Phillipians 2 Bible study.

This book is one of my favorite books of the Bible. It never fails no matter how many times I read it to open my eyes and give me a big wake up slap across the face. I really like verse one and two in this chapter. Paul is wanting this church in Pillipi to be of one mind and united in love and in spirit intent on one purpose. That purpose is to live completely selflessly for God and to help others. I am such a winy and selfish person every time I read this chapter its a wake up call for me to buck up and not look at me myself and I and look to God and to help others. When you look at the life of Christ it is a perfect example of what selflessness is all about. Verses 6-8 talk about how Christ was so selfless and was willing to serve God no matter WHAT God asked him to do, even if it were DYING for Him. I ask myself am *I* willing to go as far as to DIE for God if that is what He calls me to do? Its a sobering thought. We are to live our lives in such a way that we are willing to do whatever He asks and go where ever He sends us. Not only are we to do what He asks we are to do it without grumbling or disputing. (vrs 14) The entire world is constantly watching us as Christians to see what we will do in a situation and how we will act. This to me is another sobering thought. We are to live our lives in such a way that we stand out from the world and not blend in to it. We can do this and we are not asked to do it alone. God will help us to do this. In verses 19-30 I like how an example is given to us of selfless love. (other than Christ's example) this Epaphroditus apparently had to walk quite a ways to get from Phillipi to Rome. He did this journey selflessly and almost DIED in the process. My goodness! This is another perfect example of how we should lives to serve and not to be served. My application for this week is to devote more time and effort to do things for others and to not grumble about the things that are given to me to do.

New Beginings

Hello freinds. I know that it has been awhile since I last posted but im sure yall are used to it by now. At the begining of this month I took a lovely four day vacation with a very dear freind to see some other dear freinds in Georgia. It was the perfect vacation. I wasnt exhausted when I came back. Other than that thre isnt a lot going on. I am busy well fairly busy starting a new relationship and building that up. He is a sweet guy and ive been spending as much time with him when he is home as he can tolorate. He has a wounderful family as well. We will see what God has in store from us. As far as the other news I am having a roomate move in August. As much as some people like to live alone I do not. I like having someone around to talk to. We shall see what God has in store for me this next month. Have a blessed week.

The Winds of Change..

Ive never been a big fan of change. I never liked going to a new school or starting a new job or starting a new semester at college. I like things to stay the same but I know that things have to change in order for us to press on the new heights. Theses last few months been very difficult to get through. My heart still aches and I still catch myself thinking of what might have been if certain events hadn't happened...but I try not to dwell in or on the past because I know that you cant ever heal completely and move on. Satan loves to dredge up the past over and over again...at least in my life that seems to be the case...and unfortunately I find myself getting sucked in and having a pity party. But I just have to buck up and move on. With Gods help I know that I can do it its now a matter of me wanting to move on. But I know that without change we can never strive to be better. I hope everyone has a lovely week.

March Madness...

As many of my readers know that this past month has been a very trying one. Although its wound up leaving me distressed and some what wounded I can look back on it and see that God is teaching me. Ive learned that I can be clingy and needy (I'm working on just backing up and just giving some space and time where it is needed.) I will admit that no I do not have this down pat but I am truly doing some soul searching and asking God to help. Its hard for me just to let completely go but I'm learning to let go. I have to trust God and I have to learn that even when I have no idea what is going on be it with a person I care deeply about or whether its a situation. I can honestly say that I am learning to just let go and let God take complete control. Yes its hard...I'm female and I like to be there for people that's just part of who I am but I can honestly say that I do have trouble of just letting go and backing off when I am asked to or when I need to. Sometimes the best thing you can do for a person or a situation is to just give it up to God. I will admit that yes I have a hard time trusting. I am asking God for His help in this. So I ask you to pray for me that I am better able to back off, let go and trust. I also ask for a little patience from those who I have crowded. Psalm 56:11 In God I have put my trust, I shall not be afraid.

A Long Week.

Its been a rough week and a very long one....there have been valleys and shadows as well as mountain peaks. Its weeks like these that I feel so helpless and weak not strong enough to be there for those who need me. But as the saying goes what doesn't kill you only makes you stronger. Although I don't feel like I am to the strong part buuut I'm getting there slowly. Prayers are defiantly appreciated. I hope all my readers have a lovely weekend!

Daylight savings.

I'm going to start off by saying that I despise daylight savings. I really wish someone here in Texas would decide that we don't need it. It really through my body clock all out of whack. All this springing forward and falling back. Although I must admit that I like having an extra hour of daylight but I don't like having to get up in the dark. Well there is my ranting I'm done with that now. I hope that everyone has been able to get out and enjoy this gorgeous weather we are having. Today was beautiful I just wish I didn't have to stay inside all day. I really miss getting to be outside more. I used to work at a day care and would get to go outside with the kids but then I got a full time job in a doctors office and am stuck inside all day. But I'm where God wants be to be so I cant complain too much. I'm really wanting to go camping before the weather gets too warm but we shall see if time permits that. Ive been so busy lately, but it has been the good kind of busy though so I cant complain too much about that either. Well I suppose I should quit complaining now. I hope everyone has a blessed week!

2 Timothy 4:5 But you be sober in all things endure hardship.

The Valley of The Shadow of Death...

This week has been the longest week of my life. So many things have happened its been a hard week. My boyfriend lost his mom unexpectedly at the beginning of the week. I didn't get a chance to know her very well but from the few times I got to spend with her I can tell she was an amazingly strong and God fearing women. She will be greatly missed by everyone. It all happened so quickly its been like a bad dream that you cant wake up from. God is always with us and He is right here beside this family. As most of my readers know my family is no stranger to death I guess you could say that we are well seasoned when it comes to death. I lost both of my grandparents in a six months span of each other. But they weren't so sudden, but all of this has made me realize that God definitely uses all of our trials and He helps us so that we are better able to comfort those who are going through the exact same thing that we have gone through. I encourage everyone to stay strong through whatever trial you are going through so that you could possibly be better able to help someone else who will go through the same trial.

God's Way.

Sometimes God has ways of telling us that we need rest. Obviously He is telling me that I needed rest. I have been sick since Friday. Looking back over the month of February I can see why I got sick and have stayed sick. I think that it was God's way of saying slow down and take time to rest. So as today is the first day if March I have decided that I am going to rest more and do my very best to be less stressed. I think that everyone in my life would benefit from it. Lets face it I get grumpy and mad when I'm stressed and to add not getting enough rest to the mix makes me a very hard person to be around. So to all of those effected by my moods I am terribly sorry. I thought of this verse "Be still and know that I am God" Psalm 40:10 We tend to push ourselves past our limits lets face it. We tend to miss out on God's beauty and His glory. We are often times to caught up in our lives that we forget to take time to rest in His beauty and peace. So I encourage all of my readers this month to be still and take time. I hope everyone has a blessed week. Get plenty of sunshine rest and drink plenty of water or sweet tea and just relax.

An Award.

I have been awarded an award by Abigail! Here is how this award works.

1. Thank a link back to the person who gave you the reward.

2. Share 7 things about yourself.

3. Award 8 recently discovered great bloggers.

4. Contact the bloggers and let them know about the award.



Here are 7 things about me.

1. I love to sit and curl up with a good book. I don't do it as nearly as often as I would like to.

2. I have two beautiful nieces and LOVE being an aunt.
3. I love my work even when its stressful.
4. I love and want to travel more.
5. I said id never date a man with facial hair buut God gave me the most amazing man ever, who has facial hair. It actually doesn't bother me as much as I thought it would.
6. I am a coffee fanatic. A little too much perhaps.
7. I want to at some point in my life to take a medical missionary trip to a foreign country.

I hope everyone has a wonderful week and a restful Sunday!

One Snowy Day..

Yes you read it correctly..it snowed in east Texas yesterday! We have been having some crazy weather where it goes from the 50s one day and the next day its freezing. So what does this mean for Christa? Well after a rather trying week on me I was asking God and hoping for a little extra time off from work to rest and He who is always faithful answered my plea. Due to the icy snowy conditions on the road I got to stay in my warm apartment and marvel at the snowy whiteness. It got me to thinking about all of Gods amazing handy work..snow is so white and pure just like we are made to be when we are washed with the blood of Jesus...only we are made ten times whiter than snow. Oh what a faithful and loving Master we serve! He has made us a promise and has kept it and will keep it. I hope that everyone got to enjoy the snowy whiteness yesterday and I hope you have a safe and blessed weekend!
The eternal God is our refuge, and underneath are everlasting arms. Deuteronomy 33:27

Exhausted

First off let me start off by defining this word. Exhausted, To drain of strength or energy, wear out, or fatigue greatly as a person. This word describes perfectly how I have felt this week. It has been an emotionally, physically and spiritually draining week for me. I didn't start this blog to wine and complain I do have a point for this post. I have been constantly under attack this week. Its in times like these when we feel out of control that we know that God is in control. How blessed is the thought that even when we feel our worst that we have Someone who is in far better control? Take a moment to stop and look back over your week....and I mean really think about what happened and when it happened? Now can you honestly see that there was Someone else looking out for you? Friend...I strongly encourage you to ask God for His help. If you don't believe in Him ask Him to take you're life from you...He has far greater strength and a far better plan than we have for our own lives. No we aren't promised that life will be rosy and that out lives will be calm from here on out...but we are promised that HE will be right there to help us. Psalm 9:9-10 The Lord will be a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble; And those who know Your name will put their trust in You for you O Lord have not forsaken those who seek You.

What doesnt kill us...

only makes us stronger or so the saying goes. In some ways that is true..we are given trials and tribulations and it is up to us how we take them. We can make excuses as to why this is happening and either tuck our head and give up or we can go through it with our heads up and strong. It all depends on your perspective and where your strength is coming from. God's promise to those who love Him isn't that we wont be faced with trials and hardships it is that when we do face them He will be right there to help us through. Look inside your self and make sure that you are gathering your strength from the right source. But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength they will soar on wings like eagles they will run and not grow weary and they will walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:31

Cold wet rainy days.

Today is such a yucky gloomy wintry day...but I love it! Its perfect weather to curl up under the covers and read an awesome book. I am currently reading two books. One of them is called Authentic Beauty its by Leslie Ludy the other book is a series its called the Courtship of the Vicars Daughter Lawana Blackwell wrote it. The first one is a nonfiction book, it is about the importance of inner beauty rather than outer. It is something that this generation has lost almost completely. Now some might read this and take offense but it is sadly very true. It is so hard to grow up in a generation where inner beauty is lost and outer beauty has taken over. Character is important God tells us that the inner beauty is what is important. 1 Samuel16:7 But the Lord said to Samuel, "do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature because I have rejected him, for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." We are all flawed and tend to look at how handsome a man is or at how pretty a lady looks. But it is important to also look past the outward appearance into the heart. It is important for us to not worry so much how we look on the outside and concentrate on what is on the inside. So I encourage all my fellow readers this week to stop and take a minute to look at whats inside of them. May God bless and keep you this week.

New Year Resolutions

This may be a subject that a lot of us do not want to think about or even approach. But I for one think that new years resolutions are a good way to map out what we intended to get out of this next year. I think its especially important to take a look inside of you at your Spiritual relationship with God, to see where you are how far you have come and how you intend to grow in this next year. My pastor preaches on 1 Samuel 7:12 Then Samuel took a stone and set it between Mizpah and Shen, and named it Ebeneezer, saying thus far the Lord has helped us. We stop and take time to look back on the things that have happened with our church ans our members over the last year. We look at everything, the losses the blessings, everything. I think that it is a good way to see just how much God has done for us. I think that sometimes we get so caught up in the midst of the bad things that happen that we overlook the good things that He has done. I know I am very guilty of this, I look at the bad things instead of focusing on the positive side, the blessing side of things if you will. This next year I have made several new years resolutions but the most important one I have made is to love God more and serve Him more and the desires of my flesh less. To spend more time with Him and dwelling on Heavenly things and not to get so bogged down in this world. To have less of its stench on me and more of a Heavenly aroma about me if you will. So friend's I encourage to take time to look at this past year and see what God has done and look forward to what He will do this next year. If you don't have a deep and personal relationship with Him then I encourage you to get down on your knees and ask Him to show Himself to you, to say " Here I am Lord show me how to become your child and forgive me Lord for my many sins." He is always listening. May God bless you this next year and may you raise an Ebeneezer and say "Thus far the Lord has helped us."