What Does it Mean to Be Brave?

What does it mean to be "BRAVE"?

BRAVE:

ready to face and endure danger or pain; showing courage. 

• people who are ready to face and endure
• endure of face without showing fear (ex: we had to brave the heat) 
• Synonyms 
• courageous 
• valiant
• bold
• defy
• dare
• challenge
• face

For me, the keys words I think of when it comes to being brave is being fierce, strong, bold, and courageous. As I repeat these synonyms in my head, I realize that these are the characteristics that we, as daughters of God, have. 

Now, let's be honest. We're girls; it's normal for us to not always have these traits. Actually, this past month, I haven't been challenged or bold at all and that's perfectly okay. 

However, there is going to be a time in your life where God will call you to be brave. 
He will call you to be warriors and fight. 

There's going to be a time where you will need your sisters in order to overcome something. 

That, my friends, requires bravery, hence the "ready to face and endure" definition. 

Last year, on the weekend of 9/11's ten year anniversary, I was supposed to drive from Temecula to a hospital in Orange Country. Approaching the San Onofre nuclear power plant, we noticed some heavy traffic and assumed it was due to the security there. 

We drove past it, got through the traffic, and my brother tried calling the hospital to let them know I wouldn't make it for a special appointment on time.  The anxious part?  When he called, there was no sound; no ring, nothing. No one picked up, even though it's a hospital. 

Heavy traffic + nuclear power plant + hospitals not picking up + highway patrol speeding past us = something had to be fishy. 

We reached the city, finally off the freeway, and the street lights weren't working (of course they weren't). The cars were in a total gridlock, car accidents happening, and it took over 20 minutes to just drive a block. We weren't close to the hospital. On top of that, our cell phones weren't working. 

Now the equation is: No communication + no transportation + weekend of 9/11 anniversary = conclusion of a possible attack. 

Finally got to the hospital-- we went into one of the buildings to see that the lights were out, security was blocking the doors, and it was a mess. 

It was a point where all I could do was sit in my car, assume the worst, and be in fear. There was a sense of vulnerability. My brother even called us, "sitting ducks" because that's exactly what we were. I kept wondering when God was going to kick in this "super woman" attitude so I wouldn't be so afraid of the country getting attacked or us getting into a car accident. The "super woman" attitude never came. However, I prayed and prayed for bravery. I wanted to be bold and strong and fearless in a situation like this. If I wasn't, there would be a weakness in me that I know God didn't want to hold me back. 

Ladies, be brave and don't let yourselves be anything less. 

Don't be afraid, because God will always be there (Isaiah 41:10) in every situation, every moment, every memory. 

If you have an army of sisters by your side, then what's to stop you from being brave? (: 

Madi is a Becoming High School Freshman Intern.  is a worship leader, leading singer for a local band, and a blog writer. Her goal in life is to dream big, stay strengthened and so whatever God calls her to do.

Expectant for the Future

photo via

Becoming 2013 is on it's way! There's been so much planning, excitement, and ideas; you girls are in for a treat!

One of the things that have definitely been an influence for me everyday is planning, and I kind of had the same issue in middle school as well. 

Planning is an awesome thing; it teaches you to be prepared and ready for an upcoming event, however, if you plan to much, you're being absorbed into the future instead of the present. See what I mean?

The cycle began during middle school, when I was so focused on high school. "Pick your classes, email your counselors, and let's do this." Before I even got into freshman year, I emailed the colleges I was considering for the requirements. I was way too stuffed into the concept of being organized.

Then, this year came, and I was so focused on next year classes to take, just because everyone kept asking me what I had in mind. I found myself saying, "I don't know" a lot, and I thought it was considered a bad thing that I wasn't sure.

Finally, I went to a college-browsing event at the mall the other day, and I was back onto planning college. People asked, "Oh, what are you thinking about majoring in?" And again, I found myself saying, "I don't know."

But you know what?

 Saying "I don't know" is okay. 

You see, we can't plan the future accordingly to how we want it to go. If we did plan everyday for the rest of our lives, we'll be consumed in our expectations, which sometimes, will not live up. 

What if I told you that we have someone who already has created our days? What if I told you that He has planned it unique and specifically to you? That's right. 

So, as a result of all this, I've instead found myself letting God take control in what He has to offer me. We learn along the road and become more brave in our actions as we conquer them. You see? The whole part in becoming is that key word, "ing". My English teacher once told me that when you see the root "ing", it means it is continuos and is still happening. 

That's right, folks, all of us are becoming. 

We are always going to become something, and we are always going to learn how. 

The next time you find yourself stressing for the future, lay back, and live in the time being! You'll find yourself totally relieved when you have faith in our awesome Father and learn as you go with Him :) 

~Madi
Becoming Conference Intern

Are You Ready for School?

Summer's over, the bell has rung, and school's officially in session.

When the word "school" comes to mind, some of us don't necessarily get excited. Let's be honest, as much as we try to like it, it can be a real pain! Between getting up early in the morning and information overload, the new school year can be a lot to handle. 

For me personally, school can really push down my self confidence. You too? Or is it just me? The couple first weeks can be great, but it gets terrifying as the year progresses. Especially when those finals come up. Geez louis!  

So what exactly can we do to avoid losing confidence this school year? I want to share 3 things I'll be reminding myself of and maybe you can too.

1. Start off the year P.O.S.I.T.I.V.E!
(What?!) Yes, positive. When you wake up in the morning all through your first week of school, be positive. Because, who knows what the year will bring you! 

(My brother's favorite verse!)

Phillipians 4:13
"I can do all things through Christ who strengethens me"

2. Don't stress out.
Stress is something that gets to us all, and it gets triggered more once school starts. A few years back, I had some major stress levels when school hit, but I kept forgetting to tell myself to breathe! If you let your mind depend on God, I promise you that He will guide you through everything that can tear you back (:  

Phillipians 4:7
"And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."

3. Keep your head forward
If you put forth your best effort & have confidence, it makes a huge difference in your year. And when you know that you've accomplished those things, it gains a trait in you that helps you handle stressful things. One helpful thing that I use as a guide at school is a tiny pocketbook of the New Testatment. Now, I admit, I'm not a huge Bible reader, however in my version, there a small section in the front that gives topics like Anxious, Stress, Doubting, and other topics. In those topics, it narrows down verses that fit perfectly for those situations including the page number. It never fails when you can carry the word of God when you need it; they fit right in your backpack! School can be full of obstacles, but with your head foward and a strong heart, you can make this year one of your best!

Psalms 27:14 
"Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengethen your heart; wait, I say, on the Lord"




~Madi <3


What do you do to prep yourself before school? Share with us by commenting below!

Memories

On Julianna's blog {http://juliannamorlet.blogspot.com/}, she is currently doing a writing series where everyday she posts a new prompt. I thought it would be fun to write some of my responses here!! And you should too =)

Her first prompt: Describe your earliest memory.

~The waves crash down on the shore and the wind is chilly but freeing; birds wander to and fro on the sand. My parents are holding hands in front of me, my dad carrying Daniel. I am trailing slowly behind them, searching the damp sand for half-buried treasures and hopping from sun beam to sun beam as they pierce through the stormy sky. I am maybe 4 years old and we are at Cannon Beach, Oregon.

This was me, care free and innocent before I knew where California was, before I understood the value of money or where Daddy went everyday. I follow my parents away from the ocean and into the sleepy beach town. My favortie time of day: Bruce's Candy Kitchen. This family owned and operated candy store has always, always been my all time favorite store. The sweet smells of hand spun taffy, carmel apples, and chocolate covered anything is a favorite from my childhood. The salt water taffy was the only thing I ever got; I would eat pieces of everyone else's prizes but the taffy was all mine. The day goes on and I only remember glimpses and blurs from there but I remember being carried to the car by my older brother and falling asleep with a beach towel draped over me on the car ride home. 

This beach is more to me than sun, sand, and surf.

Cannon Beach has been and always will be (to me anyways) a special place for my family. That trip is the first in a series of memories of family Thanksgivings and reunions at Cannon Beach. It was our first Oregon trip after we moved to California when I was 7, it was where my family met to grieve after my Poppa died when I was 12, it is a perpetual stop every time we road trip through Oregon to Washington. I learned to love the grey, overcast sky and the salty wind that never ceased to turn my nose red. Cannon Beach was an important spot in my heart because it is something that my family has always done together, no matter where everyone was or what was happening in their life, this beach is where we came with one another. To eat Mo's clam chowder and walk through the musuem that held all kinds of sea animal bones, or gaze at the crazy expensive jewlery made from sea stones. Cannon Beach is my earliest memory.

{My sister, Victoria/ My Cousin Aleigha/ Me}

What is your earliest memory?! Does your family have a place similar to my Cannon Beach?

Tell me in the comment section below <3
Love you girlies!

He Loves Us Anyways

(photo credit)

{i thought this was appropriate, considering tomorrow is good Friday.}



Everyone Listens to Music

I think the number one factor that has shaken the world is music; we're the music culture. 


Whether it's from from pop, rock, humble, alternative, or one of my beloved ones, jazz, our generation is wrapped up in our iPods and headphones. I know for me, music is something that I need a daily dose of. When I'm at school, when I'm in the car, or even blogging, I always have some kind of background music to listen to!


But before you get too pulled into it you have to ask yourself some of these questions:


a) Is it encouraging? Does it put you in a good mood? 
If you listen to depressing music, it's shown to influence your mood as well. The type of music you listen to shapes you to be that music. You want music that makes you charged up for the day. 




b) Does reflect your personality? 
I know that for me, the type of person I am reflects in the music I listen to . . . as well as the people I know! Everyone has inspirations and role models--they always follow through with music that reflects off their personality too! 




c) Does it have a positive tone? 
The music we can listen to may sound great, but sometimes we can skip over the fact if it has a positive meaning to it or not. If it's not uplifting or doesn't give you some sort of feeling/message, or even some sign of strength, it's not as great a song as you think it is! 




d) Is it inspiring? 
This is a toughie for me. Great music isn't just a great song--it's an outreach. Whether that means you can share it to a friend or not or help you get over something, it is the movement of inspiring. 

Some of the music artists I love listening to that answers to these questions are Lenka, Norah Jones, Ingrid Michaelson, Hillsong, The Fray, Coldplay, One Republic, 
Natalie Grant, Britt Nicole, Audrey Assad, Xenia .

Your turn!   

Comment on this post or/and comment our Facebook what kind of music/artists you like to listen to!


Love, 

On the Occasion Of...

{the promised post from last tuesday...but blogger was being stupid}

Today's post is a letter to someone who has inspired me!

Dear Jules <3,
 You are leaving and yes, i am quite sad BUT i am also very excited for this journey that you and tyson are beginning with the Pitts family. As you begin this new journey, i want you to know about the journey you are leaving behind and the huge role you have played in it.

My Journey. This journey was going simply in wild circles until you came along. You spoke passion into my life, you helped uncover desires that my heart was unsure of. I knew that i was made for more, the word tells me this, but i had no idea for what or why.

TO BE A VOICE FOR THE VOICELESS.

You gave me an outlet for these words that have so much meaning to girls around the world. You gave me someplace to begin to make a difference, to begin to have an impact on this world. And for this i thank you.

With my whole heart, i thank you for being bold and pushing aside your fear in order to pursue the dreams God placed in your heart.
~ Thank you for believing in me and my words, for giving me all the many oppurtunities that you have
 ~Thank you for speaking truth into my life time and time again.
~Thank you for the wisdom you have offered me in my relationship with Andrew.

You have inspired me to live fully into my dreams, without fear of failure. I am a voice now for girls who are trapped and in need of rescue...Because of you.


You have impacted me!

love always,

The Construction of our Lives

Hello all you Becoming lovelies! 

It's Madi, yes I'm back, and I just want to again say how honored, privileged, and excited I am for being apart of the Becoming Girls blog team! 

I will be sharing a post today that I wrote a little while back in July and even though I nearly never re-blog the same thing, I chose this piece because this is probably one of the proudest things I've written.

I wrote this as a "practice", because one morning after a hectic week full of 4th of July, worship, Pechanga Pow Wow, loud neighbors and sports park screamers, and on top of it, random construction at 7:00 in the morning, I just needed to write. 


So, I grabbed my pen and wrote for over 20 minutes on just about anything that came to mind. At first, I was just rambling on with complaints-- but it turned into something more . . . funny how things work, huh?

::The Construction of Our Lives::

There's nothing better than waking up at 7:38 in the morning, on a summer sleep-in, the day after a hectic holiday like 4rth of July. You're tired and lack luster, all your energy seems to have been punched out and disintegrated into the air, and you feel so ravenous as though you haven't had a bite of anything in weeks. 

Then, there's construction. 

Everyone wakes up to it sometime, and everyone hates it. 

Random workers visit, speak a different language, tear and demolish one way or another, and then go. That goes on for weeks and doesn't stop until they get the job done. 

Strangely enough, that's life. 

We wake up, at times feeling crushed. We loathe it. 

Strangers come in our lives, who speak a tongue of something you can't comprehend, they can ruin, destroy, and we're just vulnerable to it. 

And then they just disappear. 

Funny how some things that are totally un-alike turn out to be the same comparison in every way. I thought that when I wrote this, it would be nothing but scribble tied into writer's block and jibberish.  But the thing is, there's never a bad time to write, which is why I'm in love with writing, especially if it benefits me, other people, and God in some way, and want to do this for the rest of my life.

I loooove writing. It's just like music. 

It all comes from whatever pops into the mind--expression is key--and you can be as creative as you want. 

But I guess when the time is to know my way, it'll hit me.

God is still doing construction in our lives, building a plan we aren't supposed to discover until we've discovered Him. 

We may hate Him playing around with our heads, making loud noise outside the door, and want Him to just leave. Yet, God is doing so much good and work in that construction of our lives. He is building a larger picture, a redeemed kingdom that knows of his unchangeable, everlasting mercy and love. He uses us as tools in this construction for so many things in so many ways and we may not even realize it. 

Whatever we do, it's by His will, not ours. 

Because He will not stop until every broken or every hungry or every self-fish or every lost voice hears of his grace. 

He will not stop until he gets the job done. Now that's something I call awesome! 


Friends, use your talents, abilities, gifts, passions. Who knows how it might just change a person. 

Have a great, great week & I'll talk to you soon!

Sincerely, Madi.