Psalm 34:1-4

"I will bless the Lord at all times;
his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
My soul makes its boast in the Lord;
let the humble hear and be glad.
Oh, magnify the Lord with me,
and let us exalt his name togther!
I sought the Lord, and he answered me
and delievered me from all my fears."

"More Love to Thee, O Christ!"

Hymn by Elizabeth Prentiss, in 1856:

"More love to Thee, O Christ, more love to Thee!
Hear Thou the prayer I make on bended knee.
This is my earnest plea:
More love, O Christ, to Thee;
More love to Thee, more love to Thee!

Once earthly joy I craved, sought peace and rest;
Now Thee alone I seek, give what is best.
This all my prayer shall be:
More love, O Christ to Thee;
More love to Thee, more love to Thee!

Let sorrow do its work, come grief or pain;
Sweet are Thy messengers, sweet their refrain,
When they can sing with me:
More love, O Christ, to Thee;
More love to Thee, more love to Thee!

Then shall my latest breath whisper Thy praise;
This be the parting cry my heart shall raise;
This still its prayer shall be:
More love, O Christ to Thee;
More love to Thee, more love to Thee!"

I just bought the biography of Elizabeth Prentiss and I am looking forward to reading about her life and testimony of her sweet faith in Christ. It is always joyful and helpful reading about other's faith in God and seeing the Lord's faithfulness! This book is on the list to read this coming Christmas break, which happens to be in 2 weeks and counting! I need much grace and endurance to finish out this semester well and to the Lord's glory! If you think, pray that the Lord would help me endure strong and study well for my finals and remaining reading I need to do! Thanks! And, I'll update this blog about the happenings in my life soon, or at least sooner then much later! hahahaha! :) Blessings and Grace always in our Christ! May we have more love for Him each day, for His love is better and greater then this life! May our lips and hearts and life's express God's love for us in Christ! Praise Him for loving us first, so that we are freed to love Him back!

hello strangers!

It's been awhile since I've been on this thing! Why? you may ask. I think it's a combination of several reasons:

1. Mid-semester stresses-lots of reading, paper writing, mid-terms approaching, ect. Please pray for me in this! I need motivation and don't really have it! I have a year left in my grad school track, come December! And, just feeling burnt out...please pray for more grace for me to focus and work unto the Lord in my studies!
2. Working around 30 hours, give or take a few-my library collection agency job and cleaning houses for 2 families.
3. Social life has changed some-the Lord has placed a very sweet guy in my life, who is pursuing me and really stinkin' encouraging to me in the Gospel! He makes it his aim to point me to Christ. And, honestly that's amazing! And, he's super hot! haha (I'll put a picture up eventually or check my facebook)

For now, I just want to encourage those who still read this thing (mostly my family), in the Gospel! The Lord is so faithful to His children and His love for us will never fail! I want to mediate more on God's character, His attributes. For the more we consider God's character, the more we learn how to love each other and reflect what He has given us, by showing sweet graces to each other! For we are given everything in Christ and now we have the "mind of Christ", by His doing we are hidden in Christ and able to love radically...unto His glory! By fixing our eyes on Christ, we are given an eternal perspective! May the Lord grant our hearts rich fellowship with our Maker and count all things lost in comparison of knowing Him and being identified with Him, even when this requires suffering!!

"Though the fig tree should not blossom,
nor fruit be on the vines,
the produce of the olive fail
and the fields yield no food,
the flock be cut off from the fold
and there be no herd in the stalls,
yet I will rejoice in the Lord;
I will take joy in the God of my salvation.
God, the Lord, is my strength;
he makes my feet like the deer's;
he makes me tread on my high places."
-Habakkuk 3:17-19

read this old hymn...full of truth and grace!

I listened to this hymn on repeat the Summer of 2003 (on this cd) when I was serving as a youth intern at my old Church. I found these words super refreshing in pointing me back to the purpose of this life. Read each line and may it bring perspective in light of our "momentary struggles". One day, we will no longer need faith because we will have be able to see our Savior's face with no hindrance of sin and embrace His full glory! This hymn just points to the truth that this is not our home, and so much is still to come...when "our faith is sight."

Pray for the church in India, I heard that there was a natural disaster of flooding came yesterday morning. Pray for the Believer's to be sustained and embolden to share the Gospel, that the Word would go forth in fullness across the land in the midst all the storms of life!
Unto His glory, we pray!

"Jesus, I My Cross Have Taken"
by Henry Francis Lyte, 1793-1847

1. Jesus, I my cross have taken,
All to leave and follow Thee;
Destitute, despised, forsaken,
Thou from hence my All shalt be.
Perish every fond ambition,
All I've sought or hoped or known;
Yet how rich is my condition!
God and heaven are still my own.

2. Let the world despise and leave me,
They have left my Savior, too.
Human hearts and looks deceive me;
Thou art not, like them, untrue.
And while Thou shalt smile upon me,
God of wisdom, love, and might,
Foes may hate and friends may shun me;
Show Thy face, and all is bright.

3. Go, then, earthly fame and treasure!
Come, disaster, scorn, and pain!
In Thy service, pain is pleasure;
With Thy favor, loss is gain.
I have called Thee Abba, Father!
I have stayed my heart on Thee.
Storms may howl, and clouds may gather,
All must work for good to me.

4. Man may trouble and distress me,
'Twill but drive me to Thy breast;
Life with trials hard may press me,
Heaven will bring me sweeter rest.
Oh, 'tis not in grief to harm me
While Thy love is left to me;
Oh, 'twere not in joy to charm me
Were that joy unmixed with Thee.

5. Take, my soul, thy full salvation;
Rise o'er sin and fear and care;
Joy to find in every station,
Something still to do or bear.
Think what Spirit dwells within thee,
What a Father's smile is thine,
What a Savior died to win thee;
Child of heaven, shouldst thou repine?

6. Haste, then, on from grace to glory,
Armed by faith and winged by prayer;
Heaven's eternal day's before thee,
God's own hand shall guide thee there.
Soon shall close the earthly mission,
Swift shall pass thy pilgrim days,
Hope soon change to glad fruition,
Faith to sight, and prayer to praise.

let's remember, let's always remember.

wow. that is all i can say. this can never get old...

i am once again astonished at God's sweetness to me in revealing the Gospel. the only hope that i can bank on is that Christ came and lived a perfect life, died in my place to satisfy the wrath of God for sin, and then He rose gloriously and is now sitting at the right hand of the Father.

this is the Gospel.

what a gift, what a Savior!

• To be reconciled completely to my Maker, only through the blood of Christ and His imputed righteousness He has given me, through faith alone by grace alone!
• The only thing that gives me peace with God is the fact that Jesus has come and taken my sinful, dead heart and replaced it with a heart that now wants to glorify God and find my delight in Him alone!

what a joy, what a Savior!

May He grant you deeper affections in the Christ and consider more every day the wonder and beauty of the Gospel, this free gift of grace! Rejoice that even while we were dead in our trespasses, Christ died for the ungodly! May we treasure our Redeemer and long for His Return!

"Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

-Philippians 2:5-11-

i love this song:

O Great God
(words & music by Bob Kauflin)
~
O great God of highest heaven
Occupy my lowly heart
Own it all and reign supreme
Conquer every rebel power
Let no vice or sin remain
That resists Your holy war
You have loved and purchased me
Make me Yours forevermore
~
I was blinded by my sin
Had no ears to hear Your voice
Did not know Your love within
Had no taste for heaven’s joys
Then Your Spirit gave me life
Opened up Your Word to me
Through the gospel of Your Son
Gave me endless hope and peace
~
Help me now to live a life
That’s dependent on Your grace
Keep my heart and guard my soul
From the evils that I face
You are worthy to be praised
With my every thought and deed
O great God of highest heaven
Glorify Your Name through me

Kirstina and Jordan Stone

1/2 Marathon, anyone?

Do you want to run a 1/2 marathon with me? Any takers? pretty please! (this is a pic of my new running shoes)

A long-term goal of mine has been to run the Full Marathon (26.22 miles). Yet, I need to work up to that goal, so I figured I should start with the 1/2 marathon first! It maybe super hard and kill me, but I'm willing to take the leap! :) But, when in life will I have the time to actually train and prepare for one? I figure this might be the best timing! I have started and stopped training for one so many times that I can't even count. Which is sad to say, but true. Perhaps, if I blogged about it, I would have more accountability to actually complete one! I googled for the next one in Louisville and it's October 19th. So, I have like 3 months to train!

If you're interested, let me know and we can run the longer runs together on the weekends. If not, I'm still doing it. I'm taking the jump and going to start preparing! It's a good discipline for my body and it will be fun goal to achieve too! Let me know! I'm going to start training for it this week.

I'll put up a running plan next post....also I'll put up pics from my trip home last week w/ an update! (check my facebook for pics if you can't wait) It was great to see my family and thankful for it! I can't believe school is starting August 19th! Summer time is almost over! crazy how fast it went!

family

Going to Dallas tomorrow...

Please pray for the time with my family. That the Lord would bring a refreshing to us all in unity, with thanksgiving through Christ. That we would be strengthen in our inner-being as we fellowship together! I only go home twice a year and really desire for the Lord to use this time well in furthering my families unity in Christ. May we treasure Christ and His sweet grace upon us and continue to pour out grace to each other in reflecting the Gospel. Even so that His Spirit would grow our love for Him more and more through His Word, that we could not help but love and cover each other with grace, as so our Father has done so with us!

My heart is burden in several ways this past week or so and just desire for much growth and change from our Lord. It's true that often we don't have because we don't ask. The Lord is gracious to hear our prayers....and remembering the sermon at church yesterday, the Lord will continue His purposes for His people. Despite how diverse our backgrounds(personalities) might be, how slow we can be in learning, and how we can still struggle with the same sin...the Lord is merciful to complete His purposes for His people. This is seen throughout the early church in the book of Acts and we can see this truth today. God shows His glory through weak people and advances His kingdom despite their lack of trust in Him. The truth that He is the dependent factor in changing us and in revealing Himself to the Nations...is extremely encouraging! Our Pastor Ryan, went through these points seen in Acts and I highly encourage you to listen to that sermon off our churches website!

I don't know about you, but often when I go home I can struggle with the same tendencies of sin and unbelief as I did growing up. It's like a flashback of my old sin patterns and just desire for the Lord to give abundant grace to cause me to remember the Gospel and God's faithful promises during my time at home. And that I would use this time to rest well, resting in the Lord and not just wasting time or growing in laziness! Finding deep rest in Christ through His living Word and letting that be what waters me and causes me to love my family well.

"Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not become partners with them; for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says,

“Awake, O sleeper,and arise from the dead,and Christ will shine on you.”

Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ."
Ephesians 5:1-21

Thanks for the prayers, I am eternally grateful for them...unto His glory we pray! Amen!

Kept By God in Christ

I am so thankful that the Lord is my Keeper. I am at work right now and was just reading through the Valley of Vision prayers. Which is always refreshing reminder of the Gospel. I originally was just going to post a prayer below, but wanted to share my interesting conversation I just had...

We just had our 15 minute break and I was talking to this guy at work, who happens to be a devout Mormon who did a 2-year mission in Thailand.

...On a side note, I have a heart for Mormons and there are several I work with. Several years ago I got to live in Salt Lake City for a summer and serve with Hidden Valley Presbyterian Church. I spent the summer loving on the youth group girls and encouraging them with the Gospel of grace found in Christ alone. It was an incredible summer growing in the knowledge of Christ and how we were saved only through His grace, not by works. It was such a blessing to work this Gospel-centered and Christ-exalting church, I am forever changed through my time spent in Utah! Pray for this church to continue to be a light in a city that clings to Mormon belief's of works-based salvation to receive peace with God! Oh my heart needs to be more burden for the deceived and lost around me, for apart from grace in Christ I would be in the same place!

...Okay, now that you are caught up to speed...we (my co-worker and I) just had some good dialogue at break that has left me challenged! It started off by him asking how my j-term class went because I had told him I was taking a class over the New Testament last week. Now it gets tricky! The thing that blows me away is that what I explained about the New Testament, he agreed with me. I tried to prob more questions to him about why the Mormon's used there Book of Mormon's in addition to the Bible. You can tell that he has had a lot of experience in explaining what they believe. Yet, they use the very same terminology as Christians do! It's hard to get any where because they think we are meaning the same thing, when I say key words like, "gospel" and "grace" and "salvation". We had to get back to work, but I said to him that I would like to continue to discuss this more later. He agreed.

I'm explaining this story because I'm asking for two things:

1. Prayer. Please pray for my Mormon friends here at work. That the Lord would give me favor and wisdom in discussing true Christianity with them in how the absolute truth found in the Bible competes and wins over Mormonism. That the Spirit of God would move and soften their hearts to desire to know the true God of Scripture and bring conviction of the fallacies of their belief and in His kindness bring them to repentance and faith in Christ.
2. Can anyone have any tips in evangelizing to Mormon's? I see that its over my head and totally dependent on the Holy Spirit's work. I need to grow in understanding still and knowing how to communicate clearly the excellencies of God and dispute their wrong-thinking and teaching! Again, this is so humbling and sobering that the God of creation would use His little children to declare the goodness of God in the face of Christ! So really, if you could help me with tools and ideas of communicating clearly to them, let me know! Please PRAY for much grace in all of this!!

Oh how I take for grant it the grace I have been given in Christ. That it was His complete righteousness that I needed and the only way I could ever have peace with God. It was His life, death and resurrection that was necessary, for there would not be forgiveness of sins without it! For Christ is my only Hope for today and eternity....may we declare the true Gospel to all we encounter. For His Return is sooner then ever! Let's hasten' His Return together, unto His glory alone! Amen!

"Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!" -Romans 11:3

READ. STUDY. GROW. SERVE.

My Recommended Books for Summer Gospel-Centered Reading (and the list goes on...we are blessed with Christ-centered authors in past generations and even this generation! I'm taking a summer school class starting this Monday and have to get back to reading my "assigned reading" plan for my New Testament 1 class! But, if you have time and want to be refreshed in the sweetness of the Gospel-check out these books!):

1. Because He Loves Me By Elyse Fitzpatrick

2. Did I Kiss Marriage Goodbye: Trusting God with a Hope Deferred By Caroline McCulley

3. Holiness: Its Nature, Hindrances, Difficulties, and Roots By J. C. Ryle

4. Loving God with All Your Mind By Elizabeth George

5. When God Weeps: Why Our Sufferings Matter to the Almighty By Joni Eareckson Tada and Steven Estes

6. To the Golden Shore: The Life of Adoniram Judson By Courtney Anderson

7. Running Scared: Fear, Worry & the God of Rest By Edward T. Welch

8. Trusting God: Even When Life Hurts By Jerry Bridges

change is hard, but not impossible in Christ!

Check out this article! It really was helpful today. John Piper is explaining the importance of treasuring Christ above all else. He described what it means to covet:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"There is no difference between the Hebrew word for desire and the Hebrew word for covet. Coveting means desiring something too much. And too much is measured by how that desiring compares to desiring God. If desiring leads you away from God rather than closer to God, it is covetousness. It is sin."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I was struck with the fact that this is a daily struggle in my life. I am quick to compare myself with others in "blessings" the Lord has given them and not me. Even today, my heart struggled with coveting over what a dear friend of mine received. My response was sinful in my heart. I responded in questioning God in why He hasn't given me that blessing! I repented to the Lord and realized how much my heart is so prone to deceive me. The truth is I am greatly blessed!! I have been given a wonderful Redeemer who has qualified me to share in His inheritance through the blood He has shed! "All You have shown me is grace, love and mercy. Now and forever I am Your child." I wonder if the Lord ever grows tired of my complaining?!! eeeee!! Oh me of little faith!

Thankfully, God is greater then our hearts (1 John 3:20)! He is teaching me so much in this time and in all of His delays and detours, He is using it all for my very good! May the Lord continue to mature us from our former way of thinking and idols in our hearts (idolaters, enviousness, and all bitterness) ...and may He continue to make us treasurers of Christ alone!

heart questions:

• Am I satisfied in all that God promised to be for me in Christ?
• Am I treasuring anything or anyone in a way that competes with God’s supreme place in my life?

so, READ the article, it's helpful!

May we treasure Christ in the midst of our fight against our idolatrous and "idol making" hearts! For now we are NEW creations in Christ! For He is able to do this in us and has given us much grace to walk forward in obedience, unto His glory! Amen! (1 John 4:4)

unworthy to even untie His shoe laces

some thoughts...

This past week I have been considering and wanting to grow in understanding of the mind of God. Lately, I have been dumb-founded with how my thoughts are so FAR differ then God's. I have no STINKIN' clue the mind of God (which am I owed this?)! At times, I think I'm kind of clued in to what He is doing and then some circumstance changes (that may seem for the worse) or a surprise blessings is given and I'm shocked at His plan. I know that I am not the one who gets to call the shots or control what is to come...in fact, most of the time I don't want that job. However, if I'm being ruthlessly honest, I know that I do want to be the deciding factor of what happens to my life...!

This is confession time and my heart is NOT so pretty! In fact, who am I? I must remember who I am in light of God! Job 38-42 always gives good perspective! I was not there when God laid the foundation of the earth and I have never seen His storehouses of snow or hail that He holds or the place where light is distributed or even know when the mountain goats give birth....all these things and more are governed and controlled by our Sovereign Lord and King! WOW to me to think I get to organize the happenings of my little life, for I am just the creature and that right is only worthy of the governing Creator! I must be brought low to see things in light of God's perspective.

For in faithfulness God afflicted me (Ps. 119:75), so that I may turn to Him and know Him. What a grace, that out of His love for us in Christ, He chooses to afflict us and cause us to turn to Him and rely on Him! Otherwise, I would be stuck in my unbelief and wrong thinking--that I get to control my life! Praise be to God to humble His people! For by this we know we are His children, for He disciplines those He loves (Hebrews 13). So for that, we should be rejoicing, knowing we are His! And He is my Great Reward! Thankfully, His ways are Higher and Far Better then my ways...oh for more grace to trust my gracious God and His perfect wisdom! Amen!

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD.
For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." -Isaiah 55:8-9

"For who has understood the mind of the Lord so to instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ." -1 Corinthians 2:16

"No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you." -John 15:15

Still Alive...

Hey Everyone...I am still alive and doing okay! I have moved in officially to my new house and LOVE it! Such a blessing already! I live with a sweet couple from Church, Jack and Heather. AND a sweet sisterfriend from my church, Lyssa! I will put pictures up next post! It's a pretty sweet set-up, might I add! I get my own room for cheap rent and the luxury of living in a house with sweet fellowship! Very gracious of God!

Hope all of you are doing well! It has been challenging past couple of days...I'd appreciate prayer! Yet, it's good of God to humble me and want to keep on humbling me, to make me more dependent on Him...for this is His love to me! Therefore, I have much Hope....that this too will past...and will continue to conform me into His image. Which is exactly what is Best!

May He continue to fulfill His purposes for me and may He continue to receive all the glory!

"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
for his name sake.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
forever."
-Psalm 23

Packing and Diet Cherry Coke!

Nothing goes better with packing then Diet Cherry Coke! That's what I'm doing today and for the rest of the weekend...packing with some Diet Cherry Coke breaks and perhaps a couple of friend breaks too! That's the latest for me!

AND yes, I'm still waiting to hear back from the job....I've called a lot and haven't got any responses back....maybe this is a closed door? Pray for me, that the Lord would make it clear, so I can start looking else where if I need to!? I really would enjoy this new job! I haven't given details about it yet b/c its not for sure I have it?! Hopefully I will know either way by the end of this week! Please Pray! .....back to the fun-filled day of packing until I work tonight! eeeee!! Thankfully the Lord really knows and holds all things together, especially when it feels very gray on a lot of fronts! Oh for more grace to trust Him! :)

Updates:

The Lord is so gracious to me! And all my days I will sing of His everlasting Faithfulness, through His providing Grace! No matter what the circumstances may be, we know that He is good and upright and faithful to keep us firm until the very end...my friend on the phone this morning reminded me that God's Word is what remains and will never fade away. Pointing me to Mark 13:31 in where it says: "Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away." What confidence we have in our Creator God who will never be shaken, even if at the time we feel a little bit shaken! Thank you to my friend, who reminded me of the Gospel...very timely words!

Change is all around me! Which, I do invite but can be hard when its happening all at the same time! I feel a little shaky with the changes, yet I know that it will be for my benefit and growth and that my Anchor in Christ is secure!

• New Job, which means training should start next couple of weeks....more on that later!
• Moving from my campus apartment into a house with a family! This is such a blessing because I didn't ask for this, but the Lord open the door for me! Its a young couple from my church who lives 5 houses down from our church! They recently renovated their entire house and have the upstairs ready for two boarders! There are two rooms upstairs for me and another single girl! So, it will be extremely nice and just all around a great environment to live in! Yet, I do feel a little bitter-sweet b/c I'm going to miss my room-mate now...but we are ending on a good note and she understands that this is going to be helpful for me b/c I will be able to save money and live more cheaply! Such a grace for our Lord! Just really want to payback my school loans as quickly as I can!
• And there is something else, but don't feel free quite yet to blog about it...will eventually, Lord willing! If you know me well you prob. know what the scoop is...so I ask that you'd pray for wisdom in this as well! :)

In total, these aren't the craziest changes ever, but enough to make me not too comfortable, so that the Lord would use this to grow me up and make me mature in Him! And, often I have to admit, when things become too comfortable I can become complacent and less reliant on our Lord...which is the very thing that He is wanting to prevent! I just need more trust, grace, and rest in Christ!

Also, thanks for your prayers because my parents arrived home safely this past Thursday night! They got back to McKinney, TX very simply! Now, they are in Colorado because Dad is receiving some award from his old job...but at least they are back state-side and have access to their cell phones! I've enjoyed talking to them both several times and have heard interesting stories from their travels! Until later....grace and peace in Christ, friends!

Oh to the harder providences of God...

I ask that you'd pray for my parents and that the Gospel of Christ would go forward through this earthquake disaster! My parents have been in China these past several weeks, right in the area of where the earthquake hit! Thankfully, the Lord has protected them and their friends who are there. However, records show that there is a shocking 10 Thousand + who have been killed as a result! There is utter chaos all around them and shortage on food, water, and medical supplies. This is beyond anything I have ever seen in real life, the pictures I've seen look like a movie! I am sobered and reminded of how much we need our Lord to intervene, not only for my parents but for the Chinese Christian church to be bold in witness and declare the glory of God in the face of Christ! That the Kingdom would advance through this natural disaster! Thank you for your prayers! My parents are scheduled to fly home tomorrow (May 15th) yet we are not sure there will be many flights available! Pray that they would be able to return safely and that they'd be bold in faith in the midst of seeing so much tragedy!

So what do I do now? I turn to the One who hears our prayers and is faithful to care for His children! In my dad's email, he mentioned Psalm 46, it couldn't be more fitting to meditate on!

"God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,
though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah
There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy habitation of the Most High.
God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved;
God will help her when morning dawns.
The nations rage, the kingdoms totter;he utters his voice, the earth melts.
The Lord of hosts is with us;the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah

Come, behold the works of the Lord,
how he has brought desolations on the earth.
He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
he breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
he burns the chariots with fire.
“Be still, and know that I am God.
I will be exalted among the nations,I will be exalted in the earth!”
The Lord of hosts is with us;the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah

movin' on up...

guess what?

I may get a different job! Yes, I think I am surprised by this too! I'll let you in on the details soon! For now, please pray for God's wisdom and direction! Just been enjoying and reading in James this past little bit and it's full of nice truth reminding me to pray with-out doubt for God's wisdom, that He is faithful to provide and lead us forward! Totally need His perfect wisdom and insight! This is kind of bitter-sweet...not sure if I'm ready to have a grown up job? eeeeee!! I'll keep you posted...

"If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways."
-James 1:5-8

"But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace."
-James 3:17-18

loving is costly, but worth it

"There is no safe investment. To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything, and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly be broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact, you must give your heart to no one, not even an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements; lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket — safe, dark, motionless, airless — it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. The alternative to tragedy, or at least to the risk of tragedy, is damnation. The only place outside Heaven where you can be perfectly safe from all the dangers and perturbations of love is Hell. I believe that the most lawless and inordinate loves are less contrary to God’s will than a self-invited and self-protective lovelessness…We shall draw nearer to God, not by trying to avoid the sufferings inherent in all loves, but by accepting them and offering them to Him; throwing away all defensive armour. If our hearts need to be broken, and if He chooses this as a way in which they should break, so be it."
-CS Lewis, "The Four Loves"

My dear friend/mentor, Patti Wither's shared this quote with me the other day when I was meeting with her. Reminding me that it is FAR better to love then to walk away. We are called as Christians to be known for our love. Perhaps, that is not the first thing on my mind, I am quick to be so self-centered in love. Oh how I long to point people to the love that has been given to me in Christ. That I would resolve at every station I find myself in to love. Regardless of how I feel, how busy I think I am, or how risky it may seem. It is completely worth it.

How? Why?
Well, now are able to love each other well, unto the glory of God. This is only possible through the work of Christ. He has given us a new heart and has written on our new heart His law (Ezekiel 36:26-28), which can be summed up by "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself"(Luke 10:27). Therefore, we are new creations, the old is gone and the new has come (2 Corinthians 5:17-18). What hope this brings because the Lord is going to continue to provide all the grace I need to love. This is freeing because it's not a love that is built in my strength or my vanity or for my glory. He will cause me to love, despite who I naturally am. In order to point to the One who has the power to change sinners and make them love in the way the Christ has loved us first. This is the mystery of the power of the Gospel at work!

Let us grow in love for each other by bearing with each other and even learning to love when the love is not returned. For ultimately that is the Gospel. Christ loved at all cost. He never stopped going forward to the Cross until His love for His people was fully expressed through the shedding of His own blood. Christ is the ultimate display of love. Therefore, we have hope that He will teach us to love each other and learn to prefer each other over our own interest.

May He give us grace to walk worthy in the manner of which He has called us. May He pour grace over our lives and remind us of the love He has given us, so that we may in turn and love those He has placed around us. Not in vain but simply so we may reflect His love!

"If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing." 1 Corinthians 13:1-3

sad news...but always Hope in the Gospel

Last night I heard some very sad and sobering news (this is post is long, but stay with me) about my Grandpa Rogers (my Mom's dad). I have to say that it didn't come in the timing I thought and in the way I expected, perhaps it never does. Truthfully, I haven't thought of my Grandpa in a good while. That's sad to say, but true. He lived in Long Beach, Oregon all my life...and I hardly knew him.

Now saying all that, this grieves me now when I tell you that he passed away the morning of April 30th. Here's what my Dad and Mom wrote in an email that we all received the other night (and to be honest, I learned more about him through this brief summary of his life...for those who know me well--I have a fascination with Canada, and He's Canadian...I had no idea) :

"On April 30, Manis "Rog" Rogers - your grandfather, passed away. Your grandfather was born November 20, 1916 in Canada. As you are aware he lived a very tough life on a farm and left home after his Mother remarried. He made his way to Iowa and became a baker, later joining the Army during WWII. He spent time in the European theater and at the conclusion of the war came back to Oregon, where he met your grandmother Estella Rogers. Pam was born in 1950 and lived in Beaverton, Oregon where she attended elementary and High school. Rog and Estella had one son (Eddy who lived a hard life... after school working in the commercial fishery industry in Washington). Pam's father left Estella and his family for a life to be lived out along the Washington coast. He became a charter boat Captain, later worked as a commercial fisherman on his own boat. When being a commercial fisherman became to tough physically, as he advanced in years, he received training in auto mechanics and opened his own shop in Long Beach, WA. After selling his mechanics shop he spent part of his time as a gold prospector traveling the West coast panning, and hydro-sluicing, with very modest results. He enjoyed the out of doors and this provided him time to travel and be engaged in the excitement of discovery. His small plot of land in Long Beach, where we all visited, was a special spot for him and in later years became his central pleasure and pass-time. We enjoyed annual visits with him during this later part of his life. In '06, he told us just prior to arriving in Long beach, that he did not want us to visit him because he felt too embarrassed about his loss of a considerable amount of mobility. When we visited him in the Fall of '07 we did not tell him that we were going to visit him... we just showed up and ended up having a good visit.

The executor of his will, Jan Ross and her husband who lives in the Long Beach area, have been wonderful friends for over 40 years. Pam and I spent time with Jan during each visit, and communicated fairly regularly with her about Dad's needs and condition. Justin, Eddy's son, called us a week or so before we left on this current trip letting us know that Dad had again experienced a turn for the worst. Upon medical testing they had discovered growths on his lung and ribs - likely cancerous - though he was not strong enough at that time to have them biopsied. We thought this might have been completed if he had regained his strength (which was uncertain). As we communicated with you, the doctors felt he had six months or so to live, and after discussion with both Jan and Justin we made plans to visit him in Long Beach next month (June). Another complication was that Grandpa Rog had a stroke which hindered his ability to speak - no one was certain if this would be permanent or temporary.

The first morning, after arriving in China, we received an email from Justin letting us know that Grandpa Rogers had passed-on (April 30, 2008). Grandpa Roger had expressed to both of us his earnest desire to not suffer long when it was his time to "go" - he got his wish. Jan and Justin had visited him everyday during his very brief hospital and nursing home stay. It was his explicit wishes that there be no funeral or memorial service for him. He had voiced this to us several times and had even left these instructions in his will. We had discussed his wishes with him about leaving his property in Long Beach to Jan and her husband for their long and faithful care and friendship (40 years) - he once told us, "you guys don't need this little plot of land in Washington". Throughout our married life we prayed for your Grandpa Roger's salvation. Over the last years, we visited him annually and numerous times attempted to share with him about the redemption that could be his in our Lord. To our knowledge, we are unaware of him receiving the Lord Jesus as his savior. Over the last day we have taken time to grieve and pray... his passing no doubt will take time to process, but we have peace that our righteous and loving Lord, who knows each man's heart and their eternal destiny, will show his wisdom throughout his entire creation. We now trust Grandpa Rogers into our Eternal God's hands! Pam and I have been comforted by the words of a verse from an old song and wish to share them with you....

Swift to its close ebbs out life's little day;
Earth's joys grow dim, its glories pass away;
Change and decay in all around I see;
O Thou who changest not, abide with me.

By His mercy we remain with you in His abiding presence! Be comforted in the fact that your Grandpa Rogers did not suffer, lived a long life and had a wonderful daughter, your Mom - Pam. Please pray for her over the next days; we'll be praying for you as well! We look forward to seeing you when we return - we will attempt to call you in the next few days as conditions permit. Attached are two photos which we thought you'd like to have from our last visit with your Grandfather.
All our love,
Dad & Mom"

Wasn't he cute?

Here's a sweet-tender Gospel-centered song:
I Have a Shelter
"I have a shelter in the storm
When troubles pour upon me
Though fears are rising like a flood
My soul can rest securely
O Jesus, I will hide in You
My place of peace and solace
No trial is deeper than Your love
That comforts all my sorrows

I have a shelter in the storm
When all my sins accuse me
Though justice charges me with guilt
Your grace will not refuse me
O Jesus, I will hide in You
Who bore my condemnation
I find my refuge in Your wounds
For there I find salvation

I have a shelter in the storm
When constant winds would break me
For in my weakness, I have learned
Your strength will not forsake me
O Jesus, I will hide in You
The One who bears my burdens
With faithful hands that cannot fail
You’ll bring me home to heaven"

Today, I do feel better. I am reminded of our Father's goodness. That we can really look at God's character and find complete rest. Even though we do not know where Grandpa Roger is today, we do know we have a gracious God who loves sinners. It's a mystery of what actually happened on his death bed. What he was thinking about and if the Lord led him to repentance and faith in Christ. Yet, I don't have to know. And, I guess I'm actually okay with that.

I was pretty low yesterday and more so last night. I was glad that my parents called from China to check on me and see how I was feeling. They know me well, and that I verbally process my thoughts out loud. They were a good listeners to me as I was processing my thoughts. Thank you Mom and Dad for your care for me! And for my sister, April. She was so gracious to me last night as well. She let me cry and explain all the thoughts that were clouding my mind (both rational and irrational) . I love to see the Lord's care and how His care always comes in the right way. Looking at God and His character brings rest. Being reminded of the beauty of the Gospel and that I have a Redeemer, brings deep rest.

The most challenging thing my sisters and I discussed is that we never really had any form of relationship with him. I feel challenged that I never tried to pursue anything with him. We did live on opposite sides of the country...but still. I have this precious gift of the Gospel and I regret not going and sharing it with him, personally. My sisterfriend, Jenn reminded me the other day that people believing the Gospel in not dependent on me. Yes, we are called to go and share, but then to leave it in God's wisdom and hands in leading them to repentance and faith in Christ. The power rest in God alone. Not little Anna! Thank goodness! Thanks Jenn for reminding me of this truth! The Lord is providential and "knew this day long before he made me out of dirt." And so...today I can have rest and have confidence that God is good in all of this and COMPLETELY Sovereign.

The Lord has reminded me how often I don't live life in the right perspective. Death always reminds us that this life is not our home...James 4:13-15 says it best:

"Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”— yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes."

I pray that we would live in such a way--radical obedience and boldness of sharing the goodness of Christ, until He takes us Home! May He give us the sweet grace to do so, for His great Glory!

my big 25th birthday weekend...some highlights!

Lunch with Mierma family

Me and Patti and Mom

Sweet friends from church threw me a surprise

party at the Clothes Closet!

sweet friends

Care group girls

My two set of parents!

My roomie, Chandler

Laughing

My sweet parents came into town to celebrate!

i love hymns...

Whate'er My God Ordains Is Right

1. Whate’er my God ordains is right, Holy His will abideth.
I will be still whate’er He does, And follow where He guideth.
He is my God, Though dark my road.
He holds me that I shall not fall
Wherefore to Him I leave it all

2. Whate’er my God ordains is right, He never will deceive me
He leads me by the proper path, I know He will not leave me
I take, content,What He hath sent
His hand can turn my griefs away
And patiently I wait His day

3. Whate’er my God ordains is right,Though now this cup in drinking
May bitter seem to my faint heart, I take it all unshrinking
My God is true, Each morn anew
Sweet comfort yet shall fill my heart
And pain and sorrow shall depart

4. Whate’er my God ordains is right, Here shall my stand be taken
Though sorrow, need, or death be mine, Yet I am not forsaken
My Father’s care Is round me there
He holds me that I shall not fall
And so to Him I leave it all
©1998 David Braud Music

"pray without ceasing"

"My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth. He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep." Psalm 121:2-4

Our faithful God answers prayers. We all have seen answered prayer, from the big stuff to the mundane requests. Yet, often when I'm in the middle of a certain request that seems so urgent for God to answer, I become over-whelmed with the request that it consumes me. Like God needs to answer it immediately and/or in my way that I think is best! Well, let's be honest this is not good. Who can truly understand the mind of God? Who am I to be so demanding? I have no rights to demand from God, but we are told that we can present our requests to God (Philippians 4:6), He's faithful to hear them. I want to learn the balance of praying without ceasing, but guard against becoming impatient with the Lord when He may be working in other ways that are better for me (that I can't see), and so delaying my requests or perhaps saying no.

More and more I am convinced that I have no clue what I really need. Which is good because I can trust that the Lord does and that He will give me what I need in every station of life. In fact, He has given me all that I need for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3), He has given me His Son. And like the Psalmist said above, He the Keeper of my life. In fact, He is so very different then I am...He never needs to sleep and never grows impatient!

The reason I wanted to share this is because tonight a little prayer of mine has been answered! I starting praying specifically for it Monday night and found out just an hour ago that it has been answered...it was pretty urgent that the Lord would answer it, and He did in His right way. It's nice when God reminds us that He does hear our prayers (even the little ones)...and in the prayers that haven't been answered (like salvation for friends and family,better job, future husband, future stuff in general) I can rest that He knows and is in fact is sovereign over all my prayers and desires and needs! And is giving me exactly what I need for today, so that I may worship Him and depend upon Him.

Praise God that He remains faithful, when I can be so faithless! His providence in my life is always for my good and always for His glory! May we learn to pray without ceasing and walk in confidence that our Father knows and is gracious to His children! Let's keep lifting our hearts to the One who holds all things together, for this is where our true help comes from!

A John Piper Quote from his book Future Grace:

"It's a deepening, ripening, peaceful willingness to wait for God in the unplanned place of obedience, and to walk with God at the unplanned place of obedience-to wait in his place, to go at his pace. And the key is faith in future grace."

Happy Easter! ...here's two songs we sang on Easter Sunday!

Christ the Lord is Risen Today!

"Christ the Lord is risen today, Alleluia!

Earth and heaven in chorus say, Alleluia!

Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia!

Sing, ye heavens, and earth reply, Alleluia!

Love's redeeming work is done, Alleluia!

Fought the fight, the battle won, Alleluia!

Death in vain forbids him rise, Alleluia!

Christ has opened paradise, Alleluia!

Lives again our glorious King, Alleluia!

Where, O death, is now thy sting? Alleluia!

Once he died our souls to save, Alleluia!

Where's thy victory, boasting grave? Alleluia!

Soar we now where Christ has led, Alleluia!

Following our exalted Head, Alleluia!

Made like him, like him we rise, Alleluia!

Ours the cross, the grave, the skies, Alleluia!

Hail the Lord of earth and heaven, Alleluia!

Praise to thee by both be given, Alleluia!

Thee we greet triumphant now, Alleluia!

Hail the Resurrection, thou, Alleluia!

King of glory, soul of bliss, Alleluia!

Everlasting life is this, Alleluia!

Thee to know, thy power to prove, Alleluia!

Thus to sing, and thus to love, Alleluia! "

-Charles Wesley, 1739

See What a Morning

"See, what a morning, gloriously bright,

With the dawning of hope in Jerusalem;

Folded the grave-clothes, tomb filled with light,

As the angels announce, "Christ is risen!"

See God's salvation plan, Wrought in love,

borne in pain, paid in sacrifice,

Fulfilled in Christ, the Man, For He lives:

Christ is risen from the dead!

See Mary weeping, "Where is He laid?"

As in sorrow she turns from the empty tomb;

Hears a voice speaking, calling her name;

It's the Master, the Lord raised to life again!

The voice that spans the years,

Speaking life, stirring hope, bringing peace to us,

Will sound till He appears,

For He lives: Christ is risen from the dead!

One with the Father, Ancient of Days,

Through the Spirit who clothes faith with certainty.

Honor and blessing, glory and praise

To the King crowned with pow'r and authority!

And we are raised with Him,

Death is dead, love has won, Christ has conquered;

And we shall reign with Him,

For He lives: Christ is risen from the dead!"

-Keith Getty, 2003

what Day was yesterday...?

Yesterday...March 21st was my Mom's Birthday!!
She is such a blessing...and I want her to know how much I love her!!


Here's our family's silly Birthday song:
"Happy Birthday Happy, Happy Birthday! This is your day, so have a lot of Fun!
Blow out the candles on your cake and make a wish and we'll serve every body's favorite dish, Happy Birthday Happy, Happy Birthday! This is your day, so have a lot of fun!!"

Thanks Mom for all you do and have done for me all of my life!!! I am eternally grateful for your care and unconditional love that points me to our Christ!!:)

Here is a list of characteristics that make my Mom very Special:
1. Her listening ear
2. Her quick to encourage heart
3. Her love for the Nations and the lost around her
4. Her love for traveling and learning
5. Her love for reading
6. Her care for our family and her church
7. Her quick wit humor!
8. Her great skills in spontaneous tap dancing!:)
9. Her ability to spell crazy hard words!
10. Her teach ability and desire to grow in the Lord!
11. Her graciousness in forgiving quickly when wrong done to her!
12. Her example in submission/helper to her husband, Biblical Womanhood!
13. Her prayers and love for the word of God!

...these are just some ways the Lord has made her and how He has and is transforming her more into the image of Christ! It is so fun to see the Lord working in my Mom's heart, for her good and God's glory!

I hope you had a wonderful day Mom, and that you were super refreshed and encouraged and reminded of God's faithfulness to you all of your days!!

I LOVE YOU! But, Most of All, God has set His Love on you in Christ!

Happy Birthday Happy!

the perscuted church...

Here's a website that helps awareness of what is going on around the world! It breaks us from our little "bubble" in the west and shows us what God is up to around the world! Check it out! And join and be a member in order to see latest news and prayer request! Even though we may not be able to go overseas right now to share our hope in Christ, we have a huge role to play in praying for the ones who are risking their life's in dangerous areas abroad! I pray that God would grow our vision for His heart for the Nations and that we would be obedient in prayer...that the Lord would be exalted among all the Nations...and in that His Kingdom would come! For Christ is the Hope of the Nations and God is gracious in drawing His children to Himself and He won't stop till He gathers His people to worship Him!

I have a desire to "Go" to the Nations...I'm not sure what that will look like? If that means the Lord wants me to be faithful to mobilize His heart for the Nations state-side and be intentional with "loving my neighbor" here, or perhaps He has a place for me over-seas!? I do love cultures and learning from those who are different from me! Please pray that the Lord would direct my steps for my future...for His glory, I pray!

"Be still and know that I am God, I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in all the earth!" -Psalm 46:10

What will be your part in advancing His kingdom? Will it be through the faithful work you do at your job, school, neighborhood, in your family and at your church (all given through His grace and the "good gifts He has prepared in advance for us to walk in")? This to is how His Kingdom is advanced...through His children being faithful to proclaim Him in place He has placed us! Perhaps it will be to "Go"! This has been an increasing desire of mine ever since I hit my college days...for now it's time to wait and see what the Lord has. Perhaps a better question is not "If I will go" but "When will I go?" May He give us a heart that is willing to risk our life...knowing we are not our own and are called to declare His name to all the earth! May He give "the persecuted church" boldness to share the Gospel and joy in Him in the midst of pain and struggle...knowing our destiny...that forever we will be with our King!! How can our mouths not share this hope we have!? And how often I am quick to not speak at all! May God give our hearts compassion for the lost and in truth and in love point them to our Christ! Oh, I need more grace to be faithful to share the Gospel where God has placed me today! Here's some truth in God's Word to remind us of our living hope...may He use His Word to change our hearts and that would change how we live! For His glory....lets be prayer worriers for the persecuted church!

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ." -1 Peter 1:3-7

Snow Day!!

Louisville can get snow! It's amazing to actually see snow and not just ice! We've already have had 3 snow days in the past month! So Fun! We were snowed in this past weekend and I didn't even have to go to work! Instead, we went sliding!! So Fun! I wonder if this will be our last snow day of the season? Even though I'm ready for Spring to come, I'm thankful for this season today and learning to enjoy each season in life. Knowing that it's the Lord who places us where we are for our very good, that we might know Him more. For we have so much to be thankful for! The Lord is teaching me the art of thankfulness and true contentment. This most likely will be a life-time process to grow in thankfulness! He is committed more then I am, to conform me into His image and to make me fully delighted in Him alone (not just the gifts He gives or circumstance). May God continue to change us to be thankful in Him, overflowing from a heart of worship. He has given more than we ever knew we needed, Redemption through His beloved Son! As Christians, we ought to be the most happy, joyful people alive!! I have been forgiven much, so considering Christ should produce genuine thankfulness....even when life's hard and circumstances seem mundane! By His grace, let's look to our Redeemer and walk in thankfulness!! ...Anyone have other thoughts/insights about thankfulness you want to share to help in this journey?!

Enjoy the pics!

"Be joyful always, pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." I Thessalonians 5:16-18

Check out my Slide Show!

I've Been Tagged!!!

Thanks Jill for tagging me!! ...this brings up many funny memories, and great laughs!:)

10 Years Ago:
I was a freshman in high school walkin' the fast lane of Popularity....No wait, let's be honest here. I was the shy, awkward and bit silly and naive. I was on the tennis team and just tried to stay out of the way of upper class man. I think the reason I joined tennis team was for the way "cute" older guys on the team. I played board games on the weekends with my two best friends, which would often end by one of them peeing on themselves (not me) because we were laughing so hard, I can't tell you what we were laughing at...but we often did and often were super silly! Oh the old days that I can laugh at now, for reals. But, thankfully God is merciful to change us and mature us from our stupidity (in which He is still doing).

Things on My To Do List Today:
*Meet with some girls this morning for coffee at 7:30am (and I wasn't late!)
*Work out after that (and I actually did).
*Read for my classes (I still have tons more to read, which is normal).
*Lunch with my friend Esther and then planned to "read" together after! aka, talk more after!
*Work from 6-11pm

What Would I Do If I Suddenly Became a Billionaire?
I think I would freak out and pay for every person I know who has school loans (self-included). Then in my room-mates exact words, "feed Africa, cure cancer, free all air pollution". I'm on board with that...and then send out tons of missionaries to all the nations who haven't heard the Gospel yet. Then, let's be honest perhaps after I finish my masters here, go back to school to study the arts and practice painting under famous artist....that would be so cool. Oh, and did I mention travel, travel, travel! ....And, finish my personal library collection of every book I've ever wanted to own and perhaps get around to read! OK, I'm done, I promise. :)

3 of My Bad Habits:
1. I can't spell very well (and I don't always catch my errors, and being in grad. school to write papers doesn't always work out so well!)
2. Sometimes I don't brush my teeth before bed....I know that sounds gross, but sometimes I'm just too tired and/or lazy to get around to do it....I know that it can't be good because I drink coffee! yuk, I'm grossing my self out....maybe I'll work on that! At least I maintain washing them in the morning regularly.
3. I rarely vacuum my car out and get all the crumbs and junk all out! OK, this is kind of making me seem super dirty...but I'm not that disgusting. I just don't take time to clean it out in a super detailed way. And, so I spill say Diet Coke on the carpet...I think, "oh well, not the first time it's happen" ....maybe I should work on this too!

5 Jobs I've Had:
1. Baby-sitting was my first job.
2. I worked for a small family's insurance company. Needless to say, I didn't last long. It was my first "real" job at 16 and I was left alone in a little office by myself each day. I ended up calling my friends, sisters, mom and just talked with them while I "worked"( I didn't have my own cell phone yet, so I would take my mom's for my personal calling time at work). I was so bored and don't think they really liked me there either...that we had a mutual agreement that I'd stop working there. It lasted all of two months, I'm surprised I made it that long!
3. I worked at the Gap in High School, the one at the Collin Creek Mall....and this fit me very well! I loved working there, until I had to graduate and go to college and grow up.
4. Cleaning houses for some extra cash flow from time to time in college.
5. Working at a Collection agency for Library's is my current job. I have to say, I never saw this coming in a million years. But, it's good for while I'm in school and yeah, it works out OK. Makes me laugh and others too, every time I tell someone!:) I had no clue that library's had collection agencies!!?

5 Things You Might Not Know About Me:
1. I've lived over-seas for a year and went back-packing through the UK and Europe, just being 18 years old (what were my parent's thinking?)
2. I love having my toes painted at all times, even in the winter months.
3. I enjoy a really good cleaning job....I get out my frustration on my tub and 409/bleach my stove like no other, speaking of which my little apartment needs that done again.
4. I just started eating scrambled eggs for the first time since "adulthood" about 8 months ago. I use to hate eggs and think how strange they were, and they are if you think about it. But if you add milk and cheese, and salt; it doesn't get much better for a tasty, cheap meal.
5. I don't have a middle name. In fact, my parents didn't give any of my sisters middle names!

Now I'm Tagging: My room-mate Chandler, my sister Aimee and Ali, and my friend Jennifer Simmans, and anyone who wants to fill this out on your blog....let me know if you do! (not sure if any of these girls will, but might as will ask!:)

Introducing: Jaxson Casey Henegar!

My newest "little man" in my life.....my 5th nephew to be born (I have 2 cute nieces too)! All weekend I kept calling my sister's new baby, "my little man" because he was born with thick dark hair and looks already like a little man! Praise God for his health and easy delivery! And for my sister, April's health too! Everything went so smoothly this weekend! You would never believe that God made his heart to be on the right side of his little chest! What a miracle! Again, showing that it's God who sustains life! What a great picture of God's sustaining power in Jaxson's life! This will be a testimony to God's faithfulness to our family...we didn't know what the implications of his heart being on the opposite side of body would mean? Yet, so far this "little man" is doing really well! He was born at 8 pounds 11 ounces and was 20 3/4 inches long w/ wavy brown hair and great coloring! The doctor's will run some more tests this next month and see exactly what is happening inside his little body! I'm just curious to wonder how it's all working!?

For we know...The Lord is the one who formed him in his mother's womb and is the One who holds all of life together! We praise Him for he was fearfully and wonderfully made and hand-crafted by God's design! It was such a joy to be with my family this weekend to celebrate life and be reminded who is the Author of life!

Psalm 139:13-16

"For you created my inmost being;

you knit me together in my mother's womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

My frame was not hidden from you

when I was made in the secret place.

When I was woven together in the

depths of the earth,
your eyes saw my unformed body.

All the days ordained for me

were written in your book before one of them came to be."

(stay tuned for more family pictures from the weekend to come!)