"I urge you therefore brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect." Romans 12:1-2
"But the fruit of the Spirit is LOVE, PEACE, PARTIENCE, KINDNESS, GOODNESS, FAITHFULNESS, GENTLENESS, SELF-CONTROL; against such there is no law." Galatians 5:22-23
"Do not fear for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Sirely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand." "For I am the Lord your God, who upholds your right hand, who says to you, 'Do not fear, I will help you.'" Isaiah 41:10, 13
"Every man's way is right in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the hearts." Proverbs 21:2
Friday, March 31, 2006
Monday, March 20, 2006
Spring Break
Amen, Halleluiah! Spring break is coming!!! I am so ready not to attend classes! I am so excited because I am doing really well in all my classes, I should have all A's except for Chemistry. I'm sad to say this but I may possibly have a B or even a C (which I will work hard not to get) in Chemistry. The material and concepts are not hard to grasp, it's the memorization that is key. So, knowing that, I am striving harder to memorize the facts.
I get to go home with my friend, Benjamin Shockey, and spend 3 days or so with his family. I'm thrilled! The plan is to attend Busch Gardens on one of the days. I am excited to visit with them. They're a great Christian family and lots of fun to be around. This year has been so stress free and I have experienced a lot of growth spiritually. It's been a nice change from the hectic life that I led my first year at Warner. Moving off campus, surrounding myself with good friends, working at the church and with the children's ministry, going to Baseball games, and visits with the Shockey family are all extreme blessings! I feel so much better having more hours of sleep each night, eating right, and walking EVERYWHERE! Hehe. I have to go shopping this weekend to get new pants, they're much too loose.
Anyway, all in all...what I am trying to say is that God is good and his love endures forever! He will take care of us, shield us, protect us, love us, forgive us, and heal us. It is so easy to get caught up in stress and worry from day-to-day, but God has things in his mighty hand. Would I know or realize the great blessings that He has bestowed upon me this year if I hadn't of had such a trying first year? Our troubles always seem big, but to God they are miniscule. It is my goal to continually surrender all my questions and let the Lord work everything out. :)
Let me put out a challenge to my fellow Christians:
Memorize scripture! Know what you believe and exactly why you believe! The world will try to destroy your faith, your convictions, and will try to make you justify yourself in everything you do! Always reach for something more! You are always in the process of becoming a better servant. Seek God and find ways to better serve Him! We will never know our weaknesses and how best to overcome them if we don't read the Word. It's time to stop living a mediocre life for God! Start reading the word, praising God, see God's blessings overflow, and get excited about living righteously for Christ! BE SET APART! People, there is no better life than the one that God can give you! NO greater joy is found except through Jesus and living our lives for Him! Discover God's plan for your life!
I love to tell the story
T'will be my theme in glory
To tell the old, old story
of Jesus and His love!
I get to go home with my friend, Benjamin Shockey, and spend 3 days or so with his family. I'm thrilled! The plan is to attend Busch Gardens on one of the days. I am excited to visit with them. They're a great Christian family and lots of fun to be around. This year has been so stress free and I have experienced a lot of growth spiritually. It's been a nice change from the hectic life that I led my first year at Warner. Moving off campus, surrounding myself with good friends, working at the church and with the children's ministry, going to Baseball games, and visits with the Shockey family are all extreme blessings! I feel so much better having more hours of sleep each night, eating right, and walking EVERYWHERE! Hehe. I have to go shopping this weekend to get new pants, they're much too loose.
Anyway, all in all...what I am trying to say is that God is good and his love endures forever! He will take care of us, shield us, protect us, love us, forgive us, and heal us. It is so easy to get caught up in stress and worry from day-to-day, but God has things in his mighty hand. Would I know or realize the great blessings that He has bestowed upon me this year if I hadn't of had such a trying first year? Our troubles always seem big, but to God they are miniscule. It is my goal to continually surrender all my questions and let the Lord work everything out. :)
Let me put out a challenge to my fellow Christians:
Memorize scripture! Know what you believe and exactly why you believe! The world will try to destroy your faith, your convictions, and will try to make you justify yourself in everything you do! Always reach for something more! You are always in the process of becoming a better servant. Seek God and find ways to better serve Him! We will never know our weaknesses and how best to overcome them if we don't read the Word. It's time to stop living a mediocre life for God! Start reading the word, praising God, see God's blessings overflow, and get excited about living righteously for Christ! BE SET APART! People, there is no better life than the one that God can give you! NO greater joy is found except through Jesus and living our lives for Him! Discover God's plan for your life!
I love to tell the story
T'will be my theme in glory
To tell the old, old story
of Jesus and His love!
Friday, March 03, 2006
Fantastic News!
Everyone listen up!!! It is time to praise the Lord for He is incredibly good!!! My brother Michael and his wife Amy are now expecting their first child! This is a blessing from God! After such a long wait, Amy will give birth to a baby boy or girl, expected on November 7th!!! I am going to be an Aunt!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! I am so excited! I nearly peed my pants! Tears upon tears of thankfulness come from my eyes as I think about the blessing that God is going to bestow upon this couple and upon this whole family! Michael and Amy are going to be terrific parents! Please pray for them and for the precious growing baby!
Could this week get any better!? Praise to God our Father! :)
Could this week get any better!? Praise to God our Father! :)
Thursday, March 02, 2006
Guess What?!?!
I'm going to Oxford!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! I found out today at 3:45! I am so incredibly excited!!! My good friend, Danielle Stuart, applied as well and she received notice that she has been accepted! We get to be roomies too! I am SO EXCITED!
I think it all hit me at once, just the realization that I really will be going! I am going to miss my church family, my job, my school, but most importantly...I am going to terribly miss my friends. I know I will be so busy and in an incredibly amazing place that I won't have time to linger on thoughts of what I have left, but it doesn't take away the fact that all those things are dear to my heart and they will be sorely missed. I can't imagine how it will feel to go to Oxford and come back to Florida, but I love the growth that comes from new experiences.
So, the plans are in motion. Lots of preparation will have to occur. But, as I begin to get things ready, I want to enjoy what's left of this semester and do well in all my classes. Please pray for me, Chemistry is kicking me in the stomach. I really want all A's this semester. It just takes a little more studying. :) Please also pray for my continual growth in Christ and that I will take all my concerns to the Lord and use wisdom in all my decisions.
I hope and pray that all who read this are doing well and growing closer to Christ each day. I pray that you are all doing well spiritually, emotionally, mentally, and that you are finding time to spend in the Word. Do we dare to be different? Do we dare to have standards that may seem bizarre to others...but not to God? Do not lower your standards, your values, or your goals. Question yourself regularly (as I am striving to do) and check your motivations. Ask God to show you where you are coming up short in your walk and seek to change those things in your life. Are you content with where you are in Christ? I hope you answered no because, we should never be content with ourselves. We should always be striving to change and allow God to mold our lives (words, actions, THOUGHTS). What are your priorities? What is your main focus? Are they your own ambitions, or are they Christ's?
I think it all hit me at once, just the realization that I really will be going! I am going to miss my church family, my job, my school, but most importantly...I am going to terribly miss my friends. I know I will be so busy and in an incredibly amazing place that I won't have time to linger on thoughts of what I have left, but it doesn't take away the fact that all those things are dear to my heart and they will be sorely missed. I can't imagine how it will feel to go to Oxford and come back to Florida, but I love the growth that comes from new experiences.
So, the plans are in motion. Lots of preparation will have to occur. But, as I begin to get things ready, I want to enjoy what's left of this semester and do well in all my classes. Please pray for me, Chemistry is kicking me in the stomach. I really want all A's this semester. It just takes a little more studying. :) Please also pray for my continual growth in Christ and that I will take all my concerns to the Lord and use wisdom in all my decisions.
I hope and pray that all who read this are doing well and growing closer to Christ each day. I pray that you are all doing well spiritually, emotionally, mentally, and that you are finding time to spend in the Word. Do we dare to be different? Do we dare to have standards that may seem bizarre to others...but not to God? Do not lower your standards, your values, or your goals. Question yourself regularly (as I am striving to do) and check your motivations. Ask God to show you where you are coming up short in your walk and seek to change those things in your life. Are you content with where you are in Christ? I hope you answered no because, we should never be content with ourselves. We should always be striving to change and allow God to mold our lives (words, actions, THOUGHTS). What are your priorities? What is your main focus? Are they your own ambitions, or are they Christ's?
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