YES!

So. Its official. I got the letter in the mail today.

I GOT INTO GRADUATE SCHOOL!

I am SO excited that I can hardly stand it. Plenty of people kept telling me that I would get in, but I honestly didn't think that I would. All I can say is that I feel incredibly blessed. God is so good. He truly answered my prayer. I'm so grateful to all of you who were praying and thinking positive thoughts for me.

I can't wait to get to work!

In The Market.

Hello everyone. First, a brief update:

I hope everyone's week is off to a good start. I have a sinus infection, so mine is moving kind of slowly. I laid around most of the day today. Hopefully, that rest started me on the road to getting better. My day off did give me time to FINALLY make a custom layout for my blog. I've been using generic layouts from blogger until now. It took me a while to get the hang of the html stuff, but by the end of my project I got pretty good at it. So, if anyone wants their own blog header let me know. I'll make you one, or show you how to make your own!

I'm looking forward to the rest of the week. Hopefully, I'll be getting better. I should hear about grad school this week (keep praying!) and April's bachelorette party is Friday night... which means I get to see all my girls! I got an apartment which I'll be moving into when my lease with April is up, and Saturday my mom and I are going to get some fabric to start on curtains for my new place! All in all, an exciting few days are coming up. Plus, its supposed to be 80 degrees Saturday!

Anyway, I've been a little slack with my blog lately, but I've been wanting to share some of the things that I've been thinking about lately.

A few weeks back, Pastor Steven spoke on the topic of honor at Elevation. He laid out a very easy to understand, practical method for increasing the amount of honor that we show to other people. The part of the series that really spoke to me was about honor being a lifestyle. He spoke about leading a lifestyle that you always do more than you have to. In my head I've started referring to this as the "and then some" mentality. I'm going to do what someone needs me to do "and then some."

Often times, I don't take advantage of opportunities because I simply don't notice them. This is the case with honor and with plenty of other things. Pastor Steven pointed out that we should be "in the market" for opportunities. For example, when I bought a yellow car I started noticing other yellow cars a LOT more. So, now I'm actively working to see opportunities to do positive things! The more and more I live for Jesus, the more I realize that its the little things that matter SO much. One little negative behavior starts a landslide that can take someone right back into the depths of their sinful nature. But on the other hand, one little positive, encouraging, honoring action can give someone the strength they need to keep going.

Just something to think about. =)

Fun Friday #1!

Happy Friday everyone. Sorry I've been MIA this week. I've been feeling pretty under the weather all week. I'm fairly certain its all allergies, so hopefully things will be clearing up soon. Anyway, if you read my blog, you know how strongly I believe in prayer. I'm on the verge of several big things in life, and I'd GREATLY appreciate if you'd pray with me about whats going on. I am waiting to hear if I was accepted to grad school at Winthrop. I applied for a new apartment, and I'm waiting to hear about that. It would be my very first apartment all alone. I really feel like I'm growing up, and I couldn't be more excited!

Anyway, I posted some random stuff about me a week or so ago, and it got a really good response. As, such, I decided that I'm going to post a "fun" post every Friday in addition to the more reflective, theological posts that I usually make during the week. I think it will be a great way to let readers into my life a little bit, and also to break up the important, but heavy topics I usually discuss. As usual, thoughts are always welcomed! =)


Today's fun post is a quiz. If you blog feel free to steal this so I can learn more about you!

1. When you looked at yourself in the mirror today, what was the first thing you thought? WOW. MY HAIR DOESN'T LOOK AS BAD AS I THOUGHT IT WOULD.

2. How much cash do you have in your wallet right now? A 20 AND A LOT OF PENNIES.

3. What’s a word that rhymes with DOOR? FLOOR.

4. Who is the 4th person on your missed call list on your cell phone? UNKNOWN NUMBER... HENCE ME NOT ANSWERING

5. What is your favorite ring tone on your phone? THE BEATLES, "HELP"

6. What are you wearing right now? GRAY CARGO PANTS AND A WHITE TSHIRT. PRETTY MUCH MY DAY OFF UNIFORM

7. Do you label yourself? I DONT REALLY LABEL MYSELF, BUT I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK OF ME AS KINDA INDIE/ROCK/HIPSTER ETC.

8. Name the brand of the shoes you’re currently wearing? NONE, BUT I WAS WEARING RAINBOWS EARLIER

9.Bright or Dark Room? IN THE MIDDLE, MORE DARK THAN LIGHT THOUGH

10. What do you think about the person who took this survey before you? DONT KNOW HER.

11. What does your watch look like? DONT HAVE ONE. I JUST USE MY PHONE.

12. What were you doing at midnight last night? I WAS SLEEPING

13. What did your last text message you received on your cell say? LOVE YOU TOO!

14. What's a word that you say a lot? "I MEAN REALLY.." "CLEARLY.."

15. Who told you he/she loved you last? MY MOM =)

16. Last furry thing you touched? APRIL'S DOG.

17. Favourite age you have been so far? 25 IS PRETTY GOOD. LOOKS LIKE ITS GOING TO BE GETTING EVEN BETTER.

18. What was the last thing you said to someone? LOVE YOU!

19.The last song you listened to? THE BEATLES. "OB LA DI, OB LA DA"

20. Where did you live in 1987? WITH MY MOM AND DAD... I WAS 2.

21. Are you jealous of anyone? WHOEVER IS CURRENTLY DATING JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE.

22. Is anyone jealous of you? POSSIBLY.

23. Name three things that you have on you at all times? CHAPSTICK, IPOD, SUNGLASSES.

24. What’s your favourite town/city? I LOVE CHARLOTTE ACTUALLY. LOVE LIVING AROUND HERE.

25. When was the last time you wrote a letter to someone on paper and mailed it? ITS BEEN QUITE A WHILE.

26. Can you change the oil on a car? YEP. DRIVE IT RIGHT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND LET THEM HANDLE IT.

27. Your first love/big crush: what is the last thing you heard about him/her? WELL YESTERDAY I HEARD THAT JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE IS NOW SINGLE LOL

28. Does anything hurt on your body right now? HEADACHE. DANG ALLERGIES!

29.What is your current desktop picture? THE BEATLES.

30. Have you been burnt by love? OH YES.

help.

This is another one of those posts that spawned from something thats been floating around in my head. I won't go into the details of the situation, as the specifics are irrelevant to the idea that I'm thinking about.

Anyway, do you ever hear quotes, phrases, ideas about God that aren't from the Bible? I do from time to time, and I wonder how applicable they are. I certainly believe that new wisdom about God surfaces all the time. Truth can be found outside the Bible itself. At the same time, we have to be discerning about who and what we listen to.

Some examples I've had on my mind as of late:

"God helps those who help themselves." - Benjamin Franklin

"Call on God, but row away from the rocks." - Hunter S Thompson

In fact "God helps those who help themselves" is probably the most often quoted phrase that is not found in the Bible. This saying is usually attributed to Ben Franklin. Whatever the original source of this saying, the Bible teaches the opposite. God helps the helpless! Isaiah 25:4 says, "For You have been a defense for the helpless, a defense for the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shade from the heat..." Romans 5:6 tells us, "For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly."

In terms of salvation, we are all utterly helpless. We are all infected by sin (Romans 3:23), and condemned as a result of that sin (Romans 6:23). Nothing we can do on our own can remedy this situation (Isaiah 64:6). Thankfully, God is the helper of the helpless. While we were still sinners, Jesus died for us (Romans 5:8). Jesus paid the penalty that we were incapable of paying (2 Corinthians 5:21). God provided the "help" that we need because we could not help ourselves.

I know all of this, and I TOTALLY believe it to be true. HOWEVER...

Apart from salvation, I think there is a way that the concept "God helps those who help themselves" is correct. I'm pretty sure its a smart move to "call on God, but row away from the rocks." For example, if you were to ask me to help you make dinner and then sat and watched as I did all the work, then I'm not really HELPING you. I would be doing the work for you. To help implies two bodies working along side each other.

Many of us as Christians fall into the trap of inactivity. We ask God for help, but then expect God to do everything Himself. We excuse this by pointing to the fact that God will provide according to His will and in His timing. I DEFINITELY think that God provides in the manner that he sees fit. However, this is no reason for inactivity.

As a specific example, if you are in need of a job, ask the Lord to help you find a job - but then be active in actually looking for a job. While it is in His power to do so, it is highly unlikely that God will cause employers to come looking for you.

A friend once told me not to try and catch the right fish, but to worry about becoming the right bait. God will help you, but you've got to put in work too. Similarly, a few weeks back Pastor Steven spoke of praying for rain in a drought from the following passage of Scripture:

And he said, “This is what the LORD says: Make this valley full of ditches. For this is what the LORD says: You will see neither wind nor rain, yet this valley will be filled with water, and you, your cattle and your other animals will drink. - 2 Kings 3:16-17

The armies of Judah and Israel were out in the middle of the desert with no water and they were getting scared. They were on their way to Moab but now they were concerned that they were not even going to make it to the battle. They talked to Elisha the prophet and this was the word passed to them from God through Elisha. Obediently, they dug the trenches and one morning they looked and saw water coming from Edom and filling up their trenches. They had plenty of water to drink. If you ask me, this speaks directly to the idea that Ben Franklin came up with... God helped the armies of Judah, but they helped themselves too... Here's how.

1.Go to God: Note what they did with their problem – they went down to a prophet of God, Elisha, to find out what God was going to do in this situation. I think that was definitely the correct decision. If you’re facing a giant of a problem, remember that God is the biggest giant of them all.

2. Prepare for the blessing: Now the prophet told them to do something strange; he told them to dig a bunch of ditches in the middle of the desert. This might seem like a pointless exercise to you and it might have seen pointless to them, too….but they did it. They were obedient to God and dug the ditches. They had to believe that God was going to give them the blessing and they had to put in some hard work to prepare for it.


Just something I've been thinking about... I'd love to hear your thoughts.

ME.

I really like it when I get feedback on my blog. Two things that I hear a lot about my blog are as follows: One. I don't have enough pictures. Two. I don't really much about myself in my blog other than what I'm learning about Jesus at the moment. Well, there really isn't a reason for those things, other than the fact that its just not my style. I just write about whatever is going on in my head... and as you can see, I pretty much think along the same lines all the time. Anyway, to appease some curious readers, I came up with a list of a few interesting facts about me. These are some things that I think might provide some background and maybe make some of my blogs a little more understandable. I posted some of these on facebook a LONG way back, but they still apply. Oh, and as for the pictures... maybe I'll get around to that one day... but I doubt it.

1. I am absolutely obsessed with The Beatles. It's a lot worse than I let on, but I don't want people to make fun of me. I also LOVE Elvis Presley, Marilyn Monroe, James Dean, Audrey Hepburn, Clark Gable. Old hollywood makes me smile. I'm an old soul I suppose.

2. I consider myself a Christian, but sometimes I don't really know what that means. I KNOW that all the stuff I was taught in church as a kid isn't the right stuff. I know that God uses me, speaks to me, and relates to me completely different than he does anyone else. At any rate, I am really enjoying figuring it all out....especially at Elevation :)

3. I think about 3/4 of my daily calorie intake is from beverages. Nothing beats a great latte or a coke!

4. I'm going to write and publish a novel... seriously. Don't make fun or you won't get an autographed copy. Its going to be amazing!

5. I'd sit and listen to ANY thoughtful light rock boys (John Mayer, Jon Mclaughlin, Mat Wertz, Jack Johnson, Jason Mraz, Tyrone Wells... or throw it back to classics like Elton John, Rod Stewart, Hall & Oates etc) all day long if I could. Nothing makes me feel better than a great singer/songwriter. This seems to annoy some of my friends.

6. I used to make fun of April b/c she was OBSESSED with her Macbook. I got one. I no longer make fun. You can't understand unless you have one. It's like a way of life. I <3 my mac.

7. I walk around in public listening to my iPod. Its not because I'm antisocial... I just like having a soundtrack. I spend a lot of the morning at work thinking of what I want to listen to during my lunch break. A good playlist revitalizes me enough to make it through the afternoon.

8. If I could spend $1000 at Macy's or Barnes and Noble, I'd totally go with the books over the high heels. I totally don't care that that makes me a geek. Oh, and kindles are stupid if you ask me. I love the feel of the pages in my fingers.

9. Half the time I think I want to become a respected psychiatrist and make lots of important discoveries about mental health, and the other half I just want to get married and bake and clean house. I don't know which would make me happier.... Hopefully I'll end up doing a little of both.

10. I have the most comfortable bed in the whole world and I attribute it to my lack of motivation in the morning. Plus I LOATHE getting up early. After a year and a half on first shift I'm still not adjusted at all.

11. I'm a lefty, and I REALLY hope that my kids are too!

12. I seriously have the coolest siblings in the entire world. I wish I was half as good looking, funny, smart, charming, selfless, creative, motivated (and I can keep going) as any one of them.

13. I have a college degree. Before I got one I thought that it was the most important thing in the world, and definitely a key to happiness in later life. I'm glad I finished school, but I know I was wrong. The stuff that changed me in college wasn't the stuff from the classroom.

14. I have four girlfriends who I really think are my soulmates. I LOVE THEM.

15. I am friends with some of the greatest guys in the world. How all these boys ended up in Rock Hill and being friends is beyond me. I don't see them as much as I used to, but I still love the heck out them!

16. One day I am really self-conscious and the next day I am totally overconfident and I have NO IDEA why. Its weird. I can't decide if I am totally strange or really awesome.

17. I miss college more than I thought I would. Sometimes its the college lifestyle, but more often than not, its just the learning experience. It feels good to expand your brain. I can't wait for grad school.

18. I've not eaten meat for a long while now. I can't believe I'm actually doing the vegetarian thing. It was a goal of mine for a long time and I'm SO proud that I actually did it!

19. Its pretty dorky, but I write in a journal. ALL THE TIME. I don't think I'd be able to sleep at night if I didn't write my thoughts down regularly. I take notes during sermons, write down song lyrics and quotes I hear, write my thoughts all in the same book. Its actually really fun to look back and see where I've been.

20. I am terrible about getting addicted to TV shows. My latest? Paul McDonald from American Idol. I don't really like the show, but he is such a good singer that I HAVE to watch and cheer him on!

21. I want to meet Justin Timberlake, but I know if I ever did I'd probably die. I've been in love with him since I was 14. Part of me seriously thinks that we'd hit it off and become real friends... although I really want to be his wife. If you know me, you know I'm TOALLY serious about that.

22. I have rarely buy new clothes. The main reason is that I get attached to old stuff and I don't want to wear something new. My favorite items? Super worn in 7 jeans. Ramones tshirt. pink converse. red hobo bag from the Gap. Plaid scarf. =)

23. I looooove living in the south and I know I could never make it up north. Cold weather is just NOT for me. I absolutely HATE it.

24. I'm really emotional. Stuff like Applebees commercials and episodes of Full House make me teary eyed. I have no clue why.

25. I want a tattoo soooooooo bad. Its drawn out and everything. I just need someone to go with me. I'm too chicken to do it alone!



Ok, now you know a little more about the girl behind all these posts. So, tell me something about YOU!

Math.

Fact: Life is hard.

So is math... well for me at least. English was always my strong point. Hence blogs and not algorithms.
Even so, I want to throw out a math analogy.

Life is difficult. Math is difficult (for me at least).
But both have answers.

When math got hard for me in school I got someone who was really good at it (most often my REALLY smart friend/math teacher Kelly) to help me. When life is hard, I try remember that the Creator of all life is always there to help figure out the answer.

Don't you sometimes say that life is tough? I know I do... ore often than I care to admit. Honestly though, its not really complaining, and its more than a phrase. It’s a truth. Life is hard... a LOT of the time. things don't go the way they are supposed to. Plans fail. Plans change. People let you down. You know it. I know it... and guess what? God knows it. He even TELLS us.

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” - John 16:33

Well, if you're inquisitive, curious, or just downright nosey like me, that verse leads your mind straight to another question. WHY? Why is life so hard? (I know I ask this... and am asked this by my patients at work on a daily basis.) The answer? One word. SIN.

Life is only difficult because of sin. Don't believe that? Let's take a look back. Before sin, life was perfect. Seriously, it was. Go back and check out chapter 2 of Genesis. PERFECTION. Then, sin enters the world in chapter 3 of Genesis and literally all hell breaks loose.

Look at the first command from Jesus.
We are told to love God with all our heart, mind and soul.
In reality, that’s simple, it’s just not easy. (A distinction that we sometimes fail to see.)

Why is it so difficult? Well, it all comes down to one thing. SIN. Because of sin, we put ourselves before God. Because of sin, we love ourselves more than God. Because of the sin that we allow and even, at times, seek out in our lives... and because of sin in the lives of those around us.

But, let’s suppose for a moment that we actually did live out this commandment and that life was just this simple. Let’s assume that we did our best to love God first and foremost. THEN everything would be easy, right? Easy, no. Simple, yes.

What about that second commandment: loving our self and our neighbor?

This is really just a math equation. Basically, this commandment is 1 + 1 = 3

Three? Yep... three. (And no, this isn't my struggle with mathematics rearing its ugly head again.) Let me quote Jesus…”follow me”. I'm going somewhere with this. Promise.

You see, when Christ gives us that second command to love self and neighbor, He is assuming that you are already following that first command to love God first and totally. Because if you don’t love God first, than your love of self is selfish. If God is first, your love of self honors Him as His creation and those things you don’t “like” about yourself or are not proud of about yourself are put in proper perspective.

And, if you don’t love God first, than that whole “love your neighbor” thing won’t work either…without God you’ll only love those who love you, not those who it is difficult to love. (See my post called honor for some enlightening thoughts on loving the unlovable.) Anyway, if you only love when you receive love, you're giving a counterfeit love. Its not sincere. I mean if we need God to help us love Him and ourselves, OF COURSE we need him to help us love OTHER people.

No, if you (or I) want our love to be sincere, the answer is simple…it’s just not easy. Before you try to love yourself or others, you have to love God (and let Him love you back).

And that’s the beginning and end of our math lesson…1 + 1 = 3.
If you love God and have Him number “1” in your life, and then you join your love to His (another “1”) the effects of your love will spread to another person (#3).

Still can’t wrap your head around that math? That’s because love is a decision, but not only a movement of the head. Its a sacrificial reality of the heart. Don’t think about the equation; pray about it. The same goes for scripture. Don’t just read Scripture…pray it. Live it. There's a BIG difference there. Before you know it, 1 + 1 = 3 will make more sense to you than the worldly, logical notion of 1 + 1 =2.

My prayer, and one of my biggest desires for my life is that such finite love will die at some point. Only the infinite love of God is forever. Its so simple... but so far from easy. Even so, THATS what I'm really after.

Generations.

I've posted this on facebook before, but I thought it warranted a second posting... Its just really thought provoking.

I am part of a lost generation
and I refuse to believe that
I can change the world
I realize this may be a shock but
“Happiness comes from Jesus.”
is a lie, and
“Money will make me happy.”
So in 30 years I will tell my children
they are not the most important thing in my life
My employer will know that
I have my priorities straight because
work
is more important than
family
I tell you this
Once upon a time
Families stayed together
but this will not be true in my era
This is a quick fix society
Experts tell me
30 years from now, I will be celebrating the 10th anniversary of my divorce
I do not concede that
I will live in a country of my own making
In the future
Environmental destruction will be the norm
No longer can it be said that
My peers and I care about this earth
It will be evident that
My generation is apathetic and lethargic
It is foolish to presume that
There is hope.

And all of this will come true unless we choose to reverse it .

Read the message, then read it again in reverse.

Which generation do you belong in?