God's Forecast

Thoughts from Mark Driscoll's Series: Rebels Guide to Joy in Temptation
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God wants more than a change; He wants my heart, my will, my mind, my strength to change. He wants all of me.
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The Christian life is not so much what I need to stop doing, but more what I need to start doing. I need to replace an old affection with a new one, an old pattern with a Christ-focused one.
I need to embrace my new life through Jesus.
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It is always a heart issue. God changes us from the inside out. If you are a Christian, God is at work in you, so work out your salvation with fear and trembling.

God wants to change my will. He wants to change my deepest desires and passions so they are for Jesus and not for sin. As a Christian, I should not want free will--but God's will.
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God is a good God. He takes pleasure in doing good for His children. He delights in forgiving and changing people, giving people new life and a life we can be proud of--a life that is boastful of Jesus and not ourselves.


I need to stop grumbling and start learning. I need to stop questioning and start trusting.
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Religion either results in pride or despair. Meaning, if you try really hard and are passionate you will be full of yourself or you've tried to do good things but can't stop doing bad things and end up being angry and bitter.
The gospel of Jesus Christ ends in humble joy. We are not saved because of what we do, but because of what He has done.

God will not forsake us, He will not give up on us.
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God is willing to give a joyous, purposeful, meaningful life to those who are willing to obey Him.

"Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my [Paul's] presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

Do all things without grumbling or questioning, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life...."

Philippians 2:12-16 ESV

L.s.R

A Post Full of Eyes

Flowers like these always make me want to put on a frilly, pink dress

and sip tea while holding a parasol......

......okay, not always but sometimes......

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• I got a late graduation gift from a friend this weekend. I like surprises in the mail.
• I am finally about to finish my old perfume....I am determine to use every last drop.
• I will be turning the exciting 2-1 in less than two months!
• I will be starting a new adventure in less than a month!
• I am going to start visiting the tanning salon...to gear up for the beach!
• I am excited about a 4 day weekend!
• I love my initials....I think I will get my first towels monogrammed.
• I am so glad that God is big enough to handle and help me work through my faults, my downfalls, my out-bursts, my questions and my doubts.
• I love purple and cobalt blue.
• I am so glad that God reminds me of His promises and His grace.
• I am so grateful for the family God put me in. He knew I needed them.
  

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"In your good times,

in your bad times,

when life is wonderful,

when life is awful....

don't fix your eyes on your life."

Fix your eyes on Jesus."

~From Anne Ortlund's "Fix Your Eyes on Jesus"

L.s.R

H-E-R-O

I love my dad:

His faith in Christ,

His personality,

His quirks,

His laugh and smile,

His stories,

His jokes,

His determination and hard-work,

His love for the Rockies,

His devotion to Mom,

His heart for me and my sister,

His strength,

His passion for traveling,

His knowledge and wisdom,

His adventurous spirit.

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When I was little, I remember Dad telling me I was the apple of his eye.

I have always felt loved by him.

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Thank you, Dad for drawing me closer to Christ,

and giving me a physical picture of Jesus' love for me.

You are a king among men,

and have raised the bar very high!

For now, you hold the key to my heart. Love you!

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"How long is it going to take God to free us from the morbid habit of thinking about ourselves? We must get sick unto death of ourselves, until there is no longer any surprise at anything God can tell us about ourselves. We cannot touch the depths of meanness in ourselves. There is only one place where we are right, and that is in Christ Jesus. When we are there, then we have to pour out for all we are worth in the ministry of the interior." Oswald Chambers, June 21st.
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I love my new running shoes, and walking 9 miles on an early Saturday morning!
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I am ticking off the days until my beach vacation!
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I love singing in church!
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I love my family!
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I am excited about being able to decorate my own space!
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I can't wait to spend time with my friends this weekend!



L.s.R

Just One of Those Days

This week was full of attorney and staff meetings, listening to hearings, learning a new computer system, balancing accounts, talking on the phone with clients and making a gazillion copies of orders and judgements.

So, I was happy when Thursday night finally rolled around and I was able kick off an early weekend by taking a little road-trip. We stayed the night in a nice hotel, slept in late, watched old black-and-whites, spent the afternoon driving around in a beautiful national wildlife reserve, talking, getting lost and listening to music. Finished up by eating at a restaurant that is pretty famous in these parts. The sweet tea, freedom fries, cheeseburgers, and cherry cobbler with homemade ice-cream was pretty amazing.....the country music in the background helped too :)



Thoughts from this week:

*I am listening to a sermon by Mark Driscoll as I write this post. It is about God's grace. God has been revealing to me what I would be like without Him. I don't deserve God's love, His forgiveness, His redemption. I am nothing without Him. Without God's salvation, I am capable of all evil. It is only because of Jesus that I am a new creation. Being shown these truths and taking the steps to believe them has not been easy, but I am thankful that God has shown them to me. Oh, to be like Christ! To show His forgiveness and selfless love to others!

*For the past year and half I have been following Amy Wenzel's photography blog: http://blog.amywenzel.com/. I have admired her talent in writing and photography, as well as the love she shares with her husband, David. I went on her blog a few days ago and found out that her husband was diagnosed with a brain tumor. I do not try to understand why God lets these things happen.....all I know is that He does allow them to happen, and it is for purposes far higher than my intelligence. God is truly mysterious, and He is continually drawing His children closer to Him. I am learning personally that if a hardship brings you closer to Christ it is all worth it in the end. I am praying for Amy and David, and know that the Lord will be glorified.

*God is a miraculous God.

*"You can never give another person that which you have found, but you can make him homesick for what you have." Oswald Chambers

*"Who I am and what I struggle with are not the same thing." From Jennifer Rothschild's, 'Me, Myself and Lies.' God is who defines me. My fears, my insecurities, and the lies that Satan throws at me do not. I am a new creation in Him. My old-self has died, and has been replaced with a life that is born in Christ.

*"He has made everything beautiful in its time....." Ecclesiastes 3:11a

Cheers to the start of another weekend!

L.s.R

Ho-Hum

"It is not what we say,

or what we feel that makes us what we are...

.......It is what we do, or what we fail to do".

~ Marianne (Sense & Sensibility)

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I read this quote on facebook the other day and I really liked it.....I love Jane Austen.

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This weekend, I had two graduations to attend. One for my dear friend and my own! Since I was unable to attend the actual ceremony at the college, I was able to watch the live video-feed through the Internet. Honestly, that is the only way to watch a graduation ceremony....in your bathing suit, eating brisket and laughing with your family and friends!
It was wonderful to hear my name called during the ceremony! I am so thankful to my parents, sister and friends who supported me through this......I can't believe my last class finished only 4 months ago....it feels like it was 4 years ago.

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At nights I have been listening to Mark Driscoll, an associate pastor of Mars Hill Church in Washington State. I was introduced to his teaching a couple months ago. I love his relevancy, his courage of tackling unpopular subjects....and doing it all with dry humor.
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I am going shopping with my sister tomorrow....and I am pretty excited!
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I have the best parents.
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I wish I was going to Spain and France with my grandparents for three weeks.
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I tried the mango-limeade from Sonic and it was too sweet.
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I love my old co-workers and I like my new ones.
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I enjoy running 3 miles almost every night with Dad.

L.s.R

Newness

Jesus, loves me just the way I am.

My awkwardness, shyness, quietness.

I can be myself with Him.

He understands me.

He wants to be with me.

Jesus keeps His word to me.

I am the apple of His eye.

I am His daughter.

He takes me as I am.

He loved me before I was born, before the earth was created.

Jesus' love is greater than any human love.

He gave His life for me.

He doesn't say things He doesn't mean.

He proves His love for me everday.

He doesn't leave me hanging.

I want Him to come first in everything.

I want to love Him more than anything.

I don't know who reads this blog, how many...if anyone.

To be honest, I don't write on here for your benefit.

But for mine.

I like to write reminders of God's promises to me, that I can read over and over again.

To remind myself to take my eyes off myself, and fix them on Jesus.

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The song by fm static is special to me.

I like to listen to it in the car with the sunroof open and the windows down :)

L.s.R

...and yet, I will JOY....

"Yet I will rejoice in the Lord,

I will joy in the God of my salvation.

The Lord God is my strength;

He will make my feet like the deer's feet,

and He will make me walk on my high hills."

Habakkuk 3: 18-19

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He never lets go.

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These are the cakes I did my last week at the Bakery.

Feels like I never worked there.

It is amazing how fast our lives can change in such a short time.

I will forever be taught by the Lord to make plans, but to hold onto them loosely....

......God has the final say.

I will forever be taught by the Lord to trust His will and to rest in Him.

For this I am glad, He is leading me and His way is perfect.

Black and White wedding cake

Baby Shower

Sweet Sixteen
Fondant graduation figure

My last cake I decorated!

I am so excited to see where the Lord will have me, this time next year!

L.s.R

My Weekend

This weekend was busy, stressful, and fun.

Started out with being able to see one of my dear friends get married.

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On Sunday, I helped Hannah move. I am so excited for her, and for our plans for the end of the summer.....I will miss having her next door to me though :(

On Sunday evenings I have been attending a church with a few friends. Last night the pastor spoke on Psalms 23. He gave a new, deeper perspective to the popular verses. The one that jumped out to me was in verse 3: "He restores my soul. He guides me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake." The Lord is my Shepherd in my immaturity and failure. He will restore my soul and lead me through the rut and into His way of righteousness. Restoration and maturity is not only for my sake, but for His. Christ's reputation is at stake. As a follower of Him, how I act, say and do represent Him.

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A few of my jumbled, random thoughts from this weekend:

1. Working for a ministry does not make you holier.....God calls people to their own unique paths. This could mean being a pastor, politician or a farmer. This is something that has always gotten under my skin, Christians who think it is a sin or look down on other Christians for having a job in a secular field. They shy away from universities, politics, or the military because they think it is unholy. I want to follow what the Lord has for me, and if that means becoming a senator, wife/mother, secretary, or teacher, I will do it. The world is our mission field, and Christians are called to be a part of it. Christ was sent to this world to save the lost and to reach them right where they are at. I believe Christ has placed me exactly were He wants me....I just need to depend on Him and be willing to be used by Him.

2. Josh Groban's concert on PBS.

3. I cannot put my trust in a person or people. They will only let me down. Jesus Christ is the only one that I can fully trust. He is always there. He is my constant. He always keeps His word and never says anything He does not mean.

4. I need to work on my posture at work.

5. Beth Moore's summer Bible study.

6. I really want to try the new Mango Limeade at Sonic.

L.s.R