These are the words that I heard in my spirit as I prepared to write this post. Not fully understanding what the Lord was saying (as is often the case), I ran reference on the word “Amen!”, a familiar response in some churches to the preached word. read more...
I have a confession to make – over the past few weeks I have been so blessed by the many guest authors who shared both of their experiences and their heart. From the high school students to the college students, to the happily married – all of you blessed me in so many ways that a mere thank-you seems too small to convey what I really feel. What it reinforces for me is one thing – and I hope for you readers it did the same – God loves us – each one of us – unique in our own way – in spite of our struggles, in spite of our rebellion – He woos us the lover of our soul – as Israel Houghton sings in his latest CD – “HE WON’T LET GO!” read more...
There is an amazing thing about God that I love so much. I confess that it was the reason that I served Him for many years – before I really knew how wonderful it was just to “have Him in my life, if Heaven never were promised…” That amazing, wonderful thing that I love is that God does not stop with me! The promises He has given unto me, the glory He has revealed to me, the love He has poured on me, He has said He will do for my children also! I could not count the many times God promised someone in the Bible something, and decreed that it would also be so for their children, and many times that decree would be extended to children’s children! The thought that what God has imparted to me, lives after me, is so comforting – even after every glorious visitation – there is an afterglow – knowing that He will continue these marvelous works, even after I am gone… read more...
We are quickly approaching our couples getaway, so we have decided to allow these next two day for you to hear from some of our Heartlife Marriage Team. We will continue the HighSchool Articles next week. Enjoy Lorraine Appleton as she shares her heart.
How Do This Thing Work?
by Lorraine Appleton read more...
A special thank you goes out to all of the college students and young adults who gave of their time and their hearts to share testimonies, words of encourgament and their love to Hearlifes Daily Post! God’s love shined through each of your articles, this upcoming week we will be hearing from highschool students.
So stay tuned…
Love always
Neesha M. Stringfellow read more...
Enjoy this awesome young woman of God! read more...
Enjoy this awesome testimony by my Goddaugther ! read more...
2010 has been the year of change for me. I just graduated college in May, got married in July, and my husband and I are now expecting a baby early next year. These changes have been works of art in the process for the past four years now. Looking back to when I first graduated high school and started college, I never thought that my journey would lead me to where I am now, but so thankful that God has brought me to this point in my life.
I entered college in the fall of 2006, a good student with aspirations to just “make” it through college. I did not know what I wanted to do and felt that I had wound up at college because it was “the thing to do”. I started out in a small town in Iowa. Looking back I think I chose the school because it reminded me of my high school and hometown and not because God had called me there. Everything happens for a reason and so I joined the music program as a vocal performance major and joined a sorority in hopes that I would make some friends; and I did. At the end of my freshman year in college I realized that I didn’t like living in Iowa. I was yearning for something different, something outside my comfort zone. Little did I know that God was calling me somewhere else. I felt as though it was my own idea, something I had come up with on my own. Silly me. I wanted to move to a city. I wanted to go to Chicago. I had to do one more semester in Iowa and then I headed for new beginnings in Chicago.
Wow. I think that was the first thing I thought about after my first week there. Wow. I was from a small town where everything was safe and easy and simple. I was now in Chicago, the complete opposite from everything I had ever known; and I loved it. As soon as I hit Chicago, I thanked God for getting me there and then, stupidly, turned my back to him. I still loved him, but I kind of got the mentality of “Thanks God, I got it from here”. Little did I know, God was about to show me that I sure as heck did NOT have it from there. I started dating boys that did nothing for my spiritual growth and since I was so new to the dating scene, everyone I dated seemed to be “the one”. Finally, after many heart aches, I finally realized, Why am I not talking to God? Why have I turned my back on him? He got me safely to Chicago, he helped get my finances in order, and he had brought some friends early on that were wonderful to me. Then, I had gotten cocky, my grades started suffering, I had a horrible boyfriend, I had a bad friend who was not a good influence on me…what was I doing? I finally broke down and prayed and apologized to God for what I had done and told him that I knew he had better in store for me and that I wanted him to take all the bad out of my life and replace it with good. I knew from that moment that I could never be great without him and never truly feel safe without him.
About a few weeks later, a gentleman by the name of David Jason Crawford started talking to me, we had a first date and the rest is history. God told me that he was going to be my future husband and I was hesitant, but happy because I was not looking for love at the time, but I also trusted God. My relationship with my friends ended for the good, my grades also got better and I had a brand new focus on life to do well. I wanted to graduate and marry the man of my dreams. God helped me accomplish it all and without him, I do not know where I would be right now; and I am glad I do not have to know. I get to know all the good and still am.
Without God, life is so hard. Life can be hard with God, but at least you have someone cheering you on. That is how I felt throughout college and now with such a blessed life, I am never letting my pride get in the way again; because without God, where would I be?
Kaytee Crawford read more...
This testimony is from another one of my adopted children! Billy became Kristens brother and friend during HighSchool! I believe Gods not finished with him yet, but I am proud of where he is and excited to see where Gods taking him. Enjoy His testimony!
During the summer of 2007, I recieved a letter of acceptance into
Luther College in Decorah, Iowa. Luther is a liberal arts private
college in the middle of nowhere; however, well known for their
academic excellence. Along with that, Luther College has division III
athletics, where at the time of my arrival, they were number 5 in the
nation offensively. Now that may sound very appealing, but like every
school theres a social atmosphere. In my case I entered college a
couple months before most students, because I just knew that I was a
grown man, and ready for anything life threw my way. However, due to
the company I kept, I recieved a rude awakening. Now although prior to
Luther, I had friends around me that I grew up with, that may not have
been the best behaved; I still somehow managed to not be easily
influenced and still maintain a leadership role. Whereas, in college
I quickly became a follower; which had its effects on my gpa as well
as self esteem. Moreover, the most interesting thing about the
beginning of my college experience is that I came into college with
the right idea, and associated myself with the right people, “AT
FIRST”…As time progressed I found my way right into the hands of the
wrong crowd, who introduced me to things that only myself and God will
always know.
In addition, apart of graduating from Luther College each student is
required to take 2 religion classes, I started my first religion
course, “intro to religion” second semester of my freshmen yr; which
coincidentally was during the time my new crowd of friends came into
my life and things started to go down hill all around. While taking
this class I began to question my religion in itself, and the more
tough things got the more I questioned my belief in God. I had the
most trouble which stuck with me longer than any other issue, which
was the belief in my lord and savior Jesus Christ. Now I mention this
because although God never gave up thinking about me, he was letting
me know that he very well knew I was doubting him.
It was almost like a sequence of events for me during college. For
instance, right after questioning God’s being, I was soon introduced
to racism; which hit me harder than any linebacker I’ve ever played
against. I soon found myself realizing that I am not just William
Edward McAdams, but yet I am a young black male in America. Then,
after facing that realization, I found my dorm room packed up my
roommate had been in jail for whatever reason, hense the company I
kept. And I would very soon find myself in tears on the phone with my
mother telling her the school thing wasnt for me. Now along the way
of this frustration I found myself in my coaches office in tears as
well; as I let him know that I could no longer due this college thing.
His response was, “I’d love to see you stay but I support any
decision you make” ; therefore, I found myself looking for the first
ride home I could find. So along with packing my room, I packed my
books, or in other words, I gave up going to class almost half of my
second semester of my freshman yr. Now as stated earlier God was
still watching over me although I had done away with him. You see God
came to me through the voice of Charlotte Kunkle(Sociology
advisor/mentor), who wanted to see me recieve a sociology degree more
than I did… Shelia Ratford-Hill(Mentor), who wanted me as this young
black male to finish college, as many don’t…. and Benny
Boyd(Football coach/mentor) who has been so many positive things in my
life that I will never know how to repay him, and I can only thank God
for his placing in my life, as well as the influence of Rachel
Faldet(English prof./mentor) who inspired me to stay at Luther when no
one else could…. And through those four people I found myself
starting all over again, I found myself facing my troubles and
hardships, but yet so far from running away from my problems. My
sophmore yr came along and I found myself missing out on my sophmore
season of football due to my grades falling my freshman yr. I would
then start to return back to my faith in God as that yr progressed and
slowly but surly found myself heading home to give my testimony in
front of the church that I had grew up in. Now although God was
finally getting through to me I was still having some troubles that
would come as I let God slip my mind. As the years progressed, I’ve
seriously learned that I am incapable of living my life happily with
out including God in it. My life has slowed down, due to the newly
learned appreciation for the moment. I’ve found that I have better
days when I wake and thank God for another day; I’ve discovered that
my problems are never to big when I put them in Gods hands…And most
importantly I’ve been blessed to discover that I can have my own
relationship with God and noone may dictate that, but him or I.
If I could leave anyone headed to college with anything, it’s try
your best to think before acting, and if your having troubles with
what decision to make God knew you were having those troubles before
you did, so turn to him, he wants you to. And theres no rush to grow
up, because it’s a big world, full of responsibilities, so slow down
and live life one day at a time.
1 corithians 13:11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I
understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man,
I put away childish things.
I love this verse because although I’ve not yet made it to where
God wants me to be, I firmly know that he has big plans for me and is
anticipating the day I fully understand.
William MCAdams read more...
A Chosen Daughter of Destiny
God has definitely blessed me in ways that I would have never imagined. I have been presented with so many great opportunities that I know would have not been possible without His grace and mercy. The Lord has been great to me. Just having the opportunity to say that I will soon be a graduate of the University of Notre Dame, one of the top 20 universities in the nation, is a blessing within itself. Throughout my college experience, I have accomplished so much. I have had the opportunity to study abroad in Puebla, Mexico. I have even been fortunate enough to pursue goals after I graduate. In everything that I do, I owe it to God for helping me along the way.
I would have never thought that I would be the first graduate of my family. I will be the first to complete all four years of college. I must admit though, that throughout my time as an undergraduate, I have been faced with many challenges. There were times when I felt defeated. There were times when I thought I could not make it through a class. There were times when I felt I was inferior to my peers. But in all of those times of hopelessness, God was there by my side, encouraging me and telling me that I can go on. God has blessed me with the opportunity to overcome all obstacles and persevere.
During my college career, I have had the opportunity to study abroad in Puebla, Mexico. Before this, I have never traveled out of the country. So it was very rewarding to experience life from a different perspective. During my time there, I learned so much about the culture, the people and their experiences, and I also improved my Spanish speaking skills. I even had the chance to share my knowledge by teaching a class of 5th graders. God granted me the opportunity to teach English to the Spanish speaking students. I had the chance to build rapport with the students and gain more insight about their experiences and the educational system in Mexico. I learned so much during my time there. It was definitely a great experience that I will cherish for the rest of my life.
Furthermore, God has been there to help me pursue my goals and aspirations after college. My short term goals are to work for a couple of years and then go back to school to obtain a Master’s. During that those two years of working, I plan to get involved with the community by teaching. I would like to have an impact on our children’s education. God has allowed me to see that my life has been filled with opportunities and advantages, and therefore, it is my duty to share that with others and give back. I am obligated to share my influences and teachings with others to help prepare them for even better opportunities that lie ahead of them. One way to do this is by getting involved with organizations that offer teaching positions to individuals graduating from college. God has granted me the opportunity to apply to such programs and get involved.
In all, I have been able to do all things through Christ. He has given me so much. He has blessed me with so many great opportunities throughout my college career. I am very grateful for all that He has done for me. I know that without Him, none of this would have been possible.
Lillian Sudduth read more...