It's precisely 12:19, Thursday morning. I don't have much to say, yet I have plenty to share. I get pretty confused sometimes when writing this blog. I try to be really inspirational always, to share a message, something deep that will impress you, my reader's, thoughts. However, sometimes I just need to share whats going on. No deep message or provoking thought. A few blogs back I wrote that I was going to change the blog a bit and work towards a more "journal" type format in which I would just share what was going on, but I haven't really done that just yet. I'm not sure why I feel to do so I must include an introduction. But obviously I do, and I hope this serves as one.
So, what's going on? Well, seeing as its a little past midnight, I guess it is appropriate to say that I am about to embark on the fourth day of my summer break (after a few hours of sleep). I have so many plans for this summer, great plans that I am really excited about, but I have literally wasted away the past three days in bed and have been completely and utterly unproductive. I guess this is somewhat ok, since I barely slept while school was in session and I am sure my body has some rest it needs to catch up on, but seriously? Its time to wake up. And not just in the physical sense.
My title, "It's a little past midnight," I made up for lack of creativity. But it really may serve a purpose for this blog. In all aspects of my life its just a little past midnight. I can definitely see that morning is well on its way, I am now closer to daybreak than I am to sunset in my spiritual life, my relationships with others, and the simple unfolding of plans from day to day. However, it's like I'm in that part of sleep that includes nightmares. The past few days have been horrible. I have to take summer classes, which is a total bummer. To pay for those summer classes, I will be taking out a student loan (bummer #2). I had a job interview on Monday, and you know, I guess I was a little too confident 'cause I really thought I had the job and what do you know? They called me today, regretting to inform me that I'm just not what they are looking for. Guess I should've known, why would Family Video hire a girl who doesn't really watch that many movies? On top of that, I'm lonely as I'll get out now that school is over.... (bummer #I've lost count).
Whatever, its a little past midnight. Its a little past mid week, and, in fact, its almost to the middle of the year. I can see new beginnings coming. The good outweighs the bad. I mean, I get to take out a student loan right? I don't have to pay the $1,000 dollars out of pocket on June 1 (have I mentioned I'm broke?). Also, since I don't have a job, I can catch up on that rest that, evidently, I need. Besides that, one of the women at my church started a ladies ministry and what do you know? I'm considered a lady.... oh yeah. Its awesome! They are such an encouragement! Another thing, for the first time EVER my church is hosting VBS!!!! And, its only a few more weeks until Camp Mulberry... the list goes on and on.
I think tomorrow I'll wake up and actually do something.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Saturday, May 15, 2010
When I am Searching
Yesterday I finished my first year at Western Kentucky University, and all I can truly say is "wow." God is so incredible and he blessed me throughout the whole year. He kept his hand on me and allowed me so many opportunities along the way. This year I have come to know God as a dear friend, a protector, a healer, and the giver of second chances. Even more than that, however, I have come to know Him as my father, who cares deeply for me and wants the best for me.
Its funny though, I have soooo many stories I could tell about this past year that would show how great God has been. I could tell you about the my first week of school compared to the last and that story would prove to you that God gives second chances. I could tell you about the incredible friendships I have been privileged to make throughout the year to prove that God heals the broken hearted, and I could tell you story after story about how God has protected me. But the story I want to share happened tonight, on my first night of summer break, right in my home town.
Every year the Strawberry Festival comes to town; I have been going since I was a little kid. As I get older the Strawberry Festival becomes less and less appealing. Instead of seeing the bright lights and enjoying the rides, I see people who are lost, withdrawn from God. People who are searching for Him in all the wrong places. I hear sirens, see smoke, and smell the port-a-potties. Its not that appealing. Tonight, after going to the festival for almost 18 years, I saw the most terrifying episode yet. A little girl, separated from her parents. She was crying, tears running down her face and running around, darting between people, eyes wide. The little girl's name was Janie, and my mom knew her because she works at the school. My mom asked her if she was alright, and with tear filled eyes she sobbed "I can't find my mommy and daddy!"
Honestly, I wanted to cry. I can only imagine being Janie's age, surrounded by people I didn't know, and being lost. It would be so scary. But I thought, after all this time learning about God and who He is in my life, I can see that most importantly He is my daddy and I desperately need Him; I am lost without Him. What would I do lost in this world? Where would I turn? Who would I go to? Fortunately, when I am searching I know exactly where to go. It's easy to run straight to the lap of my father when I need protection, when I need healing, when I need comfort.
I love my Father.
Its funny though, I have soooo many stories I could tell about this past year that would show how great God has been. I could tell you about the my first week of school compared to the last and that story would prove to you that God gives second chances. I could tell you about the incredible friendships I have been privileged to make throughout the year to prove that God heals the broken hearted, and I could tell you story after story about how God has protected me. But the story I want to share happened tonight, on my first night of summer break, right in my home town.
Every year the Strawberry Festival comes to town; I have been going since I was a little kid. As I get older the Strawberry Festival becomes less and less appealing. Instead of seeing the bright lights and enjoying the rides, I see people who are lost, withdrawn from God. People who are searching for Him in all the wrong places. I hear sirens, see smoke, and smell the port-a-potties. Its not that appealing. Tonight, after going to the festival for almost 18 years, I saw the most terrifying episode yet. A little girl, separated from her parents. She was crying, tears running down her face and running around, darting between people, eyes wide. The little girl's name was Janie, and my mom knew her because she works at the school. My mom asked her if she was alright, and with tear filled eyes she sobbed "I can't find my mommy and daddy!"
Honestly, I wanted to cry. I can only imagine being Janie's age, surrounded by people I didn't know, and being lost. It would be so scary. But I thought, after all this time learning about God and who He is in my life, I can see that most importantly He is my daddy and I desperately need Him; I am lost without Him. What would I do lost in this world? Where would I turn? Who would I go to? Fortunately, when I am searching I know exactly where to go. It's easy to run straight to the lap of my father when I need protection, when I need healing, when I need comfort.
I love my Father.
Monday, May 3, 2010
The Children's Prayer Requests
As you may know, I teach Sunday School at my home church. The class is actually in preparation for church camp this summer and we are studying the scriptures that will be used for Bible Quizzing. I try not to make the class too much about the competition and sometimes I have to be very creative because some of them are very young and get bored with the layout that must be used to study this information. My favorite thing I have done so far is to incorporate prayer into our schedule... yeah, who knew?
Actually, the material we study is over the miracles that Jesus performed while he was on earth. So, in the first class I established that we were going to see our own miracles within the class. I gave them all a nice little sheet to write prayer requests on and they stuck them in their binders and every week when they study for quiz team they are supposed to pray for the people on their list. Can I just give glory to God right now and let you know we saw some immediate results? It was amazing, but that's not what I want to talk about just yet.
The most amazing change I have seen through this class is not that the prayers are being answered, its that the children are realizing the power of prayer. Last Sunday, a little girl in my class who had not been to church in a while walked into class and immediately asked me if we were going to take prayer requests. I told her that yes of course we were going to and she said "good, cause I have one!" It was soooo precious! She was the first one to raise their hand and she requested prayer for her sister.
During class, while the kids were working on their Bible questions I hung a huge, yellow, banner on one of the walls and told them that when they finished their questions they could come write their prayer requests on the wall. The kids pretty much filled up the whole paper with their requests for family, friends, lost loved ones, and it did not stop there. One little girl requested prayer for her friend's parents, who smoke. Another requested prayer for her mom's coworker who has cancer. It was amazing to see that these kids know what prayer is and they know how powerful it is.
In Matthew chapter 18, Jesus says "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." What if we became like little children again? What if we could learn to trust that God is in control of our every situation no matter how big or small? What if we learned to pray?
Actually, the material we study is over the miracles that Jesus performed while he was on earth. So, in the first class I established that we were going to see our own miracles within the class. I gave them all a nice little sheet to write prayer requests on and they stuck them in their binders and every week when they study for quiz team they are supposed to pray for the people on their list. Can I just give glory to God right now and let you know we saw some immediate results? It was amazing, but that's not what I want to talk about just yet.
The most amazing change I have seen through this class is not that the prayers are being answered, its that the children are realizing the power of prayer. Last Sunday, a little girl in my class who had not been to church in a while walked into class and immediately asked me if we were going to take prayer requests. I told her that yes of course we were going to and she said "good, cause I have one!" It was soooo precious! She was the first one to raise their hand and she requested prayer for her sister.
During class, while the kids were working on their Bible questions I hung a huge, yellow, banner on one of the walls and told them that when they finished their questions they could come write their prayer requests on the wall. The kids pretty much filled up the whole paper with their requests for family, friends, lost loved ones, and it did not stop there. One little girl requested prayer for her friend's parents, who smoke. Another requested prayer for her mom's coworker who has cancer. It was amazing to see that these kids know what prayer is and they know how powerful it is.
In Matthew chapter 18, Jesus says "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." What if we became like little children again? What if we could learn to trust that God is in control of our every situation no matter how big or small? What if we learned to pray?
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