I just realized how much I let people control my attitude towards things. As I was sitting here my dad made some comment about me using his computer. Something about how I am ruining it by "putting stuff on it." In my defense, I have not put one thing on his computer...I just use the internet. I have my own computer it is just being fixed at the current time. Anyways, I let his comment take precidence in my heart. I was so excited to tell you about the awesome things God did today, for a few minutes I let his comment distract me from that. For a few minutes I let my heart be hardened by the whole situation. I can tell you this happens far too often in my life. So, you can be praying for me about that!
Now for the good stuff:
I have been challanged lately with overcoming some big obstacles in my life. God has totally blessed me with great friends who encourage me to grow from these challanges and not get discouraged! Praise God! Today at church we started a new series called GO..It is a series on the life of Christ. Today we looked at when Jesus called the disciples. How they "left everyting and followed him." I was challanged to look at my life... what are the things I need to give up, leave behind, and stop focusing on. If you know me well, you know I am a people pleaser. I do what I can to make sure that everybody is not only happy, but happy with me. This is true especially when it comes to my family. My family doesn't walk with the Lord...yet I place so much value on their opinion of me. This is the biggest thing in my life right now that I need to give up. I am 20 years old and I have really been seeking to find what it is that God has called me to do with my life. Right now it is to live day by day learning more about Him and growing in Him. That is great...the thing holding me back is this unrealistic tie to my family. I was thinking this morning as Ann and I went for a walk around church during the late service, what is family suppose to look like? I am so thankful to have so many families in my life that are that model of what God created family to be! I know they aren't perfect...but I long for that kind of family. I have expectations of family...because of what God created family to be...that my family, apart from God,can't live up to. I need to let go of those expectations! I need to learn to love them. How do I do this? hmm... Im not so sure! I can tell you that it has hurt lately... there is alot going on in my life right now and the decisions that I make daily to be where I believe God wants me to be doesn't allow me to spend much time with them. I missed a trip to the apple orchard this weekend where they took a family picture. I came home from work and the picture was on the table. It broke my heart...made me question myself. I love them...
I went and spent a few hours with my sister and the baby this afternoon. Trenton is now 6 months old!! and way too stinking cute!! I walked in the house and his eyes lit up and he got so excited!! Nothing else mattered in that moment! It was so cool!! He's a great kid, loves to laugh and is quite mischevious! I love him!! We made nacho's and watched Brett Favre break the BIG record! It was great!!
Tonight we started House Communities...I was so not wanting to go. I faught it out with Janet on the phone 30 minutes before it started. She made me go :) Im glad she did! We had 6 Jr. High girls show up. We made prayer journals using clippings from magazins and composition notebooks! Tons of fun!! We are watching the video of ACTS...so we covered Ch 1 & 2 tonight. Their questions were great! One girl asked about Judas, and the blood and gore that took place with Him. Another girl asked a similar question...one that was random! I just chuckeled because out of the first two chapters of Acts those were their questions! In some crazy way I found that refreshing!! We had a snack. and to drink there was Red Fruit Punch and Blue Berry Punch. We discovered that it is SO much better to mix the two and drink "purple" but I also made sure that they knew that as it is so frequently put at GBCC, it is not OK to "make purple" in other scinarios! They make me laugh, and remind me to keep life simple! I appreciate them so much, it is going to be a good year!!
So...there you have it, that was my day! Back to work tomorrow...I'm not looking forward to it so much as I know there will be some obstacles to overcome due to some stuff that has been happening lately. Again, you can pray for me with that too!
Now I'm going to read myself to sleep!!
Well, I can't say that I have ever appreciated online social networks! However, I think that in an attempt to stay connected I will give in yet again and enter the world of the online blog!
