Romans 8:25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.

Thursday, July 15, 2010

This week has been incredible. I could have gone home, and probably made more money for school and been closer to family, but I knew God wanted me here. If this week is the only reason that God wanted me to stay the summer, it has been worth it.
Kenny Baldwin was here for Teen Extreme, which means that every night there are chapel services. I went every night, and every night God has given me something amazing. Tonight he preached on dreams. Joseph had some pretty incredible dreams, and no one believed that they would come true. He never stopped believing that God had had given him those dreams though, and eventually they all came true.
Tonight I realized that I have been doubting God. He gave me this dream of getting married and having a family when I was 3 years old. When people ask me what God has for my life, my answer has always been raising a family for Him. In the last several years though the answer has turned into "I don't know," because I have gotten discouraged. I still had the dream, but I wondered if it was truly what God wanted for my life. As of Sunday I became the last in my youth group of almost 40 to be single, and I was one of the older ones. Yes, even my little sister is off the market! She said "yes" to the big question on Sunday. :)
Anyways, I had started wondering if God wanted me to be single for the rest of my life. I had been praying all week for God to show me something special, and to help me to be comfortable in the decision if that's what He wanted for my life. Tonight though, God gave me something I wasn't expecting. A crystal clear answer. A message on dreams coming true, and never giving up if that's what God has given you. Every time I have prayed and asked God what His will for my life is, the answer has always come back the same. I am confident that God has given me this dream, and I am never going to doubt it again. One day God will answer if I stay in HIS will for my life.
So now it's back to the waiting game. Only it's going to be a little different this time. I'm going to dream bigger, because my God is the God of the impossible and one day in the near future I'll be able to post one of my favorite verses as the title to an entry.
 
Psalm 118:23 This is the Lord's doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.
 
How to be a Dreamer Whose Dreams Come True
by Kenny Baldwin
Genesis 37
1. Have a relationship with the Almighty
2. Be right with your authority
3. Be remarkable in your attitude
4. Be respected by your associates
5. Receive your authentication
 

Sunday, July 11, 2010

Wait

Yet another wonderful message tonight that was just what I needed. Tim Hall hit a lot on patience tonight. Wow I needed it! I have been having a bad day in that area. He read this poem during the message. so much of it could be me speaking. It is going to become a favorite of mine I can already tell! :) I hope it's as much a blessing to you as it was to me!
Me!
    


Wait
by Russell Kelfer

Desperately, helplessly, longingly, I cried;
Quietly, patiently, lovingly, God replied.
I pled and I wept for a clue to my fate . . .
And the Master so gently said, "Wait."

"Wait? you say wait?" my indignant reply.
"Lord, I need answers, I need to know why!
Is your hand shortened? Or have you not heard?
By faith I have asked, and I'm claiming your Word.

"My future and all to which I relate
Hangs in the balance, and you tell me to wait?
I'm needing a 'yes', a go-ahead sign,
Or even a 'no' to which I can resign.

"You promised, dear Lord, that if we believe,
We need but to ask, and we shall receive.
And Lord I've been asking, and this is my cry:
I'm weary of asking! I need a reply."

Then quietly, softly, I learned of my fate,
As my Master replied again, "Wait."
So I slumped in my chair, defeated and taut,
And grumbled to God, "So, I'm waiting for what?"

He seemed then to kneel, and His eyes met with mine . . .
and He tenderly said, "I could give you a sign.
I could shake the heavens and darken the sun.
I could raise the dead and cause mountains to run.

"I could give all you seek and pleased you would be.
You'd have what you want, but you wouldn't know Me.
You'd not know the depth of my love for each saint.
You'd not know the power that I give to the faint.

"You'd not learn to see through clouds of despair;
You'd not learn to trust just by knowing I'm there.
You'd not know the joy of resting in Me
When darkness and silence are all you can see.

"You'd never experience the fullness of love
When the peace of My spirit descends like a dove.
You would know that I give, and I save, for a start,
But you'd not know the depth of the beat of My heart.

"The glow of my comfort late into the night,
The faith that I give when you walk without sight.
The depth that's beyond getting just what you ask
From an infinite God who makes what you have last.

"You'd never know, should your pain quickly flee,
What it means that My grace is sufficient for thee.
Yes, your dearest dreams overnight would come true,
But, oh, the loss, if you missed what I'm doing in you.

"So, be silent, my child, and in time you will see
That the greatest of gifts is to truly know me.
And though oft My answers seem terribly late,
My most precious answer of all is still . . . Wait."

Friday, July 9, 2010

Quote of the Week!

I believe every girl deserves a knight in shining armor. However, some days I feel like mine's gotten lost because he didn't want to stop and ask directions. Other days it seems he's fallen completely off the horse and been eaten by the dragon!
 
 
Thanks LauraBeth! That has made my week!

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

4th of July!!!!

Well, our marvelous 3 day weekend has ended. Have you ever had one of those days that you wished would just last forever? I had a whole weekend full of them! Want to know the best part? They were all those days that never seem to end. We had our weekly party on Friday night. They are usually themed and full of craziness in celebration of making it thru another week. Oh yeah, they don't start until 10:45pm. You can imagine the stuff that happens with very tired, caffeinated, sugar-high girls! On Saturday we had a birthday party for Kassandra that included a vegan cafe (she's vegetarian) a stop at Taco Bell for us carnivores, a Penguin themed cake that was to die for, and then we topped the night off with bowling. I almost broke 100 which is a BIG deal for me! :) Sunday was an amazing day in church with a special service. After church we went downtown to see the fireworks. 8 girls, a picnic that included fried chicken, watermelon, and all the sides, and fireworks for 3 hours was the perfect recipe for an amazing night! Monday we all just took off to sleep! :)
 
I just want to leave you with the outline from tonight's service. I had a very rough day. I was moved from cleaning the Library (which I really enjoy) to another building. I was really disappointed. I am in charge now, but it's just a status quo thing. No pay raise, just more responsibility. Add that to a rough week last week dealing with some personal contentment issues and financial stuff, I was just plain discouraged. I even got an amazing answer to prayer regarding said finances, but I was just a little blah. So, tonight I prayed before church that God would just make the message personal to me tonight. Boy did He answer! :) God is so awesome like that! So without further ado, her it is!
 
Dealing With Discouragement
2 Kings 19
1. Focus on His sufficiency
2. Find His solution (not your solution)
3. Fulfill His service (by realizing and responding)
Pastor Joe Shakour
 
P.S. For those of you wondering about how I like my new roomie... Kassandra is my roomie! I was able to pick my roommate and having someone you not only know, but have lived with before is such a blessing!

Friday, July 2, 2010

A Trip to New York City

We went to the City while I was home. It was so amazing! Everything that you hear is true, it really is a marvelous place and it really is that big and magical! We had a blast, and I got  to see everything that I wanted to see other than Central Park. I was overwhelmed by that time and I want to really be able to take the time to see it and have a picnic and do all the cool stuff! :) We rode the subway into and around town. This picture is the first thing that I saw of NYC! I had literally just stepped up the last step of the subway stairs and Mom yells turn around, takes my picture and then I realized where I was! :) So amazing! I did get to go to Tiffany's and Co. It was just a little disappointing though. It wasn't anywhere near as big as they make it look in the movies, and they didn't have my dream ring. (probably a good thing there....)
I am now back in "The Bubble" Readjusting to work has been super difficult this week. I am so happy that Monday is a day off for us this week! On the bright side though we have had Dr. Johnny Pope in for Teen Extreme and I got to go to services every night. So nice! Just what I needed and some VERY good preaching!
Well, I hope that ya'll have a wonderful 4th of July! Thank a Veteran and pray for our Troops! They make this Holiday possible.
Me!

Manhattan from the ferry to Ellis Island

 

Me and Dad at the Statue of Liberty

Me and Mom at Ellis Island

Great Hall, Ellis Island

A Trip to New York City

Me in Times Square