Does money really buy happiness?

I read a devotional this morning and it mentioned a family from Ecuador.  The devotional was talking about the difference for people in impoverished situations and those in circumstances of wealth.  And it just struck such a cord with me.  Some people, living on less than $2 a day are more happy than most of the people living in America.  They don't care that their roof is leaking or that their floors are made of dirt.  They are thankful having their family surrounding them and knowing that Christ loves them.  Talk about true faith.  These kids living in situations like that aren't jealous of what their neighbors have or aren't angry that they didn't get a new computer or a DS for Christmas.  These kids really understand something that most adults in America don't understand. 

What if one day all of your possessions would be taken away form you, would you still love and lean on the Lord as much as you do today?  Would you really give up all you had to follow Jesus as the disciples did? That's such a tough question to answer.  As much as I want to say without a shadow of a doubt that I would give it all up it would be hard.  I would really have to completely rely and lean on the Lord in a situation like that.  This year I am falling in love with Jesus all over again, and it feels great.  I can sit here knowing how much He loves each of us and how He has such a desire for us to know Him and to seek Him.  I look forward to continually seeking and understand God and His Word.

"One man pretends to be rich, yet has nothing; another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth." Proverbs 13:7 (NIV)

My heart hurts..

You know...I've been at work today and I am just in complete shock of what is going on in Haiti right now.  This is a country where the majority of the citizens live off of $2 a day (sometimes that's per family).  And my heart is just hurting for them.  My heart is especially hurting for those who don't know the Lord or for those who are searching for Him.  It's times during tragedy that people begin to doubt our Heavenly Father and I have to rest in the fact that all things, good and bad, work out for the glory of the Lord.  Sometimes it's hard to remember that God is close by when tragedy strikes, but what does the word say?  Look back to Psalms where David talks about how no matter where he goes the Lord is also there.  The Lord is also with us even in our darkest days and He is waiting and hoping that we turn and run into His arms.

So what are you deciding to do?  My advice...run to our Heavenly Father for love and comfort especially times of darkness.  There is no darkness to our Father. 

It's days like today that I remember to count my blessings.  I will sit and pray tonight for those who are hurting and for those who are far from the Lord.

 

Wise Child

Wow, is all I can say to this video. God really spoke so clearly to this child, and it makes me wonder...are we listening when God is speaking directly to us? What is He telling you right now?

I love that my God gave His Son so I could be with Him forever. For that I am eternally grateful! :)

Life comes at you fast..

...wow, so it's August 29th already? I'm about to finish the first week of my last year in college. It's crazy to know that it's already this close to being over!

It's crazy to look back where I've been and what has changed in my life. Three years ago I was so far away from God, at that point in my life I was truly questioning His existence. And now, I can't believe I ever questioned that! Granted it was the things I went through and the situations that God put me in that lead me to Him over two years ago, but it's crazy to see where I am now!

I see my old self in some of these new freshman that I see walking around campus, or getting ready to go to some party. I cannot believe that was me once upon a time. I love where I am now, and the knowledge I have gained from the experiences that I have gone through. There are times where I want to regret the decisions I've made, but at the same time if it weren't for those poor decisions then I can't say that I would know God today. I feel like I was lead to God because of the situations I was going through. The Bible talks about the fact that God uses every situation for His glory, and in my case He used my poor decisions and my troubles to eventually lead me to breaking down and crying out for Him and realizing that He had been there all along!!

Have you cried out? I promise you He's listening! :)


<>< All for HIM.

Summer is coming to an end...

...wow, I still cannot believe it's already August!

And with that being said, today I start moving things to campus. I start RA training here in about 6 hours! It's crazy to think that this time next year I will be working at my first "real" job. My, how time flies!

Yesterday was my last day at my summer job. I was an intern for a property management company downtown. What a great opportunity that was! I'm really excited to see where God is going to guide me next summer. There are so many things that I would love to do; I just have to find out what it is that HE wants me to do! I know whatever it is God has planned it's going to be amazing (Jeremiah 29)!! :)

I'm really excited for this year. There are so many wonderful things that have happened over the course of the past few months. I have made some pretty amazing friendships, made some pretty awesome memories, and had some wonderful times with my family! God has been SOOOOOOO great to me, and I can't wait to see what is next!

I thank all of you for being there for me when I have needed you! God bless you all!


For Him. <><

I love it when God makes connections in my life.

I've been going through some things recently dealing with past issues about my biological father and the lack of trust that occasionally creeps up on me in relationships. And something that has been ever-present recently is the need to REALLY give it up to God. I can say the phrase "let go, and let GOD," but how is that going to work unless I REALLY let go? How can God make something good come out of the pain that I have to deal with, if I'm NOT dealing with it? If I'm not fully letting go?

I was at Bible study tonight, and Matt brought up a good verse that is an important one to me where I am right now. Matthew 11: 28-30 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdend, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is ligt."

How can we truly see the changes in our lives unless we are picking up HIS yoke each day instead of our own?

I love the idea of God's love, and I pray that I continue to develop a better understanding of His love. And not so much just an understanding, but truly grasping it with all my heart.

I need to continue going back to the map...

Glory to God!!!

God is like...

I got this from a friend...

God is like.
BAYER ASPIRIN
He works miracles.

God is like.
a FORD
He's got a better idea.

God is like.
COKE
He's the real thing.

God is like.
HALLMARK CARDS
He cares enough to send His very best.

God is like.
TIDE
He gets the stains out that others leave behind.

God is like.
GENERAL ELECTRIC
He brings good things to life.

God is like.
SEARS
He has everything.

God is like.
ALKA-SELTZER
Try Him, you'll like Him

God is like.
SCOTCH TAPE
You can't see Him, but you know He's there.

God is like.
DELTA
He's ready when you are.

God is like.
ALLSTATE
You're in good hands with Him.

God is like.
VO-5 Hair Spray
He holds through all kinds of weather.

God is like.
DIAL SOAP
Aren't you glad you have Him? Don't you wish everybody did?

God is like.
the U.S. POST OFFICE
Neither rain, nor snow, nor sleet nor ice will keep Him from His appointed destination.

God is like.
Chevrolet. .the heart beat of America

God is like
Maxwell house. .
Good to the very last drop

God is like.
Bounty . . .
He is the quicker picker upper. . can handle the tough jobs. and He won't fall apart on you

Pretty amazing how ever-present God is in our daily lives....even ADVERTISING! :)

What is in a moment?

To follow Him is to experience, to explore, to discover.

"The most important moments rarely come at a convenient time. Sometimes you wish that God would check your calendar first. The ironic part is that our schedules get packed with the mundane and ordinary, and we become irritated with God when He interrupts us with the miraculous and extraordinary."

Erwin Raphael McManus, Chasing Daylight

Why are we like this? We always want something amazing, something wonderful, something adventurous to happen to us, but as soon as God throws it our way we get frustrated and annoyed that our everyday life was interrupted. I mean, I think that our Father has the right to intervene if He wants! He is looking out for the good, and to help you fulfill your purpose in Him.

"The Jonathan Factor is the explosive result that occurs when we step into a divine moment and unleash its full potential."

When was the last time you unleashed the full potential of watching the sunrise, or watching the way people love? One of those moments for me was when I was teaching Sunday school and one of the little girls, C, runs up to her friend who showed up, L, and hugs her for a really long time. To see that pure look of excitement in their faces when they saw each other really shows how much pure and full love they have for one another. Though they many not know the extent of God's love for them and others they understood their love in that moment, which is definitely a Godly love. It's incredible.

I'll leave you with one more quote by Erwin Raphael McManus -

"Life is the sum total of what you do with the moments given to you...contained within the concept of a moment is its potential for eternal ramifications."

God is incredible.

You know...sometimes I sit here, and wonder about life. How do we know what we are really called to do? How do we know if we are living the dream that God planned for us? There is so much in my life that I wanted to do differently, and when I look back now and see where I have been and where I am now it's amazing. TO be able to stand here and express the love to others I have for Christ, and yet be a new person aside from who I was when I was 18 is amazing. It's amazing to begin to understand how much love God has for me, and for all of us. I mean, for those of you who knew me in high school and my first semester of college, I wasn't the best person. I was selfish, shallow, rude, and so much more. I was such a person of this world. And then, I remeber who I've become and it's incredible. To know that God changed my life so much brings me to tears. It leaves me hope to know that if He can turn someone into something so much stronger, and so much more full of pure joy then He truly can do anything.

God is incredible. God is love. God is everything we could never imagine and more. God is the beginning and the end.

How are you living?

Ceasar Moncada of Verizon was a guest speaker at the LeaderShape Conference this year.

I wanted to share something he spoke about when talking about how he defines leadership.

He said that leadership doesn't consist on the basis of what you know and the things you can do, but more so on your values and your self being.

It was really eye opening to hear him speak about a leader and even just an every day person needing to take a step back and a step out of the situation you are in and look in and evaluate it. Are you really acting the way you wanted to? Are you living up to your own expectations? Are your values showing through what you do on a daily basis?

I have never had anyone mention the need to evaluate your own actions. I know it's essential to have accountability partners to help give you guidance and feedback, but never did I think about the need to look inward in my everyday life.

I know from a spiritual context I do look inward and see if I am truly living a Christ-like life, but I guess I never applied that to my everyday little actions.

But it makes total sense.

Whether you believe in the God Almighty or not, I think everyone needs to see if they are living up to their ideal values.


How are you living?

Finding faith after seeing the Pope?

I was watching the news this morning and saw a story about this lady who came to Washington D.C. to see the Pope.

She was interviewed and told the broadcaster that she came all the way to D.C. because she thought that seeing him would renew her faith in God.

I just found it interesting that she was relying on another HUMAN BEING to reclaim her faith in God. Our faith doesn't rely on other people. I do hope that seeing the Pope helped her, but I hope she finds out that it's not about the people, it's about GOD.



Not to mention....if I wore that much white all the time I'd be the biggest mess ever. End of story.