Find Humor

We sat down with some folks from our church last night and just talked for a while. They are not a young couple in fact they could almost be our grandparents. Sometimes we talk about how works going, and really no one wants to talk about that anyway, but last night I had the gift of hearing a glimpse of there past. They had two children both of which died in their thirties within years of each other. Last night the mother talked about her late daughter. She talked about the medical trouble she had and how she worked her last job until they "made her quit". One thing that kept coming up as we sat and listened to the story was that her daughter always laughed, kept things light, kept a good attitude. Apparantly she never complained about discomfort. I think people including myself take life entirely too seriously. We let a little discomfort, or small let down or an annoying person shift our mentality way too quickly. Her daugther lived only 33 years but she lived those 33 years! I not only want to live but be fully alive in Christ for my shot time here!!

New Year and New Thoughts

Looking back at 2008, it was a good year. I know everyone's like I lost this much cash in their 401k, the economy is in the dumper and all of that. But I have a lot to be thankful for I mean a lot. My husband finished 2 semesters of college with a 4.0 and will finish this year. That in itself is cool cause if we hadn't moved to S.C. he wouldn't have that chance to go to school. I changed jobs and am developing valuable technical skills. I ran a 5k this year, and am thinking about doing a 10k in 2009. I have good health and a great family. So no matter what's happening in the around the globe, in my little area of the earth My God is good and is faithful!!
Prayers for the new year:
1. Tom finishes school successfully and is able to start his own business.
2. I can develop as an engineer and be a valuable employee and a good example.
3. Run a 10K! (Bridge Run)
4. Develop my guitar skills
5. See my parent's get closer to retirement
6. Have a baby...okay maybe that's more of an '10 prayer.
7. Our Church grows and reaches the lost.
8. Grow closer to the Lord, experience Him more deeply.
9. Be the person God created me to be
10. Have no regrets.

These are in no particular order but these are the desires of my heart on January 2, 2008.

The Christmas Sweater

Okay so tonight I have to serve at our church dinner cause Tom's a deacon intern person so we gotta get our serve on at the church dinner. My normal attire is jeans and tshirt once and I while i'll put on some makeup and comb my hair to get really fancy. But tonight and one night only I am in search of the tackiest christmas sweater I can find. I have never owned one of these myself but boy oh boy wouldn't it be picture worthy if I could find one.

What I've Been Up to the Past Four Months...

Here's some pics of our last youth service for the year. These were taken by Dalton Bryant, a senior in our youth group who has a great gift.... Here's a little glimpse into what I love to be involved with Elevation Youth!

We had an awesome service it was honestly so much fun and to be able to play with the kids and see people really worship was incredible what a great way to worship the Lord truly a priviledge and honor. Just for the record to I work with one of the most awesome youth pastors ever, Mr Steve Mueller and can't wait to see where God is going to lead the group in '09. :)

Choosing Joy

I woke up this morning after a really nice long rest. I've discovered the nice allergies I now have after moving south. So I'm not feeling so good. Our house has been a big stress ball lately because of finals and stuff so needless to say not a whole lot of fun has been had!! Driving to work I was like ugh I don't feel good and I have a long day ahead, and I started praying, and listening to the praise music I had playing in the car. Woah was I slapped in the face!!! Something came to me and it was like God whispering, Choose Joy! Life is full of choices, I can wake up and choose to have a crappy attitude, be angry I haven't had any quality time with my husband, that I'm sick etc, or I can thank God that I woke up and have a job to go to, and that I have a good husband, and that I have a Big God that loves me deeply!! So okay given the fact I had been up 30 minutes before I chose Joy, didn't start out correctly but ended up and am having a good day and much better than I would have had I chose bitterness. I came upon these verses Romans 12:11-13.
Never be lacking zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope patient in affliction faithful in prayer. Share with God's people who are in need. Practice Hospitality....
I looked up definitions and rewrite it like this...

Never be lacking in eagerness, but keep your spiritual intensity serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope patient in pain, faithful in prayer. Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality...

So if you choose bitterness, you won't be eager, you won't have spiritual intensity servant the Lord, if you choose Joy you can have patience in pain, practice hospitality, be eager and diligent in your service to the Lord...


So...........Wake up, every morning...Choosing JOY!!!!

Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks

woooooooooooooooo it's thanksgiving tommorow! And truly it must be known that you better write a big long thanks filled Blog or your a Jerk...so here it is here it is.
thanks for a God that is huge huge big ginormous better than I can imagine
thanks for a husband who's so hot he can't help it and who makes me laugh!
thanks for a mom and dad who raised me right and love me deeply
thanks for friends who challenge me, make me laugh till I cry, and who are awesome
thanks for the youth band kids who work really hard you know who you are!
I'm missing a ton of stuff, but don't want to go on and on now...you spread the love if you haven't all ready!

A different take on "you reap what you sow"

15 He who digs a hole and scoops it out falls into the pit he has made.
16 The trouble he causes recoils on himself; his violence comes down on his own head.
I read this today in the Psalms chapter 7. Wow, it kinds of hit me like a brick wall. This concept applies not only to christians but non christians. Things you do whether right or wrong always seem to come up and sneak up on you. If you are constantly trying to serve the Lord and others usually the people your serving sooner or later help you and serve you. If your stirring up a bunch of garbage, gossipping, doing other things to make the "pit" deeper, it'll come back to you even if your not a christian! Check yourself...what are you doing are you building others up and serving or digging the pit??