Life.

This year marks seven since my brother passed away. It also marks two and a half since my father died. Crazy things happen in the blink of an eye. Cherish what you have because you never know when it might change right in front of your eyes.
This Christmas has been really hard but I know that God is walking with me and keeping me strong. It's all settling in and I wasn't ready for it but good friends and family holding me near and showing me love gives me comfort from the Lord.
May He give you peace this Christmas and be your comforter in hard times.

procrastination.

As I sit here reading other people's blogs instead of writing my paper it makes me think about all this hype of writing  papers. Besides the 14 page paper that I wrote and turned in on Monday I hope to never have to do that again, besides my 60 page paper due next year that can surely wait. Then I remember I have to take two writing intensive classes that apparently everyone has to take. How was I supposed to know I was everyone? Yuck I am not looking forward to this. I know my adviser informed me that Sociology is all about writing papers, expressing your feelings? No writing about important topics in our society that need addressing. At least I'm writing about things interesting to me. And now the more writing I do on here, the more I'll have to make up for on my paper. So instead of putting more thoughts into my blog, I should head on over to Microsoft Word. :[

 Philippians 4:8. I will surely try to think of such things today. :]

Jesus Calling. Nov 23rd

“As you go through this day, look for tiny treasures strategically placed along the way. I lovingly go before you and plant little pleasures to brighten your day. Look carefully for them, and pluck them one by one. When you reach the end of the day, you will have gathered a lovely bouquet. Offer it up to Me with a grateful heart. Receive My Peace as you lie down to sleep, with thankful thoughts playing a lullaby in your mind.”
- Jesus Calling
Romans 8:38-39; Psalm 4:7-8

bliss.

Today was probably one of my favorite days. Well mostly at midnight. I’m involved in a bible study group (meaning 100+ people, aka my family) called Wednesday Night Bible Study, catchy I know. We have decided to have a week of prayer to hear what God has planned for us for a retreat we are going on this weekend. We have never done something like this but what they have asked of everyone is to sign up for a few hours during the week when you can go in and have God time. Forget what other problems are going on and worship. They have a sweet room set up with blaring music, twinkle lights, writings on the walls, a cross, and the Holy Spirit is surely there. So every hour, someone is there, praying. From midnight to midnight Monday morning until Sunday night, there is praying taking place upstairs in our meeting place.
I was supposed to be the first one there Monday morning at midnight. Still not recovered from the daylight savings switch my plan didn’t go accordingly. Decided to sleep for two hours before my shift, set my alarm for 12. My alarm ended up going off at 11 because it hadn’t been changed to the correct time so I tried again. Ended up waking at 1 because my alarm that I set I didn’t hear and the other one I didn’t turn on. By this point I had missed my shift so I went back to sleep.

Luckily, I signed up for the midnight shift every day and God surely met me this Tuesday morning. The second I walked into the room I was filled with joy and the Holy Spirit welcomed me in. The music was so awesome to listen to and as I read my bible, completely distracted by everything else going on in the room, I was hardly able to take it all in at once.

Now the great debate is going on as to whether I should stay there for a few hours while I spend time with Jesus and sleep in tomorrow morning. It sounds pretty good to me! Let the praises ring.

Have a blessed day!

Jesus Calling. Oct 11th

I am the culmination of all your hopes and desires. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last: who is and was and is to come. Before you knew Me, you expressed your longing for Me in hurtful ways. You were ever so vulnerable to the evil around you in the world. But now My Presence safely shields you, enfolding you in My loving arms.  I have lifted you out of darkness into My marvelous Light.

Though I have brought many pleasures into your life, not one of them is essential. Receive My blessings with open hands. Enjoy My good gifts, but do not cling to them. Turn your attention to the Giver of all good things, and rest in the knowledge that you are complete in Me. The one thing you absolutely need is the one thing you can never lose: My Presence with you.

Psalm 62:5-8; Revelation 1:8; 1 Peter 2:9; James 1:17

Jesus Calling. Oct 10th

Trust Me enough to let things happen without striving to predict or control them. Relax, and refresh yourself in the Light of My everlasting Love. My Love-Light never dims, yet you are often unaware of My radiant Presence. When you project yourself into the future, rehearsing what you will do or say, you are seeking to be self-sufficient: to be adequate without My help. This is a subtle sin-so common that it usually slips by unnoticed.

The alternative is to live fully in the present, depending on Me each moment . Rather than fearing your inadequacy, rejoice in My abundant supply. Train your mind to seek My help continually, even when you feel competent to handle something by yourself. Don't divide your life into things you can do by yourself and things that require My help. Instead, learn to rely on Me in every situation. This discipline will enable you to enjoy life more and to face each day confidently.

Psalm 37:3-6; Philippians 4:19

Jesus Calling. Oct 6th

Be willing to follow wherever I lead.  Follow Me wholeheartedly, with glad anticipation quickening your pace.  Though you don’t know what lies ahead, I know; and that is enough! Some of My richest blessings are just around the bend: out of sight, but nonetheless very real.  To receive these gifts, you must walk by faith-not by sight.  This doesn’t mean closing your eyes to what is all around you.  It means subordinating the visible world to the invisible Shepherd of your soul.

Sometimes I lead you up a high mountain with only My hand to support you. The higher you climb, the more spectacular the view becomes; also, the more keenly you sense your separation from the world with all its problems.  This frees you to experience exuberantly the joyous reality of My Presence.  Give yourself fully to these Glory-moments, awash in dazzling Light.  I will eventually lead you down the mountain, back into community with others.  Let My Light continue to shine within you as you walk among people again.

2 Corinthians 5:7; Psalm 96:6; John 8:12; Psalm 36:9