To All The Single Ladies..

I have been so hesitant to write this blog. I have wanted to for so long but the things I mention in it I'm afraid will make me sound self-gratifying. But I want to write it to show what God has done in my life and what I really believe can do in anyone else's who lets Him.

Last August I was introduced to a challenging concept of not dating for a year. Not only not dating but not pursuing or being pursued for a year. A challenge called "crush the crush"- a challenge that would change myself and my whole world. Now, it sounds silly, and I was skeptical at first, but let me explain what made me decide to do it..

At first,  my thoughts were "what if I meet the guy I'm supposed to marry during the year? Then I will have to turn him away and he will forget about me!" I was so absorbed in the fairy tale of love that I was afraid giving my love life to God would .. mess my life up?

But you know, I was tired of waiting. I was tired of always thinking and wondering and looking! I was tired of it controlling my thoughts. It is tiring, painful, and it's lonely. I didn't want to have control (or at least pretend I did) over who it would be or when he came along anymore.

Because I knew it was too painful and lonely to be searching for a boyfriend, I gave up. I crushed the crush. It was so hard and so easy at the same time. I must say though, I sort of cheated because I did move right after I started it and had no men in my life to really consider. But I can tell you it would have been a lot easier to be lonely if I hadn't started before the move.

Through the year, I learned so. much. Mainly that being single is awesome! Do you know how much more confidence you have when you have no guys to impress?? The moment I gave up my boy search, I began focusing on bettering my relationship with God which essentially led to bettering myself which led to bettering my relationships with others. When you don't have to worry about impressing anyone, you don't think about yourself as much which allows you to think about others more which makes you awesome.

God taught me patience. Because little did I know, I had no idea what it meant to be patient.
Waiting means:
"Steadfastness, that is holding on;
patience; that is holding back;
expectancy, that is holding the face up;
obedience, that is holding one's self in readiness to go or do;
listening, that is holding quiet and still so as to hear."

God gave me such a peace about waiting that I am convinced now more than ever that is impossible to have without His help. So in saying this, I don't want you to think I'm congratulating or gratifying myself. It was ALL God. Because I am positive I could have never, ever done it by myself. I truly believe he wants to bring peace and patience to you're life as much as He brought to mine. That's why I challenge every single girl out the to "crush the crush". It changed me from the inside out and it will change you too.

Intentional Days

Tonight as I lay here in bed, I'm I am displeased with myself

You know those days when you lay in bed and think about everything you did and didn't do? I mean, I could be mistaken but I think most of us do that about every night. Tonight I lay here to think about that and am ashamed of how I spent my day. It was a great day off- full of laughter, haircut, shopping and Starbucks. Had a really good time.

So I've been slightly down lately about a lot of stuff. Definitely a dry time in my quiet times and just with my relationship with God. I just feel like I've had to really work towards including God in my daily life. Actually, I don't even know if it's that. Just something different is going on. I think it's fair to call it a dry season of my life.

Some issues with friends/struggling with still not having any friends here, really, really confused with what I should be doing right now and what my purpose is for this time in my life. You know when you're down and you just want people to lift you back up? Today was a day that I was somewhat lifted up again. And it made me feel great! 

It was refreshing and just so nice to have the day off just to do whatever I wanted.  But now looking back, my day was spent selfishly and all in vain. I spent no time reading my bible and spent more time looking at my hair than than with God. 

I feel like in this time in my life God is teaching me to be satisfied in Him in every way. Therefor not needing my friends to make me feel better about myself. Not needing a hair it to make myself feel good. God is teaching me to only find joy in Him. Not in success. And most importantly to make sure I'm not settling for a less close relationship wih Him. 

So though it was a fun day, I am humbled to think that I get a chance to start again tomorrow. Hopefully tomorrow will be more of a selfless, intentional day of actually growing in my relationship with The Lord and less about my hair.  

A Blessed Summer

I type this as I lay in bed wide awake, suffering from coffee overdose, completely exhausted physically and mind racing. In a bed in Jacksonville at a host home, with Christine asleep beside me, with music in my ears and trying to do anything to unload and settle my racing mind, I still feel the Lord's presence.

We are on week 2, day 2 and having so much fun. It's been such a great experience thus far. Completely worth it all for even the small amount of time we've had. Like I said, I'm in Jacksonville, FL, staying with a sweet elderly couple that has been so kind and hospitable. I am thrilled to be apart of such a great time of growing in the Lord.

As I think about how the last week flew by and how soon the next week will be over, I was just thinking about how nervous I was that I would hate it and be ready for it to be over. Silly, I know. But as I was thinking of this, God revealed to me that is was because of Him that I joined Summer Misnistry team and it is because of Him that I am enjoying it so. The Lord wanted to bless me this summer. He shows off sometimes. I can't help but feel overwhelmingly grateful.

I knew since probably winter that I wanted to do SMT. After I made up my mind, I pretty much had a peace about it from then on. It wasn't till it was almost time to leave Nashville and my two pregnant sisters that the utter fear hit me. Fear of missing out at home and fear of regretting the decision to leave everything for the summer. I then reminded myself to not forget what God led me to do. It was to leave my comfort zone and GO. But let me tell you, I didn't have to deal with that fear for long. immediately after arriving I knew it would be one of the best summers of my life.

I feel like God is just saying.. "enjoy yourself!" Like the reason He wanted me to do SMT was for me to experience His desire to bless me like never before. There's nothing like being in tune with God and knowing that you are following where He leads. Nothing compares to it.

It has been a learning experience in many more ways than one but what has stuck with me the most thus far is just learning to trust that He desires to bless me. I felt really compelled to share this. I hope it means something to someone. Hopefully it encourages you to take the step of faith and trust that God will provide your needs, provide your joy and bless you immensely on top of all of that.

Thank you God for this opportunity!

Loving Love

Lately, I've been thinking about what I'm like to other people. Now, there's a lot of things I would like to say I am. But how do people think of me? How will I be remembered?

Something I want to be remembered by is love. I want to love the heck out of people. Everyone I meet I want them to know I love them. Cheesy or not, I love love! And I want my life to be a picture of love. A life filled with loving others the way I have been loved.

I find it funny how being fake comes so naturally to us. It is perfectly acceptable- almost encouraged- to smile and be as friendly as possible, then say whatever you want about them behind their back. Now, I must admit, my personality is a pro at this. I can almost always immediately come up with something to say about someone. As many would say, it's the Francis Folsom in me to be that honest. My grandmother is known for saying whatever she wants whenever to whomever she wants. One of my absolute favorite and least favorite things about her. So as you can imagine, this is something I have to work towards. Real hard.

 So the question I've asked so many times is, "If this comes so natural for me to speak my mind, however am I supposed to stop?" Like I said, there's an immediate reaction going on in my head to most things and there's a likely chance it's going to make its way out of my mouth. How do I stop excusing it by saying "It's just who I am. It's the Francis Folsom in me." The answer is LOVE. Of course, because the answer to everything is love. Because God is love. And because love is awesome.

If my actions and words reflect my heart, then I want to be speaking LOVE and acting out God's love. As I sit here writing this I have the most ridiculous face/smile. An 'I LOVE LOVE' face. If you haven't seen it, consider yourself lucky. But I simply can't help but make this ridiculous 'I.L.L.' face when I think of love. Love is adorable. I adore seeing people do things out of love; to sacrifice out of love. IT'S ADORABLE.

So this people, is what I am thrilled to announce I am working on bettering. To change my heart to love and care for the people I meet. To NOT give into my southern ways and speak poorly about them. But most of all to show them the love that I've been so graciously shown.

I love that you read this.

"Thank You" Isn't Enough

So as I am leaving Nashville, driving home for a few weeks before Summer Ministry Team, I began crying and couldn't stop. I began to think of all the ways I have been blessed so far by living in Nashville. It has been nothing but a fantastic experience. I couldn't and still can't thank God enough for it. 

      8 months ago I moved there because I felt like that's where God wanted me. I know for a fact now that that was more than a feeling. That was indeed the place God had for me. I learned SO much and feel so honored to have gotten to experience such great times there so far.

     God did some pretty miraculous things. Starting with moving in with Chris & Kristen which little did I know would be the perfect place for me. They were nothing but wonderful to me and I wouldn't have been able to make it without them. It was exactly what I needed and I can't thank them enough for everything they have done for me. Shortly after I got there when Josh and Stephanie moved up. Love being able to watch all of my sweet nieces and nephews grow up. So blessed to be apart of their lives!

   I got the opportunity to get to know, love and teach the youth of New Hope. Had the pleasure of working at the greatest Chick-fil-a with people who made it a truly enjoyable experience. Was able to spend time and laugh with my sisters again. Was ridiculously blessed to have Mary move up and it has been so great to see God work in her life. Made lots of new friends. Taking my first trip to Honduras this summer because of it. Learned so much about myself and growing up. 

   Most importantly, I have grown closer to God than ever before and for that I am forever grateful. He has shown me so many things about who He is and who He wants wants me to be. I have been able to experience the peace of God like never before.He has given me a new passion for Him. My faith has grown so much greater than it was. Not many people can say that after their first year being away but because of Him working through me, I can.

   And that is why, on this sunny Friday afternoon, I simply couldn't contain my gratefulness.  To God be the glory and I cannot wait to see what else He has in store for my time in Nashville. 

The Father's Love

It all started this Feb,14 2013. Yes, Valentines Day. Obviously Valentines Day is a day of love. This was the first year I wasn't home for my daddy to give me flowers. Which to have a lovely bouquet of flowers is indeed lovely, but what I love more than flowers is the meaning behind it. It's the fact that I have a father that loves me and is there to buy me flowers until I have another man to. (I'll still accept them even after that..)

My daddy loves me. So many people don't get the privilege of knowing that. It breaks my heart that not every girl gets flowers on Valentines Day. That not every girl has the assurance that their father cherishes them. That so many girls are looking for the love their dad was supposed to provide, in other guys. His Godly example means more than showing me how I should live, but also showing examples of who I want to be the father of my own kids.

I don't know the kind of relationship I would have with God, if it weren't for my dad. He has shown me a wonderful example of the Father's love my whole life. An example I wouldn't trade for anything. I am so thankful God gave me such a Godly, respectable, strong, wise, loving father. Which always- like it should- leads me to thanksgiving. That though my father on earth might be all those things, it's only a glimpse of my father in heaven. He is the one that provided my father with the ability and heart to be those things to me.
I am overwhelmed to say that the love my daddy has for me is nothing compared to the love God has, and that my friends, is the reason God puts daddies in our lives. Whether there is an earthly father in your life that loves you unconditionally or not, I pray that doesn't change your view of The Father's love. Because that love, is perfect love.


Thank you Father, for my father.

Love, People, and The Bible

Lately God has been showing me different areas in my life that I sort of exclude God from.Things I would rather make excuses for, and suffer the consequences, than to not make excuse and not suffer the consequences...

    There are people I write off because we just don't get along. I know it's okay to not be best friends with everyone and I know it's okay for peoples personalities to clash.That happens. But it's not okay for me to make that an excuse for not sharing the love of God with them. There are many people I've known and just never got along with. Therefor they annoy me. Therefor I don't treat them equally. Therefor I am not showing the love of God, I am not helping them grow spiritually and I am not reflecting Christianity the way I should. If I am not attracting  them to Christ, I am distracting them from Him.

Hebrews 12

14 Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. 

  I have realized that when I get into better habits of studying and reading the bible more, I lash out less, care more, and smile easier. Like duh. How could that not help. I again, make selfish excuses to break those habits though. How can it be so obvious to me that my behavior is better, relationships are better, everything is better when I spend more time with God than when I slack, yet I still slack. Father, forgive me.

 I think of it like working a job. Sometimes (most times) I don't feel like going. But I don't not go. I go, I receive a paycheck, and that makes it worth the hard work that I didn't feel like doing at the time. We get rewarded for pressing in in the times we most don't want to. Even if it's not then, even if we don't get anything out of what we read when we don't want to read, it benefits us somehow or another. How could it not? It is the living word of God. 

  Forgive me, God, for the people I have hurt. Forgive me for not staying in your word and for choosing my selfish ways over yours. Give me a passion for your word and for the people you have put in my life. Help me to reflect You in everything I do. May not one person I come in contact be distracted from you. Thank you for you grace and righteousness. Amen.