Three years ago...

Three years ago, I married my best friend! Happy Anniversary!

God's Reminders

Lately, God has taught me/shown me/reminded me of so many things. Sometimes I get so overwhelmed and feel as if I am going to forget all that He has taught me! It is easier to just write them down or blog about it. So here are some things God has taught me this past week:

1. I have learned that I CAN pray for specific things. I always feel so guilty asking God for specific wants or needs for myself. But I learned that as I make the Lord the object of my delight, my deepest heart's desires gradually align with His desires. The more I grow in Christ, the more my desires change. This has been so great in my prayer life. I learned that I can ask for specific things because I know I desire the things that God desires in my life. Psalm 37:4 "Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart."

2. I was reminded this week that my treasure is in Heaven, not here on earth. Do I live that way? It is so easy to say, "Just make sure your heart is in the right place. If God asks you to give up everything for Him would you?" I don't know, would I? I should be asking myself that everyday. Is my heart in the right place? After all, Jesus said to "Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come follow me." I know God may not be asking everyone to sell everything they own, but he could. And if He did, would I? This week, I have questioned where my heart truly is.

3. I read in my Beth Moore bible study, "If He is unashamed of us, in all our imperfections, how can we be ashamed of Him, our Redeemer and our Deliverer?" Luke 12:8 says, "I tell you, whoever acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man will also acknowledge him before the angels of God." Even after all of my failures and disobedience, God will gladly acknowledge me before the angels of God! So why am I ashamed at times to acknowledge God before men here on earth??

4. I had a great reminder that Satan is strong but God is stronger. Of course I knew that, but it was good to read it again. There are times when I feel like a failure and I should just give up. But I know that is Satan putting those thoughts into my head. God is so good and it was a great reminder that He is stronger and I need to put my trust in Him and quit listening to the lies that Satan tells me.

5. I spent one entire day this week cleaning out my extra bedroom. It has become a storage room and I hate having a junk/storage room. I wanted it to be a nice extra bedroom for when people come stay with us. I kept thinking, if only I had a three-bedroom house with more space or a house with bigger closets. Then, God showed me this verse, Luke 12:15 "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." Thank you God for this wonderful reminder. I think I will crawl under my covers and hide now. I heard God say, "If you didn't have so many clothes and shoes you wouldn't have to worry about a bigger closet." And "If you didn't have so much stuff you wouldn't need another bedroom to store your extra stuff." Ok, ok I get it! Man I was just trying to reorganize my bedroom. It's funny how God can teach you things when you least expect Him to. I was also reading in the book Radical and David Platt wrote that only in America do we have storage units for the extra stuff that won't fit into our huge homes! So what if I live in a tiny two-bedroom rent house, it is a mansion compared to the homes I saw in China. I should be thankful for my home, not wishing for more. Thank your Lord for your reminder of how blessed I am.

6. On a happy note, God reminded me that I am of great value to him and I have no need to worry. Luke 12:32 says "Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom." We are his little flock. So cute. It reminded me of times when I was little and my parents protected me. I was their little sheep. Beth Moore asked me to write out the reasons I had to worry right now. Here are a few that I wrote:

- Finding a job

- Cleaning the house

- My health and weight

- What others think of me

- I hope supper is going to be good tonight

She then had me write the word TRUST in big, bold letters above my list. I felt so relieved after I did that. It was like I handed it all over to God. Seriously I was worried about supper being good??? Why worry about little things like that? Even finding a job is crazy to worry about. God is in control at all times!!

7. Lastly, I was reminded today to live as if Christ was coming back at any second. I was told yesterday that the world is supposed to end today at 6:00. Apparently I don't watch the news enough since I just found this out, but I kind of joked around and thought dang wish I had lived life to the fullest today! Of course I do not believe that the world will end today, but I should still live life as if Christ was coming back today. Luke 12:40 "You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him."

I know this hasn't been the most exciting post ever, but thank you for allowing me to share with you what God has shown me this week. I hope that through this He has reminded you of some things as well.

I hope you have a great weekend!!!!

Tasty Tuesday!

I have definitely been a slacker lately when it comes to Tasty Tuesday! I just honestly haven't cooked anything new and exciting, I need to get out of that habit! Last night our good friends Matt and Katie invited us over for dinner, so I thought I would use their recipe for today!! Last night we ate Cheese Dip Soup and it was delicious!

Ingredients:

- 2 cans ranch style beans

- 2 cans minestrone soup

- 1 pound hamburger meat, cooked and drained

- 1 can diced tomatoes

- 1 can Rotel (If you like more spice)

- 1 pound Velvetta, cut into cubes

- 2 soup cans of water

- 1 cup shell macaroni (elbow macaroni), uncooked

- 1 can corn, drained

Mix all ingredients in soup pot except cheese. Stir well. Add cheese and simmer until melted.

Serve with Mexican cornbread or Fritos. This recipe serves 10-12. Can also be made in crock-pot, just add cheese last 30 minutes.

Thank you Katie and Matt for letting me use this recipe!!

Enjoy!

Five things that Make me Happy Friday!

I can't believe Friday is already here! This week has been much different for me. Since I haven't been in school I have cleaned my car, scrubbed the house, ran, slept until 7:30, read, and watched TV (I never do that and when I turned the TV on and saw that nothing was on it reminded me why I don't watch TV), but I mainly tried to relax! I hope you all had a great week and enjoyed this beautiful weather!! Here are some pictures from my week:

{I loooove strawberries and Wal-Mart had the 32 oz. container on sale for $2.78!!}

{My parents gave me this Vera Bradley bag for graduation full of...}

{Cute school supplies and kids books! I of course love the owl the most!}

{We went to Michelangelos and I had a Margherita pizza!}

{Two hours at Starbucks with friends equals lots of coffee and lots of laughs}

Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Everything is Possible

Matthew 17:20 says "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you say to the mountain 'move from here to there,' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."

This morning I was doing my Beth Moore Bible study and was convicted about my faith. She wrote that in her early days with God, she viewed her faith as "her willingness to make a believing statement with her mouth rather than face the questions of her heart." I catch myself doing this so many times. I will say "I know God has plans for me and I know He is in control." It is so easy for me to verbally say those things, but do I truly believe them in my heart? She goes on to write that "When we are faithless, we are concluding by our attitude and actions that Christ is not worthy of our confidence and that He is untrustworthy." Wow. That convicted me big time. How terrible of me to question God and tell Him that He is not worthy of my confidence and that He is untrustworthy.

Sorry to keep quoting Beth Moore, I do not want to make her an idol, but I feel as if God really spoke through her this morning. She writes that "prayer is the critical element of faith." Why is it that I feel as if I am not worthy enough to pray or that my prayers are not as important as others so I should just not talk to God about my issues? Satan tells me all the time that I am not worthy enough and that God doesn't really care about me. Wrong. He does care. Sometimes, I just honestly forget. It is terrible that I go through my day forgetting that I can talk to God at any time. I may spend so much time reading the Bible and studying His word, but then I don't actually spend time in prayer. "Without prayer, we return to our own ability rather than to God." When I choose not to pray for things, I am telling God that I can handle this on my own. I don't need you. I got it. I know I can't do it on my own! I need Him!

Genesis 18:14 says "Is anything too hard for the Lord?" God shows me more and more each day that He loves me and that He has great plans for my life. I must trust in Him and not just confess it with my mouth, but truly believe it in my heart.

Psalm 62: 1-2, 5-6, & 8: "My soul finds rest in God ALONE; my salvation comes from Him. He ALONE is my rock and my salvation; He is my fortress, I will never be shaken. Find rest, O my soul, in God ALONE; my hope comes from him. He ALONE is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken. Trust in Him at ALL times, O people; pour out your hearts to him for God is our refuge."

It is so easy to focus on the things of this world and lose focus on God. When I lose focus on God, I start to put faith in myself. I cannot put faith in myself, I must trust in God ALONE. He is my rock, salvation, fortress, and my refuge. Oh how I love that God reminds me daily of who He is! My prayer today is that in my heart I will truly trust in God and truly believe that He is in control and that His plans are far greater than the plans I have for myself.

I am going to leave you with the verses of the song In Christ Alone. I have heard this song a lot lately and I just love it!

"In Christ alone my hope is found.

He is my light, my strength, my song.

This Cornerstone, this solid ground,

Firm through the fiercest drought and storm.

What heights of love, what depths of peace;

When fears are stilled, when strivings cease;

My Comforter, my All in All,

Here in the love of Christ I stand.

In Christ alone, who took on flesh,

Fullness of God in helpless babe.

This gift of love and righteousness,

Scorned by the ones He came to save.

‘Til on that cross as Jesus died,

The wrath of God was satisfied.

For every sin on Him was laid,

Here in the death of Christ I live.

There in the ground His body lay.

Light of the world by darkness slain.

Then bursting forth in glorious Day,

Up from the grave He rose again.

And as He stands in victory,

Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me.

For I am His and He is mine

Bought with the precious blood of Christ.

On Christ the solid Rock I stand.

All other ground is sinking sand.

All other ground is sinking sand.

On Christ the solid Rock I stand.

All other ground is sinking sand.

All other ground is sinking sand.

No guilt in life, no fear in death,

This is the power of Christ in me.

From life’s first cry to final breath,

Jesus commands my destiny.

No power of hell, no scheme of man,

Can ever pluck me from His hand.

‘Til He returns or calls me home,

Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand."

This is such an awesome song and prayer!

On another note...Our prayer is to be back here next summer!

Five Things That Make Me Happy Friday!

It has been a great week!! Last night was the pinning ceremony for all students graduating with Education degrees! I can't believe that I have completed school. It seems like yesterday that I started the graduate program and now it's over! Anyways, enough school stuff....since this was such a great week, I couldn't narrow it down to just five things that made me happy!

{Casting Crowns concert...amazing!}

{Another book fair...only this one was way better! Bought close to 50 books...}

{Taffy at the cutest candy store ever!}

{More candy!}

{Yummy yogurt from Flamingo Yogurt Company}

{Salad and sandwich from Panera}

{Chocolate covered everything from Harry and David}

{And yes...I got another new coffee mug. I can't help myself!}

I love my new coffee mug! It sums up everything I believe and has one of the greatest verses on it!

School Comes to an End

My Internship is officially over and I will be graduating on Saturday! It is bittersweet for sure. My time at Guy-Perkins was incredibly amazing! I remember the first day I was so nervous. I was hoping to have a great mentor teacher and a great group of students, and that is exactly what God blessed me with! I will always have a close relationship with my mentor teacher. I never knew I could love a group of kids the way I love these kids. It was so hard to say good-bye to them. I am not gone forever though! I am going back tomorrow and will be joining them on their field trip, going to graduation and will be a substitute teacher! I just can't leave that school!

Yesterday, Mrs. Rooney, the kids and their parents surprised me with a wonderful going away party! Of course when I walked in the room I immediately started crying and just felt so loved. Here are some pictures from the party they threw me:

{Huge banner they had made for me!}

{Cupcakes and presents}

{The cupcakes say ABC and 123}

{One of the gifts a family got me. Flower pot with all kinds of gardening utensils! They know I love to plant flowers!}

{Another adorable flower pot! I was told the girl was me!}

One mother created a scrap book for me. All the students wrote about some of their favorite memories of me. Here are some of my favorite pages.

"She is pretty. She gave me more mashed potatoes when I spilled my milk in mine."

"She is pretty. She got us to do frog eyes. She likes to read to us. She likes to listen to us read to her. She thinks Principal Rittonrotten is funny. Most of all we love her."

"I like Mrs. Burgin because she ties my shoes. And I like her chair."

So precious!! It is so funny the things they remember!

Over the past month or so, this verse has popped up several times:

"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing." 2 Timothy 4:7-8

I feel as if part of this verse relates to my internship and school. "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." One area of my life has been completed and I look forward to the plans God has for me in the future. My goal is to always finish the race. I know there will be many more races for me to race, but my goal to keep my faith and fight the good fight until the end. I often dream of what my future job will be like. I dream of what school I will work at, who my future students are and what impact I will have in their lives. I am tearing up now as I look back on my experience at Guy-Perkins and dream of my future. God is so good.