I LOVE it and we have a house that actually allows us to have a GOOD sized Christmas tree in the living room! Granted, it isn't a real tree, but we love it nonetheless!
The other night, Tyler pulled the tree out and we just watched the CMA Christmas Concert and rearranged our house to accommodate this large tree. It was a wonderful night and it was something so simple, enjoying each other, our tree, our home, and the season of our Savior's birth!
This is the season of giving; giving life, love, and joy to others! I want to be THAT kind of giver this Christmas season. Prayerfully, I'll be able to give these things to my students and allow them to see the importance of what it means to give to others. I want to be the life giver that God intended for me to be; that means opening up my home to others, baking for others, being hospitable, and knowing that it's all for the Lord and not myself. I don't desire for this to be a season of selfishness, rather it's a time of giving.
Christ is our life giver! He IS the reason for the season of giving!!!
24 “The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. 25 And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. --Acts 17: 24-25
He gives us "life and breath and everything else." How does that NOT induce a heart of praise?!?! He gives us everything we need. For that, I will praise Him. For that, I can give to others. For that, He deserves my life and all that I can give.
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Psalm 15
Wow...talk about mind-blowing!
Psalm 15
A psalm of David.
1 LORD, who may dwell in your sanctuary?
Who may live on your holy hill?
2 He whose walk is blameless
and who does what is righteous,
who speaks the truth from his heart
3 and has no slander on his tongue,
who does his neighbor no wrong
and casts no slur on his fellowman,
4 who despises a vile man
but honors those who fear the LORD,
who keeps his oath
even when it hurts,
5 who lends his money without usury
and does not accept a bribe against the innocent.
He who does these things
will never be shaken.
My goodness. Do I ever strive to be a person that can dwell in His sanctuary? Or live on His holy hill? If I'm doing this, my whole life must change. There is no way that living a life that pleases the Lord will not contain these characteristics!
When reading this, I feel as though I have power in the Lord while doing these things. I know that
Psalm 15
A psalm of David.
1 LORD, who may dwell in your sanctuary?
Who may live on your holy hill?
2 He whose walk is blameless
and who does what is righteous,
who speaks the truth from his heart
3 and has no slander on his tongue,
who does his neighbor no wrong
and casts no slur on his fellowman,
4 who despises a vile man
but honors those who fear the LORD,
who keeps his oath
even when it hurts,
5 who lends his money without usury
and does not accept a bribe against the innocent.
He who does these things
will never be shaken.
My goodness. Do I ever strive to be a person that can dwell in His sanctuary? Or live on His holy hill? If I'm doing this, my whole life must change. There is no way that living a life that pleases the Lord will not contain these characteristics!
When reading this, I feel as though I have power in the Lord while doing these things. I know that
Monday, July 26, 2010
Teaching Stuff
I've been blessed with a third grade teaching position in Elgin and I could NOT be more excited!!!! :) God is truly wonderful and I have decided to surrender my whole school year to Him since He has blessed me with a classroom, life, and another day to bring praise to His name!
I know that all things will work for His good and I can't wait to see what that is and with what kids and all that jazz!
I know that all things will work for His good and I can't wait to see what that is and with what kids and all that jazz!
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Patience
It's summer. I'm a nanny. :) I enjoy it; the girl is going into 5th grade. There are days that I come home and I LOVE it and then there are other days that I come home and HATE it.
She'll make up songs about how much she hates me, she'll give me death stares, she'll even tell on me to her parents, and things of that nature. All the while, she really does like me. Having this happen to me several times, I have realized that the Lord is teaching me patience. This summer, I will be learning patience and how to wait on the Lord.
He is showing me that life may be difficult and I may not have all the answers, but I must be patient. I must wait. He has everything in His hands; life operates on His time, not mine. Although there are times that I recognize this and blatantly desire the opposite. Why? I am a planner. I like to know where I'll be in couple of weeks. Although, I know that my life is not my own. I am owned by the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He holds the world together! And I am not patient enough to wait on a job, even though I know He has it in His hands. I need not worry. I need not be anxious or antsy. He has my best interest at heart. He desires better things for me than what I could ever possibly imagine. I will TRUST in that, I will HOPE in that.
I find rest and peace in knowing that His hands hold my life together. The fact that He loves me enough to even hold my life together astounds me, for I am one of millions. I am but a grain of sand, and He cares enough for me to have my best interest at heart! How incredible!
God is good!
She'll make up songs about how much she hates me, she'll give me death stares, she'll even tell on me to her parents, and things of that nature. All the while, she really does like me. Having this happen to me several times, I have realized that the Lord is teaching me patience. This summer, I will be learning patience and how to wait on the Lord.
He is showing me that life may be difficult and I may not have all the answers, but I must be patient. I must wait. He has everything in His hands; life operates on His time, not mine. Although there are times that I recognize this and blatantly desire the opposite. Why? I am a planner. I like to know where I'll be in couple of weeks. Although, I know that my life is not my own. I am owned by the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He holds the world together! And I am not patient enough to wait on a job, even though I know He has it in His hands. I need not worry. I need not be anxious or antsy. He has my best interest at heart. He desires better things for me than what I could ever possibly imagine. I will TRUST in that, I will HOPE in that.
I find rest and peace in knowing that His hands hold my life together. The fact that He loves me enough to even hold my life together astounds me, for I am one of millions. I am but a grain of sand, and He cares enough for me to have my best interest at heart! How incredible!
God is good!
Monday, June 7, 2010
Epic Float Trip
The float trip some friends and I took yesterday was the catalyst for Summer 2010!
We took, what we thought was going to be a 3 hour float, and completed our course in 6 hours. :o) Although it sounds crazy, it was enjoyable. However, my body is now burned and loathing me. (I look at the soon-to-be tan, and realize that it will be over soon!)
This summer, all the while looking for a teaching job, I will be babysitting and doing some childcare work! It'll be a good summer: floating the river, swimming laps with Anika, loving on kids, and interviewing for teaching positions! Tan LaRae...have you EVER seen that?!? Nope. But you will! And I look forward to the excitement that this summer will bring. I know that I'll fill my time with books and running and eating tons! S'mores and fun will be had by all!
I have made a commitment to become more physically fit, as well as spiritually fit! What an awesome journey this will be! I'm going to start my running program again tomorrow morning and I will be watching Anika (in which we will go to the pool!), and I am in the process of eating healthier. This will be an adventure and I will keep track of it in this manner...logging what physical exercise takes place each day and then keeping track of making healthy snack choices. We'll see how it goes!
We took, what we thought was going to be a 3 hour float, and completed our course in 6 hours. :o) Although it sounds crazy, it was enjoyable. However, my body is now burned and loathing me. (I look at the soon-to-be tan, and realize that it will be over soon!)
This summer, all the while looking for a teaching job, I will be babysitting and doing some childcare work! It'll be a good summer: floating the river, swimming laps with Anika, loving on kids, and interviewing for teaching positions! Tan LaRae...have you EVER seen that?!? Nope. But you will! And I look forward to the excitement that this summer will bring. I know that I'll fill my time with books and running and eating tons! S'mores and fun will be had by all!
I have made a commitment to become more physically fit, as well as spiritually fit! What an awesome journey this will be! I'm going to start my running program again tomorrow morning and I will be watching Anika (in which we will go to the pool!), and I am in the process of eating healthier. This will be an adventure and I will keep track of it in this manner...logging what physical exercise takes place each day and then keeping track of making healthy snack choices. We'll see how it goes!
Thursday, April 8, 2010
God is good!
DREAMS
by Langston Hughes
Hold fast to dreams
For if dreams die
Life is a broken-winged bird
That cannot fly.
Hold fast to dreams
For when dreams go
Life is a barren field
Frozen with snow.
I LOVE this poem and I discovered it today in a meeting! I think I love this so much because it exhibits the reality of dreams and the motivation they bring to our lives! How important it is for kids to dream and dream BIG..and for adults, too! :o)
We NEED dreams. We NEED to know that there is something more out there for us! The reality of it is, God is all we need! Through Him we have great dreams and aspirations for He has given us desires, passions, and things that allow us to glorify Him in our daily lives! Through Him we dream BIG! Because we know that through Him ALL things are possible!
Mmmm, praise Him!
Friday, April 2, 2010
Jobs
I know that everyone graduating is in a job application frenzy right now, and it stresses me out; however, I know that the Lord will provide me with a job that He finds perfectly fitting for me! How awesome is that?! Yet...here I am, freaking out. Why is it so hard to let the Lord have EVERYTHING? I want to keep the little things, rather than hand it over to Him. I don't want that stress anymore because I know He's got everything in His hands...so why should I fret?
Yesterday, I was talking with my CT and there's a position opening up where I student teach. I love the idea of staying where I'm at: I love the administration, staff, and the kids! I have experience there, I know the people I would be working with...but is it where the Lord wants me? I'm not sure. I would love the position; however, I know that administration will look internally first for people wanting the job: other teachers, tutors, etc. And then they will look to experienced teachers, of which I am not. And then finally they will look for new teachers--that's ME! :0)
It's the whole hierarchy of hiring that stresses me out. I want the Lord to have this part of my life. I've been selfishly harboring it because I thought I could figure it out on my own. I have now realized that I successfully cannot handle the job situation on my own and I never will. I need the Lord to take that from me, so I won't mess it up. I don't wanna be in the way of wherever He wants to place me. I just want to be obedient to His calling.
I am asking for His guidance and direction, and discernment when jobs do come; and praising Him for being my provider! Graduation is just around the corner and I know that great things are to come!
Yesterday, I was talking with my CT and there's a position opening up where I student teach. I love the idea of staying where I'm at: I love the administration, staff, and the kids! I have experience there, I know the people I would be working with...but is it where the Lord wants me? I'm not sure. I would love the position; however, I know that administration will look internally first for people wanting the job: other teachers, tutors, etc. And then they will look to experienced teachers, of which I am not. And then finally they will look for new teachers--that's ME! :0)
It's the whole hierarchy of hiring that stresses me out. I want the Lord to have this part of my life. I've been selfishly harboring it because I thought I could figure it out on my own. I have now realized that I successfully cannot handle the job situation on my own and I never will. I need the Lord to take that from me, so I won't mess it up. I don't wanna be in the way of wherever He wants to place me. I just want to be obedient to His calling.
I am asking for His guidance and direction, and discernment when jobs do come; and praising Him for being my provider! Graduation is just around the corner and I know that great things are to come!
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