Praying With Faith

In the past week or two I have been going back and re-reading parts of scripture that have really spoken to me in the past. James is a book that always conveys something to me. And in this past week James 1:6 really stood out to me. The first part of James 1:6 says this, "But when when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone..." This verse stuck out so much to be because of something that one of my roommates told me a few weeks prior.

A few weeks ago I was on the Navigators fall conference in Estes Park. I was really discouraged over a lot of different things, and my roommate, Casey, sat down with me and told me about "praying with faith". She told me that if I pray with the mindset that God is listening, and can and will do anything, then I am more likely to believe in my own prayers. Ever since then I have not just been walking through the steps in my prayer life, but I am really trying to put my faith into God when I pray. Since the retreat I can see a huge difference in the way I pray, and my attitude when I pray. And then when I open up my bible I just see little reminders from God, like James 1:6.

Even if I can't convey into words Casey's theory on "praying with faith", I know it's helped me spiritually so much over the past couple of weeks. And I hope that God will show me how to pass it on someday to another person who needs to hear it.

To read more "More of Him Monday" blogs, go to: http://www.sunshine-on-my-shoulders.blogspot.com/

See It Everyday!

It is amazing how you find the most perfect verses at the most perfect times. It's times like this that I feel like God is talking to me the most. I came across a few verses this week that really stuck out to me, and God was really trying to talk to me through.

The first verse is Galatians 1:10. It says, "Obviously, I'm not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ's servant." This verse was really something that I needed to hear again, because a lot of the times I am trying to impress people, and win their approval. I think it is human nature to always try to impress people and get them to like us more. But something I learned in Navigators the other night is that it is okay to have those feelings, God gave them to us, but instead of acting on them we need to focus that energy somewhere else. Okay honestly, the speaker at Navs was talking about an entire different subject matter, but I feel like it applies to this. Instead of focusing on what other people think, and trying to impress them, I need to re-focus that energy on what God wants, and getting the approval from God. Just like the verse says, by focusing on winning the approval of God, and doing what God wants, you are truly Christ's servant. And that is what I want to be.

One other verse that stuck out to me is Galatians 1:15-16. It says, "But even before I was born, God chose me and called me by his marvelous grace. Then it pleased him to reveal his Son to me so that I would proclaim the Good News about Jesus to the Gentiles." This verse doesn't necessarily speak to me in the way the previous one did, but more so gives me a good and happy feeling. It reassures me to know that God chose me and made me even before I was born. He chose me and made me how he wanted me, and that is such a great feeling knowing that I am perfect in God's eyes. It goes back to something that Aaron Stern said at The MILL a few weeks ago...that when we judge people, we are really just judging the creator. That quote reassures me as well, because when I know people are looking down upon me and judging me, it does not bother me as much because I know God created me the way he wanted, and He CHOSE me, therefore it does not matter what anybody else says or thinks.
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There are so many things I have experienced over the last week that I can see how God is working in my life. However, I don't really know how to get it all out on words. Participating in communion this past week as a big deal for me, it felt so great. It was something that I needed, and God allowed me to experience it again, the first time in a very long time. I have also been dealing with some issues with one of my old roommates, and God finally took it all off my heart. I no longer feel a burden with her anymore. All of these things and experiences are God working in my life. Plus so much more! I used to not see things like this as a sign from God, but now I can see God working in my life every single day.

go to http://www.sunshine-on-my-shoulders.blogspot.com/ for more More Of Him blogs!

More of Him!

I am going to start challenging myself to do "More of Him" Monday's! I think it will be very good for me not only to blog, but to put into words how God is working in my life. So to start, I am going to write about certain passages that I have been meditating on lately, as well as talk about how God has been working in my life.

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Every week in bible study we are encouraged to memorize a bible verse. And while doing my bible study I come across many verses that speak to me. Sometimes I feel as if God is tapping me on the shoulder, and talking to me directly through his word. This past week though I came across a bible verse that was not even in my bible study. I felt like God was trying to tell me something, so I chose that verse to memorize this week. The bible verse is...

"Look around at the nations;
look and be amazed!
For I am doing something in your own day,
something you wouldn't believe
even if someone told you about it."
--Habakkuk 1:5

This passage really spoke to me. It spoke to me because it shows that God really can do anything, and that he WILL. He can and will work wonders in my life that I cannot even foresee right now. Look around at the nations, look and be amazed! It is just letting everybody know that he created this world, and therefore can do anything! It is a very reassuring and comforting verse to meditate on, and I am thankful that God showed me this verse this week.
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The other night in bible study my roommate (who is also my bible study leader) asked us how God shows his love to us. When first thinking about this question I could not really think about how He shows us his love. I mean, I know he loves us unconditionally and more than we can even fathom, but how? There must be a way that he shows his love right? Not a minute later that it dawned on me.

At least in my life anyway, I can see his love all around me! God provided me with a Christian home with 4 Christian girls as roommates, who have ultimately become my best friends. Best friends that support me and encourage me through ANYTHING. And even more importantly, they do not judge me. This is the type of friend I have wanted me whole life. And even though I have had best friends before, I have never had Christian best friend that can give me such a positive outlook on things. I just know this was God's doing, and his way of showing me how much he really truly loves and cares for me.

He also provides for me the things I need. Not necessarily the things I want, but when I come across a struggle in my life, God usually shows me a solution. After a sermon one Friday night, I was feeling very guilty, and felt like I needed to tell somebody some things. God showed me exactly what to do, and exactly who to tell. He just provides me with the things I need given the circumstances.

These are just a few of the MANY ways God shows me how he loves me. The Navigators is another way that God is working in my life right now, but I will save that for another blog. Ever since that question was asked in my bible study, I see everyday the ways God works in my life, and how he shows me his unconditional love for me. I cannot even describe the feelings I feel. I just wish everybody would open up their hearts and be able to experience some of the same amazing works that God does in our lives.


To check out more "More of Him" blogs, check out... http://www.sunshine-on-my-shoulders.blogspot.com/

No Ten On Tuesday For Me!

Today is Tuesday! And I absolutely love Tuesday's in the blogosphere world, because it's one of the few days I can write a blog following a prompt. Because usually I feel like my life is too boring to write about, and therefore I have nothing to write about. Except when the list for Ten on Tuesday comes around every Tuesday, I actually have something to blog.

But not today! For once I actually have something worth writing about! My date!!! I actually went out on a date! I have never been on a real date before, and I honestly never knew when I would go on one. I went out with this guy named John. I met him last year through the Navigators at UCCS. And it wasn't until this school year that I actually started talking with him, and getting closer. We have been talking a lot lately, and getting closer and closer, so we decided to go on a few dates and hang out to see if maybe we should pursue a relationship. I really enjoyed my time with him last night. It was nice to be treated so nicely by a guy. Besides graduation, I have never been given flowers before, especially from a guy. But I did last night! Not only did I just get them, but he pre-ordered them and had them sent to my house prior to the date. It was a reallllly nice arrangement, AND all in my favorite color. That isn't even my favorite part though! He also had bought me the new Nicholas Sparks book that came out yesterday. Nicholas Sparks is my all time favorite author, and his new book came out yesterday, and since I was so busy all day I wasn't able to run to the store to buy it. But John had already gotten it for me :-D. To me, that means a whole lot more to me than flowers and everything else.

All together, it was a really great night. I enjoyed myself and his company. I'm pretty sure there will be more in the future. I'm happy to say that the first date I've ever been on was such a great one!

I Miss 10 For Tuesdays!

Today is Tuesday! One of my favorite blogging days! Because there is always a promt to write to if you choose. So here is my 10 For Tuesday, in no particular order!

10 things you do when you have nothing else to do:

1. Get on Myspace
2. Search Through Facebook
3. Watch Grey's Anatomy/LOST/24, etc.
4. Call my mom
5. Go find one of my roommates to talk with
6. Nap
7. Read a book that is not related to school
8. Play Uno online
9. Iron beads
10. Worry about what I SHOULD be doing

My New Home!

Here are a few pictures of my room, and my house! If you really knew me, you would be wordless because you would know that I am not this clean of a person! But so far I have been. So enjoy! :D

This is Misty! Our Dog! Well Emily's dog...

Does My Life Have A Purpose?

Right now I feel like my life is going nowhere. The last couple days I just can't help but think that my life is meant for better. I go to classes, some that I have an interest in and some I don't, and then come home and do lots of reading and homework for those classes. The reading is so long and boring and it is hard for me to see how it is going to help me in life. When I sit there and read my text about some womans life story, I just think to myself that I am meant for better things, that I shouldn't be sitting here reading this and doing this. I understand that it is part of the process of getting my bachelors degree, and from there going to bigger places. But it's pointless right now, and I feel like I am wasting my time. I feel like God has bigger plans for me. So why am I stuck doing this classwork?

I have also been struggling lately with where my life is going. I'm going to college. Right now I'm going so that I can become a teacher. But is that really what I want to do? Will I be any good at it? Is that God's plan for me? I feel like I have no direction right now, and have no idea where my life is headed. And even though I know God has a plan for my life, it's frustrating right now to not know what it is. It's hard sometimes for me to just sit back and let God be in control, but I do it, I let him have full control of my life, I just pray that he has a good plan for my life. Something I will enjoy doing, and be good at. Something that will help others in their life.

I just wish all the answers were clear to me right now. I'm tired of feeling like I'm trapped going to college for nothing. I'm tired of doing my daily activities while feeling that I am meant for bigger and better things. I wish I had some answers. I wish I knew what my future looks like. Or even just a small glimpse, just so I have some hope. But I guess all I can do right now is trust in God that He knows what he is doing with my life.