Thanks

I just want to wish you all a very Happy Thanksgiving, and encourage you to remember what this whole thing is all about...

3rd Commandment?

I was listening to a tape that my dad gave me last night, and the man preaching said some things that really made me think. The first was, "the greater the manifestation of glory in your life, the greater the consequence of sin." How true this is! When you know God, when you have seen Him in your life, all of a sudden every decision you make has a greater role in your life. Perhaps that is why Christians can get away with a lot less than other people.
People know that God is good, they argue it and live by it. They even get mad at Him when something bad happens saying "Aren't You supposed to be good?" So, as a witness to Him, we must reflect his character. You can see a new Christian still struggling with sin, and be OK with it because "they are new" but the story changes when they have been Christian for years and cannot keep their mouth clean. Jesus was an overcomer, He overcame sin, and as His followers, He expects us to overcome.
It is this principle that He is talking about in the 3rd commandment, "Do not take the name of the Lord in vain." What are we doing when we become Christ-ians but taking the name of the Lord? When we do so, we must begin to change. Here is the fact, God may love you just the way you are, but He loves you too much to leave you there. God loves you, but He hates your sin. He wants you to be Holy as He is Holy, He wants you to be like Him. The Bible is the story of God exhorting His people to be like Him, that is the problem here, the whole fight of good against evil is about weather or not we are willing to become like Him, to share in His nature, to love what He loves, hate what he hates, and do whatever possible to bring peace and righteousness and justice to the Earth.
Here is the kicker, through Him, holiness is possible. It is not something out there to strive for and never have, He is not a God of unatainable promises, but it is tangable, a real goal. Now, we cannot get there on our own, but the beauty of it is that Through a relationship with Him, that is what we become.
Well, I could keep going, but I think that I will move on now....

The Holidays

Well it is that time of year again where everyone is getting ready to spend time with family. I love this time of year. My grandmother is coming up to visit for Thanksgiving, and I am "thankful" that she can come.
I am always sad that the people of this country have forgotten about "Thanks"giving. It is like as soon as Halloween is over it is time for Christmas, time for spending all of our money and wishing for what we want. Dont get me wrong, I love Christmas, but I think that Thanksgiving is one of the most important Holidays that we celebrate. When we realize that we are blessed with what we already have, then we have the ability to enjoy Christmas without being all up tight about what we do or dont get.
When I was growing up, my mother taught us all to be thankful, whenever we were in a bad mood, or wanted more than we could handle, she would say "Lets play the thankful game!" Which meant that we all had to go around in a circle and say what we were thankful for, and we would play that until our hearts had changed. I will always thank her for this, because it has taught me how to be blessed with what I have. So many people have lost that.
One more thing is that Thanksgiving has always re-reminded me that "it is not about me" in the least! It never has been, and never will be, it is about Christ, and Christ alone. His relationship with us is just a blessing, because He is good.
So, as you celebrate Thanksgiving with loved ones (yes, they are those whom you love) remember to be thankful for what you have, and know that you have been given the privilege to know Christ, which is the biggest blessing of all.

God is Good

I was talking to a friend today, and discovered that she works with someone that I used to go to school with. I enquired about him and found out that not only is he alive and well (which I honestly didnt know) but he is now more than ever open to Christ.
What you have to understand is that when I went to school with him, he scared me more than anyone I then knew. He was into a lot of "things" that I didnt like, and although he was nice, I really did not want to talk to him at all. All this time I knew that he needed Jesus, and that I had Jesus, but I was just too scared to talk to him, and by the time that I had the courage to do so, he was gone.
But God, is good. After he finished school, he began working with a friend of mine, and she was willing to talk to him about Jesus, and did so every day. He no longer works with her, but they still keep in contact, and through her I was able to contact him as well. I have since discovered that he is very open to Christ and the gospel, and that he knows he is in sin and wants forgiveness, he wants to change. I am so glad that God sees on the inside, and not on the outside, because so often it is the people who you least expect who are the first to change. But here is the kicker...not only is this man closer than ever to having a life altering experience with the Most High King, that same King was willing to let me in on it, and see him change.
God does not look at our mistakes, He is not afraid of them, and not only does He forgive them, but He redeems them, and changes their outcome. The Bible says that "God causes all things to be for good, for those who love Him." I am just so blessed that God has allowed me to see the change in someone who I knew. It makes me realize that even if you dont see the results of whitnessing to someone, you should do it anyway, and that you never know where people are. I am reminded of a story which I will now share...
There was a man in the 1800s who felt that God was telling him to rent the town squair, and hold revival meetings every night. Although he did not believe that anything would come of it, he went to the Mayor, and got permission to use the building. No one believed that anything would happen, but he knew that it was more important to obey God. So, he got up that Monday morning and went to the Town Squair, (where no one was gathered) and preached his heart out. The next day he went again and the same thing happened. The entire week went by and he preached every day, though no one came, and when it was over, he went his way. But there was one thing that he did not know, there was a homeless man who lived under the building, who would listen every day, and on the last day gave his heart to Jesus, and that man became one of the greates revival preachers in American history, his name was John Wesely.
So I say again, God is good.

Thoughts

Well, I have absolutely no idea what is next. :) I have all of these different options looming in front of me, and no idea which one I (or God) will choose. For now I am just sitting here, and doing what is at my hand to do until change is closer, but it is still fun to think about all of the options.
One, I could move to Boise, and go to BSU, and get a job, and see where that takes me.
Two, I could move to Dallas, and get a job and go to school, and be somewhere I have never been before.
Three, I could go with a missionary friend to New Zeland, and have a blast!
Four, I could get on the Mercy Ship and head off to Figi.
Five, I could move to Italy with my cousin and live there for a while,
Six, I could just pick a college, and a Major, and head off to wherever that is.
I know that most of this sounds crazy, or out there, but hey, as we discussed earlier, "you only live once." Maybe I should just take a trip to Europe..I really don't know. Like I said before, for now I am here, and I have quite a bit to deal with....as in I have every weekend booked until January, and it is beginning to fill up. Plus, my brother, and a good friend of mine are going to be getting married soon, so there is more to plan for.

Boise Again

Well, here I am in Boise again, but I really dont mind. I came over last night to help my aunt with her "easy fluff" homework, and as a reward we are going to the Macys outlet to get in some much needed shopping. And, judging by the sound from the other room, the homework is just about done. It is funny how bribary works sometimes. But in actuality, I really dont mind, I like Boise, and I like my family. I also got to have some home made Scotch Scones (as in Scotland) so anyway. I should probably get going, Macys awaits!

P. S. Sorry about the spelling here, but I am typing fast, and dont have time to go back and fit is ;)

Brother

My brother is engaged!!!!!! I am in a bit of a daze, it is just crazy to think that my little brother has found himself a partner in life, and that he did the whole "one knee" thing. I really wish that I had been there, I so wanted to be. But, I know that it will be just as exciting for me when I go home next.
It is an amazing thing when this kind of thing happens, you really begin to think about and question your view of life and love, and the world in general. I am so excited and happy for Sam, I almost cried, but now more than ever I am determined to pray that this kind of love will grow into something so deep and profound that the only thing greater than their love for each other will be their love for Jesus. I don't know what is going to happen in the next few weeks/months of their engagement, but I know that God really does have something special up His sleeve for them.
I am hoping that they wait until October until they get married, but we will have to see. There is also a possibility that Sam may move to Boise to try and find work and an apartment before they get married. He bought himself a car this week as well as the ring...without going into debt by the way. I am so proud of him! How much fun would it be if they lived in Boise! Anyway, I guess I will leave this subject alone for now. Have a wonderful weekend to all who may read my blog.

Veterans Day

Because of the recent shootings in Ft. Hood I have Veterans day off this year. I have to say, as much of a blessing it is to be able to get some stuff done at home, I would rather have to work that day and have 13 more people alive and well.

Passionate God

I do not understand how anyone could ever read the Bible and say that God is not a God of passion. If you just read what it actually says, you will see that God has only ever wanted one thing, and that is to have fellowship with His children. The entire point of the Bible is to show how good and just and loving and passionate God is. Every story is about how He came through for His people. Why must we always try and find something negative about Him? The truth is, He is the only one who is in fact innocent.

Random

I kind of want a parrot...or a parakeet...that would be so much fun, plus, I get up early to work anyway, so it is not like they would wake me up all the time .

I have been working on my story a little bit, but I am stuck, and cant seem to get into the flow of things. I'm sure that I will eventually, but still....

I started research on my research paper last night, and it was really interesting! I think that I am really going to enjoy this paper.

I miss my dog.......

I started selling Mary Kay last week, even though I have not sold anything yet, I am getting ready to do a party, not quite sure where yet, but I think it will be fun, I am excited

Why do people celebrate Christmas so early? It is like Thanksgiving is an oversight and an excuse to do something before the "big one"! And then, because they have been listening to Christmas Carols since Nov 1, by Dec 20, they are sick of them and ready to move on, but of course, they cant for another week.

I want to take a Ballroom Dance class again! I miss it so much! Talk about a way to make exercising fun, it was a blast, and you really had to work at it too. Actually, dance is one of the hardest sports to do, and one of the best for you, because it is all about natural and graceful movement, you have to be strong, and graceful at the same time, unlike say basketball, or running when you can make whatever face that you want and no one cares. When we move to Dallas, I am so looking for a Ballroom dance class...

I am really hoping that my brother and his (soon to be) fiance wait to get married until next October (which is what she would prefer) so that we have time to plan the wedding, and make it a really nice and fun time.

I think I have decided to talk to someone about physical therapy for my shoulder, I am sick of it always giving me trouble, and would like to just be able to use it. Just one session, and then I will know at least a little bit of what I should do to help it.

Today is one month until my 20th birthday

Ok, I think that is enough for now.....

Fun Times

Well for some unknown reason, I am in a really good mood today....it may have something to do with the time change, or the start of a new month, or that I had a wonderful weekend with my family.... Im thinking it is the middle one.. (jk) :)
My cousin Peter has decided to go with a friend of his and move to Hawaii and then to the Maldive Islands... This is a big step, since all that he has is a backpack and what is in it, and we are all proud of him. We had a going away party for him last night, and had a blast! I love chaos every once in a while :) Lots of good food and interesting people........even if they are family.


Should I move to Italy with my (other) cousin?