1. Hanging out with my sister last night and today.
2. Catching up on some emails yesterday.
3. Realizing that I am almost done with school...finally! It's kind of bittersweet...
4. Church today!! Awesome! I especially loved the choir's anthem "Hallelujah, Jesus Saves."
5. John 11:25-26: "Jesus said to her, 'I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.'"
God's love for us is so incredible. He is our hope and the reason we live.
During the season of Lent, I have been posting on my blog every day. Since Easter Sunday officially marks the end of Lent, that means that I am finished with posting my daily 5 blessings. I have to admit that some days were harder than others to find 5 things to be thankful for. However, there are always things for us to be thankful for...we just have to search harder for them sometimes.
Thank you for joining me in this journey and I pray that you have been blessed by reading and have also been able to reflect on the blessings in your life. I will continue posting on my blog, however it will be more sporadic ~ and almost certainly not daily. :-)
Take care & enjoy your Easter!!
Love, Kristen
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Saturday, April 11, 2009
5 Blessings for April 11
1. House and dog sitting for some friends this weekend...it's kind of nice to spend the weekend by myself, and help my friends out, of course.
2. My new pal Bailey...He's kept me company at my friends' house. :-) (In case you're wondering, Bailey is a miniature greyhound.)
3. The song "What Sin?" by Morgan Cryar. If you've ever struggled with forgiving yourself for sins you've done in the past or wondered if God has forgiven you, this song is a great reminder of God's forgiveness & wiping our records completely clean.
4. Learning to be real about myself and my life. I am amazed by the grace and love I have received from various people when I have shared the ugly truth about me and my past mistakes. If we can't be real with others about who we are, then we can't be loved for who we are. All people can love is the facets of ourselves that we present to them.
5. Psalm 27:13-14:
"I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait for the LORD; Be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the LORD."
Yesterday was the remembrance of the death of Jesus, but Easter is coming tomorrow and we'll celebrate Him rising from the dead. In the meantime, we must wait...and look to Him in hope because He is our hope.
Friday, April 10, 2009
5 Blessings for April 10
1. The fact of life that death must occur for something beautiful to be born.
2. The movie The Passion of the Christ
Check out this clip from the movie set to a song called "The Reason"...it's incredible: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RNgbBYdDZA8&NR=1
3. Romans 5:6-8:
"You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
4. What God has done in my life:
In the last few years, God has been doing great things in my life. He brought me out of an unhealthy relationship and brought me to an open and loving church family. Now, I am finishing up a master’s degree at Columbia International University and am completing my counseling internship at my church, Spirit of Joy. Both CIU and Spirit of Joy have played an integral role in my life in helping me understand and experience the truths of God and to grow in my relationship with Him. The ways that God has grown me in the last few years have been amazing. However, my life has not always been this way.
In March of 2003, I broke up with my fiancée whom I was supposed to have married two months later. This was devastating for me, but it was what God wanted. It took many months of praying and a great lack of peace in my heart, though, before I finally realized it. Even though I knew our break-up was what had to happen, it still did not make it any easier when it finally did. That was probably my lowest point ever. I had grown up in a Christian home and knew that God was supposed to take first place in my life. I think God did take first place in my life until I met this man. During the four years that I dated him I put him first over everything, including God. This led to a skew of my morals and values and suddenly I began doing the things I used to think were wrong to do, things I thought I would never do. My life was completely out of control. Anything that I wanted, I let myself have—indulgences of all kinds. Through all of this, thankfully God continued to call me back to Him. When I finally surrendered and let God have control of my life, i.e. when I broke up with my fiancée, I had to let God take control of all the areas of my life that were out of control. This was very difficult because I wanted to be in control.
The Bible passage that became my theme passage during this period of time and continues to be is Matthew 16, a passage in which Jesus was speaking to His disciples. He said, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul?” Basically, through this passage God was saying to me that I needed to give Him control of all the areas of my life that I had tried to control for so long—I needed to “lose my life” for His sake. All this time, I had been trying to save my life for myself, doing whatever it was that pleased me, but in the process I was really losing out on the best part of life—an intimate relationship with God.
Of course, there was the problem of my sin. During the four years of my fiancée’s and my relationship, I disobeyed and dishonored God in more ways than I care to admit. So, how could God possibly forgive me for my sinful choices? How could I become right with God after being wrong with Him for so long? There was certainly nothing I could do to change my past or to erase my sins. But the answer lies in Jesus Christ. God sent His Son Jesus to die on a cross to pay for my disobedience. God freely forgave me and turned my life around when I confessed my sin and surrendered my life to Him. Therefore, God no longer sees my sin; all He sees is a clean, new person.
God used one of the hardest times in my life for the greatest good in my life. Today, I am living in a restored, amazing relationship with God. I am very thankful that God loved me enough to send His Son Jesus Christ to die for my sins so that I am able to have this personal relationship with Him. Though my life is certainly not easy now, it is a lot more manageable and fulfilling because I am not living it alone. Jesus is with me every step of the way, and I look forward to the day when I will spend eternity with Him in heaven.
5. Do You Know Jesus?
2. The movie The Passion of the Christ
Check out this clip from the movie set to a song called "The Reason"...it's incredible: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RNgbBYdDZA8&NR=1
3. Romans 5:6-8:
"You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
4. What God has done in my life:
In the last few years, God has been doing great things in my life. He brought me out of an unhealthy relationship and brought me to an open and loving church family. Now, I am finishing up a master’s degree at Columbia International University and am completing my counseling internship at my church, Spirit of Joy. Both CIU and Spirit of Joy have played an integral role in my life in helping me understand and experience the truths of God and to grow in my relationship with Him. The ways that God has grown me in the last few years have been amazing. However, my life has not always been this way.
In March of 2003, I broke up with my fiancée whom I was supposed to have married two months later. This was devastating for me, but it was what God wanted. It took many months of praying and a great lack of peace in my heart, though, before I finally realized it. Even though I knew our break-up was what had to happen, it still did not make it any easier when it finally did. That was probably my lowest point ever. I had grown up in a Christian home and knew that God was supposed to take first place in my life. I think God did take first place in my life until I met this man. During the four years that I dated him I put him first over everything, including God. This led to a skew of my morals and values and suddenly I began doing the things I used to think were wrong to do, things I thought I would never do. My life was completely out of control. Anything that I wanted, I let myself have—indulgences of all kinds. Through all of this, thankfully God continued to call me back to Him. When I finally surrendered and let God have control of my life, i.e. when I broke up with my fiancée, I had to let God take control of all the areas of my life that were out of control. This was very difficult because I wanted to be in control.
The Bible passage that became my theme passage during this period of time and continues to be is Matthew 16, a passage in which Jesus was speaking to His disciples. He said, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul?” Basically, through this passage God was saying to me that I needed to give Him control of all the areas of my life that I had tried to control for so long—I needed to “lose my life” for His sake. All this time, I had been trying to save my life for myself, doing whatever it was that pleased me, but in the process I was really losing out on the best part of life—an intimate relationship with God.
Of course, there was the problem of my sin. During the four years of my fiancée’s and my relationship, I disobeyed and dishonored God in more ways than I care to admit. So, how could God possibly forgive me for my sinful choices? How could I become right with God after being wrong with Him for so long? There was certainly nothing I could do to change my past or to erase my sins. But the answer lies in Jesus Christ. God sent His Son Jesus to die on a cross to pay for my disobedience. God freely forgave me and turned my life around when I confessed my sin and surrendered my life to Him. Therefore, God no longer sees my sin; all He sees is a clean, new person.
God used one of the hardest times in my life for the greatest good in my life. Today, I am living in a restored, amazing relationship with God. I am very thankful that God loved me enough to send His Son Jesus Christ to die for my sins so that I am able to have this personal relationship with Him. Though my life is certainly not easy now, it is a lot more manageable and fulfilling because I am not living it alone. Jesus is with me every step of the way, and I look forward to the day when I will spend eternity with Him in heaven.
5. Do You Know Jesus?
Thursday, April 9, 2009
5 Blessings for April 9
1. Learning how to simplify my life.
2. All the people at SOJ...they're like family to me.
3. The power of prayer and godly friendships & accountability.
4. Our Maundy Thursday service at church last night...and getting to help strip the altar of all its items by carrying the altar Bible out of the sanctuary (we do this in preparation for Good Friday...the day which commemorates Jesus' death).
5. Isaiah 53:3-6:
2. All the people at SOJ...they're like family to me.
3. The power of prayer and godly friendships & accountability.
4. Our Maundy Thursday service at church last night...and getting to help strip the altar of all its items by carrying the altar Bible out of the sanctuary (we do this in preparation for Good Friday...the day which commemorates Jesus' death).
5. Isaiah 53:3-6:
3 He was despised and rejected—
a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief.
We turned our backs on him and looked the other way.
He was despised, and we did not care.
4 Yet it was our weaknesses he carried;
it was our sorrows that weighed him down.
And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God,
a punishment for his own sins!
5 But he was pierced for our rebellion,
crushed for our sins.
He was beaten so we could be whole.
He was whipped so we could be healed.
6 All of us, like sheep, have strayed away.
We have left God’s paths to follow our own.
Yet the Lord laid on him
the sins of us all.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
5 Blessings for April 8
1. 2 Corinthians 5:21, "For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ." ~ what an awesome gift
2. Seeing an old friend I haven't seen in a while.
3. Starting a new prayer journal.
4. The incredible mentors in my life both now: Al, Doris, Lissa, LeAnn, Pastor Ed ~ and in the past: Andrea, Wayne. I'm so blessed to have (or to have had) the opportunity to learn from the wisdom and lives of these individuals.
5. Laura's having a boy!!
Scripture meditation verse of the week:
"Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command." - John 15:13-14
2. Seeing an old friend I haven't seen in a while.
3. Starting a new prayer journal.
4. The incredible mentors in my life both now: Al, Doris, Lissa, LeAnn, Pastor Ed ~ and in the past: Andrea, Wayne. I'm so blessed to have (or to have had) the opportunity to learn from the wisdom and lives of these individuals.
5. Laura's having a boy!!
Scripture meditation verse of the week:
"Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command." - John 15:13-14
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
5 Blessings for April 7
1. The caring conversations I had with LeAnn, Samantha, Barb, Karen, and Pastor Ed today.
2. It's true that you can never out give God.
3. That just because I'm a Christian doesn't mean I have to be happy all the time. I can just be...
4. Remembering that there's always beauty in the desert...even when you can't see it.
5. I can rest in the fact that God is in control in all circumstances and I can trust Him.
2. It's true that you can never out give God.
3. That just because I'm a Christian doesn't mean I have to be happy all the time. I can just be...
4. Remembering that there's always beauty in the desert...even when you can't see it.
5. I can rest in the fact that God is in control in all circumstances and I can trust Him.
Monday, April 6, 2009
5 Blessings for April 6
1. Facebook...Awesome way to keep in touch with everyone & see what's going on in their lives.
2. Having food in the pantry.
3. Natural light in my office.
4. Extra time that I hadn't planned on this evening.
5. Isaiah 40:28-31:
28 Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.
Today I'm walking, and God has kept me from fainting. How about you ~ Where are you at?
2. Having food in the pantry.
3. Natural light in my office.
4. Extra time that I hadn't planned on this evening.
5. Isaiah 40:28-31:
28 Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.
29 He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
30 Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
31 but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.
Today I'm walking, and God has kept me from fainting. How about you ~ Where are you at?
Sunday, April 5, 2009
5 Blessings for April 5
1. An afternoon of peace and quiet by myself.
2. Painting my toenails.
3. Making the commitment to make certain sacrifices for God this week in remembrance of the sacrifice He made for me.
4. Incredible weather outside.
5. A 20 minute nap this afternoon.
2. Painting my toenails.
3. Making the commitment to make certain sacrifices for God this week in remembrance of the sacrifice He made for me.
4. Incredible weather outside.
5. A 20 minute nap this afternoon.
Saturday, April 4, 2009
5 Blessings for April 4
1. Charles Stanley's 30 Life Principles...Good stuff to remember & live by. My favorite principle: "Brokenness is God's requirement for maximum usefulness."
2. Romans 15:13, "I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit." (NLT) ~ God is our source of hope, and He enjoys pouring out hope, joy, and peace in our lives as we trust in Him.
3. Getting to meet with a guys' small group this morning and talk with them about prayer.
4. Finishing two internship projects today.
5. Energy and alertness all day to get things done...totally from God!
2. Romans 15:13, "I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit." (NLT) ~ God is our source of hope, and He enjoys pouring out hope, joy, and peace in our lives as we trust in Him.
3. Getting to meet with a guys' small group this morning and talk with them about prayer.
4. Finishing two internship projects today.
5. Energy and alertness all day to get things done...totally from God!
Friday, April 3, 2009
5 Blessings for April 3
1. Three months from today till I turn 28 :-)
2. Paying off my car last month & now officially having the title to my car (my first ever)!
3. Exactly 40 counseling hours left to go to finish my internship.
4. Burberry London ~ my fave perfume ever.
5. People in my life who are striving to be totally set apart for God...it's so refreshing.
2. Paying off my car last month & now officially having the title to my car (my first ever)!
3. Exactly 40 counseling hours left to go to finish my internship.
4. Burberry London ~ my fave perfume ever.
5. People in my life who are striving to be totally set apart for God...it's so refreshing.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
5 Blessings for April 2
1. Realizing (again) the reality of my fallen human nature but the incredible goodness and grace of my God.
2. Playing the piano as a form of prayer (praying the words of the songs I'm playing) for my life circumstances and those of others who come to mind ~ family, friends, and counselees.
3. Lindsey Kane's song "Measure of Beauty" ...absolutely awesome...it's a great reminder (especially to women) of God's love for us and the way He perceives our beauty.
Lindsey is going to be at P31's annual She Speaks conference this summer!! She's one of the most awesome & down to earth musicians you'll ever meet.
4. Getting to see Jackie on her birthday. :-)
5. The nice big window in my counseling office at church...lots of light. Nice.
2. Playing the piano as a form of prayer (praying the words of the songs I'm playing) for my life circumstances and those of others who come to mind ~ family, friends, and counselees.
3. Lindsey Kane's song "Measure of Beauty" ...absolutely awesome...it's a great reminder (especially to women) of God's love for us and the way He perceives our beauty.
Lindsey is going to be at P31's annual She Speaks conference this summer!! She's one of the most awesome & down to earth musicians you'll ever meet.
4. Getting to see Jackie on her birthday. :-)
5. The nice big window in my counseling office at church...lots of light. Nice.
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
5 Blessings for April 1
1. Getting to wear jeans today because I didn't have any counseling appointments.
2. Getting my taxes finished.
3. No Bake Cookies...a.k.a. Preacher Cookies...mmmm...
4. Getting to see my mom's friend, Maxine, who I haven't seen in years.
5. Getting to see my sister :-)
Scripture meditation verses of the week:
1 What mighty praise, O God,
belongs to you in Zion.
We will fulfill our vows to you,
2 for you answer our prayers.
All of us must come to you.
3 Though we are overwhelmed by our sins,
you forgive them all.
4 What joy for those you choose to bring near,
those who live in your holy courts.
What festivities await us
inside your holy Temple.
2. Getting my taxes finished.
3. No Bake Cookies...a.k.a. Preacher Cookies...mmmm...
4. Getting to see my mom's friend, Maxine, who I haven't seen in years.
5. Getting to see my sister :-)
Scripture meditation verses of the week:
1 What mighty praise, O God,
belongs to you in Zion.
We will fulfill our vows to you,
2 for you answer our prayers.
All of us must come to you.
3 Though we are overwhelmed by our sins,
you forgive them all.
4 What joy for those you choose to bring near,
those who live in your holy courts.
What festivities await us
inside your holy Temple.
5 You faithfully answer our prayers with awesome deeds,
O God our savior.
You are the hope of everyone on earth,
even those who sail on distant seas.
6 You formed the mountains by your power
and armed yourself with mighty strength.
7 You quieted the raging oceans
with their pounding waves
and silenced the shouting of the nations.
8 Those who live at the ends of the earth
stand in awe of your wonders.
From where the sun rises to where it sets,
you inspire shouts of joy.
9 You take care of the earth and water it,
making it rich and fertile.
The river of God has plenty of water;
it provides a bountiful harvest of grain,
for you have ordered it so.
10 You drench the plowed ground with rain,
melting the clods and leveling the ridges.
You soften the earth with showers
and bless its abundant crops.
11 You crown the year with a bountiful harvest;
even the hard pathways overflow with abundance.
12 The grasslands of the wilderness become a lush pasture,
and the hillsides blossom with joy.
13 The meadows are clothed with flocks of sheep,
and the valleys are carpeted with grain.
They all shout and sing for joy!
5 Blessings for March 31
1. I cleaned the house...It sure does help to have a cleaner environment.
2. Knowing I can call my best friend and share prayer requests with her and she will pray for them. Love you girl! :-)
3. The opportunity to pray with Karen in the sanctuary at church today...Karen you're awesome!
4. Sensing God is making my calling clearer and I'm learning who I really am ~ very exciting stuff!
5. Do not rejoice over me, O my enemy; when I fall, I shall rise; when I sit in darkness, the Lord will be a light to me. - Micah 7:8 (NRSV)
2. Knowing I can call my best friend and share prayer requests with her and she will pray for them. Love you girl! :-)
3. The opportunity to pray with Karen in the sanctuary at church today...Karen you're awesome!
4. Sensing God is making my calling clearer and I'm learning who I really am ~ very exciting stuff!
5. Do not rejoice over me, O my enemy; when I fall, I shall rise; when I sit in darkness, the Lord will be a light to me. - Micah 7:8 (NRSV)
Monday, March 30, 2009
5 Blessings for March 30
1. It's almost April!!
2. "Revelation" by Third Day... They're not my fave band, but I LOVE this song!!
3. One of my favorite poems is “The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost:
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
I love this poem because it reminds me of my relationship with God. Life is hard. However, despite this we always have God with us. He’s behind us encouraging us, beside us helping us (and sometimes carrying us), and in front of us guiding us. He’s all around us. When we come to a fork in the road of our lives and have to decide which path to take, He doesn’t leave us there to figure it out for ourselves. He is our faithful friend and guide who will lead us if we let Him.
4. Charles Stanley's radio broadcast on 106.9 ~ The message today was "Confession and Our Forgiveness." Click here for his audio archives so you can listen to his messages.
5. Being inspired and encouraged by the faith of my spiritual leaders, mentors, and friends.
2. "Revelation" by Third Day... They're not my fave band, but I LOVE this song!!
3. One of my favorite poems is “The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost:
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
I love this poem because it reminds me of my relationship with God. Life is hard. However, despite this we always have God with us. He’s behind us encouraging us, beside us helping us (and sometimes carrying us), and in front of us guiding us. He’s all around us. When we come to a fork in the road of our lives and have to decide which path to take, He doesn’t leave us there to figure it out for ourselves. He is our faithful friend and guide who will lead us if we let Him.
4. Charles Stanley's radio broadcast on 106.9 ~ The message today was "Confession and Our Forgiveness." Click here for his audio archives so you can listen to his messages.
5. Being inspired and encouraged by the faith of my spiritual leaders, mentors, and friends.
5 Blessings for March 29
1. A prayer by St. Francis of Assisi:
Lord,
Make me an instrument of your peace!
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
And where there is sadness, joy.
2. Hearing stories from others today of God's faithfulness.
3. Getting to serve communion at church today.
4. "God always gives His best to those who leave the choice with Him." - Jim Elliot (I already wrote about this on March 22 but I thought it was worth repeating...the question is, Am I willing to leave the choice with God?)
5. The ability to feel pain for friends who are suffering.
Lord,
Make me an instrument of your peace!
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
And where there is sadness, joy.
2. Hearing stories from others today of God's faithfulness.
3. Getting to serve communion at church today.
4. "God always gives His best to those who leave the choice with Him." - Jim Elliot (I already wrote about this on March 22 but I thought it was worth repeating...the question is, Am I willing to leave the choice with God?)
5. The ability to feel pain for friends who are suffering.
Saturday, March 28, 2009
5 Blessings for March 28
1. The youth lock-in at church last night & today turned out great!
2. Watching the faith and strong leadership of our student leaders as they planned & led the lock-in at church. They're awesome. :-)
3. Comfy recliner at home I got to chill in this afternoon...very nice after a night of little sleep. I did pretty much nothing this afternoon except rest in the recliner. That rarely ever happens...ask my mom.
4. Lots of rain this afternoon.
5. "Free" movies that come on T.V...I watched "Nim's Island" today.
2. Watching the faith and strong leadership of our student leaders as they planned & led the lock-in at church. They're awesome. :-)
3. Comfy recliner at home I got to chill in this afternoon...very nice after a night of little sleep. I did pretty much nothing this afternoon except rest in the recliner. That rarely ever happens...ask my mom.
4. Lots of rain this afternoon.
5. "Free" movies that come on T.V...I watched "Nim's Island" today.
5 Blessings for March 27
1. My grandma's 82 today!! I'm so blessed to have her in my life & the older I get, the closer I get to her and the more I appreciate her.
2. My mom, grandma, Jamie, and Martha (Jamie's mother-in-law) got to have lunch & spend time together for my grandma's birthday.
3. A new friend, Cathy, who helped me with some things I needed help with yesterday.
4. Under 50 counseling hours to go to finish my internship. :-)
5. Good sales at the grocery store.
2. My mom, grandma, Jamie, and Martha (Jamie's mother-in-law) got to have lunch & spend time together for my grandma's birthday.
3. A new friend, Cathy, who helped me with some things I needed help with yesterday.
4. Under 50 counseling hours to go to finish my internship. :-)
5. Good sales at the grocery store.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
5 Blessings for March 26
1. Veggie Tales' recording of "You Are the Sunshine of My Life" (on their 70s CD). This song reminds me that God is the sunshine of my life...and He thinks the same about me. :-)
Even if you're having a bummer of a day this CD is so fun & uplifting. You should totally get it!!
2. La Unica Mexican Restaurant...my fave Mexican restaurant.
3. Getting to have dinner & chill for a little while with my mom & LeAnn.
4. Going shopping with Mariauxi for the youth lock in this weekend.
5. I've gone 200 miles on this tank of gas in my car & still have 1/2 a tank left.
Even if you're having a bummer of a day this CD is so fun & uplifting. You should totally get it!!
2. La Unica Mexican Restaurant...my fave Mexican restaurant.
3. Getting to have dinner & chill for a little while with my mom & LeAnn.
4. Going shopping with Mariauxi for the youth lock in this weekend.
5. I've gone 200 miles on this tank of gas in my car & still have 1/2 a tank left.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
5 Blessings for March 25
1. When God gives me His vision for what He wants me to do next...and I don't have to question whether it's from Him or not.
2. Being challenged by one of my internship supervisors in a way that was slightly painful but in the long run will be very helpful (as a matter of fact, almost every conversation I have with him is like that!)
3. Cell phones...yay for modern technology.
4. God is Jehovah Jireh ~ My Provider ~ so I don't have to worry about whether I'm going to have enough of whatever I need, whether it be time or money or (fill in the blank)...He always always provides.
5. Relationships with people...I'm such a task-oriented person that sometimes I put my "to do" list before everything else, including people...However, God has been working on me with this over the last few years of seminary and while I am no where near perfect, God has helped me make improvements because people and relationships really are more valuable than any "to do." Lord, help me to live it.
Scripture meditation verse of the week:
18 But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him,
on those whose hope is in his unfailing love,
2. Being challenged by one of my internship supervisors in a way that was slightly painful but in the long run will be very helpful (as a matter of fact, almost every conversation I have with him is like that!)
3. Cell phones...yay for modern technology.
4. God is Jehovah Jireh ~ My Provider ~ so I don't have to worry about whether I'm going to have enough of whatever I need, whether it be time or money or (fill in the blank)...He always always provides.
5. Relationships with people...I'm such a task-oriented person that sometimes I put my "to do" list before everything else, including people...However, God has been working on me with this over the last few years of seminary and while I am no where near perfect, God has helped me make improvements because people and relationships really are more valuable than any "to do." Lord, help me to live it.
Scripture meditation verse of the week:
18 But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him,
on those whose hope is in his unfailing love,
19 to deliver them from death
and keep them alive in famine.
20 We wait in hope for the LORD;
he is our help and our shield.
21 In him our hearts rejoice,
for we trust in his holy name.
22 May your unfailing love rest upon us, O LORD,
even as we put our hope in you.
~Psalm 33:18-22 (NIV)
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
5 Blessings for March 24
1. The smell of fresh spring air.
2. All the things God allowed me to get accomplished at work today.
3. Being inspired by the incredible faith of one of my counselees.
4. All the awesome articles and resources on www.crosswalk.com, including an article on overcoming fear written by one of our Proverbs 31 speakers, Micca Campbell. (To see the article, click here.)
5. Ponytail holders...for when my hair gets in my face! :-)
2. All the things God allowed me to get accomplished at work today.
3. Being inspired by the incredible faith of one of my counselees.
4. All the awesome articles and resources on www.crosswalk.com, including an article on overcoming fear written by one of our Proverbs 31 speakers, Micca Campbell. (To see the article, click here.)
5. Ponytail holders...for when my hair gets in my face! :-)
Monday, March 23, 2009
5 Blessings for March 23
1. Pastor Ed's sermon yesterday about the "wilderness" experiences of life and the importance of looking for the beauty (and essentially looking for God) in those experiences by slowing down, looking deeper, and embracing the journey...SO true!
2. "And there is nothing impossible unto those who believe. Lively and unshaken faith can accomplish great miracles in the twinkling of an eye." - St. John of Kronstadt - I just love believing in miracles...God is so able!
3. Silk Chocolate Soymilk...tastes like a Yahoo but better for you I'm sure!
4. Having 3/4 of a tank of gas rather than 1/4 of a tank. :-)
5. Butterflies & their symbolism of being totally transformed from something plain and "ugly" to something totally different and beautiful.
2. "And there is nothing impossible unto those who believe. Lively and unshaken faith can accomplish great miracles in the twinkling of an eye." - St. John of Kronstadt - I just love believing in miracles...God is so able!
3. Silk Chocolate Soymilk...tastes like a Yahoo but better for you I'm sure!
4. Having 3/4 of a tank of gas rather than 1/4 of a tank. :-)
5. Butterflies & their symbolism of being totally transformed from something plain and "ugly" to something totally different and beautiful.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
5 Blessings for March 22
1. Hearing a few different people say they felt God brought them to Charlotte to come to Spirit of Joy...
It makes me think of how God worked in my own life to bring me to Spirit of Joy (which I started attending after a change of life plans, reluctantly at first). It was at Spirit of Joy that God brought a new level of healing to my life. It was there that He showed me His love and grace in greater measures than I had ever experienced. It was there that He enabled me to experience community unlike ever before. It was God's working in my life through Spirit of Joy that enabled me to sense the Holy Spirit's presence in my life for the first time. It was also during my time at SOJ that I heard God call me to seminary.
I followed His call, almost reluctantly at first because I didn't want to leave this incredible place of grace. But then, I discovered another incredible place of grace...
2. CIU ~ Columbia International University. I began attending seminary here in the fall of 2005 and during the last four years discovered that God led me there not just to get an education, but also (if not more so) to bring healing to my life, develop my character, & deepen my spirituality.
I was incredibly sad leaving SOJ to go to CIU because I feared I would never get to return to the place where God began a renewing and incredible work in my life (SOJ). However, God opened the door for me to return...
3. I came back to SOJ in August of 2008 to begin my counseling internship...almost reluctantly at first. I say this because my original intention was to do my internship at a larger church in Charlotte which had an already established pastoral counseling center. Needless to say, that didn't work out, and as God would have it, He opened the doors to do my internship at SOJ.
4. Where is God calling me next? I don't know. But what I do know is that wherever it is, He's already there. One of my fears when I first left SOJ to go to CIU was that I would lose the Spirit which I had found at SOJ. However, when I got to CIU I found the Spirit was there also and was just as powerful there. So, even though I don't know where God will take me next, I know that He is with me every step of the way...and He's already there, wherever "there" is!
5. I have learned many invaluable lessons through each of these experiences, including:
--There's a valuable lesson to be learned in every circumstance.
--No matter where I go, God's already there and He's with me every step of the journey.
--God is completely trustworthy (Time and time again he's shown me that, Yes, He can be trusted).
--When I depend on God, He will never let me down.
--God is full of compassion, grace, and unfailing love.
--"God always gives His best to those who leave the choice with Him" (Jim Elliot)...and God's best is always better than I could have imagined!
It makes me think of how God worked in my own life to bring me to Spirit of Joy (which I started attending after a change of life plans, reluctantly at first). It was at Spirit of Joy that God brought a new level of healing to my life. It was there that He showed me His love and grace in greater measures than I had ever experienced. It was there that He enabled me to experience community unlike ever before. It was God's working in my life through Spirit of Joy that enabled me to sense the Holy Spirit's presence in my life for the first time. It was also during my time at SOJ that I heard God call me to seminary.
I followed His call, almost reluctantly at first because I didn't want to leave this incredible place of grace. But then, I discovered another incredible place of grace...
2. CIU ~ Columbia International University. I began attending seminary here in the fall of 2005 and during the last four years discovered that God led me there not just to get an education, but also (if not more so) to bring healing to my life, develop my character, & deepen my spirituality.
I was incredibly sad leaving SOJ to go to CIU because I feared I would never get to return to the place where God began a renewing and incredible work in my life (SOJ). However, God opened the door for me to return...
3. I came back to SOJ in August of 2008 to begin my counseling internship...almost reluctantly at first. I say this because my original intention was to do my internship at a larger church in Charlotte which had an already established pastoral counseling center. Needless to say, that didn't work out, and as God would have it, He opened the doors to do my internship at SOJ.
4. Where is God calling me next? I don't know. But what I do know is that wherever it is, He's already there. One of my fears when I first left SOJ to go to CIU was that I would lose the Spirit which I had found at SOJ. However, when I got to CIU I found the Spirit was there also and was just as powerful there. So, even though I don't know where God will take me next, I know that He is with me every step of the way...and He's already there, wherever "there" is!
5. I have learned many invaluable lessons through each of these experiences, including:
--There's a valuable lesson to be learned in every circumstance.
--No matter where I go, God's already there and He's with me every step of the journey.
--God is completely trustworthy (Time and time again he's shown me that, Yes, He can be trusted).
--When I depend on God, He will never let me down.
--God is full of compassion, grace, and unfailing love.
--"God always gives His best to those who leave the choice with Him" (Jim Elliot)...and God's best is always better than I could have imagined!
Saturday, March 21, 2009
5 Blessings for March 21
1. Seeing a beautiful pink & orange sunset
2. Saving money by choosing to forego buying certain things
3. Having clean water to drink...what a blessing that I so often overlook
4. An afternoon nap with my grandma at her house today
5. Realizing that in two months I will have officially been graduated from high school for 10 years!!! Woo hoo Class of 1999! :-) (Gosh...I'm getting old!)
2. Saving money by choosing to forego buying certain things
3. Having clean water to drink...what a blessing that I so often overlook
4. An afternoon nap with my grandma at her house today
5. Realizing that in two months I will have officially been graduated from high school for 10 years!!! Woo hoo Class of 1999! :-) (Gosh...I'm getting old!)
Friday, March 20, 2009
5 Blessings for March 20
1. The vision God gives me when I work out at Curves that Jesus is my personal trainer, who’s with me every step of the way challenging and encouraging me.
2. Going to Hickory for the first time in I don't know how long...I get to see me grandma, dad, and my friends Laura & Brad, Dale & Jon, Sarah, Amari, and Cadence!!
3. Our grand piano at church...I spent a while playing it this afternoon :-)
4. That I live in the south. I don't think I could take the cold weather in the north...I'm totally more of a "tropics" than "arctic" type girl.
5. The GORGEOUS sky...what else is there to say?
2. Going to Hickory for the first time in I don't know how long...I get to see me grandma, dad, and my friends Laura & Brad, Dale & Jon, Sarah, Amari, and Cadence!!
3. Our grand piano at church...I spent a while playing it this afternoon :-)
4. That I live in the south. I don't think I could take the cold weather in the north...I'm totally more of a "tropics" than "arctic" type girl.
5. The GORGEOUS sky...what else is there to say?
Thursday, March 19, 2009
5 Blessings for March 19
1. I’m becoming pithier (able to express thoughts with less words…okay, well except for yesterday’s post)…thank you Al, and God :-)
2. Being able to call my co-workers at P31 and SOJ my friends and mean it! I truly am so blessed by each of them!
3. Wireless internet at church…makes life so much easier on my laptop.
4. That I'm not who I used to be and I'm not yet all that I'm going to be
5. McDonalds chicken nuggets for dinner tonight...ahhh the memories from my childhood!
2. Being able to call my co-workers at P31 and SOJ my friends and mean it! I truly am so blessed by each of them!
3. Wireless internet at church…makes life so much easier on my laptop.
4. That I'm not who I used to be and I'm not yet all that I'm going to be
5. McDonalds chicken nuggets for dinner tonight...ahhh the memories from my childhood!
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
5 Blessings for March 18
1. I’m blessed with so many friends of all ages from high school, HPU, CIU, SOJ, P31, Mexico & Bolivia.
2. Free gift bag at Curves today filled with all kinds of goodies.
3. Yay for comfy pajama pants to lounge around in at home!
4. He gave me a good attitude & enough energy today to accomplish what I needed to. Thank you Jesus!!
5. God’s sense of humor & how, when He wants me to understand something, He will show me over and over again until I get it. :-) Gotta love him!
Take, for instance, this week. Last Wednesday, the Scripture meditation verse I posted was about God’s power and strength & how He gives these to His people (Psalm 68:34-35). Then at youth group on Sunday night, the theme was God’s power & how we have all the power and strength we need when we’re connected to Him. The next day, a friend encouraged me by saying that God’s power flows through me. It’s so funny thinking back to these things, because at the time (especially Monday and even yesterday), I was totally not feeling like God’s power was flowing through me. I was absolutely exhausted, unable to think, and not able to hear God’s voice clearly in any circumstance (including counseling appointments). I felt like I was not getting anything accomplished and like I was not being an effective counselor. Today has been quite a change, as I have experienced God’s power strongly and tangibly, not only in counseling appointments but also in what He enabled me to get accomplished today. What’s up with that?!? I don’t know. But what I do know is that God is not limited by how I feel. Even when His power flowing through me is not evident to me, it does not mean that it’s not evident to others or that His power is not there.
So with that, let’s praise God for what He does…
Scripture meditation verse of the week:
“Let the whole world bless our God and loudly sing His praises. Our lives are in His hands, and he keeps our feet from stumbling. You have tested us, O God; You have purified us like silver…We went through fire and flood, but you brought us to a place of great abundance.” – Psalm 66:8-10, 12b (NLT)
2. Free gift bag at Curves today filled with all kinds of goodies.
3. Yay for comfy pajama pants to lounge around in at home!
4. He gave me a good attitude & enough energy today to accomplish what I needed to. Thank you Jesus!!
5. God’s sense of humor & how, when He wants me to understand something, He will show me over and over again until I get it. :-) Gotta love him!
Take, for instance, this week. Last Wednesday, the Scripture meditation verse I posted was about God’s power and strength & how He gives these to His people (Psalm 68:34-35). Then at youth group on Sunday night, the theme was God’s power & how we have all the power and strength we need when we’re connected to Him. The next day, a friend encouraged me by saying that God’s power flows through me. It’s so funny thinking back to these things, because at the time (especially Monday and even yesterday), I was totally not feeling like God’s power was flowing through me. I was absolutely exhausted, unable to think, and not able to hear God’s voice clearly in any circumstance (including counseling appointments). I felt like I was not getting anything accomplished and like I was not being an effective counselor. Today has been quite a change, as I have experienced God’s power strongly and tangibly, not only in counseling appointments but also in what He enabled me to get accomplished today. What’s up with that?!? I don’t know. But what I do know is that God is not limited by how I feel. Even when His power flowing through me is not evident to me, it does not mean that it’s not evident to others or that His power is not there.
So with that, let’s praise God for what He does…
Scripture meditation verse of the week:
“Let the whole world bless our God and loudly sing His praises. Our lives are in His hands, and he keeps our feet from stumbling. You have tested us, O God; You have purified us like silver…We went through fire and flood, but you brought us to a place of great abundance.” – Psalm 66:8-10, 12b (NLT)
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
5 Blessings for March 17
When we experience hard times, we can appreciate the good times that much more…
Hard… / Good…
1. Sickness & pain / Health & healing
2. Sadness / Joy
3. Conviction / Repentance & forgiveness
4. Bondage / Freedom
5. Death / New Life
We have to remember that no matter how bad things get, the best is yet to come. After the rain comes the sun. It makes me think of the song “Brighter Days” by Leeland.
God can use the hard times in our lives if we let Him. So keep looking up.
Hard… / Good…
1. Sickness & pain / Health & healing
2. Sadness / Joy
3. Conviction / Repentance & forgiveness
4. Bondage / Freedom
5. Death / New Life
We have to remember that no matter how bad things get, the best is yet to come. After the rain comes the sun. It makes me think of the song “Brighter Days” by Leeland.
God can use the hard times in our lives if we let Him. So keep looking up.
Monday, March 16, 2009
5 Blessings for March 16
1. Looking at mission trip photos, remembering my time in Bolivia in 2006, and longing to help people financially all over the world
2. Soft Lips lip balm – pretty much the best lip balm ever!
3. Psalm 46:10, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." – pondering what it means to be still and how God can be exalted through my circumstances and my stillness
4. That God loves to spend time with me
5. When I read a Bible passage I’ve read before but get a whole new perspective from it & see something different in it that I didn’t see before
2. Soft Lips lip balm – pretty much the best lip balm ever!
3. Psalm 46:10, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." – pondering what it means to be still and how God can be exalted through my circumstances and my stillness
4. That God loves to spend time with me
5. When I read a Bible passage I’ve read before but get a whole new perspective from it & see something different in it that I didn’t see before
Sunday, March 15, 2009
5 Blessings for March 15
1. Getting to sit with my mom during church today (I'm usually up front participating in some way).
2. Conversations with friends at church who I have not been able to talk with in a while.
3. Our youth at church...it's just such a blessing to know them & love on them :-)
4. A Target gift card from a friend which has afforded me some opportunities that I don't usually take...such as a Grande Vanilla Bean Frappuccino from Starbucks :-o (I was trying to go caffeine free this evening).
5. I'm going to bed at 10:00 pm!
2. Conversations with friends at church who I have not been able to talk with in a while.
3. Our youth at church...it's just such a blessing to know them & love on them :-)
4. A Target gift card from a friend which has afforded me some opportunities that I don't usually take...such as a Grande Vanilla Bean Frappuccino from Starbucks :-o (I was trying to go caffeine free this evening).
5. I'm going to bed at 10:00 pm!
Saturday, March 14, 2009
5 Blessings for March 14
1. Rain - and its correlation to refreshment, new life, and abundance in the Bible
"You sent abundant rain, O God, to refresh the weary land." - Psalm 68:9 (NLT)
2. New tires dad bought me for my car for Christmas which made it much safer for me to drive to Columbia in the rain today :-)
3. Getting to spend time with my friends in Columbia to celebrate the marriage of two of my close friends...and especially surrounding and prayer for God's guidance and blessing on them in their marriage.
4. Praying for counselees and friends by listening to and meditating on the lyrics of Christian songs.
5. No rain on my late night drive home from Columbia.
Friday, March 13, 2009
5 Blessings for March 13
1. The opportunity to work at Proverbs 31 Ministries and serve as Next Generation Coordinator
2. The awesome staff I get to work with at Proverbs 31, including our sweet intern Kirstie, from Liberty University
3. Seeing how God has grown our Radical Revolution ministry and is using it to touch young women’s lives.
4. Knowing that God has great plans for all of our lives & will use each of us to do great things for Him if we let Him guide us – “God always gives His best to those who leave the choice with Him.” – Jim Elliot
5. It’s Friday!!! :-)
2. The awesome staff I get to work with at Proverbs 31, including our sweet intern Kirstie, from Liberty University
3. Seeing how God has grown our Radical Revolution ministry and is using it to touch young women’s lives.
4. Knowing that God has great plans for all of our lives & will use each of us to do great things for Him if we let Him guide us – “God always gives His best to those who leave the choice with Him.” – Jim Elliot
5. It’s Friday!!! :-)
Thursday, March 12, 2009
5 Blessings for March 12
1. Coffee…to wake me up :-)
2. Being able to write on my blog
3. Getting to talk to my friend Josh, who I haven’t talked to in a long time
4. Realizing I’m only 63 counseling hours away from completing my counseling internship at my church!
5. How the Bible is relevant for every situation & God uses it to speak to me no matter where I’m at in my life
2. Being able to write on my blog
3. Getting to talk to my friend Josh, who I haven’t talked to in a long time
4. Realizing I’m only 63 counseling hours away from completing my counseling internship at my church!
5. How the Bible is relevant for every situation & God uses it to speak to me no matter where I’m at in my life
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
5 Blessings for March 11
1. A two hour long heart to heart conversation with a friend & mentor
2. Taking a walk in our prayer garden at my church
3. Extended prayer time this morning (which hasn’t happened in a while) because of an appointment cancellation
4. Playing the piano as an outlet for expression (which hasn’t happened in a while either)
5. Getting to work out at Curves & see people there which I haven’t seen in a while (yes, I was still working out, but just went at a different time today :-))
Scripture meditation verse of the week:
“Tell everyone about God’s power. His majesty shines down on Israel; his strength is mighty in the heavens. God is awesome in his sanctuary. The God of Israel gives power and strength to his people. Praise be to God!” – Psalm 68:34-35 (NLT)
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
5 Blessings for March 10
1. Dinner with some of my P31 friends ~ Kirstie, LeAnn, and Van
2. Humbling conviction about a situation in which I did not honor God
3. Spending time in self-examination
4. Hearing God speak to me through my counselees (I thought it was supposed to be the other way around!)
5. Being silent & still, listening for God to speak to me
2. Humbling conviction about a situation in which I did not honor God
3. Spending time in self-examination
4. Hearing God speak to me through my counselees (I thought it was supposed to be the other way around!)
5. Being silent & still, listening for God to speak to me
Monday, March 9, 2009
5 Blessings for March 9
1. Driving with the windows down, feeling the wind blowing, & listening to my fave music
2. I got to talk to one of my best friends (Laura) on the phone today
3. Having Kirstie help me at P31 this week!
4. Getting my office area at P31 organized and cleaned (at least partially!)
5. Getting to wear sandals…yay for warm weather :-)
Sunday, March 8, 2009
5 Blessings for March 8
1. It’s still sunny later in the evening because of the time change
2. The opportunity to pray for people I don’t know who are attending a spiritual retreat this weekend
3. How God met me in every counseling appointment this past week and gave me the wisdom and words for every person and circumstance
4. A beautiful starry night, budding trees, and sweetly singing birds
5. Free Route 44 Drink from Sonic…mmm…yummy!
2. The opportunity to pray for people I don’t know who are attending a spiritual retreat this weekend
3. How God met me in every counseling appointment this past week and gave me the wisdom and words for every person and circumstance
4. A beautiful starry night, budding trees, and sweetly singing birds
5. Free Route 44 Drink from Sonic…mmm…yummy!
Saturday, March 7, 2009
5 Blessings for March 7
1. Getting to spend the afternoon with a family who’s very close and dear to my heart
2. 80 degree sunny weather! Yay!
3. Watching the joy of young children as they enjoy life
4. Enjoying the first Saturday in a long time when I did absolutely NO homework or housework
5. Blessing friends with a gift that was God-inspired & that He enabled me to create
2. 80 degree sunny weather! Yay!
3. Watching the joy of young children as they enjoy life
4. Enjoying the first Saturday in a long time when I did absolutely NO homework or housework
5. Blessing friends with a gift that was God-inspired & that He enabled me to create
Friday, March 6, 2009
5 Blessings for March 6
1. Getting to meet Kirstie, our Proverbs 31 intern for the spring (she’s even nicer in person :-))
2. Quietly sitting and letting God speak to me through music
3. Getting to go to bed and not have to get up at a specific time tomorrow morning
4. Seeing the willingness of a believing family to live out 1 Peter 4:9 in less than 24 hours’ notice to house our intern, Kirstie, for the weekend
5. Listening to “Beloved” by Tenth Avenue North and thinking about the significance of God’s love for me and that He wants me – a dirty, unfaithful sinner – to be His bride
2. Quietly sitting and letting God speak to me through music
3. Getting to go to bed and not have to get up at a specific time tomorrow morning
4. Seeing the willingness of a believing family to live out 1 Peter 4:9 in less than 24 hours’ notice to house our intern, Kirstie, for the weekend
5. Listening to “Beloved” by Tenth Avenue North and thinking about the significance of God’s love for me and that He wants me – a dirty, unfaithful sinner – to be His bride
Thursday, March 5, 2009
5 Blessings for March 5
1. God using me for His works despite myself
2. Crying out to God for friends who are hurting
3. Being humbled time and time again, reminded that I don’t have all the answers & reminded just how much I need God
4. Seeing God come through and carry me through every moment when I didn’t see a way or think I could go on
5. Two minutes of stillness this morning as I sat and listened to “Amazing Grace/My Chains Are Gone” by Chris Tomlin in my car before work
2. Crying out to God for friends who are hurting
3. Being humbled time and time again, reminded that I don’t have all the answers & reminded just how much I need God
4. Seeing God come through and carry me through every moment when I didn’t see a way or think I could go on
5. Two minutes of stillness this morning as I sat and listened to “Amazing Grace/My Chains Are Gone” by Chris Tomlin in my car before work
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
5 Blessings for March 4
1. God’s strength to keep going & get through the day
2. Many counseling and other appointments today
3. The gift of being able to create art
4. Curves, a fitness gym for women of which I am a member
5. Having a friend who will say yes to helping me out
Scripture meditation verse of the week:
“O LORD, you are my God; I will exalt you and praise your name, for in perfect faithfulness you have done marvelous things, things planned long ago.” – Isaiah 25:1 (NIV)
2. Many counseling and other appointments today
3. The gift of being able to create art
4. Curves, a fitness gym for women of which I am a member
5. Having a friend who will say yes to helping me out
Scripture meditation verse of the week:
“O LORD, you are my God; I will exalt you and praise your name, for in perfect faithfulness you have done marvelous things, things planned long ago.” – Isaiah 25:1 (NIV)
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
5 Blessings for March 3
1. My internship advisor’s concern for me
2. The beautiful stained glass dove LeAnn gave me – it reminds me of the promise of the Holy Spirit’s presence in my life & ministry
3. Singleness…because honestly…how could I fit anything else into my schedule??
4. My Utmost for His Highest, an awesome devotional book by Oswald Chambers. It challenges me every day! (It’s also online at http://www.rbc.org/utmost/index.php)
5. www.biblegateway.com – This website is a great way to access many different translations of the Bible all in one place
2. The beautiful stained glass dove LeAnn gave me – it reminds me of the promise of the Holy Spirit’s presence in my life & ministry
3. Singleness…because honestly…how could I fit anything else into my schedule??
4. My Utmost for His Highest, an awesome devotional book by Oswald Chambers. It challenges me every day! (It’s also online at http://www.rbc.org/utmost/index.php)
5. www.biblegateway.com – This website is a great way to access many different translations of the Bible all in one place
Monday, March 2, 2009
5 Blessings for March 2
1. Having more counseling appointments on my schedule for this week than I ever have!
2. Snow day! (And thank God for indoor heat!)
3. Staying in my pajamas all day & resting.
4. Having dinner prepared by my mom.
5. The song “Sufficient” by Adie Camp…such a great reminder to me that when I’m weak, weary, and worn, God is sufficient for me & is everything I need…He’s my El Shaddai (My “All-sufficient One”).
2. Snow day! (And thank God for indoor heat!)
3. Staying in my pajamas all day & resting.
4. Having dinner prepared by my mom.
5. The song “Sufficient” by Adie Camp…such a great reminder to me that when I’m weak, weary, and worn, God is sufficient for me & is everything I need…He’s my El Shaddai (My “All-sufficient One”).
Sunday, March 1, 2009
5 Blessings for March 1
1. Wayne
This is our awesome church youth & family minister (Wayne) & his wife and three boys whom we celebrated and said goodbye to today after church. I just want to take a minute and say how blessed I am that God allowed our paths to cross. They are like family to me – Wayne’s sort of like the goofy big brother that I never had, Dawn’s a sweet friend, and Curtis, Tyler, and Steven are just plain cool & lots of fun. I love you guys!
2. Dawn
3. Steven
4. Tyler
5. Curtis
This is our awesome church youth & family minister (Wayne) & his wife and three boys whom we celebrated and said goodbye to today after church. I just want to take a minute and say how blessed I am that God allowed our paths to cross. They are like family to me – Wayne’s sort of like the goofy big brother that I never had, Dawn’s a sweet friend, and Curtis, Tyler, and Steven are just plain cool & lots of fun. I love you guys!
Saturday, February 28, 2009
5 Blessings for February 28
1. Having a comfy bed to come home to.
2. Watching Dale feed her 4 day old baby girl for the first time…This made me think about how God cares for us so much like a mother cares for her newborn (Isaiah 49:14-16a)
3. The way God built our church student leader team and enabled us to plan more youth events than we expected.
4. Getting to anoint our student leaders with a cross on their foreheads and saying the words of John 15:16 – Jesus said, "You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit..."
5. Seeing a dramatic change in a close friend of mine who a year and a half ago was only a nominal Christian and is now on fire for God and is leading others to Him.
Friday, February 27, 2009
5 Blessings for February 27
1. How God – when He has something to say to me – will keep speaking to me until I get His message (even if I don’t understand the message at the time) – Before, the song “I Will Not Be Moved” by Natalie Grant kept coming on the radio…I could not understand for the life of me what God was trying to tell me. Now I think I understand. He was preparing me for some difficult circumstances that would come. Now, His message to me is to wait on Him. He’s shown this to me through various Scriptures, as well as devotions I’ve read…still pondering what exactly I’m waiting on…maybe the answers to prayers I’ve prayed.
2. My Lenten counseling appointments are filling up! Woo hoo!!
3. My “Sanctuary” Bible – it’s a devotional Bible for women (New Living Translation), and I love it!
4. The unconditional love of our two dogs, Tipper & Fuzzums.
5. Cadence – my friend’s newborn baby girl. :-)
2. My Lenten counseling appointments are filling up! Woo hoo!!
3. My “Sanctuary” Bible – it’s a devotional Bible for women (New Living Translation), and I love it!
4. The unconditional love of our two dogs, Tipper & Fuzzums.
5. Cadence – my friend’s newborn baby girl. :-)
Thursday, February 26, 2009
5 Blessings for February 26
1. CIU Friends who I got to spend quality time with yesterday and today – Angela, Chris, Julie, Andrew, Lena, Linda, Mika, Hannah…
2. Humbling experiences that God is using to teach me & grow me (sitting in with the counseling internship class – sharing one of my case presentations & receiving constructive criticism; youth ministry at church)
3. Experiencing God’s love, grace and prayers through more people than I can count
4. Just being at CIU today was like refreshing springs for my soul
5. Seeing good friends start dating
2. Humbling experiences that God is using to teach me & grow me (sitting in with the counseling internship class – sharing one of my case presentations & receiving constructive criticism; youth ministry at church)
3. Experiencing God’s love, grace and prayers through more people than I can count
4. Just being at CIU today was like refreshing springs for my soul
5. Seeing good friends start dating
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
My 40 Day Commitment
Hello friends and family,
I know it’s been forever since I last updated my blog, but I am making a renewed effort starting today. As most of you know, today is Ash Wednesday, the first day of the church season of Lent. For those of you who are unfamiliar with Lent, it is the period of 40 days leading up to Easter (not including Sundays). For Christians, it is a time of greater reflection and contemplation on the sacrifice of Jesus Christ’s life and what that means for us.
In the past, I’ve given something up for Lent, such as soda or chocolate. This year, as I prayed about what intentional steps I should take during Lent, I decided that rather than taking something intentionally out of my life, I would add something in...actually two “somethings.” The first I’m calling “5 Blessings.” Every day between now and Easter Sunday, I am going to list five ways I’ve seen God working in my day or in my life. And I’m not going to just keep the list for myself…I’m going to post it on my blog for you to read also. The second thing I’m going to do is meditate on one Scripture a week which relates to joy/praise/God’s goodness. I will also be posting these verses each Wednesday.
The reason I’ve chosen to do these two specific things is tied to two Scriptures:
Romans 12:2, “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind…” (NASB)
Philippians 4:8, “…Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” (NLT)
I sometimes have a tendency to think about the negative and be a little pessimistic, particularly when things aren’t going the way I had hoped. Therefore, I’m making a more intentional effort to transform my thinking and what I allow myself to dwell on. I have to say that this effort is partly because of the wisdom of a dear friend of mine who challenged me to look for small miracles rather than just the big ones. After all, God is all around us, but we might miss seeing His hand working if we’re focused on the wrong thing.
Here are my “5 Blessings” for today:
1. A hug and a little encouragement from a church friend when I walked into church this morning.
2. Hearing the heart of another friend who is struggling with issues in her marriage but is continuing to persevere, believing that God is calling her at this moment not to give up.
3. The opportunity to drive to Columbia and clear my mind.
4. The opportunity to hang out with my Columbia friends tonight – most of whom I haven’t seen in 10 weeks or more.
5. Hearing the song “Blessed Be Your Name” on the radio this morning and being reminded that God give and takes away and whatever the circumstance, I need to praise Him and be thankful.
Scripture meditation verse of the week:
“Sing to the Lord; praise His name. Each day proclaim the good news that He saves. Publish His glorious deeds among the nations. Tell everyone about the amazing things He does. Great is the Lord! He is most worthy of praise!” – Psalm 96:2-4a (NLT)
I know it’s been forever since I last updated my blog, but I am making a renewed effort starting today. As most of you know, today is Ash Wednesday, the first day of the church season of Lent. For those of you who are unfamiliar with Lent, it is the period of 40 days leading up to Easter (not including Sundays). For Christians, it is a time of greater reflection and contemplation on the sacrifice of Jesus Christ’s life and what that means for us.
In the past, I’ve given something up for Lent, such as soda or chocolate. This year, as I prayed about what intentional steps I should take during Lent, I decided that rather than taking something intentionally out of my life, I would add something in...actually two “somethings.” The first I’m calling “5 Blessings.” Every day between now and Easter Sunday, I am going to list five ways I’ve seen God working in my day or in my life. And I’m not going to just keep the list for myself…I’m going to post it on my blog for you to read also. The second thing I’m going to do is meditate on one Scripture a week which relates to joy/praise/God’s goodness. I will also be posting these verses each Wednesday.
The reason I’ve chosen to do these two specific things is tied to two Scriptures:
Romans 12:2, “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind…” (NASB)
Philippians 4:8, “…Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” (NLT)
I sometimes have a tendency to think about the negative and be a little pessimistic, particularly when things aren’t going the way I had hoped. Therefore, I’m making a more intentional effort to transform my thinking and what I allow myself to dwell on. I have to say that this effort is partly because of the wisdom of a dear friend of mine who challenged me to look for small miracles rather than just the big ones. After all, God is all around us, but we might miss seeing His hand working if we’re focused on the wrong thing.
Here are my “5 Blessings” for today:
1. A hug and a little encouragement from a church friend when I walked into church this morning.
2. Hearing the heart of another friend who is struggling with issues in her marriage but is continuing to persevere, believing that God is calling her at this moment not to give up.
3. The opportunity to drive to Columbia and clear my mind.
4. The opportunity to hang out with my Columbia friends tonight – most of whom I haven’t seen in 10 weeks or more.
5. Hearing the song “Blessed Be Your Name” on the radio this morning and being reminded that God give and takes away and whatever the circumstance, I need to praise Him and be thankful.
Scripture meditation verse of the week:
“Sing to the Lord; praise His name. Each day proclaim the good news that He saves. Publish His glorious deeds among the nations. Tell everyone about the amazing things He does. Great is the Lord! He is most worthy of praise!” – Psalm 96:2-4a (NLT)
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