"T" is for...

Day 7 of GreaThings

Tea...

The ladies from church have a mother-daughter tea once a year. It was a wonderful time to get together as women and enjoy each other's company and listen to a sister share the blessings that God laid on her heart. It is always fun to see all the cute dainty tea things that each different lady brings along.

Thunderstorms...

At one time, thunderstorms were not my favorite thing. However thunderstorms were a common occurrence 6 months out of a year in Central America. With all the thunderstorms, also came the possibility of losing electricity in our homes, so I gained a new appreciation for thunderstorms. This past year we had so many storms in my home area and I just loved to sit on the porch and watch the lightning and listen to the thunder.

This is just another brief look at my many blessings!

Lyrics that have been a blessing...

Day 6 of GreaThings

All I Need

1. Jesus Christ is made to me, 

All I need, All I need,

He alone, is all my plea, 

He is all I need.

Chorus: 

Wisdom, righteousness, and pow'r,

Holiness for evermore,

My redemption full and sure,

He is all I need.

2. He redeemed me when He died,

All I need, All I need,

I with Him was crucified, 

He is all I need.

3. To my Savior will I cleave,

All I need, All I need,

He will not His Servant leave,

He is all I need.

4. He's the treasure of my soul,

All I need, all I need,

He hath cleansed and made me whole,

He is all I need.

HE IS ALL I NEED! Praise the Lord!

Answered Prayers....

Day 5 of GreaThings, also a day late

Answered prayers....my mind seemed to stop. At first thought, my past year didn't seem to bring any mountain-moving answers to prayer or miracles. However as a daughter of the King, I knew that it was not true.

The most important one that came for me was searching for God's will as I returned from 2yrs of VS work in Nicaragua. What would God have me do? Where should I go from here? Why was I called home from the place that I had come to love: a place that had so much beauty among destitution and poverty.

Or  called away from those children and adults that had overtaken my heart and held some of the many strong ties: the ones that I cried with when they loss a loved one or were suffering physically, the ones I laughed with as we cooked over open fires.
Why, oh why couldn't I stay?

But God had other plans in mind for me...I returned to the US, and started back at my previous job, where currently I still work. However in the early fall of 2011, I applied at the local community college. I was accepted and in January of 2012, I begin my General Ed classes for an Associate's Degree in Nursing. It was a dream come true and an answer to prayer about what He would have me do. I have have found so much blessing in this one answered prayer, that I can only begin to imagine about the others. 

I have made so many new friends, since I started attending college. Some of them have strengthened my Christian walk, causing me to see areas that need some brushing up. He knew just were to place me in this time of my life. How marvelous a God we serve!

I know that this is just one answered prayer, but God is faithful and neither words nor pages suffice to tell all His blessings.

"E" is for....

Day 4 of GreaThings, a day late!

Evenings....

Every evening displays its beauty in a different way. Each sunset is unique in its own way. I just love the chance to photograph the evening sky, though it hasn't happened too recently, due to school priorities. Evenings remind me of how different each of us are and how at the end of our life, our life's story will be unique. It challenges me to live my life, so that it reflects the beauty of my Savior.

Encuentro de Jovenes...

"Encuentro de Jovenes" is Spanish for a youth meeting. I was privileged to have the opportunity to fly back to Nicaragua for a week to take part in a Spanish Bible School. The blessing of going back to my "second" home, spending time with my friends, studying God's Word together.

Enchiladas...

I know they probably do not look to be the healthiest food (and probably aren't since Nicaraguans cook with oil, like Americans use water), but they were so good. I have attempted to make them several times(with a little less oil), but the natives can make them so much better.

Scriptural Blessings

Technically Day 3 of GreaThings is a day late. I currently work as a sales associate at a furniture store. I planned to take time to update the blog last night, however I came home to find that we had no internet access. So no blog was written and online college homework could not be completed...I will admit that I was a little worried about my homework and meeting the deadline. 

However I was reminded of 1 Peter 5.7: "Casting all you care upon him; for he careth for you." Even though it seemed like I might not be able to submit homework in time, God still cared about the smallest detail and we regained internet access today at noon. 

Another favorite of mine is 2 Chronicles 7.14: "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." I constantly remind myself of this verse and routinely stick my name in there to make it even more personal. We serve a loving God, who cares about each one of us-enough to want to forgive us and heal us, if only we ask. 

There are so many blessings in God's Word, that I cannot even begin to name them all! Blessings to each one!

The "R" Blessings

Redemption: 

I stopped to think of the "R" blessings, and the first one that came to mind was that of our redemption. 

Without Christ coming to redeem me and forgive my sins, I would be a poor lost sinner. He is the reason I am alive and singing today. Thank you Jesus for dying on the cross for each of us and redeeming us from our awful life of sin

Rest: 

Being the college student that I am, rest has become a valuable part of my life. In order to be effective and receive all out of a class, I realized the need for rest. Be properly rested has made many a day much easier to go through. Whether rest is physical rest as in sleep, or mental rest as in a vacation, both have done wonders for me a college student. 

Just taking the afternoon to sit by the lake, see the clouds float by, talk to friends, catch up on the lives of others: all have a way of refreshing and relaxing the weary one.

Research:

As a future nursing student and a sibling to a brother with a genetic disorder, I am once again reminded of the blessing that we have as a nation in regards to research. 

Had it not been for medical research, all of these people would probably not have been around to for this picture. Suffering from MSUD, some of these children or adults would have been severely damaged or crippled; many would have possibly died. After spending 2 days surrounded by all these young people and listening to doctors discuss new research, I was thankful  and blessed to be surrounded by research and doctors willing to learn.

These are just some of the many blessings God has showered upon my life!

Great memories and moments!

Wow! Today is the kick-off of GreaThings 2012! I am looking forward to being blessed and blessing others as well.

To start of my collection of great moments and memories:

1. January brought forth a new experience for me; that known as college life. With much apprehension, I stepped into my first day, but time has just flown by. No, college life has not been all roses; it has had its thorns, but it has become one of my most enjoyed moments of my daily routine. Each day is filled with many new concepts and new information. My favorite classes have become my Biology classes. Not one day in classes passes by without reminding me to "parise thee; for i am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well" Psalm 139.14
2. Flying out west to spend time with a dear friend, taking time to tour her home area, just have time as friends. Spent 4 days with her, took the opportunity to quilt a king-size quilt for her future home. Then spending time with her and her boyfriend when they came into the area for a weekend retreat...so many memories.
3. New friends...college friends, youth, local coffee shop owners, study buddies. Friends near, friends far, friends dear...the list goes on and on. I am blessed to have so many friends that surround me and left me up when the going gets tough, who laugh with me and cry with me. 

Just sitting down to write this has made me stop and realize how blessed I am.