Morning Coffee

         My apologies for my lack of blogging lately, everyone.  Although I had the time for writing over the Christmas holiday, I wasn’t quite motivated nor inspired to do so.  Oddly enough, as my life picks back up and starts getting crazy again is when I make myself find the time to do these things….

        Nevertheless, this is what results:

        As I just mentioned, I’ve completed the first week and a half of my second semester back in college, and I’m already feeling the weight of stress bearing down on my shoulders.  Even before the semester started, I was not looking forward to the forever-dreaded BIO125 professor, whose name I cannot mention.  Now, this particular professor is an interesting character of sorts.  At first glance, I wouldn’t have even taken her as a professor.  In fact, as I was sitting in the room where my first lecture class with her would take place, I was watching the door every single time it opened, waiting to see the face of the person who would be responsible for my endless torture for 16 weeks.  This woman walked in, carrying all of these books, and I honestly just assumed that she was a non-traditional student.  But then I realized that she was heading to the front of the class, and my mind quickly became sidetracked.  She was nothing like what I expected, yet everything that I expected at the same time.  Without going into further detail, let’s just say that she has yet to live up to all of the rumors that I had heard prior to starting the semester.  Notice that I say “all.”  This is certainly implying that she has already lived up to some rumors…just not all.  Fortunately, I’ve always had a way with being on a teacher’s “good side,” and have already found a way to hopefully avoid being picked on and made fun of in front of the class (which is one of the rumors that have leaked out about the woman).  Call me a “Teacher’s Pet,” if you will.  I couldn’t care less.  I just want a good grade without being ridiculed in front of my peers.  =)

           As far as my other professors go, I have a crazy Indian (not Native American, but a man from India) man who is too smart for his own good, and should not be teaching a classroom full of 18-20-some year old students how to use the Internet.  Additionally, I have a Mr. Barbour (our Physics teacher in High School) clone who is also too smart for his own good to teach my Physics class.  However, I’d prefer listening to Physics Barbour clone any day over listening to a crazy Indian man from India talk about search engines and “How to use Google.”  Lastly, I have a communications class, taught by a very sweet, yet stern, older woman whose class consists of watching small clips of Shrek and arranging ourselves into small groups and learning how to talk to one another.

        Now, my descriptions of these courses and their professors are meant for the reader’s benefit of maybe getting a good chuckle in for the day.  I do, however, think that I have my work cut out for me this semester.  Although the communications and computer classes may be just “a walk in the park,” I think my Physics and Anatomy classes are going to be a bit more cut-throat.  

        In nearing the end of my first week of the semester, I was beginning to think, “This isn’t gonna be as bad as I thought.”  As Thursday came around, I suffered through an 8am-6:30pm day with one of the most terrible headaches/migraines that I have ever experienced.  I was praying to God just to get me through to the next class, then praying that He’d get me through 3 hours of Physics Lab.  Finally, it was the end of the day, and it was all I could to drive home.  How awful that my train of thought immediately went to, “I knew this week was going too well.”  I soon brushed it off and finished off the week.  Then came Tuesday.  Ohhhhh, Tuesday.  Tuesday is my other day of the week when I’m stuck at school from 8am-6:30pm.  Let me set the picture for you.  Monday night, I couldn’t fall asleep.  I was in bed at 9:30pm.  12am rolls around, and I’m still not asleep.  I keep tossing and turning, falling in and out of 15-minute intervals of sleep for another three hours.  Around 3:30am, I finally get out of bed and take something to help me savor the last three hours that I had to possibly sleep.  The next morning, my back was so incredibly sore, but I figured by midday, it would work itself out.  Midday Tuesday rolls around, and instead of the pain being relieved, I now have an aching back, a stiff neck, and a sore throat.  Again, I find myself sitting in classes with my hands folded in front of me, my head bowed, and praying to God to get me through this day.  Once again, the Lord pulled me through and I was at home, in the tub, talking to Curtis on the phone through the tears rolling down my face.  Today (Wednesday), I feel as though nothing was ever wrong with me yesterday.  

        “When you feel that you’re down to nothing, God is up to something.”:           

        This is exactly how I feel about my first two weeks this semester thus far.  Twice in two weeks, I was faced with putting my health in God’s hands to get me through the day…and that’s TWICE in two weeks that He’s pulled through for me.  How awesome a Savior we have?  What/Who are you looking to, to bring you through to the next day when you feel like you’re down to nothing?  The medicine?  The sound of a friendly voice on the other end of a phone?  A nice warm bath?  Or God?

        I don’t know about you, but I’d rather have God on my side than all of those others combined.  The rest falls into place from there.  

“How many Kings stepped down from their thrones?

How many Lords have abandoned their homes? 

How many Greats have become the least for me?

And how many Gods have poured out their hearts,

To romance a world that is torn all apart?

How many Fathers gave up their sons for me?

Only ONE did that for me…”

Excerpt from: How Many Kings by Downhere

As the year is coming to an end, you’ll find those who are starting to prepare their New Year’s Resolutions.  However tempting it is to fall into the “habit” of making yet another promise to myself that I don’t keep, I urge everyone, instead, to simply just be thankful.  Instead of worrying what the new year is going to bring, be thankful for everything that the previous year has already brought.

I haven’t written in a while, so I figured I’d stop by and say a few words and maybe share a few things that I’m thanking God for this year:

1.   With all of the worry and commotion going on this year with the Swine Flu, I’m thanking God for my health.  He’s kept me out of harm’s way and out of the hospitals.  lol

2.  The Lord has also blessed me this year by keeping me safe during all of my travels this year.

3.  He has also provided for me earlier this year and gave me the strength to get through a hard time, financially, as I was faced with a hard decision of whether or not to move back home.

4.  God continues to show his ever amazing presence in Curtis and my relationship, blessing us with the strength to overcome the bad times and praise him for the good.

5.  While living back at home wasn’t my ideal plan, God’s plan had something different in store for me as my relationships with both my mom and dad continue to grow and become what they should have been years ago.

6.  Earlier this year, with God’s hand in it all, I made one of the hardest and yet the best decision of my life: to go back to school.  The Lord has continued to bless me as I have just completed my first semester back in two years…so far, carrying a 4.0 GPA!!  PRAISE GOD!!

7.  I would also like to thank God for blessing me with a wonderful second family, as Curtis’ family has come to feel a lot more like my own.  I think my name will forever be “Giggles” with that family…haha!  Thanks to Curtis’ dad for giving it to me.  =)

8.  I spent a lot of time in prayer this year, feeling somewhat alone for not having many girl friends to spend time with anymore as many of my friends are away at college.  God had yet another plan in store for me when I went to college, blessing me by bringing two really awesome young Christian women to my “doorstep.”  I foresee the three of us continuing on in our walks with God together and being great supporters and motivators for each other as we go through our years at school.  Thank-you, girls, for being there.

9.  This may sound a bit odd, but I really thank God for my animals.  I cannot even begin to describe how much of an animal-lover I am.  Furthermore, I cannot even describe how good it feels to come home after a really bad day at work or school and be loved unconditionally by your pet (especially a dog).  Some days, I couldn’t care less about talking to anyone when I got home…but I’m always greeted with sweet, quiet meows from my cats.  Sounds silly, I know…but I’m very thankful for them.  =)

The list is endless, but I just wanted to share a few things with you all.  If you took the time to read this, make a comment below and share one or two things that you would like to thank God for this year.  His presence in our lives is endless if we just continue to allow him to help.  Bring everything to him, with an open heart, in prayer.  I promise you that He will answer, but understand that it may not always be the answer that you wanted to hear.

I wish everyone a blessed Christmas.  Enjoy this special time in thanking God for sending his son to take all of our burdens upon His shoulders.

I’ll be praying for every one’s safety in their travels during the Christmas season, and have a wonderful New Year!

This is why I cherish Lauren Johnson so very much.  Her ability to be there and open my eyes up to something at the right time never ceases to amaze me.  Although, I know that behind all of that, God is the one working through her for me.  

Thank you

WAIT FOR GOD’S VERY BEST

Everyone longs to give himself to another human being, to have a deep soul relationship with another, to be loved thoroughly and exclusively. But God says to the Christian:

“Not until you are satisfied and fulfilled and content being loved by me alone…I love you my child. Until you discover that only in me lies your satisfaction, you will not be capable of the perfect human relationship I have planned for you. You will never be united with another until you are united with me, exclusive of anyone else or anything else, exclusive of any other desires or longings. I want you to stop planning, stop wishing, and allow me to give you the most thrilling plan, one that you cannot imagine. I want you to have the best.”

“Please allow me to bring it to you. You must keep watching me, expecting the greatest things, keep experiencing the satisfaction of knowing that I am. Keep learning and listening to the things I tell you. You must wait. Do not be anxious.”

“Don’t look around at the things others have gotten or received from me. You must not keep looking off and away. Look up to me or you will miss the things I want to show you, and then when you are ready, I’ll surprise you with a love far more wonderful than you have ever dreamed of. You see, until you are ready, I am preparing the one I have for you.  I am working even this minute to have you both ready at the same time… Until you are both living exclusively for me and the life I have prepared for you, you won’t be able to experience the love that reflects your relationship with me, Perfect Love. And dear one, I want you to have the most wonderful love. I want you to experience in the flesh a picture of your relationship with me and to enjoy materially and concretely the everlasting union of beauty and perfection and love that I offer you through myself.”

“Know that I love you utterly, I am God, the Almighty – believe and be satisfied.”

“The time has come

Separation lost the war to love

Take my hand

Grace has found you where you once began

You’re alive, your alive

In the waking of new life

Take my hand

In the end, there’s only LOVE!”

Excerpt from: Freedom by Run Kid Run

I have absolutely no clue where I got the idea for this post, but I know that this is a subject that provokes a lot of questions as well as confrontations.

Many false religious groups and cults teach that a person can lose their salvation, and many quote verses that “prove” their standings.  Unfortunately, they (the verses) can seem extremely convincing when taken out of their context.  I did a little bit of research on this issue, and this is what I found:

SAMPLE VERSES

Used to prove that Salvation can be lost…

2 Peter 1:9 - But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.

2 Peter 1:10 - Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure.  For if you do these things, you will never fall,

2 Peter 2:20 - If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning.

2 Peter 2:21 - It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them.

2 Peter 2:22 - Of them the proverbs are true, “A dog returns to its vomit, ” and, “A sow that is washed goes back to her wallowing in the mud.”

Can you see, now, how, taken out of context, these verses could very easily be misleading.  However, I am going to try my best to explain…

Context #1

We have to first know to whom Peter was writing in this chapter.  In chapter 1, verse 1 of 2 Peter we see that it is being written to other Christians; people who are saved.

2 Peter 1:1 - Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours:

Context #2

2 Peter 1:4-11 emphasize parts in verse 9 (”…has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins”) and verse 10 (”…For if you do these things, you will never fall.”).

“4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by the evil desires.

5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.  8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.  9 But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.

10 Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure.  For if you do these things, you will never fall, 11 and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”

Let’s remember to whom Peter was writing: the saved.  Can saved people forget they were forgiven of their past sins, or at least act as if they have forgotten?  Of course they can.  Many Christians can drift away from God by not doing the things that Peter is commanding of us in verses 5-7.  “…has forgotten he has been cleansed from his past sins.” means that the sinner does the forgetting, not God.  Also notice that Peter makes no mention that the cleansing is now void due to the sinner forgetting.  How awesome is that!?  Verse 10 is merely encouraging the saved to live by verses 5-7 for their own assurance in their own mind, not God’s mind.

Well, “What about the ‘fall’ that is mentioned,” you may ask.  This is simply referring to a falling out of fellowship with God, not a falling from salvation.  Once we are saved, we are automatically adopted into the family of God to become joint heirs with Christ.

Romans 8:17 - Now if we are children, then we are heirs - heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

Our relationship with God doesn’t change regardless of our straying into sin, or stumbling with wrongdoing.  For example, when children disobey their parents, a good fellowship is torn with the parent, but the children are still just as much their child as they were before.  The relationship does not change.

Context #3

What about the dog eating it’s own vomit, or the sow returning to the mud hole?  What is the subject of chapter 2?  False Prophets and their Destruction:

2 Peter 2:1 - But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you.  They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them - bringing swift destruction on themselves.

The dog and the sow are not being compared to the saved.  Instead, they are being compared to the false teachers.  False teachers being those who talk like they are Christians, are very knowledgeable about the Bible and can be very deceiving to the saved.  They are the ones who claim salvation, but have never had it.  Therefore, never being a Christian to begin with.

Context #4

Referring to verse 20 when it says that by becoming entangled in the corruption of the world after escaping it by knowing God,  you are worse off in the end.  This is not referring to Christians who have fallen back into sin.  Reading verses 17-19 will reassure you this is not the case.

2 Peter 2:17-19 - 17 These men are springs without water and mists driven by a storm.  Blackest darkness is reserved for them.  18 For they mouth empty, boastful words and, by appealing to the lustful desires of sinful human nature, they entice people who are just escaping from those who live in error.  19 They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity - for a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him.

So, as you can see, verse 20 is simply a continuation of Peter describing these false prophets, not Christians.  These false teachers will surround themselves by Godly people to escape the corruption of the world around them; “…those who live in error.”

Context #5

Again, let’s take a look at verse 22, which many may have used to prove that salvation can be lost.  When put into its context, this verse, however, accomplishes the complete opposite.  God is trying to show us that those false teachers, being not truly saved, will return to their sinful nature.  Those who were “dogs” and “sows” were never God’s “sheep” or children.  They were only pretending to be such.

Christians are formally lost sheep.  Once a child of God, you will always be a child of God.

John 10:28 - I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.

John 10:29 - My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.

Now, ladies and gentleman, isn’t that just the most fabulous news you could ever hear?!  Our God is so gracious that even if we fall back into sin, we will never fall out of his hands.

“Jump in the water

Jump in with me

Jump on the altar

Lay down with me

My hardest question

To answer is

WHY?

———————————

Someone save me

Somebody save me

Somebody save me

Please don’t erase me”

Excerpt from: Save Me by Shinedown

Some days I feel like screaming at the top of my lungs, “Lord, I am just so frustrated!”  What’s frustrating?  I’ll tell you what’s frustrating me.

I’ve been having a hard time at work today.  More so today than other days.  Regardless, the problem seems to be getting worse.  There was an error made by two people two days back, one being myself and the other being my co-worker.  Early this morning, I found the correction to the error.  Immediately, though, I was told that couldn’t possibly be correct, because my co-worker checked it a second time and had gotten the same result.  However, I knew this wasn’t the case.  I knew that we had both made an error.  I took the problem to my manager, who then confirmed that this was, in fact, an error on both of our parts.  The good news is that the problem is now corrected.  The bad news is that my co-workers seem to have something against me.

I thought to myself, “Well, our manager was kind of harsh when she ’scolded’ us for not be more careful.  Maybe she is upset about that.”  Like a lot of people, I can’t stand it when someone is either mad at or me or mad about something in general.  I sent her an email, apologizing for the error and telling her that it wasn’t her fault.  Was it returned with an email saying, “Thanks.  We’ll be more careful next time”?  Ha!  No.  Instead, the email was forwarded on to another co-worker so that it could be mocked.

I’ve mentioned this issue to Curtis before, and I believe that my age has a huge affect on how I am treated a lot of the time.  I’ve noticed this here at work, outside of work and even with my jewelry business.

What I’m trying to get at is this: Forgiveness.  Is it something you only do once for someone, then if they hurt you again, that’s just too bad?

On Forgiveness

From the Parable of the Unmerciful Servant

Matthew 18:21-22 - 21 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me?  Up to seven times?” 22 Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.”

So, is Jesus saying that we only need forgive someone up to 77 times?  No.  Rather, we should be willing to forgive for as long as it takes to settle the issue in our heart.

Why must we forgive?  Put simply, the answer to that is because Jesus has commanded that of us.  For as it is written in the Scripture, if we do not forgive, then neither will we be forgiven.

On Why

Matthew 6:14-15 - 14 For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.  15 But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

Ladies and gentleman, forgiving another is probably one of the hardest commands that God has given us.  Some may think, “Why should I keep forgiving someone who continuously hurts me and rejects my forgiveness?”

If you are unfamiliar with the story about the Unmerciful Servant, then I will try and give you a brief summary.

The kingdom of heaven was being compared to a king who wanted to “settle his accounts with his servants.”  A man was brought to him that owed him a large amount of money.  Since the man was unable to pay, the king ordered that he and his family be sold into slavery.  The man fell to his knees, begging the king to give him more time.  “Be patient,” he asked.  Seeing this, the king took pity on him and relieved him of the debt.  Later, the man went to a servant who owed him a much smaller amount of money and demanded that the money be repaid.  The servant fell to his knees and begged that  he be given time.  The man, instead of forgiving as the king had, had the servant thrown into prison until his debt could be repaid.  When the king found out, he gave the man to his jailers to be tortured until his debt could be repaid.

Matthew 18:35 - This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart.

In conclusion, no matter how hard it is and no matter how many times we’ve forgiven someone before, God asks us to continue forgiving until “it” is settled.  Whatever “it” may be, the importance of forgiveness never becomes less.

“This episode for us

Shouldn’t overcome what we’ve got

So let’s move on and get to better days

For all we know, we could be the best

We’ll never know, don’t take the chance

So from today, let’s take a vow

Whatever was wrong, is over right now, will you forgive me?

Can we find forgiveness

In the throws of our misunderstanding, or do we fall apart

Can we find forgiveness

Or do we go on like trying to cover up a broken heart”

Excerpt from: Forgiveness by Kenny Lattimore

1 Corinthians 13:3 - If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.

        This post was inspired by a mere act of kindness, which happened to me this morning as I was on my way to work.  Every so often, I like to go to Turkey Hill and grab myself a small cup of coffee before I go to work in the mornings.  Today, though, was different.  Today, I saw my old principal from middle school, who also just so happens to attend my church.  We exchanged our “Hello’s” and “How are you’s,” but then politely went about our morning “routines.”  I was uncharacteristically early this morning, so I was wasting time, looking around for a little bit.  In the meantime, my former principal had left.  I ended up getting myself a cold drink for later as well.  However, when I finally went to the counter to pay for my items, the woman said to me, “He paid for your coffee.”  Honestly, this was the very first time that I was surprised by someone paying for something that I was going to be purchasing.  I experienced this all the time while working at Mel’s.  One specific couple in particular would do it quite often for other people. 

        So, I suppose it’s pretty safe to say that it made my day, and got me thinking.  It got me interested in, and thinking about what the Bible has to say about giving to others.  Here are a few things that I found.

On Christian Giving

        Christian giving is a choice, as shown in 2 Corinthians 9:7, which says:

 ”Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under  compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”

        Christian giving is not about the amount given:  Mark 12:41-44

“41 Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury.  Many rich people threw in large amounts. 42 But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny. 43 Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. 44 They all gave out their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything - all she had to live on.”"

        The “return” on Christian giving is perhaps the greatest blessing, knowing that we are the vessels through whom God is working and fulfilling his intent. 

Luke 6:38 - Give, and it will be given to you.  A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap.  For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

Matthew 6:4 - so that your giving may be in secret.  Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

2 Corinthians 9:6 - Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly, will reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.

        Now, many people have taken this the wrong way.  Don’t be foolish in thinking that because you are giving, you will be rewarded.  For your purity of motives has a great affect on this.

On Purity of Motives

Matthew 6:1-4 - 1 Be careful not to do your “acts of righteousness” before men, to be seen by them.  If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.  2 So when you give to the needy, do not annouce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men.  I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret.  Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

        So, I will ask you (the reader) now; Do you often do gracious things for other people for the mere reason of it benefiting you somehow?  Do you often do your gracious acts in front of others so that they will praise you for what you’ve done?  Or do you, perhaps, simply do it because you feel Christ is working through you to accomplish a certain task, and you want to honor Him by doing so?  Sadly enough, there are many people out there in our world who wouldn’t even understand let alone believe what I was asking in that third question. 

        There is never a bad time to reach out to someone.  Whether it be a random act of kindness or witnessing to them, nothing is too big or too small.  God wants us to love and care for other people just as His son loved us enough to die for us all. 

        Thinking about this, often reminds me of an amazing movie called, “Pay It Forward.”  It stars Haley Joel Osment, Kevin Spacey, and Helen Hunt.  Osment plays the character of a little boy who’s school project was surprisingly made into a nationwide event.  His goal was to “pay it forward.”  If someone were to do something kind for you with no expectation of a reward, you were to then pass that random act of kindness along to a person in need.  It’s an amazing movie with a beautiful story, and I highly recommend it to anyone.  Plus, Kevin Spacey is probably my second favorite actor, because we have to honest with ourselves when I say that no one is better than Morgan Freeman. 

“Only those who have learned the power of sincere and selfless contribution experience life’s deepest joy: true fulfillment.”

Quote by: Anthony Robbins

“You don’t owe me a thing, I’ve been there too

Someone once helped me out,

Just the way I’m helping you

If you really wanna pay me back,

Here’s what you do

Don’t let the chain of love end with you”

Excerpt from- Chain of Love by Clay Walker