I can see the light… September 8, 2008

As I sit in my room reflecting on all God has done since my dad was diagnosed with cancer I am overwhelmed.  I think if you would have told me what would happen I would not have believed you.  I am so thankful for everyone who has supported our family by graciously giving of themselves to help.  The prayer and support has been unending and I don’t know if I will ever be able to put into words all that God has done through you all.  These past few months have been a rollercoaster ride of emotions.  I think it really hit me last night and I just began to cry out of relief.  His treatment is done in 2 days…2 days!  I want to scream it from the rooftops and dance around my room with joy. The biggest lesson I have learned from this situation…God is truly sovereign.  He has it under control.  My God reigns.  He has and will continue to meet every emotional, financial, and health need we have!  What an awesome God we serve!  One of the verses that has gotten me through this time has been Philippians 4:12-13, 19

“I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound.  Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.  I can do all things through Christ who stregnthens me.”
“And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”

random stuff :) August 31, 2008

First of all can I state how stoked I am that Senator McCain picked Sarah Palin to be his running mate.  I think she is gonna be amazing and from what I have seen, heard, and read so far…I love her.  I think that she is what the Republican party needs to take down the Obama craze…gag me!

Second of all praise the Lord for Gator football!  Even though I only made it to half time today (I think it might have been 500 degrees in the stadium) I was stoked to be back in the swamp for what will be my last season as a student

I have been thinking of everything I want to do before I graduate and I thought I would share the list with you:
- go swimming in the fountains
- go to a baseball game
- go to a gymnastics meet
- sit out front at the swamp restaurant and watch a game
- talk to Tim Tebow (ha like this one is really gonna happen but hey you can wish)
- go to a concert in University Auditorium
- go kayaking/canoing at Lake Wauburg

…the list is still in progress so stay tuned for updates!

update from the ville… August 25, 2008

First of all I am so happy to be back!  God has proved himself faithful in so many ways already!  It was great to be back at First Assembly tonight…I really feel like that has become my home church and God just shows me new things every time I am there.  Tonight I really felt like He was talking to me about love.  I felt for the first time in a while that He just completely, totally, undeniably loves me and is pursuing me.   He keep telling me “you are my beloved”, after this summer I really needed to hear that!

So in the random story department check this out.  I went yesterday to get my ink cartridge for my printer refilled at Walgreen’s and the I ended up getting it for free because it failed the “test” apparently but it still works like a champ.  Just to put a little perspective on things I am pretty much broke (hopefully not for too much longer) and really stressed out about it but God proved himself faithful in the little things once again!  How great is our God!

Anyways I am out for the night…I know it is so sad that I am off to bed at 10:15    Love ya’ll!

good stuff July 23, 2008

Hebrews 12:28-29
“Therefore since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken let us have grace by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.  For our God is a consuming fire.”

God’s peace and joy :) July 11, 2008

So here is a little bit of what God did for me when I was in the Bahamas…

For those of you who didn’t know my dad was diagnosed with throat cancer on June 20th 9 days before we left for the Bahamas.  Needless to say I didn’t really want to go but still felt like I should.  On the last night of the trip Pastor Tony had everyone pray for James (my little brother) and I.  When I came back I just felt this huge amount of peace about the whole situation.  Before I left I cried a lot because in all honesty I didn’t know how to handle the situation.  Since I have been back the only tears I have cried are because of being so covered in God’s peace and joy.  I don’t really know how to explain it better than that and to say that God truly increased my faith.

Bahamas 08… July 10, 2008

Here are a few pics from the amazing week

home… July 9, 2008

What an amazing week we had!  Details to come soon

leaving on a jet plane… June 28, 2008

Tomorrow I am leaving to go to Nassau for 8 days on a mission trip.   Pray for me!

Baby Ellie June 16, 2008

Welcome to the world Baby Ellie!  Isn’t she beautiful!

obedience… June 4, 2008

In my quiet time I have been reading through Acts and I came across 2 passages today that hit me hard…

First I was reading in Acts 7 about Stephen the martyr and I was challenged beyond belief.  Stephen’s last words before he died were: “Lord do not charge them with this sin” (verse 60).  These words are very similar to Jesus’ last words on the cross.  As Stephen was being stoned by supposed leaders he was praying for their forgiveness.  This was a man who got it!  I look at myself and realize that I am nowhere near that in my life…

In Acts 9 I was reading of Saul’s conversion on the road to Damascus.  A part I tend to skip over a lot is the next part of the story…Ananias’ obedience to God.  First off when God called to him, his response was “Here I am Lord”, to be quite honest that is not my response when I hear God calling my name but it should be, because I am His vessel, His servant, not my own!  God tells Ananias that he is supposed to go to Saul and lay hands on him (in case you didn’t remember this is the Saul that was persecuting Christians)…Ananias gives a “but” answer and God replies with this: “Go for he is a chosen vessel of Min to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel” (verse 15)…Ananias obeys and look what happens- we get Paul!  I started thinking about how significant Ananias’ obedience was and what that meant for Christianity…had he disobeyed many people would have never heard much less know God’s word!  How many times do we give God the “but” answer or the “I don’t have time answer”?  What have we missed because of this?