This weekend…

I will write a couple blog posts. I am determined to fight the indecision, choose a topic, and write.

Still Here!

I’m still here! I promise! Internet has just been down, but now the tech guy is back and hopefully we won’t have as many problems. So, expect some fun posts this weekend about the last week or so! Hope everyone is doing well

Blogging Life

FYI:

Do I plan to blog while I’m in South Africa? Heck yes!  Just because I’m away does not mean that I won’t update.  I want to blog.  I want to keep everyone updated on the day-to-day and the other random things that I blog about.  Maybe my blog will become more interesting and get some more readers I debated back and forth on whether I should start a new blog specifically for South Africa and as of now the answer is no. What do you think? Yes, no, maybe? 

Do I plan to twitter? I don’t know. I won’t have access to internet *that* often so I’m thinking it might not make sense.  I’m playing this by ear for now.

Any other questions? Any other ideas? Let me know!

Lions, Tigers, and Bears, Oh My!

As of 8:32 a.m., I officially signed and faxed my commitment letters. Well, to be more accurate, I signed them last night, but you get the picture.  Commitment letters for what, you say?  Well, the big news that I have been blogging about and Twittering about is finally official, finally happening.  I’m going to South Africa for a year from January 19th to December 6th.  I will be participating in the 1-Year Internship program through Thrive Africa.  I praise God for all of the ways that He has been at work already in allowing this opportunity to come about and how He will continue to be with me through the preparation and the following year.  I have a lot to prepare!  But, I am pumped!  More than anything, I am excited to see God through this process.  My head swirls with all sorts of details and thoughts, but ever since this morning I wanted to blog about this!  There you have it.  The big news.  More to come as I continue to prepare and process and get there.  For now, please pray for my family as they adjust to this drastic change, pray for me as I prepare and as I raise money and get all the details together.  

Snapshot of some of the things I’ll get to do this next year: 

Teach discipleship classes in rural villages
Facilitate pastors’ conferences and other training events
Attend weekly classes taught by full-time missionaries
Host mission teams and engage in relationship evangelism
Serve in the day-to-day operation of Thrive Africa

 

I gave in…

I dove right into the world of Twitter.  I kind of feel like when I started blogging.  I have no clue what I’m doing or how to even begin, but I like it.  We’ll see where this goes.  So, do you Twitter? Who should I be following and why? And feel free to follow my oh so exciting twittering by following the link above. Oh, life, what will you bring next?

Thrive Africa

Ever since starting to read this blog, I’ve been thinking about missions, adventures, where God has called me, and how that looks.  Little did I know, that this post had been written a couple of weeks ago and that a follow-up post would be written for me to read today.  All of that translates to: PRAY for me

A Few Points to Ponder

I’ve read some great posts lately so I thought I would share:

How many more coffee cups are being thrown away today??

I’m skipping along in life without stopping to search for and see the beauty within.

I haven’t felt “safe” with someone for a while.

I am so thankful that I have a great culture to go to each day.

I am not content.  Time to shake things up a bit.

Romans

Apparently not having roomies around turns me into a blogging fiend.  I’m quite surprised with how many posts I have posted so far this month.  Crazy!  Anyway, onto some biblical thoughts tonight

Romans 7:22-24

“For in my inner inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work.  What a wretched man I am!  Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God–through Jesus Christ our Lord!”

Reading through Romans has opened my eyes to everything that we have said in our series at Hope.  The series is titled “Be Killing Sin or Sin Will Be Killing You” or something to that nature.  This verse reminded me greatly that it is WAR and who will come to my rescue? Jesus. Plain and simple.  Jesus will rescue us from this body of death.  

Romans 8:5

“Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.  The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace…”

What am I setting my mind on lately?  Am I thinking about what the Spirit desires or am I thinking about my desires?  Do I constantly seek God or has God been put on the back burner as a nice warm cup whenever I feel like it?

Romans 8:26

“…the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.”

When I am weak and ready to give in, normally I call a friend.  Yes, friends are awesome, but my first cry should go out to God.  For some things, I have become dependent and thankfully friends don’t always answer so I am forced to choose between fighting by myself or turning to God.

Romans 8:28

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

Thank goodness!  Notice the *ALL* things.

Romans 12:1-2

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God–this is your spiritual act of worship.  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, pleasing and perfect will.”

I absolutely love this verse.  So much so that on the bottom of all my pottery you will find 12:2.  If I had to pick a “life verse” this might be it….or maybe Ephesians 5:2.  Love that too.  

 

p.s. While writing these verses, I kept wanting to write down the whole book because let’s be honest.  Most people get a LOT more out of the entire book in context than a few random verses.  As such, I encourage you to go read Romans  I like it, maybe you will too.

I Don’t Understand, I Understand

I saw this on a couple of blogs and so I figured I’d join in on the fun.

Part 1:

I don’t understand how my phone cord at work ALWAYS gets tangled.

I don’t understand why steep and cheap can’t have more deals that I want

I don’t understand why Facebook is still so appealing and easy to waste time on

I don’t understand why I like blogging so much when I don’t know who is reading

I don’t understand how I can get so lost and involved in a book in no time

I don’t understand why bugs freak me out and other animals don’t

I don’t understand why I live in this dichotomy of sporty clothes and girly clothes

 

Part 2: 

I understand that I’m emotional and yet hate showing it

I understand that I am laid-back, flexible and a people-pleaser

I understand that I love to exercise and look sporty

I understand that if I buy something it better be “happy”

I understand I love listening and helping people

I understand Microsoft Access 

I understand that I love making desserts

Okay…

I have too many fun things to write about and I’ve missed blogging so I figure I’ll continue!  I might try to make the blog have more of a single purpose or be more thematic with the blogs.  We’ll see what happens.  I have a wealth of blogging topics and stories so get ready for a plethora of blogs coming on Monday and throughout next week.  Write a comment if you have anything you want me to write on or just for fun.  I do enjoy feedback and thanks for those who commented on the last two blogs!  Hope you’re all enjoying the GORGEOUS weather today before the snow tomorrow… p.s. I edited the last blog for clarification in case you’re interested!