When God is trying to tell us something, it seems to come up in everything we do! I love it because it reminds me that it is God and it helps keep me accountable to what He is teaching me. Prime example, the past week.
To preface this story I must share a little "gross" detail of living a life with Crohn's disease. When you are in a flare up, your mouth becomes consumed with ulcers. It sounds like a small thing, but when they cover the back of your throat, tongue and gums, it can be a very painful time. Two weeks ago I noticed my ulcers coming back. They have gotten pretty bad this week to the point that it really hurts to talk and to eat. So, I have been a "little" more quiet this week. I even had a couple of friends ask today why I was being quiet. I quickly reassured them that I was not upset or anything, just having some mouth pain. Enter small group last night.
In our small group we are going through 2 Timothy; last night was about chapter 2. "Godless chatter" was a huge theme that we discussed. "Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly." 2 Timothy 2:16. I believe that godless chatter can be taken in a couple different ways: gossip, unwholesome talk, volgure language, and anything else that is not upliffting to the One who made us. After small group, I thought and prayed about what God was trying to tell me through this passage because it just kept coming up in my heart and mind. My first instinct was to think that God was telling me to watch my gossiping. And while this is something that I will always be cautious of, I felt like it was something different this time. Enter Wednesday night church tonight.
Our college minister talked about the same passage tonight, but he took it in a way that I had not thought of yet. Are my conversations that I have through out the day intentionally about Christ? Boom. It hit me right in the face. How many nights do I look back on my day and wish I had more spiritual conversations and not surface level ones? Too many times than I care to admit.
So there I was, sitting in the pew in the sanctuary, my mouth hurting, and my heart beating so fast because I knew this was God talking to me. I am so guilty of having pointless and meaningless conversations during my day just because I like to talk so much. But what if I was more cautious about my words and what came out of my mouth and instead of it being surface level things too often, if it became intentionally spiritual things. I truly believe that God used my hurting mouth to teach me this very valuable lesson this week. It is ok to be quiet. It is ok to not fill every second with a word coming out of my mouth. But instead be in prayer in those quiet times and use the times that I do talk to be intentional about what I say to glorify the Lord. The quiet that I have been provided the past few days has allowed me to clearly hear God's voice and not having my loud mouth interupting what He is teaching me.
Keep me accountable? Have more spiritual conversations with me? This is my prayer that God would help me be ok with the quiet and use my words more wisely. How many more lives can be welcomed into the family of God if I make my converstaions more intentional? I can't wait to find out!
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Thursday, July 12, 2012
Awwww Sweet Summertime!
This summer has been a summer to remember! It has been different than anyone before it. This summer I have had the amazing blessing of working in an OBGYN offic in downtown. Man, God is so good! He has taught me so many things through this experience.
Leaving my house at 7 every morning and returning home at 6 every night has been exhausting! Definitely not the "typical" summer sleeping until 10, swimming all day, shopping ;) But honestly, I wouldn't trade it for anything. Through the long hours I have worked it has made me appreciate the long hard hours my sweet parents have worked over the years to always provide for me and bless me with much more than I need!
When I first began my job I quickly realized how crazy it is to juggle 4 doctors schedules and 100's of pregnant women's phone calls on a daily basis! I remember one of my first days sitting back and my chair and saying "Ok God, you brought me here for a reason and I know you are going to get me through this! Please give me the wisdom and patience I need!" And boy did my God deliver! I have been so blessed with two of the sweetest women who have been so patient with me and taught me so much over the past two months. I love that my Lord had these two special women already picked out to help me long before I ever knew them.
The experience that I am getting from this job is truly a dream come true! As I prepare to take my nursing school entrance exam test this semester and hopefully enter nursing school in the spring, the knowledge I am gaining is priceless. But the most precious knowledge is the knowledge I gain at the wee hour of 6 am as I sit down and have my sweet sweet quiet time with the Lord. He has led me to study the book of Joshua the past couple of weeks. Wow! Sometimes I have to stop and remind myself that this stuff really happened an it isn't just some movie script that Holleywood came up with! Joshua was a kicky booty guy who obeyed God with such Amazing leadership. Joshua's hard work and complete obedience to the Lord is such a refreshing story to my heart. If he can stand up to these nations who are 5 times his size, then I can stand up for my faith in a group of people who think its "uncool." Why do we stand up for our faith? It's quiet simple; because we are called by the Lord of Lords to do so!
It's such a simple lesson, but I am so thankful for the Lords strong voice that reminds whose I am. That reminds me of how precious the lost souls are to Him. That reminds me that I can stand up to the world for Him just like Joshua stood up to the massive nations.
Thursday, May 3, 2012
Loving the Old, and Embracing the New
It haas been about 10 months since the Lord called our precious Pastor Tommy home while on a trip in the Holy Land. The journey has been rough, but God has been there with our church every step of the way. His hand has been so evidently on our church that we have even had new people join our church without there being a pastor. God is so good! As I have been away at college and watching the journey from afar this year, I can not wait to get home next week and meet and embrace the new pastor. I am so thankful for technology that allowed me to listen in on Dr. Bob Records sermon this past Sunday. "Love the old, and embrace the new" was the phrase that was the undertone for his sermon. Pastor Tommy is not ever going to be replaced in our hearts, God is just bringing someone new now to lead our church. Not wear PT's shoes, but bring in his own new shoes that will continue to lead us in the way of the Lord.
Just like our new pastor, a lot of my sweet senior girls in high school are about to embark on a new journey in life. Y'all are going to college and leaving high school behind. Sometimes I think that our world does us an injustice by telling us to "start over" in college and forget about "where you came from." As a Christian, I believe that God leads us specifically through each chapter of our lives for a specific reason and purpose. He knows exactly what He is doing and always has our best interests in hand. He sees the big picture. So, instead of forgetting about the past and starting over, I believe we should love the past (as Dr. Record said) and embrace the future. Let the lessons that the Lord taught you in high school lead you down this new road. Take your mistakes and let them make you a more Christ like person.
This new chapter of college is going to bring its ups and its downs. It is going to be difficult being away from your BFF's from high school. I know I miss mine every day as one is in Oklahoma and one is in Dallas and I am in Abilene! But you will never forget those special friends. You are not replacing them when you go to college, you are simply making more friends! God has already planned out the special new friends you all are going to make in this new chapter. "The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged." (Deuteronomy 31:8) He has made the path,and now it is your time to walk down that path and meet the new people God has set out for you.
Personally, my journey from high school to college has truly had its moments of difficultness. Shortly after arriving at Texas A&M, I realized that God was calling me to go home. As much as I wanted A&M to be the place for me, it simply was not. Through that difficult time of life, God prepared me for what was about to be one of the BEST journey's of my life! Coming to HSU has been a dream come true! I love the small Christian environment my school has to offer me and the wonderful nursing program here. The path that I had planned for myself after high school was definetly not the one that God had planned for me. But because I have completly given Him my life and I desire more than anything to follow His path, I have so much peace about my 2 years thus far in college and wait in excited anticipation for my last 2 years!
My sweet senior girls, I pray that the Lord gives each and everyone of you a peace about this next chapter in life. I also pray that you let your heart be opened to WHATEVER God has in store for you. Take peace in the fact that He is LORD over all the earth and He loves each and everyone of you more than we can possibly fathom! He sees the big picture! So, embrace this new adventure that is approaching you, but always remember to love the past and let it continue to shape you into the wonderful Godly women that I know you all are!
Just like our new pastor, a lot of my sweet senior girls in high school are about to embark on a new journey in life. Y'all are going to college and leaving high school behind. Sometimes I think that our world does us an injustice by telling us to "start over" in college and forget about "where you came from." As a Christian, I believe that God leads us specifically through each chapter of our lives for a specific reason and purpose. He knows exactly what He is doing and always has our best interests in hand. He sees the big picture. So, instead of forgetting about the past and starting over, I believe we should love the past (as Dr. Record said) and embrace the future. Let the lessons that the Lord taught you in high school lead you down this new road. Take your mistakes and let them make you a more Christ like person.
This new chapter of college is going to bring its ups and its downs. It is going to be difficult being away from your BFF's from high school. I know I miss mine every day as one is in Oklahoma and one is in Dallas and I am in Abilene! But you will never forget those special friends. You are not replacing them when you go to college, you are simply making more friends! God has already planned out the special new friends you all are going to make in this new chapter. "The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged." (Deuteronomy 31:8) He has made the path,and now it is your time to walk down that path and meet the new people God has set out for you.
Personally, my journey from high school to college has truly had its moments of difficultness. Shortly after arriving at Texas A&M, I realized that God was calling me to go home. As much as I wanted A&M to be the place for me, it simply was not. Through that difficult time of life, God prepared me for what was about to be one of the BEST journey's of my life! Coming to HSU has been a dream come true! I love the small Christian environment my school has to offer me and the wonderful nursing program here. The path that I had planned for myself after high school was definetly not the one that God had planned for me. But because I have completly given Him my life and I desire more than anything to follow His path, I have so much peace about my 2 years thus far in college and wait in excited anticipation for my last 2 years!
My sweet senior girls, I pray that the Lord gives each and everyone of you a peace about this next chapter in life. I also pray that you let your heart be opened to WHATEVER God has in store for you. Take peace in the fact that He is LORD over all the earth and He loves each and everyone of you more than we can possibly fathom! He sees the big picture! So, embrace this new adventure that is approaching you, but always remember to love the past and let it continue to shape you into the wonderful Godly women that I know you all are!
Monday, April 16, 2012
Giving the Lord Everything
I am so blessed! This weekend I was able to go home and watch Katherine in a talent show and then celebrate Meagan's birthday on Saturday! Being able to go home and spend time with my family is precious precious time to me. Spending time with Taylor's family is also precious time to me as well. On Sunday I got the privledge to go to my parent's Sunday School class and listen to Mr. Key teach. I always love listening to what God has placed on his heart and hearing his challenge for us. This week he taught on Jesus feeding the 5,000.
"Jesus replied, 'They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.' 'We have here only 5 loaves of bread and two fish,' they answered. 'Bring them to me,' he said. And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves."
Matthew 14:16-19a
Originally the disciples wanted Jesus to send away the crowd. They had had a long day and were probably tired and just wanted some alone time with Jesus. But He told them not to send the crowds away and to feed them themselves. I wonder what the disciples thought about this. I know I would have probably protested right then! "But God I am tired. I just want to get some rest. They can feed themselves." Why is it that we are so caught up in ourselves so many times that we can literally look right in the face of others needs and still just walk away? I pray that the Lord opens my eyes to when I am being slefish in this way and guides me to help whoever is in need. This passage reminds us that the disciples were just like us: human. Dirty, sinful, selfish and in desperate need of a Savior.
Mr. Key also brought up the point that the disciples gave the Lord all they had. They did not hold anything back for themselves, but when the Lord asked how much they had, they told Him and gave Him it all. And He did above anything that we could fathom. He performed a miracle that turned those 5 loaves and 2 fish into enough to feed over 5,000 people and still have left-overs! Jesus was able to perform this miracle because the disciples were obidient and gave Him all they had. Jesus still calls us to do that today. When we chose to follow Him, He wants it all! Every part of us, everything we own, all within us, EVERYTHING! And He deserves it all! When we give Him our all, He is able to do mighty things that we cannot even fathom. "He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted." Job 5:9 I want to give Him my all! I want to give Him everything! Sometimes, it is hard for me, though. When I find myslef wanting to show my "human"side of selfishness to the Lord, I ask Him to change my heart and to soften it and remind me that He is the boss of my life and in control of everything! Wow. What a mighty God I serve!
The Lord has given us all different gifts and talents and when we give them back to Him fully, He performs wonderful miracles. A great way to do this is to go on Mission Trips. Churches love to go on mission trips over the summer! I encourage everyone to at least go on one mission trip in their life. It is a great way to take everyone's God-given talents and put them all together and accomplished great things for the Kingdom of Christ. I loved going New Orleans every spring break in high school and helping the people there after Huricane Katrina. While we had fun helping people out with their physical labor work, the most precious times of mission trips are the conversations about the Lord that I got the chance to have with people.
God is God, He can use anything we give Him. Give Him your everything this week and look around and see where you can use the talents and gifts He has given you to give back to Him. I promise, you won't regret it.
"Jesus replied, 'They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.' 'We have here only 5 loaves of bread and two fish,' they answered. 'Bring them to me,' he said. And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves."
Matthew 14:16-19a
Originally the disciples wanted Jesus to send away the crowd. They had had a long day and were probably tired and just wanted some alone time with Jesus. But He told them not to send the crowds away and to feed them themselves. I wonder what the disciples thought about this. I know I would have probably protested right then! "But God I am tired. I just want to get some rest. They can feed themselves." Why is it that we are so caught up in ourselves so many times that we can literally look right in the face of others needs and still just walk away? I pray that the Lord opens my eyes to when I am being slefish in this way and guides me to help whoever is in need. This passage reminds us that the disciples were just like us: human. Dirty, sinful, selfish and in desperate need of a Savior.
Mr. Key also brought up the point that the disciples gave the Lord all they had. They did not hold anything back for themselves, but when the Lord asked how much they had, they told Him and gave Him it all. And He did above anything that we could fathom. He performed a miracle that turned those 5 loaves and 2 fish into enough to feed over 5,000 people and still have left-overs! Jesus was able to perform this miracle because the disciples were obidient and gave Him all they had. Jesus still calls us to do that today. When we chose to follow Him, He wants it all! Every part of us, everything we own, all within us, EVERYTHING! And He deserves it all! When we give Him our all, He is able to do mighty things that we cannot even fathom. "He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted." Job 5:9 I want to give Him my all! I want to give Him everything! Sometimes, it is hard for me, though. When I find myslef wanting to show my "human"side of selfishness to the Lord, I ask Him to change my heart and to soften it and remind me that He is the boss of my life and in control of everything! Wow. What a mighty God I serve!
The Lord has given us all different gifts and talents and when we give them back to Him fully, He performs wonderful miracles. A great way to do this is to go on Mission Trips. Churches love to go on mission trips over the summer! I encourage everyone to at least go on one mission trip in their life. It is a great way to take everyone's God-given talents and put them all together and accomplished great things for the Kingdom of Christ. I loved going New Orleans every spring break in high school and helping the people there after Huricane Katrina. While we had fun helping people out with their physical labor work, the most precious times of mission trips are the conversations about the Lord that I got the chance to have with people.
God is God, He can use anything we give Him. Give Him your everything this week and look around and see where you can use the talents and gifts He has given you to give back to Him. I promise, you won't regret it.
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Fireproof
"She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue." Proverbs 31: 25-26
Tonight I decided to watch one of my favorite movies...Fireproof! Wow, every time I watch that movie God seems to show me new and different things. While I have never been married, I know that marriage takes work. If it didn't and it was easy, couples would stay married and we would not have a crazy high divorce rate in our nation. God created marriage to last a lifetime.
While watching Fireproof this time, I was filled with so much joy and excitement about my marriage in the future. I can't wait to marry my best friend someday and let the Lord work through us a couple in mighty ways. But tonight I asked God what I needed to learn this time around. The answer was clear. I need to learn to be a Proverbs 31 Wife in this time of waiting. How wonderful it is that the Lord included a chapter in His word on what the perfect wife looks like! Thank you Lord for the wonderful explanation! While I am not married or engaged, I know that I can work on these things even now preparing myself even more for my husband someday! I have so much to work on and sometimes it seems like a daunting task that is not achievable. But then I remember who my creator is and how mighty and powerful He is. I know that I will never be a perfect wife, but I do know that I will seek the Lord all the days of my life and He will mold me and shape me. I encourage those who are not married yet to begin to pray for your future spouse even now! While you might not even know them yet, what a blessing it will be to them someday when you tell them you prayed for them even before you knew them! I was challenged with this in 7th grade and began praying for my future husband right then and there. Through the years I have written him letters telling him how much I can't wait to meet him and begin our life together. I can't wait to give these letters to him on our wedding day!
Thank you Father for the beautiful thing called marriage that you created! Thank you for showing us in your word how we as women are suppose to treat our husbands and for showing the men how to lead and love thier wife. Lord, your love is the ultimate example. Let us model our love after yours. Amen.
Tonight I decided to watch one of my favorite movies...Fireproof! Wow, every time I watch that movie God seems to show me new and different things. While I have never been married, I know that marriage takes work. If it didn't and it was easy, couples would stay married and we would not have a crazy high divorce rate in our nation. God created marriage to last a lifetime.
While watching Fireproof this time, I was filled with so much joy and excitement about my marriage in the future. I can't wait to marry my best friend someday and let the Lord work through us a couple in mighty ways. But tonight I asked God what I needed to learn this time around. The answer was clear. I need to learn to be a Proverbs 31 Wife in this time of waiting. How wonderful it is that the Lord included a chapter in His word on what the perfect wife looks like! Thank you Lord for the wonderful explanation! While I am not married or engaged, I know that I can work on these things even now preparing myself even more for my husband someday! I have so much to work on and sometimes it seems like a daunting task that is not achievable. But then I remember who my creator is and how mighty and powerful He is. I know that I will never be a perfect wife, but I do know that I will seek the Lord all the days of my life and He will mold me and shape me. I encourage those who are not married yet to begin to pray for your future spouse even now! While you might not even know them yet, what a blessing it will be to them someday when you tell them you prayed for them even before you knew them! I was challenged with this in 7th grade and began praying for my future husband right then and there. Through the years I have written him letters telling him how much I can't wait to meet him and begin our life together. I can't wait to give these letters to him on our wedding day!
Thank you Father for the beautiful thing called marriage that you created! Thank you for showing us in your word how we as women are suppose to treat our husbands and for showing the men how to lead and love thier wife. Lord, your love is the ultimate example. Let us model our love after yours. Amen.
Saturday, March 17, 2012
Love
"And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love." 2 John 6
Love has been something that God has really been placing on my heart lately. Back in the fall, the Lord really convicted me that I need to love more like He does. So, I memorized the "Love Chapter" (1 Corinthians 13) and God has shown me so many things through that. Our human nature is one of selfishness and self-centeredness, but God calls His people to love like He does. Now I realize that we will never be able to fully comprehend His love on this side of earth, but I do believe that we can always learn more about His love through His word and through prayer. But what does it look like to love like God does? I think this verse tells us perfectly! If we walk in His way and obey him, we are loving Him! And when we love Him, we can show that love to this lost and hurting world.
I always think of big red hearts when I think of the word love, which now makes me think of my own heart beating normally (again) inside of me. January was a scary month for me as I faced the fact that I needed heart surgery and then having the heart surgery 2 days before my 20th birthday. After a post-op appointment with my cardiologist this week, I just have to smile :) My God is bigger than anything I have faced or will faced! He has gone before me and made a way, even when I have little faith. My condition was serious 2 months ago and the surgery was not guaranteed to work. But I serve a mighty God who gave the doctor steady hands and allowed everything to work out perfectly! My God loves me more than I will ever be able to comprehend and He holds my hand every step of the journey.
How have you seen God's love at work lately? It's all around us, all we have to do is open our eyes to see it.
Love has been something that God has really been placing on my heart lately. Back in the fall, the Lord really convicted me that I need to love more like He does. So, I memorized the "Love Chapter" (1 Corinthians 13) and God has shown me so many things through that. Our human nature is one of selfishness and self-centeredness, but God calls His people to love like He does. Now I realize that we will never be able to fully comprehend His love on this side of earth, but I do believe that we can always learn more about His love through His word and through prayer. But what does it look like to love like God does? I think this verse tells us perfectly! If we walk in His way and obey him, we are loving Him! And when we love Him, we can show that love to this lost and hurting world.
I always think of big red hearts when I think of the word love, which now makes me think of my own heart beating normally (again) inside of me. January was a scary month for me as I faced the fact that I needed heart surgery and then having the heart surgery 2 days before my 20th birthday. After a post-op appointment with my cardiologist this week, I just have to smile :) My God is bigger than anything I have faced or will faced! He has gone before me and made a way, even when I have little faith. My condition was serious 2 months ago and the surgery was not guaranteed to work. But I serve a mighty God who gave the doctor steady hands and allowed everything to work out perfectly! My God loves me more than I will ever be able to comprehend and He holds my hand every step of the journey.
How have you seen God's love at work lately? It's all around us, all we have to do is open our eyes to see it.
Monday, March 12, 2012
His Path is Always the Best
"In this way, let your light shine before all the world that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in Heaven." Matthew 5:16
The Lord has done so many amazing things in my 20 years of life and I have felt lead to share some of these things. This blog is intended for the Lord's Glory. It is a simple way to share the amazing things the Lord is doing and has done in my life. For sometime now, I have felt the Lord telling me to share these wonderful things. I was so unsure of how to do it, though. Did he want me to write them down in a book form? Speak more about them? I wasn't sure until Saturday night while at a bridal shower for a sweet friend who I grew up with. As we were catching up, she told me that I should start a blog! I felt like it was an aswer to prayers and something I could not say no to! I pray that these posts are encouraging to all on their walk with the Lord.
I can't wait to see what the Lord does through this blog!
The Lord has done so many amazing things in my 20 years of life and I have felt lead to share some of these things. This blog is intended for the Lord's Glory. It is a simple way to share the amazing things the Lord is doing and has done in my life. For sometime now, I have felt the Lord telling me to share these wonderful things. I was so unsure of how to do it, though. Did he want me to write them down in a book form? Speak more about them? I wasn't sure until Saturday night while at a bridal shower for a sweet friend who I grew up with. As we were catching up, she told me that I should start a blog! I felt like it was an aswer to prayers and something I could not say no to! I pray that these posts are encouraging to all on their walk with the Lord.
I can't wait to see what the Lord does through this blog!
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