I ditched school for... Quiet Time

I ditched school for...
Some much needed high quality quiet time with Jesus. Lately my brain has been scatter. I don't think my heart has really been in the right place either. I have been letting thing get in the way. So I ditched one of my classes that I could miss and had some Jesus time.

Leftovers

Mike and I ordered dinner and then picked it up from New York Pizza (its close to Mike's house)on Tuesday night. I ordered Fettuccini Alfredo with Shrimp. I had leftovers. I left them Mike's house. Really bad idea. Will I see my leftovers before Mikey's bottomless pit of a stomach decided it just "has to have" my Fettuccini Alfredo with Shrimp? Who knows? I would like to eat my leftovers but if not I am sure Mikey's stomach will like my mistake... : )

Stuff

I am not a very loud person. A a result it is a very big thing for me to step out of my comfort zone and lead a Bible study for the 8th grade girls. Its not like a step out of my comfort zone its like a country block out of comfort zone.

In small group my girls will ask me questions and I know the answers to them but of course I can't remember the answer at the moment when I need to know it. I remember the answer like 10 minutes.

Also, Flipside is totally out of my comfort zone so its all a challenge. But I am so glad that I am doing it because I got to meet Mike and its also a very big Jesus type challenge.

At times I feel like I don't make a difference. I feel like there are others around me doing a waaaay better job. OK, I know that its a big bucket full of junk and I am making a difference.

I like to blend in. But I also want to have my own "stamp." However, I find this really hard because I am too regular. Also a bunch of junk.

Apparently, I am having a middle school moment of feeling really insecure.

Quiet Time

Bible Verse For Thought:
“Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.” 1 Peter 4:10

What I Get From 1 Peter 4:10:
God created each and every one of us uniquely. There are no two humans alike. Sure, there may be two humans that are very similar. But, God took the time to create each and everyone in a unique manner so there is no possibility that God would make two people the same. While God was thinking of us He gave each of us “gifts” or skills. Usually, when a person receives a gift they want to use that gift to some extent. However, when a person receives a gift from God they should want to use the gift from God to its fullest extent. In other words, God has given us each skills and talents and we need to use those God given gifts! It can take time to figure what gifts God has given us but it is worth it to try to figure out what your God given gifts are.

Praying For…
My future husband: I pray that my future husband is always working to honor God while using the gifts that God has given a lot of us.

Madsteeze: I pray that lots of middle school students fall for Jesus. I pray that the students that don’t know Jesus come to know Him. I pray that students that do know Jesus want to learn more about Jesus.

Haiti- I pray that the situation in Haiti comes to know Jesus and what Jesus can do.

Babies- I know a lot of people that are going to be having babies. I pray that these women commit to raising their child in a Christ- centered home.

Adoption- There are a ton of kids that do not have forever families. I pray that more and more kids will find forever families.

D-Group (Middle School Bible Study)- I am nervous as heck to start D-Group. Let me just say leading an outside Bible Study is not my style at all. I am not a very loud person. For D-Group I will have to take charge of a group of middle school students for an hour and fifteen minutes.

Classes

I have a strong disliking towards my economics and physics class. Econ because the teacher makes me feel stupid, gives a lot of different assignments, and makes it hard to complete the assignments when they are formatted wrong.

Physics because I do not like math or science. Let me just say thins. I would rather read and write a 7 page paper.

I know that thee classes are necessary to make me into a "well rounded" college educated graduate. But really. When is an English major going to have to know a lot of the stuff that I am learning. I know that I am going to use some of the stuff that I am learning but honestly...

I pray that I can just get through college in five years. I am going to be a super senior. : ) After I get my degree don't even think about asking me if I am going to go to grad school (super small possibility).

OK, that's it. I am done telling everybody me feeling about my college classes at the moment.

Quiet Time AKA Jesus Time/ Last & This Week

Things that happened last week:

I signed Mike and I up for the pre-engaged class at church. Now, just so that we are clear Mike and I are not engaged. We are hoping and praying that we will get engaged in the future.

I cleaned. Not a lot but a bit.

Things that are going to happen this week:

Madsteeze. Middle School church camp. An awesome fun weekend of little sleep, Jesus, and friends. We are going with Timberlake Church and we are going to be in Levenworth, WA.

Homework. It happens all the time but I thought I would list. It is very important that teachers explain things well so that students don't break down in tears and finally complete the assignment with a lot of help.

And now onto the most important part of my day: Quit Time: AKA Jesus Time

Right now I am reading Proverbs 31 and I must say what a powerful chapter. It makes me think of how much hard work it is to be married and to have a family. I know that it is rewarding (that's what many people say).

"Her husband has full confidences in her and lacks nothing of value." 31:11

I think that this portion is pretty cool. It shows that her husband supports her, believes her, and is her biggest fan. He knows that she can do things that maybe she thinks she can't do. The "wife of noble character" never has to worry about her husband not loving her because of a decision she makes, there is total and complete unconditional love.

"She is clothed with strength and dignity: she can laugh at the days to come. She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue." 31:26-26

The strength and dignity part is something that I am working on. Also, the laughing at the days to come part, and the wisdom part. Some of the character traits may come a bit more easy to some people then other people. I think the verse means that her life, and home are run with strength and dignity. The laughing part may have to do with being able to let things roll of her back.

Items that I pray for:

My future husband. I pray that he love God with everything possible. I pray that he will put God first over me (future wife). I pray that he wants a Christ-centered marriage and wants to grow in his knowledge of Jesus. I started praying for my future husband the minute I started making dating standards priority. Its pretty amazing that God knows who I am going to marry, when I am going to marry him, and when/ where we are going to meet.

Madsteeze. A super awesome weekend of not much sleep, Jesus, and bonding with 8th grade girls. To be honest I am not looking forward to sleeping into tents, and no showers. But I am looking forward to spending time with Jesus, bonding with the group of 8th grade girls that are in my small group, and eating Costco muffins. : ) I pray that I learn more about Jesus and how to be a good small group leader.

The future. This one may be a little different for some considering that Jesus knows what He is doing (Jeremiah 29:11). I pray that I will continue to do what God has planned for me.

Haiti. A lot is going on there. I pray that Jesus becomes apparent in everything that happens.

Adoption. There are a lot of orphans in the world that need forever Christ-centered families.

Relationships. The relationships that I have I pray that God will give me the time, energy, and strength to have Jesus be the center of those relationships.

Thank you. Thank you Father that you found a class for Mike and I to take. I am excited and nervous . I know that the class will be a challenge, it will have us both take a look at many different items that are important in a relationship. The one thing I do know is that after the class Mike and I will maybe understand each other a little bit better, learn how to improve our relationship, and Mike and I will learn how to become closer to You.

How To Watch Football

How To Watch Football:

• With your eyes closed.
• Facing the back of the couch.
• With your face half stuffed in a pillow.
• Stretched over the WHOLE couch. (With no room for me to sit) : ( Totally kidding, well kind of... : ) I don't mind sitting on the floor. Its a better place to do homework. (You know, next to a table)
• With your eyes open.

While I do homework and attempt to fill out my FAFSA Mike is on the couch "watching" football. Apparently you can watch football doing many of the things listed in "How To Watch Football." : )

Friday January 15,2009 11:15AM

Currently, I am sitting at the downtown library. In between today's morning craziness I went to Target and bought some Claritin-D. I am really liking the effects Claritin-D has. I can now go from almost 10 minutes without sneezing, coughing, or blowing my nose. Its a very happy day. : )

I really like to see the results of God answering prayer. Mike and I were looking for a Bible Study or a class for us to take together. We have been looking for a Bible Study or a class because we think its important to have some way that we are growing spiritually, and in our knowledge of each other as a couple. At Flipside out youth pastor came up to us and said, "Pretty soon our church is going to start a class for people that are thinking of getting engaged or are engaged. You should think of maybe taking it." I hope that we can do it because it would be great for us to have a couple mentoring us and helping us along with the process.

Jeremiah 29:11

Jeremiah 29:11 is I guess what you would call one of my "life verses." By life verse I mean a verse that has really captured my attention. Granted the Bible is a pretty awesome group of books. But this verse stands out. It is talking about how God knows exactly what He is doing and He does not want to hurt us. He just wants us to be strong men and women of God. The whole future thing is pretty cool. I mean is it not amazing that God knows exactly what is going to happen to us. I think its pretty neat that God knows who we are going to marry, how many kids we are going to have, what we are going to do and when all the stuff is going to happen.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

Blessed

I am so blessed to be dating someone who has a lot of the same moral and values. I am blessed because this person also has a super big heart for God. I am also blessed because this person is willing to go through the different trials/tests that God is giving me.

Roses From Mike

I got some roses from Mike. a red and a white rose to be exact. With the red rose I took some pictures of it with my purity ring.

Did I mention that I really like flowers and it was a lot of fun to get some roses? If I remember correctly this is the first res rose that got from Mike.

2010

I think 2010 is going to bring about a lot of fun and new changing things. I also think the things that started in 2009 that are going to be carried on into 2010 are going to be awesome.

Started in 2009:
My relationship with Mike. It started in 2009 and I can't wait to see what God has planned for us as a couple.

School. The process is still ongoing and crazy. I still have 2 and maybe 1/2 years of college left. I am to the point where I just want to graduate and get on with life. I am sure that many college students feel that way, but I get super excited to see what God has planned. I suppose that I also need to calm down and just enjoy the moment because it only happens once.

Flipside. For the past couple of months Flipside has really stretched me. I like working with middle school girls but has God ever stretched me. I am not a super loud person. With Flipside, I take command of the situation. I have to lead a outside small group (discipleship group). Its a stretch for me because I don't like being the center of attention. At our regular youth group I have my own small group. I was supposed to have a co-leader but the group got too big. I am not a loud person it stretches me.

Being me. I realize that this may seem like a really interesting title. I am still getting used to being an adult. I come from a house where I was very limited in the decisions that I could make. I am adjusting to being expected to make my own decisions.

2010:
I pray that my relationship with Mike with keep growing stronger. I pray that we will keep learning how to keep God in the middle of the relationship. I also pray that God will shine through in all of my relationships.

School. Once again I want to get the whole school process over with. I really need to concentrate.

Ministry. It is super important to serve somewhere. I would really like to find a ministry that I feel that I am doing a good job at. I know that doing things is not always about being comfortable.

A job. I want to find a job that will have me making enough money so that I can start putting some of that money away for stuff later.

A vacation. I think it would be tons of fun to go to Mexico, Hawaii, or San Diego for a vacation.

Mission trip to China. I want to go spend some time with Show Hope (Steven Curtis Chapman's adoption grant foundation) at an orphanage playing with kids.

I like to serve my friends and family. I want to keep doing that and have more opportunities to do so.