So these past few days my ears have been stopped up. People would talk to me, I wouldn’t hear them. I would try to watch TV or listen to the radio, and with some extra volume I could make myself hear it but probably at the expense to those around me. Sounds that I could somewhat hear out of one ear would somehow come across as if they were coming from the opposite direction than they really where [I may or may not have been turning in circles trying to figure out where the ding of the elevator was coming from]. But lucky for me, and the potential frustration of others having to repeat themselves, I spent most of my days in my office. I didn’t come into contact with a lot of people, but I definitely had some reflecting time.
I’m the type of person who likes to stay busy, especially at work. Having nothing to do makes the day just drag on and on, which is partially why I have had a couple of back to back blogs lately. But anyways, sometimes I get so caught up in the day to day tasks that I forget why I’m really here and who I am here to serve and glorify. And that I think is what I realized most over the last couple of days.
Back in April of 2010 I lost my voice. Now you are probably thinking, oh you just had a cold and were a little horse. No, like I LOST my voice! It was gone! No squeak, no whisper, basically if you wanted to hear me you just better be good at lip reading. And this lasted ooooh probably a good 9 days before a squeak would even come back. But there was a good and bad thing about this situation.
The bad thing was that this was the week of Phi Lamb elections. And with elections, I had to meet with the Treasurer nominees and explain the position in detail – [challenge]. I had to interview all the nominees during the election in front of all the actives – [didn’t happen]. And finally I was running for President. So that interview I was supposed to give to the Treasurers was now given to me. Yes I did have a microphone, but it was useless because obviously a microphone can’t pick up sound that isn’t there. So I had a translator that sat by me, read my lips, and told the actives what she thought I said. [If you have ever tried to explain something with every 5-10 words being repeated right after you say them, you can relate – kind of distracting.]
But here comes the good thing! So right before elections started that night, my best friend came up and handed me this verse Mark 13:11 that said “…don’t worry about what you will say. Say whatever God tells you at the time. It will not really be you speaking. It will be the Holy Spirit.” It was a very powerful verse that made me realize that when I do get to speak again to let God speak through me and let him lead my life. He was trying to get my attention and have me stop speaking and just listen. And basically, I didn’t have a choice, listening was all I could do. I grew closer to God, learned to lean and rely on him more, and learned how to listen to others in a new and powerful way.
Song of Songs 2:13- The fig trees are forming young fruit, and the fragrant grapevines are blossoming. Rise up, my darling! Come away with me, my fair one!
So back to this week with the loss of hearing. As soon as I woke up and realized I couldn’t hear my thought went right back to April 2010. And I thought to myself, okay God, what kind of lesson are we going for now? I could still talk, I just couldn’t listen. But once again listening was part of it. God had removed my hearing from the physical standards and blocked out the day to day noise, which definitely made me more aware of what I say on a regular basis. You know when you listen back to a recording of yourself you say, that can’t be me! I don’t sound like that! Well when I spoke that is what I heard, myself. I not only heard my thoughts but I heard my words. Which made me realize how easy it is to overpower a conversation with my own thoughts and experiences, rather than taking the time to listen to others.
You honestly can really learn a lot from listening – two tests down and I’m starting to fully understand that. During these past few days I stretched myself to listen hard to others. To really focus on their life stories and comprehend every word they said. I also had more God time. I was able to get back on track with Him and through my readings I rediscovered that the closer I walk with God, the more that God can bless others through me. God wants that time with me and he will go to whatever extent he needs to, to make that known, obviously he has fully proven that! I think in the day to day schedules God tends to get pushed off to the side until we have the “right” time to spend with him, when really he is yelling at us to pay attention to what He is trying to tell us now.
Acts 17:27-28- His purpose was for the nations to seek after God and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him- though he is not far from any one of us. For in him we live and move and exist. As some of your own poets have said “we are his offspring”.
So yesterday afternoon, I went to this hearing aid audiology place to get my ears looked at. [Of course I’m the youngest one there by a good 50-60 years]. As I was sitting in the waiting room I felt like everyone was talking at a normal level, nothing crazy which surprised me for a room full of old people that can’t hear. So I went back, they cleaned out my ears, and I walked out and felt like everyone was screaming!! They all looked the same as when I left, but apparently they were all in the same boat as I was in coming into it. I couldn’t help but laugh to myself and thank God for my hearing and the constant reminder that he wants to talk to me, be with me, and guide me daily. The book Jesus Calling says, “God is far more real than the world you can see, hear and touch. Faith is the confirmation of things we do not see and conviction of their reality, perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses.”
Hebrews 11:1- Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.
It’s time now to listen.
Thursday, July 19, 2012
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Unfailing
Psalm 42:5 – Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again – my savior and my God!
Right now, everything in my life is going smoothly, I guess you could say I’m on my way up to the top of the mountain. Work is moving along well, relationships are continuing to grow, and all of my family seems to be in good health again. As I look at where I am now and where I see myself going I am thankful and encouraged. But when I look back to the rough areas that got me to where I am today, I realize it wasn’t me that put me back together again, it was the hope that I had in God to pull me through.
After graduating college a year ago, I was kind of in one of those awkward stages. I was still taking a couple courses but just part time. So what was I suppose to do, stay working part time or try to find a full time position? Working part time wasn’t keeping me busy enough, but working full time I thought would be too much. What a pickle! My friends began to move off, start their new chapter of life, and for some reason I felt like I was left in a hole all alone. I began job searching all over in hopes the right spot for me would open up. I looked in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area, and just for giggles a couple in Colorado. I was searching these areas because I thought I wanted to live there. The key word there being "I". I once again thought I knew the plans for my life were better than anyone else could plan for me. Man was I wrong.
Jobs came up, I applied, some of which I heard back from, some I had interviews with, some that offered the position, and all I couldn’t take. There was no peace in the decision, so I knew not to move forward with it. But one day, when talking to some family I heard about a position, one that sounded like the perfect fit for me and one that would be an easy transition. I contacted the firm in the morning, had an interview that afternoon, and by that evening I was on my way beginning my first full time, real person job! I still wasn’t sure as to why I was still in Lubbock, but I was thankful that I could still be close and connected with Tech, my church, and the few close friends I still had in town.
But now, a quick 5 months later, more of the puzzle is coming together. I began dating a guy I knew while in college. He moved off for work, but a little over a month ago moved back out to West Texas. We reconnected, hit it off, and I guess you could say the rest is history. I also have had more opportunities to serve the community and college. Recently I accepted a position to serve another local university through the Christian sorority I was involved in while in college. I’m telling you, God is good. He is faithful in the big and little things in life. He blesses me daily and encourages me constantly.
Psalm 147:11- The Lord’s delight is in those who fear him, those who put their hope in his unfailing love.
I have really realized lately that your life can change in a matter of minutes. We all have those down times, where we feel alone, unsure of the future, and just basically lost and confused. But the unfailing love God has for us is all more the reason to give your life plans and desires to him to handle. The word “unfailing” is powerful. According to dictionary.com it is defined as without error or fault; reliable; constant; unceasing; and always able to supply more. God is never going to let you go, his love for you is unceasing, and just when you think he has done all he can, he gives you more. If that is not true love I don’t know what is! So I continue to praise God and put all my hope in the unceasing and constant love he has for us all.
Right now, everything in my life is going smoothly, I guess you could say I’m on my way up to the top of the mountain. Work is moving along well, relationships are continuing to grow, and all of my family seems to be in good health again. As I look at where I am now and where I see myself going I am thankful and encouraged. But when I look back to the rough areas that got me to where I am today, I realize it wasn’t me that put me back together again, it was the hope that I had in God to pull me through.
After graduating college a year ago, I was kind of in one of those awkward stages. I was still taking a couple courses but just part time. So what was I suppose to do, stay working part time or try to find a full time position? Working part time wasn’t keeping me busy enough, but working full time I thought would be too much. What a pickle! My friends began to move off, start their new chapter of life, and for some reason I felt like I was left in a hole all alone. I began job searching all over in hopes the right spot for me would open up. I looked in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area, and just for giggles a couple in Colorado. I was searching these areas because I thought I wanted to live there. The key word there being "I". I once again thought I knew the plans for my life were better than anyone else could plan for me. Man was I wrong.
Jobs came up, I applied, some of which I heard back from, some I had interviews with, some that offered the position, and all I couldn’t take. There was no peace in the decision, so I knew not to move forward with it. But one day, when talking to some family I heard about a position, one that sounded like the perfect fit for me and one that would be an easy transition. I contacted the firm in the morning, had an interview that afternoon, and by that evening I was on my way beginning my first full time, real person job! I still wasn’t sure as to why I was still in Lubbock, but I was thankful that I could still be close and connected with Tech, my church, and the few close friends I still had in town.
But now, a quick 5 months later, more of the puzzle is coming together. I began dating a guy I knew while in college. He moved off for work, but a little over a month ago moved back out to West Texas. We reconnected, hit it off, and I guess you could say the rest is history. I also have had more opportunities to serve the community and college. Recently I accepted a position to serve another local university through the Christian sorority I was involved in while in college. I’m telling you, God is good. He is faithful in the big and little things in life. He blesses me daily and encourages me constantly.
Psalm 147:11- The Lord’s delight is in those who fear him, those who put their hope in his unfailing love.
I have really realized lately that your life can change in a matter of minutes. We all have those down times, where we feel alone, unsure of the future, and just basically lost and confused. But the unfailing love God has for us is all more the reason to give your life plans and desires to him to handle. The word “unfailing” is powerful. According to dictionary.com it is defined as without error or fault; reliable; constant; unceasing; and always able to supply more. God is never going to let you go, his love for you is unceasing, and just when you think he has done all he can, he gives you more. If that is not true love I don’t know what is! So I continue to praise God and put all my hope in the unceasing and constant love he has for us all.
Thursday, May 3, 2012
Rainbows
Alright, here it comes! So last night I’m sitting in my
hotel room doing a little reading. I decided my new challenge for the year is
to read through the entire bible at least once. I wasn’t sure how to organize
that so I turned to my iPhone app which laid out a plan. Now I thought a
reading plan for a year would have only one or two ways to accomplish it, I was
very much mistaken. There are book by book plans, chronological plans, non-chronological
plans, and so on and so on. To tell you the truth I was not too excited to read
the Old Testament, basically because everyone says it’s hard to understand and
follow. So I decided to do a blended plan which would give me a little old and
a little new in hopes that I wouldn’t get burned out and give up.
So here we go, Day 1 I start reading Genesis 1 -3 and Romans
1, and basically we see that God created the world and everything in it in only
seven days! That still amazes me, but I have heard that many many many times! [Probably
because I decide to start reading the bible in a year and I never make it past
Genesis!] But anyways Day 2 comes around
and I read Genesis 4-6 and Romans 2. I read that God had already created Adam
and Eve, they had already eaten fruit from the wrong tree, and we covered all
the kids they had and that their kids and grandkids had as well.
*Side note: Adam lived until he was 930 years old and all of
his kids, grandkids, and great grandkids lived well into their 800’s or 900’s
as well! That’s just crazy to comprehend! But after the people began to
multiply God realized if people keep living this long the world would not be
able to hold that many people, so he drastically reduced their lifespan to be
no more than 120 years! Adam hadn’t even had his first kid by then! He was 130
before the first one! Crazy!
Okay, okay back to the story…Day 3: Genesis 7-9 and Romans 3. here comes Noah, a righteous
and blameless person who walked extremely close to God. He was married had 3
sons and which were also married. God came to Noah one day and explained to him
that the world is corrupt and it must be destroyed. So as we all know He gave
him specific instructions as to how to build an arc and what exactly to bring
on it before he would flood the earth and destroy everything on it. Noah was
only 600 years old, not a big deal for him, so he did just as God commanded. The
flood came, destroyed the land and everything in it, and 150 days later God
told Noah to release the animals and leave the arc. And these next few verses
is what made me nearly want to jump out of bed and run around my little hotel
room! Ready?
Genesis 9:11-17 (ahhh I’m still so excited about this!!)
“Yes, I am confirming my covenant with you. Never again will
floodwaters kill all living creatures; never again will a flood destroy the
earth. Then God said, I am giving you a sign of my covenant with you and with
all living creatures, for all generations to come. I have placed my rainbow in
the clouds. It is the sign of my covenant with you and with all the earth. When
I send clouds over the earth, the rainbow will appear in the clouds, and I will
remember my covenant with you and with all living creatures. Never again will
the floodwaters destroy all life. When I see the rainbow in the clouds, I will
remember the eternal covenant between God and every living creature on earth.
Then God said to Noah, yes, this rainbow is the sign of the covenant I am
confirming with all the creatures on earth.”
Man! I still have a giant smile on my face as I type this!
You know each time it gets ready to rain I look out my window and watch the
clouds get darker and darker. My fears of something bad happening begin to build
and I begin to freak out a little [well maybe a lot, but that’s beside the
point, right?] Anyways usually before or after the storm I can see a rainbow,
but I never knew exactly why or where it came from. I guess it has been
described by science teachers before as reflections of light, so I would always
think “oh that’s so pretty, I love when the reflections of light meet like that.”
But now! I know REALLY why it happens! God is telling us, “Yes! It’s fixing to
or has already stormed, and Yes! You have or will make it through because I
will not destroy what I have created again!” It’s God’s word, written in the
sky [like we always ask him to do for us], plain for us all to see and read! It’s
in a language that everyone in the entire world can read and comprehend! That’s
how great our God is!
So as I said before, I was dreading reading some of the Old Testament,
but I can tell you now…I’m pumped! God continues to show himself to me every
day and last night he showed me something new, something that I can look
forward to, and something for me to remember that He is in control of it all!
If He makes this kind of promise not to destroy the earth again, I know that
His promise for me and my life plans are guaranteed and something I will never
have to worry or be the slightest bit concerned about! So keep your eyes open, be on the watch for
rainbows, and know that God promises to carry you through everything!
Monday, April 23, 2012
Experiencing The Real Deal
Something that has become one of my favorite things to do in the morning [of course only on weekdays when I’m up early enough] is to pull open the blinds and watch the sunrise as I eat breakfast! For that short amount of time everything is still, hardly anyone is out and about, I can hear a couple of bird chirping, and I can see the skies change from pink to yellow to blue. It is such a beautiful sight that sometimes leaves me speechless in the awe of God’s creation. I don’t even think the best artist in the world could recreate some of the mornings I’ve seen. Seeing such a beautiful sunrise makes me want to just freeze time, to capture that moment so I can see it all day long. One morning was extremely beautiful so I pulled out my camera, snapped a shot, then reviewed it and not to my complete surprise the details my eyes were seeing were not captured by the lens of my camera. The picture was dull and lacked major color! I think sometimes I get distracted from things around me due to technology. When I’m taking a trip, walking into work, or waiting in line I forget to look around at God’s creation and instead stay on my phone texting, facebooking, or pintresting! So maybe that was why my picture didn’t come out as I was really seeing it. Maybe God was trying to tell me to stop trying to see Him and His creations through a lens, and instead open my eyes and experience the real deal for myself in real time!
It’s so easy to try to live a “Christian” life through other people [who we just assume have everything together] or through a devotional book [which we assume is just as true as the bible itself, just more fun to read]. We forget to pick up the real book and talk with the real person who is in total control of our life. It’s been my challenge this past week to refocus on my relationship with God, to make Him the first priority, and to take time to stop and thank Him for every little thing that keeps me going each day. And I can definitely speak from experience when I say…it works!!
Last week was known by many of our staff as “the week from hell”. Which meant it was going to be extremely early mornings, extremely late nights, and the work material we were going to be dealing with was some of the worst we will ever come into contact with throughout the year. So the Friday before, as I left work, and throughout the entire weekend, each time I thought about going to work on Monday I was nearly in tears. I was in a depressive funk and was dreading it more than anything in the world! I didn’t know how I was going to push through and make it to Friday; I literally didn’t think I would! But I kept telling myself “Bailey, don’t cry because when, or if you do, come out on the other side of this and you look back and see yourself crying you’re going to look like a fool! So just don’t do it.” I listened to myself and began to pray. Giving my job and all its duties over to God, just as we were told to do in church this past weekend, because I knew what was coming I couldn’t handle on my own. I woke up at 4:00am Monday to start my work day [still praying] I made it home surprisingly not tired [thanking God], and repeated this same schedule and feeling the rest of the week. By Friday the staff that was with me stopped and said “I’m really impressed, this is the best we have ever seen this week go!” I just began to smile, knowing that my prayers were answered, and I looked back to Sunday night knowing there wasn’t any tears then or now and I smiled because I knew I made it, it was finally Friday!!
That week was as much of a breeze as work will ever be, so why have I not given it over to God before now? I still can’t answer that question, because there is no excuse for it. But I can tell you now that it is continuing from here on out. Go ahead, you try it too! I would say you’ll be surprised how well it works, but it’s really not a surprise [we all knew God could do it] but it’s a wonderful relief!
“It’s what we trust in but don’t yet see that keeps us going.” 2 Corinthians 5:7
It’s so easy to try to live a “Christian” life through other people [who we just assume have everything together] or through a devotional book [which we assume is just as true as the bible itself, just more fun to read]. We forget to pick up the real book and talk with the real person who is in total control of our life. It’s been my challenge this past week to refocus on my relationship with God, to make Him the first priority, and to take time to stop and thank Him for every little thing that keeps me going each day. And I can definitely speak from experience when I say…it works!!
Last week was known by many of our staff as “the week from hell”. Which meant it was going to be extremely early mornings, extremely late nights, and the work material we were going to be dealing with was some of the worst we will ever come into contact with throughout the year. So the Friday before, as I left work, and throughout the entire weekend, each time I thought about going to work on Monday I was nearly in tears. I was in a depressive funk and was dreading it more than anything in the world! I didn’t know how I was going to push through and make it to Friday; I literally didn’t think I would! But I kept telling myself “Bailey, don’t cry because when, or if you do, come out on the other side of this and you look back and see yourself crying you’re going to look like a fool! So just don’t do it.” I listened to myself and began to pray. Giving my job and all its duties over to God, just as we were told to do in church this past weekend, because I knew what was coming I couldn’t handle on my own. I woke up at 4:00am Monday to start my work day [still praying] I made it home surprisingly not tired [thanking God], and repeated this same schedule and feeling the rest of the week. By Friday the staff that was with me stopped and said “I’m really impressed, this is the best we have ever seen this week go!” I just began to smile, knowing that my prayers were answered, and I looked back to Sunday night knowing there wasn’t any tears then or now and I smiled because I knew I made it, it was finally Friday!!
That week was as much of a breeze as work will ever be, so why have I not given it over to God before now? I still can’t answer that question, because there is no excuse for it. But I can tell you now that it is continuing from here on out. Go ahead, you try it too! I would say you’ll be surprised how well it works, but it’s really not a surprise [we all knew God could do it] but it’s a wonderful relief!
“It’s what we trust in but don’t yet see that keeps us going.” 2 Corinthians 5:7
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
I've got this...I think
Getting caught up in worldly things and trying to live with God through something or someone else can hurt us more than not even trying to build that relationship sometimes. It builds up this thought in us that makes us think we can do everything on our own, that we don’t need help from any friends or family, or for heaven’s sake God! So we keep taking on tasks and building our to-do list to the point that things are overlapping, but we still say “I’ve got this”! At this point…reality hits, and hard! We crumble at the sight of one more thing to do, we get tense with the people around us, and then[as a last resort of course] we throw everything we have on God and say “umm…so God, I haven’t talked to you in awhile, but I’m going to need you to fix all of this. Like right now”. We finally surrender and say I can’t do it anymore, the pressure is too much, but after telling God our problems we still have this burning feeling that even God might not be able to fix it! Crazy, but you know we have all though this at some point!
In Numbers [yes, the old testament] Moses finally surrenders to God. Moses was pointed out by God to lead the Israelites through the wilderness on what should’ve been an eleven day trip and instead ended up taking forty years! Talk about a major family vacation! The Israelites, like anyone on a long trip, began complaining and whining to Moses that they didn’t have any meat and were tired of eating the same fruits for every meal. They kept this up for days and it was driving Moses crazy to the point he came to God and said “I can’t do this by myself – it’s too much, all these people.” Numbers 11:14. God had been with Moses the whole trip and had already heard everything, so he told Moses to go get together seventy men from among the leaders and meet him in the Tabernacle. God promised them you will eat meat not for one, five, ten, or twenty days, but for a whole month! He said you are going to have so much meat that you will never want another bite ever again; you will even become sick at the mention of it! I always ask questions and Moses began doing the same thing. He asks God; well don’t you know I have 600,000 men with me? Boys can eat, so how do you plan on coming up with all that meat? Where are you getting the meat from? Even if you butchered all flocks and herds, would that even be enough for that many people for that long period of time? Why couldn’t Moses just say “ok, I’ll meet you there with the guys, God”? Why did he have to questions God? See here I go again with my questions, so back to the story! Then here is my favorite part! God answered Moses “So, do you think I can’t take care of you? You’ll see soon enough whether what I say happens for you or not.”
Dad gum! For God to ask “do you think I can’t take care of you” is like a slap in the face! He is the one who created us, who keeps our blood flowing, keeps us breathing, and keeps us alive and moving…I’m pretty sure taking care of us is the easiest tasks He has! So why do we doubt Him? Why do we try to provide for everyone and accomplish everything on our own? Why do we try to be the hero? Is it so that we can take all the credit when it’s done? Eventually the burdens of trying to do this will be too much and you will crumble, it’s just a matter of time. “Trust in God from the bottom of your heart; don't try to figure out everything on your own. Listen to God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track.” Proverbs 3:5-6
In Numbers [yes, the old testament] Moses finally surrenders to God. Moses was pointed out by God to lead the Israelites through the wilderness on what should’ve been an eleven day trip and instead ended up taking forty years! Talk about a major family vacation! The Israelites, like anyone on a long trip, began complaining and whining to Moses that they didn’t have any meat and were tired of eating the same fruits for every meal. They kept this up for days and it was driving Moses crazy to the point he came to God and said “I can’t do this by myself – it’s too much, all these people.” Numbers 11:14. God had been with Moses the whole trip and had already heard everything, so he told Moses to go get together seventy men from among the leaders and meet him in the Tabernacle. God promised them you will eat meat not for one, five, ten, or twenty days, but for a whole month! He said you are going to have so much meat that you will never want another bite ever again; you will even become sick at the mention of it! I always ask questions and Moses began doing the same thing. He asks God; well don’t you know I have 600,000 men with me? Boys can eat, so how do you plan on coming up with all that meat? Where are you getting the meat from? Even if you butchered all flocks and herds, would that even be enough for that many people for that long period of time? Why couldn’t Moses just say “ok, I’ll meet you there with the guys, God”? Why did he have to questions God? See here I go again with my questions, so back to the story! Then here is my favorite part! God answered Moses “So, do you think I can’t take care of you? You’ll see soon enough whether what I say happens for you or not.”
Dad gum! For God to ask “do you think I can’t take care of you” is like a slap in the face! He is the one who created us, who keeps our blood flowing, keeps us breathing, and keeps us alive and moving…I’m pretty sure taking care of us is the easiest tasks He has! So why do we doubt Him? Why do we try to provide for everyone and accomplish everything on our own? Why do we try to be the hero? Is it so that we can take all the credit when it’s done? Eventually the burdens of trying to do this will be too much and you will crumble, it’s just a matter of time. “Trust in God from the bottom of your heart; don't try to figure out everything on your own. Listen to God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track.” Proverbs 3:5-6
Saturday, March 24, 2012
I already know...
I have been kind of all over the board this week with quiet times. As I would read things I would think, "Oh that's nice, but I've already heard that before. Next." or "That's something good to be reminded of, but I'm not going through anything challenging to where that would apply. Next." or even "Come on now, I know you love me, I have even been singing a song about it since I was kid...Jesus loves me this I know. Next." But as I take time to look back at the week as a whole I begin to laugh at how all of these "not applicable" verses really do come together and are totally applicable.
I started off by thinking about how often I just suppose God is with me as I wonder off and try to do things on my own. Yes, He is with me, but I guess I am just trying to become Jesus Jr. and handle things on my own and make decisions that I think are "best" for my life. Try that for a few seconds and you will soon realize, you can't! God makes us this promise that He has a plan for us and a specific plan of action to make it happen, that is if we follow His path and not our own or what the world is telling us. "I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father." [John 14:12]
I graduated nearly a year ago come May, that's completely mind blowing to me that time has passed so fast! But back in May I knew I was going to graduate, keep working my part time job, begin grad school, take on an internship the following spring, then begin searching for a full time job in the summer. Little did I know that God's plan really for me was to graduate, work a few more months at my part time job, start grad school, and replace the internship with a full time job! I knew that I either wanted to be in Lubbock or Dallas, God chose Lubbock after I tested Him with two potential job interview trips to Dallas. And man did he ever shut those doors quick! But I am thankful and grateful to be where I am today. God wants us to have these visions and life dreams. He wants them to be clear and something to look forward to, but as much as we just want to jump to the end and get what we have been wanting for so long right now, we have to remember that God is just as focused on the process of getting there as he is on the end result. Which reminded me of Paul in Philippians 4:11-13. Paul learned how to be content and satisfied to the point where he was not disturbed by whatever state he was in. He never allowed himself to get upset with where he was at the moment; he was always looking forward to where he could be. We, myself included, need to find that balance between contentment and ambition. We need to learn to enjoy where we are on the way to where we are going, and know that God is never going to put us in a situation without giving us the ability to be in it with joy.
I already knew how easy it was to go off and do my own thing, I already knew what I wanted my life to be like, and I already knew that I needed to be content with what I have and where I am. But I didn't know how much easier it is when you let God lead your day, how much smoother plans for your life will go, and how much easier it is is to be joyful each day knowing you don't have to be the one to plan every second of every day! I have made it now a daily reminder to myself to not wonder off on my own, but instead share with God my desires, visions, and dreams. I plan to enter each new day with joy knowing that when I am in line with God, His desires for me will be the same desires I have for myself. So maybe I didn't already know everything, in fact I know I didn't. I have a feeling this will be a never ending processes, that I will never know it all, but this is what keeps things new and keeps me excited for each new day!
I started off by thinking about how often I just suppose God is with me as I wonder off and try to do things on my own. Yes, He is with me, but I guess I am just trying to become Jesus Jr. and handle things on my own and make decisions that I think are "best" for my life. Try that for a few seconds and you will soon realize, you can't! God makes us this promise that He has a plan for us and a specific plan of action to make it happen, that is if we follow His path and not our own or what the world is telling us. "I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father." [John 14:12]
I graduated nearly a year ago come May, that's completely mind blowing to me that time has passed so fast! But back in May I knew I was going to graduate, keep working my part time job, begin grad school, take on an internship the following spring, then begin searching for a full time job in the summer. Little did I know that God's plan really for me was to graduate, work a few more months at my part time job, start grad school, and replace the internship with a full time job! I knew that I either wanted to be in Lubbock or Dallas, God chose Lubbock after I tested Him with two potential job interview trips to Dallas. And man did he ever shut those doors quick! But I am thankful and grateful to be where I am today. God wants us to have these visions and life dreams. He wants them to be clear and something to look forward to, but as much as we just want to jump to the end and get what we have been wanting for so long right now, we have to remember that God is just as focused on the process of getting there as he is on the end result. Which reminded me of Paul in Philippians 4:11-13. Paul learned how to be content and satisfied to the point where he was not disturbed by whatever state he was in. He never allowed himself to get upset with where he was at the moment; he was always looking forward to where he could be. We, myself included, need to find that balance between contentment and ambition. We need to learn to enjoy where we are on the way to where we are going, and know that God is never going to put us in a situation without giving us the ability to be in it with joy.
I already knew how easy it was to go off and do my own thing, I already knew what I wanted my life to be like, and I already knew that I needed to be content with what I have and where I am. But I didn't know how much easier it is when you let God lead your day, how much smoother plans for your life will go, and how much easier it is is to be joyful each day knowing you don't have to be the one to plan every second of every day! I have made it now a daily reminder to myself to not wonder off on my own, but instead share with God my desires, visions, and dreams. I plan to enter each new day with joy knowing that when I am in line with God, His desires for me will be the same desires I have for myself. So maybe I didn't already know everything, in fact I know I didn't. I have a feeling this will be a never ending processes, that I will never know it all, but this is what keeps things new and keeps me excited for each new day!
Friday, March 23, 2012
Bonded
Well, here I go again with this blog thing. I tried this a couple years ago and as most things, stuff comes up and I get distracted and forget about it. But I'm hoping this time will be different, so lets jump in and get started!
In the Summer of 2009 I attended a retreat as an upcoming officer for my sorority. I entered not really knowing anyone, not even the girls from my own school all that well. I learned a lot about the sorority and its traditions, and how even though we are the same organization with 28 different chapter across 9 different state we are so much alike but yet still very different. One story that likes to be brought up by the officers [nearly each year] is from the night we all come together for the Phi Lamb, I guess you would call it song or chant, I'm still not really sure what it is. But anyways, Texas Tech, University of Texas, and Texas A&M, being the first 3 created chapters sit in the very front and they get to start and lead the...whatever you want to call it. The UT and A&M officers, either 1. really actually do this song on a regular basis or 2. are very good at making us think they do. Phi Lamb calls it some kind of bonding song. So here we go, Tech stands up, mimicking what UT and A&M are doing and we all line up in two lines facing our fellow officers. One at a time we cross arms in this unique, yet confusing way and "bond" together, fitting huh? As of course we are singing this song, that us Tech girls think goes something like this "watermelon, watermelon, peach, banana, ummmm... apple, nope watermelon?"...yep that sounds about right. We finish "bonding" with the remaining chapters and the song ends. Us Tech girls are still shaking from trying to hold our laughs in and still have no idea what's going on. But it was at that moment, we really did "bond" as a group of officers.
It's funny how things just click sometimes and finally come together. You walk into an unfamiliar place with people you don't know anything about except their name, but after opening up and spending some quality time things come together and you begin to feel comfortable. This reminds me a lot of my walk with God. I entered this world not knowing a single thing about God, but I was blessed with a family who taught me and brought me to know who he is. At the age of 10 I invited my new, still kind of unfamiliar friend, into my life for good. I took him with me through the rest of elementary school, junior high, high school, and He even came with me to college! He stayed with me day and night and He promised He would never leave. It probably wasn't for me until college that I really jumped in deep with Him. We sang our "bonding" song, crossed arms, and though rough times have come, He never let go. This friendship has been a blessing and encouragement on my life. It is something I wouldn't change for anything and something that I don't know where I would be today without.
"If you abide in me and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done." [John 15:7] I have chose to Abide in Him, have you? I need God for everything in my life, no matter how big or small the request, but if I am not in Him, He is not in me. It's time to spend that much needed time with Him and "bond" with that great friend we all can freely have. Through this new blog I plan to share things that my friend is showing me and blessing me with every single day through the relationship we are forever building. I challenge you to start or continue your relationship and join me in this exciting journey!
In the Summer of 2009 I attended a retreat as an upcoming officer for my sorority. I entered not really knowing anyone, not even the girls from my own school all that well. I learned a lot about the sorority and its traditions, and how even though we are the same organization with 28 different chapter across 9 different state we are so much alike but yet still very different. One story that likes to be brought up by the officers [nearly each year] is from the night we all come together for the Phi Lamb, I guess you would call it song or chant, I'm still not really sure what it is. But anyways, Texas Tech, University of Texas, and Texas A&M, being the first 3 created chapters sit in the very front and they get to start and lead the...whatever you want to call it. The UT and A&M officers, either 1. really actually do this song on a regular basis or 2. are very good at making us think they do. Phi Lamb calls it some kind of bonding song. So here we go, Tech stands up, mimicking what UT and A&M are doing and we all line up in two lines facing our fellow officers. One at a time we cross arms in this unique, yet confusing way and "bond" together, fitting huh? As of course we are singing this song, that us Tech girls think goes something like this "watermelon, watermelon, peach, banana, ummmm... apple, nope watermelon?"...yep that sounds about right. We finish "bonding" with the remaining chapters and the song ends. Us Tech girls are still shaking from trying to hold our laughs in and still have no idea what's going on. But it was at that moment, we really did "bond" as a group of officers.
It's funny how things just click sometimes and finally come together. You walk into an unfamiliar place with people you don't know anything about except their name, but after opening up and spending some quality time things come together and you begin to feel comfortable. This reminds me a lot of my walk with God. I entered this world not knowing a single thing about God, but I was blessed with a family who taught me and brought me to know who he is. At the age of 10 I invited my new, still kind of unfamiliar friend, into my life for good. I took him with me through the rest of elementary school, junior high, high school, and He even came with me to college! He stayed with me day and night and He promised He would never leave. It probably wasn't for me until college that I really jumped in deep with Him. We sang our "bonding" song, crossed arms, and though rough times have come, He never let go. This friendship has been a blessing and encouragement on my life. It is something I wouldn't change for anything and something that I don't know where I would be today without.
"If you abide in me and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done." [John 15:7] I have chose to Abide in Him, have you? I need God for everything in my life, no matter how big or small the request, but if I am not in Him, He is not in me. It's time to spend that much needed time with Him and "bond" with that great friend we all can freely have. Through this new blog I plan to share things that my friend is showing me and blessing me with every single day through the relationship we are forever building. I challenge you to start or continue your relationship and join me in this exciting journey!
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