Wednesday, June 30, 2010

i have amazing friends. i don't even think the word "amazing" does them justice. they come from just about every stage of my life. and daily i am loved on and encouraged by at least one of them, i feel like - even when i least expect it.

thank you, Jesus for so many wonderful, godly friends.

Thursday, June 24, 2010

i would like this to be easier. thank you very much.

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

a little of what i've been learning...

it's funny how many times you can hear a bible story or an encouraging word or bible verse from someone, and just not really let its application sink in. there are tons of bible stories i've heard over and over during the course of my life, but never really taken anything from them or seen what truth i can take away from them and apply in my life.

a couple of weeks ago, my mom was talking to me about the story of shadrach, meshach and abednego. you can find it in daniel 3 - just in case you want to look it up. :) it's a story i've heard over and over and thought about how "cool" it is, but that's really it. i've honestly never put much more thought into it than that. multiple times, over the past 2 weeks, though - God has brought that story to mind and given me insight into how i can apply it to my life and where i am right now.


i've struggled big time the past couple of months with understanding why sometimes when i feel like i'm being obedient to God, do things turn out completely differently than i thought. if i'm trying to listen and obey and i have a peace about my decisions that i feel sure come from God, then why would i end up in the middle of heartache and chaos?

shadrach, meshach and abednego were totally being obedient to God. they definitely didn't make any mistakes by not bowing down to the gold statue that nebuchadnezzar had set up. yet somehow, they still ended up in the middle of chaos - in the middle of a blazing fire! but, God was totally there with them. and, in the end, it says they came out not even smelling like smoke. i mean, how could they give credit and glory to anyone other than God after that?

i feel like i'm standing in some fires of life right now - even after making decisions i thought were being obedient. but, i know that God is right there with me - even when i feel all alone or discouraged. and, at the end of all this - i know God is going to deliver me and i want to come out of this like shadrach, meshach, and abednego - not even smelling like smoke! it's exciting to think that at the end of all this i can look back and give glory to God alone for the way i know He will deliver me. even now, the way my heart and thoughts and attitudes have been growing and changing, can't be attributed to anyone other than Him!


while at camp, i was also struck by another sort of reality or truth that i can take away from this story. we talked a lot about God's plan for our lives and His direction and leading. one of the questions i asked the girls in my cabin one night during devotions was if they thought always knowing exactly what God's will was and what He had planned next would make it easier to follow. i'm pretty sure just about every girls hand was raised, saying they thought this would be easier. and honestly, before really studying and processing this bible story - i have to say, i would have totally agreed with them.


now for my new perspective. if i was shadrach, meshach or abednego i'm not sure it would have been any easier for me to follow God's plan for my life if He told me it included literally being thrown into a fire. especially once i was informed of the fact that it was because i was choosing to serve only Him and no other gods. i mean, my reward for obedience is something that is sure to lead to my death? i feel like that's a question i would be asking - but, i definitely don't think knowing that was God's plan for my life would make following it any more enticing. in the end, God still received all the glory and praise due to Him, but i don't think i'd have been all happy go lucky to jump on board with that plan! so really, knowing the plan, probably wouldn't have made things any easier.


i guess, to me, the reality of it is i don't know God's plan for my life. and, i'm never going to know exactly what He has next. what i do know, is that in good times and bad, He is with me every step of the way and i want to always be living in obedience to Him. regardless of my circumstance, i want to live my life so that when people look at me, they see Jesus working in me. i want my life to always point to Christ - whether i'm standing in the fire or not.

summer is officially here :)

*rascal flatts is on friday*i have a new purple blackberry*i still miss my puppy*my house is a wreck..but instead of cleaning it, i think i'll sit by the pool tonight*i want to read more books*i hate the idea of twitter...but sara might be convincing me to get one anyhow*bachelor jake and vienna are now broken up*going to back work after 2 weeks of vacation is hard*i'm struggling just a bit to find that place where i feel like i fit*haircut on thursday - whoo*my clothes are all too big - so last week i had 2 ice cream snickers bars each day to try and fix this problem*saturday i'll be sitting by the ocean*i'd be more than willing to overlook his jean shirt and give jesse from this seasons bachelorette my number*surprisingly, the past 2 weeks of camp were maybe my most favorite weeks of camp ever*heading to pennsylvania with the family for 4th of july*

Thursday, June 10, 2010

i have laughed a lot this week - definitely much needed :)
God has totally blessed me with so many amazing, godly women in my life - i can't be thankful enough for them.
driving up and down falls of neuse road between 12 and 2 - RIDICULOUS!
this is the least homesick i've ever felt at orientation week, surprising, but such a good thing!
i feel exactly the same and completely different - all at the same time.
i keep forgetting to take pictures! :(
next week, i get to be an angel, in my old cabin, with laura as my co-counselor - big thumbs up!

race for the cure is this weekend.
i've been greatly encouraged lately by being able to pray through specific scripture. what a huge reminder to not only be in God's word reading it, but also memorizing it so that i have it with me, whenever i need!

i really like card games.

this week, i've been constantly reminded of God's faithfulness to me, and amazed by the strength He alone has provided.

yesterday, i realized a lot of my favorite bible verses come from the old testament.
i need more sleep.

Monday, June 7, 2010

"nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted 'shadrach, meshach, and abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! come here!' so shadrach, meshach, and abednego came out of the fire, and the satraps, prefects, governors and royal advisers crowded around them. they saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them."
daniel 3: 26-27



I wan't to come out of this not even smelling like fire...



"i can do everything through him who gives me strength"
phillipians 4:13

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

loving the sunshine :)