God Will Speak Through Stickers, etc.

I get a devotion each day from Proverbs 31 Ministries. This was today's devotion and it really swept me off my feet. Check it out:

Sometimes when I make reference to the fact that God speaks to me, there are some people that don't quite know what to make of that statement. But, it is true. God's voice is a gentle rush through my soul or a thought that pops into my head in a way that I know it's not my own. Throughout the Bible, God spoke to His people. And I'm convinced He still does. This is the most exciting part of my adventures with God...hearing from Him, experiencing Him... everyday!

Recently I had the wonderful privilege to speak at a conference with Renee Swope. Renee and I went thinking we were going to be giving out to the ladies at the conference but God wound up giving to us in special ways as well. During Renee’s talk, she spoke about Isaiah 61 as her life verse given to her by God over ten years ago. She referred to verse 3 several times that promises God will make His people into oaks of righteousness, a display of His splendor. She said God's promise to her despite all the yuck of her past was that one day He would use her to "display" His splendor.

Toward the end of her talk, God spoke something that seemed quite strange to me. I felt God tell me to take the sticker off the sole of my shoe. I flipped my shoe over thinking it must be a price sticker. Instead, what I found took my breath away! Tucked safely into the arch of the bottom of my shoe, was an orange sticker that read DISPLAY! Instantly, the Lord spoke to my heart again and instructed me to give the sticker to Renee when she finished speaking and tell her that her life verse had been fulfilled. Today, she had truly become a DISPLAY of His splendor. She was to place the sticker in her Bible beside the Isaiah 61 verses as a reminder of God's fulfilled promise in her life. The sticker even matched Renee's orange jacket she was wearing!

Some may be skeptical that God would speak to ordinary women. Some may think it silly that God would use a sticker on the bottom of a shoe to reveal Himself. But Renee and I are absolutely convinced... from the bottom of our soles and souls!

Praise God that He has a sense of humor and he speaks to us specifically and with a love that we could never comprehend. How is he trying to speak to you today?

WOW! I love this

"Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit."
--2 Peter 1:20-21

PROPHECY NEVER HAD ITS ORIGIN IN THE WILL OF MAN. Praise God. Praise God that it is not of our own will that we speak truth in to the lives of other. Praise God that we are carried along by the Holy Spirit. Some are given the gift of prophecy even today. I'm trying to learn not to turn a deaf ear to someone who is speaking God's truth into my life "For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." Hebrews 4:12

God's Proverbial Light Bulb

Last night @ NewSpring Student Ministry Alden spoke on the importance of God's word and understanding exactly where your relationship is with the Holy Spirit. Well, after worship we went into small groups and the girls were discussing that they had trouble with applying God's word to their life. They would take it in and take it in, but do nothing with it. At this point, God turned on the proverbial light bulb in my head. I had started a blog for the girls so that we could all write to one another and keep up with what was going on in each other's lives, but that just wasn't working out. SO **DING** went the light bulb and I suggested that I start doing a daily devotion on the blog for the girls. We were doing devotion books before we switched from Ignite (middle school ministry) to a combined ministry and the girls were loving it. Now, I get to employ some technology and love on my girl's through God's word. I'm pretty stoked about it. It's going to be an awesome form of accountability for me. Here's a link to the blog Meg's Girlz if you want to check it out.

2 Peter 1:3-11

His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 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 evil desires.
For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. 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. But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.
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, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 1:3-11

What I took away from this:

1. God equips us with EVERYTHING we need to live according to his will...there are no excuses
   
2. To prevent being infective and unproductive, watch these areas of your life("But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins."):
   *Faith
   *Goodness
   *Knowledge
   *Self Control
   *Perserverance
   *Godliness
   *Brotherly kindness
   *Love
3. He lays it out clearly before us...if we stumble it's because we are nearsighted and blind, we've forgotten that we've been cleansed from our past sins.

Just a little spiritual food to chew on. I have to admit, it's a pretty tough one to swallow for me.

God is DEFINITELY into Details

God's timing is remarkable. Last Tuesday night I was making up some work that I had neglected b/c I am a ridiculous procrastinator sometimes. I was working in the coffee shop...I don't remember why...and ended up talking to a friend from high school who is a Teaching Fellow with me--Joanna Dickerson (girl, just so you know, God used you in a BIG way). She informed me that she had heard that Palmetto Middle School had money to start a volleyball program for the past two years, but did not have any one to Coach the team. Being the lover of volleyball that I am, I HAD to find out if this was true (no offense Jo..I just wanted to make sure they were still looking).
So...Saturday I got up the courage to email the Palmetto Middle School Principal to find out if it was true. I was just expecting a short little email back sometime this week, but God came through in a BIG way.On my way back from shopping this afternoon I received a phone call from the Student Teaching coordinator--I figured that she was just calling to confirm my student teaching placement at Southwood Middle School. Much to my suprise she proceeded to tell me that I had the opportunity to student teach at Palmetto Middle School, and--according to my student teaching performance--possibly take the place of a teacher who has to leave in December AND become the new volleyball coach!
For those of you who know me well, you know that I quit volleyball after my sophomore year of college b/c I felt as if God were calling me in a new direction. It was one of the most difficult decisions of my life, but God is now rewarding me for that decision with many new open doors. Praise God for his timing and his faithfulness. He continuously blows me away. With that...I'm out, like pout...without the "P"

My Chains are Gone

Amazing grace
How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost, but now I'm found
Was blind, but now I see
'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear
And grace my fears relieved
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed
My chains are goneI've been set free
My God, my Savior has ransomed me
And like a flood His mercy reigns
Unending love, Amazing grace
The Lord has promised good to me
His word my hope secures
He will my shield and portion be
As long as life endures
The earth shall soon dissolve like snow
The sun forbid to shine
But God, Who called me here below
Will be forever mine
Will be forever mine
You are forever mine

Even since giving my life to Christ, I've felt like there were times when I was living in bondage again. Lately, that's been the emotion I've had. I've felt as if something were wrong, as if the perverbial gears just weren't in synch and everything I did just felt off--especially my relationship with Will. Tonight at church I realized that I needed to be set free from my selfish desires and allow God's mercy and grace to cover me once more and surrender it all back to him again. I guess my blog yesterday was me on the brink, in need of God to step in and hold me. The last song before Perry's sermon (an unexpected Celine Dion ballad) really just blew me away and showed me that I had not been the the helper for Will that God has called me to be. The Power of Love was the song. The lyrics that really got me were these

Even though there may be times
It seems Im far away
Never wonder where I am
cause I am always by your side
cause I am your lady
And you are my man
Whenever you reach for me
Ill do all that I can

And I am his lady, but I haven't done all that I can when he reaches for me. I've been standing in his way, at best. I've been begging for his attention becase I wouldn't look to my Lord and Savior to fulfill me. I need accountability and I need my God to ransom me.
Tonight I also realized that I need a really strong woman of God to be my mentor and to disciple me. I cannot look to Will to show me how to be a better woman of God. Yes, he can lead me and point me to Jesus, and he does, but he cannot demonstrate to me how to live out Proverbs 31. So, if you read this and you pray...please pray that God places a great example in my life and pray that I love my fiance the way God intended love to be. Pray that I don't ask anything of him, and that I serve him and point him to Jesus constantly. Pray that I no longer rely on myself and that my pride just melts like snow. I'm out.

Power Struggle

So, I really struggle with being submissive--submissive to God, submissive to Will, submissive to authority, submissive to truth. I struggle with being selfish. I see the world through such a limited view. Pray that God expands my view and opens my eyes to the way he sees things. Then maybe I won't struggle with letting other people take control.

God is into details...

I'm up entirely too late b/c I just finished a paper for my Victorian lit class. God really taught me a valuable lesson tonight...besides the fact that procrastination may one day be the reason why I leave this world to be with him...I learned that Satan is subtle. I always thought it was going to be obvious when Satan attacked, but tonight he snuck in really sneaky like.

Picture this scene, I had been trying to work on a paper for about two hours with a plethora of distractions when Will calls trying to be sweet and encourage me while I work. I was to a breaking point and I couldn't even concentrate on what he was saying, so I was ugly and told him that I couldn't even hear what he was saying b/c I kept rereading the one paragraph I had meagerly typed on the page. I could hear the hurt in his voice, which made me even more angry b/c I knew I was being the south end of a north bound horse.

Still, I didn't see what God was trying to teach me. I knew that the theif comes to kill, steal and destroy, but I didn't realize that he does it minute by minute. God has been trying to show me to take one minute at a time, only I didn't realize that this was why. Tonight Satan took advantage of a few hours b/c I took my minutes for granted. He stole not only my joy, but that of the person I love the most in this world by using my frustration to blind me from the joy of a moment with my loved one. Geez. I really pray that God helps me to be aware of the little things...good and bad.

Your first love?

Lately I've felt that God is calling me to something so much bigger than I can comprehend. My fiance has had the exact same feeling. We just have this huge excitement and wonder rolling within us, as if we're standing on the edge of a cliff, attached to a hand glider with the perfect wind about to lift us to flight. We are on the edge of something huge and I'm pretty pumped about it. Will feels like God may be calling him to start some kind of ministry, he's passionate about young people and football, I know I'm called to be his helper and I'm passionate about underpriveleged young people. So what is it that God is calling us to? I'm not quite sure, but after reading the pitfalls of people who are new to ministry (Young Lions) on Clayton Kings blog, I realized that I must be certain to remain in Christ and HE will guide my steps. This was one of the final pitfalls Clayton warned about:
Losing The First Love - from personal experience, I can say that all of the creativity and energy that YoungLions have penned up inside their hearts and heads can distract them from the main thing; staying connected to the Vine. In John 15, Jesus made it clear that if we remain in Him, we will bear much fruit, but apart from Him, we can do nothing. NOTHING. Young Lions must not forget that we are called first to Christ, not success or church planting or executive decision-making. He must always remain our first love.

Is He your first love?

True Freedom

This morning I had to be up bright and early to attend a Veteran's Day honorary breakfast for Teaching Fellows. The scholarship ensures that I only have to pay for books each year, so I tried not to complain much. I have to admit, when my alarm clock went off this morning and there was not a light shining through the window and the room outside my covers was freezing, my brain started formulating excuses of why I "accidentally" missed the program. Despite the bitter thoughts, I rose and got ready. When I arrived, I was still a little cynical about waking up early. Then the Veterans began arriving and my attitude started to shift. God spoke to my heart and made me realize what these men and women did so that I can be free. Then, I was reminded of what Christ did so that I can be free.
All too often those who don't believe in Christ won't accept him for fear of losing their freedom. They fear that God will take away the fun in their lives. God has been showing me lately just what it means to have freedom in Christ. When you take your eyes off of Christ for just a moment, the world creeps in and surrounds. The walls grow higher and your hope begins to shrink, but the minute you cry out to Jesus, they very second you realize that you cannot do things on your own, he rips the curtain and removes the barriers separating you from him. There is nothing like setting your eyes firmly on Jesus. Everything else just seems so small in comparison. Joys are greater, sorrow is less and Christ is above all. Praise God for the freedom we have in Jesus. Thank a Veteran for the freedom we have in this country.

Politics?

Normally, I keep out of politics because I am not very well versed in understanding how it all works; however, I am about to begin working in public schools, get married, and one day have children in public schools...I think it's time that I show interest in politics. Lately I've been researching John Edwards' plans for education. The following paragraph I found on his website made me giddy.

Make Every School an Outstanding School
Every child in America should have the chance to attend an outstanding public school that has high expectations for every child. Edwards will radically overhaul No Child Left Behind to live up to its goal of helping all children learn at high levels. The law today judges children based on cheap standardized tests, forces schools to narrow the curriculum, fails to accurately identify struggling schools, and imposes unproven cookie-cutter reforms...To build on current successes, he will help 1,000 'great' schools a year expand or start new branches. Edwards will also invest more resources for low-income children, put us on a path to fully funding special education, and raise graduation rates by creating multiple paths to graduation such as Second Chance schools for former dropouts.

He plans to RADICALLY OVERHAUL NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND. I love that statement. After much research into the No Child Left Behind Act, I've drawn the conclusion that No Child Left Behind is seeking to "privatize" public schools. What happens to the children who cannot afford to transfer to the school with "highly qualified teachers" because their school failed on the basis of the national report card? They get LEFT BEHIND.
I'm not 100% sold on John Edwards yet, but I am definitely appreciative of his plan to overhauld No Child Left Behind. I've got more research to do before I make up my mind.

My God is Sovereign

Man, I am a LOUSY blogger. But, to my defense, I am a busy lady. I am a senior in college and in my last semester before I student teach, I'm planning a wedding, trying to spend enough time with my friends and my AMAZING fiance, and I'm trying my best to grow in my walk with God. Needless to say, I stay busy. Enough excuses, time to share an awesome work of God.

Four years ago next week I was a senior in high school playing in the North/South All-star volleyball game. The North/South game is played by four teams. The best seniors from the North 1A/2AA teams play the South 1A/2AA seniors and the same with the 3AAA/4AAAA teams. Funny that four years ago I was playing and this year I have been asked by an FCA representative to speak to this years All-Stars. As I was praying and listening to what God wanted to say to these girls, he really showed me that I needed to tell them what I wish someone had told me when I was in their shoes. I had some quiet time tonight and God just spoke to my heart and I filled in a detailed outline of 5 things I wish someone would have told me 4 years ago. Then God spoke to my heart again and said that I should write all of this in a letter and print it out for each girl to keep. Then he spoke to my heart again and told me to see who this years all-stars were. I knew I wouldn't recognize any names, save the ones from my hometown. When I got to the names of the two girls chosen from my high school alma mater, I wanted to drop to my knees before God and thank him for the chance to speak his truth to them. I am completely blown away by God's plan and God's timing in not only my life, but the lives of others. Praise God for his sovereignty!