What a beautiful foot you have!

I'm back, everyone! You can't get rid of me that easily, the posts are just a little further apart. So, this past weekend I went to Concordia University Chicago for a conference for my school. It was called Beautiful Feet, and it was amazing. The entire experience was so eye opening for me. The conference was all about missionary work and the theme was "washed by the word". We reflected on how we are washed by the word through our baptism. Our feet are "beautiful" in that we were washed in baptism and are saved through our faith. We use our beautiful feet to go out and proclaim the law and the gospel to others who do not know Christ. We proclaim the gospel by doing good to others. This is not to say that we are saved by good works, let me clarify. But, it is to say that we are put on this earth to tell of the good news and what Jesus has done, and show the grace and mercy that has been given to us to other people.

We also got to participate in different excursions in the Chicago area. The group I was in got to volunteer at Feed my Starving Children, which is an organization that puts together meals for starving children across the globe. We filled bags with certain amounts of vitamins, vegetables, soy, and rice and put them into boxes. Our group was sending our products to Uganda. With all of the people we had, we packaged enough food to feed 107 children for an entire year! It was so amazing to see those numbers and feel like I was a part of something so big. After we did all of the packaging they showed us a video of the kids over there thanking us all for what we did and saying they were praying for us and they hope we continue to do it. It was heart warming and made me just about cry! It was such an amazing feeling to be a part of that and to help change the lives of children from all the way over here.

All in all it was a great weekend and I made some great friends from all over that I know are going to be great friends for life. And I will be seeing them all again for the Walk for Life in Washington D.C in January!

God bless!

"Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water." Hebrews 10:22

Surprise!

My dad turned 60 last Wednesday. I know, crazy, he certainly does not look it. So, this past weekend I tried to surprise him, but due to some unforeseen circumstances and my father's curiosity, he figured it out by Saturday morning when I came to the house. Nonetheless, I sufficiently surprised my mom and my one sister who did not know I was coming, which made up for it. They had absolutely no clue it was even possible for me to come home, so there were plenty of tears going around.
And the surprises did not stop there!
 The 5 of us kids had contacted basically everyone that my dad has ever known and asked them to write some kind of story or memory they had with my dad. Man, did we get some great responses. That man has touched so many lives in so many ways. He has been and still is a strong christian man. So, Saturday night, the 5 of us took my parents out for dinner and then went home to present the gift in a treasure chest.

 3 hours, about 100 tissues, and 7 tear-stained faces later, he got through them all. Not only has my dad been a blessing to our lives, but he has touched basically every life he has come in contact with and been a blessing to each and every one. I am proud to call him my dad. I hope some day I can touch lives like that. I love you, dad.

"Blessed is the one who considers the poor! In the day of trouble the Lord delivers him." Psalm 41:1

Day Thirty- one: The truth will set you free

 "So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”  They answered him, “We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, ‘You will become free’?” Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave[a] to sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." John 8:31-36

What a great verse. It was the text for the Reformation service we had last night. Such a great sermon followed it, as well. We are all sinners, condemned sinners. We deserve nothing good. But that is the great thing about God's mercy, He gives us what we do not deserve, salvation. Jesus Christ has set us free from our chains of sin. The truth of his sacrifice and his death sets us free from our bondage. He takes our place. Isn't that great news? And you thought Halloween was all about creepy scary ghouls and ghosts! Think again, it's so much more. So I hope that this is a good end to your night, and your October! Happy Reformation day, and Happy Halloween!
God Bless!

Day Thirty: Couldn't ask for more

Today's post is partially dedicated to my dad, AKA the best dad in the world! Today is a big birthday for him! He is such a great man, and I could not ask for a better dad. It's so great to grow up with such support and love in my life. Thank you so much for everything you do for me, dad!
And on that note, really my entire family is awesome! I could not ask for more supportive loving people to grow up with me. Being the youngest of 5 kids, I had a lot to look up to, a lot to learn from, and a lot to live with. I wouldn't trade anything for the life I've had and the family I've lived with, both given by God. Being away at college is tough sometimes, even though I'd never tell them that. But, I know that whenever I go home I have amazing home cooked meals and family time to look forward to :). Although it is tempting to always be wanting more in life, you've got to learn to be content with what God has given you and find the joy in that, whether it is big or small. God bless and Happy birthday, dad!

"But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, hat they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves." John 17:13

Day twenty- nine: Ten minutes ago I met you

Don't worry, guys, I'm not in love or anything, but today in my voice lesson I sang quite a few love songs from musicals so it got me thinking. My favorite one was the song "Ten Minutes Ago" from Rodger's and Hammerstein's Cinderella. Seriously, the song is about how in love they are after meeting for 10 minutes. Ten. Minutes. People, is this even real?! No, of course not, it's a fairy tale! But I just find it hilarious how "in love" they are in this like hour that they meet, and then he does not recognize her after the ball simply because she's dressed differently and has her hair down. Really? It's crazy. I mean, I am all for love, but if you really love her you would know her on a deeper level and you would know her when you saw her in a crowd. You've got to love fairy tale logic, though. It's funny the lessons you can learn from fairy tales, like what NOT to do (guys especially). Like Prince Derek in "The Swan Princess" says he loves Odette because she's beautiful, and when she asks him "what else?" he says "Is there anything else?"  Seriously boys, please do not ever do that! Love is a strong word, and it should not be thrown around lightly. There is my little spiel on love. Don't worry though, you'll be sure to know when that happens! It'll be a few years, I'm sure. God bless!

"So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed to him but a few days because of the love he had for her." Genesis 29:20

Day twenty- eight: Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?... No.

"Comparison is the thief of joy." ~Theodore Roosevelt

Our lives, especially as we get older, are based on comparing ourselves to someone else. Usually, someone older or someone we look up to. For me, although I am sure they do not know it, I have spent the majority of my teenage life comparing myself to my older sisters. For the longest time I thought something was wrong with me because things did not go the same way for me as they did for them. As Roosevelt says, that is the thief of joy. It took me a while to realize it but, I finally stopped comparing and started to just look at myself and what I have to offer. I mean, why should I compare myself to them when God has made each of us in His own image, with a different plan for each of us?  Comparison led me to make the problems worse, not better. If we stop comparing ourselves to others than we won't be disappointed if we don't make it where we think we ought to, and we will feel better about where we are.  It's not just comparing to other people though, it is comparing situations, too. It's hard to let something else happen when the situation has happened before, and the last time it did it did not end well. It makes us very skeptical of the current situation. We need to stop worrying about the past, and just worry about ourselves right now.Every person is different. Every life has its own path, which God made for us. Trust that, and stop trying to figure out how to make yourself like someone else. I know I need that reminder sometimes. Find the joy in your own life instead of trying to duplicate the joy that someone else found.

"Not that we dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who are commending themselves. But when they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding." 2 Corinthians 10:12

Day Twenty- Seven: The ignorance of impatience

We all get pretty impatient at times. I would be lying if I said that I was the most patient person ever. Sometimes you just want something to happen, and you want it to happen right now! You're tired of waiting. Sometimes this causes us to do something we regret; to do something simply out of impulse because we are impatient and we just need something to be done. It can be trying on a person. We push God right out of the equation, too, some of the time. We think that He has left us and there is no coming back from this "mistake". But He did not leave. He is never going to leave. And the best part, He forgives you of this sin just like all of the rest of them. So repent and pray. Talk to God, He listens. Do not let one or even a few mistakes get you down. We are human, it is what we do. Our sinful nature causes us to go that way, and the devil pushes as much as he can. Remember that God forgives, and be comforted by the news that Christ died for our sins. How awesome of a God we have! And what a great way to start out the week, remembering that!

"If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:8-9

Day twenty-six: Hiding problems

As some of you may know, here at school I co-manage a coffee shop, called The Hiding Place, which is located in the basement of a church down the road. I was new to the place this year, I had never gone last year, only heard about it. And this year, we have only done it about 3 times, but my co-manager decided I would be okay to do it on my own this weekend. So tonight, I was alone in managing. 

And what could go wrong but just about everything, right? I mean, it was my first night alone, so the devil jumped right on top of that one. The espresso machine would not turn on, which is what we use for basically everything, and then the pump for the chocolate stopped working. Also, our event was a spoons tournament and so we needed Halloween buckets with candy for prizes, but they were not provided by the person who promised they would put them there, so I had to drive to the store really fast and get some. And after all of that, no one really showed up for the tournament. At the same time, we threw a surprise party for our friend Adam, so there were about 7 of us there. It was a pretty stressful night for the most part.

But, I had fantastic friends who were helping me try to fix the things, and who stayed there even when no one else came. And we made a great game of spoons out of it all. So take that, devil! Even when things seem hopeless, and like everything was going wrong, I had great friends there behind me who stayed and supported me. My sister was also talking to me, reminding me that I would look back and laugh at all of this one day. God put them in my life for a reason, and I am so thankful for that! Even in the midst of stress, God showed me joy.

"You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble, you surround me with shouts of deliverance." Psalm 32:7

Day twenty-five: You! You need a hand to hold

This is one of the cutest scenes from Doctor who, in my opinion. Plus, I just love David Tennant! And, you know, he's right, we need a hand to hold, and guess what! We have one, God! The sermon in chapel this morning was all about how God is there at all times, holding our hand through everything. Going off to college, going through tests, everyday life, God is there holding your hand every step of the way. It is such an awesome thing to think about. Someone is always there. When you are weak, He is not; When you are down, He is not; When you are in pain, He is not, and he is there to pick you back up again. Isn't that a great thing to know? I feel like some people forget that a lot and think that they are all alone when things go wrong; when tragedy strikes, but they aren't! No one is! Whether you know it or not; whether you see it or not, He is there. I just think that is a great feeling. What greater joy is there than knowing that God is right there, holding your hand through every step of life. Although, I wouldn't mind David Tennant holding my hand, too :).
God bless!

"Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls." 1 Peter 1:8-9

Day Twenty-Four: WWJD? Die, duh!

I was at a bible study tonight, led by two very good friends of mine, and one of them inspired this post. We got on to the topic of when people say "WWJD" or "What would Jesus do?" I mean, it's great and all that Jesus is your role model but do you really want to know what Jesus would do? He would die. on the cross. Oh wait! He already did that! It is just sort of a pet peeve of mine when people ask that about everything that they do. To me, it is almost like they are trying to be like God. Hello! That's what got us in trouble in the first place! Does anyone remember the serpent and Eve in the garden of Eden?

Eve told the serpent "God said, 'You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.' But the serpent said to the woman, 'You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.'" Genesis 3:2-5

And look where that got us! So don't do it people! Don't try to become like God, you will not succeed. I know some people may disagree with me on the use of "WWJD", but in my opinion don't. Unless you plan on dying on the cross, which still won't save anyone because we are not perfect as Jesus was and is. So there is my rant for the day. Instead of thinking "what would Jesus do" think, rather, what would please Jesus? I think that will get you to a better place. And, pleasing Jesus should bring joy to your life. It's a win/win situation, really!
God bless!

"For by grace you have been saved through faith, And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." Ephesians 2: 8-10

Day twenty-three: For Good

Okay, get ready for another "musical" post today, if you will. What can I say? Music inspires me, and in light on the situation last week, one song in particular popped out at me today. I don't know how many of you have heard of the musical Wicked, but it is my favorite musical. And one of the best songs in it is "For Good", sung by Elphaba and Glinda. The song starts with "I've heard it said that people come into your life for a reason, bringing something we must learn." Every time I hear it I think of all of the people I have come into contact with in my life, especially those that stayed quite a while. As some of you know, last week a dear friend of mine decided that she did not want me in her life anymore. At that moment, and for a while afterward, it hurt to hear that, and to let go. But in looking back on it, everyone brings something to a friendship, even if they think they don't. There are some things I would have never experienced, had I never met her, both good and bad, but experiences none the less. And though it is tough to let go of someone, sometimes you have to realize the good that came out of the friendship and then accept that some things are not meant to stay.
Look at me, writing as if, for some crazy reason, she might be reading this and change her mind; that she might see this and have some sort of emotional response. But, the truth is, some people are just incapable of that. And it hurts the people around them, and they will never realize it. So take notice of the relationships around you, the lives you've touched. Think about what you have brought to them, both good and bad. We can help write someone else's life by being their friend. That is, God puts us in their lives as part of his plan so that we can help them. So, in the end, I lost a friendship, that is a sad fact that I cannot change, but what I can change or pay closer attention to is my other friendships and relationships. Change someone else's life for good. Bring the joy to their life, while finding it in yours. God Bless!

"Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends." John 15:13

Day twenty-two: you can't step in the same river twice

I hope I have some Pocahontas fans out there. Even though the Disney version does not tell the real story, the concept I am going off of still applies. You really cannot step in the same river twice, the water is always changing, always flowing. But sometimes people can't live like that, we all must pay a price, and when we are safe we don't get to know what's around the river bend. Okay, I'm done paraphrasing the song now. Pretty good, though, right? But really, how are we supposed to discover new things if we step into a river and just stay there. Staying in our own little corner our entire lives is not going to be good for anyone.  So, branch out, step in and out of the "oceans" or "rivers" of life and discover what each one has to offer. You may find disappointment, you may find heartache; on the other hand you may find love and happiness. But if you stay in one river for the rest of your life the water starts to get warm and the sand will start to feel uncomfortable. Even though it goes against my Lutheran characteristics, I believe that some change is good.

 To be honest, I wasn't really sure where I was going to go with this. I just had the song stuck in my head so I went with it. Moral of the story, try out new things, push yourself to get out there and meet new people, or try something different. Step in all different rivers, splash around a bit, if you want! Who knows, maybe that little change is what you needed to find the Joy in life. Have faith that God will always use that change and make it good.

"By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going." Hebrews 11:8

Day twenty-one: Jump back in

I don't know how it is for any of you when you come back from a break or a long time away from school or work, but it is not usually easy getting back in to the swing of things. Monday's are rough days, anyway, but this one was especially bad because I was still on a kick from this weekend. I loved being away from campus, away from all of the people (even my roommates), away from the drama. Imagine that, a teenage girl with drama, who would have thought? But, really, it was nice to have new surroundings, old familiar surrounding really, but new at the time. And just when I was starting to get used to them they were snatched away by the crook of school starting again on Monday. I would have given anything just to stay another day, have another minute or two with everyone. But, those kinds of things do not last, and eventually reality pulls you back. Jumping back in to routine can be tough, and it has been this week, but everyone goes through it, and more importantly, gets through it. I'm not going to lie, The thought of dropping out of school and just moving to St. Louis has crossed my mind more than a few times since I've been back. What keeps me going is knowing that I will get back to it, and that I got the opportunities that I did. God's funny that way, sometimes he'll just give you a little taste of something so that maybe you'll work and push yourself harder to get back to it. Pretty great motivational speaker, if you ask me. So if you are having a tough time jumping back in this week, or any time, just remember that God is putting you where you belong and you have purpose back where you are. But also remember that he gave you those experiences and opportunities to build off of as well. I challenge you to jump back in and find some joy in this week. If you feel up to it, comment or message me about it, I would love to hear about it! (Don't worry, I'm challenging myself as well!) God bless!

"The ear that listens to life-giving reproof will dwell among the wise. Whoever ignores instruction despises himself, but he who listens to reproof gains intelligence." Proverbs 15: 31-32

Day twenty: The presence of presents

No, none of the physical tangible presents were for me, but that does not mean that I did not get anything. I would say that this entire weekend I got one of the best gifts, time with my family and some old friends. Sunday morning we all got up and went to church at my dad's cousin's church, all as one big happy family (and I am pretty sure we doubled the size of that congregation). After that we headed over to the bride's family's house for lunch and to watch the happy couple open their presents. And it really gets you thinking. I mean, yes you need all of these physical things starting out in a marriage for your home and such, but really what's the most important thing you need? God and love. I think that they definitely have an abundance of the latter one and God is always there. Centering your marriage around Christ is important. So, they opened all of their presents, with some pretty adorable admirers around them (see picture below), and then I headed out for my 6 hour drive back to campus. It is a good thing I can entertain myself pretty easily. Singing at the top of my lungs took up the majority of my trip, and the rest of the void was filled with talking to myself and making up songs to the radio tunes. Needless to say, the state of Illinois kind of made me go crazy for the 4 hours that I was driving in it. But I cannot help but think about the entire weekend and what a blessing it was. It was filled with everything I could have asked for, and I couldn't imagine it going any other way. You definitely need that time away to realize what you really have. I realized God has given me so many gifts, and sometimes I had to go a little ways to find them, but this weekend I did. I hope you all take a moment to think of the gifts that God has given YOU. He blesses us all everyday, whether we see it or not. Trust me, it will help find the 'joye' in life.
God bless!

"For you make him most blessed forever, you make him glad with the joy of your presence." Psalm 21:6

"But the Lord your God would not listen to balaam; instead the Lord you God turned the curse into a blessing for you, because the Lord your God loved you." Deuteronomy 23:5

Day nineteen: Going to the chapel and they got married

I got up on Saturday morning and, after spending breakfast and some more time with the family I was staying with in St. Louis, I packed my things and headed over to a small town in Illinois, about a two hour drive, for my second cousin's wedding. They are basically like first cousins, we are all so close! It was a blast! Anyone who knows me knows how much I love weddings, but when it is a Giertz family wedding, it makes it twenty times better. No offense to my siblings and my parents, but it was nice being just me there; I didn't have to share the time spent with everyone with someone else. But really, one of my favorite parts is the ceremony. It is so great to see a wonderful couple so happy and in love, promising to spend the rest of their lives together in the good times and the bad times. It is said that; marriage is like a fine wine, if tended properly, it just gets better with age. Treat it with care, and grow the love that started it all. Of course I am going to put the typical love verse for today, but it is one of my favorite verses, and it covers everything so well. It is definitely something to remember. But also remember how Christ loves His bride, the church. Husbands are to love and care for their wives as Christ does the church. Remember all of this and your love can never die. Not that I am speaking from experience, but I do know that marriage comes with many trials. It is important to remember you are going through them with someone else and you are there to help them through these tough times, as they are there to help you. So to those of you who are married, I hope you remember all of this and love your spouse unconditionally, in the good times and the bad. And to everyone, even those not married, love is not just in marriage, but in life and with those you are close to. Love one another, as Christ loves us. God bless!

"Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way, it is not irritable or resentful, it does not rejoice at wrongdoings, but rejoices with the truth; Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends."   1 Corinthians 13:4-8

The happy couple and me :)

Day eighteen: it's all in the Cards

Those of you who know me know that I am a huge St. Louis cardinals can. And I am happy to announce that they are going to the World Series of 2013!!! It was a very exciting game! Greats plays all around!! And it was a wonderful end to a great day! I got to spend the morning relaxing and tasting New York style bagels (which are kind of  phenomenal, just saying) and then I got to go to this restaurant called Fitz's and they have fantastic root beer floats, then I got to see some old friends and just hang out with them all night! Oh and of course I got to FaceTime (like skype for iphones) with my sisters and my nieces for a little! Teaching a little 2 year old to say "go cardinals" is so great!! so just a warning, the next few day's posts are going to be mostly about my fall break.
 If it wasn't obvious before, God is definitely in control, and He does everything in His own time, but this weekend it just seemed like perfect timing for me! Sometimes, all you need is to get away for a couple of days to refresh! God bless!
"And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:19

'Stan the man' in St. Louis

Fitz's root beer float!

Finally eating Fitz's

Day seventeen: skip to my Lou

It was not difficult to find the joy today. Although, the beginning was a little rough. We left campus in the pouring rain. I thought that would be the whole trip, which would be terrible, but about an hour in it cleared up and it was blue skies from then on to St. Louis. 

St. Louis, quiet possibly my favorite place in the entire world :). Though the drive was a little long and tedious, it made it all worth it when we saw the arch popping up over the hill in the distance. Have you ever seen a more beautiful sight? And then we drive past Busch stadium, where the St. Louis cardinals play, and it was just great! Needless to say, The Lord provides. Oh, does he ever. It has been an overloaded, stressful week, but this trip is what has been keeping me going. And now, I'm here, and I get to spend some quality time with great old friends and family! Blessings to all of you! 

"He provides food for those who fear him; he remembers his covenant forever. He has shown his people the power of his works, in giving them the inheritance of the nations. The works of his hands are faithful and just; all his precepts are trustworthy." Psalm 111:5-7

Day sixteen: Thankful even in the dark

When someone turns the lights out, you are usually caught off guard, but then your eyes adjust and you start to see a little more in the darkness. Sometimes, God "turns the lights off" on us. He may shut one door, only to open up a window, something new. He obviously knows what He is doing. Sometimes we get so caught up praying for God to help us out of the tough situations that once He actually does help us we forget to say thank you. I know that I am definitely guilty of it. Everything starts to go right and we totally forget about who put it that way. This week, I have been praying that God gets us all through it and to fall break safely with our minds in one piece, and now that we are finally here I kind of forgot about saying thank you. Obviously it is never too late, but I encourage you to just take a minute and think of all the things that God has given to you that may have caught you off guard at first, or that you looked over once you got it, and thank Him for it. I, for one, am very thankful that fall break is finally here and I get to see some great friends and family this weekend. And who got me here? Exactly. God bless!

"You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; you have loosed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, that my glory may sing your praise and not be silent. O lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever!" Psalm 30:11-12

Day Fifteen: GOAL!

There is cause to celebrate! Today, I have made it half way through the month with this whirlwind of 31 days of 'Joye', This is my 50th post ever, AND I am done with my midterms for this semester! It was a crazy day of my hardest exams, but now I am finally done and it feels great! Also, we talked about the story of Ruth in chapel this morning, which is my favorite bible story. Probably because it has a little love story in it :). And we sang a beautiful hymn that was just so comforting. I put some of the lyrics down at the bottom. As well all know, things have not been going so well this past week. My friend says that the devil is really harping down on me because I am trying to find the joy and put it out there for everyone else to see. She may be right! Things happen, life happens, and we really just have to learn to take it one day at a time. And hey, if you keep pushing through you can make it to your goals. For me, I am amazed that I made it half way through this month writing every day, and with some actual semi-deep thought in them. Also, I think we can all tell by looking at my posts before this month, I did not think I would make it to 50 posts for at least another year or so. And honestly, last night, I did not think I was going to make it through those last midterms, but they turned out to be not as bad as I thought. And in all those things, God was helping me through. Through everything, God is watching over us, guiding us, and pushing the devil further and further away. Isn't that such a great thing to know? It jut goes to show, the devil can try over and over again, but in the end God wins.
On that note, It is time to get to bed, God bless!

" 2 When life's troubles rise to meet me,

Though their weight
May be great,
They will not defeat me.
God, my loving Savior, sends them;
He who knows
All my woes
Knows how best to end them.

3 God gives me my days of gladness,
And I will
Trust Him still
When He send me sadness.
God is good;
His love attends me
Day by day,
Come what may,
Guides me and defends me." Lutheran Service book 756

Text: Paul Gerhardt

Day Fourteen: "The Talk" amongst the craze

Tonight, I do not have a lot of time to write. Tomorrow is my biggest test day with two big midterms. You would think that one of them should be a breeze because it is christian faith, but I don't think so. So I will make this short and sweet. It was a beautiful day outside today. This evening we took a small break from studying for some cupcakes and well, a ladies sex talk here on campus. No, this wasn't your normal sex talk giving everyone a condom and telling them to practice safe sex. What I got from this talk is that it's okay to be single. Sometimes it's better to be single and wanting to be married than to be in a unhappy marriage. But, the most important thing I got from it is that God loves us, no matter what. Yes, I already knew that, but in this world where sex is almost idolized, the pressures of society closing in on us all, saying that we are "weird" or "uncool" if we don't do it, it can be easy to forget.
We just need to remember that God loves us no matter what. He knows we make mistakes, we are human and therefore sinful. If you make a mistake do not beat yourself up about it; repent and move on in God's love.
Okay, I have to get off my soap box for the night because I need to go study. God bless!

"She is clothed in strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future." Proverbs 31:25

Day Thirteen: The mountains and the valleys

Some of you may have noticed that I changed the background on this blog lately. I thought I would change it to something more along the theme of the month for me, so I changed it to mountains. Mountains and valleys, that is what life seems to consist of these days. Oh, it is not sad, though. Don't worry, I've learned to pick myself right back up again, even if it means showing a fake smile every once in a while. It gets me closer to the top of the mountain sometimes.
But this weekend? This weekend I have fallen pretty deep into the valley. With midterms coming up, I am already stressed enough, especially after the week I just had. But, to top it all off, I lost a very dear friend of mine, one of my best friends from high school to arrogance, ignorance, and refusal to admit that something is actually wrong with them. How do you think it feels to be told that someone hates, despises, and wants to completely erase the existence of the person they become when they are around you? Well let me tell you, it is pretty much like being sucker punched in the gut and then stabbed in the heart. Oh, it hurt. But, after fighting, for what seems like years, to keep this friendship, I realized that I lost a long time ago. I just need to come to terms with it. And I will, soon. How could I not with all the amazing friends I have here. This situation just really helped me to realize the amazing friends I have, especially this year.
 I never usually do this, but I am going to mention who I consider like my guardian angel. My friend, Emily. She lives across the hall and we have grown so close this year. She is such an amazing woman of God. I am so overjoyed that He put her in my life to get me through the valleys I have been stuck in just this past month or two. She is such a blessing. Don't get me wrong, though, my other friends here have helped as well, even if they don't know the situation.
So, in the end, I realized that sometimes you have to lose something you hold pretty close to see the amazing things right in front of you. God knows what He is doing and when everything is going to happen. Even if you sit there and think that it is not supposed to happen like this or that you know that you are meant to help this friend more, trust that God is pulling you away from this situation for a reason.

"Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that he power of Christ may rest upon me." 2 Corinthians 12: 8-9

God's blessing on your weeks. Trust in God and pray without ceasing!

Day Twelve: Every storm shall pass

It is a sporadic stormy day here in Wisconsin. One minute, it is sunny and the next it is raining cats and dogs! Isn't that what life feels like sometimes? One minute everything is fine and then all of the sudden it is like you are being attacked with problem after problem to the point where you feel like you have no control over the situation anymore and you just want to break down and cry. Well, guess what-- You didn't have control over the situation in the first place, God does. So stand out in the rain, take what God is giving to you, because He has a reason for it.
Schoolwork, heartache, friendship problems, family problems, pain; These storms will pass. You have to trust in the Lord. Trust that He knows what He is doing. Believe that no problem is too minuscule for Him, and pray that He shows you what to do. One thing that you should keep in mind, though, is the people that God put in your life. He put them there because He knows they are going to help you. So, when you are going through these problems, when these storms have come, do not forget about your friends who have always been there for you. Go to them, talk with them. It may help. And for everyone's sake, please, do not just push them away. They will be pushed further and further and at some point, they may just think that there is no way to get back, so they will give up. Keep your friends close because God put them there in your life for a good reason. Remember that they are not there to be your human punching bag, figuratively or literally. Love one another, and love yourself. Pray.

"And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing." 1 Thessalonians 5: 14-17


 "... just remember, the storm doesn't last forever. It can scare you; it can shake you to your core. But it never lasts. The rain subsides, the thunder dies, and the winds calm to a soft whisper. And that moment after the storm clouds pass, when all is silent and still, you find peace. Quiet, gentle peace.”- S.L Jennings, Fear of falling

Day eleven: The weak end to the week

"The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song." Psalm 28:7

Wow, has it been a long week. I am so exhausted, hence why this post did not go up until 2 in the morning. But, even with the long week, the drama, the sorrow, the happiness, the roller coaster of emotions, this verse is probably the perfect thing I needed tonight. Like I said in yesterday's post, God puts things in your life at the perfect time!
 I ended this week on a weak note. Sad and pathetic, I walked around with my head down, quiet and reserved because of my own issues. And I will say that there is a time and a place for that. Everyone needs their own time and way to deal with those sort of things. But at the same time we should remember the good things that God has given to us and thank and praise Him for them. Know that we are helped by God, even when we think that He is nowhere to be found.
Any who, I hope that you all had a better week than I had, and that you all have an even better weekend! Until tomorrow, God bless.

" Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all afflictions, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God." 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

Day Ten: Hit over the head with Jesus

I have a great resource on my hands here at my school. We have chapel every morning at 9:30, with no classes scheduled then so you have the option to go every day. There is a message, or sermon, given each day by one of our theology professors/ pastors. It is a great time to take a break from classes and start your day out in the word and singing a wonderful hymn with your fellow classmates.

Now I have a question for you. Have you ever had one of those times where someone says the perfect thing. You were struggling with something, or really stressed and then someone comes up to you and just tells you exactly what you need to hear. It is like they just hit you over the head with reality. Well, that is what happened to me today, and it is not the first time either. We all might know that all we need is God, but sometimes we need a little reminder that that is ALL we need. 

So, this is me, figuratively hitting you over the head with Christ. I cannot do it in person because I think that would be considered assault to more than one party. Not to mention I do not even know half of you. But I hope that this can be some encouragement to you to trust God with everything because He is all we need. Especially to those of you going through a hard time, or like all my classmates who are going through midterm tests right now; give it all to God.

"Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me." Psalm 23:4

Day Nine: Working out with God

"The LORD is my strength and my song, and He has become my salvation; this is my God and I will praise Him, my father's God, and I will exalt him." Exodus 15:2

What a hump day it is! Today I had to give a presentation and take a midterm, on top of not feeling the greatest. But, that is a Wednesday for you. But you know what is awesome? Knowing that God gives me the strength to get through it. He gives me the strength to get through everything. It has been a week of less sleep than usual, drama with friends (what's new? I'm a girl), and being sick on top of it all. There is nothing God cannot handle, though. And He is not going to give it to you to bring you down, but only to bring you up.

"He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength." Isaiah 40:29

So, workout with God. Read His word, pray, talk with him. Become strengthened in His word. Know that God is there at all times, always present, always working in your life, even when you think He is nowhere to be found. To any of you who have had a rough hump day,or a rough week in general, just remember that God strengthens you and upholds you over trial and tribulation. Trust in Him.

God bless!

Day eight: Joy in Tests?

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance." James 1:2-3

My roommate handed me this slip of paper she found today, and this verse was written on it. My first thought was, "joy? with trials? I don't think so". But it is true. When you really think about it, God puts you through these trials for a reason. He puts you through them to teach you a lesson or to make you stronger. He tests our faith because He loves us, and He wants to make us better people.
Now, I am not a big fan of tests. I never have been. And I have one tomorrow, so this verse could not have come at a better time. So, I think I will take this in both the figurative and the literal way. Take joy in the tests that God gives you in life, He is doing it because He loves you, and it will help in the long run. And if you have a literal test, as in for school, like I do, than take some joy in it because I am sure that something good will come out of it. At least you will have that knowledge for a while, which could help you in a different situation. It just goes to show that even the bad or annoying things in life have purpose, and you should not just blow them of with a negative attitude. But now I have to get back to studying. God's blessings to you all!

Day Seven: Vocation, Vocation, Vocation

See what I did there? :) But really, what is our vocation in life? On Sunday night, at a bible study of sorts here on campus, our speaker spoke about the future, and what we are supposed to be doing with our lives. I think what really hit me was that we need to stop looking so far into the future that we fast forward past everything that is happening now. If we keep focusing on what we are going to do with our lives and where we are going to be in 10 years or so, we are going to miss everything that is happening in the present day. Our vocation in life, first and foremost, is that we are to love our neighbors. We need to keep both feet in the present, but just an eye on the future and trust that God will get us there in His own way and by His own plan. God's blessings, everyone!

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11

Day Six: Run fast for your momma

Life is crazy. Thing happen that sure just make you realize that you need to have a sense of humor with some things. It does no good to be upset about something or overreact at something that is only going to last for a little while. There is so much more that is going to happen in your day. My reason for this one? This morning my sister and I were heading off to church off campus, but my car was in the parking structure. At the same time, there was a marathon run going on around campus, blocking the parking structure on all sides that we had exits. We were not allowed to leave the parking structure until 9 A.M., the same time that church started. We were annoyed, to say the least. Not to mention my mother was waiting for us at church. But, there was nothing we could do about it so we just waited it out and left for church as soon as we could. We got there at about 9:30 AM, just in time for the sermon. The important part, right? In the end, though, there was no reason to get overly upset about it because God knows what He is doing and whatever happens is all in His plan. Pray, by all means, pray. Even if you think that it is something minuscule, God does not think so.
So, have a little sense of humor in your life. Learn to take things with a grain of salt, because everything will work out. Even if you think that your whole world is crashing down, you are losing everything that you ever held dear to you, I am telling, God will work everything out in His time. God bless!

"Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer." Romans 12:12

Day five: fall for you

Texans do not usually get a "real" fall, for a very long period of time anyway. My Texan visitors, my mom and my sister, got to soak in the beauty of fall here in Wisconsin today! So, today, that is where I found my joy. It is not every day that you get to watch the leaves change and feel and smell the fog of a fall Wisconsin day! And for me, it is not every day that I get to spend time with my mom and my sister anymore. What a blessing that they could come up this weekend. God definitely knows what He is doing, in case you were unaware :). He provides when you need it the most, or sometimes when you do not think you deserve it at all. I encourage you all to not take advantage of the things that you think you will have forever. No one knows when thing will change, except God. I hope you all enjoyed this day, no matter the weather. God's blessings!

"Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise, but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil." Ephesians 5:15-16

My sister and me <3

Day Four: Now you see me

This week, on my campus, we have had a theme of self-image. My favorite part was on Wednesday when a group of people put sticky notes with encouraging sayings on them all over the school, and then big posters on the bathroom mirrors encouraging people to love the way that they are. This really hit home for me. As some of you may remember from an earlier blog, Mirror, mirror on the wall, I'm too skinny, I'm too tall, I touched on this subject then. It is so crazy to see how people view themselves. Do not get me wrong, I struggle just as much as the next guy. But the message that I am trying to convey is that we should not struggle, because God has a reason for giving you everything in life. You probably see your flaws as a bigger deal than everyone else does, but they are like the rocks in the sand. You can choose to let your flaws and problems consume you, or you can show people that you are not going to let those flaws dictate who you are.
In all reality, though, it is all in how you look at yourself. But remember, how you see yourself is not how God sees you. You can be your own harshest critic. God sees you as perfect. We are all perfect in God's eyes. So stop worrying so much about the way you look to others, because the only opinion that matters is God's, and He created us in His own image. How awesome is that?? We have such a loving God! So, I hope you all walk around today with a better, more upbeat attitude and way of carrying yourself, because you are all beautiful people, no matter the shape or size or what society says. God created us and loves us the way that we are. He would not have it any other way, and you know what? Neither would I!
God's blessings on your weekend, everyone. I hope joy finds you on this wonderful weekend. It sure will find me! I am getting some visitors from Texas tonight :). I'll report back tomorrow!

"But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ-- by grace you have been saved--.... For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus" Ephesians 2: 4-5, 10

Day Three: Get down, and get funky

Do you ever have those days where you just hate everything? Yes, I know, this post does not have much to do with joy, but do not worry, I'll try to turn it around somehow! So, yesterday I was in a pretty good mood most of the day. I had work but got to leave for a little to take my choir picture, and then at night we played an intramural volleyball. Sounds like a pretty nice day, right? But, little things started to get to me. Sometimes people get really competitive when it is just a game for fun. I was trying to have a positive attitude throughout the games, but toward the end I just kind of gave up. And from that point on I was just in this weird "funk" (that is what I call it anyway). It is like everything bothers you, you realize all the situations going on in your life are just stupid, and you are just done. But do not worry, everybody, I am so much better today! This morning in class we watched the "What does the fox say?" video, just starting out the day on a great note. If you have not seen that video yet, I will warn you that it is ridiculous, but I think everyone should watch it at least once. I would put it up with this post, but I do not want that associated with my blog necessarily. Anyway, sorry that this is such a scatterbrained post. This is how my mind works some days. The point is that we all get in those moods, I am pretty sure. If you say that you do not, you are lying. Sometimes the littlest thing will set you off. All I can tell you is sometimes you just need to take a step back, maybe take some time just for yourself, and work through the mood. (Hint- God is a pretty great problem solver, talk to Him) Afterward, surround yourself with a few good friends and just get your mind off of other situations. I have found, for myself, that other people bring the most joy.
So, if you get into one of those moods, just separate yourself from situations, friends, homework, and just go somewhere peaceful and think and talk with God. Reading the bible really helps me, especially the Psalms or Ephesians. And if any of you ever need someone to talk about it with, I have been told I am a good listener. So on that note, I will leave you with this:

"Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." Isaiah 41:10

Happy third day of Joy(e)!

Day Two: Grains of Sand

" How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! If I would count them they are more than the sand. I awake, and I am still with you." Psalm 139:17-18

I encountered a lot of sand yesterday, first, on the beach, and then we played sand volleyball later that night, and so I was thinking about how interesting grains of sand are, if you really look at them. Imagine how many grains of sand are on the beach, and all of them together make that beautiful scene. Although, there can be rocks in the sand, and when you first see them you think that it looks bad, it just throws off the whole scene, but after a while you realize that the rock only adds to the picture, it does not take away from it. As is our lives. When you look at the details, our lives have so many "grains of sand" that God makes up our lives with.  Those would be the events, the people, the instances, the experiences in our lives. When you look at the "big picture" you can see the man or woman that God has made out of all of those things. Some people, though, are always looking out for the "rocks" in our lives, the mistakes that we've made or the flaws that we have. They want to point them out to bring you down. But, you learn from your mistakes, you accept your flaws, and you move on. And when someone looks at your big picture again, they will see what a beautiful person you've become, possibly because of your mistakes or flaws and how you have pushed past them. It comes down to this, you can choose to let those rocks clutter up your beach, making it disorganized and ugly, or you can clean them up and construct them in a certain way so that people see how they've changed you for the better. Point being, take your mistakes, your flaws, and use them for the better, push past them and show people how strong you are.That not only brings joy to you, but will show people the joy that you have with your life, and that could possibly bleed over into their lives.
And you know the greatest part about all of this? Jesus is walking down this beach with you, and when you get to these rocks in life, He is going to help you over them. He will not let you fall. So, just a little thought for the day. Blessings on your second day of Joy(e) :).

Day one: The little things

Welcome to day one of 31 days of Joy(e) :)!  Although I enjoy the little things every day, today I will actually write about it. God's creation is beautiful all of the time, even in storms, but today was an exceptionally lovely day here in Wisconsin! Being right next to Lake Michigan, we have a nice little beach to go to. My friend and I went down to do some studying/ relaxing today between classes. It was glorious! God has seriously made a beautiful earth and sometimes you just have to stop and look around to really remember that. I know it is easy to forget bout sometimes. So, today it was not hard to find Joy. We have beautiful weather (especially for October in Wisconsin), and classes were actually pretty good today! But really, my favorite part had to be laying on the beach just to think and write. The view was great, I was with an awesome friend, I could not ask for more today. I hope you all had a wonderful day as well! On that note, though, I will bid you farewell for the day. I hope you all enjoyed the first day of Joy!

"He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, He has put eternity into man's heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end." Ecclesiastes 3:11

31 days of Joy(e)

It's kind of like 25 days of Christmas, but not as cool. (sorry, I do not think I can beat Christmas). I have decided to challenge myself for the next month. I hope to write every day about something that brought me joy, or something that brought joy to others or maybe just about my day. Bear with me, it may be harder than I think, but I hope you all continue reading them throughout the month. Unlike the 25 days of Christmas, there is not some grand holiday at the end of it, like the birth of Christ, but I hope that by the end of it I at least have the posts to look back on and it will help me to remember what brings joy to my life, or on the contrary, what may have brought me down. There may be some ups and downs this month, but I invite you all to go on that ride with me. And who knows, I may continue it throughout the year, a little less frequently.

Philippians 2:1-2 "So, if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind."

31 days of Joy(e), commencing in 3... 2... 1... 

What are you doing with your life?

It has become a common saying among some of my friends. "What are you doing with your life?", we ask each other, in usually sarcastic tones, almost daily. But, in all seriousness, what ARE we doing with our lives? Oh, I have a suggestion! How about finding joy in it? Yeah, there is that whole finding a job thing, making a living, figuring out how to support the family you hope to have, but what is all  that if you do not have joy?
Here's a clip from the movie "The Bucket List". Morgan Freeman's character asks two questions that we should really ask ourselves as well. Granted, we may or may not be close to death, but it's good to think about, regardless.

"Have you found joy in your life?"
"Has your life brought joy to others?"
So, ask yourself. Finding joy in life is different for everyone; Being around family and friends, learning new things, bringing the message of God to others, among other things. Those of you who know me know that it does not take much to make me smile. I find joy in the little things. The sunset over the lake, the smell of fall coming, looking up at the stars and basking in the wonder and glory of God's creation. I know that God loves me, and that brings me joy, as it should to you.

John 13: 34 "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another."

So how can you bring joy to others? By showing God's love to them. These are not difficult questions, as Jack Nicholson's character seems to make them. First, you find the joy in your life. Think of it this way, God has put everything in your life, so you can find your joy through Him. Trust that He is going to give you what you need. Second, you take that joy in Christ and you show it to others. It's as simple as that.
So, again, what are you doing with your life? You do not need this great, extravagant plan to make a million dollars or cure a disease. Just find the things that make you happy, they can be big or small, and then go out and show them to other people, and encourage them to find the things that make them happy too.

" Yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation." Habakkuk 3:18

12 years later...

I know this is a day late but I thought this would be a good poem anyway. In remembrance of all those who lost their lives on that terrible day, 12 years ago. And for all those loved ones we have lost in the time between then and now.

"If tomorrow starts without me, and I'm not there to see;
If the sun should rise and find your eyes all filled with tears for me;
I wish so much you wouldn't cry the way you did today,
While thinking of the many things we didn't get to say.

I knew how much you love me,
As much as I love you.
And each time you think of me, know you'll miss me too;
But when tomorrow starts without me, Please try to understand,
That an angel came and called my name, and took me by the hand,
And said my place was ready in heaven far above
And that I'd have to leave behind all those I dearly love.

But as I turned to walk away, a tear fell from my eye
For all my life I'd always thought, I didn't want to die.
I had so much to live for, so much yet to do
It seemed almost impossible that I was leaving you.

I thought of all the yesterdays,
the good ones and the bad.
I thought of all the love we shared, and all the fun we had.
If I could relive yesterday, just even for a while
I'd say goodbye and kiss you and maybe see you smile.

But then I fully realized
That this can never be.
For emptiness and memories would take the place of me.
And when I thought of worldly things I might miss, come tomorrow
I thought of you and when I did,
My heart was filled with sorrow
But when I walked through heaven's gates,
I felt so much at home

When God looked down and smiled at me,
From this great golden throne,
He said "This is eternity, and all I've promised you"
Today for life on earth is past, but here it starts anew.
I promise no tomorrow, but today will always last
And since each day's the same way, there's no longing for the past

But you have been so faithful,
So trusting and so true.
Though there were times you did some things you knew you shouldn't do.
But you have been forgiven, and now at last you are free.
So won't you take my hand are share my life with me?

So when tomorrow starts without me,
Don't think we are far apart.
For every time you think of me,
I'm right here in your heart."

Let's start over

I know it's been a while since I've written anything. The summer was so busy that I barely had time to get all my thoughts together in a blog post, while using the "sophisticated" vocabulary I wanted to, and all that jazz. I could tell you all about what has been going on in my life but, if any of you know me at all, you know that I do not really like writing about that kind of stuff in this blog, but since it's the beginning of a new school year again, I guess I can take a little time to tell you about the new things going on. After all,  It's like we are starting all over.
My summer was crazy busy with 2 summer jobs and a lot of trips around the U.S for weddings and a family reunion. I was so fortunate to get to go and try all these new things. At our family reunion we went zip-lining and white water rafting, and they were both a blast! And it was such a blessing to get to do that with my awesome family! On another note, it was great being home for 3 months with my family and friends, and I'm going to miss it, but it's time, and I'm ready, to get back to another year in the Arctic. (But seriously, though, its freezing up here!)
I cannot wait to see what God has in store for me this year. He has blessed me with some great opportunities for this year, especially to be involved with campus ministry, and I know He will guide me through it. If you're the praying kind, which I'm guessing if you're still reading my blog at this point that you are, then your prayers would be very appreciated! I really am trying to make it a point to write more, it's like my outlet for anything that comes up in my life that's bothering me or if I think the lessons I've learned from my experiences could benefit someone else.
So, until next time, which will hopefully be sooner rather than later, God's blessings and I will leave you with a bible verse that I think goes with this year pretty well. (and it's also just my favorite verse)

Philippians 4: 6, 13
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God...  I can do all things through him who gives me strength.

The Green-Eyed Monster

Envy... Jealousy... One of the 7 deadly sins, right? Well, we are all sinners, everyone gets jealous. But, just because everyone else jumped off of a cliff, would you go with them? I know, kind of a cliche analogy that everyone uses. But, seriously, what do you do when someone very close to you, like your best friend, takes something you considered "yours". Here's a scenario that might help:

Say that you are really good at volleyball. You're really passionate about it and you are always talking about how you want to make varsity and be a starter. One of your best friends plays other sports, not volleyball, and with that they are merely hobbies, and your friend is not very passionate about them. All of the sudden, they try out for volleyball, make varsity, and are starting, while you are stuck on JV for another year. You are left feeling betrayed by your best friend and feeling like no one notices your talent anymore because that friend came in and just swept that red carpet right out from under you.

Naturally, your first reaction would probably be one of anger toward your best friend. She knew what you had been planning, you talked about it all of the time. Besides, she already was good at everything that she ever did. Everything school related; everything music related; pretty much everything she ever picked up. Why couldn't she just leave your passion alone? She has all of these other things, this was yours. So, then jealousy sets in because everyone starts to congratulate her on the great job she is doing. And you sit there, trying to be happy for her, but listening to one compliment after another you cringe. Everyone is calling her "super-star" and completely ignoring the fact that you have been doing this most of your life, and are just as good.

Trust me, your jealousy is going to eat you up inside. We are only human, so yes, this is going to come first. But, we must remember this verse from Galatians:
"Now the works of my flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control; against such things there is no law... let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another." Galatians 5:19-23; 26

So, yes, it may seem like you have been betrayed by your best friend and like no one cares about your talent, but do NOT think that. God cares about each and every one of us individually. He knows each of our talents, heck, He gave them to us. God wants us to be loving, patient, and kind to our neighbor, even if they do us wrong like this. In doing this, you will find peace withing yourself, and your feelings of jealousy and anger will subside. They may come back, but that is just the devil trying to attack you. Stay strong, and know that God is right there with you and that He cares about each and everyone of us. Also, look at yourselves to see that you are not the best friend in this situation. If you find that you are, talk to your friend so that the hard feelings between you two can be forgiven and forgotten.

God calls us to forgive and He has forgiven us, and to love our neighbors as He loves us. So, put aside your feelings of jealousy and rage, or possibly your feelings of being this high and mighty "super-star" and remember that we are all Children of God, created in His own image, and we are all humble servants of His. Then, you will find the joye meant for you in life.

The Good, the Bad, and the Crazy

If gas wasn't so expensive, I would drive all around this town; to all the good places, the good memories, and even some of the bad ones too. There comes a point when you realize that most of your bad memories started with something good, and then something went wrong. In some cases, terribly wrong. Nonetheless, you can go to those places where memories were made, and if you sit there long enough, the good parts will come back to you. They always do, and sometimes, that may not be such a bad thing.

You see, 8 months ago I was absolutely ready to wipe the dust of this not so small town off of my feet and get far far away. Why? Because I was tired of seeing all the places that had bad connotations with them, I was tired of seeing people who reminded me of bad times, and I was tired of seeing places that reminded me of people and bad times. I wanted a fresh start, a clean slate, and to go somewhere where no one had any expectations for me because they didn't know my past, they didn't know the mistakes I had made.

But, here I am, 8 months later at spring break, and I am slowly realizing that in some ways, this town, the places, the people, the memories; maybe they aren't all that bad. Maybe my mind was clouded by all of the things I thought were bad memories, but now that I have had some time to clear my head, away from here, I've realized the importance of all the mistakes I made, and the mistakes that were made involving me. I've realized that once I looked back on things, I was able to see that there was a lesson learned there, whether I saw it before or not, and that is going to affect how I go through life, regardless. So, if I had the resources, I would drive around, remembering all of the good, the bad, and the crazy because they are what made me into the woman I am today. The woman who, 8 months ago, couldn't wait to get away from this town, and now, is taking more pride in this town and what it offered me while I was here.

God showed me that I need to appreciate what I have, while I have it, ultimately leading to joy in life.

One Step At A Time

Where am I supposed to go with my life? What am I supposed to do? What career do I want? Can I see myself marrying this person or that one?

If I'm right, and I usually am about these sorts of things, those questions have run through your mind, at least once in your life. Especially since starting college, I have found myself constantly thinking about the future, those questions in particular. The thoughts typically gear toward my job and my family. I am always thinking about how my career will affect my family, or if I really like this guy enough to marry him because if not, then why date him?
REALITY CHECK.
God has got this. Stop trying to plan out your life, piece by piece. He knows exactly who we are going to marry, what career we are going to have, where we are going to live, all of it. He knows all the answers, and He has already written your story. So, my reminder to you is to take everything one day at a time. Better yet, one step at a time. Trust in God, He knows the plans He has for you.
Often, when we are always looking ahead, we miss out on what is right in front of us. So many wonderful things happen in God's creation every day, but our vision is usually clouded by our tunnel to the future that we miss out on it all. So take the time, everyday, to stop and look around. Focus on what is happening today. Don't look back; Don't look forward, but just figure out today. And always, pray. God will put that joy in your life.

"Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths." Psalm 25: 4

Picture Perfect?

To get up each morning with the resolve to be happy…is to set our own conditions to the events of each day. To do this is to condition circumstances instead of being conditioned by them.--Ralph Waldo Emerson

We all have that one friend, or maybe you ARE that one friend, who is perfect at everything, who doesn't even have to try. Those of us on the other end of that spectrum kind of dislike that person at times, and when you spend the majority of your time with them, it can just drive you insane, much less crush your hopes of ever being better. With that being said, there is still no reason that you cannot be happy. As Emerson says, "set our own conditions to the events of each day". Do not let that thought make you unhappy because to God, we are all the same. No one is better than anyone else in his eyes. We are all sinners. Nobody is perfect, not even that friend who might seem like they are. We are all our own person. So, be proud of who you are, and do not be distressed if you cannot be like someone else. Be yourself, and in that you will truly find the joy in life.