Life Updates

I know I have been rather quiet once again. This time it is because I have been busy packing and getting ready to move. I have half my trunk packed and I'm not making my next trip until Wednesday. I am so used to going away to college where I am able to leave almost half my things behind at home, but I am not sure if I am able to do that this time, guess I should ask. My parents are not in agreement with my decision to move and my mom just told me that my room will be changing when I leave. Meaning...it's actually going to be clean! Lol. I have some OCD tendancies (as do most people) and the one that annoys my mom the most is my inability to stack things high. I make little piles, about a foot high, all around the walls in a room. I cannot stand anything being stacked higher than that, I work myself into a frenzy.

My goal for this trip is to get as much of the stuff that I know I want to take packed and fit into my car. My roommate's grandparents are also making a trip to bring us some furniture, so very nice of them. We got a brand new twin size at auction last week - oh my, auction was so much fun! It certainly got my adreneline pumping :) I don't think we'll be needing anything in the near future, but I might go to a local auction again just for the fun of it!

I have signed up for substitute teaching in the area and will be eligible after this Thursday when I have my orientation. I also need to decide by the end of the week if I want to go for my EMT-B license right now because the place I would take it at is ordering books next Monday. I am continuing to pray on it and am waiting to see what the Lord opens up for me.

Right now I am also going through a phase where I have an urge to "do" my hair instead of pulling it back into a bun like I have been. I don't cover at home out of respect for my parents - I believe this fuels my urge when I am at home. Plus when I am not home then I am around other sisters in Christ who cover and their hair is pulled back so it makes it less tempting to want to style my hair.

Anyway, I just wanted to give a short update. When I move I will not have internet in the apartment, but I do still plan to keep my blog and post when I go up to the library or the subway that has wi-fi.

Blessings in Christ,

Making Excuses...

I got back last Wednesday from a long(er) trip than I had expected. Church on Sunday was good. I have been attending a Beachy church on my last few trips and will probably continue to attend after I move. The preacher was talking about making excuses and how we just need to take responsibility for our actions and not make excuses. He said that his son when asked to help with the dishes one night responded "it's too hot"...which got a nice chuckle from the women's side of the church :) He went onto add that he had just placed a fan pointing in the direction of the kitchen sink and it was probably the coolest place in the house at that point. Seems that in the midst of making excuses to get out of something that we don't want to do, we may also be giving up something? There aren't many times in the Bible that excuses are used, but here are the references for the ones that the preacher gave.

- Genesis 3:12-13
- 1 Samuel 15
- Exodus 3:10-11
- Exodus 4:1, 10
- Exodus 32:2, 24
- Acts 24
- Luke 14:16-24
- Ezekiel 18:5-9, 20
- Luke 10:30-36
- Revelations 20:12

Thought I would share with you the message :)

Blessings in Christ,

To Live is Christ!

Today's Bible Verse of the Day is from Philippians 1:21 "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain". I absolutely love this verse and felt it necessary to keep this verse alive for more than one day!!

Blessings in Christ,

Bosom Friends on FF Website!

I was just told that one of my posts was included in a section called "Bosom Friends" on the Feelin' Feminine website. Check it out here along with the other posts from other women!!

Blessings in Christ,

Follow Your Heart...

I was reading an Amish fiction book the other day and the phrase "What does your heart say?" and "Follow your heart" kept jumping off the pages at me. It almost seemed that the book was placed in my hands at the right time. Which I am sure it was, but still, it amazes me that God can even place a fiction book in our hands and use that to aid in His work. I need to remind myself that God will provide for me no matter where I go, especially if it is in His plan for me. Following my heart is the easy part, it is dealing with the thoughts that go through my brain and the thoughts and beliefs of what is best for me from other people in my life that I am having a problem dealing with. On the otherhand, I think most everyone knows that if we don't follow our heart, we will forever regret our decision. Our brains often get in the way of our faith and therefore God's Will - we must do our very best to put those thoughts aside and truly follow our heart. That is where God's wants lie in us.

Blessings in Christ,

Changes...

So many changes are happening right now. The biggest one is that this morning I officially turned down the only full-time job offer I have ever had. Neither of my parents are in agreement, they knew it was going to happen because I told them I was giong to turn it down, they just don't know that it happened already this morning. Why would I do such a thing when I have student loans to pay back? I feel this is what the Lord wanted me to do -- I really feel that He is preparing me to move. In my heart, I know that this was the right thing to do, but in my head I'm calling myself names because I am going to have to work two part-time jobs in order to make enough money for my bills each month. On the otherhand, I will get to do what I want :) Substitute teaching and EMT-B! I have wanted to try my hand at EMT for a few years now but my parents say that it is a job that is beneath me. My view? I know it's going to be tough, demanding work, but I really want to try it. I feel like I will regret it if I do not try it, and so far the Lord has paved the way for both of these jobs for me.

I feel like the Lord is also telling me to move out of the area that I am currently living in. I feel He is pulling me towards a Mennonite community that I have been spending a bit of time in as of late and I am really hoping that it is what He wants. So far it appears it is because the two jobs I want to work at, I am eligible for both of them where I would move to. It is finding a place to stay now that I need to keep looking for and praying on.

Anyway, enough about that kind of stuff. Question: How do you feel about Bible Studies?

I have a friend who is against them because she was raised to not take part in them and the church that she was attending for a while before moving is against them. They have the view that you can alter a person's thinking too much with thoughts that do not directly come from God because the leader may interpret God's Word too much. My thinking? As long as I do not have to lead it or participate I will sit and listen and then make my own decisions. But I can see where the church is coming from that is against them...all too many times we can alter someone's thinking simply by adding our own interpretations to God's Word instead of letting God work in the person.

Today's scripture comes from Proverbs 3:5 (KJV) - "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding" and Psalm 48:14 (KJV) - "For this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death."

Blessings in Christ,

Love Like Crazy

"Just ask him how he did it; he'll say pull up a seat
It'll only take a minute, to tell you everything
Be a best friend, tell the truth, and overuse I love you
Go to work, do your best, don't outsmart your common sense
Never let your prayin' knees get lazy
And love like crazy"
- Love Like Crazy, Lee Brice

So I like country music. Well some of it; this song happens to be one of them. The chorus of the song really strikes me, because not only does it apply to our relationships, but it applies to everything in life. In how we deal with other people, things, and above all, God. We cannot forget to pray. If we forget to pray, nothing will come to us. Remember, ask and ye shall receive? It's true. Although God knows what we are going to ask for before we even ask, He will not just give it to us, until we ask that is.

Matthew 7:7-8 (KJV) - Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: 8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

Matthew 21:22 (KJV) - And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.

Remember, if we forget to include God in our decisions, there is no way our decision will be the right one... But if we ask God to show us His path for us, we will receive His guidance and He shall grant us the peace of mind to know that we are making the right decision. Same goes for any other request we need - whether it be a job, a place to live, money to make ends meet, anything. If we ask, God shall provide.

Philippians 4:19 (KJV) - But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Blessings in Christ,