6:30 AM Prayer

DDP:Day 5

Nature's first green is gold,

Her hardest hue to hold,

Her early leaf's a flower;

But only so an hour.

Then leaf subsides to leaf.

So Eden sank to grief,

So dawn goes down to day.

Nothing gold can stay.

Robert Frost

DPP:Day 4

A Child Has Been Born To Us; God Has Given a Son to Us

“He will be responsible for leading the people. His name will be Wonderful Counselor, Powerful God, Father Who Lives Forever, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6

DPP: Day 3

Showin’ the Dorms My Festive Side

DPP: Day 2

December Photo Project: Day One

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

Deciding to join in on the fun!

hope you join too!

PS.....25 days ’til Christmas!!! (not that anyone’s counting :D)

Wordless Wednesday

This past weekend, I went camping with the Environmental Science Club, and it was an awesome retreat from normality as well as just what I needed at the time. We basked in the sun, hiked and explored around in the woods/streams, and roasted marshmallows around a bonfire in the evenings. Magical. Here are a few pictures to recap the weekend.

Fishers of Men-God’s Vision

"As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” At once they left their nets and followed him.

Mark 1:16-18

When you see an egg, do you see it for what it is, or do you see it for what it could become-a bird? When you see a small tree, do you see the green leaves and rough bark, or do you see the potential pencil or log cabin?

When you look at others-do you see them for what they are? Or what they could become? Similarly, how do you think Jesus views you? We have an incredible savior that has a perfect purpose for our lives, and luckily, he views us for what we are to become, not for what we are. He has a VISION for each of us. For example, in Mark 1:17, Jesus says to Simon and his brother, “Come, follow me, and I will send you out to fish for people.” He didn’t view the men as fishermen, simply seeking food to provide for their family or to make a profit, I think he saw them for what they were to become-fishers of men-“casting” out their lives to draw in men with the great news of Jesus.

When Jesus spoke to the men, He said, “Come, follow me.” The text says that “At once they left their nets and followed him.”

If a bunch of small kids were playing in a yard and an old man drives up in a pick-up truck and tells them to hop in the back, would you be okay with that?

Now what if I were to tell you that the old man was the children’s grandfather? That changes the whole situation. This makes it okay for the kids to go with him, and you probably feel safe and at ease.

The same thing applies in the story with Jesus. When you knew that the older man was the kid’s grandfather, you trusted him and immediately were okay with letting the kids go along. Believing leads to stepping. Simon trusted Jesus and “at once” followed Jesus. If we believe in the Gospel, then that goes hand in hand with following Jesus. Being a Christian isn’t being saved it’s being sent.

Stepping leads to sacrifice. After trusting, step out after Jesus with your life, this changes your entire lifestyle. This means that you’re not just trying to feed yourself, but you live in a way that feeds others-by bringing love, joy, peace and compassion into other’s lives. There are two main verbs in this passage: make and follow. I think the more important of the two is the verb make. In order for God to make you fishers of men, you have to follow. After you follow, HE will make you into His vision for you.

Sacrifice leads to blessing. In Mark 10, Jesus talks about leaving everything and following him. In response to Peter saying he had done that, Jesus tells them “I tell you the truth, no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields-and with them, persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first” (Mark 10:29-31). God also blesses Abram in Genesis 12:1-3, “The Lord had said to Abram, “Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all the peoples on earth will be blessed through you.””

If you are not sacrificing, are you really stepping? The only way to truly save yourself is to give yourself away. Isaiah 58 verses 10-11 summarizes that perfectly:

“and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday. The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail."

Getting in the Word

I have been so blessed here to have met so many great spiritual role models and friends through the Campus Outreach ministry. Weekly, every Wednesday night, there's a meeting where a student first shares their testimony and what God is doing in their lives at that time followed by a talk by someone on staff. I am so grateful for this ministry, they actually get it. They are so encouraging, while living out the example of Jesus' love in their own lives where they're students living on a college campus as well.

I've met with several older girls and done what they call "getting in the word," not a social event a.k.a. a "Bible study", not a chastising (tell me all your gossip) meeting, but an in-depth, fruitful study of God's powerful word with the primary intention of getting to know HIM better and what He has to teach us. I'm going to write about one of these studies, mainly so I can reinforce some of the wonderful things I learned into my little noggin.

The study was of 1 Peter 3: 14-17. We studied this passage in this format: Context, Observations, Q&A's, Principles (universal truths about God made clear through the passage), and Application.

'"But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened. But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. It is better, if it is God's will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil." 1 Peter 3:14-17

Context:

Godly Living, "Suffering for Doing Good."

Author: "Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ."

Audience: God's elect, strangers in the world-this could be describing how we are strangers in this world, living in our temporary home, or it could be talking about how we as Christians aren't supposed to be worldly, we're set apart. God's elect-addressing Christians, reminding people you are saved and this is what you do because of your salvation.

Observations:

-You should suffer for what is right

-You are blessed

-We are called not to fear

-Set Christ apart in your hearts, out of the huge jumble that may be your heart, set him apart in the center, He's set apart as LORD.

-Be ready to give a reason to anyone who asks about the hope within us.

-Christ is our hope-We have hope!

-Told to be gentle and have respect to those who question us.

-Keep a clear conscience when you're slandered

-those who speak maliciously against you will be put to shame.

Questions:

Should it be our aim to suffer for the Gospel? What does it mean to sanctify Lord in your heart? What does sanctify mean? How can we do this with gentleness and respect?

Answers:

Suffering-feel pain or to undergo as of in pain. injuries or disease. to feel unwell or uncomfortable. be set at a disadvantage. put up with someone or somebody unpleasant.

Defense-Protect from harm.

We’re protecting our integrity in the cross, just as a child would boast in his father and defend him with pride when others try to wrong him, we defend our heavenly father with saltiness.

Sanctify-to make holy, set apart as sacred; consecrate. to purify or free from sin. Sanctify your hearts.

Principle:

Christ is LORD and our HOPE, and we are supposed to defend that hope!

Application:

Make it a point in my life to remember why i’m suffering-for the Gospel, defending our hope. In this, I will be more diligent with scripture memory (a big weak spot for me) so that I can BE READY to give an account of the Bible.

Hurting Lately

For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him. Philippians 1:29

My heart has been breaking these past few days for unbelievers, to be more specific those that I live with. Sometimes I'm just so confused by God's will and so unbelievably frustrated with how some people just can't seem to realize that their priorities lie in the wrong place! They don't know God's love! I want more than anything for them to know that they DO have an eternal daddy that wants a relationship with them! My heart is aching for them.

I hear them in the bathroom agonizing over one little pimple or how they have (what I wouldn't even consider noticeable) flaws and how it's "just not fair!" I want them understand that they are made in the image of Christ, beautiful because we're HIS creation, HIS bride, HIS beloved. I want them to understand that I DON'T CARE how they look! No matter what I say, they always, always, always apologize for how "gross" or "heinous" they look, I just want to shake the truth into them! Not really, I know that would be a little harsh/extreme, but after so many months of this, I'm hurting more and more for them each day. I want for there to be a heart change. I keep asking God to show me new ways that I can love them. I am constantly reminded each and every day here at college, just how utterly dependent I am on a Savior, how much I need Christ, and how no good deed comes from me, but rather HE deserves ALL the glory. Thank you sweet Jesus, my sanity.

Casting Crowns-"Praise You In This Storm"

Praising God when it is easy is effortless. Praising God when things get really bad shows a real love of God!

Happy Halloween!!

This & That

Their hearts belong to their daddies.

This is how I feel about college and about growing up.

This, this, and this are what my research paper are on.

Ten ways to spend a rainy day.

Unnecessary want. Polkadot tape. :)

Rant of a Crazy Woman (and a praise)

Every once in a while when I'm down here at GCSU, I wonder What the heck am I doing here? I know God has led me to be here, but I'm beginning to question the reasoning that I had come to of why He led me here. At first, I thought I was here to be a Music Therapist, and while that could be part of His plan, I'm thinking it wasn't His most important reason. Before I get to that point, I'm going to rant like a crazy woman.

I'm so frustrated all the time in my classes. My theory teacher talks about fishing instead of theory. My Math Modeling teacher gives us middle school style assignments. My theory lab teacher is going over basic material that any music student should know before entering a university music program. Last but not least, my english teacher seems to think I have the best freshman writing he's ever seen, which is certainly NOT a good thing. I was challenged more in my high school classes, and I find it ridiculous.

Granted, it is only my first semester here, but I'm so tired of being spoon-fed and treated like a middle schooler. Many of my teachers tell us not to nap in class, instead of letting a student accept responsibility for the choice he makes to sleep in class, just to give an example. All the while I'm talking to God like Why did You bring me here? This isn't what I was hoping for? I love the social aspect of it, like the freedom of being on my own, but sometimes I feel a bit of anger towards God for leading me here. Then I realized my purpose here is beyond educational matters. I feel like God's been showing me that He needed to bring me here so that I could learn to grow on my own, instead of depending on others to help me. Today, in my quiet time, the devotional was about being completely reliant on the Lord for strength and for the ability to get through each day, which was kind of perfect for me in light of the battle I feel like I've been fighting in the past few days. I've just felt so spiritually alone. I don't have my friends, I don't have a church challenging me to grow, and it's disheartening frequently. Satan has really been coming against me, making me feel like I'm not walking in the light, and not being an example of Christ. Usually, when I feel this way, I'd have somebody to talk to who I could hang out with or grab lunch with, instead of only having the option to make a phone call to talk to them.

But in the midst of all of this, I can see God's hand. Like I was saying before my mini-rant, I feel like God has taken me somewhere where He can be alone with me. Yes, I know there are 5,000 people at GCSU, but alone in the sense of I have nobody up here to guide me and show me the way to go in my spiritual walk. I have to keep my eyes on Jesus and follow the path that He lays out for me. And it's freaking hard. I know I'm never alone but at the same time I do feel by myself. I feel completely incapable of doing what God needs me to do up here. I'm totally messed up, and here in Milledgeville it's like my sinful nature is more exposed, and God wanted that so He could truly do a work in my that would last. Thinking about it, I see that God is seeking to humble me in my frustrations with the academic program, too. His love has changed my heart and affected my life in someway. God, I'm having to run to keep up with You.

While I do wish I could leave GCSU sometimes, I know God has brought me here for a reason. He has to do some stuff with me. He's got stuff to do through me, incorporating me somehow into His perfect plan. Now, I just hope to be able to live a life worthy of the calling that I've been given. Even though I'm frustrated here a lot, everything here is just temporary. I'm not stuck in this dorm, in this town, in this college and it's not my home. He is my home. For Him to divinely appoint me to where I am and trust me to do what He's called me to, all I can do is be thankful and take joy in the fact that He's got some big stuff in store for me. I just pray that I can bear good fruit and shine a love that is endearing and plants a seed into each heart. Wow, He's incredible.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight."

Proverbs 3: 5-6

Final Summer Picture. Moving Day.

Happiness, Coming and Going..

3 Days until departure.

(will pay LARGE amounts for organizing/packing help)

You Capture-Summer

Sweet, Sweet Summer

You Capture: Summer

Paper Rosie Hair Pin Tutorial!

This is such a cute but yet sophisticated rose and can be used to embellish picture frames, cards, or hair clips! Think of all the lovely cardstock papers you could use to make these beauties fit any occasion!

You will need..
-Squares of card stock in whatever color you want your rose to be (it doesn't necessarily need to be a square, you just need to be able to cut a circle out of whatever you start with)
-Fast drying glue (I use a hot glue gun)
-Scissors
-Green Cardstock-enough to make a few leaves
-Bobby Pin
-Matte Acrylic Spray Sealer (krylon works)





1. Gather all materials together
2.Take one colored sheet of card stock, and draw a big spiral swirl. It does not matter how big it is, and it absolutely doesn't need to be perfect. Draw 2 leaf shapes on the green cardstock

3. Next, Cut out along the lines of the spiral swirl, starting at the outside point. (obviously from my example, it REALLY does not have to be perfect!). Cut out the leaves


4. Starting at the outside of the swirl, begin to tightly roll the swirl together. Keep the spiral held tight.
5.When you get to the center nub, let go of what you've just rolled up! (Trust me here) It will all uncoil ever so slightly to a natural rose.
6. Put a dab of glue on the little nub (the center of the spiral,) pushing the whole rose down onto the nub for a few seconds just to secure everything in place.
7. Slide bobby pin on to one leaf then place it on top of the second leaf and glue to the flower

8. Spray the entire paper flower and leaves with the sealer let dry 15 minutes and spray again. This makes the bloom waterproof and allows you to wear it again and again.
So sweet!

Be sure to check out other tutorials from Tip Me Tuesday! Thanks Tip Junkie!

Take Me Back To Childhood...a trip down memory lane

alt. title---Fun *Babysitter* Friday!

I am the third child out of four, and when we were younger, one of our absolute favorite things to do was to make forts. Every kind imaginable, and in every place imaginable (nana, we're still sorry about that fort on your roof..in case you're ready to forgive us now). We'd always listen to our favorite radio show once we were all settled in the fort, Adventures In Odyssey, which is a Christian based show all centered around the kids in (...wait for it...) Odyssey. Whit, the old man that runs an ice cream shop/hang-out, is always working on inventions and one of them was the Imagination Station, where the kids could go back to Bible times and relive stories. I liked to pretend that our forts were the Imagination Station. Just for humor/enjoyment....


So, since I've been babysitting so much lately, I've had a hankering to make a fort.
I made a fort with these 3 adorable children, but of course we needed snacks! Recipe for some delicious popcorn:
You will need:

popcorn kernels

Honey, cinnamon

chopped apple pieces, sprinkled generously with cinnamon

a teensy bit of vegetable oil

pot with matching lid
and last but not least...

one very hungry child. :)

1. Put the popcorn kernels in the pot and pour a little bit of vegetable oil in, place the lid on securely, then turn the stove on medium heat

2. Shake the pot every few seconds to make sure the popcorn doesn't burn.

3. Once all of the kernels have popped, take the pot off the stove eye and add the apples into the mix. Take the honey and pour as much as you want on the popcorn, then sprinkle some more cinnamon in.

4. Turn the stove off, but put the pot back on the heat and stir the popcorn and apples until the stove is completely cooled. This should make your apples look more like baked apples, and the popcorn will have a nice coating of cinnamon and honey. The longer you stir, the less sticky the popcorn.

^Your popcorn and apples should look something like this!

5. Make sure the popcorn/apple mixture is very cooled before serving, then you're ready! (also, don't forget napkins!)

6. Hand it to the (by now very, VERY) hungry child

7. Enjoy! Eat it in your fort while watching a movie, and, in my opinion, this is WAY better than any movie theater!! :)

p.s.-sorry for such bad quality pictures...

How were you a fun mom this week? (or fun babysitter..). Link up with Moriah at Please Pass the Salt!