Does abortion really have to be the only option?

I received a comment on my previous post "Would You Help Fight Against Abortion" this morning and thought I would share both the comment and my response with all of you:

"Anonymous said...

I assume the Pregnancy Center also provides free prenatal vitamins? Free labor and delivery hospitalization? Emotional and financial support to those who are kicked out of their homes? Counseling for rape and incest victims who are pregnant with their attackers child? Food, clothing and shelter for the baby and mom? Early childhood intervention where necessary?

Thanks. You reminded me that my yearly contribution to Planned Parenthood is overdue."

My response is this:

Anonymous-

Yes they do actually provide free prenatal vitamins. I have been given them personally.

 As for the free labor and delivery hospitalization they give the resources to people who have no money or good enough insurance for labor and delivery as well as prenatal care. You can then go through these FREE resources (as my husband and I did) and choose the ones that are best for you. God has so provided for us in this way through them helping us even know where to go.

One of the biggest things the center offers is emotional support through counseling and then also they do what ever they can to help those who do not have a good living situation. I know a lady personally that they helped get into some apartments at a church when she was 6 months pregnant and had no place to go. The director herself came to help her get settled and make sure everything was taken care of financially.

 Not only is there also counseling for rape and incest victims but they also offer amazing adoption support groups and resources so that if the mother chooses to she can give her baby to a couple/family who desperately wants a child. I also know a mother who used that service and is very at peace with her situation and her child is in a wonderful home.

Food, shelter and clothing for the baby and mom-they have so many resources and will work tirelessly to make sure that you and your child are ok. I already mentioned the shelter. As for food and clothing they again help you get plugged in to amazing resources as well as have a 12 week parenting class where you earn baby bucks and use those for diapers, clothes, baby necessities, and at the end receive a FREE brand new pack and play.

As for early childhood interventions there are many resources available for that as well. I am involved in a program where I can earn points and can redeem them for things like clothes and diapers and wipes and any baby need you would have until my child is over two years old!

Many girls are told that abortion is their "only" option. That they could never handle a baby. That it would wreck their lives etc...the pregnancy center also offers post abortion counseling for girls that felt they had no other choice, did not know about these amazing resources, had the abortion and are now dealing with horrible regret and guilt that plagues them for YEARS. They help them see that there is healing and redemption in Jesus Christ! That their sins can be washed away. That He will forgive them and take their guilt.

If anything adoption is always an option. And there are so many FREE resources for girls if they choose life and choose to keep their babies.

Yes, I say babies. Because that is what they are. I saw my son at 9 weeks. He was wiggling all over and his heart was beating. At five weeks his heart STARTED to beat. At six weeks blood began to course through his body. At 7 weeks hands and feet had emerged and his liver was churning out red blood cells (until the marrow formed and could take over). I could go week by week until right now and it would show from the beginning what an amazing miracle is taking place in a BABY. (Source: babycenter.com)

I do not judge these girls at all that have abortions. I pity them because most of them are given no other option. One nurse I know of (from a friend who was there) TURNED THE ULTRASOUND SCREEN AWAY so an 18 year old girl could not see her 11 week old twins MOVING and see their hearts beating. Why? Because they were giving her abortion as her ONLY option.

Another AMAZING resource the pregnancy center gives one FREE is an ultrasound. Last year 64 women came in sure that abortion was their only hope. The ladies at the center listened to them, counciled them, and then said , "Why don't we put you on the ultrasound machine just to make sure that you are indeed pregnant." When they did and these women saw their baby THEIR child moving and their heart beating and SAW that they are in fact a beautiful little person ALL 64 of them CHOSE LIFE and kept their little ones.

Am I saying that it will be easy? No it is not always easy BUT I do know that there are so many people out there who love God and love unborn babies and will do WHATEVER they can to help and support and encourage.

My husband and I have been amazed at how the Lord has provided for us! He is faithful!
There are other choices out there.

Abortion never has to be the only option.

That is my response.

Many of you have seen  my recent posts about the Walk for Life. This is the reason I do it. Jason and I have personally been so blessed with help of even knowing where to go and what to do next. When I first walked into those doors I had no idea where to really start. We were so overwhelmed by love and people that cared so much for us and our baby it just instantly put me to ease.

Here is another challenge though for all of us that my amazing friend Missie from over at Hidden Valley Simplicity commented on that same post:

"Last year I pleaded with a young woman to not abort her baby. She ended up NOT doing so and fell in love at her first ultrasound. Now, her and the baby are like family to us. One of my big things is, if we are going to cry out against abortion, we must---MUST---then help the women raise their babies after they are born!!! It's one thing to save a life. It's another to get involved in that life. It takes time and sacrifice but it's not enough to just prevent abortion. . . we have to do all we can to help that Mama give her child the best life possible, esp when circumstances are not giving Mama any support (financially, emotionally, etc). Are we willing to be there when the baby won't stop screaming at 2:00 a.m.??? Will we let the Mama and her baby be in our home frequently, just hanging out when we love our solitude and privacy, because she needs someone to be there for her? Will we buy things for them when the job the Mama has isn't quite enough for rent, clothes, formula, and diapers?"

What an amazing story but also what weighty questions that I had to ask myself! Are we willing to not just sit in church shouting out amens and hallelujahs when someone stands up and speaks out against abortion. Are we willing to actually walk the walk and do the hard things? To get out of our comfort zones. To serve and to love and to give as Jesus did?

(Source)



According to the website this picture is found on-this is a 12 week old baby.

"The baby has all of the parts necessary to experience pain, including nerves, spinal cord, and thalamus. Vocal cords are complete. The baby can suck its thumb. "

Is this little ones life worth it to us? Not only in the womb but like Missie, challenged us, outside the womb as well?

What can we do as women of God? How can we make a difference? For each of us it will be different but one thing we can all do is pray. Pray for these little lives. Pray for their Mama's. Pray to be the hands and feet to make a difference, even if it isn't in a glamorous way. Look around and see who are around us. Do you know a young single Mom? What are ways that you can help her and encourage her? Do you know a young pregnant girl? How can you encourage her and support her? Sometimes we all just need a true friend.

These involve doing.

Going.

Stepping out of that comfort zone.

Are we willing to stop just talking about it and start doing hard things for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ?

These lives are all so precious to Jesus-both the babies and Mama's. Do we tell them that? Do we show them that?

Or do we judge?

Proverbs 31:8-9 says this:

"Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute.
Speak up and judge fairly;
defend the rights of the poor and needy."

These little ones can not speak for themselves and a lot of these Mama's are destitute, poor and needy.

How can we make a difference for Jesus Christ in these girls lives today?

What is our Sacred Intent as we become Women?

I decided to go back to the archives today and re-read some posts and was convicted once again. I thought somehow that when I got married things would get better and life would be ,well, not quite perfect but almost-you know things that many young, dreamy girls believe.

Now I am not saying that I am not blessed with an absolutely amazing husband and marriage, but-it was an adjustment (and I am sure will continue to be for my whole life). When you go from being single minded and one person to all the sudden having a husband to support and love and be a help-meet to things change!

Sometimes I feel as though the house will never be clean enough. Or I get discouraged because I am unable to have piping hot, home made meals three times a day (although I am working on that one!), or the laundry is just a mountain that seems unattainable or...well, you know the things that are every day things for a lot of people.

Sometimes it is easy to forget Jesus.

I get so so busy trying to be the "perfect wife" I have in my head that I do not go to my Savior and spend time with Him in the Word and in prayer listening to what He wants from me.

So what is our intent?

What are we supposed to do as we move from girlhood into womanhood. What an amazing, scary, emotional, uncertain time of life that can be! Sometimes it is hard to even remember amidst the housework and the laundry and the phone calls and work what we are really here for.

I am going to share with you a quote from a post that I wrote on July 14, 2009. Two days before my 19th birthday.

A few years ago and yet, it still challenged me as I re-visited it this afternoon:

"I love this quote from Leslie Ludy and thought I would share it with you girls out there as an encouragement and a challenge:

'God's sacred intent for us goes far beyond just saving

sex till marriage, wearing one-piece swimsuits instead of

skimpy string bikinis, or idolizing Christian bans instead

of secular ones. It is not just making sure we tack on some
Christian morality to our self-indulgent lives.

His sacred intent for you and for me is nothing short of

absolute abandonment to Jesus Christ, entire separation from

the pollution of the world, and ardent worship of our

King with every breath we take.

Yes, it's a huge vision-one that is contrary to everything

our culture presents. In our modern world, we as young

women seem to be presented with only two options for our

femininity-we can either embrace the sensual, sexed-up

version of womanhood glorified by pop culture or we can

go the opposite direction and trade in perfume and makeup

for grit, grunge, and guy-like behavior.

But both of these options cause us to completely miss out

on the glorious pattern God designed for our femininity. We

were created to shine with heavenly beauty, to radiate with Christ-
like feminine loveliness, and to sparkle with the lily-white
purity of our Prince (Jesus). We were created to be set-apart
for Him.

-Excerpt from 'Set-Apart Femininity'"

We were created to be set-apart for HIM. Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ Who CHOSE to lay down His life for each and everyone of us on that old rugged cross. What a glorious freedom that brings! Is it really a sacrifice to surrender our lives (even the little parts we don't want to let go of) to HIM considering He willing laid down His entire life for us?

Absolute abandonment. Total separation from the pollution of the world. Ardent worship of our King.

This post is more a challenge to me than anything else! I want Jesus! In all areas of my life! I want to radiate HIM. And I want to stop saying that and move forward to take steps towards that end. I no longer want to fit Him into my life when it is merely convenient. No. I want my entire life to be completely centered and revolving around Him.

So what is our true sacred intent?

Oh Jesus, may You continue to teach us each and every day of our lives may we become more and more like you and fall deeper in love with You.

So what about you ladies? Are you living out what God would have you to live out? The intent that HE has for your life?

Just some thoughts that the Lord gave me today and I thought I would share.

What are your thoughts?

99 Balloons

"Eliot was born with an undeveloped lung, a heart with a hole in it and DNA that placed faulty information into each and every cell of his body. However, that could not stop the living God from proclaiming Himself through this boy who never uttered a word."

What would have happened if this little ones life would have been snuffed out by abortion when they found out that supposedly: "He wouldn't make it to birth anyway." What blessings and miracles this family would have missed out on! And what an inspiration this little family is to me personally. I believe that God brought this video to mind this morning and that I was supposed to share it with you all. So I did.

You can find Elliots Dad's blog here: 99 Balloons and his Mom's blog here: Orbit of the Mooneys and there is also a link on the Dad's website to the blog that they wrote during Eliot's life and after.

What or who inspires you today?

O Victory in Jesus!

An Excerpt from my prayer journal dated Monday, September 26, 2011:

"Yesterday in church Pastor was in part seven of his series on no limits. One thing I have been learning about lately is taking control of my thoughts. It seemed impossible but then he was talking about how we have guarenteed victory in You Lord!

'But thanks be to God!

 He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

  Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm.

 Let nothing move you.

 Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord,

 because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.'

-1 Corinthians 15:57-58

Wow! I (and every single child of God) have the victory in and through my Precious Savior Jesus Christ!!

The next point was how in our guarenteed victory we have absolutely incredible weapons:

'

'For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:

 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)

 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;'

-2 Corinthians 10:3-5

Casting down imaginations and bringing into captivity every thought to the obediance of Christ. That is what I really need to work on! The awesome thing though is that I can have the victory over these seemingly giants in my life because of Jesus christ and His power working in my! Thank You Jesus!

And to think-that I also have angels to help me as well according to this verse:

 'The angel of the LORD encamps all around those who fear Him,
And delivers them. 
Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good;
Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!
  Oh, fear the LORD, you His saints!
There is no want to those who fear Him.
¹ The young lions lack and suffer hunger;
But those who seek the LORD shall not lack any good thing.'

-Psalms 34:7-10

Wow! Wow! Wow! Oh my Jesus! Thank You! Now Lord, help me today to live this out. To take these precious promises and stand on them believing that You will bring them to pass. Help me Lord...

I have been allowing myself to listen to the enemies lies and live in defeat. Forgive me for that Lord and help me to move forward in victory from that lifestyle. Victory I can claim in and through You as YOUR child! Thank you Jesus!

In Your Name I pray,

Amen "

What is something in your life that you know that Jesus can give you victory in? Our God is so good and we do not have to live in defeat! We have the victory, the battle is already won, in and through Jesus!

So often we live in defeat though...

I needed this reminder and these precious promises today, Lord willing you did too :)

Have a blessed day!

Oh and on a side note:

I took this really neat picture of a Florida grasshopper (or are they locusts?) well, whatever they are they are big! Anyway I took this picture this morning and thought it was so cool!

Cute little guy huh? :) Have an amazing day! :) Keep your eyes on our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ :)



33 minutes that should change your life...

What are your thoughts on modesty?

I posted this on my facebook a few days ago and thought I would ask my readers for their thoughts :)

"Ok girls so what are some thoughts on modesty? What are some areas that are super easy to compromise as Christians when it does come to modesty? Why do we think (even as Christians) that we need to show ourselves off in order to be someone or something? Thoughts?"

Some thoughts from my friends of facebook were these:

• Christy from over at My Life For Christ said:

"I think it's very easy to compromise when we're at certain events. (formal events, swimming, etc) Somehow, we forget that if something would cause a brother to stumble, being at a wedding or next to a pool will not magically make it modest. I'm thankful to have brothers who remind me of this."

• My sister Abby from Mexico Bound said:

"I think just because you "have it" doesn't mean to flaunt it. Now I also don't think you need to dress in floor length skirts and up to the chin shirts. Really seek the Lord about it and think about if you would want your future husband looking at someone who dresses like you. Puts it in perspective for sure."

• A lady named Carol said:

"A rich Texan looking for a dress for his wife after seeing many selections and turning them all down said to the clerk" My wife is like my money i n the bank , I don't have to see it to know it's there." Simple Huh?"

So what are your thoughts? :)

The spirit of fear becomes faith!

These past few weeks

have been quite the journey.

Never have I battled

so much spiritually.

Never have I known

 the Lord to be

so mighty!

He is so good!

Here is something 

I wanted to share 

with you all.

It is a verse that

the Lord gave me 

many months ago when

I was really

struggling with fear

and then just has

been impressing on me

over the past few weeks

and I just feel led

to share it with

all of you

as well as what I had

journaled about it:

"Because He is at my

right hand

I SHALL NOT BE MOVED.

Therefore, my heart is

glad, and my glory

rejoices;

MY FLESH WILL ALSO
REST IN HOPE."

-Psalm 16:7-9

I love how it talks about the fact that 

He is at my right hand.

Right next to me!

With HIM beside me it says,

not that I possibly will not be moved,

but I SHALL NOT be moved.

Even when my world seems to be

falling apart,

I CAN HAVE CONFIDENCE

that He is with me and I can REJOICE in that!

I can also rest in the HOPE that knowing He is with me

will get me through these battles and spiritual attacks.

He can help me OVERCOME MY FEARS

about my future.

My HOPE for my future is 

FOUND IN MY SAVIOR.

My flesh (I will

insert FEARS about facing the future

and being here in Summerfield

and my marriage

and about wanting a baby

and not sure if I will ever get pregnant again)

WILL REST IN HOPE!!!
I had not realized
that I had been allowing
the enemy access
to me
in different ways
but the biggest one was
through the spirit of fear.
I have always struggled with
fear and worrying but
the past few weeks 
I felt as though
I was being bombarded
constantly with lies
and instead of 
casting out every imagination
and filling my mind
with the Word of God-
I listened to those lies
and it started to effect 
every area of my life.
This past week a 
dear friend came over
and brought to our
attention that, while
spirits can never possess
a child of the 
Most High God, 
they can taunt them
and if we allow ourselves to listen to them 
we can get to the point
where we are so focused 
on ourselves and our problems
that we are not focused
on our Savior any
longer and suddenly
we can not do 
what HE wants us to do.
So we cast out the spirit 
of fear and I really started
claiming promises
from scripture and saying 
truth out loud. 
This past week
we also had some major spiritual
battles and it was so awesome
to see God work!
This area that we are living
in is so full of spiritual 
darkness but our 
GOD IS BIGGER
THAN THAT DARKNESS
and so we have started 
praying over and re-claiming
this ground for our Lord
and Savior Jesus Christ.
Think that praying for
and entire community to be saved
is too big a thing
for God to do?
After the amazing ways I 
have seen God work this week
I truly do not believe that at all!
I believe
that God is going to 
do some great things!
Things beyond what we could
ever think or imagine!
I believe that we
as believers need to 
rise up 
and realize that there
is a battle out there
to be fought 
BUT
oh the glorious truth-
through Jesus Christ
the battle is already won!!!
What a glorious truth
but how often do we
live in that truth?!
I want to start
living and believing
for my Lord and Savior
to do amazing things
things beyond what I ever thought
He would/could.
I have been limiting God!
I am so ashamed to say it
but for months I have been living 
in fear and instead
of running and taking refuge
in my Savior KNOWING He 
would take care of me-
I have been listening to the enemies
lies and trying to fix things on my own.
How foolish!
But oh we serve
a merciful heavenly Father!
I truly feel as though
this week has been a new 
beginning in so many ways
and OH I CAN NOT WAIT
to see what happens next!!!

The Lord speaks!

So yesterday

I was weary.

And this morning.

I was weary.

But I opened my Bible

and not once,

but twice,

the Lord reminded me

of something:

"Why art thou cast down, O my soul?

and why art thou disquieted in me?

 hope thou in God:

 for I shall yet praise him

 for the help of his countenance."

-Psalm 42:5

And then-

as if one time was not enough-

a few verses down

I read this:

"Why art thou cast down, O my soul?

and why art thou disquieted within me?

 hope thou in God:

 for I shall yet praise him,

 who is the health of my countenance,

and my God."

-Psalm 42:11

What an amazing God we serve!

So today.

I am hoping in my Savior.

What comfort that brings! :)

What are you hoping in today?



Trusting in what?

Ever had one of those moments 

where you read a verse and know 

it was meant just for you?

I had one of those moments the other day:

" Stop trusting in mere humans,
   who have but a breath in their nostrils.
   Why hold them in esteem? "

         -Is. 2:22

So often I look to people

instead of God

to fix things.

So often I look to people

instead of God 

for comfort.

Jason keeps telling me

to not trust in him

but to trust

God with him.

And so this is what I have

been pondering.

Putting my trust in God.

Instead of people.

I am thankful we serve a 

merciful God!

He is good :)

What or who

are you trusting in

today?

115 Days!

(Photo Credit)

 So 115 days till I become

Katy Hollands!

I am so excited!

 I have been thinking about

what it means to be a wife.

Ever read Proverbs 31?

I have been reading it in a new light

and would have to say that it 

is a little bit scary

in all honesty!

So here is my question for you all:

I am studying through Proverbs 31

and the first word that caught my eye was 

virtuous.

A virtuous woman.

What do you think of when you think of a virtuous woman?

Real life isn't always like the courtship books? WHAT?

Hey all!

So I am sitting at school

waiting for my 1st class of the

day to start.

I was thinking about updating 

and was just browsing through some post

over at 

Young Ladies Christian Fellowship (YCLF)

and came across an article entitled

"Real life isn’t always like the courtship books".

Instantly the title grabbed my attention

so I clicked on it and read it.

And I ask you to do the same thing.

Did you read it?

Awesome!

So you may be asking what is the point?

Well, I haven't really shared a lot of details about

my relationship with Jason because honestly 

I have been afraid to.

Why?

Well, because our courtship is not at all like all the books

I grew up reading.

And I was afraid that people would think I was less holy because of it.

Have you gotten the gist that I am a real people pleaser yet?

Writing a post like this absolutely terrifies me because 

I know that some of my readers will not agree with me and I hate 

even the possibility of conflict.

So why, if I hate conflict so much, am I writing this post?

Because I really felt I needed to.

I feel as though I need to share.

I feel I need to give you all a little glimpse into my relationship with Jason.

So I am going to share the comment I wrote on

Jessica Telian's Post:

"I really appreciate this post. I definitely agree that courtship books in and of themselves are not wrong but when I was younger I was obsessed with them to the point of creating very legalistic rules for myself (all while I was not dating or even close) that I thought would make me more pure and essentially more holy. I was in one courtship relationship and we did it all by the books literally. And yet-all the rules did nothing to prevent my heart from being shattered when some things in his life came to light and my Dad (who is my hero for doing it) ended our courtship.
I really struggled after that because we had done everything “right” and yet it had still failed and I still got hurt.
Well, the Lord is gracious and he literally plopped me in front of the man that on May 21, 2011 will become my husband. We didn’t do things by the books and yet…the Lord blessed. He kissed me the day we got engaged and honestly I waited to feel guilty (because of the years of my mindset that I would be less pure if I even dared to think about kissing my husband before my wedding day)  and yet-I didn’t. I realized that saving your first kiss for your husband does not necessarily mean that it will make you any less pure if it is not on your wedding day but before (even though I have the highest respect for those who do wait till their wedding day!). 

Our love story has been nothing like the books but oh our Father in Heaven has written us a beautiful love story! One that is a million times better then I ever could have imagined! For so long I tried to hold on to MY rules and the way I thought courtship should be…and in the end I realized my Jesus just wanted me to surrender my love story to Him so He could be in complete control and when I did-I realized that His ways truly ARE so much better than ours! "

The Lord used this article:

First Kisses

after I had ended my courtship with my ex-boyfriend

to really challenge me on WHY I had set the rules I had for my life.

As I prayed and went over and over things I realized

that for ME PERSONALLY

a lot of the reasons I was going to do or not do something came out 

of my own attempts to make myself more holy. 

The Lord really used the lady who wrote the article-Gretchen-

to bring me back to the realization that it is not about the rules and regulations

we can set for ourselves or think we need to set for ourselves 

but it is about going back to the Word of God and forming convictions

based on that and what we know He has for us.

SO there it is.

I feel like I just rambled but honestly it was relieving.

I have lived my life for years trying to have complete control of my love story

and have only just recently began to found

the amazing freedom that can be found

in surrendering completely to Jesus Christ and letting HIM write our love story.

Because in the end it really is all about Jesus Christ.

And bringing honor and glory to Him.

He is worthy!
Note:
A reader commented on this and brought up the point that we should have standards of excellence 

and I totally agree and am very glad he pointed it out. 

I am not condoning throwing out every single rule or standard

and I just wanted to make sure that was clear.

That was not my point.

What I am saying is that in my own personal life

I became so obsessed with man made rules and regulations

that I started relying on them to determine 

how holy I was or how unholy I was. 

I was so full of pride, 

arrogance, hypocrisy and self-righteousness 

that there was no room left for Jesus!

It comes down to our personal relationships with Jesus Christ.

Going before Him and seeking His face.

When we are living for Jesus we will WANT to give everything to Him

and we will WANT  to bring honor and glory to Him 

ESPECIALLY in our relationships here on earth 

because they are meant to be a picture of Christ and the church.

We can never serve the Lord too much! :)

Ps:

Just found these pictures of Jason and I that my 
good friend Olivia took
the day we left for Florida and
I thought it was so us I just had to share them
with you-

We constantly laugh with each other. We just bring it out in each other I guess!

See that look on his face? That is a look he gets often. Lol :) It is a "whoops shouldn't have said that look"

Did we know people were taking our pics? No. But we did for this one! We were FREEZING but happy to just be with each other. I am so excited to spend the rest of my life with this man!!!

 

Numb.

Numb.

Tired.

Emotional.

Hormonal.

Sick.

Tears.

Exhaustified.

It has been one of those days.

I guess with blogging sometimes it is super

easy to just type what you want others

to know about you.

You know the things that will impress.

So sometimes it is easy to just not type when

you feel absolutely empty.

But I am.

Because even as I am sitting

here typing this I realize-

it is not about me!

I just read about

a girl and her one month

baby boy who died.

She was 15.

And here I am focusing on myself

and my "problems"?!?!

I am so thankful for a merciful heavenly Father.

Ever feel like you will never measure up?

It is ok.

Because of Jesus Christ-WE DON'T HAVE TO!

Forgiveness.

Grace.

Love.

Mercy.

I am realizing that even though I am struggling

I still need to praise Him!

So I will:

• I praise Him that tomorrow is Christmas Eve! I am so excited to be able to spend time with my family but more than that I am so so so thankful for the reason for the season-my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!
• I praise Him for putting Jason into my life. He is my love, my hero, my prince, my gift straight from God! I could never have asked for anyone better. Last night we were both sick so we curled up on the couch and watched Andy Griffiths with his brother Matt. It was great. I love doing even the small things with that man. I absolutely adore him and I just...am in awe at how the Lord has worked in our relationship! Yesterday I was able to update the website (click here) and the blog (click here) for Jason the Juggler. Because of school I had been unable to spend time managing his business and now I can which I am so excited about! Prayers would be appreciated for that for sure! :)
• I am so thankful for the American Gospel Tour team! We are leaving for Florida in less that two weeks and I am so excited to see what the Lord does in the time that we are gone!
• I am so thankful for my family. Yes, we sometimes do not get a long but wow am I blessed with parents and siblings who know the real me but love me in spite of me!
• I am so blessed to have my Grandma and Grandpa Kelley. They are our guardians but have become our honory grandparents. I could adore them more. Tonight we are going to their house to decorate their tree and eat supper.
• I am so thankful for chocolate (yes I have been eating it today!)
• I am so thankful school is done! (More on that later)
• I am so thankful for the amazing friends that God has given me!
• I am so thankful for a future and hope because of my Lord Jesus Christ!
• I am so thankful for Christmas lights.
• I am so thankful for....

You know.

I am not as discouraged as I was just a few moments ago.

Wow!

Counting blessings has a way of doing that I suppose :)
Praise the Lord!

What do you have to praise Him for tonight?

Laminin?

My lovely friend Raquel

over at God's Daughter (click to visit her blog)

 posted this video

 and I thought I would share it all with you

as it is very thought provoking:

Christmas is a mere five days away.

I am so thankful for my health

 and the health of my family

 in this Christmas season-

 but what about the people who are sick?

Or who are sitting by the bedside of a sick loved one?

Or who are facing the reality that

they may not be able to have another Christmas

 with their

sister or brother,

  mother or father,

 husband or wife,

 girlfriend or boyfriend.

The Christmas holidays are

 such a wonderful, beautiful time of the year

but for some-

it is a time of sadness.

So this Christmas,

lets enjoy the blessings the Lord has given us,

 but also remember to pray for and reach out to those

 that are hurting this holiday season.



An Investment.

Hey all you fellow bloggers out there.

So I really should be working on homework.

I really should be cleaning my room.

I really should be getting caught up on my email.

I really should be doing a lot of things.

But I was looking at these pictures and thought I would

share them with you.

It is amazing to me the people that the Lord brings into our lives.

11 years ago He brought into my life some amazing

mennonite young women that took me under

their wings and have been there for me ever since.

Every other Tuesday, for as long as I remember,

we would have Girl's Club.

As time went on and we grew older

my sisters and I as well as some dear friends

"graduated" to the older group of girls

and started to meet seperately.

The woman that mentored us was Linda.

I can honestly say that if it had not been her

and the time she invested in my life I would not be

the person that I am today.

I am really excited for what God has

for her! She got a job working at a nursing home in Virginia.

She will be overseeing the volunteers and mentoring

the girls that work there.

I am so excited for her!

But it is bittersweet at the same time.

So us girls took her out to dinner the other week.

And I taught Jacquie how to wash her hands like a nurse

(considering she is starting the nursing program in January)

And I FROZE in the parking lot but

managed to get a cute picture with Jen :)

We had so much fun!

But like I said it was bittersweet.

Seasons in life.

Seasons of change.

Investments.

Linda has invested so much in us.

I pray that I will be able to invest just as much

in those around me.

That I will be able to make a difference.

And that that difference would be Jesus Christ.

When I grow up-

I want to be just like Linda.



I have been struggling.

I really have.

It is hard to put into words all my

thoughts.

Honestly, I have so many I don't even know where to begin.

I have a lot of decisions that I have been struggling with.

A lot of fears and insecurities.

A lot of things that I have been having

to surrender to Jesus over

and over

and over again.

I want to be able to invest in others lives.

I want people to look at me and not see me

but see Jesus Christ shining through me.

I want to make a difference for Christ.

I want to bring

honor and glory to HIM in everthing

I do.

I want to be like Jesus.

Please pray for me.

What are things you need to invest in?



Grace.

"Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men;

 and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

 For ye see your calling

, brethren,

how that not many wise men after the flesh,

not many mighty,

 not many noble

, are called:

 But God hath chosen 
the foolish things of the
world to confound the wise;

 and God hath chosen the weak
things of the world to confound 
the things which are mighty;

 And base things of the world,

 and things which are despised,

 hath God chosen, yea,

and things which are not,

 to bring to nought things that are:

 That no flesh should glory in his presence.

But of him are ye in Christ Jesus,

who of God is made unto us wisdom,

 and righteousness,

and sanctification,

 and redemption:

 That, according as it is written,

He that glorieth,

let him glory in the Lord."

1 Corinthians 1:25-31
It has been a long time since I updated.
I have not been trying to neglect but with finals
coming up in school
this blog has been sadly neglected.
Thankfully though
only eight more days until freedom!
I can hardly wait!
In the meantime I am praying that I will be
a light and that the Lord will be honored and glorified
in and through me.
He is worthy!
So just thought that I would let you know I am alive.
And also share that verse with you.
What are your thoughts on it?

s

PLEASE PRAY-It would be a matter of life or death.

Thursday, November 18, 2010.

9am.

That is tomorrow. 

Less than 24 hours away.

Please pray.

It is a matter of life or death.

For not one.

Not two.

But three lives.

See, there is a girl

who is young,

who is scared,

who is alone,

who is pregnant with twins.

Who is scheduled to have

an abortion.

Tomorrow.

At 9am.

Life.

Death.

She feels that she has no choice.

She has been given no other alternatives.

She has no hope.

Abortion.

Death.

Please pray harder 

than you ever have in your life!

She does not want to have the abortion.

She wants her babies.

But she is afraid.

And has no were else to go.

So tomorrow.

We will be heading to the clinic.

To try to find her.

And offer her hope.

Offer her a choice.

Share with her about Jesus.

Show her an alternative.

Life.

Please pray.

There are three lives at stake.

A young girls.

And two precious little 11 week old babies.

 

 

Source

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Please pray.

There are so many lost people in this world.

They have no hope.

We have that hope.

Hope that is found in Jesus Christ.

What are we doing about it?

I am learning that it is not enough 

to just talk about it.

We need to start doing.

We need to start living.

We need to stop judging and 

start reaching out to others with 

the love of Jesus Christ.

I was thinking about this the other day.

There are things like picketing that we can do.

But how often does that involve judging the girls?

How often does it involve labeling

these girls as murderesses?

Instead of looking though eyes of judgment

what if we took the time to maybe look at them as a person?

A lost person?

A lost soul who without Jesus Christ is destined for an eternity in hell?

Judgement.

So often we pass it.

When instead we should start looking with eyes 

of love, care and compassion.

You know-

like Jesus loves you

and like Jesus loves me.

Instead of passing judgment

what do you think would happen 

if we offered that hope that can only

be found in Jesus Christ alone!

What a difference that would make.

It could save lives.

Please pray for these three

lives that are at stake.

Tomorrow.

9am.

No way.

Ever had one of those times

 when you said:

 "No Way"

 to God?

I had one of those yesterday.

Actually, I have been having one of those for months.

So this whole weekend I have been really struggling.

I had been holding on to things.

I had been refusing to surrender.

I had been relying on my own "strength."

I had not been in the Word or in prayer.

I had allowed myself to get completely overwhelmed.

Then yesterday I got angry.

Now, I am not the type of person that tends to get really angry.

I get frustrated.

I get stressed.

But I don't often get super super angry.

Yesterday I did.

Why you ask?

Well because Jason and Danny had the audacity

to suggest that I delete my facebook.

*Insert look of shock and horror here*

Delete it?

What?

So I tried to laugh it off but then I started to get annoyed.

See, they wouldn't let me laugh it off.

They wanted to know why it was so important to me.

Why I just couldn't live without it.

So I started to think.

And steam.

And think some more.

And suprisingly I really could not think

of very good excuses I mean reasons.

"Ministry"

was the best one I could come up with.

Now, I am not in any way trying to bash facebook.

I believe that you can most definitely minister through it.

However, when it starts to consume you and your time

when do you draw the line?

So, I was just miserable.

I have realized something.

When you know that you are not doing the Lord's will

and yet you are fighting

what you know He wants you to do.

Well.

It is painful.

So this morning I woke up.

And I just felt dead.

No joy.

No peace.

Nothing.

Just spiritually dead.

So I texted Jason and asked him to pray for me.

And he called me.

As I was talking to him the Lord just put this thought in my head.

"What is an idol?"

Now, I love this definition of an idol by Leslie Ludy:

"An idol is ANYTHING

 that claims our ATTENTION

 and AFFECTION

 above Christ."

As soon as I thought about that another thought popped into my head:

"How do I know that something is an idol in my life?"

Here is another quote I think sums up the answer to that quite nicely:

"One way you can tell if

 something is an idol

or another lover in your life

 is that you are unwilling to let it go.

You can't picture living without it.

 Most of us,

 if we were honest,

 would have to admit that

we are unbelievably attached to worldly entertainment.

 Life would seem empty and bleak

 if we didn't own a TV

(or a computer, cell phone, again: fill in the blank)...

Even though we have everything we would

 ever want or need in Christ Jesus alone-

we still look to these other means

 for the peace, joy, excitement, and refreshment

 that HE HIMSELF desires to give us.

 All we have is the counterfeit version

 of peace and joy because

we aren't willing

 to let Him give us the real thing."

 (Leslie Ludy)

All the sudden I knew what I needed to do.

"Jason," I said,

"I need to delete my facebook."

As soon as I verbally spoke those words

I can not even explain the joy and peace that just flooded my soul.

It was as if I had been holding facebook up between me and God.

I would let Him have everything else except for that.

Why?

I guess just because of the status.

I mean I got to share my accomplishments with the world on there.

It was all about me.

Selfish ambition.

Pride.

Now maybe you remember this post that I wrote a few months back.

I didn't remember until just today.

I am going to share a few excerpts from it (in italics).

To view the complete post click below:

An Idol.

Do I think that facebook is bad?

NOT AT ALL!

For me personally however,

 it has become an idol

 and because of that it needs to be taken care of

 which is why instead of just deactivating it

I am completely surrendering it to the Lord

and deleting it.

 It had come between me and the Lord.

 Time spent on facebook was more

 of a priority in my life

 then time spent with my Savior.

 It is so shameful to admit that but it is true!

What about other forms of entertainment?

 Movies, internet, magazines, books, cell phones, fill in the blank.

 Are they necessarily in and of themselves wrong

 (well, within certain boundaries of course)?

 No.

What are the things in your life

 that maybe the Lord has been asking you to surrender to Him?

What do you think would happen if,

 instead of spending hours doing

*fill in the blank*

we used that time to get to know our God?

What if we treated our BIBLE

 like our cell phone

 or the internet

or the television

 or movies?

What if THE BIBLE

 was one of the first things

that we turned to in the morning?

What if we had to check THE BIBLE

 at least once every two hours a day

so as to not go through withdrawals?

What if, when we have been away from

 THE BIBLE

 for any amount of time we felt

we had to check it

and then re-check it?

What if we had been away from home

 and THE BIBLE was the first thing

we went to when we got home?

What if THE BIBLE

 was one of the last things

 we thought about at night?

What if we let go of those idols

 that have control of our lives and

instead threw ourselves at Jesus' feet?

What if?

This is something that is between each of us and God.

 No one on earth can make these decisions for you.

I want to live a 110% Surrendered life

 for my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

I read today in Galations 3:13:

"Christ has redeemed us

from the curse of the law, having

become a curse for us

(for it is written: 'Cursed is everyone who

hangs on a tree.')"

To think that He willingly became a curse for you and for me!

He died on that tree...for you and for me!

The least I can do is live for Him.

And I want to.

Oh so desperately.

For Jesus Christ alone.

I want Him to be my everything.

I want Him to be my all.

I want people to see Jesus Christ in me.

So yeah.

Things are going to be changing on this blog.

Like, I am going to be posting a lot more.

The Lord has been teaching me so much and I

 just have so much to share with you all!

So stay tuned for some exciting things!

And to sum up:

Am I a super spiritual person just because I am deleting facebook?

No.

Do I think that people that have facebooks are sinners?

Uh no.

My challenge to you would be this:

really ponder what priorities you have in your life.

What are the things that fill up your time?

What do you turn to for refreshment, fulfillment, and satisfaction?

Is it the world?

Or is it JESUS?

Is Jesus Christ worth YOUR ALL

(even the little, seemingly "insignificant things")?