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!!!