Thank You, Amazon.

This morning, I opened my email and found a recommendation from Amazon.com.

The name of the book?
Get Married: What Women Can do to Make it Happen.

Lovely, just lovely.

Lent

This Lenten season, I am trying more than ever to focus on the suffering Messiah. I've always been a part of a church that does an excellent job of incorporating the focus of Lent into all of its services and Bible studies. In years past, I have been somewhat immune to the Lenten journey. I've just walked through the motions without allowing myself to be filled with the Spirit. I think the uncomfortableness of the concept helped me to guard myself from the reality that Christ actually was a human, that He actually suffered, and that he did it all for me. The whole thing is incredible. I feel so unworthy, and in that unworthiness comes an uncomfortable feeling of inadequacy. As Christians, we are not promised to be comfortable. In fact, we are called to follow God even through the valleys. By preparing my heart for the death of Jesus on the cross to save my sins, I am also preparing myself to experience the peace that comes when I hear these words:


Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless and with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever.

Not Me! Monday

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to her blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.




I did NOT spray half a bottle of my friend's cologne on my blanket the other day just because I am obsessed with the scent. Never would I waste something like that!

I did NOT stop to catch my breath after climbing three sets of stairs in the Religion building before my 8 AM class because I am definitely NOT out of shape...

I do NOT waste at least an hour every day playing my roommate in Facebook Scrabble. And when I win, I do NOT secretly gloat inside because I am definitely not competitive at all. Nope, not me!

I did NOT giggle like a five year old when I visited the pool at a university in Charlotte and saw a swimmer in a Speedo. I am NOT immature like that at all.

I did NOT take a picture with my roommate at 3 AM with wacky hair just to prove that we were awake at that hour of the night. I am NOT in bed before any college student on a regular night and I was not tickled pink to be awake that late.

On a more serious note, I definitely did NOT wonder what in the world I am doing at a smaller university in a small town with one stoplight when I saw the wonders of UNC-Charlotte and UNC-Greensboro. I definitely did NOT feel like I was missing out on the big-city life.

I did NOT take off my shoes to run down the germ-infested hallway of a dorm just for the experience. Nope, not me!

I did NOT draw about five hundred circles on my notes this morning in class. I would not EVER absentmindedly doodle during class.

I have not pointed out to as many people as I can find that I will have my own room and bathroom beginning in May for the first time in my life. I am NOT completely obsessed thrilled about the thought of it. That would be ridiculous!

I do NOT still not have a clue where over half of the states are located on a map even though my friends make fun of me weekly. I definitely did NOT fail to learn this. Not me!

Finally, I was NOT totally thrilled when I saw Nutella for the first time this weekend! I was NOT relieved to finally know what the heck MckMama was talking about!

...At a Loss for Words

I've been thinking about forming a coherent blog post for awhile now...it seems like there has been so much stuff going on in my head lately that I haven't been able to formulate words to explain it all. I was just reading someone's away message and the words bring a sense of peace to me.



Things change, plans fail
You look for love on a grander scale
Storms rise, hopes fade
And you place your bets on another day
When the going gets tough
When the ride is too rough
When youre just not sure enough
Jesus will still be there

His love will never change
Sure as the steady rain
Jesus will still be there
When no one else is true
He'll still be loving you
When it looks like youve lost it all
And you havent got a prayer
Jesus will still be there

Time flies, hearts turn
A little bit wiser from lessons learned
But sometimes, weakness wins
And you lose your foothold once again
When the going gets tough
When the ride's too rough
When youre just not sure enough
Jesus will still be there[point of grace]


There are a few situations in my life that I am beginning to realize that I have absolutely NO control over. This is very stressful for me, because let's face it....I'm a slight control freak concerned human being. My sister and her boyfriend of 2+ years broke up this week, so all week I have been worried about her little heart because she is sooo sad and so upset. To make things worse, I am 100% confident that he is holding her back from her potential and dreams. Have I mentioned that I am her overprotective older sister yet? Anyway, I've been in a damaging relationship before and so I know all about how hard it is for her to let go. Anyway, I've just been feeling like she doesn't care how I feel and I feel so helpless because all I want is for her to see her worth.

..........................................................................

God is good though, and His love fills my heart. Even on the days when I feel SO overwhelmed with life's storms and so frustrated with worldly worries, the Lord's grace abounds and brings me a peace that really can't even be described in words anyway.

Snow Day!!

Snow always makes me think of this passage from Psalm 51:

"Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me."

What a glorious reminder that God purifies us and washes us white as snow!

A Thankful Heart...A Few Days Late

• Spending time with my family never ever gets old. Yes, I know that I am nineteen years old and plenty of people might think it's a little silly to enjoy time with family as much as I do. I am so thankful that I am one of the people that realizes the importance of family. I see so many people rebelling against their family (and actually, my brother is a prime example of this...) and wanting to stray as far away from their families as possible. They don't realize the time that you get to spend with your family is precious. I am SO thankful for my amazing parents, grandparents, and siblings, as well as my extended church family.....Being home over Thanksgiving break affirmed this for me. I love going out to breakfast with my daddy, helping him cook unhealthy treats (much to my momma's chagrin), watching TV with him (not so much the football games), and just spending time with one person that can always make me feel better. Talking to my momma and just seeing her hardworking spirit is such an encouragement to me. And oh my dear, my little sister has got to be my favorite person ever! She's just sooo funny and I'm thankful for our close relationship. I can't leave my little brother out. I worry about him and his decisions constantly, but I really savor the moments when he wants has to participate in family events. I am SO thankful for supportive parents backing me up and pushing me forward every step of the way. My grandparents are also a huge blessing in my life, especially the love that they show for each other. I watch as my grandma has selflessly taken care of my poppa since he was diagnosed with cancer even though she is in her eighties herself.


• Ok, so beyond my immediate family is my church family. Zebulon Baptist Church is my favorite!!! I just can't really express that strongly enough. On Sunday, when an older man fainted in the service, doctors/nurses/people with life-saving training ran to his rescue within a matter of seconds. Each member of the church brings their own gifts and talents to encourage the betterment of the entire fellowship of believers. I am especially excited about the Advent season at ZBC...We have the most amazing services during this time!


• I am thankful for my relationship with the Lord and the fact that He loves me enough to give His son for me is so humbling and overwhelming.


• There are many many many more things I am thankful for but I am only going to mention two more. These two things are the two things that I grumble the most about. Education & Work. I am very thankful that my family makes it possible for me to attend college to receive a higher education. Even though I would rather be home or somewhere other than school most of the time, I do realize how important it is for me to continue my education. I am also thankful that I have a job in these uncertain times. Granted, I don't like working all the time on breaks and dealing with sick and angry, impatient people....but I really do learn things from my job and I'm thankful that I even have one.

Oh Joy!

Research Paper
Dr Peterman
....................

A

ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

this makes my week....

actually it makes my semester.


Also, half the campus knows because I frantically squealed and jumped up and down when I saw this....right beside the main academic building. oh well, I don't even care!!