God has been showing me lately that it is all about perspective. In every single situation, I have the opportunity to look at it from God's view or I can chose the opposite. There is good in every single situation. I just have to find it. I am so thankful for this truth.
Today, I was offered a job by a therapy company in Alabama. On January 5th, I will begin my first "big girl job". I am super excited. It's not difficult to find the good in that situation. I have worked so hard for this moment with the support of my family and friends and of course, the goodness of God. I am so excited to be putting into to practice all of the things I have worked so hard at learning. I am thrilled about all of the amazing things God is going to do in my life.
1. I am grateful that soon I will have the monetary resources to do things I've wanted to do for the Kingdom.
2. I'll have the opportunity to stay in Birmingham and serve at Church of the Highlands.
3. I am in a season of preparation, preparing for a husband. God is showing me so much about myself and just how much work I still have left to do. I'm grateful.
4. I will have the choice every day to look through God's eyes or through the world's eyes. The view from God's perspective is sooooo much sweeter!
5. God never ceases to amaze me. He is always right on time and he is so absolutely amazing!
Thank you Lord for the many blessings you have given me. Thank you for constantly showing me the filth in my heart and having me work hard to let you change it. Thank you for your absolute goodness. Thank you for showing me more about your grace, how to receive it and how to give it freely. Thank you for the opportunity to know you. Thank you for letting me see things from your perspective. Thank you for amazing friends who keep me grounded and draw me closer to you. Thank you for searching me, knowing me, and still loving me unconditionally. Thank you for those people that make me want to strive to be more and more like you. Thank you for a family that loves me despite my flaws. I am in love with you!
Until next time-
Les
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Sugar Cookie Extravaganza
My mom sent me a package from Crate and Barrel that consisted of sugar cookie dough, Christmas cookie cutters, Christmas sugar (red, white, green) and Christmas sprinkles. I had so much fun making them. Here are some pictures! 
The beginning. I didn't have a rolling pin so I just used my hands. Mom was so proud!
Before baking
Before icing and sprinkles.
The beginning. I didn't have a rolling pin so I just used my hands. Mom was so proud!
Before baking
Before icing and sprinkles.
A fun night
On December 9th, Church of the Highlands had its annual Dream Team Christmas party. I was able to go and here are some pictures. It was fun to dress up, be with friends, and laugh!
Here I am all dressed up!
Dr. G and me! Isn't she beautiful?!?!
T-Fred!!! She is super duper amazing!
Aww....B-rian!!!
My Brotha from anotha motha!
Here I am all dressed up!
Dr. G and me! Isn't she beautiful?!?!
T-Fred!!! She is super duper amazing!
Aww....B-rian!!!
My Brotha from anotha motha!Sunday, December 7, 2008
Lessons from LIFE retreat
I am excited about this blog post. I have just had a super great weekend and I want to record some of the details so I can look back and remember what took place. I hope that when you read these words you will be blessed.
I had the honor of being a part of a LIFE group this semester at Church of the Highlands. The 12 weeks spent in this group have taught me a lot of things. This past weekend was the LIFE retreat which was just a culmination of the whole 12 weeks with the opportunity for a lot of prayer and receiving freedom from a lot of junk. I want to talk about the retreat itself, what I was freed from and what I am thankful for.
Sometimes, at retreats there is a great amount of talking. This retreat was different. There was speaking but almost all of it was straight scripture and the majority of the time was spent in worship and prayer. Each person at the retreat had the opportunity to pray with someone about each topic/issue that was discussed. It was great.
The first area we discussed was Lordship. During this time, I realized just how much I try to control. I just really let that go. This is probably one of the hardest areas for me because it is so easy to pick it back up because new things come up all of the time that I feel like I "need" to control. I realized that I have to be cautious about picking the control back up and I really have to let God have it all.
The second area was rejection and unforgiveness. This was the first moment when I was given the opportunity to really praise the Lord for what He has done for me. I have struggled with unforgiveness but I have moved past that. I was grateful for that reminder of what the Lord has done.
The third area was purity. This was another moment when I was really able to thank Him for what He has done in me. I am blessed that the Lord has really protected me from sexual sin. As a single person, I do have to guard against impure thoughts. It is so easy to let my mind wander and before long I am way down the wrong path. I am proclaiming that "I have the mind of Christ!"
The fourth area was shame. Shame is not from the Lord. God gives revelation so we can use that revelation and allow Him to change us. Shame comes from the enemy. I was one of the last people to go forward for prayer because of the way it was set up and I was so thankful for the time to pray and ask God to search me. I was shown that I had shame over the way that I have treated my parents in the past. There have been times in my life where I disrespected them and did not consider them valuable because they didn't think like I did. I also felt shame for my lack of spiritual maturity. Satan really tried to hit me with, "You've been a Christian for this long, you should know more than you do." I am taking captive those thoughts and rejoicing that I don't have any condemnation in Christ. I am moving forward and am grateful for God's goodness.
The fifth area was healing for a broken heart. I went to my prayer partner and I was so thankful again for how God has protected me. I haven't suffered any kind of abuse. Praise Him.
The sixth area was mammon. I told the lady I prayed with that I am grateful for the timeliness of this talk. As I get ready to begin my first "big girl" job, it is a big time regarding finances for me. I will go from making nothing to making a living that will support me and possibly a family one day. I have to guard against materialism and the spirit of mammon. From the first cent I make, I want to honor God with that money. I want to let Him show me what to do with it.
The seventh area was fear. I must say at this point that I realized that every woman I had prayed with was the perfect person for that specific time. I love how God does that. God brought to mind the fear I had of never getting married and also the fear I had of being rejected when I shared the things of God. My prayer partner really spoke some amazing things over me and reminded me that I am fearfully and wonderfully made. I am a dynamic woman. God will bless me with an amazing husband and I will be a treasure to him. So exciting.
The last area was heaviness. I was super excited that after these other prayers that I didn't feel any heaviness. I had released what God had brought to the surface and He had sealed it with his blessing.
This entire experience was so good for me. I am excited about what is to come!
Until next time-
Les
I had the honor of being a part of a LIFE group this semester at Church of the Highlands. The 12 weeks spent in this group have taught me a lot of things. This past weekend was the LIFE retreat which was just a culmination of the whole 12 weeks with the opportunity for a lot of prayer and receiving freedom from a lot of junk. I want to talk about the retreat itself, what I was freed from and what I am thankful for.
Sometimes, at retreats there is a great amount of talking. This retreat was different. There was speaking but almost all of it was straight scripture and the majority of the time was spent in worship and prayer. Each person at the retreat had the opportunity to pray with someone about each topic/issue that was discussed. It was great.
The first area we discussed was Lordship. During this time, I realized just how much I try to control. I just really let that go. This is probably one of the hardest areas for me because it is so easy to pick it back up because new things come up all of the time that I feel like I "need" to control. I realized that I have to be cautious about picking the control back up and I really have to let God have it all.
The second area was rejection and unforgiveness. This was the first moment when I was given the opportunity to really praise the Lord for what He has done for me. I have struggled with unforgiveness but I have moved past that. I was grateful for that reminder of what the Lord has done.
The third area was purity. This was another moment when I was really able to thank Him for what He has done in me. I am blessed that the Lord has really protected me from sexual sin. As a single person, I do have to guard against impure thoughts. It is so easy to let my mind wander and before long I am way down the wrong path. I am proclaiming that "I have the mind of Christ!"
The fourth area was shame. Shame is not from the Lord. God gives revelation so we can use that revelation and allow Him to change us. Shame comes from the enemy. I was one of the last people to go forward for prayer because of the way it was set up and I was so thankful for the time to pray and ask God to search me. I was shown that I had shame over the way that I have treated my parents in the past. There have been times in my life where I disrespected them and did not consider them valuable because they didn't think like I did. I also felt shame for my lack of spiritual maturity. Satan really tried to hit me with, "You've been a Christian for this long, you should know more than you do." I am taking captive those thoughts and rejoicing that I don't have any condemnation in Christ. I am moving forward and am grateful for God's goodness.
The fifth area was healing for a broken heart. I went to my prayer partner and I was so thankful again for how God has protected me. I haven't suffered any kind of abuse. Praise Him.
The sixth area was mammon. I told the lady I prayed with that I am grateful for the timeliness of this talk. As I get ready to begin my first "big girl" job, it is a big time regarding finances for me. I will go from making nothing to making a living that will support me and possibly a family one day. I have to guard against materialism and the spirit of mammon. From the first cent I make, I want to honor God with that money. I want to let Him show me what to do with it.
The seventh area was fear. I must say at this point that I realized that every woman I had prayed with was the perfect person for that specific time. I love how God does that. God brought to mind the fear I had of never getting married and also the fear I had of being rejected when I shared the things of God. My prayer partner really spoke some amazing things over me and reminded me that I am fearfully and wonderfully made. I am a dynamic woman. God will bless me with an amazing husband and I will be a treasure to him. So exciting.
The last area was heaviness. I was super excited that after these other prayers that I didn't feel any heaviness. I had released what God had brought to the surface and He had sealed it with his blessing.
This entire experience was so good for me. I am excited about what is to come!
Until next time-
Les
Monday, December 1, 2008
Another Thanks!
So, turns out that I forgot someone that I should have definitely remembered!
Ashley!!!! You are super duper amazing. I cherish all of the time we spent hanging out while I was in Monroe-talking on the phone, drinking coffee or tea, and watching the Bachelor! You are truly special!
Ashley!!!! You are super duper amazing. I cherish all of the time we spent hanging out while I was in Monroe-talking on the phone, drinking coffee or tea, and watching the Bachelor! You are truly special!
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