Thanksgiving

Hey everyone. Hope you have had a wonderful thanksgiving. I know I did. It was so nice to be able to sleep in! But then I had to rush because I was told lunch was at 1:00 when it was really 12:00. But that's ok, I was only 30 minutes late! I really enjoyed this lazy day of visiting with family and eating till I couldn't eat anymore!

I just wanted to write about some things I am thankful for... my relationship with Jesus. It is amazing how God created the heavens and the earth and He still cares and loves me, even though I am a sinner. I am so thankful for his grace. I am thankful for my family. They are all awesome and I love them all dearly. For my friends, who are always there for me and know what to say. They are all so special and I am glad they are in my life. For my job, God has provided and I am thankful that I trusted him because it has worked out for good. My health and just every day! It is also a blessing to be able to live the life that we live, without persecution for our beliefs. I thank God for everything He has given me! And I thank Him for you too!!

"In everything give thanks" 1 Thes 5:18

Memory Verse

Hey everyone! I hope you are having a good week. I had some down time after work today and it was really awesome. Just lounging around catching up on my TV shows (thank God for DVR!!), reading a book and not having to run around like a chicken with it's head cut off was really nice. After spending a weekend with some family, I just want to take some time to say that I am so thankful for all my family. Even though we are crazy and sometimes moody, at the end of the day we all love each other and would be there if anyone needs it. I am so blessed to have my wild and crazy family!

I have been memorizing scriptures along with Beth Moore and all of her "Siestas" this year. (see http://livingproofministries.blogspot.com/ to find out more about "Siestas" & the Scripture Memory Team) Ok, I have to admit that I had real good intentions when I started. I bought a cute spiral, found a scripture that really spoke to me and I was off... but I memorized only 3 scriptures and then I fell off the wagon!!! I still kept up with the blog (Beth and her two daughters started the blog) but I just didn't participate in memorizing scripture. I guess I am more of a slacker than I realize and I need some motivation (obviously more people are like that than they like to admit), and Beth provided the it. She is having a Siesta Scripture Memory Team Celebration in Houston, the only stipulations are that you have to respond to the Memory Verse blogs 20 out of 24 times (it's twice a month) with your memory verse and be able to repeat 10/24 of your verses at the celebration to someone there (she said not on stage, so that was a relief!!). So, I have rededicated myself to memorizing scripture (thank goodness she is letting us catch up if we started late OR if we were just a plain slacker). I am really excited and hope that I can make it to the celebration! Please pray that I can be diligent and that my little brain can actually memorize this scripture!! : )

Why am I telling you this you are probably asking?? I just want to get more people involved in memorizing scripture and if you are in my ladies sunday school, I'm gonna talk to you about this in person!! So be ready! Ha ha. I believe that Beth is going to be doing this again next year and I feel it is an awesome opportunity with an awesome motivation. I have memorized 13 verses as of today (I'm working on #14) and yes, I may need a little reminder of how they start but it is 13 more than I knew at this time last year. This way is really neat too because you memorize scripture that is relevant to you and it makes it really personal with God. Just remembering all of his promises is really amazing.

So hopefully you can join me in 2010 and in January 2011 we can fellowship together at a Scripture Memory Celebration knowing 24 more scriptures than we do now. And don't try to tell me you can't do it because...

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Phil 4:1 (NKJV)

Have a great day!!

Hopes & Dreams

Hey everyone! It has been awhile since I have wrote. I have been very busy since starting my job and haven't found the right schedule or balance to get everything done that I want. It's a work in progress!! : ) I wanted to take some time to thank all of the Veterans who have served their country for our freedom. Alot of times we forget how big a sacrifice that these men and women make for us. We need to thank them more than just one day a year, they are truly heroes!

The other day I was thinking about where I want my life to go, such as my next plan or goal to acheive. If you know me, you know that I am a planner! I am NOT a girl who can fly by the seat of my pants because it induces a panic in me like no other. I don't like the unknown. It's just how I am. Ever since I can remember, I've always had a plan. I planned to go to college, get a good job, get married to my high school sweetheart and have kids. When I finally graduated college and got a great job, my plan was on track. Then, one night, it was all gone in the blink of an eye. Everything as I had known it for many years, was gone. And as you can imagine, I panicked! Not being able to envision what my future would be like was horrible to me. And even thinking of it now gives me chills!! I went through a season of being scared to even hope for normal things, of not trusting that God was good enough to handle my problems. Of course, I believed in God but I was hurt, confused and not sure what to do now. When in reality, I should've turned to Jesus. Recently becoming more dedicated to him is the best thing I have done. I now know that He is with me and He knows all of the desires of my heart, I just have to realize that it is on his time schedule, not mine. And that is so hard for a planner like me!!!

It was and is still a journey, a learning process. I have to choose to "let go and let God" work his will in my life everyday. It's really hard but when we bring the focus on Jesus, and not the troubles of the world, it makes it alot easier. I have learned I need to lean more on Jesus to get through this crazy ride we call life. He can provide more comfort and protection than any earthly person and He has our best interests at heart. He knows exactly what he is doing and it is all for his glory. Thank you Jesus... hope you have a good weekend.

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you face trials of many kinds, because you know the testing of your faith develops perserverance." James 1:2-3