Monday, January 30, 2012
Saturday, January 28, 2012
Thursday, January 26, 2012
It's Just One of Those Weeks...
At the beginning of the week, I was really having doubts on how awesome this week was going to be..it actually turned out quite humorous.
Sunday night I went ice skating. Man, ice skating is so much fun...now if only I was actually good at it...anyway, I walked a way with a blister...or two...so worth it though...
Monday seemed pretty good. Ran a few miles in the weight room...and came back to dropping a bottle of body wash on my foot. Yep...big bruise...my poor feet...
Tuesday I woke up to take an online test for my class. I dropped my book on my toe which left a big gash...and blood...all over...how many band-aides have I used this week??
Yesterday I woke up fearfully avoiding anything messing with my feet...I must have had my eyes too open and on the lookout because I happened to get shampoo in my eye which left my eye bloodshot and foggy-eyed for half the morning...
Today...ah today. You would think I would be scared to walk out of my dorm without some form of bubble wrap around me...I didn't have bubble wrap though...hmmph...well, so far I can proudly admit to no new injuries. (Please feel free to knock on wood at this point.)
I was actually struggling with coming up with something to write about today, but as I thought about it...sometimes it is weeks like these where all I need to do is stop...breath...and laugh a little.
God adds humor in our lives at some points or another. Do you have any funny stories about this week? Please do tell! Anyways, have a safe* rest of the week :)
Sunday night I went ice skating. Man, ice skating is so much fun...now if only I was actually good at it...anyway, I walked a way with a blister...or two...so worth it though...
Monday seemed pretty good. Ran a few miles in the weight room...and came back to dropping a bottle of body wash on my foot. Yep...big bruise...my poor feet...
Tuesday I woke up to take an online test for my class. I dropped my book on my toe which left a big gash...and blood...all over...how many band-aides have I used this week??
Yesterday I woke up fearfully avoiding anything messing with my feet...I must have had my eyes too open and on the lookout because I happened to get shampoo in my eye which left my eye bloodshot and foggy-eyed for half the morning...
Today...ah today. You would think I would be scared to walk out of my dorm without some form of bubble wrap around me...I didn't have bubble wrap though...hmmph...well, so far I can proudly admit to no new injuries. (Please feel free to knock on wood at this point.)
I was actually struggling with coming up with something to write about today, but as I thought about it...sometimes it is weeks like these where all I need to do is stop...breath...and laugh a little.
God adds humor in our lives at some points or another. Do you have any funny stories about this week? Please do tell! Anyways, have a safe* rest of the week :)
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Moments Like These...
Hello world...today rings another day to praise the Lord.
It is a great feeling...it really is. My life has surprisingly been going very well these past few weeks. Despite, the pounding of homework, God has really been doing things with me this semester. Who knows...the pounding of homework is probably good for me to...
As I have been through a lot within the last few months, it just seems as if I really do not have a whole lot to complain about right now.
I guess I am not trying to brag at all about how my life has been pretty good within the last few weeks...I have just come to the realization that there are other people who need my love, support, and prayers as they face their trials right now. God has me feeling strong right now, and I feel like others need someone like me to be there for them when they feel so weak.
Looking back through the last few months, I feel as if I have been pretty selfish about what I have been facing to where I have not shown my support to others who have also been hurting. Maybe this period of things finally going right in my life is my chance to show my love to others...or...God's love to others...through me.
Everyone faces good and bad periods in our walk with Christ...or even just in our life. I think it is how we respond to those times that makes us more mature.
Right now I am just very blessed and thankful that I can start this school semester on a good note. There may be trials that come my way, but I will try and be thankful even through those times.
Like I said above, I can be using this time to show care for others. I have never done this in a blog post before, but if there is anything that you need prayer about, feel free to Facebook message me, or comment here. Your comment can even be left anonymous.
It truly is not about being thankful that my life is going good right now, it is about making God my life...for He is good!
It is a great feeling...it really is. My life has surprisingly been going very well these past few weeks. Despite, the pounding of homework, God has really been doing things with me this semester. Who knows...the pounding of homework is probably good for me to...
As I have been through a lot within the last few months, it just seems as if I really do not have a whole lot to complain about right now.
I guess I am not trying to brag at all about how my life has been pretty good within the last few weeks...I have just come to the realization that there are other people who need my love, support, and prayers as they face their trials right now. God has me feeling strong right now, and I feel like others need someone like me to be there for them when they feel so weak.
Looking back through the last few months, I feel as if I have been pretty selfish about what I have been facing to where I have not shown my support to others who have also been hurting. Maybe this period of things finally going right in my life is my chance to show my love to others...or...God's love to others...through me.
Everyone faces good and bad periods in our walk with Christ...or even just in our life. I think it is how we respond to those times that makes us more mature.
Right now I am just very blessed and thankful that I can start this school semester on a good note. There may be trials that come my way, but I will try and be thankful even through those times.
Like I said above, I can be using this time to show care for others. I have never done this in a blog post before, but if there is anything that you need prayer about, feel free to Facebook message me, or comment here. Your comment can even be left anonymous.
It truly is not about being thankful that my life is going good right now, it is about making God my life...for He is good!
Friday, January 20, 2012
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Monday, January 16, 2012
Saturday, January 14, 2012
No Need For a Goat For This Sacrifice...
Happy weekend one and all! This is your blogger...blogging. Confession time...I am human. I find myself doing things that any transgressor against God would do. Am I proud of that? No. Am I honest? Well, yes.
So I have always been open to saying that my favorite chapter in the Bible is Romans 12.
Romans 12:1 says: Therefore, I urge you brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God--this is your true and proper worship.
Lately, I have found myself being a hypocrite to that verse. Have I been truly allowing to live my whole life for Christ? I am surprised I have not even done a blog on this chapter/verse yet.
You see, I do not want to have the "holier than thou" lifestyle. Trust me, I am not holier than...thou...I need to be honest with myself.
Humility. Such a hard thing for me to grasp.
If I am able to accept that I am not giving it all to Christ, I can strive to at least make that my goal now...or my life.
Being a living sacrifice...What does it truly mean to be a living sacrifice? To me, it is not just about throwing out a good Christian Facebook status everyday...it's about spending my whole day living out for God. That could be hard, but I know it will not hurt me if I try.
So...for the next week I plan on living by what I say. I want to be my favorite verse in the Bible. This is my weekly goal, which will hopefully turn out to be my goal for life.
No need to find a goat for this sacrifice...I'm all yours, God :)
Thursday, January 12, 2012
I Am Forgiven
Wow. My first week back is already coming to a close. Honestly, you do not know how happy I am to be back. God has really been taking care of me to start a new journey. Now if only he could help me a little more by taming down the homework...
Recently, I feel like God has been putting something on my heart. You see, I have suffered a lot of depression within the last few months. It has been rough, but I get better each day.
I have always been able to forgive others. I do not just immediately forgive people...it does take time...but I have never really had a problem with holding a grudge. I get hurt all of the time. People are human, I know that. It helps build my character when I am able to forgive others. My problem is that I struggle with forgiving myself for the mistakes I have made in my life.
You may not have that problem. I guess I am just very hard on myself. God is always telling me that he forgives me from what I have done, it is just that for some reason, I cannot seem to forgive myself and move on.
God is rather amazing. He offers this thing called grace (notice the pun?) God loves me so much that he is willing to look past my mistakes and let me not live in a life of guilt. He allows me a chance to move on, and grow from my faults. The stories of how I had once disobeyed the Lord, and was willing to accept his forgiveness can be a testimony to others who struggle with those issues. With God, I can become a whole new person...a person that shines in him.
2 Corinthians 5:17 says: Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come. The old has gone, the new is here!
...that means that we are given a second chance! If we confess to God our sins and let him forgive us, we can show the devil that we are not letting him conquer us.
I do not want to live in a life of guilt and shame. The mistakes I have made have broken me, but God has allowed room for me to be built back up...for him!
This blog was intended to be a reminder to me that God forgives me, and I should forgive myself too. If you are reading this and face the same type of struggle as me, I want to remind you that God is by your side and wants you to go to him for forgiveness to help you move on from the guilt.
If you ever need a reminder of Christ's forgiveness, take a look at 1 Peter 2:24: "He himself bore our sins" in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; "by his wounds you have been healed."
Recently, I feel like God has been putting something on my heart. You see, I have suffered a lot of depression within the last few months. It has been rough, but I get better each day.
I have always been able to forgive others. I do not just immediately forgive people...it does take time...but I have never really had a problem with holding a grudge. I get hurt all of the time. People are human, I know that. It helps build my character when I am able to forgive others. My problem is that I struggle with forgiving myself for the mistakes I have made in my life.
You may not have that problem. I guess I am just very hard on myself. God is always telling me that he forgives me from what I have done, it is just that for some reason, I cannot seem to forgive myself and move on.
God is rather amazing. He offers this thing called grace (notice the pun?) God loves me so much that he is willing to look past my mistakes and let me not live in a life of guilt. He allows me a chance to move on, and grow from my faults. The stories of how I had once disobeyed the Lord, and was willing to accept his forgiveness can be a testimony to others who struggle with those issues. With God, I can become a whole new person...a person that shines in him.
2 Corinthians 5:17 says: Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come. The old has gone, the new is here!
...that means that we are given a second chance! If we confess to God our sins and let him forgive us, we can show the devil that we are not letting him conquer us.
I do not want to live in a life of guilt and shame. The mistakes I have made have broken me, but God has allowed room for me to be built back up...for him!
This blog was intended to be a reminder to me that God forgives me, and I should forgive myself too. If you are reading this and face the same type of struggle as me, I want to remind you that God is by your side and wants you to go to him for forgiveness to help you move on from the guilt.
If you ever need a reminder of Christ's forgiveness, take a look at 1 Peter 2:24: "He himself bore our sins" in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; "by his wounds you have been healed."
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
You Can Have Me
Today I officially start my second semester of college. What better way to start off the year then with my first class being Wellness?! I am sensing that you are not noticing my sarcasm...
So anyway...the other night I spent my final night at home helping at my church's high school youth group. It was great to go back. My small group girls who I had in junior high are now freshmen. Oh, they are growing up! It was so amazing to be back and setting an example to those girls.
I also kind of think that God had me there for other reasons as well. I kind of think...ok, I know that I really needed to hear the message given that night. The topic was making idols of things. Now to me, and idol is putting something else above my relationship with God. That includes the majority of my thoughts, my actions, and my emotions. Yep...totally spotted some things I have been making idols of...
It is not like I am one of those people who have addictions such as drugs and alcohol as the idols in my life. Those types of things have been obvious for me to avoid. Ok, so I sound like little miss perfect admitting that those have never been thoughts or struggles in my life. Well actually, the idols that have been infecting my life could be looked to someone else as obvious things to stay away from or not let affect me.
You see, I have been letting two people that have recently hurt me take over my life...emotionally. The thing is, is that they are two people that should not even matter to me. For some reason I am dwelling over the fact that they are hurting me even though I would prefer to just move on and not have them as people in my life right now. I have every right to be hurt I guess. The problem was that it got to the point where I was building up a constant depression over the fact that they hurt me.
My whole winter break seemed to be almost completely absorbed over the anger/depression of this situation. It was taking over my time from building my relationship with Christ. Personally, I find it was spiritual warfare going on in my life. I was letting the devil control my thoughts, and it landed me to be constantly wallowing in self-pity. Pathetic, I know.
Today I want you to think of something that has become an idol in your life. It may not be the same type of thing as me, but it could be something that is holding you back from truly experiencing God.
I am now back at school where I can now be set apart from the drama at home, but it is still my option to let myself be controlled with those thoughts again.
God offers me a chance to give up what has been holding me back. This semester I am going to strive to give myself to God.
Father of Love, You can have me :)
So anyway...the other night I spent my final night at home helping at my church's high school youth group. It was great to go back. My small group girls who I had in junior high are now freshmen. Oh, they are growing up! It was so amazing to be back and setting an example to those girls.
I also kind of think that God had me there for other reasons as well. I kind of think...ok, I know that I really needed to hear the message given that night. The topic was making idols of things. Now to me, and idol is putting something else above my relationship with God. That includes the majority of my thoughts, my actions, and my emotions. Yep...totally spotted some things I have been making idols of...
It is not like I am one of those people who have addictions such as drugs and alcohol as the idols in my life. Those types of things have been obvious for me to avoid. Ok, so I sound like little miss perfect admitting that those have never been thoughts or struggles in my life. Well actually, the idols that have been infecting my life could be looked to someone else as obvious things to stay away from or not let affect me.
You see, I have been letting two people that have recently hurt me take over my life...emotionally. The thing is, is that they are two people that should not even matter to me. For some reason I am dwelling over the fact that they are hurting me even though I would prefer to just move on and not have them as people in my life right now. I have every right to be hurt I guess. The problem was that it got to the point where I was building up a constant depression over the fact that they hurt me.
My whole winter break seemed to be almost completely absorbed over the anger/depression of this situation. It was taking over my time from building my relationship with Christ. Personally, I find it was spiritual warfare going on in my life. I was letting the devil control my thoughts, and it landed me to be constantly wallowing in self-pity. Pathetic, I know.
Today I want you to think of something that has become an idol in your life. It may not be the same type of thing as me, but it could be something that is holding you back from truly experiencing God.
I am now back at school where I can now be set apart from the drama at home, but it is still my option to let myself be controlled with those thoughts again.
God offers me a chance to give up what has been holding me back. This semester I am going to strive to give myself to God.
Father of Love, You can have me :)
Sunday, January 8, 2012
My Last Day Home
I made it! Winter break is coming to a close, and tomorrow I head back to school. So many things have happened while I have been here. Despite some issues, I did have an amazing break...but...I have seen everyone I need to see, so going back will be nice.
This morning I am heading to church. I am not going to lie, I really need to get my heart right before I head to church. I feel like I am going for the wrong reasons. So...I am spending this morning in prayer to get my heart right with God before I walk into the church doors.
Today is my last day in the 309 for awhile and I should really try and leave my mark before I leave...ok, not my mark, but rather God's mark...through me. I pray that God can use His love through me to impact others today.
Yes, this is a short post. I will pick up more when I am back at school. Today I just really need to focus on getting my heart right with God before I leave.
...I should probably also focus on packing...
SMS (Shine) By: David Crowder Band
This morning I am heading to church. I am not going to lie, I really need to get my heart right before I head to church. I feel like I am going for the wrong reasons. So...I am spending this morning in prayer to get my heart right with God before I walk into the church doors.
Today is my last day in the 309 for awhile and I should really try and leave my mark before I leave...ok, not my mark, but rather God's mark...through me. I pray that God can use His love through me to impact others today.
Yes, this is a short post. I will pick up more when I am back at school. Today I just really need to focus on getting my heart right with God before I leave.
...I should probably also focus on packing...
SMS (Shine) By: David Crowder Band
Friday, January 6, 2012
We Need Each Other
Wow. Today is a good day. As I am sitting here writing this, I look out the window to see birds flying around and the sun giving off this radiant glow. God is cool. I love it when He gives me little reminders like that about how cool He really is. Is it seriously January??
Ok, I have to admit this, the beautiful weather outside actually has nothing to do with what I want to talk about today. Sorry, I just had to get it out of my system...
There is something else put on my heart today. Something that only the great Randy Newman could sing about....friends. This winter break has really shown me the importance of friendships. I find myself so blessed to have some very great friends in my life. There have been a lot of things I have had to go through within the last few years and it is nice to know that I have had them by my side. I can only hope I have been there for them when they have needed it.
Friends are great for so many things: having sleepovers, venting about boys, having a shoulder to cry on...but I think the most important is having accountability.
Accountability is important on so many levels. It is so nice to know that I have my friends who are there to help prevent me from doing something I will later regret. Sometimes when I want to act on my emotions, I find that my friends are there to help be the voice of reason.
It is also necessary to have friends who can make you accountable in your walk with Christ. God wants us to keep each other accountable in our faith to help us grow. Do you know of any people who are keeping you accountable with Christ?
This week I encourage you to thank the friends you have in your life. Sometimes I feel like I do not show them as much appreciation as they deserve. So yes, thank them for...being awesome.
If you do not feel like you have any accountability partners for your faith, I inspire you to ask someone you feel comfortable with to help lift you up. I know I am not super close to every single person that reads my blogs, but if you ever have anything you need to be prayed for, I can definitely do it!
We are all hear to encourage each other as we move to grow closer to Christ.
Ok, I have to admit this, the beautiful weather outside actually has nothing to do with what I want to talk about today. Sorry, I just had to get it out of my system...
There is something else put on my heart today. Something that only the great Randy Newman could sing about....friends. This winter break has really shown me the importance of friendships. I find myself so blessed to have some very great friends in my life. There have been a lot of things I have had to go through within the last few years and it is nice to know that I have had them by my side. I can only hope I have been there for them when they have needed it.
Friends are great for so many things: having sleepovers, venting about boys, having a shoulder to cry on...but I think the most important is having accountability.
Accountability is important on so many levels. It is so nice to know that I have my friends who are there to help prevent me from doing something I will later regret. Sometimes when I want to act on my emotions, I find that my friends are there to help be the voice of reason.
It is also necessary to have friends who can make you accountable in your walk with Christ. God wants us to keep each other accountable in our faith to help us grow. Do you know of any people who are keeping you accountable with Christ?
This week I encourage you to thank the friends you have in your life. Sometimes I feel like I do not show them as much appreciation as they deserve. So yes, thank them for...being awesome.
If you do not feel like you have any accountability partners for your faith, I inspire you to ask someone you feel comfortable with to help lift you up. I know I am not super close to every single person that reads my blogs, but if you ever have anything you need to be prayed for, I can definitely do it!
We are all hear to encourage each other as we move to grow closer to Christ.
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Shan't Be No Ordinary Man!
Hello world! A new girl is in town! Ok, actually I've been around for awhile, but hey...it was a great opener...and you're still reading...and I'm still rambling...
I am a college freshman about to enter my second semester of school. I have no man holding me down. I see this as a great opportunity to start looking for a man to marry. Ok, ok....great, now I have to explain myself. First, I am not "looking" for a man. God will provide me one, but I can definitely be open minded to guys. Second, I am nowhere ready to marry, but I should start finding a man who I could someday see myself walking down the aisle with. Third, I...don't have a third.
The man who I will someday marry will be no ordinary man. I could just go off and list everything I think I want in a man...or I can just admit that I believe that God will provide a man not with qualities that I think I want, but qualities that He knows I will want.
Let's just say I have been through a lot in my life. I mean, everyone else has faced a lot of things in their life as well, but I have really been hurt before...multiple times...through multiple situations. I am not going to let that dwell over my life...I'm here...I've grown...I've got God protecting me.
It is kind of cool to think that God will not only protect me, but also put a man in my life to protect me as well.
This is a short post...mainly because it took so long to write with all of the breaks to refill up my glass of milk. I guess where I am getting at today is that I really need to start trusting God in that He will provide me with a man that is exactly who I need. I need to start raising my standards in men as well...chances are, I will not be hurt as much. God will also give me a man who will make a great team with me to help further His kingdom.
So, I'm giving it to You, God!
I am a college freshman about to enter my second semester of school. I have no man holding me down. I see this as a great opportunity to start looking for a man to marry. Ok, ok....great, now I have to explain myself. First, I am not "looking" for a man. God will provide me one, but I can definitely be open minded to guys. Second, I am nowhere ready to marry, but I should start finding a man who I could someday see myself walking down the aisle with. Third, I...don't have a third.
The man who I will someday marry will be no ordinary man. I could just go off and list everything I think I want in a man...or I can just admit that I believe that God will provide a man not with qualities that I think I want, but qualities that He knows I will want.
Let's just say I have been through a lot in my life. I mean, everyone else has faced a lot of things in their life as well, but I have really been hurt before...multiple times...through multiple situations. I am not going to let that dwell over my life...I'm here...I've grown...I've got God protecting me.
It is kind of cool to think that God will not only protect me, but also put a man in my life to protect me as well.
This is a short post...mainly because it took so long to write with all of the breaks to refill up my glass of milk. I guess where I am getting at today is that I really need to start trusting God in that He will provide me with a man that is exactly who I need. I need to start raising my standards in men as well...chances are, I will not be hurt as much. God will also give me a man who will make a great team with me to help further His kingdom.
So, I'm giving it to You, God!
Monday, January 2, 2012
Planes, Trains, and...Wait, This Blog Isn't Even About Those...
A new year! I made it! Sweet! You have no idea how happy I am...
This is a fresh start for me. I can move on to bigger and brighter things! I can even start a new semester of college so motivated...well, for now...
You see, before I had felt like I was letting the things in my life ruin me. I tried to move on from things, but it all kept coming back. Why me?! Wasn't this all supposed to end in a happy ending?? Now that I think about it, I was letting things get the best of me because I was judging by the plan I had figured out for my life. Everything that I let hurt me was because I did not have it planned in my life for that to ever happen.
Looking back, I now see that God's plan was a little different. When I was facing struggles, I was also growing so much with Christ...and I feel that that may truly be the my happy ending in disguise. Ok, so not a happy ending, but a happy genesis to a new point in my life. Genesis. Man, I feel so cool that I used that word...
I was actually reading in Genesis this morning. Ahh, the creation story...such an...old story...? Haha. You see, God placed every single star, every single tree, and every single animal in their place because God had a specific purpose for each of them. Maybe that's what God has done for me. He has placed every single person, situation, and place in my life to impact me in one way or another. Does that make you feel special? Even if you barely speak to me and only check out my blogs every now and then because I happen to post in on Facebook, you have impacted my life in one way or another.
So this year I want to make an impact. The world may not end this year...it could, but we don't know...and people across the globe may be doing crazy things this year. I find this to be the best opportunity to be a witness and share your faith to others. Can ya dig it?
God created the world and saw that it was good. I encourage you to find the good in every situation. It may not be your plan, but it surely is God's :)
This is a fresh start for me. I can move on to bigger and brighter things! I can even start a new semester of college so motivated...well, for now...
You see, before I had felt like I was letting the things in my life ruin me. I tried to move on from things, but it all kept coming back. Why me?! Wasn't this all supposed to end in a happy ending?? Now that I think about it, I was letting things get the best of me because I was judging by the plan I had figured out for my life. Everything that I let hurt me was because I did not have it planned in my life for that to ever happen.
Looking back, I now see that God's plan was a little different. When I was facing struggles, I was also growing so much with Christ...and I feel that that may truly be the my happy ending in disguise. Ok, so not a happy ending, but a happy genesis to a new point in my life. Genesis. Man, I feel so cool that I used that word...
I was actually reading in Genesis this morning. Ahh, the creation story...such an...old story...? Haha. You see, God placed every single star, every single tree, and every single animal in their place because God had a specific purpose for each of them. Maybe that's what God has done for me. He has placed every single person, situation, and place in my life to impact me in one way or another. Does that make you feel special? Even if you barely speak to me and only check out my blogs every now and then because I happen to post in on Facebook, you have impacted my life in one way or another.
So this year I want to make an impact. The world may not end this year...it could, but we don't know...and people across the globe may be doing crazy things this year. I find this to be the best opportunity to be a witness and share your faith to others. Can ya dig it?
God created the world and saw that it was good. I encourage you to find the good in every situation. It may not be your plan, but it surely is God's :)
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