Oh the Lies We Believe

One of the first lies I began to believe when I was a child was that if I had a different, more normal family...my life would have been better. I listened to the lie that my family was the reason I had a void in my heart. I believed that if I had two parents, my loneliness would cease. Statistics told me that my belief was true but reality was telling me that my emptiness was not going to be filled be any one person. My life was not completed nor can it be by my family or friends. I know I am loved but the only love that seemed to make a difference in my life was the love of God. I truly believe that if I hadn't grown to know who God was and is then my road would have stayed beaten and impassable. Getting over the rocks and hopping over the ruts in the road has not been easy. Love is a discipline. When I found true love (Christ's love) I wasn't sure how He would fit into my daily routine. I wasn't sure if talking to Him throughout the day as if He were right beside me was normal. I wasn't sure if singing praises in my yard with tears streaming down my cheeks was enough for Him to see and know my deep gratitude and love for His grace on me. Between the tears and the praying, somewhere along the way I stopped seeking the Lord. I still prayed when I remembered to or when I knew I couldn't control something that I so desperately wanted to control. I have committed many sins but every day God forgives. Every hour God forgives. He amazes me every day by His grace. It wasn't until college that I began to truly become discipline in my faith. I know most people lose all ties to their faith when they go to college...but I go to an unusually Christ-centered university. Every decision this college makes is prayerfully made. The professors all have an evident love for the Lord. They even invite students over for bible studies and dinners. There is a overwhelmingly strange and inviting atmosphere here. I have multiple people in my life here who genuinely care for me and literally pray for me every day and week. I am fed many encouraging scriptures and wisdoms every week. I wish I were exaggerating but alas I am not. This University is nothing but a place of spiritual growth and a great place to get grounded in your faith. May the Lord never leave Liberty and forever have God-fearing leaders. May all who attend Liberty or just visit find the lies in their life and choose to believe in the only thing for sure...God's love for them.

Distance

Click Me! I'm a song about Distance :)
Often, distance takes a toll on relationships. Whether the relationship is between you and a friend or you and a family member...the pain of being apart takes over when memories cease to satisfy withdrawal moments. Though there is joy in the Lord, there is still pain on this earth. Emotional pain can seem much worse than grave physical pain. Sometimes emotional pain causes physical pain. This is the part of life no one likes to talk about let alone read about. But this is what my blog is about: writing whatever I have weighing on my chest to be pushed onto paper/digital paper. I have many loved ones who I am often apart from. I dedicate this post to those loved ones. They have been such amazing support in my crazy life.

Lyrics to the song:

Near or Far by Carissa Rae
 VERSE:
I’M HERE, YOU’RE THERE
BUT YOUR LOVE IS WITH ME EVERYWHERE I GO
THIS I KNOW
I’M NEAR YOU’RE FAR
DRIVIN’ AWAY IN YOUR LITTLE CAR
BUT MY LOVE WILL FOLLOW YOU EVERYWHERE

PRE-CHORUS
BEST BELIEVE I’LL MAKE MISTAKES
BUT LOVE WON’T STOP IT HAS NO BRAKES

CHORUS:
STRONG IS WHAT WE ARE
WHENEVER WE’RE APART
I’LL BE RIGHT WHERE YOU ARE
I’M IN YOUR HEART
SO DON’T YOU WORRY ‘BOUT A THING
OR ALL THE MILES IN BETWEEN
YOU HAD MY HEART
YOU HAD IT FROM THE START
I’LL LOVE YOU FROM AFAR

VERSE:
I HEAR THEM SAY
THAT WHAT WE HAVE MADE FADE AWAY
BUT I REFUSE
WE’LL NEVER LOSE
THEY SAY IT’S A CASE
OF THE HONEYMOON PHASE
BUT I JUST SMILE
‘CAUSE I KNOW THIS WILL LAST A WHILE

PRE-CHORUS:
UNDERSTAND YOU’LL MAKE MISTAKES
BUT LOVE WON’T STOP IT HAS NO BRAKES

CHORUS:
STRONG IS WHAT WE ARE
WHENEVER WE’RE APART
I’LL BE RIGHT WHERE YOU ARE
I’M IN YOUR HEART
SO DON’T YOU WORRY ‘BOUT A THING
OR ALL THE MILES IN BETWEEN
YOU HAD MY HEART
YOU HAD IT FROM THE START
I’LL LOVE YOU FROM A..

BRIDGE:
FAR OR NEAR AND EVERYWHERE
I KNOW THAT YOU WILL STILL BE THERE
DEEP INSIDE MY HEART
INSIDE MY HEART

CHORUS:
STRONG IS WHAT WE ARE
WHENEVER WE’RE APART
I’LL BE RIGHT WHERE YOU ARE
I’M IN YOUR HEART
SO DON’T YOU WORRY ‘BOUT A THING
OR ALL THE MILES IN BETWEEN
HAD MY HEART
YOU HAD IT FROM THE START
I’LL LOVE YOU FROM AFAR

Liberty University

I love Liberty University. The amazing atmosphere filled with genuine friendship, family as a student body, truly caring professors, bomb leadership...the list goes on. It could just be my positive look on life, but I believe Liberty was the best fit for my first 3 years of college. My friends here are for sure lifetime friends. I try to keep in touch with all that I meet. Sometimes I don't even become friends with those around me until after we're living in different states and/or countries. I want to thank everyone who has blessed me in Lynchburg by being a part of my growth in a few of the most influential years of my life. I could never have asked for a better university to find who I am and ask the tough questions of life. This is me announcing my last month here this semester as my last month of residency. I don't know where I'm going but I know that God is guiding me and continually molding me into who He wants me to be. I will miss everything about this campus, the good and the bad. I could never take for granted the blessing that is this place. I love you Liberty and I love you who have faith in the most powerful and gracious God and those who don't share the same faith. You've made my college experience amazing!

Yours Truly,

                     Liliia Lizabeth Walsh