lessons

so its really awesome how God just teaches you a lesson.

ive been learning sooo much recently. I keep asking God to teach me more, and point things out to me...im really longing to be stopped in my tracks sometimes and slapped in the face if i need to be. in the end, I realize what ive done wrong, etc. and it helps...shows me if i was stupid or just plain out sinning. its tough sometimes but its definatly worth it. I really get hit hard sometimes, and i just collapse, but God is always there to keep me going. its awesome. thats it.


"Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression?"-Micah 7:18

"Look to the Lord and His strength; seek his face always"- Psalm 105:4

"You have been my refuge, a strong tower against my foe."- Psalm 61:3

"Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong." -1 Cor. 16:13

humility

humility.

this week in prayer groups we made bracelets for each charateristic in colossians 3:12. each week each of the six of us will have one of the bracelets on, that are each distinctly colored for the characteristic that they represent. Well I have the blue one, which happens to be humility. I was thinking about it tonight when i was reading so i looked it up (one of the awesome advantages of having an application bible). well one verse that really stuck out to me was Romans 12:3 which says:

"For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you."

ok so stepping back for a minute...this is Paul speaking in this chapter and basically giving guidelines for living as a redeemed Christian in the world around us. ok so back to humility. basically having a good self-esteem isnt bad. sometimes its easy to get caught up with thinking to little of myself...but i have to be careful not to think to highly of myself as well. without God...theres a while lot that i couldnt do. even something stupid like scoring a goal in soccer...yea i can be proud of my self...but if i over do it...heh yea God could easily say.."your not scoring another one the whole season...cause you made it all about yourself."...yea, ouch. BUT heres the catch with God, we can do sooo much. He is the ultimate relationship i can have. He provides everything for me!!! soo when i really think about it, why do i get caught up in measuring myself to how good i can be, or how much i can gain for myself in life for the world and for my pride. its pointless...and not very humble. really... im nothing without God. Hes the only reason i get up everyday...and to think that i can think of myself as more worthy as someone else...its a little rediculous. ill say it again...Im nothing without God, not an athlete, not musical, not healthy, not even living. wow...so i need to work on being more humble.

the weekend:

so...it was a good weekend. got home on friday night...slept, went to katies soccer game on saturday...that was fun! then satuday night i went out to dinner with my little brother because it was his birthday, and then afterwards i had ash, josh, phil, kier, sam, alex, brie, and my sister all over and we just hung out and made smores in my backyard...it was goodtimes! hah it made my day so much better! Iris slept over that night and of course we both shared my bed. lol...me, iris, and my big teddy bear(which she ended up throwing on the ground). I really love the fact that i got some home cooked meals! oh man they tasted soo good!!!

i was reading Proverbs 10 tonight...in the first couple verses it talks about how we use our time. my life app. Bible talks about how "everyone has 24 hours filled with oppurtunities to grow serve and be productive. But its soo easy to waste time, letting life slip from our grasp. We need to refuse to be a lazy peson, sleeping or wasting away our hours meant for productive work. we have to see time as God's gift and seize our oppurtunities to live diligently for him."...yea i thought that was worht sharing. the reality is that i do waste my time alot...if im tired, or i just want to sleep to get away from things...yea that time should be used for God...and i havent been using it that way. Proverbs 10 was really encouraging to me..i know that i can do it...But first i need to give the effort.

home...sweet home.

Well …yea today was a nice day…I had class and then I came home! I had really started to miss my dad a lot…so I’m glad I got to see him. I really got bored while I was on my way home cause I was just sitting there listening to music, looking out the window at the moon(which by the way was extremely beautiful!) and all I did was start to think about stuff that’s been going on again. Ugh it’s like I have to constantly be doing stuff to keep my mind off of things that bother me. It help to just sit there and talk to God about it though, it really helps clear my mind a little. Today I just had a weak stomach all day long. It wouldn’t go away. But yea…ill be really busy this weekend so I’m not worried about thinking about anything. Tomorrow I should be going to my sister’s soccer game…I really wanted to because it’s the only time ill get to see her play. And tomorrow is my little brother’s birthday, so I think I might take him out for dinner. That would defiantly be a lot of fun. Sunday after church I’m probably going out to lunch with my dad before I come back to school! I have to say…I defiantly miss the Virginia sky and laying out under it every night…a lot. It’s so beautiful at night…and you can see the stars so much better.

Home is good. Family is great. Im happy I get to see them and I made it safely here. Sunday I come back…but until then…home cooked meals, and my bed!

"Do not worry about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Phil. 4:6-7

whoa...

today...was a slow day. had my first soccer game after classes and the other team didnt all show, so we just mixed and scrimmaged, but it felt really good to play again. then tonight...was the last night of spiritual emphasis week. i cant even say how much i learned the past few days.
God... is really awesome. I dont even know what else to say. thourgh the stories that our speaker, clayton king, told us...its just amazing testimony of how God works, everyday, in ways that you would never even guess. God is just really the most phenominal thing that could ever happen to anyone...thats it. im so excited for tomorrow!!! another day, a new beginning, a whole new expierence!

colossians 3

in devos tonight I read this...we actually are also using verse 12 as our theme verse for PG =)

"Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity." Colossians 3:12-14

this was pauls strategy for us to live for God everyday...yea its hard. compassion, humility, gentleness, and patience. as school get more involved...thses things will be harder to follow. I might get impatient with a teacher, classmate, or hall mate for something stupid. i might be so concentrated on school and what going on in my life...that i might not take the time to smile at the person walking by me on the way to class. these little things...can evolve into big things. I need to work on these things, and toward having peace in God everyday...just taking it a day at a time.


im going home this weekend. i was walking back from class today and listening to a voicemail from my dad. I really miss him alot. i never thought i would say that i missed my parents, but i really do miss my dad...im really going to miss watching football with him on sundays and monday nights =(...anyway its really late right now and i cant sleep. which isnt good cause then ill be extremely tired for classes tomorrow...oh well. I finally have my first soccer game tomorrow. I ended up on the free agents team with sarah=) hopefully we have some good people though...im a little worried cause its free agents. eh oh well ill have fun with it no matter what! i should probably get some sleep. ill read till i fall asleep...it usually works.

this song is supposed to be God, talking to me, or you...the first time i heard it i cried..heh i know it sounds silly, but it really just depicts how caring our Lord is. its awesome. i wish you could listen to it as well, look it up if you can! i just really wanted to share it. thats it for now =)

You're my beloved, you're my bride
To sing over you is my delight
Come away with me, my love

Under my mercy, come and wait
Till we are standing face to face
I see no stain on you, my child

You're beautiful to me
So beautiful to me

I sing over you my song of peace
Cast all your cares down at my feet
Come and find your rest in me

I'll breathe my life inside of you
I'll bear you up on eagle's wings
And hide you in the shadow of my strength

I'll take you to my quiet waters
I'll restore you soul
Come rest in me and be made whole

You're my beloved, you're my bride
To sing over you is my delight

Come away with me, my love
Come away with me, my love

"My beloved" by kari jobe