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!!!

auto pilot???

It's been almost 2 months since my last post.. for many reasons, and while I hate making excuses, I have since I've been back moved and started a new job. I have also been very reflective over the summer and everything that happened. Here is a thought I had a few days ago, and a few pictures from my summer!

As I was driving home from work the other day, I realized that in the past couple days I haven't had to plan my steps, avoiding obstacles, find the easiest and safest route... I am on auto pilot again as far as walking goes. This got me thinking, after spending so much time in Honduras this summer and working with so many teams I heard so many times, "My time here has changed my life" and it is true. Trips like theirs, and surely trips like mine change lives. They change not only the people we are witnessing to, but also ours...often with the greater impact being on our own. It is easy to return to the states, and remember for a few weeks maybe months, but sooner or later our tendacy is to go back on auto pilot. We get involved in out lives, our jobs or school, and the memories and the impact become distant thoughts pushed back, behind the grocery lists.

This summer taught me a lot about my walk with God and so many areas it needed to be improved on, and as I am learning to walk again after being in a cast, on crutches, not walking, I feel I am also walking in a new way with God. I want to much to keep my walk with God a focus in my life, yet I was so pleasantly pleased with myself for not having to think about every step I take... although most still hurt even that is becoming easier to block out and move past... in the past my walk with God has become much like this. I once heard being healthy means never having to think about your body. But it has been my experience that when we don't think about our spiritual health and relationships our health fades.

amazing week!

This week has been absolutely amazing! I love my church and my Parkway people who are here. I knew most of the group, but have enjoyed immensely the ones I have come to meet here. It has been so amazing to leave the farm and be a part of people’s lives here in Honduras…afterall that is what I came here to do. This week really has been the first tiem I’ve left the farm since I broke my ankle. In my down time I have learned a lot, been humbled a lot, and realized a lot about myself and the many things I need to work on… I am such a mess! But this week, has also shown and taught me much about my ministry, the impression I leave on people, and how my attitude affects those around me.
The last two days we went into the mountains to a village called Monte Verde. A group of guys from my church came down in April and built a church here, and that is where we stayed, did a medical clinic, and were able to witness to and love on the people in the area. It is such a blessing to be able to see how God just continues to use Parkway people to bless so many people, and how many Parkway people are willing to allow God to use them in this way. It was so heartwarming to see God working in so many people’s lives both native and in the people who came to serve. They were served just as much and I am so glad I was able to witness and be a part of this. Tomorrow I will have pictures and tell you about the many things I learned this week… tonight I am just to exhausted.