I've been reading through the Psalms in the mornings when I first get to school, and God has been using them as a shower of peace in my life. And my favorite thing about the Psalms (about all of God's Word, for that matter!) is that ... this is my 4th journey through them, and I am getting something NEW out of EVERY chapter! Isn't that crazy? And tons of fun? Indeed! ... Today, I just wanted to share a couple of thoughts (passages from the Psalms with perhaps some Mical thoughts too) with you all. :)
Psalm 31:1-10
"In You, O Lord, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame; deliver me in Your righteousness. Turn Your ear to me, come quickly to my rescue; be my rock of refuge, a strong fortress to save me. Since You are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of Your name lead and guide me. Free me from the trap that is set for me, for you are my refuge. Into Your hands I commit my spirit; redeem me, O Lord, the God of truth. I hate those who cling to worthless idols; I trust in the Lord. I will be glad and rejoice in Your love, for You saw my affliction and knew the anguish of my soul. You have not handed me over to the enemy but have set my feet in a spacious place. Be merciful to me, O Lord, for I am in distress; my eyes grow weak with sorrow, my soul and my body with grief. My life is consumed by anguish and my years by groaning; my strength fails because of my affliction, and my bones grow weak."
I have felt much like this Psalm over the past 6 weeks, and I am encouraged to know that the great heroes of the Bible (David, in this case) struggled just as I do now. If you get down to it, they probably struggled FAR more than I do - another thought that is good to think about ... it helps me keep things in perspective. ;) I also like this passage because it talks about God being our REFUGE. I've been searching out the Psalms for the word refuge ... and have been dwelling a bit on what it means for God to be my refuge. Good stuff! Look up the definition of "refuge" in the dictionary, and dwell on it for awhile. God is our refuge! Our shelter! Our hiding place! Our safety and comfort and place of peace from the world's/life's crazies! ;)
And this morning I was reading Psalms 34 and 35. Psalm 34:18 stuck out ... ha! God is so hilarious and great - giving me verses right when I need 'em ... and in a "See, Mical ... I AM taking care of things" kind of way.
Psalm 34:18
"The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit."
Isn't it great how God brings reminders that pinpoint EXACTLY how we are feeling and give us hope and a promise for all of our needs? Yep, it's great!
Alrighty ... back to homework! Just wanted to share some cool Psalms with ya'll today! Keep reading your Bibles! Love you all!
. . . about life lessons, parenting lessons, and faith lessons learned and LEARNING!
Monday, September 29, 2008
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Happy Thoughts!!! :D
So I have two thoughts to share with ya'll tonight. :) Happy thoughts!
#1 - I have the BEST friends in the world! I hung out with many of them all afternoon. We had lunch at Fazoli's .... and ya know, true friends can always tell when you're "not right." They can always tell when you've been crying or when your demeanor is out of the ordinary ... yep, another rough day for me ... but I was so encouraged that my friends could tell from the moment I got to lunch. Yay for Ben, Alex, and Matt! :D I heart you guys! ... So we ate lunch, and then we headed to Beasley's Orchard for an afternoon of food and a cornmaze and football! Way too much fun! And even though my team got whomped on in football, I got to tackle Ben once, score a touchdown or two, and get high fives from Matt Harris. The side hug from Ben, conversations with Alex, laughs with Jesse, and the smiles from Matt were also a boost! Yay for friends! And yay for MY AMAZING friends who NEVER cease to boost my spirit!
#2 - Youth group (Common Ground was tonight) was amazing today! We had folks from Grace Fellowship, Pittsboro United Methodist, and Calvary all at our church, and it was a great encouragement!!!! ... I FINALLY worked up the courage to talk to the Pittsboro folks ... not that they're scary people or anything, I'm just not SUPER outgoing by nature - I have to work at it! So I put my "wanna be" boldness into action, and it was great! I introduced myself to their entire youth group - a group of about 15 middle school and high school students. :) I even remember all of their names!!! And later that night, I talked with a girl named Chelsey - she loves musicals just like me! A girl named Alissa got excited to talk to me - even shared that her birthday was this week ... and it was just fun to be liked. :) And my favorite! A guy named Matt asked me if I was coming to the next Common Ground ... I said "Oh yeah!" and he said "sweet," and then proceeded to tell me that he plays the bass for their worship band at Pittsboro UM. He was so excited to tell me! It was great! Soooo exciting!
Out of all the crazy things happening in my life. Out of all the "lack" of direction God is giving (yeah, it's not really a lack of direction ... it's just Him waiting to tell me ... trying to stay positive here!) ;) ... but out of all the crazy things God has taken away and allowed into my life over the past 6 weeks, YOUTH GROUP is THE experience/ministry/CALLING (Yes, Ben - I'm called!) ;) ... in which I KNOW God is saying "Rock out, Mical! Serve! Love! Pour yourself into these girls (even the guys to some extent)! Be my vessel! THIS is what I'm calling you to do right NOW!" It is pretty exciting!
God is continuing to heal and restore in many areas of my life. I'm gonna have down days ... I'm human. What can I say? ;) But God is soooo faithful "to will and to act according to His good purpose" (Philippians 2:13). God is soooo faithful to complete the good work He started in me - and in YOU! (Philippians 1:6). He is soooo faithful to work things out for our good ("for those who love Him and have been called according to His purpose" - that's me! That's you!) (Romans 8:28). He HAS plans to "prosper [us] and not to harm [us], plans to give [us] a HOPE and a FUTURE!" (Jeremiah 29:11). He is soooo faithful to guide us and teach us! (Psalm 25:4-5 and Psalm 32:8). And He promises to heal and restore comfort to us! (Isaiah 57:18-19). WOW! No matter how down I get some days ... I am excited that I have these promises to hold onto! Our God is faithful!
Keep leaning on HIM for STRENGTH! Keep seeking His face! Keep loving on Him as He lavishes YOU with His mighty and never-failing LOVE! Don't give up! Don't even think it! Don't let your sorrows, your broken heart, your messed up circumstances pull you away from Jesus! Don't let your focus get off of HIM! LOVE HIM! CHERISH HIM! SERVE HIM! SEEK HIM ALL THE HARDER THIS WEEK! Make this your #1 goal this week - to spend more GENUINE and QUALITY time with your SAVIOR!!!! THAT is what MY #1 goal is for this week!!!!! (And be sure to keep me accountable! Ask me how I did/how I'm doing this week!)
Our God is faithful! Lean on Him this week!!!! That's what I'm gonna do!
"Oh, HEAL and RESTORE us, Lord. Be GLORIFIED IN and THROUGH us!!! We LOVE YOU, ALMIGHTY Lord and God!!!!!!"
#1 - I have the BEST friends in the world! I hung out with many of them all afternoon. We had lunch at Fazoli's .... and ya know, true friends can always tell when you're "not right." They can always tell when you've been crying or when your demeanor is out of the ordinary ... yep, another rough day for me ... but I was so encouraged that my friends could tell from the moment I got to lunch. Yay for Ben, Alex, and Matt! :D I heart you guys! ... So we ate lunch, and then we headed to Beasley's Orchard for an afternoon of food and a cornmaze and football! Way too much fun! And even though my team got whomped on in football, I got to tackle Ben once, score a touchdown or two, and get high fives from Matt Harris. The side hug from Ben, conversations with Alex, laughs with Jesse, and the smiles from Matt were also a boost! Yay for friends! And yay for MY AMAZING friends who NEVER cease to boost my spirit!
#2 - Youth group (Common Ground was tonight) was amazing today! We had folks from Grace Fellowship, Pittsboro United Methodist, and Calvary all at our church, and it was a great encouragement!!!! ... I FINALLY worked up the courage to talk to the Pittsboro folks ... not that they're scary people or anything, I'm just not SUPER outgoing by nature - I have to work at it! So I put my "wanna be" boldness into action, and it was great! I introduced myself to their entire youth group - a group of about 15 middle school and high school students. :) I even remember all of their names!!! And later that night, I talked with a girl named Chelsey - she loves musicals just like me! A girl named Alissa got excited to talk to me - even shared that her birthday was this week ... and it was just fun to be liked. :) And my favorite! A guy named Matt asked me if I was coming to the next Common Ground ... I said "Oh yeah!" and he said "sweet," and then proceeded to tell me that he plays the bass for their worship band at Pittsboro UM. He was so excited to tell me! It was great! Soooo exciting!
Out of all the crazy things happening in my life. Out of all the "lack" of direction God is giving (yeah, it's not really a lack of direction ... it's just Him waiting to tell me ... trying to stay positive here!) ;) ... but out of all the crazy things God has taken away and allowed into my life over the past 6 weeks, YOUTH GROUP is THE experience/ministry/CALLING (Yes, Ben - I'm called!) ;) ... in which I KNOW God is saying "Rock out, Mical! Serve! Love! Pour yourself into these girls (even the guys to some extent)! Be my vessel! THIS is what I'm calling you to do right NOW!" It is pretty exciting!
God is continuing to heal and restore in many areas of my life. I'm gonna have down days ... I'm human. What can I say? ;) But God is soooo faithful "to will and to act according to His good purpose" (Philippians 2:13). God is soooo faithful to complete the good work He started in me - and in YOU! (Philippians 1:6). He is soooo faithful to work things out for our good ("for those who love Him and have been called according to His purpose" - that's me! That's you!) (Romans 8:28). He HAS plans to "prosper [us] and not to harm [us], plans to give [us] a HOPE and a FUTURE!" (Jeremiah 29:11). He is soooo faithful to guide us and teach us! (Psalm 25:4-5 and Psalm 32:8). And He promises to heal and restore comfort to us! (Isaiah 57:18-19). WOW! No matter how down I get some days ... I am excited that I have these promises to hold onto! Our God is faithful!
Keep leaning on HIM for STRENGTH! Keep seeking His face! Keep loving on Him as He lavishes YOU with His mighty and never-failing LOVE! Don't give up! Don't even think it! Don't let your sorrows, your broken heart, your messed up circumstances pull you away from Jesus! Don't let your focus get off of HIM! LOVE HIM! CHERISH HIM! SERVE HIM! SEEK HIM ALL THE HARDER THIS WEEK! Make this your #1 goal this week - to spend more GENUINE and QUALITY time with your SAVIOR!!!! THAT is what MY #1 goal is for this week!!!!! (And be sure to keep me accountable! Ask me how I did/how I'm doing this week!)
Our God is faithful! Lean on Him this week!!!! That's what I'm gonna do!
"Oh, HEAL and RESTORE us, Lord. Be GLORIFIED IN and THROUGH us!!! We LOVE YOU, ALMIGHTY Lord and God!!!!!!"
Saturday, September 27, 2008
"Me" Poem :)
Wow! 3 posts from me in one day! Aren't you excited?! ;) Well, when I submitted my "Where I'm From" poem, I remembered a poem I wrote during an IUPUI University Writing Center staff meeting. (Yep, we do fun stuff in the UWC!) We wrote "Me" poems. This poem is kind of a fill-in-the-blank poem. The idea is to write your first name on the first line. 3 (or more) characteristics that describe you on the second line, "relative of ".... (fill in the blank) on the third line, "lover of" ... on the 4th, "who feels" ... on the 5th, "who needs" ... on the 6th, "who fears" ... on the 7th, "who gives" ... on the 8th, and "resident of" ... on the 9th line. Lastly, you write your last name as the last line. This is what my "Me" poem looks like. :) Steal this for your own blog, so I can get to know you better! Yay! Enjoy! :)
"Me" Poem
Mical
A loving, striving, encouraging goofball.
Relative of Wesley Robert (my little brother).
Lover of Jesus, people, and music.
Who feels nervous yet excited.
Who needs overwhelming joy.
Who fears broken relationships.
Who gives encouragement.
Resident of Danville, Indiana - my favorite town in the world!
Masterson.
This poem was written at the UWC staff meeting a day before school started. If I were to re-write this poem now (and I am!), then it would look like this.
Mical
A loving, striving, encouraging goofball.
Relative of an amazing group of friends called family.
Lover of Jesus, people, and music.
Who feels completely broken yet at peace (most of the time).
Who needs overwhelming joy and a hug.
Who fears broken relationships.
Who gives encouragement.
Resident of purpose in Christ alone.
Masterson.
Slightly different. Yeah ... God is faithful. Have a great Saturday, blogger friends! :D
"Me" Poem
Mical
A loving, striving, encouraging goofball.
Relative of Wesley Robert (my little brother).
Lover of Jesus, people, and music.
Who feels nervous yet excited.
Who needs overwhelming joy.
Who fears broken relationships.
Who gives encouragement.
Resident of Danville, Indiana - my favorite town in the world!
Masterson.
This poem was written at the UWC staff meeting a day before school started. If I were to re-write this poem now (and I am!), then it would look like this.
Mical
A loving, striving, encouraging goofball.
Relative of an amazing group of friends called family.
Lover of Jesus, people, and music.
Who feels completely broken yet at peace (most of the time).
Who needs overwhelming joy and a hug.
Who fears broken relationships.
Who gives encouragement.
Resident of purpose in Christ alone.
Masterson.
Slightly different. Yeah ... God is faithful. Have a great Saturday, blogger friends! :D
"Where I'm From" Poem
Hey again! I was reading Judy and Hannah's blogs the other day, and I noticed that they both have poems on their pages ... specifically the "Where I'm From" poem. I'm not a big poem person, but poems that help us get to know each other better are oober fun! (or uber fun - whichever you like). I decided to steal their idea ... so here's my "Where I'm From" poem. After you read it, you should steal it too! Enjoy! ;)
Where I'm From
I'm from
Sharing my birthday with my little brother.
From Aladdin, a circus, pirates, and spies all before my 12th birthday.
From "demon child" cured by consistent spankings.
I'm from
Homeschooling, a struggle to read, and restless learning.
I'm from "one of the guys," spy clubs, and tree houses.
From a mostly forgotten childhood.
I'm from
A mom who works hard and perseveres,
A dad who encourages and provides,
And late night conversations and card games with my little brother.
From a spiritual and emotional foundation that will carry me through the rest of my life.
I'm from
Church every Sunday morning, every Sunday night, every Wednesday night.
I'm from application teaching.
From NIV Bible study, note-taking on NIV pages, and prayer journals.
I'm from
A LOVE for public school and GROWTH from public school.
From "You're our shooting leader on the Danville Middle School 'B' Team."
From overweight, out-of-shape 8th grade cut from the basketball team.
From a freshman in high school giving up basketball to sing.
From Warrior Choir, showchoir, and FCA.
I'm from
Growth through trials,
lessons learned and learning.
From pain and joy and heartache and hope.
I'm from God being the "strength of my heart and my portion forever."
Where I'm From
I'm from
Sharing my birthday with my little brother.
From Aladdin, a circus, pirates, and spies all before my 12th birthday.
From "demon child" cured by consistent spankings.
I'm from
Homeschooling, a struggle to read, and restless learning.
I'm from "one of the guys," spy clubs, and tree houses.
From a mostly forgotten childhood.
I'm from
A mom who works hard and perseveres,
A dad who encourages and provides,
And late night conversations and card games with my little brother.
From a spiritual and emotional foundation that will carry me through the rest of my life.
I'm from
Church every Sunday morning, every Sunday night, every Wednesday night.
I'm from application teaching.
From NIV Bible study, note-taking on NIV pages, and prayer journals.
I'm from
A LOVE for public school and GROWTH from public school.
From "You're our shooting leader on the Danville Middle School 'B' Team."
From overweight, out-of-shape 8th grade cut from the basketball team.
From a freshman in high school giving up basketball to sing.
From Warrior Choir, showchoir, and FCA.
I'm from
Growth through trials,
lessons learned and learning.
From pain and joy and heartache and hope.
I'm from God being the "strength of my heart and my portion forever."
Favorite Family Ever: Bumblebee
Alright. So I've waited long enough to talk about some special friends. My favorite family in the world - the Cooks/Adamsons gang! :) This family has been a sense of comfort, friendship, and humor in my life for the past 15 years (since we started going to Calvary back in 1993). They are some of my favorite people ever!
So my first story (or couple of stories) is about my friend, Melissa. I've only known Melissa for a year or so, but she is apart of this amazing family (Jason's fiance - you'll hear about Jason in later posts). :) Melissa is one of the sweetest people I know! Crazy competitive! Fun, cute, and kind. Two of my favorite memories of Melissa involve an encouraging talk and the word "bumblebee."
This past summer I went to the Wheeler Mission (now the Shepherd Church) camp with James ... we were hanging out with crazy and loved inner city kids for three days. James really needed some more guys to help, so I asked Jason to come along. And since Jason and Melissa are attached (:)), Melissa came along in the afternoons when she got off work. Melissa, Emily, and I were taking some downtime from the kids one night at camp. We were talking in an empty room in one of the cabins. I don't remember how this conversation started, but Melissa started talking about how she and Jason thought I was a great person. I wish I could remember the context. But she said something to the affect of "When Jason and I know you like someone or are friends with them, we agree they must be pretty cool people. We hold them to your standards." ... It wasn't a long conversation - something short within the bigger conversation - but it made my night. I think a lot of Jason and Melissa, so for them to love and accept me and even think I'm a good judge of character, is a great encouragement!
And the bumblebee. This story is amazingly simple but oh, so fun! ... So ... I laugh a lot. A LOT! If you know me well, you can vouch for this! My friend Adam (also a member of the Cooks/Adamsons gang) says that one of my "spiritual" gifts is laughter. Ha! Ha! .... I can't help it. Laughing is pretty much my favorite thing to do. But anyways ... Christina Adams (a great girl from my youth group), along with many other people, get a huge kick out of my constant laughter. Especially the fact that I'll laugh at just about anything - it doesn't take much for me to get going! ;) So Christina, Melissa, I, and the rest of the SoZo gang, were at youth group one Sunday night this summer, and I was laughing (just as much, if not more than usual). So Christina and Melissa called me over from across the room ... they wanted me to laugh at something obscure and ridiculous. I walked over, and Melissa said, "Hey, Mical. ... Bumblebee." I kind of stood there for a second, gave them a weird look, and then laughed. They were both excited to see that saying some random word made me laugh. They started laughing too. (See! Laughing is a good thing - it's contagious!) My new nickname for Melissa is bumblebee. Good times. .... So yeah ... a simple story ... but fun.
Melissa is a pretty fun gal. I'm glad we're friends. :)
So my first story (or couple of stories) is about my friend, Melissa. I've only known Melissa for a year or so, but she is apart of this amazing family (Jason's fiance - you'll hear about Jason in later posts). :) Melissa is one of the sweetest people I know! Crazy competitive! Fun, cute, and kind. Two of my favorite memories of Melissa involve an encouraging talk and the word "bumblebee."
This past summer I went to the Wheeler Mission (now the Shepherd Church) camp with James ... we were hanging out with crazy and loved inner city kids for three days. James really needed some more guys to help, so I asked Jason to come along. And since Jason and Melissa are attached (:)), Melissa came along in the afternoons when she got off work. Melissa, Emily, and I were taking some downtime from the kids one night at camp. We were talking in an empty room in one of the cabins. I don't remember how this conversation started, but Melissa started talking about how she and Jason thought I was a great person. I wish I could remember the context. But she said something to the affect of "When Jason and I know you like someone or are friends with them, we agree they must be pretty cool people. We hold them to your standards." ... It wasn't a long conversation - something short within the bigger conversation - but it made my night. I think a lot of Jason and Melissa, so for them to love and accept me and even think I'm a good judge of character, is a great encouragement!
And the bumblebee. This story is amazingly simple but oh, so fun! ... So ... I laugh a lot. A LOT! If you know me well, you can vouch for this! My friend Adam (also a member of the Cooks/Adamsons gang) says that one of my "spiritual" gifts is laughter. Ha! Ha! .... I can't help it. Laughing is pretty much my favorite thing to do. But anyways ... Christina Adams (a great girl from my youth group), along with many other people, get a huge kick out of my constant laughter. Especially the fact that I'll laugh at just about anything - it doesn't take much for me to get going! ;) So Christina, Melissa, I, and the rest of the SoZo gang, were at youth group one Sunday night this summer, and I was laughing (just as much, if not more than usual). So Christina and Melissa called me over from across the room ... they wanted me to laugh at something obscure and ridiculous. I walked over, and Melissa said, "Hey, Mical. ... Bumblebee." I kind of stood there for a second, gave them a weird look, and then laughed. They were both excited to see that saying some random word made me laugh. They started laughing too. (See! Laughing is a good thing - it's contagious!) My new nickname for Melissa is bumblebee. Good times. .... So yeah ... a simple story ... but fun.
Melissa is a pretty fun gal. I'm glad we're friends. :)
Friday, September 26, 2008
Needing Guidance?
Needing direction in your life right now? ........... ME TOO!
Here's a couple of verses I found in my Bible reading last night. Read these ... dwell on them ... take time with these by yourself (I mean - get your own Bible and look them up too!). ;)
Psalm 25:4-5
"Show me Your ways, O Lord, teach me Your paths; guide me in Your truth and teach me, for You are God my Savior, and my hope is in You all day long."
I have really been needing guidance lately ... and God hasn't been very clear ... but He HAS been faithful. These verses are a new prayer in my life ... and for the life of a good friend. And I also wanted to encourage you, fellow bloggers. :) Keep trusting that God WILL guide; He WILL direct; He IS teaching; and we DO have HOPE in Him! Keep dwelling on His word. Keep looking to Him for all the strength and hope and healing and restoration that you so desperately need. Keep asking Him for guidance. He WILL give it!
Seek His Face! That's what I'm striving after!
Here's a couple of verses I found in my Bible reading last night. Read these ... dwell on them ... take time with these by yourself (I mean - get your own Bible and look them up too!). ;)
Psalm 25:4-5
"Show me Your ways, O Lord, teach me Your paths; guide me in Your truth and teach me, for You are God my Savior, and my hope is in You all day long."
I have really been needing guidance lately ... and God hasn't been very clear ... but He HAS been faithful. These verses are a new prayer in my life ... and for the life of a good friend. And I also wanted to encourage you, fellow bloggers. :) Keep trusting that God WILL guide; He WILL direct; He IS teaching; and we DO have HOPE in Him! Keep dwelling on His word. Keep looking to Him for all the strength and hope and healing and restoration that you so desperately need. Keep asking Him for guidance. He WILL give it!
Seek His Face! That's what I'm striving after!
Thursday, September 25, 2008
One of the Best Inventions Known to Man (okay ... to Mical)!!! ;)
You guys!!! I experienced one of the coolest inventions I've ever seen - today - at 4:45pm!!! Listen to this! .........
I was in the UWC (the IUPUI University Writing Center) helping make copies of some of our handy handouts .... we headed downstairs to room 313 to make 20 copies of each. I went to learn how to use the copier ... so the fellow tutor I was with was gracious enough to let ME press all the buttons and put the paper in the appropriate places - in other words, I got to do the fun stuff. :D I mean, who doesn't like to push buttons? Seriously! So ... as if copying double-sided pages wasn't enough, I found out that this creative machine STAPLES THE PAGES FOR YOU!!!! Can you believe that?! ... I was flipping out! I had everyone in the surrounding area laughing at me because I was so awed! Who thought of THAT?! Someone amazing ... that's all I'm saying. Wow! AND ... as one last amazing note - this copier hole punches too! Wow! I told my fellow tutor, "Soon they'll be cooking our meals for us!"
Wow. Technology is advancing! Crazy! And oh, so much fun! (I'm sure this invention has been around for awhile - I'm out of the loop ... but it is one of those inventions that deserves praise - not the Jesus kind of praise, of course ... but the "wow, that's pretty cool" kind of praise!)
Too much fun! ............ I know I'm waaay too excited. But ya know, it's the simple things! ;)
That's all for now. :)
I was in the UWC (the IUPUI University Writing Center) helping make copies of some of our handy handouts .... we headed downstairs to room 313 to make 20 copies of each. I went to learn how to use the copier ... so the fellow tutor I was with was gracious enough to let ME press all the buttons and put the paper in the appropriate places - in other words, I got to do the fun stuff. :D I mean, who doesn't like to push buttons? Seriously! So ... as if copying double-sided pages wasn't enough, I found out that this creative machine STAPLES THE PAGES FOR YOU!!!! Can you believe that?! ... I was flipping out! I had everyone in the surrounding area laughing at me because I was so awed! Who thought of THAT?! Someone amazing ... that's all I'm saying. Wow! AND ... as one last amazing note - this copier hole punches too! Wow! I told my fellow tutor, "Soon they'll be cooking our meals for us!"
Wow. Technology is advancing! Crazy! And oh, so much fun! (I'm sure this invention has been around for awhile - I'm out of the loop ... but it is one of those inventions that deserves praise - not the Jesus kind of praise, of course ... but the "wow, that's pretty cool" kind of praise!)
Too much fun! ............ I know I'm waaay too excited. But ya know, it's the simple things! ;)
That's all for now. :)
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
CHAOTICNESS!
Wow. I've been thinking a lot. My mind has been going crazy! ('Cause God is at work!!!) .....I've been thinking .... Some of the GREATEST lessons I've ever learned ... lessons that have not only STUCK with me but that have CHANGED me ... have all come from PAIN.
My spirit has been a huge ball of CHAOS for the past 6 weeks ... August 9th. Yep, I remember the day the chaotic spirit took over. I'm pretty much a spaz anyway ... so when crazy stuff hits, I become a spaz with a spirit that won't stop doing backflips and summersalts .... a spirit that won't stop going up and down and back and forth and - ahh! ... Okay, so in mentioning my chaoticness (yep, I just made up a new word!), I have been listening to an amazing song over and over and over again. The lyrics don't beat around the bush. And they are the story of my life right now. Good stuff ....
WHATEVER YOU'RE DOING (by Sanctus Real)
"It's time for healing, time to move on. It's time to fix what's been broken too long. Time to make right what has been wrong. It's time to find my way to where I belong. There's a wave that's crashing over me, and all I can do is surrender
Chorus: Whatever You're doing inside of me ... It feels like chaos, but somehow there's peace. It's hard to surrender to what I can't see, but I'm giving in to something Heavenly.
Time for a milestone. Time to begin again. Reevaluate who I really am. Am I doing everything to follow Your will, or just climbing aimlessly over these hills. So show me what it is You want from me. I give everything; I surrender ...To...
Whatever You're doing inside of me ... It feels like chaos, but somehow there's peace. It's hard to surrender to what I can't see, but I'm giving in to something Heavenly.
Time to face up, clean this old house. Time to breathe in and let everything out. That I've wanted to say for so many years. Time to release all my held back tears.
Whatever You're doing inside of me. It feels like chaos but I believe ... You're up to something bigger than me ... Larger than life, something Heavenly. Whatever You're doing inside of me. It feels like chaos but now I can see. This is something bigger than me ... Larger than life, something Heavenly. Something Heavenly.
It's time to face up ... Clean this old house. Time to breathe in and let everything out."
This song is EXACTLY my life right now!!!!! Chaoticness! And yet God brings peace. Chaos. Chaos. Peace.
Psalm 62:8 --- "Trust in HIM at ALL times, O people; POUR OUT your hearts to HIM, for GOD is our REFUGE."
Isaiah 26:3 --- "You (God!) will keep in PERFECT PEACE him whose mind is STEADFAST, because he TRUSTS IN YOU."
My spirit has been a huge ball of CHAOS for the past 6 weeks ... August 9th. Yep, I remember the day the chaotic spirit took over. I'm pretty much a spaz anyway ... so when crazy stuff hits, I become a spaz with a spirit that won't stop doing backflips and summersalts .... a spirit that won't stop going up and down and back and forth and - ahh! ... Okay, so in mentioning my chaoticness (yep, I just made up a new word!), I have been listening to an amazing song over and over and over again. The lyrics don't beat around the bush. And they are the story of my life right now. Good stuff ....
WHATEVER YOU'RE DOING (by Sanctus Real)
"It's time for healing, time to move on. It's time to fix what's been broken too long. Time to make right what has been wrong. It's time to find my way to where I belong. There's a wave that's crashing over me, and all I can do is surrender
Chorus: Whatever You're doing inside of me ... It feels like chaos, but somehow there's peace. It's hard to surrender to what I can't see, but I'm giving in to something Heavenly.
Time for a milestone. Time to begin again. Reevaluate who I really am. Am I doing everything to follow Your will, or just climbing aimlessly over these hills. So show me what it is You want from me. I give everything; I surrender ...To...
Whatever You're doing inside of me ... It feels like chaos, but somehow there's peace. It's hard to surrender to what I can't see, but I'm giving in to something Heavenly.
Time to face up, clean this old house. Time to breathe in and let everything out. That I've wanted to say for so many years. Time to release all my held back tears.
Whatever You're doing inside of me. It feels like chaos but I believe ... You're up to something bigger than me ... Larger than life, something Heavenly. Whatever You're doing inside of me. It feels like chaos but now I can see. This is something bigger than me ... Larger than life, something Heavenly. Something Heavenly.
It's time to face up ... Clean this old house. Time to breathe in and let everything out."
This song is EXACTLY my life right now!!!!! Chaoticness! And yet God brings peace. Chaos. Chaos. Peace.
Psalm 62:8 --- "Trust in HIM at ALL times, O people; POUR OUT your hearts to HIM, for GOD is our REFUGE."
Isaiah 26:3 --- "You (God!) will keep in PERFECT PEACE him whose mind is STEADFAST, because he TRUSTS IN YOU."
AMAZING thoughts from Alex! :D
Oh my goodness! Go! Right now! To Alex's blog! Read her post "Submission and Stillness." (To get there, click on the "Rant, Repose, and Ruminate" link under Fellow Bloggers on my page).
It is an AMAZING message that will convict and encourage you in your walk with Jesus! Beware though! This post is NOT for the faint of heart!
GO!!!! Check it out - right now!!! :D
Have a blessed day, my blogger friends! We serve and AMAZING and FAITHFUL and INCREDIBLE God!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :D
It is an AMAZING message that will convict and encourage you in your walk with Jesus! Beware though! This post is NOT for the faint of heart!
GO!!!! Check it out - right now!!! :D
Have a blessed day, my blogger friends! We serve and AMAZING and FAITHFUL and INCREDIBLE God!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :D
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Just Some Thoughts :)
Alright. Once again, I should be doing homework. But I'll get to it right after this post! Honest! God's been pouring on the peace this morning in the midst of some sadness, so I'm gonna share!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
A song - "Blessed is the One" .... if you can get ahold of the Daniel Doss Band on iTunes or by going to the store to buy it or in some way, shape, or form - do it! If God is bringing craziness your way or taking some things away from you or allowing hurt into your life .... the lyrics to this entire cd have been an amazing comfort.
"Blessed is the one who trusts You. Like a tree that CANNOT be moved." ... chorus - "Blessed is the one who trusts You, FAITHFUL, JUST, and GOOD ... SHEPHERD of my HEART. Lead me to where You are, for I will trust You."
Good stuff! God is the SHEPHERD of our hearts! Isn't that an amazing thought!!!??? Shepherds watch over their sheep; they protect them from wolves/bears/lions/crazy trials and tribulations! They leave the 99 to find the ONE and bring her back! My one heart ... God cares about my one, little heart. And He cares about yours too! Trust Him with it!!!!!!!!
Another song - "Beauty from Pain." If you are going through pain right now ... listen to this Superchick song. The lyrics are amazing - EXACTLY what I've been going through and what I'm COMING OUT OF!
Chorus: "After all this has passed, I still will remain. After I've cried my last, there'll be beauty from pain. Though it won't be today, someday I'll hope again. And there'll be beauty from pain. You will bring beauty from my pain."
NO MATTER WHAT is going on in your life right now! Pain? Jesus is standing at your side, PULLING YOU THROUGH! He's gonna bring BEAUTY from that pain!!!! TRUST HIM FOR THAT! I am. :)
A passage of scripture - Psalm 20.
I've been reading through Psalms for my morning devotions, and I arrived at Psalms 19 and 20 this morning. The Psalms are good! Read 'em! ... Today!!! This Psalm is my prayer for all of you who are hurting and healing from wounds God has allowed into your life (By the way, they are there to GROW you!!!! - I'm growing through mine!).
"May the Lord answer you when you are in distress; may the name of the God of Jacob protect you. May He send you help from the sanctuary and grant you support from Zion. May He remember all your sacrifices and accept your burnt offerings. MAY HE GIVE YOU THE DESIRE OF YOUR HEART AND MAKE ALL YOUR PLANS SUCCEED. We will shout for joy when you are victorious and will lift up our banners in the name of our God. May the Lord grant all your requests. Now I know that the Lord saves His anointed; He answers him from His holy heaven with the saving power of His right hand. Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. They are brought to their knees and fall, BUT WE RISE UP AND STAND FIRM. O Lord, save the king! Answer us when we call."
Yeah! Yeah!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Doesn't that just give you a BOOST?! Me too! .... Keep leaning on Jesus! Some crazy things are happening in my life right now ... God is calming my heart, but wow! Crazy! All I know is that OUR GOD IS FAITHFUL!!!
KEEP TRUSTING HIM! :D
A song - "Blessed is the One" .... if you can get ahold of the Daniel Doss Band on iTunes or by going to the store to buy it or in some way, shape, or form - do it! If God is bringing craziness your way or taking some things away from you or allowing hurt into your life .... the lyrics to this entire cd have been an amazing comfort.
"Blessed is the one who trusts You. Like a tree that CANNOT be moved." ... chorus - "Blessed is the one who trusts You, FAITHFUL, JUST, and GOOD ... SHEPHERD of my HEART. Lead me to where You are, for I will trust You."
Good stuff! God is the SHEPHERD of our hearts! Isn't that an amazing thought!!!??? Shepherds watch over their sheep; they protect them from wolves/bears/lions/crazy trials and tribulations! They leave the 99 to find the ONE and bring her back! My one heart ... God cares about my one, little heart. And He cares about yours too! Trust Him with it!!!!!!!!
Another song - "Beauty from Pain." If you are going through pain right now ... listen to this Superchick song. The lyrics are amazing - EXACTLY what I've been going through and what I'm COMING OUT OF!
Chorus: "After all this has passed, I still will remain. After I've cried my last, there'll be beauty from pain. Though it won't be today, someday I'll hope again. And there'll be beauty from pain. You will bring beauty from my pain."
NO MATTER WHAT is going on in your life right now! Pain? Jesus is standing at your side, PULLING YOU THROUGH! He's gonna bring BEAUTY from that pain!!!! TRUST HIM FOR THAT! I am. :)
A passage of scripture - Psalm 20.
I've been reading through Psalms for my morning devotions, and I arrived at Psalms 19 and 20 this morning. The Psalms are good! Read 'em! ... Today!!! This Psalm is my prayer for all of you who are hurting and healing from wounds God has allowed into your life (By the way, they are there to GROW you!!!! - I'm growing through mine!).
"May the Lord answer you when you are in distress; may the name of the God of Jacob protect you. May He send you help from the sanctuary and grant you support from Zion. May He remember all your sacrifices and accept your burnt offerings. MAY HE GIVE YOU THE DESIRE OF YOUR HEART AND MAKE ALL YOUR PLANS SUCCEED. We will shout for joy when you are victorious and will lift up our banners in the name of our God. May the Lord grant all your requests. Now I know that the Lord saves His anointed; He answers him from His holy heaven with the saving power of His right hand. Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. They are brought to their knees and fall, BUT WE RISE UP AND STAND FIRM. O Lord, save the king! Answer us when we call."
Yeah! Yeah!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Doesn't that just give you a BOOST?! Me too! .... Keep leaning on Jesus! Some crazy things are happening in my life right now ... God is calming my heart, but wow! Crazy! All I know is that OUR GOD IS FAITHFUL!!!
KEEP TRUSTING HIM! :D
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Mical's Wish List
Hey! So I just got the idea to post my wish list on here! You all should do it too!!! (Maybe I'll keep your wishes in mind for your next birthday!) ;) ... The thought just hit me. :) And knowing the kinds of things that I like (that I WANT) can help you know me a bit better, I think. Yeah! I'll post my "wish list," and you post yours! Then we'll know more about each other. Yep ... let's do it! ;)
Mical's Wish List (as of right now anyway) ... oh, and these are MATERIAL things ... the things I REALLY want are of considerably more depth than little goofy things. Ha ha!
MICAL'S WISH LIST:
#1 - the new David Phelps CD!!! "The Voice" - I'm usually in the store the DAY it comes out! But I have been so broke lately that I have been buying little necessities with spare change! I am so blessed that my parents are generous! They keep me afloat sometimes!
For those who don't know, David Phelps is THE BEST SINGER IN THE WORLD!!!!! I'm serious! You will NOT find a better singer! Anywhere! He used to sing in the Gaither Vocal Band, so if you like Southern Gospel music (rockin' 4-part male harmony!!!!!!!!!!!) then check out some of the Gaither music (WITH David, of course! ... He is no longer in the band - sadness). Or just look him up in Contemporary Christian music aisles - he has great solo albums out!
Okay ... #2 - the new Superchick CD! "Rock What You Got" - I'm a big fan of Superchick. They have some crazy sounds at times, but oh, so fun! And their lyrics are REAL - real life experiences!!!! Songs like "Crawl" and "Beauty from Pain" and "Stand in the Rain" have been an amazing blessing as God has been taking me through many trials as of late! Good stuff! Check 'em out sometime! Read their lyrics!
#3 - a New American Standard WIDE MARGIN Bible (bonded leather cover)!!!!!!!!!!!! (This really should be #1 on my list because I want one sooooo badly!) I LOVE to write in my Bible, and I just don't have enough room! I am almost through my entire Bible, and I grew up on the NIV. (Yes, I haven't read the entire Bible yet. That Old Testament is a trip! Numbers and Song of Solomon to go, and then I'm through it though!) I heart the NIV version, but I've heard that the NASB is closer to the original Hebrew ... and that's what my Pastor uses to teach 95% of the time ... and yes, Ben ... what the all-amazing Grace folks use too! ;) Ha ha! ... I've also been trying to find new ways to study my Bible, and I think starting to read through the whole Bible in a new version (the NASB) will be helpful in continuing to shape my foundation of scripture. :) That will be the FIRST thing I buy from this list when I'm not quite so broke! :)
#4 - a volleyball. Yep, volleyball is my favorite sport. My car trunk is full of sports balls/equipment for when me and the HG fam get together for some fun. I think I have everything in there except a volleyball. Okay ... so maybe I need a frisbee too. ;)
#5 - a new pair of crocs. Yes, I know they are ridiculous looking shoes, but they are sooooo comfy! It's like wearing slippers all day long! I have had mine for just over a year, and they have huge holes in the bottom ... but I can't bring myself to throw them away. I think they are my favorite material item that I own (after my Bible)!
Hmm ... I think that's all. Good times! What are some things on YOUR wish list??? ;)
Mical's Wish List (as of right now anyway) ... oh, and these are MATERIAL things ... the things I REALLY want are of considerably more depth than little goofy things. Ha ha!
MICAL'S WISH LIST:
#1 - the new David Phelps CD!!! "The Voice" - I'm usually in the store the DAY it comes out! But I have been so broke lately that I have been buying little necessities with spare change! I am so blessed that my parents are generous! They keep me afloat sometimes!
For those who don't know, David Phelps is THE BEST SINGER IN THE WORLD!!!!! I'm serious! You will NOT find a better singer! Anywhere! He used to sing in the Gaither Vocal Band, so if you like Southern Gospel music (rockin' 4-part male harmony!!!!!!!!!!!) then check out some of the Gaither music (WITH David, of course! ... He is no longer in the band - sadness). Or just look him up in Contemporary Christian music aisles - he has great solo albums out!
Okay ... #2 - the new Superchick CD! "Rock What You Got" - I'm a big fan of Superchick. They have some crazy sounds at times, but oh, so fun! And their lyrics are REAL - real life experiences!!!! Songs like "Crawl" and "Beauty from Pain" and "Stand in the Rain" have been an amazing blessing as God has been taking me through many trials as of late! Good stuff! Check 'em out sometime! Read their lyrics!
#3 - a New American Standard WIDE MARGIN Bible (bonded leather cover)!!!!!!!!!!!! (This really should be #1 on my list because I want one sooooo badly!) I LOVE to write in my Bible, and I just don't have enough room! I am almost through my entire Bible, and I grew up on the NIV. (Yes, I haven't read the entire Bible yet. That Old Testament is a trip! Numbers and Song of Solomon to go, and then I'm through it though!) I heart the NIV version, but I've heard that the NASB is closer to the original Hebrew ... and that's what my Pastor uses to teach 95% of the time ... and yes, Ben ... what the all-amazing Grace folks use too! ;) Ha ha! ... I've also been trying to find new ways to study my Bible, and I think starting to read through the whole Bible in a new version (the NASB) will be helpful in continuing to shape my foundation of scripture. :) That will be the FIRST thing I buy from this list when I'm not quite so broke! :)
#4 - a volleyball. Yep, volleyball is my favorite sport. My car trunk is full of sports balls/equipment for when me and the HG fam get together for some fun. I think I have everything in there except a volleyball. Okay ... so maybe I need a frisbee too. ;)
#5 - a new pair of crocs. Yes, I know they are ridiculous looking shoes, but they are sooooo comfy! It's like wearing slippers all day long! I have had mine for just over a year, and they have huge holes in the bottom ... but I can't bring myself to throw them away. I think they are my favorite material item that I own (after my Bible)!
Hmm ... I think that's all. Good times! What are some things on YOUR wish list??? ;)
A Great Conversation ... and another found PROMISE from the Lord!
Conversation! Isn't it great!!!??? Conversation is one of favorite things ever! For those who know me well, I'm sure you know I love to talk(!) ... loudly and excitedly, most of the time! ;) Ha ha! And conversation is one of my favorite things to do! I just love people! So therefore, I love to talk with them ... since that's what we human beings tend to do from time to time. ;)
I had a GREAT conversation with a friend on Thursday night, and it was one of the most encouraging, uplifting conversations I've had in awhile. One of the most God-centered conversations, for sure! Don't you love it when you meet people who are just bursting with Jesus!? (Alex is that new friend I'm talking about, by the way!) :) .... It was a great time! We sat and talked about Psalm 37 (one of her favorites) for awhile, and then we moved through the rest of the Psalms and even into Isaiah and Jeremiah and Proverbs ... talking about all of the verses we had underlined in our Bibles. It was great! Hearing Alex talk about the way God was using His word in her life was inspiring and exciting. It gave me a bit of a push to get me through the rest of my week.
During our trip through Psalms, Proverbs, Isaiah, and Jeremiah .... I "stumbled across" a word from the Lord! One, I believe, He meant specifically for me at that moment! I've been in real need of guidance, healing, and comfort over the past 6 weeks, and God has been giving it - a lot - over the past week. :)
Isaiah 57:18-19 says .... "I have seen his ways, but I will heal him; I will guide him and restore comfort to him, creating praise on the lips of the mourners in Israel."
WHAT A PROMISE!!! God is faithful! The EXACT things I need in my life right now, all in one verse! And all because God provides godly friends to share CONVERSATION with! Amazing stuff!
Conversation .... you should try it sometime - and often! :)
I had a GREAT conversation with a friend on Thursday night, and it was one of the most encouraging, uplifting conversations I've had in awhile. One of the most God-centered conversations, for sure! Don't you love it when you meet people who are just bursting with Jesus!? (Alex is that new friend I'm talking about, by the way!) :) .... It was a great time! We sat and talked about Psalm 37 (one of her favorites) for awhile, and then we moved through the rest of the Psalms and even into Isaiah and Jeremiah and Proverbs ... talking about all of the verses we had underlined in our Bibles. It was great! Hearing Alex talk about the way God was using His word in her life was inspiring and exciting. It gave me a bit of a push to get me through the rest of my week.
During our trip through Psalms, Proverbs, Isaiah, and Jeremiah .... I "stumbled across" a word from the Lord! One, I believe, He meant specifically for me at that moment! I've been in real need of guidance, healing, and comfort over the past 6 weeks, and God has been giving it - a lot - over the past week. :)
Isaiah 57:18-19 says .... "I have seen his ways, but I will heal him; I will guide him and restore comfort to him, creating praise on the lips of the mourners in Israel."
WHAT A PROMISE!!! God is faithful! The EXACT things I need in my life right now, all in one verse! And all because God provides godly friends to share CONVERSATION with! Amazing stuff!
Conversation .... you should try it sometime - and often! :)
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