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.