A new beginning.

I am Ashlyn. I am a student. I am a passionate Christ-follower. I enjoy laughing, reading, serving, being with friends, & making others laugh.  "I may be weak, but your spirit's strong in me. My flesh may fail, but my God you never will."

[worshipgifs]

So I will wake And spend my days Loving the One who has raised me up From death to life From wrong to right You’re making all things beautiful

Mercy // Amanda Cook (via worshipgifs)

[omgthatstotallyme]

You know what’s so dang attractive? KINDNESS. PEOPLE WHO ARE KIND AND WARM AND DONT IGNORE YOU AND ARE GOOD FRIENDS AND SMILE A LOT AND LOVE PEOPLE ARE REALLY ATTRACTIVE BUT THATS JUST MY OPINION

[graceandgracey]

I would do anything and everything that made me feel close to Him. Whether it was going on a walk and talking to Him, or painting, or playing some worship music and just laying out and soaking. Like, whatever it is, if it made me feel close to Him, then that’s what I did. And all of a sudden it didn’t matter any more if I ever sang again. It didn’t matter to me if I spent the rest of my life working down at the 7/11. I didn’t care any more. All that mattered to me was that I was with Him, that I had His presence, that I knew His voice and that I’m walking with Him. And that was it, and it stayed that way.

Kim Walker-Smith, My Encounter With God (via graceandgracey)

[ashypopo]

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free and that the time of the Lord’s favor has come.” -Luke 4:18-19

Just read this verse and let it truly sink in. Do you really understand what this verse is saying? Do you really understand what Jesus is saying?

This verse stirs up something big in my heart. We forget that God has given us all of the power we need to do what he has called us to do. Victory is ours; our victory was won on the cross.

God is calling us to step out in faith and do whatever he has called us too. We are his disciples, we are called to go out and preach the Good News, we are called to speak words of life, to proclaim his goodness, to heal the sick and pray for the weary.

My heart’s desire is that we would truly understand what God is calling us too as a church, community, friends, and as individuals. What would our community look like if we truly believed what this verse is saying and acted it out in our lives, daily? Walls would be broken down, joy would consume our hearts, love would dictate our actions, and we would worship in complete and total freedom.

Ultimately, God did not call us to live a life in the valley; he has called us to the mountain top.

[worshipgifs]

Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.

1 John 3:18 (via worshipgifs)

[inahiddenplace]

be open with your love and loud with your laughter. life is so much brighter when lived genuinely.

[amurray]

I’ve tasted and seen of the sweetest of loves, where my heart becomes free, and my shame is undone.

Holy Spirit, Jesus Culture  (via favoredgrace)

[heldinhishands]

i asked God why He made me too sensitive, and He promised me that it wasn’t a mistake. He told me He purposely made me delicate, not so that i could shatter easily, not so that i could be frail, not so that i could be told i’m “too soft” whenever someone tries to touch me it was so i could know of the gentle beauty in living. and in my tenderness, i can love in a way the world may not know of yet. my compassion has the power to speak raging waves to calmness and i can appreciate the little things He created that go unnoticed. there is something special in being fragile, and it has nothing to do with weakness, and everything to do with strength.  being sensitive is a gift, He answered, and i shouldn’t be ashamed of it.

c.h.

// things im learning 

(via kvtes)

[his-desert-rose]

Earth has no sorrow that heaven can’t heal.

Come As You Are // Crowder (via his-desert-rose)

[amurray]

I’ve tasted and seen of the sweetest of loves, where my heart becomes free, and my shame is undone.

Holy Spirit, Jesus Culture  (via favoredgrace)

[theglasschild]

Take a shower, wash off the day. Drink a glass of water. Make the room dark. Lie down and close your eyes. Notice the silence. Notice your heart. Still beating. Still fighting. You made it, after all. You made it, another day. And you can make it one more. You’re doing just fine.

(via kuwaiti-hood)

[fullyknownbritt]

I found freedom whenever I stopped praying for God to give me what I wanted and learned to say ‘Your will, not mine.’

(via runtohisarms)

[resolutewoman]

I have loved you with an everlasting love.

Jeremiah 31:3  (via kvtes)

[psych-facts]

We have to choose joy and keep choosing it.

Henri J.M. Nouwen  (via arrowandthought)

[worshipgifs]

I think there is strength to be found in getting up even when we don’t want to. To fight for the things we want; the things that truly matter and make us joyful to be alive and well. I think there is something to be said to those who keep on lovin’ even after being hurt. For those who have eyes who keep searching for the beauty through the brokenness.

Taylor Tippett (via worshipgifs)

[ashypopo]

So many people I know graduated from college this weekend… Congrats to all those people!

But here I am, chilling at trident tech on that 10 year plan, confused with what I want to do with my future.

I originally started writing this post to put myself down a tad for being in school for so long with nothing to show for it. But then I realized there is no point in that, there’s isn’t a reason to put myself down and there isn’t a reason for you to put yourself down either.

We have all had different routes since graduating high school. Some of us had the opportunity to go to a 4 year college and some of us didn’t. Some of us had family issues that have held us back and some of us haven’t. Some of us have gone through the darkest seasons we have ever experienced and some of us haven’t experienced that much heart ache. Some of us have had friendships end, family members pass or numerous of other events happen. It may take some of us longer to graduate college or other things and that is completely okay. It’s not a race and it doesn’t mean that we are not good enough, intelligent, competent or unsuccessful.

I have been at trident tech longer than I would like to admit. I have changed my major numerous times and still have no idea what I want to do. I have been on 3 mission trips since I graduated college and this last year, I lived in Nicaragua for a whole month. I have made some of the best friendships in the past couple of years. I have overcome so many obstacles and have finally come to a place where I love who I am, who I have become and who I am becoming.

There are so many things we have all accomplished in the past 4 years and just because it doesn’t match what the world defines as successful or are parents define success as, doesn’t mean we are not successful. Success is based of more than education. Success is being able to love people without judgement. Success is when you show compassion and grace even when you feel like someone doesn’t deserve it. Success is having character and integrity that others can look up to. It’s being able to do what’s right when no one is watching. Success is being able to speak up for others who have lost their voice. Success is realizing that you don’t have it all together and you need the Lord in every aspect of your life. There are so many things that you can define success as and I have to tell myself on a regular basis that I am successful.

So here’s to the past 4 years of being successful. Even though I have taken a different route than most, I wouldn’t change it for anything. In the past 4 years I have seen and done so much. I have grown, changed, loved, cried, laughed and have learned so many things. I have encountered people who have had a huge impact on my life. I have had the honor of becoming friends with the most beautiful people in the world. I have served hundreds and have tried my best to love at all times.

So congrats to all who have graduated from college, who haven’t graduated from college, to the people who are trying to still figure it out and to the ones who are still pushing through!! We are all so successful and are worthy of a congratulations!!

[wnq-anonymous]

I think one of my favorite feelings is laughing with someone and realizing half way through how much you enjoy them and their existence.

(via lontanodallapaura)