Looking Back

 The last few weeks I have been looking back on this blog. How much I have changed since it started, and ended. I started this blog 7 years ago - back when blogging was cool! In 7 years, so much has changed in my life, and I don't even remember half of what I blogged about.

It's pretty cool to be able to look back and see the journey I have come. How far I have come. How much God has done in my life. I remember the laughs, the tears, but most of all the people. The people who have come into my life at one point or another to make a difference, the people who have been good for me, the people who have been bad for me.

There is also so much that has happened in the 5 years since I've stopped blogging. It almost makes me want to start again. There are such important things that have changed in that time. I've changed so much in that time. I've become more of the woman God created me to be, I've gotten a clearer picture of who that woman is.

Love in Christ!
V-

Insiring Words

"To get nations back on their feet, we must first get down on our knees."
        ~Billy Graham~

Why I like it:

• it speaks of missions, which although I haven't been given the gifts to execute, I have always felt on my heart and in my prayers.
• it speaks of the power of prayer

Inspiring Words

I thought I'd do a little update every week with a quote or something someone said that inspires me. This weeks quote:

"We've got to have a dream if we are going to make a dream come true." Dennis Waitley

Why I like this:

• We have to have dreams to be able to achieve something in life
• We have the responsibility to make our dreams come true

Lessons Learned

It has been a busy summer, in more than one part of my life. I've been balancing 4 jobs this summer and that alone can be enough to drive a girl crazy. But here comes the point of this post - it didn't drive me crazy. It instead taught me to adapt and change as life sees fit. I've grown a lot this summer, and I see myself slowly becoming the woman I want to be - the future me I've only seen in my day dreams. This is what I learned this summer:

A Smile Can Change Your Life

This seems like I'm making up some sort of dream land instead of living in reality, but at least in my reality this appears to be true. Smiling can make you feel better, more confident, and smarter (the key word here is feel). At the end of a bad day, a smile can at least make your dreams a little bit better.

Learning Is A Blessing Not A Burden

I get stressed out by my school work and learning becomes a burden, but this summer I learnt that learning is a blessing, and that everything in life is an opportunity to learn. I am now re energized, and ready to start in on my new semester with a new attitude, so bring on the books baby!

Staying True To Who You Are Is Important

I have been faced with lots of opposition this summer; I've met a lot of naysayers. I learned who my true friends were, and who really believes in me. I've also learnt that you can't let what the naysayers say change your life, but instead be changed by those who care for your dreams more than you do - they are the ones who are the key to your success. I also learnt that your actions say who you are.

Opportunities Are Meant To Be Seized

The heading of this one says it all. That when an opportunity arises you need to take it. There is some bravery involved in this as most opportunities come with a massive scare factor. Be brave - jump in with both feet! Life is meant to be lived.

Love Yourself

I've learnt this summer that you are the hardest person you are ever going to love, so if you can love yourself (faults included) you can love anyone and everyone. This doesn't mean that you have met all your goals or don't want to improve on anything, just that you've accepted those things and are willing to work on them.

Earthly Treasure

Here is a few little thoughts from a few months ago, I guess I forgot to post it:

As I was perusing around on twitter this evening, I read many things about the ACM awards. As people began to say that they were so excited for the awards, or to watch the awards; my heart began to hurt. It became so clear to me the value that we - as a society - have put on earthly things.

How many of us choose to listen or buy 'that' song because so-and-so won an award for it? Guilty as charged.

When I started dwelling on this topic, and asking the Lord why He put it on my heart, I realized that material things were eating up more of my life and time than I ever thought they were. An example, tonight me and a friend went looking through are mall and on the way I had unwillingly made a mental check list of everything I wanted - being frank, the making the list wasn't the unwilling part, the sudden realization when I got home and I was trying to figure out how to pay for everything on the list was. Shockingly it was a long and costly list.

When I saw twitter, I was angry at everyone else for making the very same mistake I was in the process of making. I started writing this blog entry as an angry rant about how much evil has crept into our world, but I am not innocent, it has come into my life too. This doesn't mean that I'm not going to buy clothes, music, or anything else - it means I am going to try and exercise caution to buy what is necessary. Even more importantly not to put value onto objects that make no difference to who I am as a daughter of Christ.

Matthew 6:19-21 says, "Do not lay up yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

I want to make my treasure in heaven, not in anything I can buy here on earth. A proverb also struck me when reading my bible this evening, that I think speaks perfectly to how I wish my attitude towards objects is.

Better is the poor who walks in his integrity, than one perverse in his ways, though he be rich."
                                                                                                                      Proverbs 28:6

 

 





Boston

Today I heard in the news about the bombings at the Boston Marathon. This is what I've been praying ever since. Please join me:

My heart hurts when I hear something like this has happened. I shed a tear for all of those who were involved.

I am saddened with grief for those who died, and their loved ones. I pray for comfort and healing. I pray that they knew God, and they are rejoicing joyously with Him now.

I pray for nothing but healing, and rest of the soul for those many that were injured.

I pray for guidance and stability for the first responders, and other people who have volunteered to risk their lives to help those in need.

Although I know evil exist and will continue to manifest itself until Jesus comes (and after):
I pray that there are no more bombs, that lives no longer have to be taken.

I pray for those that set the bomb. I pray that they know the wrongs of what they have done, and I pray that they find Jesus and see his mercy & grace.

I pray for all of those that only want justice, that God settles their hearts, and that they don't fight back and cause a ruckus. I want to make it clear - I don't think that there should be no consequences for the bombers actions, just that we should not take justice into our own hands. To let the law, and the systems we have in place give the justice here on earth, and let Jesus do the judging - for He is truly just.

I pray for those who are praying. That we continue to pray unceasingly, for not only this but the other bombings that happened today in the middle east. Pray for the state of our world.

I pray for those who are rushing to judgement. It doesn't matter who the bombers are- what matters is that we show them Jesus' love, His forgiveness, and His mercy. I pray that we stand strong as Christians, not blame other religions and show His love.

I pray for the state of the world today. I pray that we don't forget about the bombing that also happened in other countries, just because they don't affect us directly.

I feel like prayers are not enough, so I pray that everyone will be blessed by all the prayers rising up to heaven and that those in need feel comforted and safe in the loving arms of Jesus.

The last thing I would like to share is a quote from Luke in the band for King and country:

 

"Hate can rattle our buildings and bring heartache to a nation, but our faith in Jesus will not be moved."

-These are beautiful words of comfort for those affected.

A Meltdown

Today I had a stressful afternoon. There was a massive miscommunication within my management's group assignment. The worst part was, a bunch of adults in a management class, were being rude and bossing each other around - rather than trying to find a solution. I was getting angry, at things that were being said, and at the fact that no one was taking responsibility and everyone was pointing fingers. So this caused a meltdown. I lost it, thankfully I have amazing friends and family who let me cry to them on the phone, swear at them, and help come up with effective solutions. I think in the end I can be proud of how I handled the situation. I refrained from pointing fingers, accusing people in the group, and making a ruckus (at least as far as the group could see). I also took initiative and came up with a solution, after apologizing for any part I had in the issue. Long story short - I hope our presentation tomorrow goes well, and everyone feels like they have enough time to prepare.