Happy Anniversary Mom & Dad!

Yesterday was my parent's 38th Anniversary!! Yep, blows my mind how people can be married that long. This little thought is one of my favorites on marriage. It reminds me of Mom & Dad!

In May 1943, German theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote a letter to a young bride and groom, advising them on the nature of the union they were about to enter:
"Your love is your own private possession, but marriage is more than something personal — it is a status, an office. Just as it is the crown, and not merely the will to rule, that makes the king, so it is marriage, and not merely your love for each other, that joins you together in the sight of God and man. As you gave the ring to one another and have now received it a second time from the hand of the pastor, so love comes from you, but marriage from above, from God. As high as God is above man, so high are the sanctity, the rights, and the promise of love. It is not your love that sustains the marriage, but from now on, the marriage that sustains your love."

Congrats Mom & Dad! What a wonderful example you have showed me of a God-centered marriage!! May God bless the years to come!

A little Philippians

I have been crazy busy lately with school, camps, and the million other things that I like to add to my plate. I was encouraged by these words in Philippians today,
"Not that I have already atained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those thing which are ahead. I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." (Philppians 3:12-14)

What a Week!

I know that I have probably shared this with most people before, but my life is some crazy rollercoaster that is sometimes up and sometimes down. Especially today, I am so thankful that God is constant. It is encouraging that His strength is made perfect in my weakness. Obviously running my mouth is a weakness, not sure how He is using that, but I'm sure God sees the bigger picture.

My favorite passage of Scripture this week has been the story of Onesimus and Philemon in the small book of Philemon that is hidden between Titus and Hebrews. Paul is obviously appealing to Philemon on Onesimus' behalf. The story doesn't really say what Onesimus did besides run away, but I'm sure he probably did something to screw up. I can so easily relate to Onesimus, and often I need someone to appeal on my behalf. I think about Jesus and how He serves as my advocate to the Heavenly Father and when I mess up and need forgiveness. Obviously this has been my life more this week than normal. What a blessing that God forgives and forgets!!

Tribute to Dads

Happy Almost Father's Day!

My dad is a pretty wonderful man, so I thought I would give him a little shout out this Father's Day! I love these man-made, card selling holidays. It gives me good reasons to go to Hallmark!
Anyway, on to Dad.

I love my dad for many reasons, but I'm gonna share the top 3:

• He inspires me to be more like Jesus!!
• He listens to me!!
• He is a thinker!!

Yep, those are my favorite things about my dad (right now, at least)! I think it is great how God gives us exactly what we need in a Father. I have so many great memories with my dad. Some of my favorites are talking in the car on the way home from volleyball practice. It would just be the two of us, and I am never quiet, so Dad and I would have some great conversations. I love being able to just talk to my dad, he is so wise and has more experience than most people I have ever met. When we talked I felt that he would listen to me, and it didn't matter that I was 9 or 15, he would talk to me like I was important and had something interesting to say.

I guess you could say that I am a Daddy's Girl (and proud of it, especially on Father's Day). God has put so many incredible men in my life in addition to my dad, like my big brother who is the dad of my sweet nephew and niece. I am also remind of a certain "adopted" dad at my church who always makes me feel like one of his "real" kids! These amazing people whom God has placed in my life give me a great picture how wonderful my Heavenly Father is!

Awesome God, thank you so much for Dads, without them my life would not be the same, and because of them my life has been greatly impacted forever!

the beginning

I decided I needed a blog. Some days, I face times where I just need to spit out whatever is in my head onto paper, and my sweet laptop allows me to do it more quickly. This may only be for my family and close friends, I don't need a blog following, just a place to share some thoughts that are not viewed by the entire world.

This week has been stressful, and it always seems that in the middle of the stress God desires to show me something. This time it was been that He desires personal retreat with me. A majority of the time I seem so busy with the craziness that is going on around me, that I forget to stop and listen to His voice. I still have my quiet time in the morning, but I feel like I am just doing it out of habit. He gently reminds me of my desperate need for Him, and I fall on my face seeking repentence and a greater longing and desire to hear from Him. This week my faith has been questioned, tested, and encouraged. I know I probably could have done better, but I feel like everything is a learning experience for me. It appears that sometimes the lesson is harder to grasp.