andeemichelle

Yes, my title is a quote from "Just Friends" -- but it is very much true. Forgiveness is definitely more than saying sorry. It says a lot of things when you are able to forgive. When you forgive someone -- it doesn't mean you agree with them. It means you love them enough to choose to forgive them, rather than hold a grudge and tear down the relationship. When you forgive someone -- it allows you to love them on another level. When you forgive someone -- the burden, stress, and anger is lifted. When you forgive someone -- it doesn't mean you forget what they did or said, it means you will not hold it against them any longer. When you forgive someone -- you are loving as Jesus loved. To me, being a Christ loving, following young lady -- it all goes back to him. He showed me what forgiveness looked like -- and then demonstrated it for me. It is because of him choosing to hang there and die upon the cross - that I am fully forgiven, and fully free. How can I

I love you. That phrase has eight letters and three little words. Yet this one little phrase carries such a huge meaning with it. The problem I'm seeing today, is that people just throw this meaning around like it is common, and not special, as is intended. Love. One simple word, yet it is expressed in so many different ways. But did y'all know, that love is in fact a choice? Every day, you wake up and choose to love the people you're with. You choose to love your parents, your friends, your significant other. If it's one thing I'm learning in this season of life, it's learning how to love others and be loved on in return. Relationships are hard. People leave....but what happens if we choose to stay? Choose to love each other through the difficult times? That's when I look to Jesus and ask the cliche question "what would Jesus do"? The answer is clear, He stays. Stays through the mess, and that's what makes the sweet times so sweet! He chose

When it comes to directions, I'm the worst of the worst. I literally cannot get anywhere past 30 minutes (usually) without using my GPS on my iPhone. When it comes to life in general, this may sound even more terrible at my age, BUT... I don't know where I'm going. You see, after 3 years of not being in school, and while working full-time, I decided to go back to school. The reason why? I never technically graduated. THERE. I SAID IT. When I transferred into Rowan University in the Fall of 2009, I was ready. Ready to be at a 4 year university, ready to pursue my dreams, ready to learn. I found out that I lost a whole year of credits, (they since have passed a law about how many credits universities have to take) but that did not stop me. As I started my classes, I began realizing I didn't like what I thought I did. So like many colleges students, I switched majors, and with that, lost a whole year of credits...again. Still, I would not be stopped. I loved learning abo

Tomorrow is the day. August 5th. It is my 27th birthday. Twenty-seven means I'm labeled as being in my "late twenties". Twenty-seven may have a lot of labels, but for me, I'm choosing to celebrate every moment on my special day, and every day forward. At 26, I thought back on my year, reflecting on the finer moments, and the not-so-fine moments. There were tears of joy, tears of heartache, moments of frustration, moments of complete and utter peace. As 27 approaches, I'm choosing to celebrate. About two weeks ago, I lost my grandfather. He was 89.5 years old. Over the last couple of years he would share with me how he had absolutely no regrets in his life. He was a Navy man, an engineer, served at the church for decades. He had a marriage that lasted 61 beautiful years until my beloved grandma left him for eternity. He had a trailer at a campground down the shore, and many family memories were made there. He encouraged, inspired, convicted, and loved generousl

We've all somewhere along the line have heard the phrase "Only God can judge me" (which sometimes is followed by a not so wise decision). As this whole Bruce/Caitlyn Jenner thing has come about...I've thought of this phrase more and more. Don't ya know, there's a little more to it? Not only can God ONLY judge me, but God and God alone is the one who will judge EVERYONE else.  So I'm pretty sure that that means, it is not our job to judge. Hear that people, IT IS NOT OUR JOB. What is our job is to love people, point them to the Gospel, and pray for them.  My thought is: Why are we so quick to judge others, and the way they live their lives? Do we really know these people? These celebrities? Just because they are constantly in the media, and the media provides us with certain information, does not make us friends with them. We KNOW OF them, but we do not actually KNOW them, there is a huge difference.  I think that somewhere along the line, we as  Chri

So it begins. Summer 2015. Like most Jersey folk, I kicked off (and will probably end) the season at my favorite spot: 7th Avenue in North Wildwood. There's just something about the beach, and for me, I finally figured out what it is. Reflection.  Sometimes, (okay, maybe most of the time) when I go to the beach, I go solo. Conflicting schedules over the years have caused this, and by no means will that stop be from getting to my happy place. Solo trips have led me to a place of contentment, relaxation, and reflection. While on the beach this weekend, this verse popped into my head: Matthew 6: 34  Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. I'd be a liar if I admitted I had no worries. As 27 quickly approaches, I worry about some things: switching jobs, finding an apartment, marriage, finances. Mostly, I just think about life. Am I living it to the full? Jesus gave me that freedom, as it says in John 10