Wanting much?

So it is really cool, and convicting, because I have been thinking a lot about how much I have. I feel spoiled. I am spoiled. (not fun to say) but really, we all are, if you are reading this, you are. We have all been given so much and it is so hard because we always want more, always. I have learned that really nothing can fill the void in your life but Jesus. But it is still so easy to want. I want_____. I want____. etc. (fill the blank in with what you want) But....I have been thinking a lot about this. It is so easy to give back. While we are saying I want so many people are saying, I need. They are even needing simple things such as water. A good friend used to remind me frequently about how blessed we are to have clean water. 

I have learned of many corporations who help you give back to those who don't have all of the many things we have been blessed with. One of my closest friends actually posted something that confirmed all of these thoughts I have been filled with. Read her blog here. 

A few of the sites that I have come acrossed are: 

Advent Conspiracy Send money to help build a water well.

Toms shoes  They will give 1 pair of shoes to someone in need for every 1 pair you buy.

Mocha Club Send 7 dollars a month (the cost of 2 mochas) or buy a shirt for $20. The money goes to people in Africa... (7 dollars will feed: 1 person for a month or educate 2 children for 1 school term or save 1 persons life from malaria or provide clean water to 7 Africans for 1 year)

World Vision  Send a goat or food or water or medicines or disaster relief, there are many ways to help. 

These are just a few ways of giving back, we have been given so much, why not give some crucial things to those who don't want the things you may have filled in the blank above, instead fill the blank with, "I want to give someone something they need not something I want." After all what you want is not as important as something they need.

It's not just about talking about it, its doing something about it.

We are called to be the hands and feet of Jesus, so take action in Jesus' name!

"If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, 'Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,' but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit?" 

James 2:15-16

Golf

So yesterday Nick and I went to the driving range (actually it was more like last night) but anyway, it's fun, I have never really golfed, that is before I met Nick lol, but I'm sure with a little practice ill get decent :) the sunset was beautiful last night too, sometimes it's just nice to do things outside :)


Sent from my iPhone

One reason I love my iPhone

I can now blog from anywhere bc I figured it out on here, I guess I could have done it on my blackberry but I never did LOL



Sent from my iPhone

Do not give up!

The Lord has been reminding me lately of how important it is to continue on, to press forward, to not give up. This was the devotion on Jon Courson's web site today and it was a blessing, so enjoy!

"The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also finish it; and thou shalt know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto you. "

Zechariah 4:9 

"Through Zechariah, the Lord said to Zerubbabel, “I know what you’re thinking. Sixteen years have passed and the project you began is now stalled. But I have good news for you. I am going to complete that which I began. And your hands will be the hands I use to do it. Therefore, be patient. Don’t despise the day of small things. Just be faithful. How will all of this come about? Not by your might or by your resolve. The stalled project will be completed by My Spirit. Just as the oil from the olive trees passes through the lamps apart from human effort, so too, I will work apart from anything man does.”

I know there is a time in virtually all of our lives when the Lord lays something on our hearts. A promise is given. A dream is placed on our minds. A vision is set before our eyes. It might be a business or a marriage, a family or a ministry. We begin. We lay the foundation - but then the difficulties come. As the months and years pass, we say, “It’s not going to happen.” And our hearts sink.

But, just as He said to Zerubbabel, the Lord would say to us, “I am going to allow the hands that laid the foundation to finish the work. You are going to bring the capstone - the finishing piece - with shouts of grace at the end. It’s all by My grace. So don’t despise the days of small things, of small beginnings. And don’t give up.'"

Chong got clean water today...

Today Chong, Jillian's goldfish, got clean water. It was kind of frightening because I was afraid that after I moved him to a different bowl I would accidentally empty the wrong one into the sink. (Don't worry Jillian thats really Chong) Anyway...I am Fish Sitting Chong for Jillian while we are on Christmas break... If you want to see the adventure Chong had while coming to my house, click here

Anyway....it wasn't that the bowl was stinking up my room (yet) but I just don't like to look at a dirty bowl so....clean water for Chong :)

Oh Yea!!...

I almost forgot....

I mentioned being done with school....

I am finally finished with the Semester, 19 more units done! :D

kind of a selfish blog...

Basically this is a shout out to everyone....

you should all buy JambaJuice gift cards from ME! lol basically there is a contest at my work and as of a couple of days ago I was in 2nd place, now if you know me, you know I am competitive and now that I don't have school to think about, I have this contest. So come  buy JambaJuice Cards and make sure I am working first, this contest goes until the end of December so give me a text, email, phone call, anything just make sure I am working before you go ;) Oh and I should be in first place now....hopefully....lets just say, today was a good sales day for me :D

and....its a win win, buy 25 dollars worth and get a free 16 ounce smoothie :D you win and I win :)

Determination, Isolation, and Expectation

December 10

I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what he will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved. 

Habakkuk 2:1 

“I need an answer,” said Habakkuk, “so I’m going to go up into my tower and seek My Father.”

Please note three key components of this verse. The first is determination. When he needed an answer, Habakkuk said, “I will stand upon my watch.” He didn’t say, “Maybe I should spend some time with the Lord next week - or whenever it’s convenient or if I can break away from work or if I can find some time.” No, he said, “I need an answer and I’m determined to get one. I will seek the Lord.”

The Lord promises that we shall find Him when we search for Him with all our heart (Jeremiah 29:13). But so often we lack determination. Oh, there’s an acknowledgement in our minds that we should seek the Lord. There’s an intention that we probably will seek the Lord sometime. But we don’t get answers to the questions with which we wrestle because we lack this key component of determination.

Second, notice Habakkuk’s isolation. He got away from his telephone, radio, and TV and went up into a tower. He got away from all the distractions that would otherwise bombard him. I believe we don’t hear the voice of God because there are so many other voices constantly ringing in our ears. If you really want to hear from the Lord, there is no alternative to a quiet time, a quiet place, and a quiet heart.

Finally, notice Habakkuk’s expectation. He said, “I will see what the Lord will say to me,” not “what He might say to me,” not “what I hope He will say to me,” not “what I wish he would say to me,” but “what He will say to me.”

Hebrews 11:6 declares that without faith, it is impossible to please God, for he that comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him. There are many ways to please God, but none apart from faith. If you don’t believe God is going to speak to you and deal with you, you’re not going to hear anything from Him.

How do you know if God will speak to you or not? Here is a very simple test: when you seek the Lord, do you have a journal with you, a pencil and paper before you? You see, if I don’t really expect God to speak, I’ll just kind of show up, casually slumped in my chair, saying, “Wonder if there’s anything in the Word for me today . . . Probably not . . .”

We adopt a laid-back mentality in seeking God and then wonder why we never hear from Him. But those who expect to hear from God have pencil and paper in hand. They are on the edge of their chair or on their knees in a posture of expectancy rather than in a spirit of complacency and lethargy.

Habakkuk said, “I am going to seek God. I will get away and I will hear what He has to say to me.” That’s the kind of faith that honors God. That’s the kind of faith that clears the wax of the world out of the ears of the inner man.

This Daily Devotional is an excerpt from the book "Footsteps of the Flock" by Pastor Jon. "Footsteps of the Flock" is a collection of 365 short devotions from the Old Testament books of Joshua through Malachi. If you would like your own copy of "Footsteps of the Flock" you may click here to go to the SearchLight Store

Falling in Love all over again

I feel like I am continuing to fall in Love with the Lord all over again lately. Maybe its just getting deeper, but it is such a blessing. I think a lot of things have contributed to this. Circumstances in my life and also, believe it or not, a paper I had to write for school. Although it was tedious, my paper for Geo Science, (which was to prove Creation and then using two different things, Glaciers and Space, to back up my beliefs and why evolution is not true) opened my eyes yet again to how Great our God really is. 

Have you ever been in worship, and your heart is so fully in it that you feel like you are all alone with Jesus? It is so hard sometimes to focus and not pay attention to those around you, but last night was one of those nights for me, when the song ended, I was reminded that I was in church with hundreds of other people around me worshipping too. I cannot wait until the day that I will be worshipping the Lord 24-7. It joys my heart so much to worship the King! There are a couple of songs that have been close to my heart lately. One of them is by Phil Wickham, its called Cannons, another is called Jesus Messiah by Chris Tomlin. I feel like there are so many songs that bring me to the heart of worship and get my heart right where it needs to be before the Lord. I am so thankful that I am able to worship openly, as so many people are not. 

The Lord continues to bless, even though I don't deserve it. I have been reminded so much lately of just how deep His love for me is. Psalm 139:17-18 talks about the thoughts of the Lord toward us, they are more than the number of the sand. Thats a lot! 

Theme Fridays...

At my work once a month we have theme Fridays :) These are three of the past ones we have had. Cowboy day, Pirate Day, and today, Sports day. When I work on these days it is so much fun. There is something about dressing up or wearing something different at work that makes work more enjoyable. Of course there are people who look at you funny, or try to be funny (thats right, I said try lol) but overall I like theme Fridays. Maybe it takes me back to childhood, you know those dressing up days, or maybe its just fun to do different things, whatever the reason, I have fun :)