The past several months I have felt truly blessed. I don't know if it's because it's the first time I have been looking at life like a blessing or because it truly has been blessed more so than it has before, either way I love it. I have seen it in my life and in the people around me. Here are some of the more memorable ones I have to share because blessings and miracles need to be shared!
I was laid off from my job a couple weeks after being accepted to my mission and less than a week later I was offered a job working with kids at my church by the preschool minister. I thought I was going to be jobless for a while, instead God provided me with a job that I'm happier in. I love working with the little kids, more so than I thought I would like working with kids.
The kids I work with are a blessing. From the things they tell me, to seeing them light up and run up to me. Nothing is more comforting to me than a little kid running up to me saying my name. Or a child who is sad that only wants my comfort and to sit in my lap. Or when my three year old boyfriend says he loves me. Nothing beats it, I never thought I would like working with kids so much, but I do, and I thank Rebecca, Jeanie, and Sharron for giving me the opportunity to be blessed by these kids!
I've seen college students giving til it hurts. Whether it be money, time, sleep, energy, everything. I've seen many of the students at our church volunteer and bless childrens lives. I've seen Kevin give up sleep to be with people in times of need, or making sure everything is perfect for the group. Damian (even though he's not a student) give up so much to make sure The Pulse is the best college group their is.
I watched as the entire group started giving up their change and spare dollars to Chelsea one night in Carl's Jr. I don't think the group realizes that because of that cup full of money it pushed her to exceed her limit of what she needed to get to Africa. And those same students have been sending me their spare change weekly to help me go on my trip.
I have been able to spend time with my brother and my family. Family is a blessing to me, and getting time with my brother has been the best and more than I could have asked for. Spending Christmas with my Aunt and Grandma was really fun. Then spending time with the step family later in the day was also a blessing.
Spending time with close friends has also been amazing. Getting to slackline with some of my favorites on Monday's, or hang out with my sister at work with the kids. Seeing the college group come together for the Christmas party, or partially freeze outside while singing worship songs has made time precious and worth it.
Just being able to take a step back and realize all the blessings that their are around me has made me more thankful that I could ever put down in words. I have seen them almost every day. I have been supported in every way for my mission trip. College kids who don't have much as it is give what they can to help me go. Or the emotional support from them when I get too stressed. Or being able to just spend time with friends has ment the world to me.
The season of what the world sees as the time to be a blessing to others is coming to an end. The new year is coming and people tend to get more self focused. But I have a hope that even though the world's season is ending, my season and the people around me, their season isn't ending! And that gives me great hope.
Monday, December 27, 2010
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Mary Did You Know?
I love the Christmas time of year. I love cold weather, the music, the times with friends and family, starbucks holiday cups, I love it all. I also love the Bible studies that happen at this time of the year. At the end of November we did a study on Mary. And I fell in love.
Paul is probably my favorite person in the Bible besides Jesus, but Mary makes a good stand right there with him. I never really understood what Mary went through til this study. I always knew the virgin birth was a miracle, but often times how Mart reacted and acted are not usually focused on.
My pastor asked us how would you feel if Gabriel came up to you and started talking to you. All I could do was laugh. I think it would be totally ridiculous if he did. I'm sure I would instantly recognize him, but I would be totally overcome by laughter. It would be so odd to me if he did and I would have no idea what to do, but laugh. Yet Mary, she embraced it. She understood.
She had little doubt. She does doubt but then in Luke 1:37 it says "for nothing will be impossible with God." And just like that she accepted what God wanted her to do and did it without a problem. She knew what was going to happen and she did it with a smile. She knew that she would be completely and totally ridiculed for claiming that she would have a virgin birth, she knew the rumors that would come, the disgrace to her name. She KNEW and UNDERSTOOD it all. And she did so with no question. Instead she praised God.
I LOVE it. I don't get it at all. I complain when God urges me to go talk to someone else sometimes. I could never imagine God giving me a crazy calling like Mary's. He choose a simple, young, nothing too special, farmers daughter. She was not rich, didn't have any particular talent besides being an amazing friend and daughter, she was not a scholar. She was a simple GIRL. A girl, not a woman. She was young and yet had a steadfast faith.
I admire her. She knew all that was going to come. She knew the scripture and the prophesy. She knew, and she never faltered or questioned. To me that is amazing.
What is God calling us simple grown people to do? Why do we think He can't do the impossible. Remember if we break down impossible, it's I'm possible. And with God all things are possible. And he calls us simple people to do it.
My pastor often says, "God does not call the equipped, He equips the called." Think about it. A young girl was able to, she handled all the ridicule, the rumors, the disgrace, the pain, everything, and she was faithful the entire time.
Paul is probably my favorite person in the Bible besides Jesus, but Mary makes a good stand right there with him. I never really understood what Mary went through til this study. I always knew the virgin birth was a miracle, but often times how Mart reacted and acted are not usually focused on.
My pastor asked us how would you feel if Gabriel came up to you and started talking to you. All I could do was laugh. I think it would be totally ridiculous if he did. I'm sure I would instantly recognize him, but I would be totally overcome by laughter. It would be so odd to me if he did and I would have no idea what to do, but laugh. Yet Mary, she embraced it. She understood.
She had little doubt. She does doubt but then in Luke 1:37 it says "for nothing will be impossible with God." And just like that she accepted what God wanted her to do and did it without a problem. She knew what was going to happen and she did it with a smile. She knew that she would be completely and totally ridiculed for claiming that she would have a virgin birth, she knew the rumors that would come, the disgrace to her name. She KNEW and UNDERSTOOD it all. And she did so with no question. Instead she praised God.
I LOVE it. I don't get it at all. I complain when God urges me to go talk to someone else sometimes. I could never imagine God giving me a crazy calling like Mary's. He choose a simple, young, nothing too special, farmers daughter. She was not rich, didn't have any particular talent besides being an amazing friend and daughter, she was not a scholar. She was a simple GIRL. A girl, not a woman. She was young and yet had a steadfast faith.
I admire her. She knew all that was going to come. She knew the scripture and the prophesy. She knew, and she never faltered or questioned. To me that is amazing.
What is God calling us simple grown people to do? Why do we think He can't do the impossible. Remember if we break down impossible, it's I'm possible. And with God all things are possible. And he calls us simple people to do it.
My pastor often says, "God does not call the equipped, He equips the called." Think about it. A young girl was able to, she handled all the ridicule, the rumors, the disgrace, the pain, everything, and she was faithful the entire time.
Friday, December 3, 2010
Late Night
It's finals week. I have done six hours of work today along so I am wasting time to do this because it seems like much more fun!
1. What time did you get up this morning?
8:20 because my dog was barking
2. How do you like your steak?
Rare, if it moo's its amazing
3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema?
Harry potter and the deathly hollows
4. What is your favorite TV show?
How I met your mother or grey's
5. If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be?
someplace cold, or a beach, or a forest, or anywhere but vegas...
6. What did you have for breakfast?
honey nut cheerios
7. What is your favorite cuisine?
I like a lot, I can always eat pizza, or pasta, or salads
8. What foods do you dislike?
fish! blech. I can have tuna and that's about it
9. Favorite Place to Eat?
where they have good food?
10. Favorite dressing?
ranch
11.What kind of vehicle do you drive?
Infinity G35
12. What are your favorite clothes?
my very holy jeans which I'm not allowed to wear anymore. Hoodies and jeans rolled up.
13. Where would you visit if you had the chance?
Napal
14. Cup 1/2 empty or 1/2 full?
it's overflowing
15. Where would you want to retire?
Kentucky, Oregon, near my family. really anywhere
16. Favorite time of day?
????
17. Where were you born?
Vegas
18. What is your favorite sport to watch?
soccer, college sports. or almost anything on NBC sports channel
22. Bird watcher?
def a people watcher
23. Are you a morning person or a night person?
either/neither. I do fine at either, but I do love my sleep
24. Do you have any pets?
3 amazing dogs
25. Any new and exciting news you'd like to share?
? if you're reading this then you basically know anything big that happens
26. What did you want to be when you were little?
a trapeze artist. like they had (or still have?) at Circus Circus, the ones that did the flips and flying between bars
27. What is your best childhood memory?
too many!
28. Are you a cat or dog person?
dog definitly
29. Are you married?
nope
30. Always wear your seat belt?
yep.
31. Been in a car accident?
yep
32. Any pet peeves?
when people at the college don't flush the toilet, seriously, we're in college!
33. Favorite Pizza Toppings?
pepperoni
34. Favorite Flower?
any! I'm not that picky but I do like the roses that are red and orange or yellow and orange
35. Favorite ice cream?
banana with chocolate sprinkles
36. Favorite fast food restaurant?
Del taco, or in n out.
37. How many times did you fail your drivers license test?
once. the second time I passed with 100%
38. From whom did you get your last emails?
probably rei or swell
39. Which store would you choose to max out your credit card?
forever 21 or rei
40. Do anything spontaneous lately?
i guess...
41. Like your job?
yes! i love my kiddos and my coworkers! I get to roll on the ground with kids, color, hold and play with babies, arts and crafts, talk with, and play... what's not to like? oh and snack time!
42. Broccoli?
love it
43. What was your favorite vacation?
?? have had a lot lately...
44. Last person you went out to dinner with?
I usually have lunch with people, I guess that last dinner would be with the college group.
45. What are you listening to right now?
the office
46. What is your favorite color?
purple, yellow, gray, ugly green
47. How many tattoos do you have?
two
48. what is your fave Bible Verse?
just one? hahaha
49. Coffee person ?
eh. more of a tea person!
1. What time did you get up this morning?
8:20 because my dog was barking
2. How do you like your steak?
Rare, if it moo's its amazing
3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema?
Harry potter and the deathly hollows
4. What is your favorite TV show?
How I met your mother or grey's
5. If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be?
someplace cold, or a beach, or a forest, or anywhere but vegas...
6. What did you have for breakfast?
honey nut cheerios
7. What is your favorite cuisine?
I like a lot, I can always eat pizza, or pasta, or salads
8. What foods do you dislike?
fish! blech. I can have tuna and that's about it
9. Favorite Place to Eat?
where they have good food?
10. Favorite dressing?
ranch
11.What kind of vehicle do you drive?
Infinity G35
12. What are your favorite clothes?
my very holy jeans which I'm not allowed to wear anymore. Hoodies and jeans rolled up.
13. Where would you visit if you had the chance?
Napal
14. Cup 1/2 empty or 1/2 full?
it's overflowing
15. Where would you want to retire?
Kentucky, Oregon, near my family. really anywhere
16. Favorite time of day?
????
17. Where were you born?
Vegas
18. What is your favorite sport to watch?
soccer, college sports. or almost anything on NBC sports channel
22. Bird watcher?
def a people watcher
23. Are you a morning person or a night person?
either/neither. I do fine at either, but I do love my sleep
24. Do you have any pets?
3 amazing dogs
25. Any new and exciting news you'd like to share?
? if you're reading this then you basically know anything big that happens
26. What did you want to be when you were little?
a trapeze artist. like they had (or still have?) at Circus Circus, the ones that did the flips and flying between bars
27. What is your best childhood memory?
too many!
28. Are you a cat or dog person?
dog definitly
29. Are you married?
nope
30. Always wear your seat belt?
yep.
31. Been in a car accident?
yep
32. Any pet peeves?
when people at the college don't flush the toilet, seriously, we're in college!
33. Favorite Pizza Toppings?
pepperoni
34. Favorite Flower?
any! I'm not that picky but I do like the roses that are red and orange or yellow and orange
35. Favorite ice cream?
banana with chocolate sprinkles
36. Favorite fast food restaurant?
Del taco, or in n out.
37. How many times did you fail your drivers license test?
once. the second time I passed with 100%
38. From whom did you get your last emails?
probably rei or swell
39. Which store would you choose to max out your credit card?
forever 21 or rei
40. Do anything spontaneous lately?
i guess...
41. Like your job?
yes! i love my kiddos and my coworkers! I get to roll on the ground with kids, color, hold and play with babies, arts and crafts, talk with, and play... what's not to like? oh and snack time!
42. Broccoli?
love it
43. What was your favorite vacation?
?? have had a lot lately...
44. Last person you went out to dinner with?
I usually have lunch with people, I guess that last dinner would be with the college group.
45. What are you listening to right now?
the office
46. What is your favorite color?
purple, yellow, gray, ugly green
47. How many tattoos do you have?
two
48. what is your fave Bible Verse?
just one? hahaha
49. Coffee person ?
eh. more of a tea person!
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