So.....what are you giving up for lent??!!!

Hey folks!!!!!!

God is good....All the time...and all the time....God is good!!!!! I guess today I've just been thinking about doing more for God....drawing closer to Him.....I think today was just a good day to think about that...well today being Fat Tuesday....but also because I found myself in the last few weeks spending more time on face book, and I feel like I've been putting God on hold......it's like one day a few weeks ago I was going to read the bible...but I was on face book....and I'm like, "sure I'll get to that God...give me just a few minutes" and a few minutes turned into over an hour, and I was almost late to choir practice because of it!! GEEZ!! WHO KNEW face book could be so addicting....not that I'm saying facebook is the devil in a red suit with a pitchfork or anything, but just I think it can be a distraction from devoting time with God each day....even this morning I had to tell myself I'm going to try to not be on facebook....and it worked for awhile :) so....in essence I'm saying all that to say that I am going to give up facebook except on Fridays for lent, and also eating out completely!!! HELP ME JESUS!!!! LORDY LORDY LOOK WHO'S FORTY!!! :) I feel that's what God is pushing me to do....I just want people to pray and think about....what are you going to give up for lent??!! I want God to do amazing things in my life this year...and it starts by me taking a step toward Him, a small sacrifice....God will take our little and turn it into a WHOLE HUGE lot...if only we give it to him first.....without the kicking and screaming :) hee-hee!!


Quote by Elder Cloward

"The key to faith is what we are willing to sacrifice to obtain it."

I will have to update this blog, and let people know how this goes!!!! Kinda a little crazy for me to do this!!!! YIKES!!!!! But God is a good God and will help us in our time of need!!! AMEN!!!

Open Doors, Closed Doors

I totally believe that God opens and closes doors in our lives for specific reasons.... but I think I've realized that when one door closes, for whatever reason it happens, another door opens right around the corner....actually sometimes right in the midst of where we are standing....like for instance....when you close the door to your bedroom, you automatically are in another room, whether it be the hallway that leads to the living room, kitchen, or wherever...and also when you open the door to go outside....you are in a whole different ball game....especially with the cold air outside hitting you like a train vs. the warm air inside hitting you like a warm cup of tea with a spoonful of honey. So I think change in inevitable, and we have to ask God to check how we should view changes, how our lives can be impacted, even though changes can be scary at times...God can use those changes to catapult us forward in living closer to Him, and carrying out His plan for our lives. And sometimes...I don't know if I'm the only one who feels this way...but I need Gods guidance...nudging and pushing me sometimes...doors sometimes closing sooner than planned...because otherwise I would be content to sit down in a room in a comfy brown leather sofa...and not want to move, maybe delaying the work God has for me because I'm too content with where I'm at....I don't want to live that way....I want to live life on the edge!!! Live life totally 100 percent where God takes me...not holding anything back....constantly moving forward in a slow journey with Jesus, wherever life goes....I just have to be ready, ready to go and follow wherever The Lord leads me!! I have to be ready!!!!! CARPE DIEM!!!

What's in a Name....

OK, so for the past week I have really been thinking a lot about names....and what they mean...and even to know my own name and what it means. As a teacher I hear a lot of unique, different, popular, crazy-spellings of children's names...and often wonder WHY...or HOW they got their name, and the story behind it....because believe it or not...there is always a story...just ask almost anyone, and if not...have them ask their parents...because it's a story, let me tell you!! Back in the day before they had sonograms, my parents had went into the hospital with two different names, in case I was a boy.... my mom had picked out my name.....it was to be Seth, and my dad picked out my name if I was a girl, Crystal....ok so not a really BIG story....but there is a lot in a name believe it or not....Just think of the name of Jesus....I believe that once we are a Christian, we are like Christ, a new creation, and He gives us a new name In Him....Just like Simon's name changed to Peter...and Saul's name changed to Paul....we become a new person, with a new name in Christ....that is just SOO COOL to me!!!!! DUDE!!!! I'm glad I'm a new person in Christ!!!! In the bible Philippians 2:9-11 it says this....

"Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father"

Now if God really does mean that..and He does :) ....then truly bend it or break it....we will all bow...every man woman and child....on our knees before God and confess Jesus as Lord....now there is some CRAZY power in His name!!!!! WOW!!!!!!!

Books Transform

Books really do transform people.....and the most important book of all that has changed more lives than anything else on the earth is the Bible!!! Woo-Hoo!!!! Hello somebody!!!! I love reading the bible....because somedays I can only read like one versus and I'm like......ok Jesus....You gotta work on me there....but sometimes I can read chapters, and like still want to know more...it's like I want to be in the pages, in the action....like I seriously want to see David...defeating Goliath...and what his sling-shot looked like, like was it made of like of shoe-strings.....and twigs??!!!!(because I'm sure there wasn't the local Farm and Fleet, or Walmart to buy supplies at!!!! AND I wonder just how big was the rock he threw at Goliath??!!! AAAHH!!!!! HOW COOL WOULD THAT BE TO SEE!!!! OH MAN!!! ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!!!! and just to be able to see the faces of some of the coolest people in the Bible!!! oh man, they better have an introduction of people in heaven....cause that would just be AWESOME TO THE MAX, but then I'd probably get confused, and start calling everyone by numbers or calling everyone Dorthy!!!!! LORDY LORDY LOOK WHO'S FORTY!!!

I just really with-in the last two years, have really loved to read books.....but it's kind of crazy because in college I don't think I never read but maybe like 2 or 3 books!!! but I totally believe the saying....Leaders are Readers.....the more you Know...the more you will Grow...and then Go and tell others about the books that have changed your life!! There is Power in books....but there is a crazy DIVINE POWER...in God's written Word!!!! DUDE!!!! that makes me want to have and IV full of the Scriptures pumped into me....so I can remember them, and quote scripture to help people in need and encouragement, well and also to help myself too.

What's a good book that you would recommend to others?? I'm interested to know!! :)


"Books are standing counselors and preachers, always at hand,
and always disinterested; having this advantage over oral instructors,
that they are ready to repeat their lesson as often as we please".
~ Oswald Chambers ~

DUDE!!!! BRO!!!! WOAH!!!!!

Today I just want to write about confidence....what that means....how it has taken on new meaning for me......

It's hard to put it down into words...but I'm just trying to be real.....I dunno how sometimes it sounds when I put things down on paper either!!! AAAHH!!! but I'm going to try....at least I think this blog will help me, because I have so many things that I want to share with people, and don't know how....so this blog will help :) hopefully!! I guess I just want to say that I got back today a critique on how I was teaching my class...I didn't think it was going to be a good one...as a teacher I am my own worst critic....but I had prayed about it earlier in the week, and that day...and I really felt confident, and not a bit nervous....which was kind of weird to begin with...oh...and yes!! I had other people praying for me too!! AND SO.....I got back a good critique, which was a little surprising...but when i went through it and read it....it was as if God was saying...I knew you could do it all along!!!! God, I am not worthy enough to be a teacher....but You have put me here....and I want to the best job with what you have given me!!! I truly do!!!! God is just Awesome!!! Hands down the coolest dad EVER!!!! knows just what to say, when to say it to me!!!! Not much else to say but God is awesome!!! and that He will truly give you confidence, and peace about things....4-shizzle!!!!!! especially when you ask!!!!! :)

MY FIRST BLOG....ummmm......I LOVE LIFE!!!!!!

OK.......so just to preface....ummmm....THIS POST was suppose to be the first one....but I made like three different web-site/blogs, and didn't understand why they weren't all connected on one page!! I really needed April's help with this, since technology kind of freaks me out a little....(only when things don't go right...then I get where I need a brown bag to breathe in for hyperventilation or something!!!) AAAAHHH!! but hey it only took me since end of November to figure it out...so hey!! I'm improving to say the least!!!! ok so...just PRETEND this blog was the first one...and everything will be smooth as butter!!!!!



Hey everyone!!! I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving!!! I really truly did!! It was a lot of fun, just to hang out with friends and family!!! People truly are the spice of life!!!! So this is my first blog EVER!!! never would I really ever think to do one of these...but I guess it's time :) I really don't know what to write....except to say that this year 2009 has literally FLOWN by!!!!! seriously!!! It's like it all happens so fast....January to December....but we have to make the most of every opportunity!!!! a good quote...."You will always miss 100% of the opportunities you don't take.......I can just say this year has been the coolest and the bestest in some aspects....God is SOOO INCREDIBLY GOOD!!! I have learned and lot...still have a lot to learn....Have grown in my faith...seen things, done things, learned things...cried a lot about things...I never would have ever dreamed of if it wouldn't have been for God....He is my all in all...He knows my name...my every thought....He is the only one who gives love unconditionally.....He is my rock...I can put all the eggs in the world in His basket and they will never get cracked!!!! :) I love Jesus....so much....I think I have a lot of love for people....I don't know....I want to love people...I want to believe the best for people....and I do that by praying...I have prayed more than I ever have in my entire life this year....and God has done things I never imagined!!!! This year has had ups and downs....but that's just a part of life.....I don't think I would of made it through this year without God...He is my friend, who is always there no matter what time of day, no matter what day I've had...He sees everything, and hears everything....and He still loves me through it all....I want to live my life like Jesus.....showing people what He has shown me....His unconditional love....the bible says....LOVE COVERS A MULTITUDE OF SINS....and I truly believe that....Jesus loved us so much...He gave his life because of His love....John 3:16 FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD THAT HE GAVE....I LOVE THAT!!!! Hillsong sings this song "Show me how to love like you have loved me....Hosanna.....Hosanna....Hosanna in the Highest!!!!!" JESUS I LOVE YOU WITH EVERYTHING THAT I AM!!!!! I PRAY THAT THE ENTIRE WORLD WOULD KNOW AND EXPERIENCE YOUR UNFAILING LOVE!!!!!

HELP!!! or maybe just Help....so one can think.....

Today I just felt kind of hurt…..well like I had hurt God….I wish I had listened to advice from Godly people, instead of doing my own thing and putting things ahead of God….and I mean this could be anything for people…..facebook, too much tv, too much internet, staying up to late, not reading my bible, not praying…it’s like the everyday stress of life crowds our time with God…or things we think that is more important….I realize how selfish we really are…we want everything out way…and we want it NOW!! We can’t wait to have things…it’s like we’re entitled to things, without even asking anyone, or anything…I almost want to tell my kids at school this….”who died and made you King..(or boss)??!” in the bible it says…”look not only to the interest of yourself, but also to the interest of others”…”but in humility, consider others better than yourself”….I sometimes need a huge dose…of just shut up be quite and let others have their way….what I have to say has no importance until I’ve heard others speak…..it’s like a doctor, who takes one look at you, doesn’t ask you ANY questions…like what kind of problem are you having, where does it hurt…and he just gives you any old medicine…or operates on any part of the body HE wants to!!!! GEEZZ!!! Could you even imagine!!!! Yet I just see we go to so many other things in life to fill our own needs, and wonder why things are the way they are in our life without even considering that God who knows ALL ABOUT our problems….has the solution to everything if we just take things to Him, and talk things through with Him…..people think they only need God only on our own terms….but what about God’s terms…..a God who everyday tells us He loves us SOO much…and yet we continue to ignore Him…and go about our day…like he’s not around…I would rather live my life acknowledging and talking about a God who is here with us and loves us….than to live my life like He’s not there…and come to find out after I die…that I missed it…missed out on ALL that God has for me…because I settled on things….earthly things that fade away…that make not ONE bit of difference once we get to heaven and meet our maker…Is God Lord OF all??? Or is He Lord AT all???!!!! One small word makes all difference….One choice…choosing to listen to God, and accept Him in my life….or choosing to reject Him can make all the difference in our life and how we live…….I like the poem by Robert Frost…

To roads diverged in a narrow path…
I took the road less traveled by….
And THAT has made all the difference!!!