Thoughts of a 20-Something Woman

Warning: What I am about to say will probably offend a lot of people... But I am not here to please the world, but to please Christ.  There is a huge phenomenon sweeping our nation right now. It is filling countless people's minds with images that cannot be erased. The phenomenon is called Fifty Shades of Grey.  As a person that works with youth, I decided to check out the book after hearing many of my students and fellow friends talk about the book. As a youth worker, it is my responsibility to know what this generation of students are putting into their minds. So, I picked up the book and started reading. I was absolutely appalled. What I found were pages filled with inappropriate images of lust, bondage, and manipulation. Needless to say, I never finished reading the book. I respect my future husband too much to continue reading this book. I respect myself too much to continue reading this book. I respect Christ too much to continue reading this book. Here'...

Oh wow. It has been quite a while since I last posted something. Life got super crazy. I moved into my home for the summer. My job kick-started. And I forgot all about this thing!  Guys---God is so ridiculously amazing. I cannot even begin to tell you all the incredible things that He is teaching me and showing me, but I shall try to convey it while catching you up on my life. 1) I feel like Job. You know...the guy from the Bible? Yeah...him. Recently, it feels as though God is letting Satan do everything in his power to try to drag me down. It's almost as though God is saying, "Hey Satan---take whatever you want away from Hayley. Do whatever you want. Say whatever you please. But watch out...she isn't who she used to be and watch---she won't move." And I haven't budged.  I haven't shifted . ...I don't say this to be prideful...I say this to show how amazingly strong GOD is. God is truly the one giving me strength to say no to temptation. God is...

"I've come to believe that in everyone's life, there's one undeniable moment of change, a set of circumstances that suddenly alters everything." That quote comes from the book Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks. Aka...the best book every written by him. A movie is coming out next February for it. If I could buy my ticket right now---I would. My "one undeniable moment of change" happened at the start of this summer...when all my plans came crumbling down in my hands. So, the past month has been a time full of tears , questions , doubt , hurt , pain , and loss . The past month has been a time of joy , peace , love , laughter , and surrender . A month full of growth . God is so good to me. He has been teaching me more than I could have ever asked for. He has healed me in ways that I never thought possible. He has shown me things that I would have never understood before. Obviously---this all came at a cost. Control has always been an idol for me. I've wan...

I'm sitting in Starbucks. They have started to recognize me. I even got a discount on my drink today! I've been here for a few hours and I'm beginning to wonder if they are going to kick me out soon! I officially spend more time here than I spend anywhere else. I'm okay with that...I just wish the drinks were a little less expensive! On that note....There is a lot on my mind, but nothing that is worth sharing on this blog. Just a lot of unanswered questions. A lot of unexplained situations. A lot of unspoken words. But God is bigger---and I'm waiting on Him to bring everything together once again. A couple things to leave you with: 1) Check out my new favorite song :: 'This Love is free' by Hyland. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFgGx7HAK0U 2) One thing that I know without a doubt----God's love never fails, never gives up, never runs out on me. 3) As I've been watching people in Starbucks for four hours... (seriously. I told you that I li...

I am sitting in Starbucks---reading my bible, drinking my Java Chip Frap, and listening to Pandora. (Sidenote: I keep singing out loud because I have earphones in---and I feel like I'm the only person in this room...Well I'm not the only person here...and people keep staring. Whoopsie!) I'm super peaceful and super content. I've been reflecting on the last three weeks of my life...reflecting on the last twenty years of my life. I've come to the conclusion that God is so utterly amazing. God is so consistent in His love for me. He has never stopped pursuing my heart. He is the ONLY one that will never abandon me. His love is enough for me. His grace is enough for me. I'm covered by His blood. God is enough in the pain . God is enough in the heartbreak. God is enough in the healing. God is enough in the joy . God is enough in the tears. God is enough in the laughter. God is enough in the disappointment. God is enough in the loss. God is enough on th...

I'm sitting in a McDonalds...just to get their free wi-fi. But it wasn't really free because I bought a Dr. Pepper. Nonetheless---I don't have much to say today. But a quote, a song, and some truths that God has been speaking to me. Listen to the song...it's worth it. "There is a sacredness in tears. They are not the mark of weakness, but of power. They speak more eloquently than ten thousand tongues. They are messengers of overwhelming grief...and unspeakable love." An awesome song by David Crowder: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3pwYS_PsNU&feature=related No matter where you are at in life---No matter what you are going through---Hold tight to this truth: You. Are. Never. Alone. God is holding you. God is with you. God is crying with you. God is calling out to you. God is speaking truth to you. God is waiting with you. God is reminding you...You. Are. Never. Alone. Listen to His voice. You. Are. Never. Alone. In His grip, HG

"Real life is a funny thing, you know. In real life, saying the right thing at the right moment is beyond crucial. So crucial, in fact, that most of us start to hesitate for fear of saying the wrong thing at the wrong time. But lately what I've begun to fear more than that, is letting the moment pass without saying anything. I think you deserve to look back on your life without this chorus of resounding voices saying, 'I could've but it's too late now'. So there's a time for silence, and there's a time for waiting your turn. But if you know how you feel, and you so clearly know what you need to say, you'll know it. I don't think you should wait. I think you should speak now." -Taylor Swift Thank you, T-Swift for those words of inspiration. Too often in my life I have held back from saying what's on my heart and on my mind for fear of getting hurt. What I've realized is that in this attempt to protect myself, I ended up de...