a journal entry from a few years ago…

…. things are changing as time goes by. “but the Word of the Lord stands forever.”

..I am going to start working another job as well as hostess.

That means two jobs, finishing school, and everything else )
Sometimes I just need to take a break, slow down, and remember to be still.
 Today I was reminded again to just slow down and
to not forget about what He has called me, as a Christian to do.  I don’t
want to get wrapped up in this world and all that it has to offer..because it
is all nothing. It all means nothing if I am not fixing my gaze on Christ. Aw…time
is changing…and I really think that His ways are certaintly not our ways…His ways are not
 always easy either but they are so much better. So much more than what we could
 have ever imagined. Things change as time goes by…but His love, His love is
unending and never changing. He never let’s go….and I am amazed.

(…oh! and did i mention that spring is right around the corner?! mmm good.. )

) …

After much prayer and consideration…  In two weeks I will be going to Texas.    ) confirmation…trust…abiding in Christ. I will abide in Christ. I am unable to do anything worth while apart from my Savior. “Abide in Me, and I inyou.  As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in thevine,  neither can you, unless you abide in Me. Iam the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him,bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.” John 15:4-5 amen.

Public – 10:49 PM – edit it – email it

“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I
am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the
gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if
I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am
nothing.  If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my
body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.”

1 Corinthians 4:1-3

 
amen.

it has been a while…

time has passed…

it is autumn..

i’ve been to malaysia…

school has started…

things have changed…

…and yes, I think that it is about time to write on here once again. )

“I’m slowly changing…


…Setting out with such righteous indignation

But now I’m at Your feet…”

 

As hard
as I could try, Jesus…You bring my attention back to You. As much as
I want to look the other way–You set my eyes back on You. You hold on
to me, through the good &
the bad, and Your mercy is beautiful. I can’t run, I can’t hide…I
won’t leave. The
world…it pulls me in. The people, the stuff, the noise…time and
time again…it pulls me. It’s all temporary. It really means nothing.
I’m not going
to give in..or give up. You draw me nearer…You draw me to Yourself. There is no compromise in the Truth…

This world has nothing for me..and all I could want is in You.
 I want to yearn for You, Jesus. –set this heart on fire with Your love & light.

Well, I really have not had much time to update much, or to commen t to many people. Thank you so much for your comment s…they are such a blessing )

I just wanted to post a few pictures from a concert I went to this past weekend. Shane and Shane played; as well as Bethany Dillon and Aaron Shust. It was a blessing. The Lord is moving among His people in a wonderful way…He is using those who are fully commited to Him to bring the good news to this world. Yes…may we always bring Him glory…in whatever we do!

I will write more soon, but here are some pictures for now:










and…click here to see 13 seconds of the concert, if you are really interested )

{{ have a beautiful day.  }}

Well, it has been quite a while since I have written anything on here. I guess there is so much that I could write, so much that I could say…that I almost can’t say anything at all without having to write on and on…but, I will try my very best and give a little update )

My trip to Florida was wonderful…beautiful…and I was able to spend some time with people that I adore and love. We went to the beach almost everyday and ohh, how I miss it. The Lord has made some of the most beautiful things for us to enjoy and love…the oceans, the mountains…He is so good to us!

Right now I am working and trying to finish up school for this year. I am also trying to decide what to do about school next year…I have really been praying about going back to school instead of doing-it-on-your-own. Sometimes, doing-it-on-your-own isn’t always the best and I really feel led to go back to my previous school…so, I will wait and see, and pray )

I’m also learning right now…that things take time…and with time, things change. The Lord has a season for everything. A time to cry, a time to laugh, a time to be silent…and above all else, He makes everything beautiful in it’s time. I feel like a new season has started in my life–a time to cling to my Jesus all the more. A time to be what a living example of what a Christian is supposed to be. Everywhere I turn, people are getting their pleasure and satisfaction from everything that this world has to offer. And believe me, folks, this world has things to offer–but in the end, it only leaves you empty. How I want to live a life the complete opposite of everything that I see around me. U n c o m p r o m i s e d.  I want to fix my eyes on Christ and His unfailing love. This is what I want. I want Jesus Christ. I need Him. And so, in this season of life, I know that He has many things to teach me…and I am ready…..

Oh, He makes everything glorious.

[[ I will post again..soon...much sooner than last time... )  ]]

“Who is this man named Jesus?”

Jesus was a man of compassion. He was a man of humility, of love, of glory, and of all good things.

“Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.”

{ Matthew 9:35-36 }

His heart went out to the people who were in need, who were hurting. Notice that He did not stay in the synagogues where the Pharisees were. He, instead, was out on the streets making friends with the beggars, healing the blind, and comforting the needing. Can you even imagine such a man? How beauitful it must have been to see such a man move among people…in such meekness.

In such love.

Yes, Jesus is the perfect example of how I want to live my life. Though I may fail time and time again, I want my heart to be softened by the tenderness of this beautiful soul. The compassion of Jesus. I want my heart to reflect that of His, in some way…

“Oh I want all I am to die
So all He is can come alive

Until everyone I talk to hears His voice
And everything I touch feels the warmth of His hand
Until everyone I meet
Sees Jesus in me
This is all I wanna be
I wanna be mistaken
For Jesus
Oh I wanna be mistaken”
{ warren barfield }

Well, tomorrow I’m going to Florida with my cousins to visit my grandparents
                         [soo] I will post in a couple of weeks or so… )

{  florida sunshine, here i come… }

{ A Native American. }

…When I saw this man, I noticed something. I saw humility. As I looked into this man’s face, I couldn’t help but notice such meekness within him. Such beauty. I really cannot explain why I saw him like I did. All that I know is that after seeing these people and talking with them, something was brought to mind. As I watched these people who had lost so much through out the years and seemed some what hopeless, I became aware of how content they were. They had so little, so little left…but they seemed so thankful.

Seeing this really made me realize once again how much Americans have. We live in abundance of so many things. We are blessed; I can’t even describe it. We are so blessed that sometimes it is hard to look past our lovely things, our vacations, our material wealth, or just pride in general. I don’t want to be caught up in all of this. I want to always be content. To be content, in His beloved love…in His light. To look out and reach out to others who need a touch of His love. This is what I want.

“Free me from these binds, Lord

I am choking on the gifts this world gives, Jesus

I am waiting on Your love..”

[[ My trip to Arizona was great. I saw so many things that I have never imagined I could have seen. I saw the Lord’s beauty in His handiwork and in His people. Yes, He is such as wonderful Creator. (Something to note: When I arrived very early at the airport to leave for Arizona I saw the lovely Bethany Dillon at Starbucks…later on I saw that she was in my terminal and so I went up and talked to her. She was so kind and it turned out that she was on my flight....How amazing is that? One of those "divine appointments" I guess...) I also stepped across the Grand Canyon ... and met some of the kindest westerners I’ve ever met. Beautiful time was spent. Now it’s awful nice to be back in Kentucky  )  ]]

*  ^ click to see more pictures *

And so…I praise Him and give Him thanks.  “For I have learned in whatever circumstance to be content…” Remembering always that “Godliness with contentment is great gain.”

Blessed be the name of the Lord.

*edit*

On my way to Indianapolis…then to Arizona….

)

{ peace, joy, and love. }

_______________________
 

“After nearly 2,000 years of Christianity, how can it be that…

…nearly a billion people perform rituals and bring sacrifices to more than 330 deities….

…831 million Muslim prostrate themselves in prayer toward Mecca five times a day…

…a sun worshipper stares into the rising sun until he eventually goes blind…”

{ Facts from Gospel for Asia }

Oh God, will you send me? Am I able to go into a place so unfamiliar to me? Am I able to speak to people who might not accept me?

But You say: “Child, you are able. With Me, You are able. Do you not know that I will give you all of the strength that you need? All you need is Me, Child. You will show them Me…you will speak to people in wonderful ways…you will teach…you will disciple. I’ll give you the strength. When Moses went to Pharaoh, he was not a good speaker, but yet I spoke to him and through him in a mighty way. Be bold, my daughter…”

Arielle: “Lord, but, will people listen? Will I know where to go, what to do, what to say? Oh Jesus, how worthy You are…I am in awe of You…”

God: “Yes, Child…I will speak through you, do not worry. You do not need to look to man for your wisdom and words. Come to Me, and I will fill you with My wisdom, My love, and My presence. Come to Me, Child, and you will see where I will take you. Don’t lose heart, but trust in Me. Always, always trust in Me…”

Arielle: “I trust in You. I’m learning. In You, oh Lord, is my hope…my peace. Jesus, empty me so that You can fill me with Yourself. Let me overflow with Your love. Overflow with Your joy…”

God: “Wait on Me, Child…and you will see…wonderful things are ahead. Take heart, and keep your eyes on me and My will. Take heart, Child, and give me everything you are. Your plans, thoughts, desires…everything. Then,  c l i n g  t o  M e. Cling to Me so that nothing will move you. I will keep you in My arms. Always in My arms.”

Arielle: “Yes, Jesus…keep me close to You. I give it all…You lead and I will follow. Like a child that takes her father’s hand as he gently leads her…so I will grasp Your hand and keep my eyes always upon You.”

You said “go“

Therefore, I’ll go.

If you say “stay“

I will stay.

I will be.

Your love is indescribable…

Your love…

You,

Jesus.

You. satisfy.”

“The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.”

{ II Corinthians 4:4-6 }