It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Do you see what I see? Do you hear what I hear? : ) Yes, Christmas time is near! So, I decided to decorate my room! I love Christmas, it is my favorite time of year. Also, this year, I know that I will not be 'home' to decorate and to spend the whole month of Decemeber celebrating, so I felt the need to start early and decorate my room just a little for Christmas. I have always loved lights, especially Christmas lights! : )

*The choices we make reflect on who we are on the inside *

Do you ever have days when you wonder if people wonder why you are the way you are? I know that may sound like a funny question, but I have come to a realization that we are all who we are for particular reasons. We choose who we want to be. Everyday we have choices to make; we can choose to have a good day or choose to have a bad day. Granted, each day may be filled with difficulties and trials, yet when we choose to praise God for all things and to be joyful in all things, He DOES bless us for that. I would categorize myself as a generally happy person. Very rarely do things get me down, or I should say, very rarely do I let things get me down. Life seems to always throw hardships at people, but it is who we are on the inside that helps us overcome trials and then, actually grow from those trials. As most of you know, my father was killed in a car accident a little over 3 years ago. His absence is so very real to me now. Not that it wasn’t three years ago, but now, as I am living alone in another country, trying to serve my God, I have realized that I must look to God as my Father. He is the One who can guide me and give me daily strength. I think too often people get frustrated with life and trials that arise, and they forget that God told us in James 1:2-5, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.” Having joy within a trial is not easy, yet it IS the most rewarding way to live. Sometimes, I forget the true reason I am here. I am here to ultimately serve my King and to help reach lost people for Him. I have the gift of eternal life, because of Him. How can I not be happy? How can I not rejoice in that? Too often I start to focus on the things that I have done or the things that I need to do, and forget that there is Someone greater than I, waiting to help me. God is always at my side, He never leaves me. Thank you Lord for being so good to me! I know that it is hard for some people to find joy in all situations and to find God in all things, but joy is there to be had, and He is there too. When people start to praise God for the bad things in their life, as well as for the good things, I believe more smiles will appear on their faces, more blessings will be given to them; life may not be easier, yet it will be lived with the help of a Friend, who is greater than all. I know that sometimes people get frustrated with me, because they don’t understand why I am always happy, or why I do the things I do, but I know why I am happy and I know why I do the things I do. Ultimately, it is not about pleasing others or living up to their expectations or to their likings, but it is about honoring God in all that we think, say, and do. I pray that each day, as I make a choice to be happy, to find joy in all things, that I will make the Lord proud. I pray that He will be able to smile at me, and tell me that He loves me and that He is proud of me! Lord, thank you for loving me, and for giving me a chance everyday to choose to serve You! Help me to choose You everyday, help me to live for only You! Thank you for letting me feel Your love today, thank you for being my Father!

My word is . . . . WAIT

This morning, while reading my devotional book, I was challenged. It always seems that God puts the right thing in front of me at the right time. He then leaves it up to me to decide what I am supposed to do. : ) Well, this morning, He gave me His Word- and it said WAIT. I am going to put the devotional in here- there is 2 parts to it. It is from the K-LOVE "On the Right Note" devotional booklet.

James 1:21-25

"Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. DO what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it- he will be blessed in what he does."

The engrafted Word

The word "engrafted" means "to attach to, and become part of." Picture a gardener grafting a branch into a tree and that branch coming to life and bearing fruit. Now picture yourself reading God's Word and a Scripture attaching itself to you, growing in you and producing change in your life. That's how God's Word works. And that's why you need to read it daily!

Sometimes you can tell the pastor what you received through his sermon and he won't know what you're talking about because he was emphasizing something different. He was just the mailman; he didn't know what was in the envelope. God sent a Word just for you. He said, "Here's what I want you to do," or "This is what I'm going to do for you in this situation." It's a Word that liberates you from fear, lifts you, directs you, and enables you to fight and win. Engrafted-Word-carrying believers are potent. That's because the engrafted Word sticks to you, takes you through the storm, feeds you in famine, quenches your thirst in drought, and brings you through the worst of times.

It doesn't have to be a sermon; Jesus just gave Peter one Word, "Come," and Peter started walking on water. It works like this: God gives you a Word, and the moment you step out on it your mind says, "It doesn't make sense, you don't have the talent, you don't have the finances, you don't have the education, etc." The amazing thing is, as long as you stand on the Word God gave you, you won't go under. That one Word, "Come," stuck to Peter's heart and propelled him through the storm. And the engrafted Word will do the same to you.

Part 2

The "engrafted Word" is self-sustaining. It doesn't require the accolades of men or the support of others to validate it. As Jesus was walking on the water towards His disciples in the boat Peter said, "Lord, if it's you, tell me to come" (Mt 14:28) Jesus gave him one Word, "Come," and Peter started walking. Was he scared? Wouldn't you be? But his desire was greater than his fear. That's all you need to get started, a desire for God that is greater than your doubts and limitations. The other disciples probably didn't believe Peter could do it. Indeed, those who feared for his safety didn't want him to try, and those who were competitive with him didn't want him to succeed. The truth is, the other disciples didn't understand who was calling to Peter; they thought Jesus was "a ghost!" (Mk. 6:49). There's a lesson here for you:

When God gives you a Word and you step out on it, DON'T expect everybody to validate it. It's normal for you to want certain people to see what you see and believe what you believe. But in this verse God prepares you for disagreements between you, and those who don't understand what God has told you. If you're not careful, people's opinions will short-circuit your faith and make you doubt what God has said. God says: "I'm not going to confirm what I've told you through them. In fact, I don't even need them to agree with what I've spoken concerning you." Relax. Be confident in God. You may want all these external support systems, but the truth is, you don't need them!

After I had read these words, it made me sit back and think about what the Lord has been telling me. I know that I must wait upon Him. I know that He has called me to "GO" and to serve, yet He has shown me that now is not the time, so I must wait upon Him. I also have to be ready for His timing, and be ready to accept whatever He has for me, because maybe He will use me in the United States, or perhaps He will again give me the Word to go back overseas, only time will tell! Please pray that I will hear His voice and follow! : )

Reflections from my heart

These past couple of weeks have been quite challenging for me. Not challenging in terms of French, but challenging in terms of life. I feel as though God has been stripping me of my independence, so as to make me fully rely on Him. I always tell God that I want to be broken before Him, yet I tend to forget how much that process can really hurt. Yet, I am continuously reminded that God is faithful and He never leaves my side. In some recent conversations with the Lord, He has given me a new direction for my life. It may or may not change every aspect of my life, but I must be ready and willing to allow God to bring and create changes within me. For the time being, I believe that the Lord has lead me to put Africa on hold. Although, I loved my time in Mali, and desperately want to return, the Lord has given me a peace about it all. It is not what I would have chosen or really what I want to do, but because the Lord has led me in that way, I will follow His direction. Too many times have I gone in the wrong direction, going my own way, and have failed greatly. I believe it is time for me to step up to the plate and allow the Lord to be Lord of my life. I know that I am supposed to return home in December and then finish my college education, which may contain another 2 semesters, entailing that I would possibly graduate in December 2009. I need to focus on finishing school and paying off my loans, trusting all the while that the Lord will provide. As many of you know, I have worked at HyVee for the last 7 years. I love HyVee- more specifically I've always loved the people I work with. God has definitely blessed me with lots of opportunities to minister to my coworkers, but I am not sure what job I will have upon my return to the States. I am praying that God will open up a job opportunity that pertains to something intercultural, so I can put my major to use. I believe that my uncertainties in life right now are causing me to walk by faith. I am trusting that the Lord will provide, He always has. As weird as it is for me to say this, I feel at total peace with my uncertainties, which is not normal for me. I usually have to be in control, I always feel as though I need a plan, I need to know what is going on, but I believe that the Lord is changing my heart. As He is walking by my side, I know that He has everything under control, and that His ways are best. I pray that as I continue to strive to live each day for Him, I will continue to walk by His side and not jump ahead or get in the way of His plans. I've been comforted by His promise in

Jeremiah 33:3, "Call to me and I will answer your and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know." God is always there, and He will direct my life in the way that it should go, when it should go that way.

A look into my room now. . .

There are really only two pieces of furniture that can be moved in my room- and I moved them : ) I swithced the places of my desk and chair. It worked out perfectly, because I can now look at my French wall, because it is directly in front of my desk, as opposed to behind me. : )