I randomly had a vivid idea for drawing pop into my head about a week ago. I have no idea why because I haven't sketched since I began college. Luckily I received a new scrapbook for Christmas this morning and after decorating the first page, I flipped open to a blank page. Using ink as the only medium, I began drawing the heart, referencing from a picture I found on google images. Then the rest just flowed from my mind to my fingertips and waaaahhhhlahhh- final product. It took less than an hour and although not perfected, I was rather surprised and satisfied with the outcome. It felt great too!

I'm thankful for moments of "self-expression"...

Sweet Immanuel- God with us

I will never be able to express how thankful I am for Jesus. I'm forever grateful for His beautiful birth into this fallen world. I'm forever grateful that He lived a lifelong Godly example for His people to follow. I'm forever grateful for His sacrificial death on the cross, and that He bore our sin. Although we are unworthy, He loved us THAT much to die a gruesome death on the cross so that we may be forgiven. I'm forever thankful that He rose on the third day and that He is coming back again. I'm forever thankful for eternal matrimony and for His rich, unending Love, Grace and Mercy. My words are of little significance compared to His great worth. I'm thankful that He gives me value and a life of purpose to glorify Him, forever. So much beauty... Immeasurable gratitude. This is what I'm celebrating today and all the days of my life. I love you Christ Jesus, Son of God.

Sometimes this world is just too much to handle. We all try to cope and we all try to gamble our chances of surviving in this self-driven race. Time is the enemy, fast is the pace. No time to stop and think or consider what's good...we turn our backs on the truth, though we know that we shouldn't. Deep in our hearts lies the answers in red, written in blood the words that He said. Those actions speak louder than all that I hear on the tv and radio and chatter of evil. It all fogs the right and defends the wrong, we live our lives to the beat of the devil's song. This world has gone mad but it's too busy to see, the Lord is coming back for you and for me. The time draws near, there's no turning back. Rid us of ourselves, Lord, before its too late...only You can clean this filthy slate. We cry out, Abba, from pure distress. We need you now more than ever, this world is a mess.

One Step At A Time

Throughout this school year thus far, I have learned the importance of setting goals.Whether it be spending time with God, time-managing in general, running/working out, making good grades, or eating healthy, wisely setting goals has helped me tremendously.

 I have given up on things easily before. I have quit before my time to do so rather than persevering. I came to a realization that I had unrealistic goals, or did not go about achieving them in the right way. Sometimes I had no goals at all. HELLO?! What was I thinking? And when I set goals, rather than being wise about reaching a goal, I tried to do everything at once. I strive to accomplish more than I was capable of doing at a certain time do to certain circumstances and I held myself back. I would get aggravated, lose hope in myself, or at times, both. Then I would sorrily give up. I began to examine what I was doing or more-so, what I was not doing, why, and what I could do to change for the better.

I have learned to set short and rather small, reachable goals first. Smaller steps create a large staircase, and so it is the same with goals- setting smaller goals lead to reaching the big goal. Being realistic is key. Having faith in yourself is another important key. Seeing yourself the way God sees you and believing in yourself is extremely important. Don't get me wrong, sometimes I fall short of this too though. If you provide opportunity for yourself to grow, you will. If you take the time to improve anything, it will happen. Diligence and hard work pays off. But you have to do push toward the result that you desire. Each week I try to write out goals for myself and pray over them. Setting small goals has helped me actually accomplish something good. After reaching each small goal, I can gradually set a larger, long term goal to work towards.

With God, all things are possible; He has created us to do more than we can imagine. I truly believe this and I try to always embrace this truth. He has given us His Spirit. He has provided us with opportunity. He will pull me through anything and I know that in Him I am more than capable, but I have to do my part as well and take advantage of all that He has equipped me with. I continually remind myself to live as Colossians 3:23 says: "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men."

Sometimes I still mess up or give up. Either way, there is always beauty in re-dedication, and I am thankful for that.

Goals for this week:
-Wake up and put the Kingdom first; fully submit myself during the quiet, still morning. I'm not setting a certain amount of time particularly, but just to spend time with God, in His Word, Presence and Love. (I'm currently re-reading Matthew chapters 13-28, Jesus Lives- a devotional, and Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis...little by little, of course.)
-Drink 64 oz of water each day
-Strive to eat healthy including my RDI of fruits & vegetables each day and eat six small meals
-Exercise every day (Monday-Friday) for at least 30 minutes 
-Study diligently after classes
-Make A+'s on both quizzes this week

Things to do:
-Get TB skin test so that I can observe
-Study for quizzes
-Vote on Tuesday
-Volunteer at Hospice of the Shoals
-Observe at Eliza Coffee Memorial Hospital
-Organize my drawers & closet
-Continue praying for Keith, Kathy, and Mrs. Plane
-CA interviews November 9th and 10th


November goals:
-Make an A+ on Psych test #3
-Hopefully get the CA position that I applied for
-Continue visiting different churches
-Bring up my Nutrition grade and continue making good grades/have good study habits
-Run the March of Dimes 5k or if volunteer if needed
-Begin training for a half-marathon?!
-Compile my research paper
-Be in a constant state of prayer
-Watch my words and actions so that I will glorify God through them

Some Scripture that came to mind: 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 and Hebrews 12:1-3

Little moments, Big impact

I was sitting in multiple classes on Monday, and the Lord spoke to me during the slightest moments.

During Psychology, my professor was talking about selective viewing. It is when we tend to focus attention on one particular stimulus and fail to recognize other stimuli. This is due to change blindness and our failure to see the change in a stimulus, such as in the "flicker paradigm test". This all seemed interesting, but then he said one sentence and it hit me. He said "We have a tendency to look but fail to see things." 

This is entirely too true. We often look at everything around us, but we really fail to SEE things. I often fail to see with God's eyes- to see the heart of others, to see the root of a problem, to see the true circumstance behind an issue/sin, or to see the causation of why someone is doing something that is "wrong". I often fail to see those who need love, who are hurting, and lonely. I often fail to see those who are lost and broken.

Every morning and throughout the day, I pray that I see with God's eyes. He wants me to see the lonely, hurt, broken, and lost. He wants me to notice problems and allow Him to solve them. He wants to heal. He wants to save. He desires for me to love with His real love and to spread His truth through my actions, and when needed, with words. I am called to this. 

Sometimes our vision gets blurred by the world or by society's skewed views. Sometimes its easy to forget about what is really important, focusing on a deadline or minuscule things such as appearance or selfish desires rather than spreading love and sharing the Gospel. When we come to the Throne of God, He forgives us of our sin. During our moments of surrender, He cleanses us, purifying our hearts to become more like His. He showers us with His Mercy, Grace, and Love. He fills us up so that we may overflow. He gives us HIS eyes so that we can see everything that we keep missing on our own. 

During Human Anatomy and Physiology on Monday, the professor was talking about the nerve cell membrane and how it is much more permeable to potassium than sodium because potassium tends to leak out of nerve and muscle cells causing any sodium that leaks inside to immediately be pumped outside by an energy using (ATP) sodium pump. For every three sodium pumped out, there are two potassium pumped inside. The ratio is 3:2. And then he said something that hit me (yet again on that lovely Monday): "There is no explanation. It just is."

Sometimes we search for explanations. We want to know why something is a certain way, what the future will hold, why something happened to us or someone else, why Calvinism and Arminianism seem to conflict with one another, why God is God? We search and search until we become exhausted. Sometimes we fail to accept the fact that God is all-knowing. Sometimes we fail to accept that we cannot comprehend the plans of the Lord because His ways are greater than ours. But there is beauty in His plans and in His timing. There is beauty in Divine mysteries. Sometimes there is no explanation. It just is. We have to trust in God and keep the faith because He knows what is best, for our good and His glory. 

1 Peter 1:8-9 ~ "Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls."

2 Corinthians 4:18 ~ "So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."

Hebrews 4:13 ~ "Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account."

"If you want to go somewhere, it is best to find someone who has already been there."
Robert Kiyosaki 


I'm thankful for the wisdom, advice, and guidance of those who have "been there"...