It is Hard to Believe

It is hard to believe that school will be over in 45 days (including weekends). This school year has flown by. It seems like yesterday I was trying to figure out what to wear for Orientation night, how to do my hair, and having butterflies in my stomach. This school year has been wonderful! I will miss my 10 afternoon students and the 17 students I teacher aide in the morning. Its been amazing to see them grow physically, mentally, spiritually, and emotionally.

God has been good to have placed me in such a wonderful ministry!

Potter & Clay

I have always been fascinated with a potter's wheel and a potter forming a vase, bowl, or cup out of a lump of clay. Every time I would watch a potter make something I would think of the passage in the Bible "He is the Potter I am the clay." The biggest lesson I have learned since moving away from my family is that I am a simple piece of clay in the Lord's hands. No matter what comes my way God allows it to make me and mold me to be more like Him. During those hard times and even the easy times I need to trust in Him (which is something I am still constantly learning to do).
I found a song years ago while at BJU that really touched my heart--which is so true to a Christian's life. The words to this song is a prayer of mine.

"Though He Slay Me"
By: Linda Moldrem

As God molds the clay for a vessel
It may be a task full of pain;
But knowing the heart of a Potter
A vessel of love He will frame.
Each thread of my life He weaves a pattern
The Lord has laid out in advance;
A fabric that's fashioned with beauty,
The Master leaves nothing to chance.
Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him;
Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him;
I lay my heart on His alter,
And rest in His infinite care
Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him.

Knowing, Growing, and Glowing

written October 2008, on my Facebook page

God has taught me so much over the past few weeks about who He is and about His grace in my life. The past few weeks has been a spiritual battle wondering why God is allowing my dad to go through cancer treatments. I as wondering why God would allow someone who has been dedicated to His service to have to go through the chemo treatments. I asked.
my best friend Amy why...and she had no answer. I asked myself why...I had no answer. I asked God why...and of course He was the only one with the answered that I needed. I started to really pray that the Lord would show me somehow why my family and why my dad needed this valley in our lives. There have been times I was ready to cry, ready to hop on on plane or in my car to run to my dad and to my family. But God has shown me that I needed to go through this from a distance. Perhaps to see that only He will give me that peace and the fact I need to lean on God a lot more while a piece of my heart is in North Carolina.
Sunday morning my pastor preached a message I felt was really for me and one that I needed to hear. He spoke about the church comforted and how the Thessalonians church was going through a hard time but it was to help them to know, grow, and glow.
I applied this in my life that I know God is in control of the situation and His hand is upon my dad and my family. I know that God had this planned long long ago.
I will grow more and more in Christ and closer to Him as I lean on God more.
In the end I will glow---I will have joy through the trial.
It's great to know that God is in control of each aspect of my dad's life, my family's life, but best of all my own life. I am looking forward to what the Lord is going to teach me over the next few weeks and months.
God is good, God is faithful, God is always in Control-
God is all that I need :)

Reflections on 2008

I know it is four months into the year, but while “cleaning” my facebook page-deleting notes and such I found this. I thought it should have a place on my blog :)

Time flies...boy 2008 sure did fly by fast. It seems like yesterday I was at my best friend Hannah's house pigging out on ice cream, watching movies, and taking a chance to watch that ball drop on the television--jumping up and down and celebrating the upcoming year. I never expected 2008, to be as hard as it was, but at the same time a growing time and a time I grew closer to Christ.
In April, I was informed that I was going to be moved from teaching 1st grade to a K-4 teacher's aide position--I was devastated thinking I was not doing well--I spent several hours crying on Andy's shoulder. But the Lord really brought me out of discouraging time and showed me this is where HE wanted me to be--in the kindergarten division at my school. I have LOVED LOVED LOVED teaching kindergarten in the afternoon. Teaching them how to read, write, and even tie their shoes has been exciting.
On May 14, around 8:00 P.M. my life took yet another very dramatic and traumatic turn. I was driving from Jacksonville, Florida, to Hannah's house in Blythwood, SC to go to Greenville two days later for a wedding. While driving along I-26 West in Columbia, SC, going 60 mph-- my tire blew, I lost control of my car,and ran it into a concrete barrier. All I remember was being scared since I was by myself. The Lord shielded His loving arms around me and protected me from danger. It turned out to be a very adventurous and scary evening--Two firetrucks came to block traffic (yes I stopped traffic); an EMT truck, and a police officer (which my best friends mom said was cute). The police officer was kind by not "faulting" me, and while sitting to wait for Hannah's parents (which were 15-20 minutes away) he let me sit in his car...:0) The only injuries I had was a very sore back (which even after therapy still bothers me some), a bump on my nose, and a very badly bruised knee. I did total my car~ but again the Lord took care of me by allowing the Davis family to be there to help--and my friend Lori came all the way from Jacksonville to Blythewood to come get me...oh and Hannah's pastor took my back to Columbia after the wedding to meet up with Lori- I was without a car for a month~ the Lord was good again by providing patient an loving people to drive me to physical therapy. A month afer my accident I did get my parents old car and had transportation...I am also a much more cautious driver and pray alot more now while on the road~ it took two months until I even drove back on the interstate.
The Lord has also brought several people into my life to teach me to depend soley on the Lord and give HIM my heart. It was a hard lesson to learn but God is Good.
My dad was diagnosed with sarcoma this summer and began chemo treatments~ yet another time to really look to the Lord (read my notes about "Knowing, Growing,and Glowing"
There are so many things I would love to share but these are only a few. I am looking foward to 2009, and looking at it with eyes and a open heart saying, "Lord your will be done."