One Year on Blogger

Yes, yesterday marked my one year anniversary with this blog. Things have changed since I started it, but as I think back to last year, a lot of things changed in my life too. I think of the verses in Jeremiah, For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.
(Jer 29:11-13) God knew exactly what he was doing when he sent me to Japan, he knew exactly what he was doing when he sent me back home from Japan, he knew exactly what he was doing when he allowed changes to happen at Northland, and knew that I would make the decision to not remain there. Maybe all along, God was trying to show me that I was not trusting him as much as I should have been.  I knocked and another door was opened, and I found what I had been searching for with all my heart. It took trials to cause me to search with such diligence, but God know what the results would be from the beginning!! :D

'...knock, and it shall be opened unto you:' Mt. 7:7

I was just telling my mom how unbelievable it seems all that has happened in the last week and a day!! The last few weeks have been getting discouraging, because I had been at Northland for a year and a half only to have God lead me in a different direction. However, I hadn't been shown the direction yet...I was beginning to feel that I was being sent on a wild goose chase, and maybe God was just entertaining himself with my running around, getting frustrated, tempted to just quit, etc. (even though I knew it wasn't true). About the time I was ready to just give up, a friend of mine suggested that I look into a local Tech. school, and see what I could do to at least get started, then go on to a bigger college to get a degree. I look back, and it is as if God opened a window of opportunity to me, and showed me the door to get to where he wanted me to be. I took the opportunity, made an appointment to talk to an admissions rep. to get more information about the program I was looking at (as an administrative professional), and I ended up with a plethora of information, that almost seemed to good to be true. I, now one week later, have been accepted as a student at IntelliTec Colleges Associates in Occupational Studies (Administrative Professional) program. It is a 15 month program, but with my college and work experience I should be able to transfer and test out of about 4 1/2 months worth of classes, which translates to being completed by the end of this year!!!! I am SO excited, and right & left I see God providing something I need to make this all work. I was able to make a proposal for a partial payment on a school bill in exchange for my transcript, even though they don't usually release transcripts with money owed to them! All this excitement has brought to mind the song from Jeremiah 29:13, 'If You Search With All Your Heart' by Craig Courtney.

When you seek me, you shall find me, if you search with all your heart
when you seek me, you shall find me, if you search with all your heart
For I know the plans I have for you, plans of wealth and not of evil
For I know the plans I have for you, plans of hope and a future

I will bring you out of bondage, to the land I have prepared
I will bring you out of bondage, I will bring you home to me
For I know the plans I have for you, plans of wealth and not of evil
For I know the plans I have for you, plans of hope and a future

I hope this post has been an encouragement to you, as I have been encouraged in just recalling the whole situation!!

Day 27: Why Did You Do This 30 Day Challenge?

Mainly I did this to give me something to post on my blog, because I was in a rut. Nothing was really happening in my life, and I just didn't really know what to say. I enjoyed the variety of things to write about, and I hoped you enjoyed reading and maybe learning some about me! I am thinking of doing another one, maybe in a couple of months. If you think that would me fun, let me know in a comment, or send me a message!

Day 26: What Do You Think About Your Friends?

I feel very blessed to have the friends I have. They encourage me when I'm down & pray for me, they build me up, they challenge me... I am thankful for the circumstances I've been in, for without them, I would not have made the friends I have today! As Paul said in Phil. 1:4 "I thank my God upon every remembrance of you."

Day 25: What would be found in your school bag/backpack?

Obviously, I would have the things I need for school: books, paper, pencils/pens, highlighters, etc. I usually carry tissues and other things like that that I might have need of throughout the day. I like to carry small snacks, like granola or nutragrain bars or fruit snacks...in case I get hungry, a bottle of water too. Depending where I am attending school, I carry an umbrella and maybe a sweater/sweatshirt in case it gets cold, or if the day started out cold...I think that's about it...How about you? If you want to share things you might carry in your bag or backpack for school or work, leave a comment!!!

Day 24: A Letter to Your Parents

In an earlier post, I shared a letter that I had written to a lady that was mentoring me throughout last semester at Northland. Here is the letter I wrote to my mom for the same class:

Dear Mom

                You may not realize how much of an impact you have had on me over the years. When I think of how you influenced me when I was little, I think of the love and training you gave me; that first batch of muffins with a little too much baking powder, the attempts to teach me to sew, even the constant guidance as I went through Girl Scouts being taught to be independent in the growing feministic society. I will be eternally grateful for the time spent teaching me to be a wife and mother, but in addition to that, teaching me to be a godly woman.

            Thinking back over the years, as I grew into womanhood, you became more my friend and mentor-mom than the disciplinarian-mom trying to teach me right from wrong. As I became an adult, you watched as I made decisions on my own, guided me as I sought advice. You didn’t get angry at me if I asked for advice and didn’t take it, but you persistently and unceasingly prayed for me throughout every stage of life. I see your transparency with me, how you showed me from God’s word what to do in different circumstances. You taught me to go to scripture for The Perfect example, rather than looking to someone who, because of their humanity, would be less than perfect, and in turn showed me humility by your admission to not being a perfect example. When I would come home from school in tears because my ‘friends’ hadn’t treated me the way I thought they should have, you showed me how to value the friendship I had in my brothers, and in the One who would NEVER forsake me.

Looking back over the last five years, I see how God has taken what I have watched you exemplify and made it reality in my life as well. I remember being ‘jealous’ of you because of all the things God was providing for you. I had heard story after story of how God had provided thousands of dollars for other college students, why wasn’t he doing that for me? What I didn’t see, was that God was providing for me in other ways, ways that I wouldn’t have understood at the time. I see now, how God put people (my mother, among others) in my life; to demonstrate to me a life of dependence in Him, as Corrie Ten Boom said ‘to prepare me for the future that only He can see.’ My prayer is that I can be an encouragement to you as I live my life, knowing that you were a tool used in the building of my spiritual foundation. I will be eternally grateful to God for placing me in your arms 24 years ago. As Paul says in Romans to the Christians that he ‘longed’ to see them ‘that (he) may impart unto (them) some spiritual gift… That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me…’ (Romans 1:11-12; ESV)  

Thank you Mom, for all you’ve been in my life and in turn, in the lives of my future husband and children if God so chooses to bless me with them. I love you more than mere words can say on paper.

Your Loving Daughter Always,

I am SO blessed to have a loving, godly mother, and so happy that God gave me to her!!! 

Day 23: Something you have cravings for often

5 years ago I would have argued with anyone who told me I would be a coffee addict now!! Today, I would have to say I am more addicted to coffee than even chocolate!! I know, what is wrong with me, right? I still LOVE chocolate, don't get me wrong, but coffee is definitely up there right along with it. If if the coffee has chocolate in it, it is that much better!!! So yes, chocolate is something I crave too! :D For all you chocolate, and coffee lovers out there, Put “eat chocolate”/"Drink Coffee" at the top of your list of things to do today. That way, at least you’ll get one thing done. ;)