New Year= New Goals!

Each year I am not really good with resolutions because I don't have or use the discipline to enforce them past a few weeks in Jan!

Well this year is different. I have several personal goals and ministry goals. But the goal I am the most excited about is reading the Bible this year! The whole Bible. I have wanted to for a long time, but have frankly been intimidated by the Old Testament. I love context and knowing all sorts of facts about everything. The only problem with that is I am too lazy to look all of the stuff up! (Sad I know, but I'm just being completely honest!) So this year, no more intimidation, it's time to jump in. I know I may not get it all, but at least I read it all!

So, I plan to write posts about what I read. Maybe not everyday, but about the questions and thoughts I have along the way. Writing this on here is mostly for me, to help hold me accountable.

The Deal:

1. Reading the whole Bible from now until Jan 6, 2012.

2. I am using a chronological Bible reading plan I found on (www.esv.org/biblereading plans)

3. I don't have an ESV just my old NIV Study Bible given by my parents Christmas 2001.

4. I am no Bible scholar and do not claim to be!

5. I intend to learn a lot and am really excited!

6. Any naysayers or critics need not read on :) jk!

Here we go:

A few nights ago I read Gen 1-7.

Here were my lingering thoughts from those chapters:

Genesis can mean: birth, genealogy, or history of origin. Loved this b/c I have only heard of Genesis meaning beginning, which I know is basically the same thing, but I love the definition "history of origin." That def. makes me excited b/c while reading/ getting excited about reading I kept thinking, "it's important for me to know about the first people!" I don't think the Bible is full of stories, It is the word of God and these people aren't characters, they really existed and I plan on knowing about them when I get to heaven!

Gen 1:14 "And God said, "Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark seasons and days and years."

~I so did not remember this, how cool that God wanted us to mark the seasons, days, & years. God knew we would need some way to measure time and He orchestrated that through using the "lights in the expanse of the sky."

Gen 1:29 "I give you every seed bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with see in it. They will be yours for food."

~God is talking to Adam here, I have never picked up on this before that the first food God created for humankind was only fruits & veggies. So God created people to be vegetarians??? I know Jesus talks about the "Bread of Life" and ate bread and fish. So this just makes me wonder what did God intend for us to eat as people.

P.S. I am not becoming a vegetarian b/c of this, but think it is interesting.

Genesis 3: 22 "And the Lord God said, 'The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever."

While reading earlier in chapter 3 about the serpent deceiving Eve I thought, it's like she doesn't even know it is wrong. And she didn't. She didn't have the knowledge of good and evil. But she should have obeyed God, bottom line. vs 2:16-17 "And the Lord God commanded the man, You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die."

Gen 4: 15

I have always wondered what the mark was that God put on Cain. I tried to look it up but didn't find anything!

Thats all for now!

Summer MPD

A little support update:

So as a campus minister I raise all of my financial support. This is one of the most wonderful things. Mostly because it stretches me like nothing in my life has. I mean believing God for your salary is a big deal! I have to face "fear of man" every day doing this. I am thankful for this opportunity to face the junk in my heart with the hope that it will diminish and more or Jesus will grow in my heart!

"I do not look to the world or men to promote me for promotion comes from the Lord"

Psalm 75: 6,7

God is always faithful. He always shows up, I never go hungry, and all of my needs are meet. He also like to throw in some really awesome "gifts." One of those gifts this summer was a new Vera Bradley bag. My love for Vera Bradley started my sophmore year of college and I'm not sure when it will stop! Well, earlier this summer I was carrying a little turquoise hand bag that was starting to look ratty. I asked my mom if it was time I got rid of it. And you know if you're asking that question, than the answer is probably yes! With much sadness, the little turqoise bag found a new home in the good will pile. Either that day or the next day, I went out to my aunt's house. She had a vera bradley bag on her door knob. I commented that it was cute and she asked if I wanted it! I was like "heck yeah!" :) God is in the girly details! I don't know why I always forget this. This picture is of a similar bag, couldn't find the exact style, but its this pattern.

This week I have been in Raleigh raising support. It has been going really well. The first two days I was a little disappointed and down. But today was the best day! I think because it started with a spiritual spanking from this verse:

"Do everything without complaing or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation , in which you shine like stars in the universe..."Philippians 2:14 & 15

After that I was ready to put my head up and do what I needed to do, diappointment or not I had a job to do! And a job I had, I had 4 appointments! They went really well! I now have about $900 of special gifts which will be put towards a new laptop!!! I still have more monthly support to raise but I am confident the Lord will provide that as well, about $520 to go! God is faithful! If He can provide a cute purse, He can surly provide all of my financial support! :)

I finally found "the one"

A planner that is!!
It takes me forever to buy tennis shoes, clothes, and lots of things. Planners especially! Guys don’t understand. The guys I work with sure didn’t. They made fun of me the first time I came in with my planner. But then I watched and all of the girls I know and hang out with have planners too!

Planners hold all sorts of information like people’s birthdays, important reminders, meetings, doctor’s appointments etc. Finding the “right one” for me is crucial! It can’t be too small and it has to have enough space to write everything down!

I started looking for a new planner in May b/c my current one runs out in the end of July. I didn’t find one in Greenville I liked. I went to Target, Walmart, Staples, & Office Depot. Yesterday, I looked in Walmart and Target. I found a really cute one in the office section at Target. It was brown on the outside with giraffe and coral colored on the inside. Very cute, but it was only month to month. So then I walked to the school supply section and look there for more options. I didn't find anything. I called Jayme to look online to see if they had the giraffe one in monthly and day to day. No luck on the website. Well as I was getting off the phone with her, I found "the one!" I looked in that same spot before and didn’t see it the first time. But there it was underneath a pile of other planners.

Sometimes you have to wait for the right one and not settle for something that's not what you really want! Ha! :)

Things Lately

Life has been totally crazy lately. The school year has come to a close and summer school at ECU has started up. We finished all of our VCM staff meetings last week. I only have a few more projects to complete before I can move into partnership development gear! I actually did my scrapbook today in Greensboro!

I finally found an apartment!!! I will be living in a one bedroom at Melbourne Park. Now to pack and figure out all of the furniture. I have furniture at home that I love that was my grandmother's. It is old school cane furniture, and will be really pretty once it is repainted and reupholstered. But that will have to wait until this summer or when I can get to it! I'm thinking blue couches. I think black and white patterned pillows and green accents would be pretty...........

(Not exactly this color blue but love some of these ideas.)

Anyway, on with everything else going on. In a few days I fly to Austin, TX for a staff summit. I am excited to see Elissa and stay in the hotel with her, Kristen, & Mona! Then I'll be staying a few days to see Lindsey and Bryan in Dallas! I am so excited for this whole week! The people, the food!!! I have never been to Texas and Lindsey has wanted me to come since I was a freshman in college so it's about time!

Then when I get back to NC it's more packing and moving into Melbourne. (P.S. I told myself I wasn't going to spend any money on dishes right now, but I found some really pretty white dishes at Pier One for half off! I couldn't leave the store without them!)

Then a week later I go to Baja, Mexico for my first real mission trip!!! (I went in high school with youth group but I wasn't saved then.) So I am so excited about going to another nation, getting completely out of my comfort zone and spreading the Gospel & doing some building projects!

Whew! I am really excited about everything coming up, but a little exhausted at the same time just thinking about everything! I know the Lord will work it all out! He already has! This Friday the last of my money came in for Baja! Now just believing God for $300 more dollars to reimburse me for the plane ticket!

I'm about to put myself to bed so I can rest up for the next few weeks! :)

On the hunt for more music, I found this guy and I really like his voice and this song: God of Our Yesterday by Chris McClarney.

Here are the lyrics:

When we were in the darkest night
And wondered if our eyes would ever see the light
You were there, Lord
When we were in the stormy gale
And wondered if we'd ever live in peace again
You were there, Lord
You were there in the struggle
You were there in the fight
You were there all the time

We praise You - the God of our yesterdays
We praise You - the God who is here today
We praise You - our God as tomorrow comes

So whatever lies ahead
Whatever roads our grateful hearts will come to tread
You'll be there, Lord
We will fix our eyes on You
And know that there is grace enough to see us through
You'll be there, Lord
You'll be there in the struggle
You'll be there in the fight
You'll be there all the time

We praise You - the God of our yesterdays
We praise You - the God who is here today
We praise You - our God as tomorrow comes
We thank you - for grace in our yesterdays
We thank you - for peace in our hearts
We thank you - for joy, as tomorrow comes
We will trust you, God

You're always closer than we know
Always more involved and in control
We will trust our lives to You -
The One who was and is and is to come

Ps. I'm not sure who wrote the song but love the Chris McClarney version!

Suggestions Please!

I am need a little "umph" to my quiet times. Today I looked on amazon at books and cds. It amazes me that I spend money on food and movies but always think Christian books and cds are sooo expensive. (Sad I know.) So this weekend when I get my finances aka tax refund all straightened out, I will be buying some new Christian resources! I am so excited.
Here is what I plan on getting:
The Lies Women Believe and the companion guide (I used mine in college so much the pages are coming out! Love this book and it really is a must have)
Why Not Women
Crazy Love

CDS:
Bethany Dillon, Stop and Listen
I want a Laura Woodley cd but can't find where to buy one, I'm too old school for downloading mp3s!

Any suggestions for anymore books or cds??

40 Days Without Kelly's Korner and Counting!

So I used to read Kelly's Korner all the time! I loved that blog and even read her mom's blog. In all honesty, my love for her blog started by just wanting to read about a lady who has gotten all of the things my heart longs for and to hear her story.

I felt like the Lord was telling me to fast Kelly's Korner during our Break Through 40 fast. I can tell you that every day I really did not fast, I was just not reading the blog. Some days I really did fast, though I'm not even sure I know that number.

During the "fast" what I felt like the Lord was saying to enjoy my life, enjoy the things I do have, while I'm waiting for the things I do want. You know what, I'm happier, I don't think about the things I don't have as much. I realized I really do enjoy my life and am glad to have this season to really pour out to the VCM girls. No I'm not perfect and my life isn't but I enjoy it and It's fun because I can enjoy it with Him! I feel like the relationships I do have have gotten stronger. I also feel like I am way more productive! Most importantly I feel like my relationship with Him is stronger and I feel way more peace in my life!


Ps. i was going to try to find a picture of them, not by going on her blog, but found this blog post about them, it pretty much sums things things up: http://www.startyourfamily.com/2009/04/from-the-nicu-to-home-kelly-stamps-on-motherhood