MY HAPPY LIST!

Enjoy!

1.) High-heeled Shoes
2.) Different Colored Ink Pens
3.) My White Bible
4.) Bright Sparkly Daisy Flowers
5.) Ribbons
6.) Blue Bell Chocolate Covered Cherry Ice Cream Bars
7.) My Grandma’s Cats
8.) Big Earrings
9.) Notebooks
10.) Sunshine
11.) Dogs
12.) Baby Cows! ☺
13.) Stained Glass Windows
14.) Styrofoam Cups
15.) My Cell Phone
16.) Nail Polish
17.) Name Tags
18.) Little Kids
19.) Lindt White Chocolate
20.) My Brother;s Laptop
21.) Dates With God
22.) Long Phone Conversations With Friends
23.) Bubble Baths
24.) Cards and Letters in the Mail
25.) Smiles
26.) Headbands
27.) My Red Camera
28.) Driving Through The Country
29.) Hearing/Watching Horses Run
30.) Puzzles
31.) Singing
32.) The Comedian Tim Hawkins
33.) A Good Book on a Boring Day
34.) Werther’s Original Caramel Hard Candies
35.) My Banner from EXCEL
36.) Looking at Pictures
37.) The Colors Red and Purple (but not together… never together!)
38.) Hugs
39.) My Reversible Heart Patterned Jacket
40.) Knowing That God Loves Me

Standing Confident in His Love

Advanced EXCEL was going to be a challenge and I knew that before I had even signed up. I was not old enough but God willed that I would be accepted anyway. I was not well enough but God spoke through my father and I had to go. 

At the DMC everything was going great. I was learning so much and I could not have been enjoying the fellowship of my sweet teammates anymore than I was. After our Big Sandy camping trip I felt ready for anything, especially the home practicum. I had a plan and, like I said before, everything was going great.

Then, the unthinkable happened. I got sick and was stuck in my room for two days straight before going to the hospital. I was admitted for almost three days, one of which was my birthday, and then I went home. I had five more days left before the practicum.

AE is challenging enough by itself but God saw fit to throw some more obstacles in my way. I wish I knew why. I wish I understood. I wish God would show me why. 

If I knew why then maybe I would not be so discouraged. Perhaps I would have a better attitude about my trials. I could be an encouragement to others in the midst of their storms. Maybe I would trust God more. If only I knew why.

God's already shown me why, though. He told me to ask and I will receive. I asked and I did receive His answer. He did not explain a whole lot about why He allowed my circumstances or what He intends to do through them. He only said three words but they are all I need to hear.

                                        

I LOVE YOU.

This poem clearly expresses my heart's cry and my purpose for this blog. In the near future, I hope to post my testimony of God's work in my life and how He brought me to this point in my life. I hope this encourages and inspires you as much as it has encouraged and inspired me.

"I'm a part of the fellowship of the unashamed. The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made. I'm a disciple of His and I won't look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still.

My past is redeemed. My present makes sense. My future is secure. I'm done and finished with low living, sight walking, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed visions, mundane talking, cheap living, and dwarfed goals.

I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits, or popularity. I don't have to be right, or first, or tops, or recognized, or praised, or rewarded. I live by faith, lean on His presence, walk by patience, lift by prayer, and labor by Holy Spirit power.

My face is set. My gait is fast. My goal is heaven. My road may be narrow, my way rough, my companions few, but my guide is reliable and my mission is clear.

I will not be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, deluded or delayed.

I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice or hesitate in the presence of the adversary. I will not negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity.

I won't give up, shut up, or let up until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up, paid up, and preached up for the cause of Christ.

I am a disciple of Jesus. I must give until I drop, preach until all know, and work until He comes. And when He does come for His own, He'll have no problems recognizing me. My colors will be clear!"

Source: A young, unknown African pastor from Zimbabwe, martyred in 1990 for his faith