'Monday :(' or 'Monday :)' ?

I woke up very happy this morning. Not for any particular reason, I just felt good about the day and was ready to get up and get going!! Then I got to thinking... usually I HATE Mondays! Just something about it; the weekend is over, work and school both start up again. Its just a slow day for me. I had it in my mind that Mondays are gonna be bad. I think our outlook has a lot to do with the way things turn out. When we expect something to go wrong, it often times does. But when we look at things in a positive light it's easier for it to go well! Just my little revelation for the day:) Hope it encourages you!

This is a great reminder for today. I feel like people are always trying to be like somebody else. Someone "cool", famous, or popular. We need to be copy-cats of God, not other people. This says it perfectly:
 You and I were created by God to be so much more then normal... Following the crowd is not a winning approach to life. In the end its a losers game, because we never become who God intended us to be by trying to be like someone else. ~ Tim Tebow

I am so blessed!!

A beautiful reminder that God keeps His promises!
 

Sometimes it's hard to keep believing
In what you can't see
That everything happens for a reason
Even the worst life brings
If you're reaching for an answer
And you don't know what to pray
Just open up the pages
Let His word be your strength

And hold on to the promises (Hold tight)
Hold on to the promises (Alright)
Jesus is alive so hold tight
Hold on to the promises

All things work for the good
Of those who love God
He holds back nothing that will heal you
Not even His own Son
His love is everlasting
His faithfulness unending
Oh, if God is for us who can be against us
So if you feel weak

Hold on to the promises (Hold tight)
Hold on to the promises (Alright)
Jesus is alive so hold tight
Hold on to the promises

Words

They've made me feel like a prisoner
They've made me feel set free
They've made me feel like a criminal
Made me feel like a king

They've lifted my heart
To places I'd never been
And they've dragged me down
Back to where I began

Words can build you up
Words can break you down
Start a fire in your heart or
Put it out
Let my words be life
Let my words be truth
I don't wanna say a word
Unless it points the world back to You

You can heal the heartache
Speak over the fear
God, Your voice is the only thing
We need to hear

Words can build us up
Words can break us down
Start a fire in our hearts or
Put it out

Let my words be life
Let my words be truth
I don't wanna say a word
Unless it points the world back to You
(Back to You)

Let the words I say
 Be the sound of Your grace
 I don't wanna say a word
Unless it points the world back to You

I wanna speak Your love
Not just another noise
Oh, I wanna be Your light
I wanna be Your voice

Let my words be life
Let my words be truth
I don't wanna say a word
Unless it points the world back to You
(Back to You)

Just the Beginning

I am so excited to share some things that I have been learning, and some wonderful things that have been happening recently!!
 I can't begin to describe how God works and how amazing it is. To sit back and be able to see why some things happened and how everything played out...it's too cool :)
 So, 1 week ago today I was taken totally by surprise when I got a phone call from a guy, telling me he had spoken with my dad (so wonderful!!) and now wanted to ask me if I was willing to start a courtship. I did just great during that conversation...NOT! "Umm, okay. Well, *nervous laugh* let me, umm talk to my parents, and, uh..." Yeah, you get the point. :P But I WAS taken by surprise and honestly hadn't been thinking about it so of course I wasn't ready with an answer. But after I got off the phone and could think clearly it didn't take me long to decide that I thought it was a GREAT idea and that he is a GREAT guy!  One of my favorite parts of the whole thing is the fact that neither of us have ever dated before. Neither of us were really sure where to go from there... It was a good kind of awkward, if you know what I mean :) I don't feel bad about the fact that I didn't  have "experience";  didn't know what was supposed to come next.  But I have wonderful parents, as does he (!!!!!!) that are a big part of our relationship and are both willing to help out and give advice, which is SOO great!!! I very much value my parents' wisdom and judgment.
 One of the coolest parts of this story, is before it began. Ok, well, before I could see it starting. Obviously God has had this in the making for a looooong time. Now that I'm at this point I can look back and see events leading up to it and it's so interesting! I have always planned on going to Bible college. It's just been something I knew was gonna happen. 1 year of Bible college, and sign language. A few months ago I had gotten an application to Pensacola Christian College, filled it out and had it ready to mail. I was pretty excited.  Every day I'd go to mail it, and then for some reason I didn't. I waited, and waited, and waited. I didn't understand why I couldn't send it in!! I just felt like I should pray about it, and wait awhile. Well after a few weeks I threw it away. Totally confused even myself. I felt like I should look for some things I could do on-line. So I did, and I realized how many resources we have today! It's incredible. I made a list of all the classes I'd take if I went to PCC and had  Bible as my major, and then I searched. And searched and searched and searched!! In only a few hours I found all but 2 of the classes I needed on random websites...for FREE!!! And then my friend, who's gone to Bible college already, had some books for the 2 classes I was missing! I can't believe it! All of that made me pretty happy. I'd still get the Bible training I wanted, but at home and I'd still be able to work and save money. But I have to say, I wasn't sure why it had happened this way. Now I can see why:):):) ( He knows what He's doing folks, even if we don't!)
 And as always, God's timing is perfect! I have, just in the last 2 months or so, learned some important lessons. The biggest one being patience. I am soooo impatient! I like to know what is going to happen; have everything planned out and know what I can count on. I was taught that it just doesn't happen that way. I think God enjoyed making me wait extra long for some things just to get me to see that it's worth it when you get there. Don't waste the time you have now wishing it away. Be patient and content in whatever season of life you are in. And trust... that's another one. You think it'd be easy to trust God, right? He knows everything, He made us, He has it all under control. Well, let me tell you, it's still a challenge sometimes. Being human, I'd try and make my own plans. I knew it was all taken care of and planned out perfectly, but didn't fully trust Him enough to leave it ALL up to Him I guess. And that led to some hurt and disappointment at times. I learned that lesson the hard way.
 I would say that I have grown a lot  in the last couple months. It's been amazing to experience! I'm so thankful for everything God's been teaching me, preparing me for new things!! With His help, guidance, and continued teaching I am so ready to move on to this next phase in my life!!
Praising my Lord for everything... I am so blessed!! :)

Trying again...

Well, I'm afraid I have done absolutely terrible at blogging in the past. Been almost 2 years since I have updated it! It got lost in cyber-space and I recently came across it again!! I'm hoping that you will give me a second chance... anybody who (for some crazy reason) still happens to come by once-in-awhile and knows its still here ;)

 I won't even try to re-cap the last 2 years. Sorry for those of you who missed out and don't know what's happened in my life. I did leave you hanging there with my missions trip though so I'll say that it was one of the greatest experiences of my lifetime. Well worth all the time, money, effort, and prayers!!! I was blessed beyond measure! Grew very much spiritually, made some life-long friends, and I would go back to South Africa in a heartbeat.

 Hoping to get back to blogging regularly again; we'll see what happens. My life right now is: working pretty much full-time as a nanny for a family with 7 children who I LOVE so very much, finishing up my last year of high school and doing some college classes, taking sign language very seriously and working towards becoming a licensed interpreter, and last but not least I'm entering a new season of life: courtship! Another story; one I CANNOT wait to share!!! :) :) :) :) But that is for next time.
 My goal is to keep you updated about my adventures, lessons and such. I will really try and make time!! Praying that this will be an encouragement!!!
 Have a blessed day in the Lord:)