Short and Sweet

Ok, so it is SO late, and I still have homework to do but I really just wanted to do a short and sweet post since I've completely neglected my blog all weekend long.  I was so blessed to have spent my entire Sunday worshiping and praising God.  I went to the eleven a'clock service at Newspring, and I would be lying if I told you it was anything less than AWESOME. I continue to learn and grow so much through that church.  I also had the wonderful opportunity of accompanying Alex's mom, Tina, to the "Come to the Well tour" which featured Lindsay Mccaul, Royal Tailor, Matthew West, and Casting Crowns.

Taken by Tina, found it here!

It was beyond amazing to listen to what each performer had to say, as well as just listening and experiencing hundreds of people worship God through song and praise.  My favorite thing about going to concerts is when the singer takes a second and just lets the crowd take over, it's such a good reminder that we're not alone.  It was absolutely amazing to take a look around the Bi-lo center and see eyes closed, and hands raised.  

I also wanted to share a song that I heard at FCA as well as the service at Newspring today, this particular version is "Give me Faith" by Elevation Worship.  I hope that someone listens to it and just feels empowered and encouraged to keep your faith with the Lord.  I really couldn't have asked for a better way to start my week! I hope that yours goes good as well!

The Next Step

Ok, so I know that I said I would be posting on my 28 day reading guide, and I'm sure I will... give me some time... I mean I've got 20 more day's left!  However, after today's sermon at Newspring I certainly feel that perhaps there is something a little different taking place in my life.  Today Perry continued the series on "All In", and the common thread for the past three weeks has been based off of Mark 12:30

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.

I've been contemplating a lot lately, and I've been feeling, even before the message today, that there certainly was a step I needed to be taking to further my life and relationship with Christ.  As I said when I started my blog, I've gone back and forth with my views on religion, and on Christianity in general.  Well with the help of some great friends and loved ones who've continued to hold me accountable, I've been going to church more often, and I've noticed a dramatic change in myself already.  I've accepted Christ as my Lord, and as my Savior, and therefore there a few changes in my life that need to be made.  I won't go into too much detail because I'll spare everyone the extremely personal details, but all in all one step that I am undoubtedly excited to make is baptism.  I've never been baptized and I think it's partially because I haven't felt good enough, I feel that there are always changes in my life that I need to make before I take that particular step.  However, I was reading on Newsprings website about Baptism and I read that if I wait until I feel good enough, i'll never get baptized.  Which, when you think about it, really does make sense.  When will I ever be good enough? When will I be perfect? I won't.

In Acts 8:12 it says

But when they believed Philip as he proclaimed the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.

Therefore, as soon as you have accepted Jesus Christ has your Lord and Savior, as soon as you have believed, then the next step, the next logical and necessary step, is Baptism.  So I intend to sign up at Newspring, invite family and friends, and take the next step to symbolize the change the change that has already been made in my heart and soul.

On one more note, this song has always played heavily on my heart.  A friend of mine, Valerie, gave me this song on a CD a long long time ago, around the time that I got back from the best trip I've ever been on, Crooked Creek.  And since then whenever I'm feeling lost, or feeling down, I play it.  So I hope that you take a listen, it's amazing.

 

A little challenge

A little challenge never hurt anyone, right? Well, in this case I was undoubtedly assured that it could only help!  This past Sunday I attended Newspring with Abbie and Alex (which I  REALLY hope becomes a routine thing... "hint hint" you two).  As always I was captivated, convicted, and even entertained at what Perry Noble had to say.  We were challenged to start an ACTS 28-Day reading guide as of Sunday, and he confidently stated that if we did, our lives would be changed for the better.  

Someone wanted to learn about Jesus with me!

A part of the All In series, check it out here!

His "Sermon in a sentence" as he likes to call it, was to read the Bible, and do as it says. Sounds pretty simple huh? Well that's what I thought as well, so here it goes!  Since Sunday I have done exactly that, and I intend to complete the 28-Day reading guide despite what comes up at work, with friends, or in school.  It's the little successes at first, and the Bible is one big book to tackle in a short amount of time. So I figured you've got to start somewhere.  I certainly plan on taking some time to reflect and share what I learn with all of you, so hold on... It could be an interesting ride :)

When The Tough, Get's Tougher

It's exam week... AKA no sleep, no food, no friends, just your face in the books for hours at a time.  It seems this semester is literally going to be my worst as far as exams go.  We start exams on monday and in one week I have two presentations, and 5 final exams.  That's seven activities for those of who are less than adequate in the subject of math.  Seven activities in ONE school week (which again, incase you were wondering, is only 5 days)... it is just madness!  And to make matters worse Bowman, my handsome, sweet, cuddly, playful pups is sick and we've got NO idea what is wrong there, talk about a worried mother... ahem, this girl!  All I know is typically when i'm stressed, I have bowman to cheer me up at home, whether it be by cuddling, his relentless kisses, or his silly personality.  Well, he's not here so yeah... not good.

So, let's recap so far, I don't want to lose you: Professors cramming homework, quizzes, etc. into the week before exams.  Then exams accompanied by oh-so-fun presentations.  My dog is sick, and i'm in the library after midnight writing to complain about all of the above.
Stick with me here, I promise I do actually have a point!  Basically, what my next two weeks are going boil down to is STRESS STRESS STRESS.

Therefore, in an attempt to find a little light during this dark time I started reading about the 30-Day Bible study.  I wandered my way through the days and "BAM" day 24 could have literally jumped out of the screen and smacked me in the face. Rather than attempting to paraphrase what I read, in which case I doubt I would do it justice, here ya go:

When extracted from the earth, silver is intertwined with other minerals and trapped within various ores. It requires purification to be made unblemished and untarnished. Purifying silver is a process requiring intentional attention and concentration. The refiner must place the silver ore in the hottest part of the flame and keep an eye on it to know exactly when it's ready.  

Being a Christian doesn't guarantee that we escape the "fires" of life.  There are many trials and hard times we will inevitable go through.  Yet Malachi 3:3 says that God "will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver." This should be a comfort to us. God will watch us the entire time we're under stress and knows that everything we endure, in the end, is for our own benefit.

Next it says that God knows when we are ready to exit the flame, and "We leave the fire more refined, less blemished and with a brilliant shine, reflecting even more of His image".  Isn't it calming to hear that God already knows of the troubles we'll endure?  That he has a plan to bring us out of this "fire", this stress, only to bring us closer to being able to reflect His image?  See, if you thought I was simply going to whine about my week you were wrong (Alex is the only one who typically deals with my whining... well, Natalie too).  But, I told you I had a point!  So for everyone taking exams this week, or in one of the upcoming weeks, or anyone going through anything stressful, keep your head up.  It gets really really hard sometimes, but if God brings you to it, God will get you through it. 

Funny How It Is

11.20.11

... so, guess who visited me at NEWSPRING this morning...

THIS GIRL!

                        ... needless to say, it was beyond amazing.

Now, for the reason I'm writing this post.  It's funny, sometimes, how different thoughts can hit you.  This one in particular hit me like a brick wall.  I was on my way to work, marinating over some things going on in my life and I really did some self reflecting.  It's hard to self reflect because that means that, at times, you have to look inside yourself and think what you're doing wrong, what your personal flaws are, and what you need to change about yourself.  Now self reflecting can be good of course, and can lead to self praise, but this time in particular, that wasn't the case.  Its hard when you realize things you really didn't like about other people, arise in yourself.  One thing I noticed is that once I started to explore Christ a little further, I was judgmental of people who didn't choose to do the same.  Now I know that this wasn't exactly Perry's message today at NewSpring, or maybe it was... but what I got out of it was a completely sobering message.  In Job 8:3-6 Bildad is talking to Job, and he says:

 "Does God pervert justice?  Does the Almighty pervert what is right? When your children sinned against him, he gave them over to the penalty of their sin.  Bit if you will seek God earnestly and plead with the Almighty, if you are pure and upright, even now he will rouse himself on your behalf and restore you to your prosperous state."

Now in my mind, when Job's life has been shattered, and all has been taken from him, he is at his lowest point.  And when we, his children, stray away and become lost, we are also at ours.  Our family's may not be broken, or our health may not be rapidly declining, but in God eyes I would bet that losing faith in him, is worse than all of that. Good things don't always happen to good people, and just because bad things happen to someone doesn't mean they deserve them. Basically, i'm blessed that God has chosen to arise curiosity in my own heart, and although some aren't at that point in their lives, I shouldn't break away from them, judge them, or tell them everything they're doing wrong in their lives.  Instead, I should work on: becoming more like Jesus, being a good friend, and living by example.  No one is perfect, and sin is sin.  It may not be new news to everyone, but it was a slap in the face to me.  I look forward still to exploring my faith, and I pray that I affect others as well.  By the way, this Sunday was one of the best days i've had in a long long while, and I literally thank the Lord for that.  Thank you Natalie, and Valerie for spending the day with me, and with God!