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Let me start off by saying that this Sunday was an extra special one because my mom can home from Nigeria and is not going to go back. So we were in an more emotional state than normal because of the situations surrounding her trip and return home. Also the boys didn't go to church tis week so it was just mom and I and it was awesome to spend that time with her just the two of us (well and everyone else at church).
Mom and I got to church at 7am to setup the coffee ministry and get the treats together. Dad has pulled a muscle out of the river the day before so he stayed home. We pushed through the coffee ministry prep and got done a couple mins before normal so we could get into the sanctuary and take a seat without rushing in and just making it before they start singing.
Worship was amazing, I felt the words I sang them and meant them and was glad to be their praising my God. It was awesome to see all the people come and welcome mom back to church and ask her about her trip. The ones who already knew the story just came up and hugged her and showed her love knowing she had an extremely stressful and trying time.
But most of all, the sermon was deep, it was convicting and it was right on target for what I needed to hear. We went over just 2 verses and they are extremely powerful. Romans 12:1-2 1Therefore, 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[a] act of worship. 2Do 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.
There are two verses so I will tell you the two main things that stuck with me from this sermon.
- Verse 1 - To offer your self as a living sacrifice means to be willing to do it. To offer is to do it out of your own desire to please Him and know that that is what is pleasing to God. You can not do it out of force, ritual, routine, or with an unhappy heart. It has to be your heart's desire to please and worship the Lord as a sacrifice to Him.
- Verse 2 - Not to conform ourselves to the pattern of this world. That we should not be going along and acting as the world acts. Pastor Andy said it best on Sunday, "We should not look ANYTHING like the world, AT ALL!!" There should be nothing about us and about our lives of the world. We should be different, we should be an example and we should be a holy reflection of God's love for other to see and desire to have.
I just loved his quote so much I had to share it with everyone I love. So I had to put te rest of it to go along with it you know...God Bless everyone....Have a great week.
God has really opened my eyes to see what kind of example I am to other people. Am I am Godly example? Do people who see me or hear me talk know I am a Christian without me telling them?
As I see certain things that I do or my friends do, I think about what other people see. I know that our/my heart is God's but do I always show it.
I see the music we listen too and the pictures we take and the things we say and I wonder how it is effecting God. Are we lifting up His name or are we taking it in vain? Are we turning off shows that don't glorify Him or are we laughing at vulgar jokes? Are we talking dirty in our inner circles because they know our hearts so we don't worry about the example that we show our closest friends?
I will be the first to admit that I am at fault for all of these things. Some I have done in the past and TRY not to do now because I have seen my ways. Listening to Christian music is easy to do, I have been listening to nothing but that for almost a year now and I love it more than anything. When I listen to other music, it just so happens that the most unglorifying part gets stuck in my head and I am singing it all day, or worse yet it is the first thing I think of in the morning.
I love nothing more than to wake up singing a worship song that I cherish and start my day off thinking about the Lord.
The main thing that He has put on my heart is for me and others to know that just because we are already Christians and other people know that we are, does not make it ok to act like we aren't saved.
We will be held responsible for the things that we do, say and think. And even though we may not live a wildly sinful life, if we portray it and we act like it then we are no different. We we openly sin and then quote a Bible verse or say Jesus is our everything at the next moment, that is a hypocrit. And when people look in at our lives and see what we think is funny, or think is cute or acceptable to do we are condoning it for other people and we are not being the Godly example that we are called to be.
It is up to use to show people what a different life is: a life of joy and blessings. A life that has an eternal purpose and where we love and support each other unconditionally. A road that is narrow and hard but we have a guide and a friend to walk next to every step of the way. A place to be safe and held close in our Fathers arms so He can comfort us. That is what we are called and obligated to share with others. It wouldn't be fair to them for us to hide God's love and rob them of the same joy and comfort that we have in Christ...."This little light of mine...I'm gonna let it shine. This little light of mine...I'm gonna let it shine. Let it shine. Let it Shine. Let it shine."
Christian, I challenge you to shine your light in the darkness and find those lost souls that are waiting to open their eyes and see the light and feel those arms wrap around them and pull them from darkness.
- I am the only woman in our Home Group (small group that meets on Sunday evenings) that is not a housewife or a future stay at home mom. (No wonder I find it hard to relate sometimes.)
- I should try not to feel dissapointed all the time...in myself, others, events, decisions, just all of it. I feel like I am always feeling disappointed for one thing or another.
- I need to stop being so snappy.
- more sleep...much more sleep would be wonderful.
- I love reading
- I love reading books by Jennifer Weiner..I have almost read all of her books in order...everyone should. They are really good. (Author of In Her Shoes) If you read them read them in order...not that they are a series it just makes a difference. http://www.jenniferweiner.com/
- reading helps me to escape
- reading also can cause me to be unhappy with my own life because of things in a fictional story..Go figure
- reading also can make me feel happy, sad...any random emotion because I am so wrapped up in the story and the characters.
- swimming also helps me feel freeand clear minded. I love to just go underwater and most of the time I wish I had a scuba tank so I could stay underwater for a really long time. I just love how my body feels under there and it is so quiet.
- I wish I was a mermaid...maybe I will dream about it tonight.
- I have been having so many dreams lately. I haven't had this many dreams that I can remember in many years. Every night I dream something different. I don't always remember them but I know I was somewhere else when I wake up.
- I really need some time with my sissy that is why I am extra excited to see her and have the bomby time tomorrow. She is the most amazing person..she just knows me..and that is so important.
You see "tween" is supposed to be a word that describes people that are between the a ages of childhood and teenager. It is for the people who are neither kids or teens. But more and more everyday I feel like I am a "tween", in between Yound Adult and "Grown". I don't really want to be grown but I do want the benefits like stability, money, a good job. On the other hand I want to be a "Young" Adult living life to the fullest, going out with friends, and feeling/being happy and free. The only problem is I don't feel any of these things lately.
Since we have moved, though it was a smart decision for our future, it has been kind of lonely. We have made church friends and we have family here but it hasn't felt the same leaving all that we know of our day to day life and becoming phone pals and or myspace pals to our best friends and companions.
The reason I bring up being a tween is because in Anaheim the friends we hung out with were living a common life with us. Common meaning we have it in common not that our lives are just common. We all worked, but didn't really have careers, some of us were in school, some of us married and some with kids. But our closest knit group had fun together, we enojoyed the same things, we hung out almost every day/night and I never felt out of place or like I didn't have something to say when we were together.
The places that we go now and the people that we are with most often are amazing people and the main thing we have in common is our faith (awesome) but we just don't seem to quite fit. The married couples, even if they are young, have like 3 or more kids and most have their own houses already and are in their "niche" as they say. I am not envious of their lives but I am not in their place yet. I don't wish to be yet but I do want to fit somewhere.
Ricky and I don't have kids and we don't really have any friends here yet that we can just go hang out with at any time. I know it will probably be different when we get into our own place out here. I know it will be somewhat different because we can invite people over and do our own thing whenever we want. So I know it will help but I am still missing the place that we fit into with our dearest of friends. Can't you all just move our to Bakersfield and we can all buy houses and go to Church together and float down the Kern together on inner tubes and swim all through the summer. I just miss you all.
So Ricky and I went to the movies on Friday night (Bad choice since all the weirdies and 3,000 of their brothers decided to go to the same place as us). Anyway while we were walking around the theatre for an hour waiting for our movie to start since the time we wanted was sold out..Ricky turns to me and asks me, "If you found money on the ground what would you do?" Now I saw, "How much?" Then quickly rethink and just say, "I would turn it in." Now mind you I love money and I could always use more of it so it isn't easy for me to say turn it in but I feel that it is the right thing to do. If I had lost it I would hope someone was honest enough to turn it in so that if I had realized it I could try to claim it. But anyway since Ricky asked me you know he felt so inclined to take my advice..RIGHT???...WRONG!!! And he tells me that his logic is that if it is cash and he takes it to the counter than no one will claim it and a worker behind the counter will just poicket it and the owner will not get it back anyway..or someone behind him in line will hear him turning it in and then they will claim it right after Ricky walks away. I still say that no matter what the other people do it is still our duty to do the "right" thing. So what is the "so-called" protocol in this circumstance..if it is cash keep it because no one can prove whose it is?...If it is a wallet turn it in (without rummaging through it) because you are sure whose it is an that would be stealing? What do you think?
I have always loved to read ever since I was little and my Papa used to help me read dinosaur books with huge words in them. Our fav was Diplidocus..I don't know why but it stuck with us all these years even now that he is gone. But anyway, I just finished a book I got from the library, Anagrams by Lorrie Moore. I was turned on to it by Jess. (Thanks!! ) It was good..different...but good. I have been thinking about writing books forever now and I never got started on it because I always thought my book would be too "wishy-washy" like it wouldn't have a sensible direction. After reading this I realize that I could write a book the way I want and it still could be great. I mean the author really just went off on certain tangents and it totally added to the story even though the tangent didn't always have to do with the topic at hand.
Well the reason I was even writing this blog was to say how much I love getting books from the library vs. buying them. I mean when I buy it I rarely read them because I am so picky about what to buy, having to commit forever to my choice, and it isn't always a decent book. But with a library book I am only opening myself up to a trial period. I do not have to commit and I can take home more than one option to flip through and choose the one that fits my fancy at the moment. I can tell by how warn the book is, if many have enjoyed it before me and you used to be able to see who checked it out and on what date but we are too high tech for check out cards in books anymore.
Like the Oh so sexy/smart Carrie Bradshaw (somewhat) says in the SATC movie...They have a certain smell. (Please correct me on this quote if you know what she says)
I came home after a HOT day driving around Bakersfield, without an a/c, looking for some sort of chair type barstool type thing for my classroom. I was sweaty and ready to swim. I came in changed into my bathing suit, walked out of the bathroom and while putting my hair up slammed my elbow into the door jam. I thought it was just my "funny bone" cuz it hurt so bad then I laughed because Ricky laughed at me. But I got in the pool and realized my elbow was bleeding. It was just a minor cut, no big thing, butmy elbow is freakin swollen and it is painful to move. I can't believe, being the tard that I am, I managed to turn hitting my funny bone into a painful, but minor, injury. And I didn't find a chair I wanted that wasn't an arm and a leg...I wonder if they will take a damaged, swollen funny bone arm as payment??
I have been helping at VBS (Vacation Bible School) at church this week. It is over tomorrow and I am kinda sad. I know all good things must come to an end and VBS is actually for the kids but I LOVE it.
I love singing songs and having fun and I feel like a little kid when I am there even if I am helping teach. I am helping with the 2nd grade kids and I love them so much. (I secretly will miss the little ones SOOO much when doing 7th teaching. But I know God has a perfect plan for me.) Anyway...we sing songs and do sign language and motions to the music and I could never get sick of it. This year VBS is Hawaiian themed and today was crazy hair night. I could go on forever but I wanted to let the world know that I am so blessed to even be able to help serve in our church. I also just started teaching 1st-3rd grade Sunday School for the summer and am excited to get closer to the kids and teach them along with learning from them...they are so smart and they know so much about Christ and their faith.
Love you all and Thank You God for all the people you can touch through me and the faith that you give me to serve and enjoy it with a happy heart. I am so blessed and I pray that others are blessed by you through me.
1) Thinking about renting our own place.2) wanting to have my headset and my speakers hooked up at the same time3) picturing my desk and computer life using 2 monitors.4) eager to see my classroom 5) waiting to find out when I can get my curriculum and find out what I am supposed to do.6) SUPER EXCITED to see my Naisy Dew on Friday night and chat it up7) sad that my mom is going to Nigeria and will be gone until July...then home and gone 3 weeks off and on for 18 months. 8) singing VBS songs in my head and ultra excited to go tonight and help out and sing and dance.9) contemplating buying Mary Kay products next week. 10) imagining how I am going to do my hair tonight for Crazy Hair night at VBS11) wishing it was cooler in my room right now12) thinking about going swimming then doing my crazy hair13) going to the Dollar Store to see if they have anything I want for my classroom14) not so sure how I am going to do with the 7th graders but excited at the same time. 15) needing new bras badly...on the real.
Well many of you know I have searched long and hard for my place in the teaching profession. I went to school straight out of college in '99 and finished with my Masters in early '05. My husband and I moved to Bakersfield to be where more job opportunities were.
I am proud to say that our obedience to God as individuals and as a couple has really been a blessing to not only us but our families and our marriage and especially our futures.
I have finally been offered a teaching job for next school year and I am ecstatic. I am excited but I also think I am overwhelmed. Now that I have the job and I ready? Am I capable? Do I even know what I am doing?
I know God will guide me along with my education and colleagues. I have some pretty awesome teacher friends that give me so much wisdom also.
Anyway I am going to be teaching 7th grade Language Arts. I am a tinsy bit scared since I have not prepared for Jr High. But like I keep telling myself I didn't plan for this but God did and he will continue to help prepare me for my kids. And they are officially my kids...not for a day or a couple of days forever...I will have been their 7th grade Language Arts Teacher. (OMG it just sunk in...I can't believe this....YAYAYAYAYAYA!!!!!!)
I wonder why I always hold it when I have to go potty and I hold it until it is an emergency...especially when I am on the computer and then I rush and am uncomfortable. It is really weird. I am doing it right now and that is why I decided to write a blog at that moment in a rush to finish before the emergency was at my "door". Most of my friends know that I do this and they can not understand it but they laugh at me. I also have a sudden urge to go when I am doing one or more of certain things such as 1. looking at greeting cards in the store, 2. browsing at the bookstore, 3. when I get phone calls from my friends, and 4. when I get on the computer. It is very strange and I have tried to come up with real reasons why but I have to admit I am just B.S.ing the reasons and can't really figure it out. I usually curb this feeling in a number of ways like pacing back and forth, shaking my legs, "clenching" (LOL) and so on. I am not really sure why the ONE way that avoid handling this issue is the only way that will solve the issue which would be going to the restroom and stopping this whole process all together. But I guess all of my friends would be lacking one thing to laugh at...and needless to say the emergency has caused more than a few "accidents" as many of you already know.
So I wake up this morning like any normal morning, well for summer anyway since it was 8:30 and I have no work, and I login to my computer. While checking myspace, like there is something exciting to find, I see a banner. This banner causes me to see a vision of myself watching Chuck E. Cheese dancing and singing songs. I then realize that I had some strange dream about me and a party (not a kid's party) and hearing that song they always sing at Chuck E. Cheese's. I can not remember the rest of the dream but I do recall being in a room that did not resemble Chuck E's (I am tired of writing the whole name it is much more quick and fun to say than type...aaawwww). I was in this room and I hear the "oh so familiar" song that they always play, the name escapes me at the moment. I know they sing "We are Family" and something else...anyway I remember that in this dream I thought to myself, "This is a cool song!" and then also thought to myself, "Isn't this the song they sing at Chuck E's?" and at that same moment I turned around to see Chuck E. himself coming into the room and dancing to this song. But this Chuck E. was not like the original. This Chuck E. was ghetto and I mean that in the way of saying he was raggedy. (No offense to all the ghetto raggedy peeps I know or don't know..) Anyway he was dancing and singing (well the music was on anyway and his mouth wasn't moving but his voice is on the speakers..you know that creepy stuff) and I remember thinking this guy is dlooks like he just came off of a week on a crack binge and underneath that suit he is ready to pass out from withdrawals and the cold sweats. Anyway I think I woke up right then but I wish I remembered the rest of the dream before that but maybe it wasn't as awesome a story so it wasn't worth remembering.
I am so excited our doggie came home with us today. The vet gave her some pain meds and some joint supplements to help her deal with her leg and hip issues. It won't really fix anything just prolong her life and help her to be in less pain. So far it isn't really working excellently and it worries me but at least she is able to get around (slowly) and go potty. She is able to sit with us and give us more time with our little love. Thanks for all the peeps whe gave me encouragement. Love Amy
It is looking like our family dog Joey may have to be put down tomorrow. She seems like she is in pain and she can't get up from her bed. It is at these times that you realize just how much you love this animal. It is like they are a person and a part of your family. You show them love all the time and take care of their every need. Since she has gotten older she has been sleeping in the house and she has a bed in almost every room for her to lounge in and sleep. She even loves to use a pillow like a human being. She has begun to love having "her babies" stuffed animals, mostly little hedgehogs that have squeekers. Anyway you realize how sad you will feel when you are sitting on the couch and you look over and her bed is gone and you go out into the back yard and call her name and she doesn't come running. And maybe you find one of her babies and squeek it but she never comes to find you. She has been there everyday loving us and protecting us and being our companion since the summer I was starting 10th grade. That is 12 years of my life where she has been a constant. She is a one-eyed, vocal cord lacking red Queensland healer who has developed some white hairs like any gray-haired old lady and she will be missed. Though it is not official yet my heart is still hurting for her and our family.
