MY TESTIMONY :
I trust in God, God is with me, & God is faithful. It took me a while to realize that. I went through struggles through my journey and still am. Life isn’t perfect. It’s hard to take a step back and let God handle things.
I love traveling, talking, taking pictures, hanging out with family, and basketball. I live with 2 amazing parents. And I have 1 brother, 1 sister, and 1 brother in-law. My nana and my papa are my world! I love them with all my heart and they help me whenever I need them! I want to share a little of my story with you guys!
I grew up in a church family, my Nana and Papa always took me to church and I would have so much fun. I always heard the gospel but, I never understood it. It was hard for me to understand.
My dad went through a lot of struggles when i was really little. He was in the hospital for weeks and weeks. Every time I think about it, even though I didn’t understand at the time it’s hard for me to think about.
Around 2nd grade, my mom started getting really sick. I wasn’t really old enough and there would be times where I would just feel lost and didn’t know what was going on. I would see my mom in pain and I wouldn’t know how to help. I felt hopeless. This lasted for 2 years before I could really understand what was happening. She went through many procedures and many surgeries. It was very scary. I would miss school a lot, which was really hard for me. During that time it was hard to realize God knows what he is doing!
Nahum 1:7 says “the Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and he knows those who trust in him” I wish when I was going through these struggles in my life I would’ve known this verse! It shows you that God is always there even through the troubles.
In June of 2015, I was invited to a youth church group. I went for a couple of weeks and absolutely loved it! They invited me to go on a 2 day trip with them to six flags! I decided to go! I really didn’t have any friends that went there so I wasn’t focused on them. I was focused on spending time with God, and spending time with my youth group! Which I feel like really helped me get connected to my church and really get involved!
The summer of 6th grade.. I went to falls creek with my youth group. Falls creek is a huge church convention that lasts 5 days. The second day that we were there we went to the service at night and I still remember to this day what they talked about. They talked about going through troubles, getting saved, and what it meant. It was an emotional night. At the end of the service they, sang one last song “my heart is yours”. It really spoke to me. They asked if anyone felt the courage to walk down the aisles and all join at the front to make a decision. I was really nervous but, I really felt like God was there and he was helping me! So, that night I walked in front of thousands of people and cried a lot, and I made the decision to give my life to Christ and get saved.
I remember sitting in my bed that night and reading my bible. I found a verse that I will love forever. “Love the Lord your God, with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind”. {Matthew 22:37-38} This really spoke to me and I will cherish that moment forever.
That summer went by so fast, and I was so connected with God and had such a good relationship with him and my whole family! 7th grade rolls around and it went by pretty fast. The second semester comes. My mom started acting really weird around us and she just wasn’t herself. She made a doctors appointment and went without us knowing. After that doctors appointment she came home and told us what had happened. For a couple weeks she had been feeling a lump in her stomach and was really sick. That made me immediately get really scared. I immediately started thinking everything bad. But I stood by her side and helped her out and was always there!
About 2 weeks later she finally got to get x-rays and find out what was wrong. The lump in her stomach was just getting bigger. At this time it was about the size of a baseball. They finally gave her results and said it was a cyst. They confirmed that it could possibly be cancer. That made us all really scared.
There was nights where I would just sit in my room and just think about all the worst possible things and cry. I was giving up my faith. I didn’t know how this could be possible. I felt like God wasn’t there.
About a week or so goes by and we all go to her surgery. That whole day I was shaking and really nervous. It was really hard thinking about all the pain my mom had been through. My dad was right by my side that whole time and would always motivate me and tell me everything would be okay! Her surgery lasted a lot longer than expected but, it turned out it wasn’t cancer and she would be okay!! They removed the cyst and she was doing good!! That was on the last day of school.
So the summer of 2017 comes and I was doing good. I still wasn’t very connected with God after I kinda felt disconnected. I wasn’t going to church very much and I wasn’t connected. Which made it really hard for me.
I went to falls creek that summer again.. It was amazing, as always!! They talked a lot about motivation, and strength. July 13th, 2017 I dedicated my life back to Christ and got recommitted. There was lots of tears, lots of fear, but ultimately I knew God was the only way and he was there!
Now, I am in 8th grade!! My life could not eat any better! My family is doing really good! I will be a future aunt in 2018! And I could not be happier!
I know my story isn’t anything special.. but, it is special to me and hope it can encourage someone and encourage people to step out of their comfort zone! Don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone and share your story! It could connect with someone and help someone!
So, with this being said.. don’t give up in your darkest times. God is always there, and he ultimately is the best! He loves you and always has a plan! If you ever feel broken, insecure, or lost.. Jesus is calling you to be a leader! Jesus is calling you to follow him! He loves you!
lots of love, carsyn!!!
JUMP FOR JOY :
I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because, you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit. {romans 15:13}
Are you going through a challenging life season? Do you want to know about peace? God calls on us to trust in him even if it’s not always easy or doesn’t make sense. There’s one promise that some people often miss. God promises real joy (not just happiness) when we listen to him and live by what the bible says.
By spending time with God in prayer and daily Bible lessons, we can enter into God’s wonderful presence and allow His truths about joy fill our hearts. I know sometimes it can be challenging but, you have to try to stay positive and stay faithful. Never run out of faith. You are not alone in this journey. God always knows what he is doing and he has got this under control. You just have to trust him and give him all the glory and make sure you are doing what you can to stay faithful and connected to him!
Psalm 1:1-3 says, “delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night,” then we will be filled with joy. This states a big place in my life. If you take time in the scripture and you fill your life with wonderful things and you spend time in the word, that will result into Joy from God. Trying to choose joy and trying to stay faithful during life’s many challenges is not going to be easy, especially when we are tempted to ignore God’s word and truth and try to go our own way. We see joy as one of the fruits of the spirit. We have to choose to allow the Holy Spirit to work in our lives.
“Those who plant in tears will harvest with shouts of joy”. {psalms 126:5} We don’t have to understand joy completely to apply it to tough situations. That’s one reason I think joy is so important and I cling to it. We can still have a broken heart and feel broken and lost but, even when we are weak we can know that God is there and that we can still use Joy and give encouragement to others!
One thing we can do is try to stay positive and have joy not only for yourself but, for other people. Joy is one thing that God promises and is very important to following the bible. We have to have joy to receive things from our heavenly father!
Joy can make something very difficult and hard turn into a blessing. James 1:2-4 describes life’s troubles are “an opportunity for great joy”. The struggles you face in your life can result in blessings. You just have to trust and give it time to all work out. God’s great joy is very important. His love is never ending and it never runs out. Joy does not get chased off by trouble, it results in blessings. Make sure you reach for heaven and jump for joy!
If you ever need to talk don’t hesitate to message me! I’m here to talk to anyone! God loves you and so do I.
XOXO, Carsyn
MEASURE UP: COMPARISON
In the fullness of time, God sent his one and only Son, born of a woman born under the law to redeem those who are under the law, that we might receive adoptions as sons.” Galatians 4:4-5
I know comparison can be hard, and I know it’s not something that’s fun to talk about. I know sometimes it can be hard not to think you aren’t good enough, or you don’t measure up, or you are not worth it.. But you are!! God wants the best for us and he is our perfect father! God made us who we are and we all have our differences. Comparison can be a trap, it can hold you hostage, there is no win in comparison. Comparing yourself to others is harmful. Negativity is no good. Spreading negativity instead of positivity makes people feel bad about themselves and others. It puts them in a spot they don’t want to be in. In psalms 139:14 it says “I praise you for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” This places a lot in my heart. It makes me realize how much God cares for us and makes me think he made each and every one of us just how we are and loves us all. You are fearfully and wonderfully made by an amazing heavenly father who wants the best for you!! He made you who you are! There will be rude people in this world, and it’s really not fair. But, at the end of the day you just have to realize God loves us and he wants the best for us! Having lots of positivity is a great way to not measure up! Love yourself and love others around you! Compliment yourself and other people with positive things and it will make you feel better and not worse. Also, make sure you are being who you are. If you are going around being someone you aren’t… just to fit in or just to feel good.. Don’t. your only hurting yourself more because, you aren’t being who you are!! You are great. You are amazing. You are loved. And he is powerful. He is our perfect heavenly father who loves you so much!! When you compare yourself to others look to God, not people! Look to God for answers and look to God to see what to do. Don’t look and people and start judging yourself!! Be praying and and reading the bible to start in this journey!! Spread positivity and spread compliments rather than negativity! You are awesome!!
love you lots, carsyn
HE IS POWERFUL:
Trust in the Lord with all your heart & lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight. {Proverbs 3:5-6}
- God is good
- God is powerful
- God has a plan
- God has a purpose
- God loves you
Sometimes we don’t understand quite what is going on or really why but, we always have to remember God has “this” as he always does. Sometimes he is trying to tell us or teach us something and sometimes we aren’t ready to listen. So when we don’t listen to him he gets our attention in his own ways. Sometimes we don’t understand at the time but, in his time- he will make his picture clear. Sometimes in days, months, or even years. Always remember God always has a plan and a purpose for your life and he sent his only son, Jesus Christ to die on the cross for us… He loves you! I know at times it’s hard to realize somethings and it’s hard to figure out why.. But overall God has this all worked out and will do amazing things in your life. You have to trust that his ultimate picture us the best and he always has a plan. God is always making things happen for you, even when you don’t see it. God is working on your prayers. God is working on letting you be a great role model, and stepping out of your comfort zone and helping other people. God is working on making you a great leader and pointing you in the direction that is the best way. So ultimately God has it all worked out even when we don’t see it. God is powerful- God is good!!!
-Love you lots, Carsyn
HE GIVES US STRENGTH:
“I can do all things through Him who gives me strength” {Philippians 4:13}
Christ is within you, and you can do anything!
For a while now I have heard this verse and it hasn’t really made me feel anything or really think about what it meant. Jesus calls us to be good leaders, and spread his word. Now when I think of this I don’t think of just doing anything. I think that Christ is within me and he won’t necessarily take away my nerves, or fears; and I still might be scared or afraid, but I have Christ and with Christ I can do anything. God didn’t make us to always be strong and always think “I got this” he created us with the urge of being scared, or afraid and it’s okay. Your not alone. But, he did create us to step out of our comfort zone and do things and let him lead us through. He always has a plan and a purpose for your life and even if sometimes it doesn’t feel like he does, his plan is ultimately the best way! There are struggles that you will face through your life, and there will be things that come your way that you think you can’t face, but in the end.. God is always there and he will give you strength. For instance I struggled quite a bit this year. I would sit by myself and just cry and think “why would God do this to me, I can’t do this” but now that i’ve grown in my faith and realized that he gives us strength and that whatever we go through he has a plan and purpose and his plan is wonderful! : It’s our choice whether we let God take control or we do it ourselves!
love you lots, carsyn
Saved by Grace 