do not be afraid of them //

then i said “Agh Lord God! look, i don't know how to speak- i am only a youth”  
but the Lord said to me 
“do not say ‘i am only a youth’
for to all to whom i send you

you shall go
and whatever i command you

you shall speak.

do not be afraid of them
for i am with you to deliver you" 

jeremiah 1:6-7 //

did you get that? go back and read it all the way through if you found yourself skipping some words or just scanning it. i do that a lot. read it slowly. hear those words that are meant for you. 

do you hear yourself in jeremiah's voice? i do. it brings all my insecurities and fears to the surface. ever since like forever i've been shy and ever since like before forever i've been scared of and resistant to the idea of evangelism. sharing the gospel has always seemed like such a daunting thing to me. i was and am just like jeremiah. i use excuse after excuse after excuse. why? a lot of times it's because of one of these.

- fear of embarrassment

- fear of misrepresenting the gospel

- fear of rejection 

- fear of failure

are you noticing a trend? it's fear. i am afraid of so many things when God has already set all these fears to rest. look up these verses: psalm 118:6, hebrews 13:6, psalm 27:1, isaiah 43:1. really just google them right now. those are the words God gave you on the fear of man. paul was beaten and stoned and imprisoned and put to shame over and over and over for telling people about the God who loved them enough to die for them in order to give them life in perfection forever. here's what he said.

but I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed in us // romans 8:18

you know where that fear comes from? it comes from our enemy. the devil uses it time and time again to numb us and mute us so that God won't be glorified and so that his name won't spread and so that people millions and millions of individual humans will die and go to hell. that's a harsh reality to face. don't let fear be the reason you don't tell people about the life that Jesus gives.

but how in the world do you overcome fear? fear is so powerful. but you know what's more powerful? Love. God's love is all-encompassing and safe and so full of grace. 

there is no fear in love. but perfect love drives out fear. // 1 john 4:18

love God and love people. it's that simple. love God enough to really take up your cross and follow him. live the life of a servant that Jesus did. give freely of yourself for Christ's sake. and give freely of yourself for the lost and broken souls around you. love them enough to get past yourself. go out of your comfort zone and speak the raw, beautiful truth to them. show them the love Christ showed to you. and for the love of God in the most respectful way please don't stand off in pride, too disgusted by their sin to draw near to them. Jesus ate with the lowest of people: prostitutes, tax collectors, lepers, and all who were seen as unclean.i see this attitude of hypocrisy and pride in myself all the time. "yeah, i'm a sinner, but not like them. i'm not that bad." this is so incredibly contrary to the truth and beauty of the gospel. do i not remember?

neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality,
nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. and such were some of you. but you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit. // 1 corinthians 6:11

and this is where love comes in again and again as it always does. in all cases and

above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. // 1 peter 4:8

so, back to the original trail of thought: speak truth in love and share the gospel. think about the individuals around you. remember how empty and dark your life was before Christ came in and filled the emptiness of your life and shed light in all the dark places- that's how they're living. and that's how they will keep living until they find Jesus. and they can't find Jesus unless someone tells them about him. and if they don't find Jesus they will live and die and live in eternity in misery and torment separated from God forever.

so now read the text over. and listen to what he says.

do not say 'i am only a youth'

and you will go 

and you will speak

and do not be afraid of them

and then read those and think about the reasons he gives after each command. and realize that evangelism isn't an option. i don't know why i always see it as that. it's a command. so, go, and speak, and do not be afraid of them cause God is with you and he is with you to deliver you. he is faithful when we are faithless. trust in him<3

DAY 24 // five fave bloggers

YAY. I GET TO INTRODUCE SOME OF MY FAVORITE BLOGGER PEOPLE TO MY OTHER FAVORITE BLOGGER PEOPLE. These blogtember prompts just get me. This might be pretty hard actually. I'll shout out just a few of you wonderful people. Here we go. Oh, and sorry this so short. But if you spend all that extra time reading these beauties' blogs, then it'll make up for my lack of words, I promise. ;) Seriously. They're amazing.

Evelyn // The Raven + The Writer
Abbie // Abbiee
Sophia // Someplace in the Midst
Elisabeth // A Flyleaf
Abigail // Listless

They are all beautiful souls- go check them out and show them some love while you're at it! Who are some of your favorite bloggers?

DAY 23 // guest post from whimsical wanderings

Hello lovely readers of Summer of 1999! It’s Audrey from Whimsical Wanderings here to share with you the perfect DIY for the first day of fall!

All you need for this fun DIY is a mug (I got mine for a dollar at Dollar Tree!) and a paint pen. THAT'S ALL! Seriously, I'm not kidding, that's really all you need. It's so easy!

My favorite paint pens are from Target. The awesome thing about these pens is that you can use them anywhere! Besides drawing on mugs, I use them to draw and write in Bible (my sister calls them my "Bible doodles"), create hand-lettered prints for my gallery wall, and basically make anything look awesome.

I chose this adorable quote because it makes me think of fall. And also because if you know anything about me, you know that I'm obsessed with hot tea and I'm always cold. So basically this quote is my life.

Once you've got your quote of choice on your coffee mug, all that's left is to bake that sucker at 350°F for 30 minutes. Remember to let the mug heat up with the oven and cool down completely before removing it from the oven. 

And you're done. Told you it was easy! Now all you have left to do is make some hot tea, coffee, or anything pumpkin-flavored and enjoy it in your new mug!

Make sure you gently hand-wash your mug to make sure that the design doesn't come off!

I’m so excited to have Olivia taking over my blog today. She’s talking fall wardrobe staples today, so go check it out HERE!

weekend away

Hi everyone! Quick little update to let you guys know that I'm gonna be gone at CFAW (College for a Weekend) at Liberty University for a few days. Look forward to being back at some point early on next week! Since I won't be able to post in this time it provides the perfect opportunity to catch up on my plethora of recent posts in affiliation with the blogtember challenge! Feel free to check it out if you've got time to burn (really though who does these days?!). 

We'll be leaving bright and early tomorrow morning after my 8am classes + exam *groan* so really I should be getting to bed. Especially now that I've realized it already is tomorrow morning. *facepalm* See you beautiful people on the other side! 👋🏼

ps you can keep up with me more over the weekend by following me on Instagram and Twitter right over here >>>

DAY 14 // 5 books that have impacted me

Well, it's 12:00am on Day 15 by the time I'm posting this. I guess I'll have to deal. This is by no means an exhaustive list [REPEAT: BY NO MEANS]. I was tempted to include Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, The Chronicles of Narnia, you know, the usual. All of these have had huge impacts on my life, but I wanted to think a little outside the box for this one. And I really, really was gonna do the Bible (like a lot of you already have), but I decided to slip the Book Thief in there. So, just to clarify, the Bible is so beyond any of these pages of jumbled words listed here, that it deserves it's own list. The Bible will forever be my only truly favorite book, the only book that has the capacity to give me true life, and give it more abundantly.
So, please enjoy!!! Every one of these books means so much to me, and this was such a great post to write. Let me know if any of you have heard of or read any of these and liked or disliked them! Thanks for 40 followers, y'all. ^-^

1 // The Hundred Dresses, by Eleanor Estes
I remember the first time I read this book so distinctly. I was very young. I don't remember how old, but my aunt got it for me. It's really difficult for me to describe the impact it had on me. It's such a thin book full of colors. It's about a girl who wears the same clothes to school everyday and talks about her hundred dresses at home. It's about a girl who's all alone in a crowd full of kids, and eventually, she leaves. It taught me not to go with the crowd, not to miss opportunities, how someone can be taken away from you, and about the importance of reaching out, and so much more. It was a sad book, full of watercolors, and it spoke volumes to me.
2 // Because of Winn Dixie, by Kate DiCamillo
This book is more earthy, doggy, childhood-y. That probably makes no sense if you haven't read it. This book has an openness about it. It makes you want to welcome and love and accept everyone. I shows how once you open yourself up and let others in, you see how bruised and beautiful they really are. It's a real book and it's happy. And there's a big, ugly, wonderful dog in it. I can't tell you how many times I've read it or listened to it on tape. And every time I hear the word melancholy or think of lemon drops or see a tree with bottles hung all in it, I think of Winn Dixie.
3 // Inkheart, by Cornelia Funke
This is the first fiction, fantasy book that I couldn't put down for the life of me. The characters enraptured me, and the story was one I envisioned myself living. The characters were hard, and new, and lovely, and, soft, and cruel, and vulnerable, and so very broken. And again, what always brings me back, is that they were so real. And you felt so much for each of them. Plus those father-daughter relationships just get me. It introduced to me a burning love for fiction and book series and when I read them they still take me back.
4 // To Kill A Mockingbird, by Harper Lee
Where in the world do I even begin with this book? This book is everything to me. The characters are like the people I grew up with and know like the back of my hand. I've read it several times and have written two literary analysis' on it. My copy is worn and torn and scribbled in with pen. Those pages hold my heart and I don't know what else to tell you, but go read the stinkin book. If I was forced to choose (with a gun to my head, because honestly that's probably the only way I could choose) my "favorite book", I would have to say this one (that is saying a lot, guys. ok? a lot.)
5 // The Book Thief, by Markus Zusak
This book was like no book I have ever read. I don't know what to say. It's a masterpiece. The characters are so there that you feel the wind knocked out of you when they're hurt. You feel the shock of cold water, the smile tugging at your mouth. You smell the smell of those books and you feel the claws of hunger. You feel the thrill of victory, the punch in the gut, the hot pouring tears, and hard lump in your throat, the kind you can't speak or breathe around. It hurts. And the confusion hurts, and the not knowing, and the knowing, and then it heals and hurts with a deeper, duller ache. It's real and it hurts and it's so, so, so good. It's about the words and the colors and the people and the books, and the pain and beauty of it all. It's set in Germany during WWII. Read it.

DAY 12 // currently

Sorry it's been a while, guys! This week has been crazy insane, and so will the next, so I'm not sure I can promise any better but I'll do my best! I've got to take on some responsibility at some point anyway... (psh) I always love reading others' currently posts, and writing them is so much fun. They're also great for when you're not feeling inspired. So, here we go, everything I'm doing now...

 

Reading: And The Mountains Echoed by Kahled Hosseini and Beowulf. Just now starting Beowulf, but literally cannot stop reading And The Mountains Echoed. Wasted a whole morning of studying with my nose in that blasted, beautiful book.

Watching: Agents of Shield on a very inconsistent basis. Still on the first season. *cringe*

Trying: To get back into my routine of devotions. It's ridiculously hard to simply sit down and spend time with the one who created me and loves me more than anyone and died for me?! Sometimes I wonder how that can be.

Cooking: Dinner the other night, but thankfully not tonight. Mom is my favorite.

Eating: Pizza soon!!!!!!!!! Another reason why mom is my favorite.

Drinking: Water and lemonade in mason jars.

Calling: Not calling but called by Liberty University today. My introverted worst nightmare.
Apparently they thought I had applied for online classes (?!?!!?). Heart attack.

Texting: Friends (including bae who blogs over here). Nothing too shocking there. 

Pinning: All the words and bread sticks recipes.

Tweeting: Quotes from my ridiculously comical siblings. And also mental commentary from yours truly. I'm also pretty funny. You can check it out here.

Going: NOWHERE. Literally so thankful to have a Saturday night at home. It's been way, way too long. 

Loving: This house and this rainy day and the warmth of light and the cool air settling in. 

Hating: How fallen our world is and how apparent it is in our world today, especially in recent news of the refugee crisis and further revelations about ISIS.

Discovering: That fall is definitely and by far and exclusively my favorite season. And that I definitely cannot keep up with the blogtember challenge.

Feeling: So happy and content and at home right now.

Hoping for: Me to get my life together and use my time well in the upcoming stressful weeks. And also more time spent in prayer.

Listening to: THIS. Click on the link and thank me later. Seriously. Just do it. You don't even know how much you need it in your life. Found it thanks to the lovely Abi over at listless. It is currently giving me life. Also listening to the yells of boys wrestling and giddy shrieks of girls constructing precariously high towers.

Smelling: Pizza. #goals

Ordering: Nothing at the moment. Just a little bit too poor for that.

Thanking: God for how he's helping me to find joy in the little things and choose joy at the start of every new day. Every little step counts.

Considering: Which picture to use in my post. And also how to spend the rest of my night. Devotions, literature, and hanging out with some family friends who are last minute over for supper. They're seriously the best.

Starting: My lit homework that I should've started Thursday. Whoops.

Finishing: Supper. #blessed. And this blogpost. YAY. *confetti* *fireworks* *blessings* wait what

DAY 6 // stylin

Share your style. What fashion trends do you love, frequent, or avoid? [click on the pictures for clarity]

there's more where that came from here//pinterest

Okay, this is a day late but I could not care less because THIS COLLAGE MAKES ME THE HAPPIEST. I decided to base it mostly on fall/winter fashion because otherwise it would just be too much to fit in, and also fall/winter fashion is the best. Obviously, my style is mostly casual. As in mostly sweatpants, sweatshirts, and lots and lots of gray. Seriously though, like sweaters and flannel all. day. every. day. That is all I wear in the winter.... and sometimes in the summer. I also prefer to not touch my hair. Usually this works out for everyone because it can dry messy and still be presentable. Praise God, because I tend to not brush my hair. If not, messy buns, messy braids, messy anything- that also works. 

Fashion trends I love // I love that it is socially acceptable to wear converse almost anywhere. Also love the fashion trends that make it okay to wear super comfy stuff, but comfy stuff that looks nice. Like basically everything featured above.

Fashion trends I frequent // Combat boots. I have a brown leathery pair. It was pretty much the only pair of shoes I wore last fall. Also super into layering. Especially with chambray.

Fashion trends I avoid // I am so with Bailey on this one. I cannot stand the cropped top trend going on right now. Just no.

While we're still talking about fashion, I guess I should bring this up. Okay, guys. Consultation time. I need advice. My hair's getting pretty long at this point, and I'm kind of dying to get if cut off but kind of thinking that I want to keep it growing out a little longer but I just. Don't. Know. This is the cut I'm wanting. I don't think I'd regret it. But at the same time my hairs at a good length. Like I don't even have to do anything to it. I literally fell asleep with soaking wet hair Saturday night and woke up Sunday with loose curls. I didn't even brush it. But anyway. I just don't know. Sorry for ranting. Let me know what you guys think.

Also DAY 7 challenge is to explain the title of your blog. I was born in the summer of 1999. That's pretty much it. Heh.

PS // Honestly getting way too excited over Season 9 of Doctor Who and The Scorch Trials coming out so soon. What even. 

DAY 5 // on shuffle

SO I'M BACK FOR DAY 5|| Sorry I haven't been keeping up completely for this challenge- I've already missed some I wanted to do! But that's what I expected and at least I'm being inspired to do this short post. And, hey, without this challenge I probably wouldn't have posted all week. So, really, this is an accomplishment. The prompt is to put your iPhone on shuffle and share the first 10 songs that play. I love short, but sweet posts like this, and I love finding new music, because music is my fave. And I'll admit to it- I changed a couple songs. Sorry guys I just couldn't resist. I just hate for these things to not accurately represent my taste in music. Do any of you like any of these songs/artists/albums???? And if not, what all do you guys listen to? I love getting music recommendations especially from all of you, because you seem to have flawless taste.♥
oh, and please excuse the terrible quality photo- I don't know what's wrong with the quality on here.

The A Team - Ed Sheeran // +
Dirty Water - Lecrae // Anomaly
A Thunder Battle - Howard Shore // The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
Everybody Wants To Rule the World - Lorde // Catching Fire
Arms - Christina Perri // Lovestrong
Oceans (Where Feet May Fail) - Hillsong UNITED // Zion

Begin Again - Taylor Swift // Red
Human - Christina Perri // Head or Heart
Ain't No Mountain High Enough - Tammi Terrell // Awesome Mix Vol. 1
Deliverance - Brian Tyler // Thor: The Dark World

DAY 1 // blogtember challenge

SO, I just found out about this fabulous challenge through Audrey's post on Whimsical Wanderings yesterday (check it out it's super cute).You can find Bailey's original post here to get involved! She provided a list of prompts for everyday of September and they all look like so much fun. Unfortunately I'm starting a day late because of who I am as a person, but bear with me for a bit as I briefly introduce myself before getting to the good stuff in the days to come...

>> I am the second oldest of six kids- wow, such a turnoff for the first fact of me. It gets better I promise.
>> I spent an embarrassing amount of my childhood knocking on the backs of wardrobes and pushing through coat closets. #narniaprobs
>> I hate internet explorer. I know that's pretty much the same for anyone in their right mind but I just feel the need to point that out.
>> Flannel.
>> I think books are the heart and soul of a room. (I was gonna say bookshelves but then I realized how dusty mine are and thought I'd just go with books)
>> Instagram is by far my favorite form of social media.
>> DISNEY WORLD. And just all things Disney.
>> The dollar section of Target is where I belong.
>> And the office section of Target.
>> Oh and while we're at it, also the Chickfila right beside Target.
>> I'm the only hazel eyed one in my family. The rest are blue-eyed babes.
>> I live for fall.
>> And also Jesus. Mostly Jesus. Okay all for Jesus. Scratch that last point.
>> I prefer not to get too deep into this but I'm a bit of a fangirl. There. It's out. Sherlock, Doctor Who, Merlin, LOTR/Tolkien, Harry Potter, Marvel, Hemingway, you name it. Also just anything BBC.
>> I have a weakness for bagels, muffins, cinnamon rolls, and waffles. Some people just don't eat breakfast. Still searching for understanding..... HOW.
>> Foxes are my favorite.
>> Candles.
>> At this point I'm just looking around my room trying to find something to talk about, so I think I'm just gonna be done.

Whoa I'm actually really surprised at how much fun that was!!! Yay. So excited to get started on some of these other prompts, even if I'm a day late on the first one! Don't count on me posting everyday, but I'll do my best to keep up at least a few days of the week. Bailey's challenge came at the perfect time as the school year gets kicked off. Hopefully, this will give me some inspiration and motivation to just sit down and write as things get more and more chaotic.
Anyway, happy 2nd of September, y'all ^-^ And let me know in the comments if any of you decide to this challenge along with me!