Fox Hole Friends

A wise person once said, "Your five closest friends are a reflection of you."

Do you find that to be true? Right now, make a list of your five closest friends. If they had to "do" something in your place today, would they embarrass you or make you happy?

For us, we are a reflection of Christ Jesus. So, in a sense our friends are also a reflection of Christ Jesus....if we are who we say we are.

Go to that list you made and answer these questions.
1. Do you feel good about yourself when you are around them?
2. What do you talk about? Gossip? Drama?
3. Is what you talk about making you a better person?
4. Do you feel like you have to "win" a place in their life?
5. Are you being a good reflection of Christ when you are around them?

Don't lie to yourself when you are answering those questions. We all know that we have the friends that we want to be around because they are more popular, richer, older, more successful, or prettier. But those things can't define who we are. Sure they can make people look at us for a little while but then the fascination wears off. People begin to see the real you or get tired of being friends with a fake.

The definition of a friend is, "someone who gives assistance."

A friend should be helping you climb the next step in your life, move that mountain, and always be holding your hand and assisting you.
Not breaking you down, putting you in danger, or making you act like someone you aren't. You need to surround yourself with the opposite and remove those that aren't bringing you up through Christ.

When you meet someone you always try to put on your "best". When you think about it, your best isn't the real you. It is who you want to be, when you want it be. The real you is who you are when you are behind closed doors. THAT person is what you need to show to people. If you aren't happy with THAT person, then you need to ask God to help you change.

When you surround yourself with people who aren't afraid to NOT always be their best, who are always there assist you, be a shoulder to lean on, and be courageous enough to stand out and be a reflection of Christ, then you know you have a solid friend. AND THAT is where the Devil with come in.

The Devil will come with all guns loaded ready to kill, steal, and destroy. He wants nothing more than for you to be all alone in this world. He will push every avenue He can to break up your friendship. However, if you are both in a walk with Christ, Satan will stand no chance.

You and your friend (s) have to stand by each other no matter what. No lie, rumor, or misguidance will break you apart because those are all things from the Devil.

Having friends is like being in a battle at all times. You are always protecting one another from the enemy, Satan.

The definition for "fox hole" is, "a small pit, usually for one or two soldiers, dug as a shelter in a battle area."

You have to be fox hole friends. Willing to put your life at risk for each other. Being courageous enough to stand up together, rise above everyone else, and show that the Devil cannot break down your shelter. BECAUSE God is the greatest friend, father, leader, and commander of all.

The Big 18

Turning 18 is a milestone in your life!
I was privileged to spend it with my mom and sister. For my gift, my mom flew my sister and me to Denver, Colorado to run the marathon (she and Rachel ran it) and the half marathon (I ran it)! While we were there, I was able to catch up with one of my best friends who used to live in LA, Ashlan and her brother Adam.

The Denver weather (for this weekend) was much different than California weather! It was cold, rainy, and snowy! My skin and nose is very sensitive to this weather, so they weren't too happy! :( Also, Denver is much higher in altitude than L.A..

The whole altitude difference was what we were most nervous about for the race. We just tried not to think about it too much and act as if it was simply another race.

I was feeling pretty well during the first 6 miles of the race. I do have a very sensitive stomach, so every time I took a fluid, I could feel my stomach turn. Around 6.5 miles, they gave us cytomax for the first time. (It is just like Gatorade) I took one sip, as I was still running, and my stomach turned to knots and my throat closed up. I began choking on the drink! Which then caused me to "throw up."

However, I NEVER STOPPED RUNNING! I think that was what I was most proud of :)

I have had many injuries and tight muscles throughout this training process. I came to a point where I said, "Alright, my goal is just to finish without walking."
No matter how much pain I ran into, how weak I felt, or how sick I was, I didn't want to walk.

After I "got" everything "up," my body physically felt weak. I wasn't sure if it was the fact that I had been running for an hour or that I just got sick. Oh, or the fact that it was 30 degrees and I was cold and we were running uphill.

I turned to my last resort, finding a good song on my Ipod. Even my Mercy Me songs seemed to be so slow. I really needed something to carry me through the last half of the race.
So, at mile 8 I started praying.

My attitude began to change. My pace picked up and I just remember thinking, I could be in a hospital bed being treated for cancer.

Then mile 12 came... it was all uphill. OH NO! Growing up I was a decent hill runner. Now though, it spikes up pain in my knees. But hey, I WASN'T GOING TO WALK!

I pushed up that hill. The only thing I was saying was, "The sooner I get up the hill, the sooner I am done."

I made it up the hill and saw the 13 mile sign! THAT MEANT I ONLY HAVE .1 MILES TO GO!

I yelled PRAISE THE LORD!!!! I got a whole new energy in me that I hadn't felt at all in the race.
Clearly, it was the grace of God giving me a nice strong finish.

Also, at the same exact time, my favorite Christian song, You Are by Jason Castro, came on my Ipod. I finally found a song that seemed uplifting!

God is always pushing us to new extremes. Even if we don't think we can handle it, He knows we can. He gives us talents for us to use, wisdom to achieve, and love so we never feel alone.

Remember,
"I can do ALL things through Christ who gives me strength!"

Be a F I G H T E R

Last night when I was laying in bed, I was trying to remember everything I did throughout the day. From brushing my teeth to going to an audition. I realized, we do a lot more in a day then we think!

A lot of the different things that we do may cause stress, pain, anger, sadness, or happiness.

Try to remember what you have done today. Did something put you in a bad mood? How did you react when "IT" happened?

God puts storms in our life for a purpose. There is no doubting that. However, the real storm is how we handle it.

Do you get angry with someone? Do you doubt God? Do you become upset and think of the worse?

Or..
Do you get on your knees, pray and cry out to God, get up, go on with your day, and trust in Him?

Most people tend to do the first thing. When we should really do the second.

God has every single step that we take planned out. He has had them planned since before we were born. So, why would you NOT trust Him? He knows what the outcome will be and He promises to take care of us.

When a lot of people find pain, they tend to give up and give in to Satan. When you are at your weakest, Satan is at his strongest. If you let one bad thought cross your mind, Satan is starting his web that will soon have you trapped.

Each morning when you wake up, you should pray the Armour of God on you. To protect you from things or ideas from Satan. But, you also need to put on your boxing gloves.

Be ready to fight back. Be ready to yell at Satan. Be ready to defeat Satan.

If you follow me on Twitter (@adrienneberry), you would know that I tweet... A LOT! I have copied and pasted some of my tweets from this week that apply to this blog. Before you go read them, I will leave you with this...

If you are going through a storm, having pain, or sadness in your life, nothing compares to the pain that Jesus felt hanging on the cross. Imagine nails going through your hands and feet and being beaten to death. He did that, so you could have life. Whenever you think your world is turned upside down and you are angry or upset, always remember the pain God went through. It is nothing compared to what we are complaining about.

The pain may be extreme but that will make the victory so much stronger. A fighter needs to focus on the prize not the price.


You may have beaten me yesterday, but you will not beat me today, SATAN! You are a liar, and you will always be defeated bc I'm a fighter!


In spite of your past, god can still use you for your future.


I'm gonna fight the fight of my life. So should you...