tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87757345146529990632024-03-13T05:49:45.947-07:00Sugar the Flying MexicanElizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05737991698580927257noreply@blogger.comBlogger40125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8775734514652999063.post-68241158177046294522008-11-05T05:49:00.000-08:002008-11-05T06:35:23.610-08:00Top 10 and 5 New laws<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Fc7b53gdrz0/SRGvDs3vsjI/AAAAAAAAABc/ZUMmH_FO_jY/s1600-h/frontpage.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265181917492261426" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 109px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Fc7b53gdrz0/SRGvDs3vsjI/AAAAAAAAABc/ZUMmH_FO_jY/s200/frontpage.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Right now Frankie and I are still taking tabs on our front gate at the apartment. Since I last wrote the gate has been smashed in three more times.....twice to the "in" gate and once to the "out" gate...so much for "gated community". And security for that matter, although Southgate is not a bad city to live in. But yeah, I always see people fly through the open gates and a lot of times going "out" through the "in" gate because the "in" is ripped off the hinges and it's too slow to stop at the "out" gate to let it open for you....I just love living in Michigan; not only are the colors on the trees amazing in the fall but all the cars blend in with the blur of colors because they're all driving so fast.<br /><br />So here are my top 10 thoughts on marriage thus far:<br /><br />1. Sharing a bed with someone is harder to adjust to than I thought. I accidentally hit him in the face sometimes.<br />2. Sharing the remote isn't always as annoying as people let on....it's all about give and take people.<br />3. I like cooking at home better than at work because the menu changes every night.<br />4. I love living with my best friend.....we laugh all the time.<br />5. Being in the ministry as a married couple is one of the best experiences of my life so far.<br />6. Having kids is a scary thought after doing laundry for two people, let alone three or four.<br />7. It's interesting to see how our strengths help the others' weaknesses (like me forgetting everything, not being able to find anything, and not being really emotional, whereas Frankie remembers everything, can find anything, and isn't afraid to show emotion.....I'm more like a guy in some of my habits....worse than Frankie, actually.....sad.....he is even tidier than me!!! He's amazing. :))<br />8. It's easier to play pranks on someone you know so well<br />9. I can hide homies in his car without suspicion because it doesn't look like I'm going out of my way to do something unordinary.<br />10. We can "game" together on our DS systems.<br /><br />Now totally different subject, now that Obama is in office I think I will go back to school and become a politician so I can be the first Mexican president. And first woman president. Then I will make laws such as the following:<br /><br />1. There must be homie dispensers at every store.<br />2. Authentic tortillas, beans, and rice are to be served at every restaurant no matter what kind of restaurant it is.<br />3. The white house will be painted red, white and green and will be called the Latina Caliente House.<br />4. Fiestas are to occur every Friday night followed by a long siesta and then we will all eat a cannoli.<br />5. And finally, we will not drive cars anymore but ride donkeys to prevent pollution.<br /><br />I mean, if we can elect B. Hussein Osama into office then why not me? You have to admit, it would be fun....</div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05737991698580927257noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8775734514652999063.post-58518621563748294912008-10-08T04:30:00.000-07:002008-10-08T05:09:35.229-07:00Cuando the Kitty and Scary ThingsI'm staring out the window this dreary fall morning and I'm noticing that the pavement is all wet. I love the fall, and believe it or not, I even love the rainy fall mornings too. This is my favorite time of year....all the stores have the bright, autumn colors like red, orange, yellow, brown, burgandy, purple....and even though we don't celebrate holloween I still love all the funny decorations. I was at the store the other day and as I passed on of those holloween skeletons (you know, the ones everyone knows makes noises when you pass it), it started making it's evil laugh and I screamed bloody murder in the middle of the store.....that was cute. It scared me....a lot. And I like scary movies too, so I can handle freaky movies without nightmares but I can't handle fake skeletons at a craft store.<br /><br />If I had a cat I think I could totally be a full time house wife. I love keeping up my place and making dinner....making sure the dishes are done and the laundry folded. Maybe I'm still in the dillusional state of newlywed-ness, but I've never had huge ambitions to be a world reknown chef.....being a support to my husband and homemaker, and someday a mom, has always kind of been what I look forward to. And I've always known God would use me mightily in that way and that I would truly find joy in it. But there comes a certain lonliness with being home alone all day when you don't work full weeks. So if I had a cat, it would be great. If I had a cat I would name it Cuando, and I would say, "Cuando! Commere, kitty! Mommy's gonna feed you!" And then we'd play with flashlight beams and strings, then we'd cuddle on the couch together while watching What Not to Wear on TLC. I'm just messing around, I think life would get depressing like that after a while, even with a cat...haha. I really do love being a homemaker though. :)Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05737991698580927257noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8775734514652999063.post-53506605014274485462008-10-05T07:12:00.001-07:002008-10-05T07:19:57.882-07:00Gated CommunitySo the apartments we live in is a "gated community", which means that there's a gate which you can only get through if you have the code or a key. But let me ask you this, what is the point if people whip through it all the time, tearing the gate off it's hinges? This has happend twice since we moved in, and even though they replace it, it still happens over again. We're going to keep a tab on how many times it happens while we live here. I mean now that we're married and we live together, our time isn't spent thinking about each other non stop so we have other things to think about....like gates being ripped off, leaving us unprotected and vulnerable to the misfits of ghetto community, known as Detroit. But as long as I have a glass bottle to break against the wall we're ok, cuz then my Mexican will come out and defend my keep. Not really. We actually live in Southgate and it's not scary here, although I did go to a gas station the other day and was worried I would get attacked since I'm not in Sylvania anymore. I feel like Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz....."I don't think we're in Sylvania anymore, Toto...." No, Toto, we're in the Ghet-To.Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05737991698580927257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8775734514652999063.post-12237042422069676392008-10-02T03:46:00.001-07:002008-10-02T03:57:28.944-07:00Married LifeWell I am the world's biggest blog loser....it's not like I've had anything interesting happening in my life lately that I couldn't blog! I mean geesh! <br /><br />The wedding is over, the honeymoon is over, but the chaos is not over! But somehow within that blur of activity I've found my piece of heaven in every day. Life is constantly changing, just like the leaves are beginning to burst with a few spashes of color, and I'm beginning to adjust to the change married life brings. The thing that gets me through is asking Jesus to be my everything, everyday. Only then have I been able to truly find joy in having my own home to make, a husband to care for, and a job to work, a ministry to build. <br /><br />Last night was our first night as Step-Up (our young adults group at church) leaders together. It was such a great time and I just love this group of young adults! We played mafia (a game about killing people and accusing people....perfect for church), and spent some real time in the Word. Afterwards we went to Applebees for half off appetizers with a couple Step Up-ers.....which is what I love so much, ministering on a small and personal basis. Another amazing thing about married life, that Frankie and I can minister together as a team. :)<br /><br />All in all, life throws a lot of changes no matter how ready you feel or how not ready you feel. But God is that saving grace; He is always reminding you that the change is for the good, for if we never saw change then our lives would never touch another's.<br /><br />Love to you all,<br />Libby Julian :)Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05737991698580927257noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8775734514652999063.post-23428827245798514022008-06-03T06:58:00.001-07:002008-06-03T07:22:44.726-07:00Bloggity Blog Blog<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://mariewin.server304.com/marieblog/uploaded_images/bird_poop-715086.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px;" src="http://mariewin.server304.com/marieblog/uploaded_images/bird_poop-715086.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Wow it has been a while, hasn't it? At least I can say life hasn't been boring, it's just been busy! In fact there's been a lot I could blog about....for instance, when someone at work says, "Oh crap...." when a certain regular customer is coming to tea, that's not the ideal response, right? So I've had a lot of attitude blogs come and go through my mind. We also decided to only speak Wookie in the kitchen at work, so if someone comes in and asks, "Can I have another plate of scones? I need five..." while there's only four sitting on the tray, instead of being obviously annoyed with words, just yell out, "grujdghrggrrr!" they'll never know what you said so you won't be in trouble for saying anything bad. So I've had some humorous blogs come and go through my mind as well.<br /><br />I think the biggest thing I'm experiencing right now though is stress; yes, in fact, if you just look at my face you'll notice. Just typical signs, like baggy eyes, glazed eye balls, hair everywhere, a constant large zit (or multiple ones.....dang....) lingering on my face, it just changes spots on a weekly basis, a quiet aura (or is that gas? I don't know..)..... Thankfully, amongst the craziness of life God still keeps Himself real to me. I relate to the apostles in Acts 4:23-31. They were in trouble and were frightened but instead of panicking in fear they prayed. And what gets me is that they didn't pray for deliverance, they prayed for <span style="font-style: italic;">boldness </span>to continue preaching the good news! It is astonishing. A lot of times we pray for God to take our trials away, like if this one thing would be gone life would be just ducky. But I realized when I read this that praying away our problems doesn't benefit us one bit....we HAVE to go through things to let God be glorified. And you know what happened when they prayed? God shook that place, literally, and they did indeed speak with much boldness! Jeremiah 33:3 says, "Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know." This is the reward of calling on God in faith because he DOES reveal Himself, and more! He will shake you, and give you boldness. Not only does He reveal Himself, but the unsearchable things we don't know, which of course only God Himself knows what those things are, but that's why it's so cool because if it's a secret of God it's got to be good!!<br /><br />I've also come to accept the fact that the birds at my house insist on using my car as a port-a-potty and there's nothing I can do about it. I should probably take my car in and get it washed but the combination of not feeling like spending the extra cash and being lazy really cuts into that plan. So if you see me driving by with tiny rusty spots all over my car in a year, it's because the bird poop ate away at the paint and left me with a "new" car.Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05737991698580927257noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8775734514652999063.post-26658396585972932882008-03-24T07:56:00.000-07:002008-03-24T08:06:17.147-07:00Dry BonesThis week my family and I are in Alabama on vacation. We're right on the beach in a gorgeous penthouse condo overlooking the ocean. I've had some precious time with God on this trip, appreciating the beautiful creation around me. We've watched a few movies while we've been here, "Bordertown" and "The Last Sin Eater". Both movies are very different from each other but similar in point. There is a truth out there that people are starving for, in a world full of evil a deceit people are walking with the veil over their eyes. After watching these movies I felt so sad but comforted. Sad because our world is so evil, but comforted because of the truth that sets us free.....it's just a matter of spreading that truth for all to know and receive. I conveniently came upon Ezekiel 37 in my reading, the valley of dry bones. God blew life into those bones, bringing them to life through Ezekiel. Ezekiel is us, and God is waiting to use us if we will just listen and obey. I'm leaving for Haiti in 4 days, and the anticipation is growing. I want to be God's tool, to bring truth into the wanting hearts and breath life into dead souls. Even if it's just touching one or two lives, I know God will be using me to do His will. I can't wait!Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05737991698580927257noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8775734514652999063.post-14612034872335794092008-03-04T14:23:00.000-08:002008-03-04T14:46:17.884-08:00Billy Blanks and Tamilee Webb are cooler than Hillary Clinton<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://cache.viewimages.com/xc/74874769.jpg?v=1&c=ViewImages&k=2&d=17A4AD9FDB9CF193395A77F763DF9CD7874B1422A287596E284831B75F48EF45"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px;" src="http://cache.viewimages.com/xc/74874769.jpg?v=1&c=ViewImages&k=2&d=17A4AD9FDB9CF193395A77F763DF9CD7874B1422A287596E284831B75F48EF45" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.nationalfitnessorganization.com/images/300_webb-tamilee-side-pose.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px;" src="http://www.nationalfitnessorganization.com/images/300_webb-tamilee-side-pose.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />I went and voted today. It was thrilling. I think there were about 5 other people in there at the same time as me, I'm hoping more went to the poles to vote after work! I hate presidential elections...I mean I'm grateful we get to choose our leader, but I hate it because none of the candidates are ever going to be perfectly aligned with what we want. All I know is that I never want to see Hillary Clinton in office, she is a crazy woman and is evil....just look at her pictures, she has this creepy little smirk on her face all the time!!<br /><br />And I'm certainly ready for some warmer weather and sunnier days; this grayness is starting to take its toll on me. I woke up this morning and laid in bed for about 30 minutes doing nothing....and then progressed into my day with some excercise (You would think Tamilee Webb would be old by now...in the 80's she was thriving in her spandex underwear and beige hose with those white, scrunched socks.....I was surprised to see a recent workout video she did a couple years back....she is still a stick and looks like she's 20.....what is that all about?), then some laundry and cleaning in the house, and then did some shopping for work and voted. I got home and my mom gently reminded me that we have a tea house meeting tonight where I snapped, "I know....." with that punky little attitude I get sometimes. It was at this point that I realized I'm not just ready for a change of weather but a change of life in general.<br /><br />I'm sick of just living the mundane, plugging away through every day just to get to the next. I'm worried that on the missions trip I'll be working every day just to get closer to getting back home, where I feel the same way only I don't know where I'm working towards. Does this make any sense? I start wishing I had some certain calling, like how people feel when they're called to the ministry or to be a singer or an interpretive dancer...hahaha....okay maybe not the dancer, but you get the idea. I know, I know.....I'm called to be a chef. I know it's my calling. But I sometimes feel like it's not enough.....like I'm missing out on something. Will I do it forever? I don't know. Which makes me wonder, should I go back to school for something else, just in case? Ugh. It disgusts me sometimes. It disgusts me that I'm so unable to focus on where God has me now and live every day FOR that day, and enjoy it, and not just to get to the next day.<br /><br />On a lighter note, today during my workout (Tae Bo rocks...haha) Billy Blanks said, "Now, you're stinky, hairy leg should always be bent!" I started laughing and was like, "what?" Silly me, he said, "Your stationary leg should always be bent." I think he's cool. And Tamilee. I like them better than Hillary.Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05737991698580927257noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8775734514652999063.post-47976376545193360322008-02-26T07:57:00.000-08:002008-02-26T08:24:08.507-08:00Feed Me!!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www1.istockphoto.com/file_thumbview_approve/1805086/2/istockphoto_1805086_hungry_emoticon_with_clipping_path.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px;" src="http://www1.istockphoto.com/file_thumbview_approve/1805086/2/istockphoto_1805086_hungry_emoticon_with_clipping_path.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />We can all relate to being hungry. The other day I was so hungry I felt like I could eat a cow....I was working all day and even though I'm around food non-stop I never really feel like eating it. So I hadn't eaten anything. Frankie and I went to Red Robin that night and I seriously downed my entire burger....I'm not sure I've ever done that at Red Robin, I mean those burgers are big! It was funny, Frankie ordered a salad and the waiter who brought us our food naturally thought I ordered the salad, and Frankie the burger....that's a good way to make a girl feel like a heifer, haha!......<br /><br />Anyway, I was really happy to get food. Eating is so much better when you're famished. But not everyone can just eat when they're hungry.....when I go to Haiti in March I believe I'll be seeing a lot of that kind of poverty. Worse than physical poverty is spiritual poverty. Lamentations 4:4 says, "Because of thirst the infant's tongue sticks to the rood of its mouth; the children beg for bread, but no one gives it to them." New believers are at such a risk of this, not being fed spiritually and even if they beg for that spiritual food the mature believers are so consumed in their own growth that they go unnoticed. One of my great fears is that I will overlook the needs of another believer because of my own. Doesn't the Bible say to put others before ourselves? It's even a common thing for grown believers who once believed crave something more, and because of their own intellect find themselves in dire need of some sort of spiritual fulfillment, but are looking into their own minds rather than the truth of God's love. Their tongues stick to the roof of their mouths and they crave bread, something to fill their empty stomachs, but nothing can really satisfy that emptiness except the real deal......it's like drinking pop instead of water, you can take in all you want but it only makes your thirst worse. Those tricky pop companies!!Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05737991698580927257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8775734514652999063.post-79470034985282163322008-02-13T14:47:00.000-08:002008-02-16T22:04:20.910-08:00Nothing-ness<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Fc7b53gdrz0/R7fMY8ozo6I/AAAAAAAAABU/cP6C8ljPH-Q/s1600-h/scan.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Fc7b53gdrz0/R7fMY8ozo6I/AAAAAAAAABU/cP6C8ljPH-Q/s200/scan.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5167823826397143970" border="0" /></a><br />In honor of my super annoying brother-in-law, I've decided to post a blog about nothing in particular. He yells at me for posting about things which end on a positive note and are encouraging/teaches some sort of lesson....I think he suggested writing with rage....rage....RAGE!!!<br /><br />It's hard for me to write in rage because I'm never really mad, but I can tell you about the last time I was mad. I was playing euchre with my sister, Jon, Amy, and I have just learned the basics of the game so naturally I'm not very good. SO, after being totally lost and being told what cards to play the entire game by Andy I was getting tired of the game but couldn't stop till the entire round was over. In a moment of irrational irritation I lashed out at my beloved Frankie when he was trying to call me to say hi....So what did I learn through this? That when I am learning something new and don't understand it right away and don't catch on really super fast, I get really mad. I think it's probably a pride/insecurity issue so that's interesting...<br /><br />I was also thinking about marriage the other day and what it'll be like. Frankie told me he expects me to cut his toenails, do thorough cleanings of the house every day using a toothbrush for detailed cleaning, cook at least 3 meals a day (with a minimum of 4 courses each), pluck his eyebrows, do all his laundry, birth at least 5 kids in the first 3 years of marriage, and paint self-portraits of him every year to hang in the hallways of our house. I also expect a lot from him though, I mean I expect at least one vacation a month to places like Hawaii, France, Italy, Spain, and Ireland, lots of expensive jewelry, a box of chocolates every Monday morning by my pillow, serenade me every night before bed, rub my feet at the end of every day, a back rub every other night, and a monthly allowance of $2,000 for clothing. I think we're off to a good start....;)<br /><br />My dad makes the volume on the TV so loud I think I'll go deaf before this blog is over.<br /><br />I think it's funny that they put instructions on a pill package telling you what to do with the pill. What else would you do with it? Do you pick up your pills and crush them up and use them for seasoning in your food? Here's a recipe for success: crush up some prozac and use it like a sandwich sprinkle or like you would salt. Salt is actually a food enhancer, it opens up your tastebuds to let in more flavor....it's the same concept, it's like salt, it just enhances your happy-factor. What else would you do with your pill besides swallow it? Let's see....you could use it to play finger football, you know where you make the triangle with paper? Or you could use colace pills in a muffin recipe...that's a tasty treat for someone you don't like very much! You could make a pretty collage out of vitamin supplements. The possibilities are endless.<br /><br />Oh wow, it's over and I'm not deaf...Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05737991698580927257noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8775734514652999063.post-7158756831282193762008-02-12T15:24:00.000-08:002008-02-12T15:53:45.407-08:00My Home ChurchBedford Christian Community has been my home church for 7 amazing years. I've gone through so many good and bad times, both challenging and sometimes grueling, but BCC has always been my place of refuge and encouragement through all of those times. I never had it stuck in my mind that I'd stay at the same church my whole life, simply because I never knew, or thought that I knew, what the future would hold or where God would take me. Well this past Sunday I spent the morning at Faith Christian Assembly, the church I will be going to after Frankie and I tie the knot in September! My heart feels so torn sometimes, when you're faced with a situation where you lose something you love but gain something you love in return, it's such a bittersweet thing. I can't express my joy about going to FCA; it's going to be an amazing time of growth and new challenges, which Frankie and I will face as a married couple and as a team as we lead the young adults ministry there. I look back and can't believe how all the things I've been involved in and been a part of at BCC have prepared me for this point, where I'll be helping in the same areas at Faith. Isn't it cool to look back and see how God has prepared us and we don't even realize it until the crossroad comes?<br /><br />Just like we discussed in youth group last night that we're all a piece of the puzzle of God's plan, so is every talent and ability we possess, every issue we face, and every mountain and valley we experience throughout life. Whether it's a lifestyle change or a change of mindset, it's all a part of God's master puzzle for our life, and our one life is a little piece in the master puzzle of His plan. So I'm changing churches.....I'm blessed to say I've been a part of Bedford, and I thank Pastors Nate and Rick, Wendy and Beth, Vanessa, Lauren, and Mike and Pam Hardy, for the leadership they've shown and impact they've had on my life while I've been at BCC. <br /><br />I know these next 7 months are going to fly by so I felt this on my heart tonight....I just wanted to share with all of you BCC-ers how much I love you and appreciate you! Ephesians 1:16 "I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers."Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05737991698580927257noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8775734514652999063.post-66530952451948180762008-01-26T15:42:00.000-08:002008-01-26T15:51:48.462-08:00ProvisionIn the past month I've thought more about politics than I ever have, even more than the last presidential election. Last time I went to vote on November 2 (my birthday), and I was turning 21. I had asked my dad who he was going to vote for so I write it all down and voted like my dad! Haha, lame I know, but I trust my dad's opinion. But this time I've thought about the candidates and I won't say my stance because politics can get very emotional for some people.....all I know is it's got me thinking about our world today. We all know we're in the last days. It's obvious and all around us, someone was even talking about the economy and how our nation is well on its way to the next Great Depression. The more I thought about all these things the worse I felt, and was starting to feel really depressed. But as I read my Bible the other the day the Lord comforted me with these words:<br /><br />"You still the hunger of those you cherish; their sons have plenty, and they store up wealth for their children. <span id="en-NIV-14119" class="sup"></span>And I—in righteousness I will see your face; when I awake, I will be satisfied with seeing your likeness." ~Psalm 17:14b-15<br /><br />All I can say is that I am so grateful to have my faith in Christ to fall back on! No matter what happens, whether the U.S. falls into another depression or not God will always provide for His children. And either way, we can wake up every day and be satisfied with looking around and seeing God's likeness in the world around us and the provision He brings.Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05737991698580927257noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8775734514652999063.post-11542798295117333672008-01-09T18:56:00.000-08:002008-01-09T19:19:46.014-08:00Joys of the Past<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.doubleexposure.com/uploads/joy_dbarnett.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px;" src="http://www.doubleexposure.com/uploads/joy_dbarnett.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />It is a new year! It's only the second week in January and time has flown by. Getting engaged over Christmas was definitely the highlight of the past few weeks, and already the planning has begun. We booked Nazareth Hall for the ceremony and reception, we've also booked the photographer, the florist, we've bought my dress and chosen the bridesmaid dresses. I feel like time is going so fast. I realized today that this Christmas was my last Christmas at home.....and even that is not really fair to say since I've been living in an apartment since September. As I was taking Christmas ornaments down, putting away the nativity, rolling up the lights, I felt really sentimental about my family's tree. It's totally hodge podge, with huge colored lights and a gaudy star which lights up and changes colors. But that's what I grew up with, and I wouldn't want it any other way!<br /><br />Four of us kids have grown up in this house, switched rooms numerous times, been homeschooled, learned how to play baseball in the front yard and basketball in the driveway, practiced serves for volleyball against the garage door, learned how to swim in the pool which sadly died a few years back, and I will never forget when we bought the swingset, which still stands strong in the back yard. Four family pets have come and gone, grandkids have found their footing in these rooms, and old pictures reflect the change of styles this home has had over the years. I've been thinking about how times change and how different we were all ten years ago. I used to ask my mom, "Mom, how do I know when God speaks to me?" I would agonize over this issue, even cry at times, longing for God to speak to me, that an audible voice would come and fill my yearning. Though I understand now what it's like when God speaks to me, thinking about how I used to agonize over it when I was young reminded me that no matter how old we get, those questions from long ago are evidence of the thirst only God can fill. Though I don't ask those questions anymore, no person or thing can ever fill what God is only suited for. No matter how much in love you are or how dedicated to your job, or how excited you are about the future, God is ultimately the only one thing you will find true and pure life in. You will find that even in your most joyful times, if your life isn't centered on Christ, you won't feel it like God wants you to. Let's keep Him in the center, and in doing so experience true joy!!<br /><br />Isaiah 55:12 "<span id="en-NIV-18753" class="sup"></span>You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands."Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05737991698580927257noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8775734514652999063.post-84292040828205629902007-12-24T19:03:00.000-08:002007-12-24T20:08:19.737-08:00My Favorite Christmas Gift of 2007<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.azumano.com/webcontent/HAL/Holiday%20Present.bmp"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px;" src="http://www.azumano.com/webcontent/HAL/Holiday%20Present.bmp" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><div>This weekend was my extended family's Christmas and I have come to find that the annoying dynamics of my family are also the ones which make me love them so much. Last night was all the prep work for today, we baked, made sleeping arrangements at my parents' house, bought last minute groceries and supplies, wrapped presents.....all that good stuff. Well as I mentioned before there are things about my family which annoy me sometimes like saying breakfast is going to be at 10:30 and then we don't even sit down till 11:30, my sisters following me around wherever I go while being loud and obnoxious, and also being ultra dramatic about where everyone will sleep. So anyway Frankie has never seen this side of my family before, naturally, since this is our first Christmas together. Who would ever imagine deciding where everyone would sleep would be such a huge deal? Satya says, "Oh my gosh! Where are we all going to sleep, I mean Ben needs a bed, Libby needs a bed, the girls, Jon and me, Frankie....we all have to sleep somewhere!!!" OH HORRORS!!! I usually get irritated at this unnecessary drama but seeing Frankie's humorous reaction to the whole thing made me realize just how funny it really is! Being someone who loves to laugh I wholeheartedly rid myself of all irritation. So as we were sitting down to dinner tonight I looked around the table at my dear family and felt a wave of emotion come over me. I love my family so much, and thinking of the fact that God brings us all together in such a unique and wonderful way makes me so grateful. We always talk about the church being the "body" and that we all work together as one vessel. I think we often forget the smaller part of being one "body", our own families. My family is made up of an array of different backgrounds and beliefs. My grandparents are Mennonite, my Uncle a Quaker, my Aunt is Methodist and her husband not religious at all. My brother-in-law is searching for answers and the rest of us are Pentecostals. All raised in different eras and times, old-school and new, quiet and loud, irritable and tolerant, such a variety of personalities and backgrounds! Thinking about this made it so much cooler to know my family still loves each other, builds each other up as one unit, and that God has an ultimate plan. I'm glad Frankie laughed, otherwise I may not have recognized this till later down the road. So from that one little act of finding humor in the silly things God gave me such a sweet and lovely gift this Christmas about my family. Thanks for the gift, Lord, it's my favorite!!<br /></div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05737991698580927257noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8775734514652999063.post-48369819589210596652007-12-20T19:39:00.000-08:002007-12-21T14:51:17.039-08:00Are You Serious?<a href="http://firstrung.co.uk/dbimgs/slow_down.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://firstrung.co.uk/dbimgs/slow_down.jpg" border="0" /></a> Serious:<br />1.of, showing, or characterized by deep thought.<br />2.of grave or somber disposition, character, or manner<br />3.being in earnest; sincere; not trifling<br />4.requiring thought, concentration, or application<br />5.weighty or important<br />6.giving cause for apprehension; critical <div> </div><div>I looked up the meanings for the word serious because someone asked me a question the other day about how serious I was about something. Actually they asked me how serious my boyfriend Frankie and I are and I said, "Very, very serious....we never smile...." Not really, we laugh all the time actually but it got me thinking about "serious". I love to laugh so sometimes I have a hard time taking things seriously. The definition I thought about was number 6, giving cause for apprehension. Sometimes apprehension is what saves us from ourselves. I've felt myself holding back in situations and I strongly feel the Holy Spirit has used apprehension in my life to tell me something wasn't right for me. When that disquiet moves on my spirit I know it is a "serious" matter, something worth thinking about, then I allow my apprehension to help me slow down. So, just some random thinking, next time you feel trepidation over something don't let let it panic you, just let it show you it's something you need to slow down and think about.</div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05737991698580927257noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8775734514652999063.post-9572172116672100522007-12-01T22:08:00.000-08:002007-12-02T19:03:20.026-08:00Desperate<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.leadlearnlove.com/myFolder/contentManagerImages/8/LOVE_GOD_IN_WORSHIP/TOP/112007143437_worship%202.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px;" src="http://www.leadlearnlove.com/myFolder/contentManagerImages/8/LOVE_GOD_IN_WORSHIP/TOP/112007143437_worship%202.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>I've been doing a lot of thinking about being desperate for God. How desperate are we? We sing songs at church about being desperate for Him, longing for more of Him, and panting for Him like a deer pants for water, but do we truly go to the depth of that longing? Or is it just a lyric we say to make ourselves believe we are? The other day as I was driving home from work I saw a deer struggling along a fence....literally beating itself to death trying to jump over this fence, the fence was just too high, and the scene created a traffic jam so I had a minute to see what exactly was happening. At one point the deer jumped into the fence and fell backwards onto it's hind side and just laid there for minute, panting, then it got back up and kept jumping....it had a bleeding gash on it's shoulder and was bleeding from its eye and mouth as well because it was trying to hard to get over the fence to the woods where it knew it belonged. I thought about this deer when I thought about our "desperation".....are we as desperate as that deer was? We should be. I think what happens is that before people are saved they see over that fence, they see the place they need to be with Christ and will do anything, even to the point of pain and anguish, to get there for the sake of knowing God. But after we get over that fence and find our salvation, that desperation is still a necessity to our growth in Christ. It's the longing which pushes us further into the woods, further into the lands and valleys and mountains which mature us and make us realize that no matter how far we go there is ALWAYS something more to learn about God, there is always another treasure to find in Jesus, another story to find, other lives to touch. Desperation for Jesus isn't something which only pushes us to our salvation but pushes us to find the actual heart of God! Not too much later that evening I went running down that same road and all was back to normal, as it should be. Life changes by the minute my friends, and without our longing and desperate pursuit of the Lord the experiences we may face one day will not make a difference the next. But it's our choice. Let your longing push you further into Father God's heart, allow your passion for Him make a difference...let it change your life.Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05737991698580927257noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8775734514652999063.post-62802980787782813292007-11-16T19:09:00.000-08:002007-11-16T19:50:12.657-08:00Quiet Calling<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.ladiesagainstfeminism.org/articles/cooking.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px;" src="http://www.ladiesagainstfeminism.org/articles/cooking.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />I have a lot of time alone when I work, so most days I have a lot of time to think and pray....In the quiet hours I spend in the kitchen, baking, cooking, organizing, cleaning....God quietly reveals His heart to me. I love those times. God, my cooking, and me. There's something about it which makes every thing I do seem so much more meaningful....with every fold of dough, every beat of the mixer, and every pie which slowly browns and caramelizes in the oven, I feel the Holy Spirit working in my heart. Today a woman came to pay her bill and told me how amazing the food was and that I must make it with a lot of love! She was sweet and excited, and I told her, "Well, I guess you could say that. I pray over it while I make it." And that is how I know I've found my calling. No matter where I work, how good the food is, or how fast it is rushed to their table, the only reason it is enjoyed is because God is always with me. We often pray God will be our hands, our feet, His words will come out of our mouths, our hearts will be ones after His own. When I work I can feel my hands doing His work and my feet walking those rooms to minister to the people hungry for more than a multiple course meal. I pray that no matter where God takes me in life I will always have the confidence that I'm exactly where He wants me to be. Where He's going to take me I have no clue. But that's okay.....I just keep cooking, praying, and waiting for Him to reveal Himself to me....and He never ceases to show up.Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05737991698580927257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8775734514652999063.post-51434451395812481142007-11-13T21:20:00.000-08:002007-11-13T22:15:37.051-08:00Removing the Anvil<a href="http://www.gowaniron.com/images/758_Alvin_Ross_Gowan_s_Anvil.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://www.gowaniron.com/images/758_Alvin_Ross_Gowan_s_Anvil.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-size:85%;">I have, for many years, not been a person prone to crying. Most events like weddings, funerals, hurts, joys, pms, whatever, are things which make people produce this phenomenon of water bursting out of your eyeballs but for some reason, for many years, I wanted so badly to be able to cry but I just couldn't. Walls had been built up in my life, and even though crying doesn't change a situation or even make it better, it is a symbol of vulnerability which most don't want to show and I am one of those people. Building those walls wasn't just a matter of guarding my heart, it was a matter of making it unreachable. For a while I wouldn't even allow myself to cry by the prompting of the Holy Spirit, and pushing down that emotion made me feel like I was carrying a 5-ton anvil in my heart. I have even been proud of my hard heart at times, thinking it was a way of being tough, like the world just can't reach me! But I realized that having a hard heart only makes me more like the world, rather than someone the world cannot get to. Having a hard heart doesn't bring me closer to God, and neither does is make me more like God. All it does is makes me inpenetrable by the working of the Holy Spirit when He wants to work in me, and makes it harder for me to relate to others. One of the hardest things for me to do is approach someone and tell them why I feel a certain way, or tell them I'm upset, or share something which could possibly make me feel uncomfortable. But relationships are about being open and loving each other, no matter where you are coming from or what the past tells. In all my experiences not one of my true friends have ever rejected me because of my imperfection, and neither have I rejected them. Why? Because we are all imperfect and live in a fallen world where we are saved by grace and grace alone. One of the most powerful tools the devil uses against us is the fear of being truly known, and therefore makes us think it's okay to wear that facade of being perfectly okay. It's worse to be "perfectly okay" (because no one really is), than to be "not okay" and be honest with yourself and others. What does this have to do with crying? Crying is just one way to express emotion, and even though I know it doesn't change the situation, my tears have been a sign that God has been working and molding my heart. Maybe for you it's something different, but for me it's simply allowing myself to be open with Jesus, allowing myself be vulnerable....a scary place to be when you've been so guarded for so long, but the best place to be with the Savior who already knows why you're scared, what you're scared of, and is willing to take the anvil out of your heart. This is what He means by saying, "my burden is light"...because we give Him ours and we are suddenly free. To you, my dear friend and prayer partner, thank you for encouraging me to be open and honest....and my true self....you are a priceless treasure.</span>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05737991698580927257noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8775734514652999063.post-12958741293483125092007-11-06T21:51:00.000-08:002007-11-07T05:27:11.863-08:00Sloth and Chunk<a href="http://bestuff.com/images/images_of_stuff/210x600/sloth--chunk-28567.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bestuff.com/images/images_of_stuff/210x600/sloth--chunk-28567.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Have you ever seen The Goonies? I love that movie, I grew up watching it. My favorite person was Chunk, and I think it's because I could relate to him on a chubby level since I was a bit on the pudge side as a kid......I just thought he was really funny, doing the truffle-shuffle and always being hungry. Either way, I always liked the fact that Chunk befriended Sloth. Sloth wasn't much on the outside, just a big ogre-like guy with a crazy eyes and a big head with a little patch of hair on top, but under the layer of ugliness was a real gem. At the very end Sloth stands up under a crumbling wall to save all the characters in the movie and before Chunk goes through he says, "I love you Sloth!" and he of course yells back, "I wuv oo too Chunk!" You may be at a brink in life, a steep cliff is before you and you have to decide whether or not to jump. The situation may seem dim and look really ugly on the outside, and you may want to flee in the oposite direction thinking, "God I just can't handle this, it's too much and it's far too ugly for me to face!" Before you step back in fear and run away, consider what the result could be if you did take that plunge. Why would God put something in front of you which you can't overcome? After you look that ugly situation straight in the eye and say, "I will not be consumed by you, no, I will live and be the person God created me to be!" You may find that situation was exactly what you needed to discover exactly who God IS creating you to be. It's the ugly things we face which end up blessing us in the long run. And sometimes, overcoming means failing. God puts situations in front of us and sometimes when we fail, it's solely to reveal our need for God and the strength of our Father. So in the end of the movie Sloth saves all the kids by standing up under a crumbling wall of rocks. The rocks were heavy but he stood his ground because he knew he had to. Stand firm in your faith, and when the cliff finally starts to crumble around you you will find the strength to stand up under it. It could've been so easy for Sloth just to let all the rocks fall on them and be like, "Wow, I'm big but not big enough to hold this falling wall up!" but he still held up and in the end, after he stood the test, he found a new home and family. Oh, and Chunk's mom got them all pizza (Chunk's favorite, yesssss.....), and they also found a little bag of treasure which ended up saving their homes, creating a happy ending for all! God doesn't want us to be miserable, He just wants us to be strong in Him so we can be with Him forever. he want us to have our happy ending. God's plans always prevail, so if His plan is for us to be happy, we will be happy. And now, it's time for the truffle-shuffle of joy!</div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05737991698580927257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8775734514652999063.post-66403155612984293992007-10-31T12:07:00.000-07:002007-10-31T12:30:02.520-07:00Not What It Seems<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://images.jupiterimages.com/common/detail/45/95/22199545.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px;" src="http://images.jupiterimages.com/common/detail/45/95/22199545.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />I went to the doctor today to have my knee checked....you see, I had a pretty bad fall last weekend down some cement stairs and man did it hurt! Not only do I have multiple bruises on my arms, legs, hip, even my finger, but I also had a humbled pride as well (I was also wearing a skirt so you can imagine my humiliation haha). Anyway my doctor asked me all sorts of questions about pain, what hurts, what doesn't, checked swelling, etc., and I had some x-rays done. But I have to be honest, my knee doesn't LOOK affected at all but was the most painful after the fall. She gave me some anti-inflammatory pills and said they'd call about the x-rays. Sometimes people are the same way, they look fine on the outside but on the inside they're screaming out in pain. All they need is a little relief, someone to talk to, someone to pray for them, something to make them feel better. A girl in youth group this past Monday looked just fine and happy but once I asked if she needed prayer for anything she went from an instant transition from "happy" to not being able to stop crying. Then again, Frankie and I made a friend at the Rite Aid by my apartment and we decided to stop in to see if he was working. On the outside it was just a friendly hello, but as we talked with our friend we found out he was a Christian and it ended up being a mini time of encouragement. I encourage you to look a little deeper. After the outside layer is peeled back and the facade broken down, you may find a deep hurt you can help heal, or a situation which needs prayer, maybe even a soul who needs saving.Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05737991698580927257noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8775734514652999063.post-24684094125594779042007-10-25T21:00:00.000-07:002007-10-25T21:37:26.674-07:00Good Crops<a href="http://www.alderbrook.com/images/home_1.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://www.alderbrook.com/images/home_1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><span style="font-size:85%;">I've been thinking about a particular section of scripture tonight. Isaiah 5:1-2, "I will sing for the one I love a song about his vineyard: My loved one had a vineyard on a fertile hillside. He dug it up and cleared it of stones and planted it with the choicest vines. He built a watchtower in it and cut out a winepress as well. Then he looked for a crop of good grapes, but it yielded only bad fruit."</span></div><div><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-size:85%;">Your life is cleaned, de-weeded (is that a word? haha), and cleared of stones by the Life Gardener. He knows exactly what you need and provides. He provides water, food, light, shade, protection from the enemy, and even provides your life with the things you need to fill into the lives of others. But when He comes searching for a crop will you have done anything with those things He's provided? It's so easy to be so happy with where you're at that it's not even contentment anymore....it turns into indifference, sometimes even laziness. PT talked about taking risks, and to stay on the ball sometimes we have to take chances. God takes a chance on us. Not that He NEEDS us, but He still uses us and by doing so truly takes a chance on giving us responsibilities which He is fully capable of doing Himself. Why does He do that? He knows we screw up all the time, and Heknows we are dreadfully prone to sin. But He uses us because, what purpose would we have in life if it weren't for the purpose of God? He knows we're nothing without Him, and we know it too. It seems kind of harsh but that's the reality of it. So allow God to not only tend to your vineyard but also take the same risk God takes on us....step out and use the gifts He's given so that your life will be overflowing with rivers of living water (or wine, whichever you prefer (::gasp:::you lush...haha)), so that God won't find a bad crop in the vineyard He's prepared for you.</span></div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05737991698580927257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8775734514652999063.post-53329951088376897842007-10-19T23:53:00.001-07:002007-10-20T00:21:37.069-07:00When Nothing Satisfies<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.progressiveart.com/pino/pino-2004-longing-for.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px;" src="http://www.progressiveart.com/pino/pino-2004-longing-for.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">I have been saved for 18 years. I prayed with my mom when I was four years old, I still remember what it was like outside and the sound of my mom's voice as she led me to salvation. Looking back on my childhood I remember numerous times where my heart was overwhelmed with love for Jesus. I didn't know much about life or the depth of God, and I didn't have great knowledge about the Bible. But one thing remained the same from then until now as a 22-year-old woman, and that is the fulfillment I have found in Christ. When I was 4 I was innocent and naive, but all the better for I was able to receive with an open the heart without the world tainting my mind and thoughts. Now with the world pressing in every day I look back to those simple times and reflect on what the Lord has done. Life has changed, times have changed, I have changed, but God has not. When I need refreshing and nothing satisfies the longing in my heart for something more I remember the days of my childhood and therein remember the Love of my life, my first Love, the everlasting Father who will never change. So when nothing satisfies you, which nothing ever really will, look to God and He will close in on the longing in your heart. Then you'll have found or remembered what truly satisfies.</span>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05737991698580927257noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8775734514652999063.post-87891227752790216282007-10-14T13:49:00.000-07:002007-10-14T14:04:36.431-07:00Speak Up!Today at church we had a quiet time to sit and reflect on our lives, you know just a little time to pray and ask the Lord where we need change. Sometimes I feel kind of weird when we have these moments, not because I feel awkward with God or because I think I'm perfect but because I'm always close to laughing at the ridiculous things God reveals to me. They aren't ridiculous because I think I don't really need change but because God reveals things that are so obvious but we are so clueless! Haha! Well I realize about myself that I don't like verbalizing things. Certain things I do, sure, like, "It's Christmas!" or "My birthday's tomorrow!". But in life there are a lot of things that I feel if I say something, they really will be concrete.....I will be held accountable to my word and it scares me sometimes. I suppose it's a good thing because then I actually think about what I say before I say it, but then it can also hurt when something needs to be said and I don't say it. You know that book The Five Love Languages? Well I am pretty sure mine isn't words of affirmation because it's hard for me to believe people when they say things....I guess words have hurt me so much in the past that I've come to believe words are cheap and unless you follow your words with action it means nothing to me. Funny because I know I've lacked in action after words came out of my mouth. So, God showed me that, through the Holy Spirit, my words can offer life, they can give peace, and being held accountable is a horrible reason to not say anything. I love encountering these everyday or weekly lessons.....even when they're irritating because they show my humanity, I laugh and praise God for them!Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05737991698580927257noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8775734514652999063.post-18869585642120285692007-10-10T11:25:00.000-07:002007-10-10T13:47:08.289-07:00Willing<a href="http://tracyhurst.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/12/willing&able.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://tracyhurst.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/12/willing&able.jpg" border="0" /></a> 2 Corinthians 8: 11-12<br /><br />"11Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means. 12For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have. "<br /><br />I like how this is worded, "so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it." Whatever it is that's being done, do you have an eager willingness to do it? Think about that last stretch in a race, the last 30 minutes of a long day at work, or the last hour of a long drive. Let your willingness to finish the task be as urgent as your desire to be done with it. We can easily have a strong desire to be done with something, but it takes effort to actually be willing to put our heart into the completion of it. When willingness is there we reap abundantly because a good attitude always produces more fruit. What we reap is a gift to the Lord, and He accepts it because it's from us living as a worship offering to Him.<br /><br />God, I'm willing. My will is broken in light of all the plans You've ordained for my life. I rejoice in the grace you've extended to me, and I step forward with joy knowing you have already gone before me. My heart is Yours, Jesus, take it and fill it with desire, passion, and drive only You can give. With eager willingness I look forward to what You have in store!Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05737991698580927257noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8775734514652999063.post-29995428994379415112007-10-02T13:16:00.001-07:002007-10-02T13:29:33.185-07:00Humbled<div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.jesuswalk.com/philippians/images/michelangelo_pieta469x466.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://www.jesuswalk.com/philippians/images/michelangelo_pieta469x466.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /></div>I feel humbled today. Life is a blessing and sometimes it seems like everything couldn't be better, and then I open my eyes and realize some things have been neglected. Sure I get up and do my devotions every day. I pray, I want to follow God with my whole heart and just when I feel like my spiritual life couldn't be better, God rips that pride out of my hand. It isn't depressing, it's a good thing, and a necessary thing.<br /><br />I made what's called demi-glace in school once. It's meant to be brought to a slow boil and then simmered for hours. If it boils it'll get grainy. In a moment of mindlessness I forgot to turn down the heat and the result was grainy. I let it go too far, and my hard work was no longer a thing to be praised but something to be fixed. Luckily there was a way to fix it....sure it wasn't "perfect" like I'd hoped, but it was still good. As a second-year student in the culinary program I was humbled, but I had another chance to fix what was wrong. It was necessary for my to learn to be careful next time.<br /><br />Our daily walk is about Jesus, not about others, or about us, if it's anything else but Jesus pride slips in. Don't let your mind trick to you to believe it's anything else but about God.Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05737991698580927257noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8775734514652999063.post-67005412294775460122007-09-26T14:47:00.000-07:002007-09-26T15:03:33.199-07:00Unpolluted<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Fc7b53gdrz0/RvrW2SceOqI/AAAAAAAAAAs/1Bwy5Q5PU50/s1600-h/group04.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5114636554985159330" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Fc7b53gdrz0/RvrW2SceOqI/AAAAAAAAAAs/1Bwy5Q5PU50/s320/group04.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this......to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. ~James 1:27</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>This morning I got up and stood with students at Ida High School for See You At the Pole to pray for their school and lift up the faculty, students, the building, advisors, the nation, and the world, holding hands and standing together. It strikes me as a privilage to be a leader to these young people and I remember being in their position; a young high school kid who had sports, games, homework, friends, and many things on my teenie bopper to-do list! haha. But it was very important to me at the time, and it's important to me now because those times made me who I am today, and is shaping these students today into who they will be in years to come. So as I was standing there in prayer our little circle grew slowly. </div><div> </div><div>Now thinking about this morning I read this verse with a new perspective. It's vital that mature Christians keep ourselves from being polluted by the world but it's also our responsibility to help the young ones from being polluted as well. We cannot shield them completely but by a covering of prayer and Godly wisdom we can help. It was like a small circle of light around that flagpole this morning, shining in a dark world where they will be tempted, hurt, and people will try to rob them of their confidence. I praise God that our students were willing to go early and lift their prayers to the Lord, and I praise God for bringing me to this place in my life. Only time will tell what an impact these students will have in the future days and years to come!!</div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05737991698580927257noreply@blogger.com0