I have often taken things for granted. Or maybe I didn’t know how great I had it until a later time. Either way, it’s an interesting exercise to take a look at your life and be thankful for the things that we are blessed with. It’s especially good when we start to think we have it so bad with either a stressful day at work or when we get sick. We, or should I say I, start to feel bad for myself. There are so many people out in the world that don’t have any idea where their next meal will come from, or if their house will be taken from them, or if their loved one will make it through their battle with cancer. I don’t think it’s because Thanksgiving is around the corner, but it won’t hurt to start being more thankful for the blessings that God has given me.
To start, I am incredibly thankful for family. My family. They are so loving and faithful to be there for me when I need them. I am thankful for the love of my life Ben. He is the greatest and continues to show me more and more love than I deserve. I am so thankful for friends that I can truly call friends. I think it’s great to be able to still have connections with people even if you don’t see them all the time (although I would like to). I am thankful for my job and for Ben’s job. Sometimes it’s hard to go away on trips and be away from the people I love, but I truly do love my job. I’m thankful for the trials in my life. Without them, I wouldn’t be as strong as I am. Although I have to say, I haven’t faced anything like a lot of people I know.
If I wasn't thankful, how would I know I am blessed? I have so much to be thankful for!
And in all of these blessings, I know I have one person to thank. Jesus. My Jesus…who sacrificed himself for ME. He was thinking about me when he came down from heaven and he was thinking about me on that cross.
“16This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. 17If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? 18Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. 19This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence 20whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.” 1 John 3:16-20
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Friday, November 6, 2009
Surrender to Love
Surrender to Love
“Like loving parents who can look at their children with disappointment that in no way dilutes their love, the God in whose image such parents are made loves us with a love that is not dependent on our behavior. If at least some humans can do this, how dare we question God’s ability to do the same?”
This is a quote that stood out to me the most in the first chapter of Surrender to Love by David Benner. I have been fortunate enough to have parents that I know love me no matter what I do. Yes, they probably have been disappointed with me, but I have never felt like their love was in some way revoked or lessened. I think because of my parents I have been able to grasp the love Christ has for me isn’t conditional on my behavior. Yes, He may be disappointed and I know I have let Him down, but I still feel the love. I still can go to Him and know I have a big set of arms waiting for me wide open.
God is so good. I can’t even begin to express how deep that statement goes. I know that I don’t deserve it at all (which is God’s expression of grace) and I need to put forth a better effort in getting to know the God who loves me in every circumstance and situation.
I am going to try to blog about my experience with this book and what stands out to me. I’m pretty bad with finishing books and I hope this goal to write about it on my blog will help me push through so I can share all the amazing insights of God’s love here. Know that God loves you. I know it’s a hard one to grasp for some, but I’m learning that if we surrender to His love, we will find a huge relief in the way we view God.
God Bless!
“Like loving parents who can look at their children with disappointment that in no way dilutes their love, the God in whose image such parents are made loves us with a love that is not dependent on our behavior. If at least some humans can do this, how dare we question God’s ability to do the same?”
This is a quote that stood out to me the most in the first chapter of Surrender to Love by David Benner. I have been fortunate enough to have parents that I know love me no matter what I do. Yes, they probably have been disappointed with me, but I have never felt like their love was in some way revoked or lessened. I think because of my parents I have been able to grasp the love Christ has for me isn’t conditional on my behavior. Yes, He may be disappointed and I know I have let Him down, but I still feel the love. I still can go to Him and know I have a big set of arms waiting for me wide open.
God is so good. I can’t even begin to express how deep that statement goes. I know that I don’t deserve it at all (which is God’s expression of grace) and I need to put forth a better effort in getting to know the God who loves me in every circumstance and situation.
I am going to try to blog about my experience with this book and what stands out to me. I’m pretty bad with finishing books and I hope this goal to write about it on my blog will help me push through so I can share all the amazing insights of God’s love here. Know that God loves you. I know it’s a hard one to grasp for some, but I’m learning that if we surrender to His love, we will find a huge relief in the way we view God.
God Bless!
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Portugal
I have been so busy with working here in Portugal, I haven't had a chance to take pictures or blog for myself. I am finally going to at post some pictures, at least, and talk about the life here in Figueira Da Foz, Portugal.
I was a tad bit nervous about driving up to the city from Lisbon, since it about a 2 hour drive north. Everything worked out by the grace of God and it has been a great experience. I was able to get an apartment for a good price and it overlooks the beach. I was pumped because my place ended up being in walking distance from the team hotel. It also is right next to a wifi bar. SWEET!
The first two days I learned what the event, International Six-Day Enduro (ISDE), was all about. It's my first time and I am blown away at how gnarly all these riders are. I thought MXoN was impressive, these guys are riding for 6 hours a day for 6 days straight AND are the only ones that can touch the bike for mechanical fixes are the riders.
We now have two days left of competition and I am happy to have it winding down. Check out some photos.
This sign reminded me of Leandro Mercado.
This is a real sign for elderly crossing. The coolest street sign ever!
This was one of the Time Checks for Days 3 and 4. Right on the beach...so beautiful.
The beach is beautiful.
Apparently the beaches are PACKED during the summer, but now there are only a few people out...fishing!
I like the old architecture that we see in some of the towns we pass through. This was just one example.
France has a team mascot...the angry rooster. (I think:)
Ricky D. wasn't too pumped about his situation. Went out on the first day with bike issues.
Yes Johnny...you are crazy (with directions)!
Sweet lighthouse at on a bluff above the city. And its working!
What?
Jason's weird face at sunset.
My weird face at sunset!
Two thumbs up for such a great sunset!
Overlooking the city!
I was a tad bit nervous about driving up to the city from Lisbon, since it about a 2 hour drive north. Everything worked out by the grace of God and it has been a great experience. I was able to get an apartment for a good price and it overlooks the beach. I was pumped because my place ended up being in walking distance from the team hotel. It also is right next to a wifi bar. SWEET!
The first two days I learned what the event, International Six-Day Enduro (ISDE), was all about. It's my first time and I am blown away at how gnarly all these riders are. I thought MXoN was impressive, these guys are riding for 6 hours a day for 6 days straight AND are the only ones that can touch the bike for mechanical fixes are the riders.
We now have two days left of competition and I am happy to have it winding down. Check out some photos.
This sign reminded me of Leandro Mercado.
This is a real sign for elderly crossing. The coolest street sign ever!
This was one of the Time Checks for Days 3 and 4. Right on the beach...so beautiful.
The beach is beautiful.
Apparently the beaches are PACKED during the summer, but now there are only a few people out...fishing!
I like the old architecture that we see in some of the towns we pass through. This was just one example.
France has a team mascot...the angry rooster. (I think:)
Ricky D. wasn't too pumped about his situation. Went out on the first day with bike issues.
Yes Johnny...you are crazy (with directions)!
Sweet lighthouse at on a bluff above the city. And its working!
What?
Jason's weird face at sunset.
My weird face at sunset!
Two thumbs up for such a great sunset!
Overlooking the city!Wednesday, September 23, 2009
A coach's faith: Why Dungy helped Vick return
I don't know your opinion about Vick, but this story is one that so many people don't understand. Tony Dungey is an exceptional man and this story explains more about why he's so great.
A coach's faith: Why Dungy helped Vick return
Shared via AddThis
A coach's faith: Why Dungy helped Vick return
Shared via AddThis
Monday, September 14, 2009
3 Day Rule Explained
I have recently rediscovered my love for the show "How I Met Your Mother" and this was at the start of the show. It starts with Barney answering the question 'Who made up the wait-3-days-to-call-a-woman-rule anyways?' Here is the answer:
By the way, he speaks the truth!
By the way, he speaks the truth!
Friday, September 4, 2009
My First Time
Wednesday was a monumental day. That may be pushing it a bit, but I had another first in my life: a tattoo. As many of you have said, I never thought I would see the day that I would get one. I have always wanted one, but I have been deathly afraid. Who knowingly puts themselves through a torturous process like tattooing? Well, ME!
How did it all come about? I knew what and where I wanted to get it, a cross on my wrist, but I didn’t have a design in mind. I started to seriously look through some drawings and other tattoos and I found it, a wooden cross with cool detail. I wanted to put a verse with it and I finally decided on Galatians 2:20. “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” I mean WOW. That verse is everything I was looking for.
I actually had been trying to get it done for two weeks by a guy who worked on some close friends. He ended up flaking on me two weeks in a row, so my friend Tiffany recommended another guy named Joe. I made the appointment and already had a better feeling about this guy. D-day was set for Wednesday at 5 p.m.
When I walked into the tattoo parlor, another guy was working on someone and I heard that noise, that buzzing and I was instantly more nervous. I met Joe and was glad to find out he was Christian too. He drew up my design and it was exactly what I was hoping for. Now it was time. I felt myself trying to stall. Ben was coming from work and wasn’t there yet. But the time was upon me and I wasn’t going to back down now. I kept telling him how nervous I was, but he kept reassuring me it would be fine.
When he did the first line, it wasn’t nearly as bad as I was thinking. I mean it hurt, but it was bearable. I gave myself a pep talk and I think it worked. Though I am pretty sure I was forgetting to breathe because about 10 minutes into it, I felt sick. It wasn’t bad or anything, I just was concentrating on the tattoo so much that I stopped breathing normal. Ben got me some water and a little piece of chocolate and I was fine (what a great boyfriend). Just a momentary lapse of, you know, breathing.
It literally was under 20 minutes from when I went back to his area to the finished product. I was thankful for that. He cleaned me up and I was out of there. The end product was better than I could have imagined. The detail on the cross is exactly what I was looking for and it’s the perfect size.
And that was it. I finally have my first, and most likely last, tattoo. Thank you all for the great comments on Facebook. I hope I proved I’m not just talk, but I am all about the action!
How did it all come about? I knew what and where I wanted to get it, a cross on my wrist, but I didn’t have a design in mind. I started to seriously look through some drawings and other tattoos and I found it, a wooden cross with cool detail. I wanted to put a verse with it and I finally decided on Galatians 2:20. “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” I mean WOW. That verse is everything I was looking for.
I actually had been trying to get it done for two weeks by a guy who worked on some close friends. He ended up flaking on me two weeks in a row, so my friend Tiffany recommended another guy named Joe. I made the appointment and already had a better feeling about this guy. D-day was set for Wednesday at 5 p.m.
When I walked into the tattoo parlor, another guy was working on someone and I heard that noise, that buzzing and I was instantly more nervous. I met Joe and was glad to find out he was Christian too. He drew up my design and it was exactly what I was hoping for. Now it was time. I felt myself trying to stall. Ben was coming from work and wasn’t there yet. But the time was upon me and I wasn’t going to back down now. I kept telling him how nervous I was, but he kept reassuring me it would be fine.
When he did the first line, it wasn’t nearly as bad as I was thinking. I mean it hurt, but it was bearable. I gave myself a pep talk and I think it worked. Though I am pretty sure I was forgetting to breathe because about 10 minutes into it, I felt sick. It wasn’t bad or anything, I just was concentrating on the tattoo so much that I stopped breathing normal. Ben got me some water and a little piece of chocolate and I was fine (what a great boyfriend). Just a momentary lapse of, you know, breathing.
It literally was under 20 minutes from when I went back to his area to the finished product. I was thankful for that. He cleaned me up and I was out of there. The end product was better than I could have imagined. The detail on the cross is exactly what I was looking for and it’s the perfect size.
And that was it. I finally have my first, and most likely last, tattoo. Thank you all for the great comments on Facebook. I hope I proved I’m not just talk, but I am all about the action!
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
It's A Start
I just finished my photography class where I tried to learn the basics and understand how to use my new camera. The teacher wasn't very good and I could tell I wasn't the only one who didn't follow her tangents, but I did learn a few valuable ideas to get started. Below are some photos I did for our portrait project. I think they turned out pretty good and Roger was such a good sport about it. Let me know what you like.
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