Mosaic

happy beautiful Monday morning ! It is a clear, breezy morning here in Valdosta. Coffee in my hand after an 8 am mandatory workout, and ready to blog. This past weekend I went on the freshman retreat with the BCM ( baptist collegiate ministry). We packed up on Friday to head to camp for the night.. Lol, anyone who knows me just chuckled. Anyways, the theme for the weekend was "Mosiac." When I think of a Mosiac, I always think of a big, fancy church with stained glass windows. These windows are absolutely breathtaking. This artwork shows a bigger picture, one of completeness. But the closer you get to the Mosiac, you realize it is tiny pieces of glass that was masterly pieced together to make something that is spectacular. It is masterpiece. An artist had to take endless hours of skill placing thousands of shard glass fragments together. This message keeps appearing in my life.. From churches, summer camp, and now this retreat. These glass pieces represent our broken parts, the areas in our life we feel keep us in bondage. Brokenness is among us all. No person is perfect. Every person is a sinner. Sin cause brokenness. I know my brokenness has a lot to do with a separated family. Through my brokenness I began to live through it which blurred my vision and paths. I began to be depressed. I endulged in anything that took my eyes off my problem, which at the time was a relationship with a guy. I had periods where I simply was done and did not want to be alive. Brokenness was the core of everything I did. The enemy manipulated it into something I thought defined me. I was broken. That was who I was and I had excepted it. BUT , that is not how Our God sees me. He calls me a masterpiece. 

{ for we are God's masterpiece. he has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago } Ephesians 2:10

God is not surprised at my sin. he is not shocked my family fell apart. I did not pull one on him moving to Valdosta. he knew his plans a long time ago, he knew I would trip up. He loves me though. We were created in his image, We were created for a purpose.. A special purpose. Never think you are the only one in the room struggling because you are not. We all have a story. We all have a past. We all have weakness, but God works greatest through our weaknesses. God takes those shards of glass and turns them into a masterpiece that is breathtaking. It does not happen over night, but overtime God works all things for good for those who love him. Broken is not how who you are. YOU are a masterpiece. 

Lots of love , 

Kalyn 

What're you looking at ?

Good short week Thursday ! God has worked so much in my heart the past few weeks here at VSU. There have been good times, and some hard times. But, I know for certain that the God who let me get here will use all things for good. I've felt a conviction on my heart throughout the past few weeks. Being in college, like most places nowadays, has opened my eyes to how dark and lost this world is. I am surrounded by hurting people everyday. Young adults who are going after fame among their peers and careers. Words of gossip, negativity, and darkness fills the lips of the majority of this campus and this world. I even catch myself wrapped up in it.  The "culture is shifting" as the church's pastor I visited explained in their college message last week. It has now become "entertainment" to watch how utterly vulgar Miley Cyrus can be on the VMAs. My downstairs lobby of my hall was filled with freshman indulging in this world through drama displayed on an award's show. I see young girls come in to the dorms dressed as if  clothing was just an option. Young girls with futures going after a life of parties. Laws have been passed that overtake morals ,such as abortion. This world is hurting. This world is trying to get us completely distracted from what we need.. JESUS. We have to take a stand to stay strong in Christ when the culture shifts away from him. When someone says Jesus... they usually think " Christianity" which is accurate, but Jesus is much more than a religion. Sure, I go church. I listen to christian music. and I read the word. BUT am I consuming myself with Jesus? Has Jesus become my reason to breathe? Last week, I felt such a conviction while the band was playing the song " Christ is enough for me " The chorus of this songs goes as follows :

{ Christ is enough for me. Christ is enough for me.  Everything I need is in You. Everything I need } 


I remember such a heavy feeling came over me as I sang that song. I realized that I said he was enough for me, but the truth is I didn't live that way. I surely didn't think that way at all. I started thinking about all the things I thought I had to do in order to feel "whole". Being in college, you just want to fit in.. make friends.. and live the "college life" of independence and freedom. I needed that Lily Pultizer cup or planner everyone had. I needed to talk like my peers.. I needed to gossip about others to have friends, at least that is what I thought. I had to have a complete family to be happy. I needed to have it all planned out as to how my life panned out. But, mostly I realized in that moment that I was obsessed with being wanted or liked. I had chased after guys and put a guy way above where he should of been. Ladies & gents, hear me out.. live your life for God, not a guy or girl. I know it is around you , " love stories" and constant in everyday life. I am not denying love or being in a relationship. I love love. I love watching people fall in love. But, one thing I have learned is that liking a guy or girl is not bad, but putting him in God's place is. Feeling loved, beautiful , and wanted by a guy or girl is great, but realizing that he/she isn't enough is important. I based my emotions on a human. Humans WILL dissappoint. They make mistakes, so it is silly to think that they could ever be the one and only for me. When you sing " Christ is Enough for me" .. it means no matter who or what is in my life, with or without it or them, I can make it because I have what I need. Everything I need is in him. Love. Hope. Joy. I don't need a ton of people to like my instagram post. I don't need a thousand friends. I don't need a super amazing car. I don't need to have my life planned out. I don't need every designer item I see. I don't need a guy to make me feel valuable. I am valuable. I am loved. I am liked. I am being used for God's plans. Christ is enough for me, no turning back.. no turning back. So my question for you is , " What're you looking at today?".. is it this world.. or is it our beautiful God?
 Much Love,
Kalyn

I also want to thank you guys so so much for always reading my posts. It means so much to me to know that what I feel God wants me to share effects lives for his kingdom. Last week, Give me Jesus hit 1500 pageviews. That is 1500 people who have read about Jesus. The most special part is that I can see that people google and find this blog. I have no idea who they are, but they are reading. Thanks to all who share.. there aren't ever 100 likes on a post on instagram or facebook, but those pageviews come form somewhere. Those 1500 people read it, some I may never know did. I just want to say thank you for investing ! If anyone ever has prayer requests or just want to take or ideas on what you think I should improve or write about, let me know. My email is kbowser96@gmail,.com . Have an amazing week !!