Monday, February 28, 2011

Rain clouds that never cease.

Literally, the rain just proceeded to fall from sky for hours, which kind of put a damper on my mood. But hey, at least I wasn't outside when the initial flash flood hit! Haha. Alas, I was sitting in my classes fighting off the urge to pass out into slumber. I will get more than five hours of sleep tonight! I will!

So yeah, after my classes I went to Green's to grab some lunch. I had planned on taking a nap after eating, but instead I took that time to catch up on Proverbs and just kind of fiddle around on the computer. Relaxing in my room had much the same effect as a nap! Who would've thought? Not I! At any rate, I visited Hannah and Jenn in the library for a bit before heading over to the Groove, which was lovely as always. Afterwards, I met up with my small group at D-hall before going to our Bible study. We talked about temptation, and it was awesome. I thoroughly enjoyed it. And now I am sitting in Carrier. I'm not doing homework, but I just emailed the SAO alum, updated the SAO blog, and now I'm about to send out a few more emails before walking back to Eagle. If I play my cards right, I could get at least 9 hours of sleep! Woop woop!

On a separate topic, I think I'm kind of like the girl in this video:

I notice that there are certain issues that, even though I'm not really struggling with them anymore, I'm not willing to let go of. I don't know why though! If a comment is ever brought up that remotely relates, it's almost as if I want to be like, "Oh yeah! I struggle with that too!" But inside I know that I'm really not. I lifted that burden up to God and He relieved me of it, so why am I sitting here trying to tug it back into my own grasp? It makes no sense. Absolutely irrational. Give it up, self! Be happy and satisfied! Drill the truth into your mind and accept it as such! That's such a struggle, isn't it? How is it that something so easy in concept can be so hard to act on? This is quite a pickle we've found ourselves in. One day, loves. One day we will get it right.

I love you all! Goodnight!

Proverbs 28

The righteous need not flee from anything, for they are filled with the boldness of their Father. Not so are the wicked, for they are brought to shambles in their fear. Wisdom and knowledge are necessary to maintain order. Do not oppress the poor, for they too are needed to achieve prosperity. Economic status is no indicator of the condition of one's soul. What matters is to be blameless and to possess understanding that is gifted from the Lord. Obey the law; to rebel against it is to bring about disgrace. The wicked hold no perspective on the heinous nature of injustice; God gives us a proper lens through which to take notice of such things and, with that knowledge, seek justice. Give to the poor; help your neighbor. Should you lead another down the path of the wicked, you will soon find yourself in your grave. Righteousness brings about the joy of the Lord, not so with wickedness, which instills fear in the heart of men. Confess your sins. Failure to own up to them is failure to recognize that they are problematic and need to be lifted up. Guilt and shame will well up in your sealed heart, to the point where we are greeted by death. To receive mercy, we are called to repent.We are always to have a reverent fear of the Lord. Be diligent and hard-working (as we all know, sluggards are not looked upon fondly). Faith is more important than earthly riches! Do not show some high favor over others; it can greatly hurt others. It is better to reprimand someone than to be a brown-noser; we are supposed to be honest with one another! Do not be greedy, deceitful, or ignorant. Place your trust in the Lord, in Him and Him alone! Do not lack awareness to the needs of the world around you. See it, and seek to change it for the better in God's name, and by His will let it be done!

Proverbs 27

We know not what tomorrow shall bring, so do not boast in it. (Nor should you fret over it {Matthew 6:34}.) Do not seek to glorify yourself, for that suggests pomposity. Should you be praised or complimented, let is be done by another. The burden of coping with a fool is much greater than any physical weight that could be placed on your shoulders; consider that. Rebuke another if it is well-intentioned; do not refrain from praising and loving others (such things are meant to be expressed). A true friend can always be trusted whether or not their words hurt your heart. Kisses from your enemy can, however, drag you down the path of the wicked. A friendship that is full of love, trust, and compassion is refreshing to your soul; it is to be treasured. You will shape each other, so do so with wisdom, honesty, and discernment. Do not allow yourself to suffer needlessly; heed God's words of advice. Your facade is a reflection of what lies deep within your heart; externalities serve as indicators of one's true nature. The wicked never cease; death will forever strive to take hold of you. Such trials will test your faith, and the praise you receive will test your heart's purity. Folly cannot be removed from a fool. The riches of this world will one day fade into nothing; do not take these blessings for granted while they are still in your possession. Reap the benefits of the gifts and blessings God has bestowed upon you; take care of yourself and those around you.

Proverbs 26

Fools have no honor, nor should they; it is not befitting. Some fools who prod questions deserve no answer, for by doing so you may only be condemning yourself. Other scenarios, however, call for you to respond with the knowledge and understanding of God so that a wicked man may not view himself as wise. Fools cannot be trusted, point blank. In the hands of those who are riddled with folly, proverbs and honor become weapons of destruction. A wicked man is bound to return to his ways; do not trust that they will do otherwise. To be wise in your own eyes is worse than being a fool; there is very little hope for them. Be not a sluggard; they make excuses and are neither diligent or hard working. Said laziness will keep your from prosperity. Do not fuel quarrels my means of gossip, malicious confrontation, or otherwise. When you speak ill of someone, it comes from inside of you; you cannot deny it. Be careful in choosing your words, they have the power to puncture the hearts of others. A smooth talker may very well have a soul filled with malice and deceitful nature. Believe not his lies, lest you wish to live in ruin.

Proverbs 25

We must always seek truth in every situation; no lie or deception from the wicked should corrupt our action or judgement. Do not attempt to seize power for yourself; be humble and work to do God's will and work for and though Him. His knowledge and power far surpass your own; be humbled by Him. Do not lie or break the trust of another with gossip; it will only bring shame upon you. Be trustworthy, and let your words be fruitful and full of God's wisdom. Share your blessings with others; be not selfish or greedy with what God has gifted you with. Place your trust in those who are wise and worthy; lean not on the wicked. Although we often find it difficult to to do so, we must confront our enemies with a love that reflects that of our Lord. Aid him in his struggles, and God will take notice. Avoid quarrels with your spouse; it does sufficient damage. Even a drop of the ways of the wicked will contaminate your being; do not even take a taste of their lifestyle. Do not boast in yourself so as to be seen as honorable; you won't be. Humble yourself, always. Be disciplined; be not reckless or without care.

I'm sorry I abandoned you, blog!

I didn't blog the past two nights, and for that I apologize. It felt odd, I'm not going to lie, but sleep took a priority. Even then, though, I didn't get my eight hours. Sad day, I know, but I mustn't dwell on that.

This weekend was lovely, If I do say so myself. I was very productive Friday afternoon by finishing all of my laundry and rearranging posters/art/sketches on my walls, all before the film showing that night that was sort of a kick-off for the Hands That Heal Aftercare Training (but I'll talk about that more in a second). Upon leaving church, I spent the evening at Heather's, which always makes my heart happy :) In the early morn, we ventured over to University of Richmond for the actual aftercare training (aka Human Trafficking 101). Even though it was kind of a long day, the time went by quickly for me! I feel like I learned so much! And my eyes were opened to some things that I had previously (foolishly) overlooked. A lot of what was covered was in regards to domestic trafficking, which was a rather novel approach for me (since most of what I've read/learned about was on the international scale). I had never considered that prostitutes were victims of trafficking and exploitation. Now, you might be sitting there going, "Really Stephanie? That wasn't obvious to you?" No. And I'll tell you why. The media is constantly depicting prostitutes as women that want to be selling themselves and that enjoy sleeping with 20 or more men each day. They leave out the part about the pimps, the constant abuse, the brainwashing, the essential abduction.... No, the whole disturbing truth is never addressed. In my mind, sex trafficking was somewhat confined to girls and boys being abducted and taken to a foreign nation where they are constantly sold and placed in brothels to be sexually used day after day. I suppose it doesn't seem so different, those two scenarios, I just never linked the two together. The point is, though, that this training providing me with a lot of information not just about trafficking in general, but also tips in how to work with victims through aftercare. I am by no means certified to go out there and counsel anyone, but it served as a good general knowledge base.

Saturday evening, I got to see my dad for the first time since winter break. Jennifer and I had dinner over at his house, and it was delicious. I even got to talk to him a little bit about what I had learned that day! To my surprise, he actually already knew some of what I told him. I actually talked to my mom for a good while about that too! She wasn't as informed as my dad was, and I think her mind was a little bit blown. But it's the first time I've actually sat down and talked to her about what I want to do with my life after school! Improvement! Woop! Speaking of... I spent my Saturday night with my mom and sister. We went to see "Just Go With It," and it was enjoyed by all. I liked being able to just hang out with family without feeling irritated or frustrated. Things seem to be looking up under my roof! Praise!

Today, I enjoyed a wonderful breakfast date with my little love, Kaitlyn :) I'm so glad we finally got to hang out! This summer, I will be introducing her to edamame and sushi! Haha, I've already told her so :) From there, we ventured over to church. I love my church. I love my friends. I love.... my life right now :) I love that I was able to enjoy my time at home and still not dread having to come back to school. I was excited to go to my sorority dinner, meeting, and worship night. I loved seeing my sisters, and I now (in this time in my college career) feel like, no matter where I am, I am surrounded by people who love me. I wish I could express to you how much easier that makes things for me, but words would fail.

Sadly, I must end here. My eyes are very tired and I'm ready to leave Carrier. (Yes, I'm in the library.... I had to read 81 pages for literature AND write my extra credit proposal.) I love you all so dearly! Goodnight!

P.S.- I'll catch up on Proverbs Project eventually, really I will.

ALSO!!!!! You should follow my beloved sister, Stephanie's, blog! She just made one tonight! Eeeeep!

Friday, February 25, 2011

Sufficient slumber makes for a happy Stephanie :)

Today has been good, so very good. I didn't have psyc today, so I got to sleep in until 11:45! GLORY! I got 9 hours of sleep! I can't remember the last time I got more than 6! It was great. Once I got up and dressed, I went to lunch with Brianna, which was splendid :) While in Green's, I also got to see some of my sisters {Brandi, Kirsten, and Beth}! Happy day! After lunch, I went to Carrier to visit my darling Hannah! I thought I was going to be all alone once she left to go to class, but then Courtney came and I got to spend some time with her! That made me very happy, that surprise did :) Not long after she departed, I rushed to go scarf down food before health, which was nothing special or exciting. After class, though, I joined Justice Team at Catholic Campus Ministry to help serve HARTS {a homeless shelter}! That was actually a lot of fun! We made pasta and garlic bread for them to have for dinner, and afterwards we got to hang out with everyone. I made a friend, his name is Khaleel :) He doesn't speak really fluent English, his native language is Arabic, but he was SO funny! He showed me this magic trick, and a bunch of card tricks. I was so mind blown by everything, and he just kept laughing at me! Haha. It was just a really lovely time, and I look forward to volunteering with them again :) As for the rest of my evening, I have spent it blogging and skyping in Carrier, haha. I love being in here and not having to do work! Bahh! Okay, well I'm going to end my tangent now. I love you all! Goodnight!

P.S.- See ya tomorrow Richmond!

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Proverbs 24

  • Do not envy sinners; they only cause trouble.
  • Wisdom and understanding need to be our foundation.
  • In this struggle with temptation, we need the guidance of the Lord.
  • Do not fall to shambles in times of crisis; find strength in God.
  • Reach out to those trudging down the path of the wicked; do not hesitate to help them!
  • Do not turn your cheek to wrongdoing because "it doesn't concern you;" God sees such excuses and is not impressed.
  • Accepting the knowledge and teaching of God secures your future!
  • Though the righteous may stumble, God will help them up to continue their walk; the wicked do not receive such assistance.
  • Do not rejoice in the pitfalls of the wicked; God does not approve of such things.
  • Fear God, always!
  • Let not injustice be acceptable in your heart; expose it for the wickedness that it is!
  • Be honest and diligent.
  • Do not speak in a slanderous manner.
  • Be not vengeful.
  • Do not live as sluggards do, for their repayment shall be poverty.
Kudos to The Message for helping me out!

I particularly like this verse:

"15 Do not lurk like a thief near the house of the righteous,
   do not plunder their dwelling place; 
16 for though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again,
   but the wicked stumble when calamity strikes."

I'm actually NOT in Carrier!

Hooray! I left the library today at 5:30 and didn't go back! PRAISE! Haha.

Despite having to run on less than 5 hours of sleep, today was superb. Following my morning classes, I had a most marvelous lunch date with Courtney :) We talked for almost 2 hours, and it was lovely! Our meal was followed up by a trip to Carrier, in which we proceeded to do homework. Jenn was there too, so we got to say "hi" to her. Courtney and I were later joined by Hannah, which made me a very happy Stephanie :) We were able to be productive while still being a little goofy. Courtney stumbled upon this video:

We were trying so hard to contain ourselves (because we were in the quiet section of the library). I mean, this girl is just ridiculous! Haha. Of course, she wasn't being serious. The whole thing is meant to be satirical regarding the sorority stereotype, but still... Haha. My eyeballs leaked, just saying..... At any rate, after finishing psyc stuff, I came back to the room to change and grab dinner before Steph picked me up so we could go to Worldbeat! Steph had never done it before! Craziness. As per usual, Brandi, Hannah, Courtney, Steph, and I hit up the sauna afterwards, which is always fun :) I just love how much time I've been getting to spend with my sisters lately! I LOVE IT! Upon my return to the dorm, I got to spend some awesome quality time with Brittany, Brianna, and Andrea. I hardly ever see them (which in part is due to my late night Carrier endeavors). It was so nice to just sit, talk, and relax with all of them :) Oh yeah! Guess what?!
BRIANNA AND I ARE LIVING IN CHESAPEAKE HALL NEXT YEAR!
For those who may not understand this excitement, let me put this in perspective.

My current dorm room:

Room size: 15'5" x 9'3"
Window size: 48" x 68"
Ceiling height: 8'3"





The new room:

Room size: 11'7" x 15'6"
Window size: 52" x 56"
Ceiling height: 9'3"





Oh yeah, and did I mention that this dorm actually has air conditioning?! SCORE!

Goodbye Eagle!















Hello Chesapeake!















Eeeeep! Can we move now? Haha. Goodnight loves!

Proverbs 23

Okay, this chapter seemed to be a bit of a doozy, but I think I understand what Solomon is getting at here. Basically, men of this earth are going to consistently and persistently tempt us; they will try their utmost to pull us into the way of sin. Greed, gluttony, and envy are are specifically addressed. We must seek out God's wisdom so that we may not become wayward through the cunning nature of the wicked.

"12 Apply your heart to instruction 
   and your ears to words of knowledge."

Listen to what the Lord has to say to you! Have an open heart so that you may be filled with His understanding! THIS IS IMPORTANT! (And for those who need further proof of its importance, see every single Proverbs chapter prior to this one. Solomon mentions it at least once per chapter, no joke.)

"15 My son, if your heart is wise, 
   then my heart will be glad indeed; 
16 my inmost being will rejoice 
   when your lips speak what is right."

Should we seek out and accept wisdom, our Father will delight in us! He rejoices when we are filled with and radiating His Spirit through our thoughts, words and actions. I want to please my Father! I want to make His heart fill with gladness! I want my Father to rejoice in me, His daughter.

"17 Do not let your heart envy sinners, 
   but always be zealous for the fear of the LORD. 
18 There is surely a future hope for you, 
   and your hope will not be cut off."

I, personally, do not understand how one could envy sinners when we have the enduring promise from our Father? He has given us true and purposeful life! He promises us eternal life with Him! How amazing is that?! Lord, I will forever fear and praise you. Have Your way with me! It certainly has to be more promising then whatever I would have chosen for myself... Take the wheel!

"26 My son, give me your heart 
   and let your eyes delight in my ways."

Lift your heart up to the Lord. Let Him fill it with gladness and cloak it in His righteousness. In everything you do, give God praise. Delight in His miracles, creations, presence, wisdom, EVERYTHING! Look around and be awe-struck! Nothing in our blessed lives could be anything less than the divine work of our most holy and gracious Father. He is so good to us!

Proverbs 22

"2 Rich and poor have this in common: 
   The LORD is the Maker of them all."

Our God is the Creator of us all, each and every one of us. Even though some of His children have gone astray and even rejected Him, it was He who brought them into being. Sometimes I feel as though we can get into this sort of complex where we think "Well, I was created by God!" Guess what, so is the intimidating guy who sits in the back of the class and the kid that very few people are friends with. They were all made by God. We are not unique in that respect.

"8 Whoever sows injustice reaps calamity, 
   and the rod they wield in fury will be broken."

Evil doers of injustice, you will greet your troublesome punishment for your actions. Your self-obtained image of "power" will be thwarted by the wrath of God. Justice will prevail!

"11 One who loves a pure heart and who speaks with grace 
   will have the king for a friend."

Love others. Be free of judgement. Let your words and thoughts be full of the grace and compassion of our Lord. To adopt His heart is to obtain His friendship. Just think about that. God, essentially, is our closest and most reliable friend. Kind of a crazy thought right? I think so. I just always imagine God as my Father. To hear Him one day call me friend.... I think my mind will be blown. I don't why a simple word change shifts the way I look at anything, but it kind of does.

"14 The mouth of an adulterous woman is a deep pit; 
   a man who is under the LORD’s wrath falls into it."

Fools cannot be shielded from the temptation of the adulterous. The wicked, who walk not on the path of righteousness, receive no protection or wisdom from God. The are under His wrath, and they will ultimately perish.

"22 Do not exploit the poor because they are poor 
   and do not crush the needy in court, 
23 for the LORD will take up their case 
   and will exact life for life."

God pleads the case of those in need. He cares for the poor; blessed are they! Those who seek to belittle or oppress the needy will be overthrown and destroyed. If we let God take up the personal trials in our life, how much better off would we be? No longer would we be exploited; no longer would we be plundered.

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

"Winter, GO AWAY!"

"Sincerely, Springtime." Haha. I love you, Stephanie Cancro :)

Well, tonight was another 2 AM Carrier night. I'm getting ready to leave now, since they've already started ringing the bell and flashing the lights. Today was pretty lovely though, aside from my health test. I had an amazing lunch with Hannah, and I also had an incredible dinner date with Steph :) Did I mention that I love my SAO sisters? Because I do :) Very much so in fact! I also got a change to see and hug Taylor and Brandi as well, and that made me happy :) Random, but I've come to notice that (due to my excessive amount of time spent in the library) my dining dollars are rapidly depleting from my Starbucks visits. Oh dear... Welcome back, addiction! Haha. Also, I forgot to mention this last night, but we got these cute little boxes last night at small group:
You may ask: What is it for? Well, whenever we think or speak in an ill-fashion of someone, we are to write down something about that person that we are thankful for and put it in the box. We each wrote one while we were at small group last night, and I painfully realize that I have another slip that will be going in there tonight. As much as I hate to do it, I think this is going to be awesome for accountability! I'm pretty excited about it, truth be told. Perhaps, in time, I will no longer need this box. What a lovely thought that is, to never speak harshly or judge another. It may be unattainable, but with help from the Lord I can surely prosper!

Goodnight my precious loves!

P.S.- Heather, I have gotten SO many compliments today on the hair clip you gave me. I thought of you each time someone mentioned it :)

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Droopy eyes...

Okay, so here are some minor fails I've encountered today: 1) I forgot to read a book for my literature class. 2) I just started studying for my health test today, and it is a a lot of material. 3) I've spent over 9 hours in Carrier today, and I'm still here...

I need spring break, like really. My motivation level for doing work is zero, and I want more than anything to get a substantial night's sleep. It never ends.... but I'll stop complaining on here. It can't be fun to read. The Groove was fun tonight, as it always is. Small group was lovely. We played the most hysterical game of telephone ever. Between the silly messages people came up with and the giddy voices we tried to convey them in, it just ended up being a hot mess, haha. I was crying from laughter, legit. The Bible study portion was really great, as well. We talked about controlling our speech, tongue, and thoughts. It was just a really good discussion. I love how, when discussing scripture, you can get so many meanings out of it just by listening to the perspectives of others. Tis great, no?

I'm sorry, friends. I am extremely exhausted. I need to try to get some of this reading done tonight so I won't be going crazy tomorrow. I love you all!

Proverbs 21

"4 Haughty eyes and a proud heart, 
   the lamp of the wicked, are sin!"

The wicked place themselves on a pedestal; pride is overwhelmingly present in their hearts. I find it interesting that Solomon refers to these characteristics as a lamp, an object lit by fire. We often see images in the Bible of our hearts being on fire for God, our passion burning brilliantly. This fire here, however, is of hell and of sin. Such fire scorches and fatally wounds those on the path of righteous. Long story short: stay away from the wicked.

"15 When justice is done, it brings joy to the righteous 
   but terror to evildoers."

Justice! Living out and outwardly expressing the Kingdom of God! Having His will be done here on this earth is something to rejoice in! The victories of justice instill not mere fear, but terror into the hearts of the wicked. The work of God is powerful and unconquerable! Take that evildoers!

"16 Whoever strays from the path of prudence 
   comes to rest in the company of the dead."

Stay on the righteous path. Do not go astray. To do so leads you straight into your grave. The image that verse instilled in my mind was powerful.

"21 Whoever pursues righteousness and love 
   finds life, prosperity and honor."

Adopt a heart that reflects that of God. Then you shall truly live, and you will do so in true virtue. Follow the teachings of the Lord, and love unceasingly.

"30 There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan 
   that can succeed against the LORD."

No power can stand against that of God, for any force in relation to Him is in fact powerless. His will is supreme, His teachings are unfaltering, and His plan is pre-destined. We can stand firm knowing that our Father is on our side. With Him we will not stumble. 
"And if our God is for us, then who could ever stop us? And if our God is with us, then what could stand against?"

Monday, February 21, 2011

Facing struggles.

Today.....

Church endeavors with Steph and Taylor were lovely, even despite my mere five hours of sleep last night. I got to see Tangled today with some of my sisters, and I really enjoyed that. The movie was adorable, and my sisters are just amazing, to say the least. After the film, I went to Hannah and Brandi's room to hang out with them before going to dinner with some sisters :) From there, we were business meeting bound! There was a prayer night that followed, and it was truly amazing...

Looking at the truth, knowing that some things are so easy to see but so difficult to accept. Seeing struggles covering the space in front of me, tearing my heart piece by piece. Lifting it all up to God, too helpless to do anything else. Who lied to my loves? Who did this? Who distorted reality? I see and understand this mindset. I see what so many of us want to believe and accept but are restricted by serpents, and it kills me. I want to beat down the liars, make them feel shame for the pain they've caused. But I can't.... None of us can. God is Healer. He is Power. He is effective. Helpless, I broke. But I am loved, and I am cared for. To be embraced, to be comforted, to be prayed for.... I am blessed. I have amazing sisters. They are beautiful beyond words, and their hearts are full of immeasurable compassion. I am so thankful. For any of my sisters that may be reading this, you mean the world to me, and I love you more than this post can adequately express. Thank you, so much.

Goodnight loves. Sleep well for me.

Proverbs 20

The Message= Laymen's terms. I liked it for this chapter.


"3 It's a mark of good character to avert quarrels, 
   but fools love to pick fights." 

Don't provoke conflict. It's foolish and accomplishes nothing. When was the last time you started a fight with someone and actually reaped substantial benefits from it? For most (if not all) of us, that would be NEVER.

"5 Knowing what is right is like deep water in the heart; 
   a wise person draws from the well within." 

The teachings of God and His discipline are meant to be engraved on and within our hearts, there to turn to whenever necessary. Those who are wise look to their heart to find guidance and comfort from the word of God.

"15 Drinking from the beautiful chalice of knowledge 
   is better than adorning oneself with gold and rare gems." 

Solomon stresses this in literally every chapter: wisdom is more precious and of more value than any of our earthly "treasures." We tend to frantically scrummage for gems of this world, but we should seek in tenfold the wisdom and discernment of God!

"18 Form your purpose by asking for counsel, 
   then carry it out using all the help you can get."

We cannot take on this earthly life on our own. You are only one child of God, and He has blessed us with a beloved community comprised of His sons and daughters. Let them help you. They may very well possess beneficial and enlightening insight. For just as God works in you, so does He in the lives of His other children.

"24 The very steps we take come from God; 
   otherwise how would we know where we're going?"

We have no way of knowing or dictating what our life has in store for us. God knows. He knows our every step and stumble in advance, so it only makes sense to let Him guide us. We are not meant to understand our future. We must put our trust and faith in our Father. Surrender control to Him so that you may truly prosper according to His will.

"7 God is in charge of human life, 
   watching and examining us inside and out."

He loves us. He examines us. He knows our every thought, feeling, and action. He gave us life. We are His creation, and He is who we must answer to. Our King, our Lord, our Father.

Proverbs 19

Honesty and trust are more important than your economic status. Be sure that your zeal is for and from the Lord; let it now be ignorant or rash. When our life turns to ruin, it is not God's work, but our own. Do not cast blame on Him, for He is the only one who can truly guide you back to peace and righteousness. Keep wisdom in your heart, and never close your mind to understanding. Lies will not go undetected, nor will gossip; both will bring about rightful punishment. Hold your tongue, and forgive others who you might otherwise scold or belittle. {The Spirit cannot work adequately through us if we have a begrudging heart.} Maintain a calm and collected temperament, yet do not adopt lazy habits. Let your spouse be a gift from God, someone who will build you up and help further you in your faith. Be generous and merciful; God will take notice. We need to be disciplined, so accept it and learn from it. God's plans thwart our own; He knows our path and He is in control. Fear God; you must do so in order to fully receive live in Him. Obey your parents; do not be a disgrace. Let not your mouth be a vessel of the wicked, lest you are prepared for the backlash that will ensue.

Sunday, February 20, 2011

So, I'll do Proverbs 19 and 20 tomorrow.

Today has been long, but good! Heather and I woke up at 9 to get ready and to go see Sarah perform at the Forbes center. She did a lovely job :) Papa Tobz was able to come as well, and he treated us all to brunch afterwards. It was so delicious, and I loved getting to spend time with them :) Sadly, Heather departed shortly after our meal. But I get to see her lovely face again on friday! So all is well :) {P.S.- Heather, if you're reading this, I had Brittany, Brianna, Stephanie, AND Brandi all ask me if you were still here when I saw them. And when I told them that you had already left, this is the response I got: "Awww. That's sad :/" Yes, facial expression and all. Haha. You are well liked, chica! Well duh..... but anyways! Haha.} After coming back to the room, making some new friends, and taking a nap, I went to UREC with Brandi. For a little over an hour we were able to use studio space to dance and watch a few old music videos, haha. I love Brandi :) A lot, a lot! From there, I came back to the room before going to dinner with Andrea, Brittany, and Brianna. I saw Steph and a few girls from my small group while I was there, so that was cool! After dinner, Andrea had a movie date/tea time in my room. It was a good time :) I also got to talk to my darling Elizabeth, whom I love and adore with all of my heart and then-some. Oh friends, I hope you all are having pleasant dreams. I bid thee goodnight!

Proverbs 18

Be a friend to everyone; let us not have a self-centered life. Our own opinions are of no value if they have no foundation in the teachings of our Father. Have no associations with the wicked. Always strive to bring justice to those who desperately are in need of it. To speak foolishness is to bring about your own demise. A sluggard is just as bad as one who tears down the work of others. The Lord is our strength; only He can provide us with protection and support. Do not be prideful; be humble! Do not speak without receiving judgement and understanding. Seek it out; do not let your words be rash. Make sure you hear both sides of an argument; only hearing one side can lead to misinformed and incorrect judgement. Let your words be fruitful, and you will find satisfaction with the Lord. Words are powerful, point blank. We are not above pleading for mercy. Trust me, we need it. In regards to friends, it isn't about quantity. {Wait for the cliche.....} It's about quality. I know that I have so many friends who love me enough to listen, care for, and help me when I need it. And I make it a priority to do the same. If you wish to have a friend that "sticks closer than a brother," be one yourself :)

Saturday, February 19, 2011

Proverbs 17

  • Don't try lying to God; it's disgraceful and it won't work.
  • Forgive others who do wrong against you.
  • Avoid folly; it is dangerous to come into contact with.
  • Do not start quarrels.
  • Love your friends at all times!
  • To be a fool is to bring disgrace to our Father.
  • Keep your eyes on wisdom; you will gain understanding.
  • Be careful with your words.

I said today would be glorious

and it was! Here's why:

  • Quad time with Taylor and Rachel :)
    • Pom-pom puppies!!!
  • Heather is here!
  • Large group :)
  • Burlesque with Heather, Hannah, Brandi, Rachel, and Alex!
    • SO GOOD!
    • I LOVE Christina Aguilera!
    • Hannah threw lots of popcorn at me, and it was funny :)

I love having Heather here. I love spending time with my sisters. I love this weekend! Goodnight loves, sleep well:)

Friday, February 18, 2011

February 18th, 2011

It's been exactly 2 years since I first set foot in West End Assembly of God, the only church I've ever really gone to or been a member of. That night at youth group was when I started my walk with Christ.

That was only 2 years ago?!  Whaaaaaaaaaaaat???? Crazy.Ness.

Bet you can't guess where I am!

Yes, that's right...... Carrier library! I've been studying for this test I have in world religions tomorrow.

Luckily, its only like 30 multiple choice questions. However, a good portion is supposed to come from the reading, and guess who stopped doing the reading a few weeks ago.... ME! Whatever, I figure if I know the basic concepts for each then I should be okay, right?
Anyways, today was alright. After psyc and lunch I went to the writing center to get some help with my paper. I have quite a bit to fix, and that makes me sad :( Whatevs, I'll do that on sunday. I then spent some time on the quad with some of my lovely sisters {Hannah, Taylor, Courtney, Rachel, Kirsten, and Brittany}. They make me happy :) And it was such a lovely day outside! Ahh, I just love it :) Health was blah. I really didn't want to go to it, but I have a test on tuesday. So yeah... I got to have dinner with Hannah and Brandi, which was really great :) From there, I went to Justice Team. Woop woop! And then I found myself back in Carrier. I did, however, get to skype Heather for a little bit {Steph momentarily crashed our date, so the two of them got to meet each other! Haha.}. Since then I've basically been struggling to study for this test without getting distracted on facebook. I was able to focus for short periods of time, but I ended up semi-stalking people. While I was doing so, I came across this video:

Hahahaha! Of all the songs you could sing, why would you choose this one?! And, better question, HOW COULD YOU FORGET THE WORDS?! Hahaha. Woooooooow.

Goodnight my loves :)

Thursday, February 17, 2011

We didn't get kicked out of Carrier...

Haha, yeah. Stephanie, her friend Sydney, and I got booted out of the library at 2 AM with annoying bell sounds and flickering lights. Really mature, people! Haha. We needed to peace out anyways, but it was still funny. Here are some other things that we didn't do in Carrier today {Taylor was there for most of this, too!}:

  • Sing disney songs, out loud and NOT in a hushed tone.
  • Laugh until our eyes leaked {well, I know mine did at least :) }.
  • Change each other's facebook statuses when someone left the table.
  • Neglect studying for tests.
  • Get really, really distracted.... a lot :P

Yeah, tonight was a good night :) Some of my sisters and I posted positive sticky-notes in several buildings on the quad, which was followed up by Stephanie, Hannah, and I singing and dancing around to the Spice Girls :) We got a few looks, but it's whatevs :) I took Worldbeat again tonight with Hannah, Jenn, Kirsten, and Brittany; that's always fun! And yeah, it was at that point that I ventured back over to Carrier and had the lovely list of experiences listed above :) I spent a grand total of about 9 1/2 hours in the library today. Kind of sad, really, but I didn't mind too much. However, it is after 3 AM now, and I do mind the fact that I'll be getting less than 7 hours of sleep. Thus, I must bid thee farewell. Goodnight loves!

Proverbs 16

Solomon, you are so redundant right now. But that's okay, because what you are saying is still very much valid {obviously, since it came from God}.

Leave everything up to the Lord. Let Him guide and protect Him. Seek His knowledge so that we may be discerning and wise. Fear of the Lord allows us to avoid the path of the wicked, which leads straight to death. God desires us to be honest, wise, and without pride. Our Father wants us to treasure His word and teachings above anything that is of this world; even the gems of earth {i.e. gold and silver} hold no value in comparison to what God offers us. Do not gossip or be perverse.

I was particularly fond of these verses:

"1 To humans belong the plans of the heart, 
   but from the LORD comes the proper answer of the tongue."


"9 In their hearts humans plan their course,
   but the LORD establishes their steps."


As much as we would like to think that we are in control of our lives and that we can figure it out ourselves... we aren't and we can't. So often our hearts are set on something that feel like we "need" so desperately, and we are crushed when things don't go the way we wanted them to. But think about it, God knows and speaks into us His answers to our dilemmas. He tells us what the true desires of our heart are; He reveals to us our passions. God knows what our lives are going to be used for, and He knows where our path leads. We may have the freewill to decide the course of our life, but God decides the direction, stability, and windy-ness of it. Leave your future to God! He will not lead us astray :) What a faithful father, He is :)

Proverbs 15

 "1 A gentle answer turns away wrath, 
   but a harsh word stirs up anger."

How often have we encountered this in our life? That moment where someone is blowing up on you with rage, and upon receiving a calm response, that person just deflates and walks away--not sure how to rebut. Putting a cork on the anger keeps it from transforming into something more severe. Crude or harsh comebacks only ever stir things up until they escalate out of control. Keep calm and carry on, friends.

"3 The eyes of the LORD are everywhere, 
   keeping watch on the wicked and the good."

Our God watches over all of His creation, not just merely those who have accepted Him as their Lord, Father, and Savior. We were all made by Him, and He keeps an eye on everyone. I suppose this is a subtle reminder from Solomon. Even though we all seem to recognize that our God is omnipresent, have you ever imagined every inch of space being covered by God's eyes? Intriguing thought, huh?

 "13 A happy heart makes the face cheerful, 
   but heartache crushes the spirit."


 "18 A hot-tempered person stirs up conflict, 
   but the one who is patient calms a quarrel."

These are just truths that are SO applicable to our lives. Take a moment and ponder these; they're pretty straight forward, and

"25 The LORD tears down the house of the proud, 
   but he sets the widow’s boundary stones in place."

Pride is something we are not meant to harbor. For who are we in comparison to God? What makes you better than another being of God's creation? Nothing. God will strip us of our pride, and rightfully so. Be not proud or boastful, and He will protect and safeguard us.

 "33 Wisdom’s instruction is to fear the LORD, 
   and humility comes before honor."

Being humble is SO important. The Lord is selfless, and we should strive to be likewise. And if you take away anything from Solomon, it should be this: Heed the words of Wisdom; FEAR THE LORD!

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Take me to see Cirque du Soleil!

Please :) This performance in particular is one that I LOVE! Her flexibility blows my mind, and I also really love the song :)

So here's the deal.

I'm in Carrier right now {that's basically been the story of my life this week}, and I just finished drafting my literature paper. My eyes feel all dry and tired, and I am SO ready to hit the hay. Thus, I will not be posting one of those long, elaborate posts I usually generate. But here are some highlights from today:

  • Sleeping until 11:30.
  • Lunch with Hannah and Brandi.
  • Hanging out with Steph and Taylor in Carrier.
  • SAO Bible study.
  • Skyping Kelly.

Yeah, today was good. I wish I had made time to post for Proverbs Project, but I'll make up for that tomorrow. Goodnight loves!

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Life is good.

Even if only for tonight, I am blissfully at peace. The test of this morning, the sleep deprivation, and the assignments looming over this week are out the window right now! After I woke up from a two hour nap of glory, I went to the Groove {which is always great!}, then to small group {I thoroughly enjoyed tonight's Bible study!}, and then to Carrier {where I still am now!}. I've been in Carrier Starubucks for almost 4 hours. I didn't actually get anything from here though. I did, however, get a free white mocha sample!
It had whipped creme and everything! Nikki, if you read this, I thought of you :) But yes, I had a nice and lengthy skype date with Heather to start off my night of library chillage. Ahhh! I just love talking to her :) Talk about a blessing :) Since we hung up, I've just been meandering around on my laptop, for the most part. I've conversated {at least a little bit} with Stephanie, Hannah, Eddie, Daniel, Kim, and DeVon. Also, I've caught up with Proverbs Project, which was nice. Once I start something like that, I have to do it completely. If I miss a post, my OCD kicks in and I have to jump on that, haha. Let me take a moment to be random, if you don't mind.

This is the cutest thing ever! I hope Taylor Swift sees that. My heart would melt! So great :)

One of my friends from elementary school posted that link on facebook, and I just thought it was so great. Valentine's Day is a funny thing. Some people are all giddy with infatuation for their hubby, others are miserable that they aren't in a relationship, and some people are like me and are just content about the whole thing. I think Valentine's Day is cute :) People give each other adorable little tokens of their love, and their faces light up like Christmas trees :) The day is just another excuse to tell people how much you love them! And I love to do that already! So dedicating a day to it??? Sure thing! This is getting a little lengthy, so I'll spare you any further rambling :) Goodnight my lovelies! I LOVE YOU! Sleep well :)

Proverbs 14

"1 The wise woman builds her house, 
   but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down."

Even when we are strong in our faith and delighting in out Father, the foolish can (and will earnestly try) to destroy it. The wicked are fools, but they pry on our weaknesses. Therefore, acknowledge your Achilles heel and constantly ask God to protect you and to help you over come it. That way, when someone tries to tear apart your faith, you have the shield of God to maintain stability. You will be well equipped with His guidance :)

"6 The mocker seeks wisdom and finds none, 
   but knowledge comes easily to the discerning."

God knows our intentions, and He knows the true nature of our hearts. Yes, we have easy access to His wisdom by simply seeking it out. However, this applies to those who are genuinely craving that knowledge and desperately needing it. It's not something you can just be like "Well God, I don't know what the heck You expected me to do with the deck of cards You dealt me, so go ahead and tell me what the deal is." No, understanding is bestowed upon those who come to God with a softened and open heart, a yearning for His working in them. Get out of here mockery; you accomplish nothing!

"32 When calamity comes, the wicked are brought down, 
   but even in death the righteous seek refuge in God."

Even in times of disaster, we have a refuge! We are safe in the hands of out Father! He is our Protector and Savior :) How glorious is He! We will never be struck down! Nevaaaaa!

Proverbs 13

Yeah, I fell behind.... But these two verses stuck out to me from chapter 13.

"12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick, 
   but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life."

Lacking any sort of hope really does take a toll on our hearts. Hope is something we need. Without it, struggles are seemingly insurmountable. Hope can be attained through faith--faith in our Father. If we possess hope, and that anticipation is made reality, it's almost as if your heart flourishes! You know that feeling: the giddiness, elation, that "OMG" moment :) God answers our prayers, and He fills that void we have when we are feeling hopeless. He restores us in times of hardship. That is my friend, is truth!

"18 Whoever disregards discipline comes to poverty and shame, 
   but whoever heeds correction is honored."

We cannot ignore the rebuke of our Father. He knows what is best for us, and He knows what is in our best interests. Believe me, I've blatantly ignored God's advice before, and I wish I had listened. Doing so repeatedly will shame us. We will dwell in poverty and hardship. That is not the life I want, and I'm sure you all would agree. Let us instead hear what He says and actively alter our hearts to live it out! Let us be honorable in the eyes of our Lord :)