Him in prayer. God is real. He is our Guide.

And we are saved with this hope that He will come again, because He has promised us this. 

How do you see God in your life even throughout the suffering?

Section 6. Read Romans 8:26-31
God searches us and knows our hearts, even in our weakest moments, even if we don't know how to pray or what to pray, we have a Advocate. 

Romans 8:28 is a well known verse that says, "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose." 

What a great promise! Gods got us. And if God is for us, who can be against us? God is stronger than the biggest enemy. He has already won! 

Do you find comfort in Romans 8:28 or Romans 8:31?

Section 7. Read Romans 8:32-39
How shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? God loves us so much that He sent his only son to die for us. This gift that He freely gives us is one we should thank Him everyday. 

Who shall bring a church against God's elect? Only God is our Judge. 

Who is he who condemns? It is Jesus who died and rose from the dead, who is at the right hand of God. He is our Advocate. 

What shall separate us from the love of Christ? Whatever Satan throws in our way, whatever trials we face, whatever sorrows we bear, in all these things, we are conquers through Him who loves us. 

Romans 8:38,39 
"For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels not principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor hight not depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

What are your thoughts on Romans 8? Do you feel like you now have a clearer understanding of these verses? Isn't it amazing that so much is packed into one chapter of the Bible? How do you best study your Bible? Were you able to learn anything new from this Bible study? 

Amidst the Storm

Amidst the Storm 

Written by Brooklyne

You are here amidst the storm

Wind, thunder, and sky a blazing

You make, mold, and transform 

Your mighty power amazing 

You are here amidst the storm

"Peace, be still" and the waves obey

Your presence comforts and warm

Those who are weary and astray 

You are here amidst the storm 

Lift and keep your eyes on Jesus

To the world, do not conform 

In perfect peace He will keep us

You are here amidst the storm

Asking us to walk on water

You save us from sinking harm

You are our Heavenly Father

Matthew 14:27-31

"But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, 'Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.' And Perer answered Him and said, 'Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on water.' So He said, 'Come.' 

And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on water to go to Jesus. But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, 'Lord, save me!' 

And immediately, Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, 'O you of little faith, why did you doubt?' 

And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased."

We all go through storms in our lives, and sometimes we doubt. We become afraid of the boisterous wind. As soon as we take our eyes off of Jesus, we start to sink. But we cry out to Him, and He stretches out His hand and saves us! 

Jesus was walking on water with Peter. Jesus was amidst the storm with Peter. And He is amidst the storm with us as well. He will never leave us to overcome our storms by ourselves, but instead, He will be right along side us! When Jesus is in the same boat as us, the wind will cease.

Have you ever felt like you were sinking in life's storms? Have you ever doubted that He could save you? How can we build our faith? 

How is everyones May going? What are some things you are looking forward to this month? Lets talk! 

P.S. Stay tuned for next weeks post titled, Miracles and Angels, where I share with you a story of how God actually saved my life.