Tuesday, January 20, 2009

I Believe....

I was reading in my devotion about God's faithfulness in times of trouble. It talked about how sometimes we get so overwhelmed with what is going on that we forget that God has promised to be with us. The verse was Psalm 50:15: "and call upon Me in the day of trouble and I will deliver you and you will honor me." I so needed that last night because lately, I feel like I'm in a tidal wave. Just a lot going on in a lot of different areas. My grandmother is in the hospital again and we're not sure exactly what is going on, but whatever it is, it is wreaking havoc on her Parkinson's. I hate it that I can't be there....I've always had this dreaded fear that something would happen to her before I got home to say good bye. Work is chaotic...show me a time when it isn't! I feel like my friendships are changing all around me and I'm being left behind. Trying to figure out how to enjoy this season of singleness with contentment and joy. Desperately praying to God about something that I just wish He would release me from praying for, but I haven't gotten it yet.

Last night, as I read Psalm 50:15 and the devotion, the phrase "I believe" kept rolling around in my head. So I prayed Psalm 50:15 and then I prayed what I believed:
I believe that Jesus is my Savior
I believe that God is faithful and true
I believe that God has a plan for my life and that He's fulfilling it right now
I believe that going to Croatia was a huge step of obedience and it changed my life forever
I believe that God has me in my job for a reason
I believe that He is enough for me, and more than enoughwhen need be.
I believe that He is working even when I can't see it or don't feel it
I believe that He is my Rock and refuge
I believe that He is my redeemer and sustainer
I believe that because of Him, I have grace and mercy
I believe that His mercies are new every day
I believe that one day I will be a wife and a mom
I believe that God knows exactly what He is doing, if I don't.
I believe that He has placed incredible people in my life, who love me depsite me being well, me. :)
I believe that He knows my heart's desires, even the ones that I'm not sure of myself.
I believe that He will allow me to pass my LCSW test!!! (coming up in a month or so!-uggh!)
I believe that He is faithful even when I'm not.
I believe that He is with my family, even when I can't be there.
I believe that He brought a certain person into my life, even though right now, for the life of me, I can't figure out why.
But above all this: I BELIEVE IN HIM---IN THE POWER OF THE CROSS, AND THAT HE HEARS ME, THAT HE IS FAITHFUL AND TRUE.
So what do you believe??

Saturday, January 17, 2009

Praying for Kelly and Harper

Please pray for Kelly and Harper. I love reading Kelly's blog. She and her husband have tried for several years to have a baby and were told that it would be impossible without extensive infertility treatment. They didn't feel like God was leading them in this direction, but also didn't feel like they were to give up on having a family. Well, surprise, surprise!!! Kelly conceived without any medical help! She gave birth to a big ( 9 lbs, 12 oz) baby girl, Harper Brown, last night. Almost immediately, Harper began having breathing problems and it just went downhill from there. She was airlifted to Children's Hospital in Tulsa with a grim prognosis. But thousands of prayers have been prayed and Harper is improving..nothing short of a miracle.

A friend of mine and I both read Kelly's blog. We feel like we know her and Scott. I'm so thankful for the body of Christ and the way that the Holy Spirit unites our hearts. Last night, she and I had a worshipful, sweet, powerful time of prayer for Kelly, Scott and Harper. As we were praying, Psalm 117:18 came to mind: "I will not die but live and will tell of what the Lord has done." This has been a verse that I have clung to in times of heartache and fear. I know that the Lord is in this situation and will be with Harper. Harper will have a story to tell....that she is a miracle. Continue to pray for them as Kelly travels to be with Harper and Harper improves.

Friday, January 16, 2009

A few of my favorite things...courtesy of the Letter M

I've been tagged by Laura. So here are ten of my favorite things that start with the letter M. These are in no order...this was not as easy as I thought it would be!

1. This is one of my favorite people...my Aunt Mabel. She's well into her 80's, but she is a hoot!!! She always keeps me laughing...you never what's going to come out of her mouth!
2. M&M's, especially the dark chocolate ones or peanuts...need I say more.
3. Music- any and all kinds
4. magazines- especially People
5. Maw-maw's chicken and dumplings
6. Made of Honor- one of my favorite movies
7. Mystic Pizza- another favorite movie- one of Julia Robert's first movies
8. Missions
9. ThinMint girl scout cookies!
10. Mylos Coffee House- this is me and Sara's favorite place to hang out.

So there it is!

Monday, January 5, 2009

2009

I know it's been a little while since I've posted...let's just say that I've been enjoying my vacation! I was able to spend a week at home and it was wonderful...but I was ready to get back to my own little apt and my life here. But I got to catch up with lots of friends and family and spend some QT with my parents, which was nice. I had a good Christmas....but I can definitley tell that I'm getting older-less presents under the tree! LOL But I get my big Christmas present this weekend---I'm going to see Celine Dion in New Orleans! I'm soooooo excited and can't wait.

I came back home with the itch to clean and get organized. It had been a while since I really "purged" my apt. so I spent a few days doing that. Now, I just have to tackle my bedroom. Baby steps, baby steps! It's amazing how much stuff you accumulate and I'm only one person! But it did feel good to see progress.

I think I had the best New Year's this year that I've had in a while. I didn't really do that much, but it was definitley the company. I hung out with my friend Brandi and watched Bucket List. Such a great movie-- I laughed until I cried. Then we talked, watched the ball drop, toasted the New Year with our sparkling cranapple juice, and ended the year on our knees in prayer. I couldn't think of a better way to end 2008 and start 2009. I think that this may be a tradition for me...it was so good to be thankful and reflect on the lessons learned in 2008 and focus on the year ahead.

I'm not one to get big into resolutions, but of course I want to exercise more. A friend and I were talking about the new year and what we wanted out of it, our resolutions if you want to call it that. The one thing that kept coming back to me was that I want to be better. A better daughter, a better friend, a better worker, a better supervisor, for my life to be better. Better than it has been before. Then Pastor Bill's sermon was right along with the same thing: to have a new purpose for the new year. Now I'm not quite sure what better looks like, but at least I know that I have direction...I know that He will show me. There's always room for improvement.