Moving Forward

This past week has been so busy, and fun! On Monday, we ordered our graduation caps, gowns, tassels, and diploma covers. It said it would take 4-6 weeks, but They arrived on Thursday. Such a day of excitement!!! =) I just had to try it on! Also, Mom started my graduation dress, and my invitations are all printed and ready to go. They are sooo awesome looking!

Tuesday, we had our pastors family over for dinner, and we had fun fellowship, and a game of Apples to Apples. One of my favorite games, if played with the right people! =)

Wednesday, was a pretty calm day for me. We had church in the evening, which is always nice to see my friends in the middle of the week.

Thursday, Two of my friends were over in the afternoon, and all 4 of us girls went to the church for packing the orders in the evening.

Friday, I went to My friends house(our spanish pastors family) to help serve the Spanish valentine banquet, then i spent the night.

Saturday, I spent most of the day with them. We did some sewing, and then a bunch of us played some games, and went out in the woods for a while, and did some just hanging out and talking. =) It was pretty fun.

Sunday, I went back to their house for the afternoon, then on to the spanish service. I had a headache, and was pretty tired and sore from spending part of 3 days with them... Quite a rambunctious group!

And today is back to Monday.... =) back to school... and sewing... and more school... and cleaning... Life goes on!

This past week, i have been reminded of some verses in Ecclesiastes:

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 

"To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

A time to be born, and a time to die;

a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; 

A time to kill, and a time to heal;

 a time to break down, and a time to build up;

A time to weep, and a time to laugh;

a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

 A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;

a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; 

A time to get, and a time to lose;

a time to keep, and a time to cast away; 

A time to rend, and a time to sew;

a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

A time to love, and a time to hate;

a time of war, and a time of peace."

Whats New?

Well, Life has settled back into school routine, and Ive been keeping the normal pace of busy. Church on Sundays, including Playing violin in the orchestra both English services and sunday school, Spanish service, and Nursery sunday school for the spanish service; School Moday through Friday, Monday, coming to the library; Wednesday, church; Thursday Packing orders; Saturday, we have been working at dads basketball games; and back around to Sunday. I enjoy staying busy! I honestly got very lazy and bored during break.

School has been going as well as can be expected. We have 64 lessons left, and our graduation date is 3 months away. Im getting sooo excited!!!! =)

Time is going so fast, I cant believe it is already February... it seems like just yesterday, I was at our church, spending New Years Eve with my most wonderful friends... *sigh* life is slipping away behind me. I have so much to look forward to, and i have to keep myself from spending every moment looking forward. I need to focus on making today count! I need to learn to live in the present, not the future. And I hope you all are too! =)

Psalm 91

Psalms 91 

He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.  I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday. A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee. Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked. Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.  Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.

New Thoughts for the New Year

          My apologies for neglecting to post in so long. So, Happy New Year, 8 days late! =)

 

 

          Last month, I was reading my daily Bible reading and I came across a several verses that stuck out to me. I will take one or two at a time, and share some thoughts.

 

Revelation 2:25

“But that which ye have already hold fast till I come.”

 

Revelation 3:11

“Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.”

 

I realize, I may have taken this verse out of the context, but Through these words, God has allowed me to realized how extremely blessed I am! He has given me so much, and I need to make sure I am cherishing every blessing, and being thankful! It also challenged me to make sure I am doing my best to keep my relationships strong, and ‘holding fast’ to the important things.

 

The other side of this, also, is to be content with what I have and not be striving to always gain more material things, or things I should not have. To praise the Lord for what he has given me, instead of sitting around complaining about what I don’t have.

 

1 Timothy 6:6

“But godliness with contentment is great gain.”

 

 

*****

 

Revelation 3:8

“I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.”

 

This verse has encouraged me, in that, God gives us opportunities and blessings that no one can take away! He has given me many opportunities to serve, and I am very thankful for them. He has also given me friendships that are very special, which no one can take away. And more importantly, he has given me salvation and eternal life!

 

God will bless us when we serve Him, and no one can take away what he has given. Nobody is more powerful than God!

 

 

Romans 8:38-39

For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

 

 

*****

 

Matthew 6:33

“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”

 

         

There is not a person on earth, who does not want their life to go well, their needs to be met, and their selves to be happy! But how do we get blessed?

 

This verse does not just say, “all these things shall be added unto you”... It says FIRST, we must seek God. If we want our lives to go well, and to be happy and blessed, we must FIRST seek God. Before the blessing, comes serving Him with our hearts.

 

Some people might say, “God is pretty mean, to make people serve before he blesses.” But think about what that means, Does the paycheck for the week come Monday morning, before you have labored? No. Work comes first, then the reward.

 

*****

 

 

This is only a handful of verses, but I hope to be able to post more soon. I am running out of time for now.