Freedom - Day 6

Day 6

3 Gifts Government 

1- Freedom

2- Freedom to vote for who we want

3- Freedom to worship WHO we want

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery

Galatians 5:1

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Only A Mustard Seed Day 5

Day 5

3 gifts acorn-small

1- Daily vitamins! I know I already mentioned Advocare but the the impact the vitamins have had on my health, training, energy and fitness goals has been amazing! I am thankful daily for Advocare coming into my life.

2- My cross necklace my parents gave me for my 25th birthday. I wear it everyday, all day. It is the one piece of jewelry that always completes. 

3-  I think sometimes we get overwhelmed by how much faith we think we need for God to move in our lives. We feel that we need to be more faithful for God to answer our prayers. When really this verse tells us that having faith the size of only a mustard seed can move mountains.

Speaking of faith...

After a rough day feeling the enemy pry his way into my thoughts

Tearing me down little by little these past couple weeks

Causing doubt and distraction

"God can reverse, restore, revive, and renew. Be on the lookout for His plans that are already in motion right now, even in the midst of your difficult time. He can take any circumstance and use it for your good and His glory. "

BUT God is bigger

I received a text after work tonight that gave me more details on a dream of mine

A dream I was starting to wonder if it would happen

You guys why do we doubt?!

God doesn't promise an easy life with no trials or turbulence

But He does promise to give us the desires of our hearts

He does promise to never leave us 

Oh, how He loves us! 

God knows our hearts desires and wants to bless us!

I was reminded today that our God is bigger than any circumstances or unfulfilled dreams

God is working on our behalf every day

He is strategically moving in our lives, preparing us for His glory

For that, I am thankful. 

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Gathered Together Day 4

"The LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone.
I will make a helper suitable for him."

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Day 4

A gift Gathered, Given, Good 

1- Gathered. One of my very good friends got engaged this weekend! There is something so special when you hear your good friend about to marry the man of her dreams. I am thankful for two hearts gathering to become one. I am thankful for the gathering of family and friends. Thankful for the design of marriage. 

2- Given. One of my student workers was having a rough weekend. I gave her my favorite devotion Jesus Calling. I got this text this morning "Jessie, thank you so much for the book! Can not believe the last two day passages and how well they fit right now. See you tomorrow!" Melts my heart. God is good. 

3. Good. God is good all the time. Gods timing is perfect and good all the time. Thats it:) 

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Never Growing Up Day 3

One of my favorite things to do on the weekends is to run around Greenlake 

But the running is not what I love- obviously :) 

There is something about Greenlake that makes me feel I can dream anything

What are you dreaming about?

Day 3

3 Gifts that start with "N"

1- November. Honestly, I LOVE this month. Maybe it is because I am reminded of the many things, people and blessings I have to be thankful for or that Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays spending it with friends and family.  November is a perfect blend in between fall and winter- between Halloween and Christmas- month here leaves are still changing colors and the beauty still abounds yet more leaves are found on the ground giving us anticipation of the upcoming holiday season- anticipation for the most glorious season and gift 

2- NEGU- The Jessie Rees Foundation. I am in LOVE with his charity. It captured my heart last holiday season and has not let go. Never Ever Give Up is what Jessie held on too and encouraged children during the hard times. Though Jessie lost her battle, she never ever gave up. Her legacy and inspiration lives on through her charity to encourage other children to NEGU. 

3- Never growing up. Now let me explain. I know we have to grow up at some point. We have to move out of our parents house. Graduate school and get real jobs. But you know sometimes it is ok to be a child again. Look at things with childlike eyes. 

Did you ever jump in a pile of leaves when you were young? We did. 

My dad would rake the leaves into a big pile for  my brothers and sister to jump in. 

We would laugh, play, attempt to throw leaves at each other. 

Every fall those memories come back to me as I see the colorful leaves on the ground

So, today as I was running by I stopped and played in the leaves 

No worries about my job, my bills, what I was going to make for dinner

I looked at fall through the eyes of a child

I am thankful I don't have to grow up in every aspect of my life

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His Grace- Day 2

Day 2

3 Gifts Worn

1- My little lion. He was sick on Halloween so fortunetly I was able to come down and see him all dressed up. He is my favorite.

2- Thankful for the abundance of cold weather sweatshirts I get to chose from as I get ready to work an SPU soccer game.

3-  The best thing I wear today is His Grace that covers me Every.Single.Day.

"For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving."

1 Timothy 4:4





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One Thousands Gifts Day 1

One Thousand Gifts 

by Anna Voskamp

So according to the guys in lab coats with thick glasses –  they say November is the month of the year that depression is most likely to spike. Clouds can press low in November, the dark underbelly of things pressing to close. And the guys in lab coats, they also say this: That if you write down 5 things a day you are grateful for Your happiness set point rises like a flame in the dark: you feel 25% happier.  Like a pushing back of the dark. How we behold determines if we hold joy. Behold glory and be held by God. How we look determines how we live … IF we live. The strange quiet paradox of this — our lives change when we receive life with thanks  – and ask for nothing to change. Let the rain fall in November.  Let the clouds scuttle west. Let the kettles whistle of better things. And let the thanks rise.

"And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus"

Phil. 4:19

I am first and foremost thankful for my Lord and Savior

The time I spend with Him  

Finding time to get to know Him

How He lived

How He loved

Growing closer to Him has been one of the best adventures

The most important part of my day

If I have not started these quiet times two years ago

If not for God humbling me to realize how much I need Him

If not for God grabbing a hold of my heart;

This blog, this life I am living in complete surrender to the Lord would not be as complete as it is now

These quiet times are what gives me peace, joy, excitement, surrender and what brings me into a closer relationship with our Savior

 My relationship with Him  allows me to graciously live in complete grace, love, forgiveness and redemption.

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Day 1

3 Gifts Eaten

1- Passion tea from Starbucks- red cups are here! Comfort and the Holidays in a cup!

2- Warm tomato soup during dinner with my parents downtown in Enumclaw. 

3- AdvoCare-  Every.Single. Day. Seriously I never never felt better. I love the feeling of taking better care of my body through the highest quality products. I love this company and opportunity it has given me to reach my fitness goals and life dreams (more on this later)

Will you join me this month?

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Let the Holidays begin!

Before I go to overboard with Christmas (and y'all know I will)

 I wanted to take this month to focus my second favorite holiday

THANKSGIVING

I love tradition

I love having thanksgiving at my parents home

I love waking up on Thanksgiving morning to the fall candle burning downstairs

I love the smell of turkey baking in the oven all day

I love soaking up those last moments of the fall colors, fall leaves and fall decorations

I love the laughter of playing board games all day

I love all the pies my aunt makes

I love the thoughtful, small gifts my mom gives to every guest and allows me to help

I love how my mom and dad have made their home open to anyone who needs a place to go

I love how my dad makes sure we have my favorite appetizer

I love watching a Christmas movie after dessert

I love the feeling of being surrounded by family and friends

I love being reminded of how extremely blessed I am

I am truly thankful

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What are you carving?

Happy Hallloween!

 

 

During this season of carving pumpkins, I am reminded to ask myself

"am I carving enough time out for God?" 

(Yes, I love my play on words)

I have been reminded lately the importance of carving out that time for Him. In our fast-paced society we rarely get to sit in a quiet place. Televisions (ESPN lately) blare. Computers sound out webcasts, Pandora, Spotify (Chris Tomlin Holiday), itunes crank out music at times when we could be seeking solace.

Our emotional lives are much the same

 

When we do not allow time to rest and regroup from the stresses of life, we allow cracks in our spirit that make us emotionally and spiritually fragile.

We keep going at rapid speeds, rarely slowing down long enough to be refreshed and live in the Peace that Gods wants for us.

"Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, 'Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.'"

Mark 6:31

This highlights the fact that even Jesus Himself found it important to get away for a while; to slow down and cease activity. He urged His disciples to get to a quiet place.

In doing so they would find rest. Being alone and quiet would help keep them whole.

So, as the hussle and bussle of the holiday season begins (tomorrow!), and as I get busier with work, athletic events, holiday family/friend get togethers, Pinterest project attempts, baking attempts, I am reminded to take the time to sit in a quiet place and seek Gods peace.

Whether it is in the mornings, at work, during lunch, or before bed, I need to carve out that time to fully relax, refresh and slow down.

 

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With that, here is a preview of what I plan on blogging about all next month :)

 

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Falls like Grace

God's Grace is displayed in the changing of the seasons in nature 

and in the changing of season in our lives

 But God, being rich in mercy, 

because of the great love with which he loved us, 

even when we were dead in our trespasses, 

made us alive together with Christ

— by grace you have been saved—

and raised us up with him 

and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 

so that in the coming ages he might show 

the immeasurable riches of his grace 

in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 

For by grace you have been saved through faith. 

And this is not your own doing; 

it is the gift of God, not a result of works, 

so that no one may boast.

Ephesians 2:4-9

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