"Not one of us is "called" to live the self-indulgent,pleasure-seeking,comfort-craving life of the typical American Christian. If you think that God has called you to merely live in a nice house with a well-paying job and be part of a Bible study group,then you aren't very familiar with what His Word says. It's not that living in a nice house,having a well-paying job,or joining a Bible study is wrong. But those things are not the essence of the Christian life. 

There is a sacred claim upon each of our lives that is not to be ignored. Christ makes us whole so that we can be poured out for Him. Not once a year. Not even two or three times a week. He has called us to be a living sacrifice-to live a lifestyle of serving and sacrifice for His kingdom."

-Set Apart Femininity 

What I've been doING

Hello there!

I am not sure if anyone is still reading my blog since I have been pretty terrible at updating it...my sister lovingly reminded me about this today. Things have just been busy! I feel like my sisters have been posting things with something to the effect of "Step into my living room","Step into my house",etc. Well dear reader...

{Step into my life}

So much has been going on. I am not even sure where to begin!! 

Grab something to eat and drink (I am drinking chai as I write this!) and relax. You are in for a long awaited post!!!

Where do I begin. Time has been passing by so quickly.

{Schooling}

School has been going pretty good. I have had some late night learning,lately. Trying to cram school in whenever I get the chance.

{Working}

Work is going good. We always say that "Everyday is a new adventure at Chick-Fil-A" and quite honestly,it is. There is always something out of the the normal that happens at work. My boss just recently pulled me into her office to talk. I think I can now sort of relate to what it feels like to go to the principals office. Thankfully, I have a great boss and she didn't pull me aside for any bad news. On the contrary. It was good news. She told me that the Grand Opening Supervisors evaluated how I worked and recommended me to be a shift leader. So Cathy asked me if I would be willing to take on the responsibility of being a shift leader over the kitchen. We talked about it for awhile and then she told me to go home and pray about. Like I said "everyday is a new adventure at Chick-Fil-A."

{Traveling}

I just recently had the opportunity to go with 10 other people from my church to The Loving and Leading Conference at a church in Ohio. I sat in 10 workshops and 6 General sessions. I have learned so much ... from how my heart as a teacher should be to how to manage a classroom,reach the soul of a child,make Bible stories meaningful to children,have an effective Jr. church program,work as a TEAM and so much more. I think my brain is still on over load from learning all of this wonderful.Useful.Helpful information.Besides sitting in on classes I got to make lots of good memories with friends.

{Sharing}

Last Sunday night I got to sit down and share the plan of salvation with a girl from my church. She got saved after talking to another girl and directly after that I had the WONDERFUL opportunity to show her verses from the Bible and answer her questions about Salvation. I can only imagine heaven rejoicing as another child was born into the family of God. I am so thankful that I had this OPPORTUNITY. I can't believe that God would first off save ME and then let me serve HIM!! 

{Helping}

Right now I am helping a girl at our church with violin. She is preparing to play a her first piece of music that she has ever played in front of the church. It has been a joy to help and teach her with her music and see the progression that she makes weekly. Hopefully she will continue to use her talent in church in the days and years to come. The church could never have too many violinists.

{Creating}

I have been working on creating a CD cover for the CD my family and I made back in October so that it will be ready by Christmas. I am almost done with the cover,and hopefully it will all come together soon! 

{Reading} 

Shocking,I know. Right now I am reading Let Me Be a Woman by Elisabeth Elliot. An excellent book. I will just share one quote from it. "The fact that I am a woman does not make me a different kind of Christian,but the fact that I am a Christian does make me a different woman."

{Studying}

I am studying "God Created Man" right now to teach to the 1st to 4th grade kids in Junior Church. My mind has been going crazy with ideas on how to teach this...don't forget lots of visuals,mystery,and excitement!! I am excited to teach and I pray that I will present a very clear lesson.

{Playing}

I always make sure to spend some of my time playing my violin. I have about 5 different pieces that I am working on for church right now,plus some classical pieces that I am challenging myself to master...I know I will probably never be good enough to master the pieces,but it's a fun thought anyways. 

{Missing}

There is not a day that goes by that I do not miss my amazingly,wonderful,godly sisters the one in North Carolina and the other in Texas. I miss my brother-in-laws too...just not as much as I miss my sisters.There is just some unexplainable bond of love between sisters that makes being apart so hard. Like I said. Unexplainable.

{Talking}

Mainly to my sisters over the phone. While it's not the same as "Stepping into their living room" as they keep inviting me to do, and talking to them face to face. I still enjoy it. I just talked to my oldest sister this evening for the the first time in about 2 weeks. It had been way to long. 

{Sistering}

I just had to add this one. As busy as I have been I cannot forget that one of the most important roles I play in my life is being an older sister. And I try to be a fun one. Just ask my brother. We had a good time last night after church picking on each other,having fun,and talking.

I think that briefly sums up my life in a nutshell. I am sure that I am forgetting some things...everyday my "To-do" list gets longer,and it seems like the longer it gets,the less time I have in a day. One day....I will have everything done on that list.

I hope you have enjoyed stepping into my life for a little. I will try and be more faithful to blogging. I leave you with the most important thing that I have been doing and will continue to do...

{Pressing}

I am daily pressing toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Though I fail Him regularly I am trying to do my best for Christ. Out of all things in my life I want to please my Jesus.

  But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.

Acts 20:24

Book Excerpt

"Every action,no matter how small,is defining our future harvest."
~pg. 139

"When we make decisions to obey God-even when it costs us something-and to live out our faith in our day-to-day life,it will be hard,but it will be good.And it will be good because God loves to bless us when we are faithful to stand for Him."-Pg. 154

 

-Do Hard Things by Brett and Alex Harris

Excerpt from Discover Your Destiny by Cary Schmidt
    Surely,you can miss God's will for your life,but the question is how?Psalm 32:8,God taught me that missing His will was more related to me denying His leading than it was to me missing His clues.
    I had this mental picture that God had created a perfect will,hidden it among all the other options of life,amd then sent me into young adulthood to find it for myself.My idea was that it was a scavenger hunt for my destiny,and I was truly hoping to find it.I was afraid of missing it.
    The promise in Psalm 32:8 taught me that there is NO WAY for a surrendered person to miss God's will,apart from God breaking His promise.(That's impossible!) He has promised to lead you and guide you,so long as you are lead-able.He says in verse nine,"Be not as the horse,or as the mule,which have no understanding..." In other words,if you choose to resist,if you choose not to be lead,like a stubborn mule or horse,you will miss it.So,God says,"don't be that way!"
    If you're spending a great deal of time worrying about God's will-stop.Focus more on drawing close to Him,walking with Him,and knowing Him.Concentrate on having a surrendered heart.Consume yourself with being lead-able,and God will take care of everything else.-Pg. 177

Book Excerpt

Ready or Not
Chapter 8-The Lion and the Bear
How can you Learn?
Take opportunities
Many opportunities will fall into your lap.That was true with David.He was told to watch sheep.In doing so,he saw the need sheep  have for a shepherd and the comparison to write one of the most comforting Psalms-Psalm 23.During that time on the mountainside,he played the harp to entertain himself.All the practice made him so accomplished that he was summoned to play for the king.In his dedication to protect the sheep from lions and bears,he became a man of valor,later claiming victory in many battles.But all would have been much different if he had murmured about his job."Why do I have to watch the stupid sheep?That lion can have the lamb-one less for me to deal with.This is so boring;I never get to do anything I want to do."He would have not been prepared to write the Psalms,play music in the palace,face the giants,lead armies into battle,or be king himself had he not done his best in the job handed to him.It set the course for the rest of his life.Do not buck against the circumstances for leaning that God has given you now.Do you have chores to do on the farm?Do your best.Who knows how God may use the skills you gain.Are you told to watch your little brother?Clean the bathroom?Write a paper?Help in the family business?Whether you are in public school,Christian school,homeschool,or college-opportunities are there.Your classes themselves are important.Do your best in math,history,grammar,accounting,Spanish,chemistry.God does not throw the dice to determine your circumstances.He is bringing those things to you to make you ready.Do not spoil the plan.
Pages 125&126

    "Young lady,you were created to be a helper and a companion to a young man whom God will bring to you in His time.
    A christian lady does not rebel against God's original intent,but instead embraces her divine purpose.Her femininity is defined by her passion in first preparing for,then carrying out the blessed calling of being both a helper and companion to the man God has given her.
    Now the question-are you willing to embrace your divine intent?Young lady,are you preparing yourself so that in every way you will be blessed to help a godly young man?Are you accepting of the fact that his life is not to be centered upon you,but focused on his responsibilities assigned to him by God?Are you prepared to loose yourself in helping him succeed in his life's calling?Is your life now characterized by selfless service or by serving self?"
 ~Tenet 2-A Young Lady Embraces the Purpose of Her Creation
The Twenty-One Tenets of Biblical Femininity by Jerry&Sheryl Ross

Book Excerpt

    Young lady,you were created to be a helper and companion to a young man whom God will bring to you in His time.   
A christian lady does not rebel against God's original intent,but instead embraces her divine purpose.Her femininity is defined by her passion in first preparing for,then carrying out the blessed calling of being both a helper and companion to the man God has given her.
    Now the question-are you willing to embrace your divine intent?Young lady,are you preparing yourself so that in every way you will be a blessed help to a godly young man?Are you accepting of the fact that his life is not to be centered upon you,but focused on his responsibilities assigned to him by God?Are you prepared to lose yourself in helping him succeed in his life's calling?Is your life now characterized by selfless service or by serving self?
~Tenet 2-A Young Lady Embraces the Purpose of Her Creation
The Twenty-One Tenets of Biblical Femininity by Jerry and Sheryl Ross

Hill of Praise

 READ:Psalm 113:1-6
"Look how beautiful the sunset is!" exclaimed my friend as she paused in her ascent up the hill.
 I looked,but wasn't impressed.I was at a lower elevation than she was,and decided that apparentley she saw something that I didn't.
 When I reached that height,I,too was awed by the splendor.None of it had been evident in the bottom of the hill.The rest of the neighborhood went about their business,unaware of what we were witnessing.Trees obscured their view of the beautiful sunset.
 Sometimes you may feel like life is boring:the world goes on day after day,always the same old thing.Or maybe life is full of sadness,death's,tragedies,or natural disasters,and you don't see the purpose in it.Everything seems to go wrong.
 How can you rise up out of the valley of despondency and see the beauty of life?By climbing the hill of praise.Praise God for who he is and for what He has done.Remember His promises.Thank Him for your blessings,for all the good things in life.Sing and smile.
 As you climb the hill of praise,more and more of the glories will be revealed.Once you reach the top,you will be amazed how bright the outlook is.
 Reaching the top of one small hill of praise doesn't necessarily mean that you will see all the beauty and understand all the meaning of life.There will always be more heights to climb and more to see and experience.One glorious day you will enjoy the perfect beauty of heaven with no recollection of the sadness below.
        *Taken from Harmony for the Heart-compiled by Elaine Berry

True Beauty

What makes us beautiful are the qualities of the heart-a meek and quiet spirit,humility,holiness,and godly character.

~Pg. 43, Just Friends Chapter 4

I Am Not Ashamed...

Right now,I am reading the book Rachel's Tears,It is the story and journal entry's of Rachel Joy Scott,one of the girls killed in the Columbine shooting on April 20,1999.I came across this part of her journal that really stuck out to me:
"I am not going to apologize for speaking the name of Jesus,
I am not going to justify my faith to them,
and I am not going to hide the light that God has put in me.
If I have to sacrifice everything...I will."
That reminded me of the verses:
According to my earnest expectation and my hope,that in nothing I shall be ashamed,but that with all boldness,as always,so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body,whether it be by life,or by death.~Philippians 1:20
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ:for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth;to the Jew first,and also to the Greek.~Romans 1:16
Let's not be ashamed,let's proclaim it to everyone...
 
 

Excerpt from THROUGH MY EYES

This was a good book I read,even though it isn't the right Bible Version he has some great points!Here is one of my favorites:

A few days later,on Mother's Day,I spoke at a church in Memphis and shared briefly about my mother's refusal to abort me.After the service,a young woman waited to speak with me."I have an abortion scheduled for tomorrow morning at 9 A.M.,"she cried,"and now I will not go through with it."

Amazing what God does when we simply plant seeds.

-Chapter 21,page 247