What we know of the world we live in is actually only the tip of the iceberg. Submerged underneath its surface are mysteries too great for us to possibly understand. This is why we we must live by faith and not by sight. Every single detail of life is under our Heavenly Father's complete control.

"You weren't an accident. You weren't mass produced. You aren't an assembly-line product. You were deliberately planned, specifically gifted, and lovingly positioned on the Earth by the Master Craftsman."  - Max Lucado

Hey you! Yes you...you sure are gorgeous. Yep I'm talking to you so you best believe it. God made you and I must say He is an amazing artist(:

Be strong in the Lord and
Never give up hope.
Your gonna do great things,
I already know.
God's got His hand on you,
So don't live life in fear.
Forgive and forget,
But don't forget why your here.
Take your time and pray.
These are the words I would say.

This amazing song performed by the Sidewalk Prophets is my shoutout to all of you. Keep the faith and remain courageous. Always remember "Have I not commanded you, be strong and courageous. Do not be terriefied; do not be discouragged, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you may go." Joshua 1:9

You have a purpose. Believe me. God's plan is unraveling more and more everyday and you will soon see the reason for all of your victories and struggles. Life is hard, I agree...but it is also amazingly Beautiful. So let's battle gorgeously!

Life with Jesus is Better:)

I know this may seem random, but I think it is necessary to say. So many tragedies are happening all around, even in our home towns. Recently a severe car wreck caused by a drunk driver's decision to drive down the wrong side of the road, happened too close for comfort. To fill you in, just know that the drunk driver came out scratch free, but the victim in the other car has passed away.

Why am I saying all of this? Well, although I don't know alot of you who may read my blog, I still love you tremendously and care for you just as Jesus has commanded. And my greatest wish is that each of you will, if you haven't already, give your life to our Lord, Jesus Christ. The truth is, we are not promised tomorrow. I, myself am guilty of taking moments forgranted as well, but I pray that each and everyday I, as well as yall, will step out of our comfort zones and speak the Truth to all of those around us. To think that so many people go through this world without a relationship with God Almighty really tears me to pieces. So please, I am begging you, if you have not made the most important decision of your life to accept Jesus Christ into your heart, please do it today. Admit, Believe, and Confess.

The One and Only thing we absolutely need, is the One thing we can never lose...and that is God's presence surrounding us. If you have further questions please leave a comment and I would be happy to assist you in your profession of faith. My advise is find a pastor, family member, or friend and share the victory you have won today! The choice to be a follower of Christ changes your life forever. You are His child, He loves you...and forever will!

"and My people who are called by My name humble themselves, pray and seek My face, and turn from their evil ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land."
2 Chronicles 7:14
#healing #nation #America

There is alot of talk around this time of year about how America needs to change for the better. But what we often forget is that no matter the choices we make and what we think will improve our nation, God, the Creator, is the One who is ultimately in control. I saw this Bible verse on a billboard yesterday and thought I would share it with y'all. I agree, America needs change, but the change we need is not in the hands of our future office officials, but in God's. We must first humble our selves, and seek our Father's face. To expect an improved outcome without changing our focus of who the real Problem-Solver is, is seriously insane. We, Americans, need to turn from our sins so that we may all be forgiven. And this is the path for a gracious healing of our land. God's instructions in this verse are the answers to our request for change. Through God, we can and we will have our nation back. We will once again live in the one and only AMERICA, the one God made for us!

Confidence is Gorgeous!

I have been reading a lot of inspirational life stories recently and I have repeatedly noticed how society pressures us to gain the approval of others...but why? Truthfully, if you haven't hurt anyone, other's perception of you is really none of your business. Honestly, whether you are Miss America, the President, or Wonder Woman not everyone is going to like you. It's is just unavoidable! Some people are not going to laugh at the jokes you tell, approve of your wardrobe, or even give you the time of day...but seriously, no matter the judgements, disapproval, or insults thrown your way, being confident and ultimately happy with who you are, is an unbreakable sheild around you. Please just remember how AMAZING, GORGEOUS, and SPECIAL you are, and believe me...you will be Bulletproof!

Just a Lil Encouragement for You Guys Today:

You guys, please believe that God made y'all BEAUTIFUL! Believing that you are pretty is not conceited at all...it's REVOLUTIONARY!

Part of my devotion today read: "Among all God's creatures, only humans can anticipate future events. This ability is a belessing, but becomes a curse whenever it is misused. If our minds are used to worry about tomorrow, we cloak on to the dark unbelief. However, when the hope of heaven fills our thoughts, the Light of God's Presence envelops us. Though heaven is future, it is also present tense. As we walk in the Light of our Lord, we have one foot on earth and the other in heaven."

Worry steals moments away from us that we can never get back. Whether it is about tomorrow, two months from now, or two years, God already knows the outcome and has our best interests in mind. Instead of wasting time thinking about the "what ifs," why not just spend every minute living our lives for a purpose? And the purpose is for God's honor and glory. With God's magnificence in mind, there is actually no time to worry or fret!

Fall is in the Air!

Okay peeps...guess what? Tomorrow is FALL y'all!!!! Aren't the changing seasons such a wonderful way for God's artwork and greatness to be displayed? Let's just think for a minute...God made the grass, trees, birds, plant life, sky, and everything in between and yet instead of declaring us(humans) "good" just as He described the others, after God created us, He declared us "very good." We were created in His own image...how magnificent! Whether winter, spring, summer, or fall, the Lord definitely provides us with a gallery of beautiful scenes, but just as you can not have a spring without the showers, or a winter without the freeze, seasons in life may also not go as we would like for them to sometimes either. Fortunately we know that God's plans are always perfect yet sometimes we may not be able to see the beautiful picture He is painting for us at the moment. Just as the showers in spring, may cancel our outdoor plans but the result of the flowers are beautiful, the stormy seasons in our lives can also be looked at from a perspective as if taking a step back and seeing the full picture of our lives coming together beautifully. I pray that each of you reading this will apply the spring shower's affects on the growing flowers to your life by remembering that there is a season and time for everything and God has perfect timing....never early, never late.

"Promise me you will not spend so much time treading water and trying to keep your head above the waves that you forget, truly forget, how much you have always loved to swim."
Tyle Knott Gregson

Great perspective on life! I pray that we all join together to ride the waves and enjoy the water, remembering that this is what it feels like to be alive. I pray that I begin to show gratitude to God for my ability to ride the daily seas of adventure.

With God, the word Impossible becomes I'm Possible!

God made us all beautiful and when we truly except ourselves for who we are both on the inside and outside, well that is what you call Beautiful...and Revolutionary!

Thought for the Day:

Just as a butterfly can not see the beauty of its own colorful wings, we also as humans do not recognize our own beauty both within and outside ourselves. We are able to instantly acknowledge the gorgeous wings of a butterfly but when it comes to ourselves we don't realize our own uniqueness. We are all "wonderfully and remarkably made" by God. So never doubt your self worth or appearance, because even though you, yourself may not notice it, people looking at you from the outside will, just as you recognize the butterfly's.

Never, ever, ever Give Up! I am serious. Just over the past few months God has brought me further than I could have ever imagined back when I had the tube. I am now eating solids after being in the hospital for 6 weeks, where I managed to gain enough weight for the artery's correction. Although I am indeed in remission from SMA Syndrome, that does not at all mean that I do not struggle. Life is certainly not easy for me, but God did not promise it would be easy. I believe that since He has my best interests in mind though, that IT WILL BE WORTH IT! I have recently doubted that I could completely overcome my illnesses but I have finally decided that with God on my side, who or what can stop me from acheiving all I've ever dreamed of! I don't just want to be an ordinary and healthy person when I recover, but I am perservering to be an EXTRAORDINARY, HEALTHY, teenager who focuses on God and being the best possible version of myself that I can be.

"A Glimpse at Me & My Life"

Jennifer Hope Knox

First of all, I would like to thank you so much for viewing my blog. I pray that you are blessed and encouraged by both my posts and the scriptures I include frequently, that God has so richly blessed us with as we journey through this life.

~My current life: To begin with, I turned 15 years old February 25, 2012. I was of course super excited to have finally reached my teen years, but I was also discouraged as I couldn't help but think of all the things I would undoubtebly miss out on because of my current condition...Superior Mesenteric Artery Syndrome(SMA). What is that you may ask...? I wondered that too the first time I was diagnosed in March of 2011. In medical terms it is explained as a digestive system disorder which occurs when the supererior mesenteric artery obstructs the duodenum as it crosses over it. Basically, because of the narrowing caused by the mesenteric artery that blocks my stomach, I am unable to eat without projectile vomiting.--- This all started during my 8th grade softball season and has been a continuing issue ever since. Just a note, I ABSOLUTELY LOVE SOFTBALL, and practically anything that involves being active! Of course, this love of mine is extremely tough to deal with since I am unable to participate in sports from the result of my illness. What doctors think to have caused my SMA is the fact that I excercised more than I consumed during the season and it resulted in weight loss that brought about the obstruction of my gastro system. Body structure can have an impact on the victims, but there is actually only 500 cases of SMA ever detected in the world! So, as my counselors try to convince me..."ain't I special?"

---Anyways, the game plan now and last year is and was to feed me by a kangaroo feeding pump. I have a TP tube that is inserted up my nose, down my throat, and it continues throughout my body until it reaches beneath the area where the collapse has taken place. I cannot eat or drink anything by mouth...so I guess you could say my kangaroo companion and I are closely attached. After weight gain, the artery, we pray will go back into its correct position. And it supposebly did...last May. Yes, I said last May, because once you are diagnosed with my condition, you can relapse and it can occur all over again. That is just what happened at the end of last year...and once again I have the TP tube and I've had it since December of 2011.

---I have definately been put through the ringer. Since the beginnig of 2011, I have been in and out of hospitals several times, admitted to a residential hospital facility, and of course have had several tests done and the tube placed down. But you know what, God is with me! And without Him, I know without a doubt I would have no hope whatsoever. But I do have Him and so do each and every one of you who are reading this! God's Word commands us to " Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified of them, For it is the Lord your God who goes with you; He will not leave or forsake you." Deuteronomy 31:6. Yes, I know and experience pain, but I also have a mighty Hope that comes from My Savior! He tells me in Matthew 21 that if I have faith(even the size of a mustard seed) I can move mountains! And this and several other promises He assures me of, sustains my perserverance.

---I am on the pump baically all day...with a short break from feedings to take a shower. This of course prevents me from participating in several activities which is a struggle for me to handle. Like I said before, I LOVE to move and be active...I always have and always will. I have been involved in soccer, swimming, and gymnastics throughout my life, but my love of softball has stuck with me since the age of 3! I pray to one day be back on the diamond pitching that big, yellow ball once again. And I know that "through Christ all things are possible."(Phil.4:13)... so if its His will, I will! ~You may be wondering...so what do I do now that I can't do the things I have mentioned...? Well for one, I study, both schoolwork(online classes), and my Bible. Scriptures are what I use as weapons to fight my everyday struggles, thoughts, and trials. I believe that "the One who started good work in me will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus,"(Phil.1:6) and that the closer my walk with God becomes, even through this valley, I will have both better knowlege of the One who loves me enough to die for me, and also I believe the more of His Word I know, the better my testimony can unravel to glorify Him! That is my prayer today. I want to live a life that is both pleasing to Him and that can bring other to know Him even more as well. I hope that through my posts you will see just how Great our God and Ultimate Healer is. I am definately not saying that life is easy at all...but I do have a Lord who promises me I do not have to face it alone!

Love in Christ,

Jennifer Hope Knox

This is an xray of my body with the tube inserted....