Chasing Peace in a World of Chaos

 Welcome back, y'all. It's been nearly two weeks since my last blog post and this is the first time I've been able to sit down and write during that whole time. Between full time school, full time work, and two very exciting volunteer opportunities (details coming soon) I have had very little time to sit down and do the things that make my soul happy, ie. writing. 

I have been fighting anxiety for the past week feeling like I am not successfully making time for all of the things I want to be doing. In my perfect week, I would be able to get a workout in every day, excel at work, nail my schoolwork and stay ahead of the game, create new content for all my social medias, promote my blog and Youtube channel, fit time for my volunteer work in, and have time to spend with Jesus in the evenings. However, life lately has served as a learning opportunity, within which I have been taught that this is impossible. I do not live in the perfect world in my head, I live in the real world. All of the things I strive to find time for are worthy and valuable ways to spend my time (some more so than others), but this does not mean there will always be time for them. There will be days I meet all my goals at work, but come home and accomplish nothing else. There will be rough days at work, but I may make huge strides in my college career in the evening. I may make no progress in anything beyond my morning workout one day, and that is okay. All of this is perfectly alright. 

On this Sunday afternoon, I found myself staring at my planner, etching notes to myself in all the margins, filling my week with tasks before it even began. As I did this, I felt the peace of the weekend pushed out of my heart by all the pressure I was putting on myself to simply do more. I said a quick prayer for peace and for guidance.

Lord, show me what is deserving of my time and what is not. Give me peace to accept that I cannot do it all, and give me the strength to do what it is that I can. 

Just as soon as I had prayed these words, a teeny lightbulb seemed to come on in my mind. There will be time to conquer the world after I finish school. This is the season of my life to study and to further my education, no matter how much else I would love to heap onto my plate. The Lord has a plan for my life, and getting that coveted degree is the first step in that direction for me. I know myself well enough to know that I will have to pray this prayer every day, probably multiple times a day in order to keep my goals in perspective. I am only capable of seeing a small window of time, while my Father can see my entire lifetime in a snapshot. Who am I to decide what to devote my time and energy to when I could give it to Him? Not to mention, I would prefer to excel at one thing than to be mediocre at many things, as is usually the result when I spread myself too thin. 

So often we forget that our future is in His hands. While it is important for us to make our Earthly plans and preparations, the most crucial thing we can do is pray for His light to reveal our path to us. Whether it be college, career, personal exploration or anything else, He has greater joy in store for you in that area than you can even fathom. It is a disservice to your own heart if you choose not to open up and let Him show you the way. If you are anything like me, you fill your brain with unnecessary worry, planning to fight your own way to your goals. Why do we let ourselves be weighed down when we need only be still?

"The LORD will fight for you, you need only be still." Exodus 14:14

It is so much easier said than done. We live in a world of living in chaos to chase the elusive goal of peace. I am guilty of telling myself if I just pass one more class, if I just run one more mile, write one more blog post, I will be happy. I let myself falling into the trap time and time again of thinking peace is a destination, and not a state of being during the journey. 

In a stage of life that is ever changing, and a world putting increasingly more pressure on young adults to be self sufficient, independent, and successful, this is the most comforting concept to me. Each and every day we face the pressure to find our own way in this life and we forget we have the ultimate ally. 

As we go into yet another week, remember who is on our side and who is fighting for us. 

#peace #jesuschrist #love #college #blog #chaos #calm #thelord #exodus #hannahmcclelland

A Seat Reserved

The word 'reserved' carries an atmosphere of grace and exclusivity. It implies that something is being held for a person worthy, not just anyone. The nicest seats in the casino are reserved for the biggest players, the best seats at the football game are reserved for the biggest business. However, the seats in Heaven are reserved for the most broken. Unlike the reservations of our fallen world, we are not judged by our worthiness in order to claim our seat next to Him. We are judged solely on whether or not we have opened our hearts to accept the love that Jesus has given us so freely. I can't say for sure, but I would venture to guess that the view from Heaven ranks a little higher than box seats at the Yankees game- and the cost definitely can't be beat.

The thing that breaks my heart about Christianity is that it is perceived so poorly through the eyes of the world. We are seen as judgmental, hateful, exclusive, bitter and archaic. These are traits of the humans that try and embody a perfect love, and fail because we are imperfect people. Though we follow a perfect Savior, we will never measure up, and therefore will always do an injustice to his name by worldly standards. The good news is that our Father does not look upon us in comparison to worldly standards. All of our failed attempts to be good Christians, good people, good friends...he sees the effort in your heart. He recognizes the good in us, even when we cannot see it within ourselves.

The world today preaches the standards of beauty, the standards of societal acceptance. From ages younger and younger we are conditioned to believe that we must look, speak, believe, act, live a certain way in order to be worthy of love. We are taught that acting a certain way will disqualify us of ever being worthy. Going on social media for five minutes will leave you feeling inadequate in every sense of the word, questioning your worth. Perhaps you are on the opposite of the spectrum, and you are the one making others feel like less of a person. The good news is the greatest love in the universe comes without strings attached.

The most popular myth about Jesus is that his love is conditional. That we must bow our head and say our prayers before we fall asleep at night or have a meal. We must attend church on Wednesday nights and Sunday mornings. We must only associate with those who do the same. False, false, false. Jesus' love for us is not contingent upon our actions. There is not a deed in this world that will ever make us worthy of a seat in Heaven, but there is a love powerful enough to bring us there anyways. The biggest tragedy in this world is a child of the Lord going through life feeling unworthy and unloved. The truth is: we have all been made worthy because we are so incredibly and immensely loved.

Think about what you would consider your biggest flaw...the thing you lie awake at night dissecting about your personality. Whether it be your judgmental soul or your painful shyness, your hot head or your fragile heart.

Think about your biggest mistake...what you wish you could take back, what you wish you could blot out of your past.

Think about your insecurities...why aren't you "good enough" ?

Now think about this:

"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be." Psalm 139 NIV

This verse is so incredibly beautiful because it speaks volumes of love. You were drawn up, piece by piece, quirk by quirk, long before you ever took your first breath. Before you had any insecurity, regret or shame, God knew you. When you were nameless and faceless, he knew you and he loved you because he made you. Read this verse and recognize your importance. "When I was woven together in the depths of the Earth..." The Lord does not take your life lightly, you were made with immense love and intricate design. From the moment you became a soul in his hands, he loved you and desired to see you back home in His kingdom one day. From before your first breath, your seat has been reserved.

The verse to remember: "I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well." Psalm 139:14 - NIV

"Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous--how well I know it. Psalm 139:14 - NLT

I hope you enjoyed... as always I would love to hear thoughts/comments/critiques/etc, feel free to leave them on the anonymous form on my home page! Happy Friday everyone!

XOXO

#socialmedia #jesus #blog #christianity #twitter #worthy #heaven #lord #god #jesuschrist #sunday #church #prayer

Adulting 101

 Welcome back to my site, y'all! Today's post began as a little list in my head about a year ago when I spread my little wings and flew right out of my parents' nest & into the real world. There are so many little details about life on your own that never cross your mind until you're, say, in line at the grocery store wondering how on Earth you filled your cart with $200.00 worth of groceries. Without further ago, here is a non-comprehensive list of all the things I wish I would have known before I became an acting adult.

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»  MAKING THE BED MATTERS - I know, I know, how on Earth would it make a difference if I make my bed when I am just going to come back after a long day and crawl right back into it?! Truth be told, this is one of the biggest components of my morning every day and it is a game changer. Making my bed takes a maximum of three minutes if I truly spend time fluffing the throw pillows, but it makes a world of difference. Leaving the bedroom looking nice and neat versus cluttered and messy makes the difference between feeling like my day will be neat or hectic. Not to mention, when I come home after work, I am 1000x more likely to collapse into bed and do absolutely nothing if the covers are already pulled back and inviting me in. However, if I come home and the bed is made, I won't want to dive under the covers and hide from the world quite as much. Maybe your mom had a point after all. 

» A GIRL'S GOTTA EAT: One of the biggest slaps in the face I received from the real world was the first grocery bill I paid on my own. Everyone buying their own groceries remembers the first time they walked into Hyvee  and all the glorious food items seemed to sing like the heavenly choir. Forty-five minutes later, your cart requires an ox to move and is full of 3 too many pints of Ben N Jerry's. The ugly truth is: food is expensive. Even on a budget, I never spent less than $150.00 per month on food alone, and I live in a single person household. You will never eat everything you bring home from the store before it goes bad. Not to mention, how on Earth did this milk expire already, I swear I just bought it! Don't be surprised that one day you open the fridge and the cheese is moldy. Time slips away from you, and who has the time to check expiration dates every day?? Okay, we all probably do, but that doesn't change the fact that this has happened to me several times and it doesn't get any less shameful or disgusting. 

»  BAKING SODA IS OF THE GODS: Seriously, how many things can this little orange box be used for? You're telling me I can use it in my cookies, whiten my teeth, AND keep my fridge from smelling like the aforementioned moldy cheese all at once? Now the only issue is that I have no idea where it is located in the grocery store. Mom!

» PODCASTS = PRODUCTIVITY: When my coworker asked me if it was alright to play a podcast during a particularly slow day at work, I don't think it was possible for me to have rolled my eyes any harder than I did. Boy, had I been missing out. The first podcast I got hooked on was Freakonomics. I had no idea there was such a gaping hole in my heart that could only be filled by a satirical analysis of the economic system, but from that day forward there was no going back. Podcasts give me more energy and keep me more engaged than just listening to music does. When I'm cleaning the house, getting ready for work, or just trying to fall asleep at night, listening to a podcast lets me multitask and helps keep me focused on what i'm doing. Some of my personal favorites are Daily Hope  {a twenty minute daily devotional by the wonderful Pastor Warren}, Truth and Dare  {a motivational podcast hosted by two females striving to live their truth} and of course, Freakonomics because I am a nerd at heart. These along with so many others help me expand my horizons and stay motivated. Knowledge is power, people! 

» TOO LITTLE TOO LATE: It is never too early to start saving for retirement. When I bring up my 401k plan to any of my peers, I am usually met with a blank stare. At this age, half of my fellow college students haven't even made a resume since it was a graded assignment in high school. It is so easy to think that there is plenty of time to save for retirement down the road and put it off for a rainy day. There is something to be said for not being a Scrooge, however I am young and have no dependents so now is the ideal time to save for me. I only need the amount of my paycheck it will take to support myself and my education, so there is no better time to be selfish with my money. A few decades from now, I'll be sitting on the front porch of my lake house thanking my eighteen-year-old self for listening to Dave Ramsey. 

» DOLLA DOLLA BILL Y'ALL - Budgeting can be painfully eye-opening. Before you go on a money saving kick, be sure to set realistic standards for yourself. Example: only going to Starbucks once a week is a realistic goal. Setting a $20.00 limit on groceries to eat comfortably is not. Before you go on Pinterest and start filling out budget printables, track your spending for a few weeks. I neglected to do this before I tried to embark on a budget to save for a car, and fell flat on my face in the first week because I only allotted $60.00 per month to pay for gas and promptly used all of it within the first six days. You would be surprised about some of your spending habits, and the sad thing is that the most expensive things are usually the most necessary evils. 

» WHERE THE HECK IS MY PLANNER - I used to laugh when we were given planners back in grade school, and now I take back every eye roll and regret throwing each and every one away. I first bought a planner by choice when I started apartment hunting right before high school graduation to keep track of all the expenses and deadlines, and I haven't looked back since. Now I list everything from recipes, to coworkers' birthdays to when 50 cent corn dog day is at Sonic  {tomorrow, by the way}. I have gone from scrambling to meet math homework deadlines in high school to now color coding which bills are due when. It's surprising how making a list and checking things off can make you that much more determined to get more done.  Oh, how I've blossomed. 

» MOM WAS RIGHT - About. Absolutely. EVERYTHING. On the same note, there has yet to be a crisis that cannot be remedied by a phone call to my mother. 

» JUMPMAN JUMPMAN JUMPMAN - Carry jumper cables in your car, the day will come when you will need them, it is inevitable. Need I say more?

» YOGI BEAR - Yoga actually is a tough workout, who knew. & if done correctly, it can challenge your mind more so than your body. Not to mention finishing a yoga class makes you feel like a million bucks and personally makes me feel like if I can hold Fallen Angel pose for thirty seconds, I can conquer the world. 

» LOOK HOW YOU WANT TO BE SEEN - This one is pretty self explanatory. In our college years, we are in a period of transition and self discovery, searching for who we want to be and how to become them. College students are not notorious for dressing to impress, especially on campus. One of the things I have learned is that when I look good, I feel better. Everyone has heard the phrase "dress for the job you want, not for the job you have," and I think that saying has an application outside the workplace as much as within. Whether you like it or not, everywhere you go you are seen. People notice you and how you carry yourself and how you choose to be portrayed. It is just as important to look capable as it is to be capable. It is just as important to look confident as it is to be confident. While it would be nice if the way we felt about ourselves were able to dictate how the rest of the world saw us, the outside world is free to form their own opinion. If you want the world to believe you are capable of being who you want to be, show them. Every time I walk outside my door, I might run into the person I will end up sitting across a desk from, trying to convince that I am worthy of being hired. Whatever your motivation, whether you dress to impress or dress like you might run into your ex, look how you want to be seen. 

» WHO LEFT THE DISHES IN THE SINK - Do you ever look around for an adult to handle a situation...and realize...you ARE the adult. If so, welcome to adulthood itself. The toughest thing to realize is that if you want the laundry to be done, YOU have to be the one to do it. If you want the fridge to be full of yummy food, YOU have to go to the grocery store. If you want to continue living lavishly and treating yourself too much, YOU have to drag your little booty to work tomorrow morning. A wise man once said, "with great power comes great responsibility," and it is true in 10/10 cases of adulting. Also, it was from Spiderman. Spiderman's uncle Ben said that...Maybe we never truly grow up. 

 Once again, thank you so much for reading my ramblings! I appreciate each and every website click and I would love to hear anything and everything you have to say. Feel free to leave a comment, message me and DON'T FORGET to sign up for my mailing list so you don't miss out on any of the cool things yet to come! Happy Hump Day! 

#adulting #socialmedia #planning #blogger #mom #style #dress #fashion #pinterest #work #college #howto #productivity #grocery #lavish #coffee #budget #adulting101