Thursday, March 17, 2011

Faith Spotlight ~ Arielle


I love to hear people's stories, especially faith stories. I get so excited after hearing how God is working in another life. It's so encouraging and refreshing to share such a special journey with someone else. With that being said, I am going to start hosting a Faith Spotlight every month. My goal is showcase our Great God in the lives of ordinary people. 

For the first one I have a lovely guest, Arielle. She is a young newly-wed, new mom and photographer, as well as a devoted Christ-follower. I can see her love for God radiating from the words I read on her blog. Her posts are always an encouragement to me. Well friends, she is here today to share part of her journey in the faith and I am very excited about it! If you haven't already, you can read her story on A Beautiful Journey.

Just look at her adorable family!






Hello! My name is Arielle and I have a little blog called A Beautiful Journey... I'm so glad to be able to share on this blog. Jennifer is awesome and she truly has a beautiful heart for Jesus. I was going to write out my testimony but, when I sat down to start writing (or, eh, typing) I didn't even know where to begin :) So instead, I'm just going to share a very honest part of my journey...
It seems like all through out my life I have been a quitter. Once upon a time I moved to Texas for a ministry school and...I left. In other words, I quit. Then, I went to a Bible college and I decided college wasn't really for me so, I quit. A while after this, I decided to go to a cosmetology school and guess what? I quit. 
I don't think I can count how many times I have quit different things through out my life. It is quite humbling and it also shows how I needed to learn a big lesson on perseverance. You see, all through out my life I was waiting to hear God's will for my life. "Maybe I should go to this college...but is it His will?"  "I don't feel like this is where I am supposed to be, God is not giving me confirmation that I'm supposed to be here... so I'm going to leave." Instead of taking a leap of faith and sticking with something, I would be afraid that I wasn't doing the right thing, and just give up.
This is a part of my testimony that I am not very proud of. Quitting has taught me many, many lessons. I finally realized that I cannot always sit around waiting for a 'sign from heaven' to see where God is leading me. I can't always quit, or I'm not going to get anywhere, ever.
Sometimes, the Lord does not always show us with some clear sign what we are to do and where we are to be. However, He does give us wisdom, guidance, and dear friends and family to help make important decisions. From there, we have the choice to persevere and give it all we have or shrink back in cowardliness because we are afraid we have made the wrong decision.
I've learned that the Lord leads us and gives us different opportunities. Take those opportunities (even if they are small) and truly make the best of them. He wants to see if we are faithful in the small things, and from there- bigger things will come. Don't be afraid, but instead persevere in faith....and most of all, don't quit! ;)
Blessings,
arielle



25 comments:

Candice said...

I love this idea Jennifer, and what a beautiful post this was! Thank you for the reminder! :)

Brooke T said...

I love Arielle and her family is so cute! Such a great story. Thanks for sharing :)

Jhen.Stark said...

I love that you are doing a Faith Spotlight!

And having Arielle to kick it off is perfect. I just only recently found her's and your blog, but I'm so inspired by the two of you that I have seriously rethought my blogging ways.

And to respond to what she shared...
YES! YES! YES! And more YES! I was a quitter. And I even quit almost the exact same things she did. And what she shared rings so true in my hearts as well as I'm sure so many others! Thanks Arielle and Thanks Jennifer for sharing this!

Amy @ AGirlCalledBeloved said...

Oh I'm so excited about Faith Spotlight!
I love Arielle's blog, and that was very good advice. Something I think that the Lord would want us all to hear!

melissa said...

Beautiful story & I LOVE this Faith Spotlight idea!!!! I am excited to read about others and their Faith stories. It brings me closer to God with each story. Lots of love! xoxo

Unknown said...

That's just what I needed to hear today! Thank you for sharing. :)

Morgan Paige said...

i love this idea & i love her story!! i so enjoy hearing other people's hearts for jesus!

Megan said...

such a sweet new little series. love it. and i want her hair.

Alivia said...

Such a sweet post; I love 'A Beautiful Journey!'

<3

Jessica said...

Great post and I love the idea of faith spotlight. My favorite part about meeting other bloggers is hearing how God is working in all our lives. Incredible. Love you blog!

Lori said...

I could have written this myself. I was just thinking the other day about how I am such a quitter and am going through a rough.rough.rough patch in my marriage (haven't admtited that to many people yet, especially not in the blog community), so this hits home big time. It's so nice to have a faith based community in the blogging world... I still feel like a novice since I am so on and off with church (though it's been about 5+ years since I started going)

You ladies inspire me.

She Said... said...

oh goodness! You have no idea how much I needed to read this post! Isn't it amazing how God works? My husband and I have one of the biggest decisions we have had to make coming up very soon and this has definitely helped me. Thank you so much!

Unknown said...

Yay! I can't tell you all how excited this makes me. I think there is great benefit in sharing our stories - it helps us know that we are NOT alone in this. It's so good to know that there are others out there going through the same things!

Off Label Mama said...

Oh Blair, this is SUCH a great idea! I am going to really look forward to these monthly posts now!

And Arielle, this is such an inspiring testimony that I think a lot of us can relate to. Thank you for having the vulnerability and courage to share with us!

Chelsea said...

Rev. 12:11 And they have defeated him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony. They did not love their lives so much that they were afraid to die.

i LOVE this verse. We OVERCOME by the blood of jesus and by our testimonies. Our testimonies help edify and encourage others and that's why there's no shame in the past or who we were before we knew Jesus.

Arielle is a sweet, sweet girl and has lots to encourage us by!

Thanks for this post.

Christy said...

just found your blog through Arielle's and will now be a follower! the Lord definitely spoke to me through her words. i have a big decision to make in the next week and I'm trying to step out in faith and trust the Lord in His goodness. thank you!

Courtney K. said...

What a beautiful, beautiful post. I think this is something that people tend to forget about Faith. Faith is taking the chances, being willing to risk things you are uncertain of and step out into the unknown. You're so right! God does not always give us clear cut, written in crayon instructions on what he wants us to do. I've had to learn that in my life as well. GREAT post!! Thanks so much for your honesty and your willingness to share!

borboletabella said...

wonderful blog! It was really made me see things more clearly and thin about the path God has laid out for me and trying to figure it out!! Thanks so much for this!!

♥ CheChe said...

I love both of your ladies blogs. it's so refreshing to meet christian women through the blog world who truly have a passionate and loving relationship with God. I'm all about LOVING God in the intimate way HE first loved us and your blogs both truly reflect that love :)!!

I am a quitter as well. In sooooo many ways. The fact that I have had this current job for over 2 years is completely the LORDS work in my life. Also since being saved and giving my life to Christ my reasons for quitting can easily be summed up perfectly by EVERYTHING Arielle wrote!!


I love testimony sharing of ALL types and I look forward to your FAITH spotlight :)!!! Beautiful

♥cheche

Kelly said...

love this blog as well as Arielle's blog!! i can truly relate to her words and thank her for her honesty. i can relate to quitting..i have quit too many things in my life.
i am so thankful for both of your blogs..it is truly refreshing to see God's love shine through each one of them..very uplifting!

Cassidy said...

I love this idea! She sounds a lot like myself. I tend to quit at things that I lose interest or passion in... or fear I'll fail in. Great reminder that we should always persevere and be "faithful in the small things." :)

Rachel @ Finding Joy said...

This was an absolutely beautiful post. I am so thankful for honesty and realness -- especially in the blogging world.

Your idea is excellent!

Young People in Love said...

LOVE the idea of this kind of spotlight, girl. Really wonderful.

~ Angela ~ said...

very sweet post:) I also follow arielle and she is amazing! Her spirit is so genuine and inspiring! xxoo

www.paivalife.blogspot.com

Branson said...

Wow, what a wonderful post! I am definitely headed over to her blog now! Thanks for sharing!! :)

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