Strong Enough?

Lately I have began to notice that one of the greastest mistakes by christians is the failure to completely let God take over and realize that we cannot survive this world alone. I know I do this too...I think it's written in our stubborn human minds that we should be strong enough to handle all sitautions. Even worse...I think sometimes we feel, because we are christians and have been "born again" we must learn to conquer all sin...on our own.

God doesnt let us live through more than what we personally can handle. He is not here letting us struggle until we lose our minds. He does not give us more temptaion than we can deal with...(here is the Key phrase...) "with his help."

The problem is...Sins are like Closed Doors...Once you open them...it's VERY hard to close them back. Meaning...once you begin doing something wrong...it's soooo very easy to continue to repeat this sin over and over again until it consumes you. We as humans are not in any way strong enough spiritually to close these doors back (or crack them for that matter...) on our own. Many times...we think we are. What ends up happening is, we beat ourselves up about it...hurt others close to us...hurt ourselves...lose sight of what's important...and worse...stray away from God and the good path for awhile.

When we make the choice to handle life on our own...to handle all our struggles and sins on our own...we are not doing ourselves any favors. We are really just digging ourselves deeper into the hole. God KNOWS we need His help. (I mean seriously...look at the mess we create when we avoid His help...Yikes!) We should never be afraid to cry out to Him...to tell Him in direct communication and prayer..."I am struggling with ______ and I need YOU to help me though this!"

If you are struggling with ANY sins, temptations, or just life in general (there's alot out there to deal with in life), I strongly suggest talking to people you care about who will pray for you...THEN spending some quality...ALONE...Meditation...time with God. Tell HIM everything you struggle with. Finally lay down your life and let Him take the reigns for awhile. You can't do this (close that door) on your own. Don't let anybody try to tell you that it's ok or no big deal. Let the GOD of this universe decide what is a big deal...Many times, He will tell you otherwise...so listen for His direction.

And finally...Do NOT be ashamed that you are not strong enough. If we were strong enough...there would have been no reason for God to send His only Son to die for us. Get Help...From God...From Jesus...From Christian Friends who love you and will give you direction. Don't try to change your own life on your own.

God Bless

Morgan Nicole

Songs That Inspire Me...Born Again

When I thing about who I am...One of the first things that comes to mind is my salvation. Being a Christian is, to put it simply, part of who I am.

Why is this so important to me? My hope is that when other people think about me...they see the Holy spirit inside of me. I don't want to be one of those people who says that they are a christian at church....and then act differently other places. But most importantly...I want to witness to everybody around me about the incredible love and Gift God has given us.

The best way to witness to everybody around me is just to let the light shine through me. I want to live my life for Jesus...I want to "look" like a christian...NOT for popularity...but so that by my example others will see that God's love is REAL...and HERE...and WONDERFUL! I want others to feel God's arms wrapped around them like I have.

The song "Born Again" by the Newsboys reminds of just that. Not just being a good person at church....but being 100%, truly, Born again! Being an example for all those around me...and Living my live fully to serve HIM...the one true God.

Born Again

BY: The Newsboys

Found myself looking into the mirror

Knew I wasn't who I wanted to be

I was living like the way that I wanted

my eyes reminded me I'm not free

Believe that I saw, everything that I know

Says I gotta go, tired of going solo

But I'm never gonna go there again

Chorus: This is what it is

This is who I am

This is where I'm gonna take my stand

I didn't want to fall, but now I gotta crawl

I'm not the one with two scared hands

Givin' him the best of, everything that's left of

The life inside this man

I've been Born Again

I see you're walking like you're living in fear

Having trouble even looking at me

Wishing that they give you more than words

Sick of people telling how it should be (how it should be)

What's your download, where'd you get your info

Saw that I'm show, now you're in the in-load

I'm gonna tell you what I believe,

OH (Chorus)

We are the ones, he called by name

Never gonna look back

Let go, let go the guilt the shame

I said I'm never gonna look back

This is who I am (Chorus 2x)

I am Born Again

God Bless

Morgan Nicole :)

Songs That Inspire Me...Your Love

Lately I have been REAL into christian music. For some reason (actually I know the reason...hah ha), listening to encouraging and positive christian music helps me get through my day!

So basically, today while I was doing some maintenance around Camp and was left alone...AND told I could change the radio to whatever I wanted....I just about leaped for joy! :) Sadly...K Love doesn't extend to camp where i work...but there is a local christian station I listened to that played similar songs! I think this 45 minutes made my day!

At any rate...this type of music and encouragement throughout the day has the power to completely influence my mood and how I function that day. It's great to have little reminders that God is there at ALL times...not just at church on Sunday morning or when you bless your food.

A song that has really inspired me lately is "Your Love" by Brandon Heath. (no...this is not just because I have Brandon Heath's autograph! :) I really started to appreciate this song after I read the book, "Between Sundays" by Karen Kingsbury. The song, for some reason seems to really match up with the message of the Book. It would be the perfect theme song for the soundtrack of a movie for the book...just sayin'!

Over all, I guess I just appreciate knowing that no matter what happens in life...All I really need is God's Love. It reminds me that i don't have to work hard or buy God's love. He has already paid the price for me by sending Jesus to die for us! And when I need somebody to turn to...He is right there and always will be! :)

Your Love

By Brandon Heath

I felt it first when I was younger

A strange connection to the light

I tried to satisfy the hunger

I never got it right

I never got it right

So I climbed a mountain and l built an altar

Looked out as far as I could see

And everyday I’m getting older

I’m running outta dreams

I’m running outta dreams

But Your love

Your love

The only the thing that matters is

Your love, Your love

is all I have to give

Your love is enough

to light up the darkness

It’s Your love, Your love

all I ever needed is Your love

You know the effort I have given

And you know exactly what it cost

And though my innocence was taken

Not everything is lost

Not everything is lost nooooo

But Your love, Your love
The only the thing that matters is
Your love, Your love

is all I have to give
Your love is enough

to light up the darkness

It’s Your love, Your love

all I ever needed is Your love

You’re the hope in the morning

You’re the light when the night is falling

You’re the song when my heart is singing

it’s Your love

You’re the eyes to the blind man

You’re the feet to the lame man walking

You’re the sound of the people singing

It’s Your love

But Your love Your love

The only the thing that matters is

Your love, Your love

is all I have to give

Your love is enough to light up the darkness

It’s Your love, Your love

all I ever needed is Your love

But Your love(Your love is all that I needed)

The only the thing that matters is

Your love Your love is

all I have to give

Your love is enough to light up the darkness

(Your love is all that I needed)

It’s Your love Your love

It’s all I ever needed

God Bless

Morgan Nicole :)

Vote For Taylre Mckee! :)

I have been making videos the past few days for my little sister's Campaign for a position on the Tennessee State 4-H Council. Here is the first of 13 I am doing and posting to her facebook wall! :) Enjoy (oh....and please remember....I am an amateur "filmer" with a very very simple and basic camera....this is not meant to be an amazing film! :P)

God Bless

Morgan Nicole

A Flower Quickly Fading (2)

This Week at camp I have listened to the song, "Who Am I" by Casting Crowns every day. I have always liked this song, but this week in particular after Sunday night and everything I am going and struggling through in Life, it has really spoke to me.

So In my craft shop at camp (we do leather working), I carved this rose out of a scrap piece of Leather. It is a nice little reminder for me that I am indeed God's child. Yes, i am nothing compared to the majesty of God and Jesus. In fact...i won't even live very long at all compared to how long God has been around. I am basically a nobody...and yet...God hears me when I call. God sent His son to DIE for ME. He cares about me and made a place in heaven for me one day! For all of this...I am VERY thankful (and blessed!)

Who Am I

By Casting Crowns

Who am I, that the Lord of all the earth

Would care to know my name

Would care to feel my hurt?

Who am I, that the bright and morning star

Would choose to light the way

For my ever wondering heart?

Not because of who I am

But because of what You've done

Not because of what I've done

But because of who You are

I am a flower quickly fading

Here today and gone tomorrow

A wave tossed in the ocean

A vapor in the wind

Still You hear me when I'm calling

Lord You catch me when I'm falling

And You told me who I amI am Yours, I am Yours

Who am I, that the eyes that see our sin

Would look on me with love

And watch me rise again?

Who am I, that the voice that calmed the sea

Would call out through the rain

And calm the storm in me?

Not because of who I am

But because what of You've done

Not because of what I've done

But because of who You are

I am a flower quickly fading

Here today and gone tomorrow

A wave tossed in the ocean

A vapor in the wind

Still You hear me when I'm calling

Lord You catch me when I'm falling

And You told me who I amI am Yours

Whom shall I fear? Whom shall I fear?'

Cause I am Yours, I am Yours

God Bless
Morgan Nicole

A Flower Quickly Fading

Have you ever experienced one of those moments where you KNEW without a doubt that God was right there watching over you, embracing you in his arms and taking care of you? I defanitely had one of those moments the other night.

I has been having trouble with my car battery lately. Apparently what I needed was a new alternator...I got one...a couple days ago. So all is good now, thankfully.

Last Sunday night I got a bit of a late start to head back up to Greeneville. I work in Greeneville at 4-H camp during the week and come home on the weekends. I usually leave Sunday after noon and head back up the road (it's like a 2 hour drive :/). This sunday in particular I had so much to do that I ended up leaving around 9:00. This, unfortunately, means I had to use my headlights.

About 30 or so minutes into the trip I noticed my lights were fading. I called my dad (the one I have deemed to know everything in life) and relayed this information to him. He of course said..."Turn around and come home."

Before I finish, let me elaborate a bit on the drive I take. I start out on a road called Alcoa Highway, or like us East Tennesseeans call it "I'll kill ya highway." I do not feel like I have to explain much more about this...that name kind of says it all...I mean we are talking about multiple wrecks a week....lots for this area of the state. I then turn off onto John Sevier Highway, a small two lane highway that takes me straight to Interstate 40. I go down I-40 for about 25 minutes, take the split and srive down Interstate 80. Then I turn off onto another highway that takes me to downtown Greeneville, whch leads me to Asheville Highway. Then I follow a tiny, dangerous, windy road to camp. Lots of highways, interstates, and dangerous roads to take in a two hour period.

At the point that I turn around and start heading BACK in the direction of Home...I was on John Sevier (the safest of all the roads I travel in my opinion). I was about 5 minutes away from approaching the interstate. God was already looking out for me at this point just by leading me to a safer location.

So on my way back there is a point on John Sevier where you make a turn. I was literally in the turning lane...thinking to myself, "let me cross the street and park in that gas station before my car dies" when my car shuts off. Not only did it die....but it was so dead my caution lights wouldnt blink. I frantically waved cars around me to go around and called my dad. Dad and my grandad took off and headed my way...but I was still left in the turning lane....in the dark...in the middle of the road...with no caution lights.

That's when two White Vans pulled over to the side of the road. A man wearing a "To save a Life," T-shirt (a christian Movie) walked over and asked me if I needed any help. I told him my dad and grandpa where on the way to fix the car. He then ordered all the "boys" to get out of the vans (all of them wearling some sort of christian logo t-shirt). They literally pushed my car across the street, out of the road, and into the gas station parking lot. They waved and said, "good Luck and God Bless." All I could do was say, "thank you so much, " through my tears as they drove away.

As I got back in my car...all I could do was thank God. For the first time in my life, I could literally feel the Holy spirit taking care of me and actually SEE God at work in my life. How lucky was I that this had happened not on I'll kill ya highway...or the Interstate...or on a little windy road in Greeneville almost 2 hours away from my dad! How lucky was I that of all the people out there, a church group stopped to help me! It wasn't luck...it was my Lord and Savior looking out for me...like He always does...and always will do! I feel so joyful to know that with everything going on in the world...God still cares about ME!

And thankfully....I have got my car fixed!

God Bless
Morgan Nicole