The touch of God's hand

I have a devotional I would like to share with each of you... I ready this Thursday night after the Alabama game.. and just felt it was so appropriate and so relevant to our daily lives...
(***Small side note, all Bible passages are from 'The Message', I encourage you to look them up and study them in multiple versions.***)

1 Timothy 5:12-13 - By breaking thier word, they're liable to go from bad to worse, frittering away thier days on empty talk, gossip and trivialites.
Luke 16:10-12 - If you're honest in small things, you'll be honest in big things; If you're a crook in small things, you'll be a crook in big things. If you're not honest in small jobs, who will put you in charge of the store?
Reflect: Small things matter. Little things add up, like the money I spend at Starbucks and the time I invest my PlayStation. Usually I think only some big sin can trip me up, that a big, bad 'Thou shalt not' is what gets in my way of being completely faithful to God. But it's the little things that show where my affections lie. If I spend more time preparing for a fantasy baseball draft than seeking God's direction for my life, then something deep down inside of me isn't right. When the trivial takes priority over the important, my life needs to change.
Fast: Today, fast from the trivial. For the rest of the day, do without things that don't really matter. Instead of watching a mindless movie or playing solitaire on your computer, use that time to read the Bible and pray. Give the money you would spend on a latte to missions or to someone who wouldn't have a meal otherwise. Find a way to use the money, time, and energy you would normally spend on the trivial to do something important, something that matters, something that will last longer than getting to the second level on Halo 2.
This was taken from my devotional book '7 Minutes with God'






It is so true, how often do we, especially as college students forget the important in life and become bogged down with school, work, band, video games, and just life in general. Do we really take time to thank and acknowledge the one who has given us all that we have? Our one and only Savior is just hoping and praying for our attention... I as well as anyone know that sometimes I pack my life so full that sometimes it is hard to take a time out to just praise and adore my God. I feel that this is something each of us need to evaluate and rework in our lives.

I pray that each and every one of you have a blessed and marvelous day, that the Lord my astound you with His blessings, and that you take the time to visit with Him a while. God loves you so much, and look at all He has given us. I am truly blessed to call each of you my friends and I pray that He continues to lead and guide us through this crazy world.

Thankful

A few of my friends have been trying to write something that they are thankful for every day in November... So... I have a little bit to catch up on, but I thought it was my time to try it.

1. I am thankful for my family... Lord knows they mean the world to me, and some people never truly value their family.
2. I am thankful for Internet... wow, yeah, I know... but I have been able to keep up with so many friends since moving away because of it. Lord knows I couldn't do without mine and Mary-Anne's daily talks.
3. I am thankful for Mary-Anne... when you graduate college you never really know how life will be or what will happen. I am so thankful to be able to keep in touch with such a great girl, and she lives the farthest away of any of my friends!
4. I am thankful for friends... I know I couldn't name every one of you here, but you know who you are.. I couldn't make it through life without friends.
5. I am thankful for Sean.. He is so good to me, (I know you are thinking WHAT?!) But honestly, I am so lucky to have dated such a wonderful Christian guy. So many girls go through terrible relationships and horrible breakups because they are with some selfish guy... I am thankful to know that my life is blessed and better because of Sean.
6. I am thankful for the University of Alabama... It has been a lifelong dream to come here and go to school here. Just being on campus is mesmerizing... what a magical place.
7. I am thankful for my job.... I am so blessed to have such a great job with great benefits and coworkers that I love!!!
8. I am thankful for Christian coworkers... I am reminded of God's faithfulness every day.
9. I am thankful for food to eat... you know... so many people are so needy... we must realize how blessed we are.
10. I am thankful for school... Even when I am tired of studying... I am thankful to have this opportunity
11. I am thankful for math... I am so happy to be able to teach children something I truly love and couldn't be happier doing.
12. I am thankful for joy... No matter what God has a plan for me that will make me truly happy
13. I am thankful for my church... Tuscaloosa is truly God's country.. I am so thankful to have a church up here that I can call my own that is so on fire for God.
14. I am thankful for my apartment... I am blessed to have a wonderful and safe place to live!
15. I am thankful for my roommates... wow... that could have been a disaster! But I am so blessed with great roomies!
16. I am thankful for Troy... I am so blessed to have a wonderful Alma Mater and great family and friends still there.
17. I am thankful for the Sound of the South... I am a proud Alumni and I couldn't have had a better undergraduate experience because of it! The SOTS truly made my undergraduate career!
18. I am thankful for SAI... without my experiences and leadership roles in this organization I couldn't be the woman, or girl, that I am today... I honestly learned so much from the organization and my sisters. I wouldn't trade a second!
19. I am thankful for God and His guidance in my life... even though I don't always listen... I am trying and knowing that no matter what He is always there.. I know that everything will work out for His glory!

I love you all and hope you have a great week!

Tuscaloosa Tidbits

I have had a wonderful weekend of rest and relaxation! Today I am cleaning and getting a few things accomplished. So finally I am posting some great pictures that chronicle some things that have been happening lately.

I love receiving mail! It makes me so happy... I had ordered some books from half.com and got a bunch of other stuff. This was all in my mailbox one day! It made me so happy... of course, you can tell because I liked it enough to take a picture!

This is from Mary Allison and Brandon's engagement party. Her cousin Anna threw a beautiful party with great food and a very sentimental atmosphere! It was wonderful. I had a great time hanging out with friend that I hadn't seen since graduation and celebrating the wonderful engagement of two great friends!
These labels were on bottles of water and on bags of Mary Allison's mom's signature cookies. SO GOOD!!

Retail therapy is something Mary-Anne Gillis taught me and and taught me well. HAHAH! Well, for a year or two now I have been wanting some fall boots. Since I now have a job I was actually able to go out and get a pair. These are SOOOO comfortable!! I love them so much and they help me stay warm! I really missed Mary-Anne during my adventure, but I did bring along my Tuscaloosa Mary-Anne, Anne Kimball (my study buddy). Thankfully for the joys of technology I was able to picture message Mary-Anne through the entire adventure. :)

This weekend the college group at church got together and made shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child. I was so excited to make shoeboxes and had a great time fellowshipping with them! I am truly blessed with my Ridgecrest family. 

Moving to Tuscaloosa has been a TRUE blessing. I know that it was definitely God's will for me to be here, and even though it was hard getting here God truly blesses beyond compare. I am in love with Tuscaloosa, and may even make this town my permanent home. God is giving me peace through all that has happened the past two years, and no matter what He is in control and I am leaning to trust him more and more. 

A new person!

I totally feel like a NEW person! Last week I was able to attend the class that my Associtate Manager teaches on Thursday nights. He is teaching a management/leadership course here at the Capstone and I was curious to see what his teaching style was like. It was very interesting and fun.. I know, going to class on my free night isn't what you would call fun... but I had fun. HAHA! He also invited me to come to his house on Monday nights, he and his wife host the college students from their church and they have dinner and fellowship every Monday. I was so excited to receive an invitation and I hope that I am actually able to attend!

This week I have been able to go grocery shopping, run a few errands, fill prescriptions and just have an overall had a calmer, better, week. I had a test this week so I only had to study and do one set of homework for next week. Thankfully I was determined to be productive and to have a great week, especially after such a great weekend at home! I got all of my homework done and I feel great about my test! Hopefully I will get to see my grade today!
I have honestly been shocked and astonished when I have gotten home before midnight! I have been able to go to bed by ten o'clock! If you know me well, you know that this is a big deal for me!

I was also very fortunate to be able to go to church last night, Wednesday. I haven't been able to make it to church on Wednesday's because I have always been studying... So I was really excited to go! Man, did I receive a blessing! God is truly in the midst of the ministry at Ridgecrest and I am so excited that God has brought me here to grow. The longer I live here and work here the more I believe that Tuscaloosa is 'God's Country' and not just for football. ;)

This weekend I am staying in Tuscaloosa, I am going to clean and rest and I am really honestly excited about it. Friday night I am going to wrap shoe boxes for Operation Christmas Child with my college group at church. It is going to be a fun night of service, fellowship and rejuvenation! And I can't believe I am going to be able to do something FUN on a Friday night! haha!

I finally dropped.

I am so thankful that the Lord knows just how to get my attention. In a whirlwind week were I went to bed at midnight every night (starting the week before), and feel asleep not only in class but at my desk at work I finally dropped a class. I can hear the angels in heaven rejoicing as I type!! :) The only way this will affect me academically is that I may graduate in the summer rather than the spring... But my sanity and the ability to breathe once in a while is definitely worth it!!!

I was even able to go to bed Wednesday night at 9pm(With all homework finished mind you)! And last night I was finally able to attend the class that my Associate Manager teaches here at the Capstone. I have been wanting to see how he taught and he wanted my opinion as an educator on his first teaching experience. And he is doing a great job! He teaches a management class, and I have to say, our business world is doomed!! If this is how all business students are.. and most of these graduate in December, no wonder people vote in sorry leaders and businesses everywhere are corrupt and failing!

This weekend I am finally able to go home for the first time in a while. I am excited to see Courtney and my family. Also, in other news, I lost a punctal plug this week... If you don't know what it is you can definitely google it! :) I have to have them in order to wear contacts. I lost the plug from my left eye Sunday night, so needless to say I have been wearing my glasses all week... Thanks to Beverly having gone to med school up here I have gotten a recommendation from a Dr. friend of hers and I am going this afternoon to have my plug replaced, then I am homeward bound! I have had a great week, in the weirdest of ways, but God is showing me His blessings, mercy and grace! I can't wait to have a wonderful weekend and then come back to the greatest job in the WORLD! Also, I will definitely be posting some pictures soon! I have been saving pictures of things going on around my world, and since most of the time I now blog at work I haven't been able to upload them. But I have a feeling they will be able to be put up soon!!

Calm

I have moved some of my study nights to Starbucks rather than the library.. It is just a happier place and if you don't know I LOVE starbucks! So, I have decided to experiment and try some new things. Caffeine does not affect me... whatsoever. And I know this is a bad thing! I drink coffee at work and at home. I also drink soft drinks and other caffinated beverages... and lets just say, water and I are not really good friends. So, I was tempted to try hot tea. I have never had hot tea before, and I have to say I was pleasantly surprised.

Calm tea was the first hot tea I ever had, and I have to say it is great! It is called 'calm' tea because it has no caffeine and is made of herbs. It is a wonderful tea and I even bought a tin so that I could make hot tea to drink at work. Now, I like things sweet, so I do add a little sugar to my tea. And I think it is fun brewing my own little cup of tea at my desk. So, in a sense, it is calming.. lol Or at least God is using the name to remind me to have moments of calm in this crazy and hectic life I lead. All is well in life, and through endurance and perserverance I will make it to December. And I will be proud to know what I have accomplished.

So, my recommendation for each of you is to go out on a limb and try something different. Not necessarily a hot tea, but just something. And 'be still' with God in the midst of our hectic lives.

Psalm 46:10

"Be still, and know that I am God..."

In loving memory of Tim

Tim was a dear friend always smiling and greating others. I am blessed to have known him during his lifetime. Tim died tragically Saturday in an accidental shooting.... He was cleaning his gun. Please pray for his family and friends as we all grieve during this time. You can also read a heartwarming story about Tim here.

Vicariously

This is a new word I have come to enjoy. HAHA! I know, I know... I am a LOSER. Since my last blog full of hurt I have decided to write a few things that make me unexplainably happy.

1. Mary-Anne and I chatting on google chat while we are both at work. What a wonderful way to catch up and stay in touch with a friend. 
2. Mary Allison's engagement and wedding. I tell many people, I live my life vicariously through Mary Allison. Words cannot express the joy that I feel when we talk of wedding plans and things going on in her life. I know this seems kind of contradictory, but I honestly think of nothing buy joy when thinking of Mary Allison and Brandon's engagement. I mean, what a way to stay connected after college... have your friend MARRY each other!! Less places to visit! HAHA
3. Elliot... from the TV show Leverage. I work with a guy who looks very similar. It is hilarious.... only because sometimes I like to imagine that I work with a movie star. J/K!
4. My job.. I am so blessed! I left everything back home only to gain two GREAT roommates, a great trust in God, and 80 wonderful men to work with. I couldn't ask for a better job!
5. 5k. I ran a 5k in 38 minutes with one of my assistant managers Friday. We are training for the 'Crimson Couch to 5k' for all staff and faculty of the University of Alabama. 5k number one will lead to a second. I now 'jog' (I guess it's a little slow for running) 4 miles at least one day a week. Yes, I know a 5k is only 3.1 miles... but I love it and hope to soon build up to more with a better time. 
6. My church. The college ministry and students have blessed me beyond compare. Their love and kindness is unsurpassed! And, I am going to be doing another 5k with some of them in April! 
7. My family. They are crazy, but I love them. :) 
8. My friends. Without them, I don't know where I would be in this time... Charity, Courtney, Lisa, Mary-Anne, Mary Allison, and my Tuscaloosa friend Anne Kimball. 

Without Christ I wouldn't be able to count my blessings.. but so many times I need to be reminded of His truths. The devil tries to keep up in the pit. No matter what God's grace is enough... His mercy is there. 

Because I can't really pour it out on anyone...

A while back a good friend and now mentor of mine posted a few things that were bugging her in her blog. Lately through the stress and anxiety that I have been feeling sometimes I just want to shout hurtful words out at some people... and I have noticed that coming into my thoughts and sometimes into my rants during my otherwise happy blog posts. So I believe for the sake of my sanity and the joy of my heart I must get these things out. They are no way directed anywhere in particular, just meaningless rantings of things that the devil lets get to me. I don't mind at all if you discontinue reading this post here.

Some things that currently bug me...

• I can't stand when someone tells me how busy they are. SERIOUSLY?? Wow. Now, I have been told by God that different people can handle different things and I realize this and completely agree. But when people want others to modify their lives to accommodate their busy lives without even thinking of the other person I could just SCREAM. 
• People getting engaged. Many people don't know the whole story of my life here lately, and honestly it is none of anyone's business. I feel that it is somewhat traumatic and I am saddened that something I believed would last didn't. It just really hurts when people laugh in your face because you are upset. I would like to let everyone know that this isn't just some teenage break-up devastation, so thank you for acknowledging that I have feelings.
• On that note, don't tell me that I am young. 1 Timothy 4:12 is a verse I highly believe in. 'Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity." Yeah, I am 22 years old, a lot of people tell me that I have so much time, time to do this, that and other things.. but I believe that not everything is based on age, but should be based on maturity.  Maturity comes from experience and education... so... yeah. I know plenty of 22 year old's who act like absolute children, and a couple 18 year old's who are wiser than many adults. So get over the age, yeah, we all have time...
  
• Don't try to be my friend just to get the latest gossip out of my life. If I am not telling you what is going on with me then you obviously don't need to know. So stop trying to be my friend and ask random questions to pry information out of me. I will just give you the short of it and walk away. My true friends know what is going on, and are there for me no matter what. No just when my life is juicy enough for them.
• 'Come see me!' Is something I hear a lot. Well get this.. I drive 3 and a half hours to see my family and friends and they can't drive 20 minutes to see me while I am at my parents house or in Troy????? Are you kidding? Get your selfish rear off the couch if you want to see me. I only get two days at home a month as it is. And, don't promise you will come visit when in fact you won't. Someone told me they were coming to Tuscaloosa and I almost had a panic attack I was so excited... (yeah, I'm a loser, I know).. But then... me seeing them didn't work out, and that hurt. Now I know exactly what Mary-Anne feels like.. everyone always wants to go to DC... but who does? I am thankful to say that I have. 
• People who think they can relate but can't. Get over yourself. Read Matthew 7:3-5. Before you decide to council me on my life, make sure that you have got it together before you try to tell me how everything you had done is right and what I am doing is wrong, plus I am young.. etc. Granted, I have many friends, including Lisa, who have been through similar loss types but not the exact situation... that I appreciate greatly. A different perspective, without judgement. 
• Finally, judgement. Wow, everyone asks so they can just tear you down. Well get over yourself... everyone goes through different things and can handle different things, so before you cast your judgement on those suffering or seemingly so, or not so in your world, take a walk in their shoes... and then you will see. 

Now, I am done with that. I have confessed all my grumblings to the Lord and He has lifted my spirit and cleansed my soul. I love and pray for all of you. And I want to especially thank those who have been with me during this time in my life. I am truly blessed and truly love my life here in Tuscaloosa. God is doing a work, and I am excited to be a part of it. 

I'm tired... worn and weary.

Matthew 11:28

"Come to Me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."

Every morning this week, it has been a little bit harder to get out of bed. I stayed in town last weekend to study for yet another test. I am worn, I am weary. And the verse above and a few other daily reminders are what is pushing me through, even today.

 

5am comes early... especially when you stay up until midnight studying or doing homework. I know without a doubt that God won't give you more than can handle... but this week, God has trusted me a little more than I would like.

 

Graduate school, I told myself, would be a time to work hard, make perfect grades and not worry about a thing except school. Then my real world experience hit me. I am so excited to say that part of me is an adult.. I still believe that there are parts of me that still are, and potentially always will be, a child. However, my full time job is a blessing beyond compare. I pay my bills, have my own insurance, soon to have my own phone plan, and I am thinking of getting a house.

 

Most people would run scared at the thought of this; but, financial independence is something I have strived for since day one after moving out of my parents house. In the childish, self-seeking world we live in, there are a lot of spoiled brats who whine about what they don't have or the latest trends... I must boast that this week alone I have received three compliments on my outfits and wardrobe pieces; and when asked where I got the item of clothing I had to reply, 'I'm sorry, I don't remember; I've had these since high school.' HOORAY! Haha!

 

Counting my blessings has truly helped me out, especially in tough weeks like this. I am so thankful for what God has given me. Each night when I go to sleep and when I wake up in the mornings I try to remember what a recent devotional said:

 

God gives us the strength to make it through that day.

When the Israelites traveled through the wilderness,

God gave them manna for each day, and enough for the day.

 

God gives us strength to make it through today, no matter what the circumstances. I am as guilty as at complaining. The devil works so hard to steal our joy from us. And sometimes, when we are beat down and in the pit, it is easier to take his crap than fight back. But, we must constantly fight the battle for Christ and remember, He gives us the strength to make it through.

 

So, no matter how tired I am, how many times I just have to close my eyes at my desk or in class... God will get me through and I am stronger because of it.

 

James 1:2-4

 

"Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."