awe inspiring

Today I must confess that I have not been very diligent about reading consistently, and have been jumping around quite a bit... but I believe that in my inconsistency God is revealing truth and meaning to my life. So today, as I sit in my office going through the motions not really working on much of anything letting my ADHD run a muck I stumbled upon this jewel and love the call it places on us , and our actions.

Heb. 12:28
Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken,
let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe,
29for our "God is a consuming fire."

How often am I thankful, and in awe of the everyday things God does in my life? Sure I appreciate and stand in awe when I see amazing sunsets or sunrises, or when I witness or hear of God's work in a big way in or through someone, but what about the daily things? What about the things that don't directly involve me???

Today there was a man who decided to take a gun and start shooting in a library on the University of Texas campus... the only person injured was himself after he shot his last fatal shot. The only person! God put his hands on the other people in that building, on that campus, those driving by... but was my first thought to praise God, to stand in Awe? No it wasn't, obviously it is now but still...

Today, I was able to wake up to the sun, enjoy a nice cool morning with Pixie, and not be rushed anywhere... nothing too awe inspiring about that, but yet God allowed for that... He allowed me to find a job where that was a possibility, He allowed me to have a window facing the east, he allowed me to find and raise the sweetest Chihuahua ever... He allowed me to still be alive through all the dumb things I have done in my life...

Our God is amazing, awe inspiring, and fantastic and I am so grateful to call Him Father!

work...time... things that matter

Well folks, It's Monday! I had an amazing weekend finally getting my hair done, visiting my parents taking mom shopping and to get a pedi (her first ever... How on earth did I ever turn out girly) and then Pixie and I went to visit one of my sweet dear friend in Tyler, her husband, and her sweet Chihuahua Chi Chi. Ahh I love having a weekend in the middle of football season to relax, rest up, heal, and revamp for the long haul... ya'll bye weeks are NOT just helpful for the players, they help all involved! This weekend I heard the NFL players are still trying to negotiate with the addition of games making their seasons 18 games long, they are asking for 2 BYE weeks... and I totally think they should, they need it, their bodies need it, and the staff definitely needs it!

So my friend and I were talking this weekend about how hard and how much we work, and we work to afford the things we have that we never get to appreciate because we are never home or free to use them! Seems silly, while I tend to buy stuff for my apartment every time I move, which is about once a year, I prefer to spend my money on vacations, quality time with friends and/or family, and experiences! after all you can't take possessions with you to the grave, but the memories last forever! So today's verse just reiterates this and puts it in perspective... at least this time my logic is sound and comes from God!

"As he had come naked from his mother's womb, so will he return as he came. He will take nothing from the fruit of his labor that he can carry in his hand" Ecclesiastes 5:15

I know I wish I didn't work 12 hour days 6 days a week, I wish I had more time for relationships, for love, for the things that truly matter... but for now i have to keep reminding myself that God has me where I am for his plan, and that I can make relationships, and my work here really matter too!

Oh and here is a picture of my hair... back to looking normal! I love my Dusti!!!

loveable...

Okay, so I love being challenged... as long as it does not persecute me personally. I on the other hand HATE when people attack me, my values, my thoughts, my actions. I like to tell myself that this isn't pride in myself, but pride in my Fathers creation. For He made me who I am, and I consult with Him most of the time (i know, i know) but I digress... so this passage challenges me to the core, because although it is not a new idea to me, it is a reminder more often than not that I am not the loving person I should be, heck I don't always manage to "love the loveable" much less the unloveable, does everyone struggle with this???

43"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor[a] and hate your enemy.' 44But I tell you: Love your enemies[b] and pray for those who persecute you, 45that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?

But I love The Message version,

43-47"You're familiar with the old written law, 'Love your friend,' and its unwritten companion, 'Hate your enemy.' I'm challenging that. I'm telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer, for then you are working out of your true selves, your God-created selves. This is what God does. He gives his best—the sun to warm and the rain to nourish—to everyone, regardless: the good and bad, the nice and nasty. If all you do is love the lovable, do you expect a bonus? Anybody can do that. If you simply say hello to those who greet you, do you expect a medal? Any run-of-the-mill sinner does that.

I know... let everyone bring out the best in you.. wow!

ohh daddy....

Goodness, I am a slacker already! already missing days someone slap my hand and tell me to get on the ball!

So today, I am actually making progress on my desk... you can see desk again! WOO HOO!!! This is a huge accomplishment considering all the paperwork that has lived on it for the past 6 weeks. I am finally starting to see organization in my tiny closet of an office. This is one side. This is the other... notice the closet bar...
So in cleaning off my desk, I found one of my cards on which I had written John 14: 13-14 on the back. So I choose to look up the reference because lets face it, I'm not so good at memorization, and here is what it says.

13And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. ¹⁴You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

How reassuring is it that we have someone in our corner no matter what... no petty fights or comments, no moving away and forgetting, not even death; nothing at all that we can do would chase him away! God will always come through for us, always answer the call of Daddy.... I can't think of anything better!

Test

test, test, test!

my mantra for today!

"In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight." Prov. 3:6

Today I am choosing to seek God at the beginning of every conversation, of every action, every e-mail because it will be with his strength that I conquer my hurts, habits, and hang ups and move forward with what is best. It isn't easy, it isn't fun, but instead of fighting everything I come up against. I am going to try this humble, meek, always nice person that I am expected to be, that I have asked to be, and see where and how it works out. I am seeking what He wants and since this has been a reoccurring theme in people's complaints about me I am trusting it is from Him so here goes nothing! The following pictures are borrowed (without permission but they are on fb for goodness sakes) from friends who were hiking in Honduras this summer after mudslides and lots of rain...

The rain completely washed away any sign of the trail...
Here is the trail... amazing! God does the same thing, even when our paths are hidden by debris, or washed away, God provides a trail!

grace...

do you ever wonder at the end of the day whether that day you were the window or the rock? Today all day I was feeling pretty good, life was clean, I mean my day was the Windex commercials with the birds flying into the window it was so clear. My day rocked... until the end of practice and the parent meeting I have been dreading. and without going into details, basically I am inadequate, my efforts mean nothing, nothing I do will make her happy, yet I will be writing contingency plans for every possible situation and planning, and explaining in written detail how to accomplish every little task. If I didn't love my job, I don't know that I would be dealing with this... but I know 2 Samuel 22 says it best when David says:

2Our LORD and our God,
you are my mighty rock, my fortress, my protector.

Praise Jesus for His love, His strength, and His forgiveness because on my own I am not worthy. I can't show grace without first knowing His and accepting His!

comfort and joy

I have felt quite accomplished today! I was able to cross off 95% of the things on my to-do list, I didn't drink coffee this morning because I have been feeling that I need to cut back on the amount of caffeine I consume on a daily basis, I made and brought my own lunch to work instead of going to get food somewhere thus saving myself calories and money... I just feel accomplished. I have been talking to a friend of mine in Honduras and praying for her today, talking to my heart student who was admitted to the hospital yesterday for more testing, and I have had a looming parent meeting hanging over my head all day because this parent is particularly difficult and a lawyer so you never feel like you win with her.. I think they teach intimidation in law school .. really! But In all honesty, I am not too worried about these things, I know they are in God's hands and I know that He is by my side through it all and he has prepared me and instructed me, guided me, and loved me... I have no fear! So today my verse comes from Philippians 2.

"If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.”

I do have this comfort, this encouragement, this joy and I ask you to find the same just as this verse says. Below is a picture of so many people that brought me all these things this summer because they were will to become like minded with Christ. Love each of them!

Mercy and joy

Today is a Monday, but glorious in itself. So many people come in and out of my life and are such a blessing yet I often focus on the few who make my life difficult. I know that I don't have to be burdened by them, if I only choose to offer my struggles to God. I am working on making that the rule not the exception in my life. I want to, as I have today, be able to walk through life with a smile on my face bringing joy to people I see. I want to be the positive influence in others that I have recieved because I may be the one person God has chosen to lift up someone. So today,s verse goes right along with this and comes to me from Jude 1.

²²Be merciful to those who doubt; ²³snatch others from the fire and save them; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.

God has given me much mercy, and he will do the same for all. Sometimes that mercy comes from each other, from believers, and from himself. I am in need of a constant reminder to be merciful and loving to all. I know that I am not alone in this and am so blessed to have the opportunity to share this with anyone who reads this as well as myself. :)

Be blessed!

Humbling

Today was a day I did nothing, really. I cooked some food for the week, in hopes that I would not only save a little money, but eat a little healthier. Today the healthy part, I am not so sure about, maybe it's just because I was around food all day but I feel like I ate all day too! Ugh is there such a thing as eaters remorse???

Anyways my verse for today is from James, I dunno I just felt like I was supposed to read this today so here it is. James 4:10.

"Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up."

Today startes a campain my church is Victoria is doing called 40 days of no excuses, and man how humbling that is. When you really stop and think about how many excuses you use in a day? Excuses about running late, excuses about wrinkles in clothes, excuses about not getting everything done, excuses about being excused for bumping into someone... Everyday is filled with excuses, lack of self control, putting blame on someone, or anyone/thing but yourself because we are so proud to think that circumstances, inanimate objects, etc. are the cause of our troubles. So friends, I encourage you to do just as this verse commands, humble yourself and allow God the chance to do some amazing things in your life.

strength

As I am bombarded with an upset mother at 8:30 this morning which I let affect me more than normal and cause me to wonder if I am doing anything right and if I even need to be here... I had a meeting with my student with the heart condition and while we were both crying by the end of it, I realized that God does have me here for a reason, and I can't let an angry pushy parent or two bring me down. I have Him on my side and He gives me strength and encouragement through the toughest situations. so for today my verse is Joshua 1:9

⁹ Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified;
do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you
wherever you go."

Friends, readers of this, if you don't have this kind of relationship with God I encourage you to find it. Ask questions, read, but come to have God with you always! I have to remind myself of this often, but I know I always have him, and I have peace because of that.

light in the darkness

So this week for me has been a crazy week filled with parent complaints, difficult students, and lack of motivation on my part... So I started a project. yes I realize this makes no sense that I have no motivation but I am adding more to my plate... but this, is a project of encouragement meant to lift my spirits as those who come in contact with me. So my project is to find words of encouragement in The Word everyday and share them here. yes I am taking on and committing myself to blog everyday, and yes this has happened before, and no I have never followed through, BUT I think it is worth my effort and maybe if I put reminders everywhere I won't let my distractions distract me too much from getting it done.

So for today, the verse comes from one of my favorite students who is facing many health difficulties and having to give up everything she has loved because she has now been diagnosed with not one but THE top TWO killers of children both of which are dealing with her heart. Please keep her in your prayers as she will soon be getting a cath. and internal defib. Her verse is John 1:5

The light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness can never extinguish it.

This is one of my favorite early morning views, and I can't wait to be back in Honduras to see it all the time!!!