I'm a college student!!!

Well, officially today I am now a college student...took me 12 years to get there! :) Some may say I took the easy way after high school by going to a trade school (cosmetology school)....but I just did what I was led to do and have no regrets from the last 12 years. I have enjoyed the journey so much...I have been exposed to so many new things...new walks of life....my eyes have been opened to a great BIG world that for so long I was sheltered from...I have grown, I have had the opportunity to impact lives...I have seen many lives come to know Christ or come to know Christ in a closer walk...I have had ups and downs....my job has given me the opportunity to go places literally that I never dreamed possible...I have my own personal mission field....and I love every minute of it!

However, for the last 5 years God has continually opened so many doors for me to pursue the journey of missions....another journey that I absolutely love. In this journey I have had the opportunity to reach out to others in the medical world....which is something I know very little about but have always been very intrigued by. I enjoy learning new things about the medical world....I have had the opportunities to work in medical clinics and dental clinics...even pulling teeth...and the desire to know more to be able to help more continually grows with every trip I take. 5 years ago after coming home from Africa, I was determined to pursue some type of medical degree...and didn't. This year while in Africa I sensed God's leading me once again to pursue some type of medical training....not to switch careers but to have some knowledge to be able to use on the missions trips that I take....and I was determined this time to do something about it......

I DID! I am going to start by taking an EMT course this spring...a 1 semester class that will give me basic knowledge of emergency medicine...and I am so EXCITED! One of my customers, who also has a mission minded heart...has joined me on this journey! I am a bit nervous...never been to college...but my excitement definitely outweighs the nervousness!!! BRING IT ON! So, as of today...College...here I come! We'll see where this journey leads! Always an adventure! I am living my dream!!!

Morning Lessons...

So, this morning, my roomie Robin and I were trying to get the filter out of the refrigerator so we could replace it...however, it required taking off the bottom piece of the refrigerator...and let me just say it was FILTHY down there! Yuck! I was shocked at how much dirt had accumulated down under the fridge and it was unnoticeable. I made the comment that I wonder how many other parts of the house had hidden places of dirt. Robin made the comment that we don't check those places because we don't think anyone is going to look there! So, my wheels in my brain began turning...I've always been one to apply house cleaning to my walk with Christ. There are so many great applications...when I clean at home, I make a conscious effort to ask God to clean my heart and my life out at the same time. This situation this morning brought a whole new thought....what places of my heart/life are hidden that need to be thoroughly cleaned? What places are hidden that I think even God can't see...which is not true, for He sees everything! As I began to run hot water over this piece that was in desperate need of washing...I couldn't help but think about how I need the Water of His Word to run over every area of my life every hidden place of my heart and give a complete cleansing! God I pray that You would take the Water of Your Word today and completely cleanse me of every hidden place that is hiding the dirt and sin. I desire to be completely clean before You. Thank You for the power that is in Your Word and that It does It's job in my life as I allow It to! You are such a Great God, and I praise You!

Empty me...

God, I love You...thank You for waking me up early to spend time with You, thanks for not letting me sleep but for urging me to say no to my flesh and get up and just be still in Your presence. Thank You for loving me so much that you see me in all my sin yet You wont let me stay there. You continually convict me to move from that spot of sin into a place of freedom and peace. I need to be emptied of myself today. Thank You for making it clear to me what needed to be confessed and thank you for your forgiveness...Thank You for the healing that I have found in Your Word this morning...thank You for Romans 12, Galatians 5 and 1 Peter 5....and the promises and rest that I have found in those Words. I desire to be more like Jesus....I need more of Him and less of me today. I wanna walk with You today...I pray that my will gets lost in Yours. I pray that You would show me where You are at work in my world today and I wanna join You there. Jesus, thank You for being willing to deny Yourself for me...thank You for being so willing to go to the cross for this sin that I have been forgiven of this day. Thank You for making Your mercies new this day....I am so excited to spend this day with You....

Please Father, empty me.

The Greatest Moment...

This morning I have been reading about the moment that God became flesh and dwelt among us...as I have been reading and thinking...I have to ask myself, what was that moment like? We are talking GOD....and I really cannot put into words Who He is...but He humbled Himself and became "God with us"...that is unbelievable.

Matthew 1:22-23 says Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

"When the King of kings exchanged His majestic robes for swaddling clothes, surely it was the most beautiful, awe-inspiring moment in all eternity." ~Jennifer Kennedy Dean

What was that moment like...what did the angels think? I picture it being a real big deal in Heaven, everyone stopping what they are doing...a buzz like electricity is spreading quickly...everyone is standing in awe...it's truly unbelievable....yet, what happened when in that moment, Jesus was born on earth....and He truly became "God with us"? What was the reaction on earth? How was He received here? There was no buzz here on earth...no glorious entry, just a stable...with animals...did the animals know what had just happened in their world? What was that moment like? Makes me think of today.....how much do I miss out on because I don't recognize the activity of God in my life....do I catch every moment that Jesus comes right into my world....at home, at work, in my heart...do I catch every time He speaks...announcing His presence in my life? Is it an unbelivable moment or an ordinary moment? God, today I pray that I would recognize your activity in my life and that each moment would be unbelievable...not just another day.

Hebrews 1:6

I feel the need to blog...

This entry is totally random. I've decided that I need to blog more...just to get out what is on the inside. It's been a good day...and it's only 7:58 AM. I made a choice last night after Life Group (small group Bible study) that I was going to deny myself this week...(part of our lesson) and praise God...He was whispering that verse in my head as soon as my alarm went off this morning. I got up, went and worked out, came home, the girls are still sleeping, house is quiet....aaahhhh! Love it!

The last question at Life Group last night...was "how will you seek to imitate Christ this week?" My answer was to be completely focused on the mission He has called me to do and to push everything else aside that tries to get in the way of keeping me on track with the mission I have been called to....

So, what is my mission?

THAT ALL WOULD KNOW HIM!

How will I seek to accomplish that mission this week?

1. Be ready and prepared spiritually every day.

2. Look for opportunities to speak His name.

3. Deny myself and imitate Christ.

One thing that intrigues me about the life of Christ is that He was always about His Father's business. Everything else was small in light of Him accomplishing the task before Him, even rebuking His own disciples when they were keeping Him from doing what He had been called to do. So, what needs to be removed from my life in order that I might stay focused in pursuing what I have been asked to do??? That is what I will meditate on today.

Very Thought Provoking!

The Devil's Beatitudes
If the devil were to write his beatitudes, they would probably go something like this:
1. Blessed are those who are too tired or busy to spend an hour once a week with fellow Christians -- they are my best workers.
2. Blessed are those Christians who wait to be asked and expect to be thanked -- I can use them.
3. Blessed are the touchy who stop going to church -- they are my missionaries.
4. Blessed are the trouble makers -- they shall be called my children.
5. Blessed are the complainers -- I'm all ears to them.
6. Blessed are those who are bored with the minister's mannerisms and mistakes, for they get nothing out of his sermons.
7. Blessed is the church member who expects to be invited to his own church - for he is a part of the problem instead of the solution.
8. Blessed are those who gossip, in the name of "being concerned" -- for they shall cause strife and divisions that please me.
9. Blessed are those who are easily offended -- for they will soon get angry and quit.
10. Blessed are those who do not give their offering to carry on God's work -- for they are my helpers.
11. Blessed is he who professes to love God but hates his brother and sister -- for he shall be with me forever!
12. Blessed are you who, when you read this think it is about other people and not yourself -- I've got you, too!

When Fear and Faith Collide....

I have been wanting to write on here for over a week now, but due to our Internet being down at home, that has not been possible! Last Monday my fear and faith collided big time! I began to get head worms about this trip...asking myself what was I thinking in taking a month off of work...how's it all going to work out? I was in HUGE panic mode! Fear and faith colliding big time! God gently began to remind me....haven't I done this before? Have I not sent you again in 3 weeks time everything paid for? How BIG am I to you? How much do you trust me? I slowly began to calm down. And then that day He used so many people to provide financially for me. Reminding me once more that my faith in Him must stay the same no matter what my circumstances are. He confirmed over and over that this is His plan and He is going to take care of all the details in getting me there! He can be trusted! Praise Him....the journey continues!