Things I am thankful for:
-Being apart of a faculty who can act silly for students! We did a flash mob with choreography to "It's Friday" this morning in gym while our students were waiting to be dismissed!
-Having small classes due to a large field trip today!
-Getting to spend time with my family tonight
-Having friends at school who challenge me, keep me grounded, and inspire me
-Being able to plan fun parties for friends who are expecting!
-Being a part of a church who puts an incredible emphasis on Holy Week drawing our attention to the sacrifice of our savior. (Everyone should be at Shandon on Sunday night at 7 for Come to the Cross: A modern night of worship. I promise it will prepare you for Holy Week in awesome ways)
-Oh yeah...Spring Break starts at 3:30 today!!
Friday, April 15, 2011
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Loves
Sorry that I was MIA yesterday! This week has been crazy with Spring Break next week! I will pick up on my Wednesday posting next week!
Here are some things I am loving this week:
-being able to pick up Starbucks for my fabulous co-workers this morning
-the excitement in school because spring break is next week
-The journals from Gadanke! I won a $40 gift certificate from them last week! How exciting!
-This golden snitch necklace! I can think of a couple Gryffindors that I would love to purchase this for!
-This chevron wall! Thinking this might be my new headboard soon!
What are you loving this week?!
Here are some things I am loving this week:
-being able to pick up Starbucks for my fabulous co-workers this morning
-the excitement in school because spring break is next week
-The journals from Gadanke! I won a $40 gift certificate from them last week! How exciting!
-This golden snitch necklace! I can think of a couple Gryffindors that I would love to purchase this for!
-This chevron wall! Thinking this might be my new headboard soon!
What are you loving this week?!
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Personal Reflections Part II
This post was supposed to be dedicated to discussing my strengths and weaknesses, but I have not had enough time to sit down and truly reflect on those just yet. Instead I will devot this post to the things I like/love. This is a much easier list to complete, but it does take some time to decide if the things on my list are a trend in my life or something I truly like/love. Sure, trends are fine and well, but I don't want to define myself by something that will be off my list in a couple of months (Obviously those things that will go off the list in years are different. My life stage will change and so will things I like/love. I will be exposed to more things.). Maybe I should include a "I like right now list", but you could just tune in to my posts on Thursdays where I discuss what I love that week :)
What I like/love
my savior and redeemer
my family
my boyfriend
my friends
cooking
sunshine
the smell of honeysuckle
reading
good food
sunny warm mornings
farmer's markets
the south
my bible study
purple
Christmas Season
typography
the Bible
camp fires
throwing get togethers
live music
owls
speciality food stores
blogs
live music outside in the summer
books
local restaurants
hot dogs
the idea of shopping at markets in a city
massages
my grandmother's breakfast
the beach
country music
cities
sleeping in
summer
road trips
the smell of the ocean
Outback
singer/song writer music
tan skin
good design
late nights with friends
new music
pedicures
fashion (clothes, shoes, bags, jewelry)
rainbows
rock/alternative music
What do you love/like on a consistent basis? What would people think you love based on what they see?
Monday, April 11, 2011
Unqualified
As my mission trip to London draws closer I feel more unqualified to be going on this trip. When I sit in our team meetings listening to the discussion I can't help but become overwhelmed almost to the point of tears. I have been a believer since I was 7 years old and some of the questions we are raising about our faith to prepare ourselves for our encounters in London are incredibly above my head.
I know that the Lord has allowed me to go on this trip for a reason. I recognize that the doors that were opened for me to go were not done by accident. But for the life of me I can't help, but wonder how I will be of any use to God for this trip.
I can't answer questions regarding science vs. God. I am not a philosophical thinker nor a high intellect. I've never had a real crisis of faith or truly questioned where God was in my life. Nothing horrible has happened to me and my testimony is pretty straight forward.
I grew up in a Christian household, my dad has been a minister my entire life, and I accpeted Christ when I was 7. I have been in the church since I was born and have not missed many Sunday's in my life. My faith has been a rollercoaster in terms of how devoted I have been to the Lord and it did not become my OWN fully until college. I have struggled with insecurity, self-conciousness, fear, anxiousness, and pride. I tend to place my worth in other people's hands, but nothing has been to the extreme. I guess I should feel blessed, but right now I feel pretty unuseful.
I am scared I won't be able to approach someone and start a conversation (I am pretty shy). Then even if I do approach someone what if they reject me? I am nervous that I won't be able to explain my faith or answer their questions. What if I just confuse myself and them even more? What if I become so flustered I can't even talk? Or even worse what if I go over there and never have a conversation about my faith?
Like I said earlier, I am an observer. This also means that I don't ask questions when I need to or get things explained for me when I don't understand. I don't like drawing attention to myself or seeming like I am incompentent. I don't like being bad at things even if "being bad" means that I have never tried before (logical I know). I am independent and prideful when it comes to trying new things or going out of my comfort zone, which is why it doesn't happen very often at all. Even though I am a teacher it is very difficult for me to be taught new things, especially when I recognize I will probably fail at first. I am the type of person that when I try something new I want to be an expert at it the first time without any coaching or help.
I have come to recognize my way of doing things is not going to work this time. I have bought book after book, read blog after blog, and tried to think my way through the process, but it's not helping me get ready as much as other things would that require me to get a little uncomfortable.
I need to have discussions with people. I need to practice answering questions, writing out answers and definitions of words that I understand because of my upbringing that others may not be clear on. Explaining Christianity with words that come from Christianity really doesn't help someone who is an unbeliever. I need to be able to defend my faith, but also explain it in a clear way. I need to admit that I need the help of others and its probably going to be ugly in the beginning. Not to mention that its ok not to be perfect at everything.
I am incredibly thankful for the wealth of resources that surround me. I have friends and family that are extremely gifted in explaining their faith to others and answering the challenging questions that some unbelievers may have. I must come to be ok with being uncomfortable if it means that I am learning to share my faith with others. It's the least I can do when Christ died for me.
But even more than that I can be sure that the Holy Spirit is going to be with me the entire time and will be guiding my words. The Lord has gone before me and will use my words if I am speaking for him. I know that I don't have to have all the answers, but I do want to be as prepared as I can be, recognizing that it is not me that brings people to Christ, but the Lord himself.
Please continue to pray for me and our group as we prepare for London. Pray that we prepare our hearts and minds for the conversations that we will have understanding the Lord is going before us and with us. Pray for me as I work against my fears and pride regarding learning new things.
I know many of the people that read my blog do not normally leave comments, but this is one post that I do need your input on. If you want to email me feel free.
How would you explain sin, Lord, grace, or sacrifice to an unbeliever? What do you use to start a conversation about God in someone's life? How do you share your faith with others? Are their books that have helped you share your faith?
I know that the Lord has allowed me to go on this trip for a reason. I recognize that the doors that were opened for me to go were not done by accident. But for the life of me I can't help, but wonder how I will be of any use to God for this trip.
I can't answer questions regarding science vs. God. I am not a philosophical thinker nor a high intellect. I've never had a real crisis of faith or truly questioned where God was in my life. Nothing horrible has happened to me and my testimony is pretty straight forward.
I grew up in a Christian household, my dad has been a minister my entire life, and I accpeted Christ when I was 7. I have been in the church since I was born and have not missed many Sunday's in my life. My faith has been a rollercoaster in terms of how devoted I have been to the Lord and it did not become my OWN fully until college. I have struggled with insecurity, self-conciousness, fear, anxiousness, and pride. I tend to place my worth in other people's hands, but nothing has been to the extreme. I guess I should feel blessed, but right now I feel pretty unuseful.
I am scared I won't be able to approach someone and start a conversation (I am pretty shy). Then even if I do approach someone what if they reject me? I am nervous that I won't be able to explain my faith or answer their questions. What if I just confuse myself and them even more? What if I become so flustered I can't even talk? Or even worse what if I go over there and never have a conversation about my faith?
Like I said earlier, I am an observer. This also means that I don't ask questions when I need to or get things explained for me when I don't understand. I don't like drawing attention to myself or seeming like I am incompentent. I don't like being bad at things even if "being bad" means that I have never tried before (logical I know). I am independent and prideful when it comes to trying new things or going out of my comfort zone, which is why it doesn't happen very often at all. Even though I am a teacher it is very difficult for me to be taught new things, especially when I recognize I will probably fail at first. I am the type of person that when I try something new I want to be an expert at it the first time without any coaching or help.
I have come to recognize my way of doing things is not going to work this time. I have bought book after book, read blog after blog, and tried to think my way through the process, but it's not helping me get ready as much as other things would that require me to get a little uncomfortable.
I need to have discussions with people. I need to practice answering questions, writing out answers and definitions of words that I understand because of my upbringing that others may not be clear on. Explaining Christianity with words that come from Christianity really doesn't help someone who is an unbeliever. I need to be able to defend my faith, but also explain it in a clear way. I need to admit that I need the help of others and its probably going to be ugly in the beginning. Not to mention that its ok not to be perfect at everything.
I am incredibly thankful for the wealth of resources that surround me. I have friends and family that are extremely gifted in explaining their faith to others and answering the challenging questions that some unbelievers may have. I must come to be ok with being uncomfortable if it means that I am learning to share my faith with others. It's the least I can do when Christ died for me.
But even more than that I can be sure that the Holy Spirit is going to be with me the entire time and will be guiding my words. The Lord has gone before me and will use my words if I am speaking for him. I know that I don't have to have all the answers, but I do want to be as prepared as I can be, recognizing that it is not me that brings people to Christ, but the Lord himself.
Please continue to pray for me and our group as we prepare for London. Pray that we prepare our hearts and minds for the conversations that we will have understanding the Lord is going before us and with us. Pray for me as I work against my fears and pride regarding learning new things.
I know many of the people that read my blog do not normally leave comments, but this is one post that I do need your input on. If you want to email me feel free.
How would you explain sin, Lord, grace, or sacrifice to an unbeliever? What do you use to start a conversation about God in someone's life? How do you share your faith with others? Are their books that have helped you share your faith?
Friday, April 8, 2011
Psalm 7:17 Friday
What I am thankful for this week:
-We only have one week until spring break!
-Sweet time with friends over dinner
-WWII Veterans ranging in age from 88-90 coming to speak to my classes (quite the humorous day)
-Students who tell me I look pretty during class
-Beautiful weather to enjoy this week and this weekend
-The fabulous, AshleyMorgan, being back from London and seeing her beautiful face Tuesday
-Being able to do favors for Josh that allow him to get something very exciting!
-Did I mention one more week until spring break?!
-We only have one week until spring break!
-Sweet time with friends over dinner
-WWII Veterans ranging in age from 88-90 coming to speak to my classes (quite the humorous day)
-Students who tell me I look pretty during class
-Beautiful weather to enjoy this week and this weekend
-The fabulous, AshleyMorgan, being back from London and seeing her beautiful face Tuesday
-Being able to do favors for Josh that allow him to get something very exciting!
-Did I mention one more week until spring break?!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)