Recipe for Happiness.

One of my favorite things is a very simple thing. But it brings so much joy to me. It consists of four steps. This is the recipe to happiness:
1. Get in car. 
2. Roll down windows. 
3. Turn on music...  
4. Drive. 


This has brought me so much joy. One of the reasons because you just can't seem to hear yourself sing when you're driving, so you save yourself an earache or headache. And, you get to experience God's beauty. I think one day I'm gonna get me a convertible. Or maybe I'll just borrow one. So all day I can drive and worship. During this time- I have made a new rule for myself. And that is: No secular music in the morning. I know that sounds extreme or maybe even crazy. But on my drive to work, or to babysit, or to run errands I find that it is essential to my day to meet with the creator first. 


I always thought that when people said to delete your secular music that they were crazy. But the saying, "What you surround yourself with you become." Yep.. it's true. So my goal is to surround myself with as much good, holiness, pureness, love, joy, you know all of that good stuff and more. I want to be the best Brennen there is. Call me extreme. Call me radical. That's okay, I can deal with that. Let me let you in on a secret- I sometimes fail. Sometimes I wake up and I would rather listen to Matt Hires, or Miley Cyrus first. :) Oops. 


Anyways- the reason I decided to write this blog today- I have been listening to this song- "Lead Me to the Cross" and it absolutely amazes me. I love the truth in it. And that is what I want the Lord to do with me.. I want him to lead me to the cross. Here are a few lyrics:


Savior I come
Quiet my soul remember
Redemptions hill
Where Your blood was spilled
For my ransom
Everything I once held dear
I count it all as lost

Lead me to the cross
Where Your love poured out
Bring me to my knees
Lord I lay me down
Rid me of myself
I belong to You
Lead me, lead me to the cross




I think my recipe to happiness this morning taught me something today. Success.

Back to Brennen.

Today.... today, I feel like writing. I am overjoyed by the Holy Spirit. All day- I have just felt full. Not like- I ate to much full... but I have felt full of life and love. And I feel like me again. After coming home from Panama I went through a dry dessert period in my life. And now- I feel like me again. I am ready to give back again. How selfish of me to not want to give back in that dessert period. I am ashamed. But oh the joy of being ready and able now. I keep praying for God to open up doors for me to serve anywhere that He has planned. I miss those faces in Panama- the smiling ones. I miss holding hands with the children and singing silly Spanish songs. I miss their laughter. And I miss their love.

     Today, I was reading my daily devotional, Daily Secrets of the Christian Life by Hannah Whitall Smith and it hit right on with what I have been praying about. It says, "...if we really want to have the attitude that was in Christ Jesus, we must be willing to be made of no reputation and must take not the place of mastery, but the place of service." How true is that? And why don't I adhere to that? That is my desire- to be completely, happily in the place of service.

     To be consumed by the love of Jesus. I love when you're praying for something- and then it happens and then BAM! God bumps like crazy, that warm feeling you get. Yep. That happened today, and it made me smile and get tounge tied at the same time. Thank you Jesus :)

Eyeliner and God.

Eyeliner and God. Never thought I could put those two things in the same sentence, but I have found a way. Yesterday, I had the privilege of getting permanent eyeliner. Basically- I got eyeliner tattooed onto my eyes. Crazy cool huh? Let me explain [justify] why I did this. I have a lazy eye. Yep... even had to wear a patch on my eye for it. Anyways, this lazy eye makes it incredibly hard for me to put on my eyeliner the same on both eyes. This is so girly of me, but it upsets me when I'm trying to look pretty. (Because I go many days without any make up at all.) So- I managed to somehow work a deal out. So, it was not a waste of money or anything like that. So.. anyways- I get my eyeliner done. And, might I add- it looks fabulous. Carmen is the bomb.
Which brings me to point one- Carmen. She is so sweet, I absolutely love her. She is definitely a woman that has and will continue to impact me. I am so blessed to have met her. She is from El Salvador- so she speaks Spanish! We have all these plans to meet regularly so I can teach her about technology and she can help me with speaking in Spanish. Super blessed. God  has opened doors already just from meeting her. Yay God.

Second point. Eyeliner and God. So I was looking at my eyes and the difference with the eyeliner. Well- my eyes show up so much more! Like they stick out- you can see them even under my glasses. That makes me happy. And tonight I was thinking.... what will make Brennen, as a follower of Jesus Christ, stick out. What is the eyeliner for my life? I think there are many "eyeliners"... love, joy, passion, compassion, kindness, fruits of the spirit, etc..... share with me what you think these "Christian eyeliners" are for you?

-B!

(I know that I am so crazy- I come up with the craziest analogys. I once came up with one for jeans. Talent, huh? ;) Haha.)

And here is a [scary] picture with this cool permanent eyeliner:

The Truth.

Yep. The Truth. Want to know the truth about Brennen Gaddis? I absolutely am so excited about one day getting married. Might I remind you that I do not have a boyfriend, or even the prospect of a boyfriend. But the truth of the matter is... I can't wait to get married. I dream of the day when I am a wife and later on down the road when I am a mother. Those 2 things are the things I answer when someone asks me, "What do you want to do with your life" I tell them the truth.. "I want to be the best wife and mother possible." Many laugh at me and say "Oh Brennen." Some tell me to never put that much trust in a man where I would consider not getting a degree so I could be a mom. Some ask the question again because they don't take me seriously. But wanna know the truth? Doesn't matter what you say- God has planted this desire in me since I was born- to care and love for other people. And God willing that means a husband and children as well. Anyways... this brings me to my point....

For years I have been praying for my future husband, and writing down qualities that I look for in a husband. The other day it kind of hit me that I need to step it up. I had to ask myself a question- "Would the kind of man you want to marry.. would he want to marry the kind of person you are?" I mean- that makes you take a few steps back. There I am asking for this perfect "Brennenized" man (that IS out there) but geez, that man probably wouldn't appreciate some of my habits, jokes, language, behavior, lack of ladylikeness, etc... I mean I know I'm not perfect and I also know that my husband won't be perfect. But I think it's time I start preparing myself for him. Start working on being a wife of noble character to be my husband's crown (Proverbs 12:4) To be a Proverbs 31 woman. A woman worth more than rubies.

Oh Lord, grant me the patience to wait for the husband you have picked out for me, and in the waiting process nurture me into the woman you have designed me to be. Reveal to me my flaws and give me the determination to change them and to one day be a wife of noble character. And Lord, be with my future husband- wherever he is right now, be with him and guide him. Love you Lord. 




This post came from a status that Rianna posted.... "You can not just simply have me. you must seek me. pursue me. I won't let you in unless I know you love me." -Captivating

How would you encourage a lukewarm Christian to step over the line and be full-on living for Christ?

Make steps toward Christ. Draw near to Him- read His word, surround yourself with Godly things (music, people, blogs, books) and refuse to fill yourself with things of the world. If it makes you stumble, or makes you sin- don't even put yourself in the situation to tempt yourself with it. and the last thing, "go there"... be willing to change your views to biblical ones, my life line is now "if it's in the Bible then I want to experience it or learn about it, even if I'm uncomfortable with it" :)This all takes practice..... I'm still doing all of these things... Read Rev. 3 as well.

Ask me anything

Who has most impacted you in seeing the way they live their life?

My mother. I have the most genuine respect for her. She is amazing. Her life lives up to the values she believes in. She is honest with herself and others about her walk with the Lord. She has been the biggest role model.

Other than parents- Kendall Altmyer. She is truly a blessing in my life. I met her in Gulf Shores and her joy in life, her love and care for other people, her beliefs and values for relationships that she lives by and the lifestyle she lives amazes me. She is extremely determined and I love it.

Ask me anything

Decisions.

     One of my flaws is that I am indecisive and I am impulsive. Which means I take little time to think and pray about my future and I decide to do things on a whim. It's all or nothing. Sometime's it works for the best, and sometimes I get bit in the tail end because of it.
     I am reeping what I sowed (nice grammar huh?). I had applied to Moody Bible Institute and went and checked it out, and I received THE letter today from them stating that "due to space" I have not been accepted to the Chicago campus. (I was accepted to the campus in Spokane, Washington.) I am okay with this. I know that God has an ultimate plan and that he works things out for the good. So I am okay. I am. Disappointed and a little frustrated but that's okay.
     So now the process begins again. Maybe this time I'll take some time and pray about it and really listen to God. So.. please be praying and interceeding for me about this. I would love to hear if God speaks to you about this.






On the flipside... just a random thought.... Wouldn't it be cool if you never had to refill your cup. Like if it was always full of Coca Cola Classic or Sweet Tea? Just a thought.

Describe your sister.

Beautiful. identical to me. Stunning. Lovely.

Ask me anything

Thoughts.

Thoughts. I seriously have the craziest thought/thinking process ever. I think about the craziest and most random things. It's pretty insane. Lately, one thought has been, "Who am I?" I have 10 billion different lives planned for me... I have 4 different favorite colors... My favorite food changes all the time... My "style" changes all the time.. I can't seem to make up my mind on what in the world I'm going to do with my life.. I love change.. I love different cultures and countries.. Yet I absolutely LOVE being at home.. It's kind of like I'm just a big mess of Everything.
Which thankfully Terre Jasper just reaffirmed me that it's okay to be a mess, because I am His, with a capital H, mess. His as in the Savior or the Universe. He made me just like I am for a specific purpose. He knows exactly why I have 4 different favorite colors and he enjoys showing them to me in His creation. I really like how He brings out these different wacky things in me. It shows me how broad He is. Because I know there are people that are way different than me. So just think of how creative He is!
Pretty crazy huh. I really enjoy serving the God I serve. And I'm learning to love myself including my querky thought process.

.....just a thought ;)