Friday, August 31, 2012

Fight The Good Fight


I have been thinking about this for awhile now, and during my devotion this morning I was convinced and convicted that God needed me to really reflect on this.

Right now I am almost done with the devotion,"Woman After God's Own Heart: 1 Timothy- Pursuing Godliness."

Here is what it said this morning:

"How long must we fight? Paul answers that we should fight until our Lord Jesus Christ's appearing. We are better able to bear up in the battle when we look with eager anticipation to the second Coming. Does the struggle, the battle, of the Christian life ever cause you to look for and long for the return of your Lord? When was the last time you thought of the Lords reappearance? Or should I be asking, do you ever think about the Lords return?"

Talk about being hit on the side of the head! My honest answer would be, of course I dont think about it. Why would He come back and rob me the experience to get married, have children, have grandchildren at that! There are SO many things I haven't experienced yet! He wouldn't dare come back anytime soon... right?

WRONG. Horribly wrong. What selfish thinking on my part. To even think that I deserve anything more than to do what pleases God is selfish. Yes, I am human and yes I do fall into sinful nature all too often. However, we ALL are made by God and for God. Because of that, and because God loves us more than we can ever understand, our purpose in life is to honor God in ALL that I do.  

This got me thinking about my fight. Am I fighting hard enough for God. Am I fighting hard enough to share the gospel with others and through the platform that I have? Am I fighting hard enough to flee from the sins of this world and fix my eyes on what is above and not the worldly materials?

As Christians, we are called to live above the standards of this world. I know I fall all too often to this world. Satan sure knows how and where to attack each and every one of us. It is easy to get caught up the worldly treasures and to lust over material items, and lose control of our thoughts, minds, and bodies. But, our God is big and mighty, and He understands the worldly temptations. However, this does not give us an excuse to give in. That is why it is called a fight. It will be hard. It will be difficult. In the midst of fighting our own fight for faith lets focus upward. He does, however, promise it will be worth it.

" Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is- His good and perfect will."
Romans 12:2
Where are your sights set? As a woman after Gods own heart we are to seek those things which are above and to set our minds on things above, not on things on the earth.

Perhaps if we were fleeing from and following after and fighting hard enough, we might yearn more passionately for His return.

As often as I stumble and temptation is all around me, I am thankful that I have a Savior who forgives and always finds a way to subtly remind me of who He is and to keep fighting the good fight.

Let's look upward together.

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Thursday, August 30, 2012

Quote Queen


I LOVE quotes! I get really inspired by them, I am motivated by them and I am encouraged by them! Thankfully with Pinterest there are so many with fun, creative designs now! If you look at my work space you might get a little "over-inspired" if that is possible. And if you come into my home you will see quotes everywhere. I am not kidding. LOVE them.

Since this blog is to share what is going on in my life at this moment, I thought I would share a few that I am really reflecting on.

Enjoy and get inspired!


 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." Jer. 29:11

"I can do anything through Christ who gives me strength" Phil. 4:13

God created us to live a life of adventure. I am ready to finally jump in.

Power of your dreams.

My life is going in a BETTER direction then I even imagined it would be.

Currently on my desktop background

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Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Thankful

I am sitting outside of Royal Brougham Pavilion at SPU.  I just got done completing a 4.6 mile run with a co-worker. Sadly, I am exhausted physically and mentally! Let's just say running is not my strong point, much less almost 5 miles! However, I am sitting on the steps of a place that has been my home since first walking into this gym a terrified, naive freshman. Little did I know this place would change my life. Almost 7 years now and I am still a Falcon.




Here is a list of things I am thankful for at this moment:

- I am in career I love.
- I am so incredibly passionate about Falcon athletics. Forever a Falcon!
- The responsibility I have with my student employees and the opportunity I get to be a servant leader to them.
- The platform I have to influence college students.
- The platform and opportunity I have to share the gospel through my words and actions.
- The platform I have to extend a helping hand to the community with our student athletes.
- St. Jude Children's Hospital and the role I have with the Up til Dawn fundraiser.
- For my executive board and the opportunity to encourage and inspiring them for greatness and success.

Lastly, I am thankful for Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Without Him in my life my life would be meaningless. He is the one who gives me my purpose and fulfillment in all I do. I can always tell when I seek approval of man and then when my heart seeks Him. It has taken me awhile to realize this and of course there are some many times when I fail and my thoughts escape me but He always find me again and helps me get back on track.

The list of thankfulness could go on and on. I am sitting here in awe of the many blessings my Lord has chosen to give me, more than I deserve.

Thank you for for your love, grace, mercy and blessings.




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Friday, August 24, 2012

Desires

Thoughts this morning...
"Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart."
Psalm 37:4


Love, God



And just because I am in LOVE with the city I live.


Seattle life is beautiful






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Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Fall Y'all!



It is no secret that I absolutley love the fall season. There is just something so comforting about fall. The coziness of sweaters and boots, the smells, foods, pumpkins, football and the leaves changing.

Here are some pictures I took a couple days ago. How can I not get excited for this season!?

Things to look forward too this fall season:

- Arrival of baby Jace!
- Puyallup fair and concerts
- FOOTBALL! Enumclaw Hornets and Seattle Seahawks
- Seahawk vs. Jets game
- SPU fall sports!
- St. Jude UTD retreat with the executive board
- Pumpkin patch, pumpkin spice lattes, pumpkin candles!
- Halloween
- Thanksgiving
- St. Jude- Walk of Wishes




The leaves are changing by the canal- Aug. 13th

Thisnthat- LOVE this store!
Fall y'all!

However, whole point of this blog is to remind me to "enjoy the journey" of this life. I dont want to rush from one season to the next without being truly present and enjoying each moment, opportunity and adventure during that point in my life. Therefore, with a few more weeks of summer I will attempt soak up the last days of summer and enjoy this time of my life! Lets go!





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Monday, August 20, 2012

Live Like That

This song comes on the radio often. It pulls at my heart and I am reminded about the life I want to live. I can feel and see God working in my life and I try and honor Him by the way I live; my decisions , my actions and especially my words. My relationship with Jesus has strengthened so much over these past ten months and I have never felt stronger in my faith. However, God never promised a perfect life once you find Him, but with the peace I feel everyday knowing I am living for Him, and Him in me, keeps me stable and excited about my future.


I don't have all the answers, I don't always do it right or live the way I should, "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God", but because of His love for us I can live everyday with His forgiveness and reassurance that I was made BY God and FOR God. When I have that perspective on my life everything just makes more sense. I pray that I will always strive to live a life that honors God,  a life that shows I am worthy of His love, a life that sets an example and is set apart from the worldly distractions.

"Was I love When no one else would show up Was I Jesus to the least of those Was my worship more than just a song I want to live like that And give it all I have So that everything I say and do Points to You." 



....I want to Live Like That.  


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Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Draw Me Nearer




Every once and while a song comes on my Pandora station during work that tugs at my heart. For those next few moments all I want to do is pray, reflect on life, and thank Jesus for His never ending love, forgiveness, and grace.




Draw me nearer Lord...

Draw Me Nearer
Meredith Andrews

For your nearness Lord I hunger
For your nearness Lord I wait
Hold me ever closer Father
Such a love I can't escape

For your nearness I am hoping
For your nearness Lord I long
Have no need of any other
I have found where I belong
Yes, I have found where I belong

So draw me nearer Lord
Never let me go
Closer to your heart

Draw me nearer Lord
Draw me nearer Lord

In your nearness there is healing
What was broken now made whole
Restoration in it's fullness
Lasting hope for all who come

In your nearness I take shelter
Where you are is where I'm home
I have need of only one thing
To be here before your throne
To be here before you throne

So draw me nearer Lord
Never let me go
Closer to your heart
Draw me nearer Lord

And keep me here, keep me here
There's nowhere else I rather be
So keep me here, keep me here
There's nowhere else I rather be
There's nowhere else I rather be

So draw me nearer Lord
Never let me go
Closer to your heart
Draw me nearer Lord
Draw me nearer Lord
Draw me nearer my Lord
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Monday, August 13, 2012

"Going to the chapel..."

This past weekend on August 11th one of my dearest friends got married! I was honored to be a bridesmaid in one of the most awesome weddings ever.

I have known Mallorys for about ten years. She is part of our bible study group that formed through NBC and with Amy Looker as our leader. She graduated from Western and then then started working in Seattle. We grow close the past year as she lived by me in Greenlake. We play in a volleyball league together, run (and walk!) greenlake often and of course talk weddings, life  and everything in between. She is a wonderful part of my life I was honored to be in her wedding and standing next to her on her special day.




Close up! After a volleyball league game in the winter





Superbowl flag football!





Bridesmaids- Jamie and I
Gotta get beautified!
Starting the morning off right!






It seems like yesterday when we talked about her "vision" of a barn, country vintage chic wedding.
These pictures do not do it justice! The wedding was beautiful. What did women do before Pinterest!?



"Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves.A cord of three strands is not quickly broken." 
 
Ecclesiastes 4:12




Bret and Mallory are a great couple. Truly perfect for eachother. They bring out the strengths and the best in each other. They like to have fun, enjoy the outdoors, and best of all they are not afraid to live life to the fullest! I wish them a lifetime of happiness, love, joy and adventures as they start their new life as husband and wife!

 




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Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Good Morning Sunshine

I have never been a morning person. Ask my mom. She would tell that out of the four siblings I loved my sleep the most. If you woke me up before 11am during my day off you pretty much woke up a monster. I also loved to nap. In college if I had only 20 minutes I would rush back to my dorm for a quick nap. One time before a class I fell asleep on my backpack in our locker room. I woke up with sleep marks all over my face. Very cute for the presentation I was about to give. Needless to say I like love my sleep.

Oh, have things changed...A little background, God has always been a huge part of my life. I did things by the book. I tried to live a moral and ethical life and not break the rules, but I never fully understood what it meant to be in a relationship and to love God. So, in contrast my relationship with the Lord was not my #1 priority in life. I have a great relationship my friends. I love my family but how do I love God? 

Back in fall 2011, one of my best friends recommended a book her bible study was going over called "Becoming a Woman of Prayer." She told me it was a great bible study for beginners not only because it is about God's invitation to deeper intimacy with Him, but also convenient and only took about 20 minutes to complete a chapter and questions. I knew I needed some major help in the prayer department and I longed for some guidance in that area. Therefore, I made a commitment to do a devotion at least twice a week in the morning. Yes, that meant getting up an hour earlier than I normally would. Yikes!

" You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."
Jeremiah 29:13

Oh boy, did I ever find Him...

It has been almost ten months and five more devotionals since my first morning. God, like He promised,  met me half way and has taken a hold of my heart. I can honestly say that mornings are my favorite part of the day. I try to read a chapter each moring during the weekday. However, there are some mornings I am unable to get a devotional in but I still find myself getting up early enough to make breakfast and brew a cup of coffee. There is just something very peaceful and calming starting your day off in the Word and a good cup of coffee.

Along this journey, I also discovered a devotional called "Discovering the Treasures of a Godly Woman: Proverbs 31 -  Woman After God's Own Heart.  The aurthor Elizabeth George has written multiple devotionals for women about different books and people of the Bible. I have really enjoyed her style of writting and her encouraging and wise words! The best part are that these devotions are tailored to the life and purpose of becoming a woman after Gods own heart.

Yes, I enjoy waking up to make breakfast and have my cup cups of coffee, but most of all I long for those quiet moments where I get to learn about Christ and grow in my faith.

I know that as I get older and move into different seasons of my life (marriage, children. etc.) that my morning routines will change and getting that quiet time might become a challenge. However, I finally have found the importance of quiet time & prayer, rediscovered my love for Christ and deepened my desire to grow in my relationship with Him. Now that is something that will never change and be with me through all seasons of my life.



Morning routine-  Make breakfast, brew coffee, enjoy the morning sunrise and dive into the Word.








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Monday, August 6, 2012

Adventures awaits...

Every now and then I get this intense longing for an adventure. I don't know what it is or how to explain it or what I am supposed to do about it! But I do know that some (huge!) part of me desires to go somewhere or do something out of my ordinary routine. I am not saying that I am not incredibly thankful for where I am at or what I have. And it is not an everyday feeling, just something that comes over me every so often.

I came across this email the other day from a co-worker who sent it back in November 2011. I must have just skipped over it because I don't remember reading it. Whatever the case, this email has helped me better understand, appreciate, and anticipate my heart desires... 

------------------------

The Faith of Leap: Embracing a Theology of Risk, Adventure, and Courage


How to Develop a Faith of Leap


"If you’re a Christian, you aren’t meant to live a safe life. You’re meant to live an adventurous life, following wherever God leads you. Anything less than that dishonors God, blocks your ability to grow into the person God wants you to become, and diminishes your contributions to the world.


The only way to truly fulfill God’s purposes for your life is to take the risks God calls you to take – just as Jesus did. So the next time God calls you to take a leap of faith, do so. 


Here’s how to follow God on a great adventure:


1) Stop settling for a mediocre life. A mediocre life isn’t good enough for you, since God intends for you to live a great life every day that you’re alive on Earth. Realize that by settling for mediocrity, you’re missing out on many blessings that God wants you to enjoy and many opportunities to do work that had eternal value.


2) Make Jesus your role model. Jesus’ life was a great adventure, full of risks that demanded courage but led to profound change for the better. As a Christian, God wants you to live as Jesus did, embracing adventure to the fullest. If you shrink back from following wherever God leads you, you’re not honoring Him. But if you love God and other people and make whatever sacrifices are necessary to fully follow where God leads you, you’re emulating Jesus and honoring God.


3) View life as an opportunity rather than as a threat. Ask God to give you a vision of specific ways that He wants you to serve Him in this world. Let that knowledge excite you and motivate you to seek and fulfill God’s purposes for your life every day, instead of worrying about what trouble might come your way each day. Recognize that any control you may think you have over what happens to you is an illusion, so trying to control your circumstances is a waste of your time and energy. Instead, embrace the opportunities that God gives you each day, and make the most of them, trusting that God will help you along the way.


4) Pray for the faith you need to overcome fear. It’s natural to feel afraid when you encounter challenging situations, but you never have to give into the fear that you feel. Pray regularly for fresh doses of faith that will empower you to move forward with what God wants you to do, despite feeling afraid, because God is with you. Read God’s promises to you in the Bible and decide to trust them every day. Direct your fear toward a healthy fear of God (a reverence for Him), since that reverence will help humble you and motivate you to follow God’s guidance in your life – which is the best way to handle life’s challenging situations.


5) Remember that you play a role in the greatest story of all, and it’s urgent that you act. God has given you an important part to play in the great story of what He is doing in the world. If you don’t take action to do your part, the story won’t be the one God wants to write, and our fallen world will suffer even more. But if you do play your part, then you can help bring God’s redemption to people who urgently need it. Don’t delay; act immediately to do whatever God is calling you to do.


6) Build a community of fellow adventurers. Join other Christians at your church and in your local area to unite around common missions. In the process, you’ll encounter God and each other in new ways. Create a culture of adventure in your Christian community, encouraging each other to take the risks necessary to serve well. Tell each other your stories of what God is doing through your lives. Thank heroes in your community for what they’re doing to honor God and help people; study their lives and let them inspire and motivate you to serve in heroic ways yourself. Pair people up with mentors when possible, so they can learn from each other and do more great work in the world. Encourage others in your church to be courageous in their worship, discipleship, community, and mission pursuits, building everything they do around fulfilling God’s purposes.


7) Learn to love. Since God is love, there’s nothing more important for you to learn how to do than to love – God and other people. But real love requires taking risks and making sacrifices. Remember that it was Jesus’ great love that inspired Him to make the ultimate sacrifice: dying on the cross to pay for the sins of the world. Since Jesus has done that for you, thank Him by learning what He is trying to teach you about how to love in your own life, which will involve making the risks and sacrifices that He calls you to make.


8) Don’t be afraid of failure. Realize that it’s worthwhile to try to do whatever God calls you to do, because God wants you to fully use the talents He has given you, and if you never try something, you can never succeed at it. Even if you fail, you’ll fail faithfully, having answered God’s call –and He will teach you valuable lessons in the process. What you learn from your mistakes may make it possible for you to succeed when you try again.


9) Stand up for justice. Whenever you encounter injustice and sense God urging you to do something about it, move out of your comfort zone and take action to help right the wrong. Stir up holy discontent among other Christians to motivate them to work for justice. Practice spiritual disciplines like prayer, Bible reading, simplicity, and silent reflection that will help you purge your lifestyle of sinful habits that can contribute to injustice, such as greed and gossip.


10) Serve wherever God leads you. Don’t limit your Christian service just to your church or Christian charities. Be willing to serve God in secular places, from the PTA at your children’s school to your neighborhood’s watch committee.


Be open to fresh insights from the Holy Spirit. Abandon your preconceived notions of how to do the mission work that God has called you to do in the world. 

Instead, get to know the people you sense God calling you to serve, and ask the Holy Spirit every day to give you fresh insights about how best to go about your work. Then be willing to take whatever risks you need to take to do your mission work according to how the Spirit leads you."



My co-worker left me with this, "fear is the opposite of FAITH but it is key to step into the fear or you will never find GODS call for your life"

Here is to stepping into "fear" and experiencing the many adventures that await...



Here is the link to the book. 




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Sunday, August 5, 2012

Summer has arrived! Finally!

Whenever summer rolls around in the Northwest it is always a guessing game what the weather will be. This summer has not been the best around here until this weekend! We finally hit 80 degrees! 

80 degrees!
My friend Quinn introduced me to a delicious "guilt-free" dessert.  This sweet treat is only greek yogurt plus the brownie mix and 45 seconds in the microwave. I could be in trouble!
The nights cap off with a beautiful sunset. 



Discovered a new favorite breakfast dish! Stuffed ricotta french toast with berries
Gotta drink lots of water! 

Bonfires and smores=summer bliss 
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Thursday, August 2, 2012

Who We Are

Good Morning!
Words of Wisdom

Following Christ isn't something that can be done halfheartedly or on the side. It is not a label we can display when it is useful. It must be central to everything we do and are. 





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Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Blackberries & Chocolate

In lieu of my love for the Olympics I had to change my background. Plus I finally discovered the fun background designs!

Anyway, tonight I took a huge leap in my baking skills.  Usually baking for me consist of buying frozen chocolate chip cookie dough or brownie mix.

However, one of my amazing co-workers and his wonderful daughter Emma gave me a whole bunch of fresh blackberries and instead of using them for my usual yogurt parfaits, I felt like I should expand my efforts a bit. I knew I had only two things for sure; blackberries and phyllo sheets. My roommates and I randomly had phyllo sheets from an event awhile ago but I had no idea how to even use them so, of course, I headed to PINTEREST to get some ideas.

I found some yummy recipes on lots of great blackberry treats. I took some ideas from here, took some ideas there, saw what I had in the refrigerator and badda bing, badda boom! Came up with this yummy treat!

1/2 Greek yogurt
1/2 Fat Free cottage cheese
1 egg
1/2 tsp vanilla
pinch of nutmeg
1/2 fresh blackberries

They were so good I just had to make some chocolate ones!
1/2 cup greek yogurt
1/2 ricotta part skim
1 egg
1/2 tsp vanilla
cocoa powder
1 DOVE dark chocolate square in each one



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