Paul's Example

Wow! Wait...let me say that again...WOW! I've been reading through the books of Corinthians this week (it's due tomorrow for New Testament, it's where I've been encouraged to go, and I don't think I've ever done it; so, now seemed like the opportune time...) Anyway, as I've been reading through these letters that Paul wrote to Corinth, I have been just struck with awe at the testimony and example of Paul. To put it bluntly: Paul was AMAZING! He was totally sold out for God! However, he also knew that he could do none of the great things he did on his own. In 1 Corinthians 2:1-4 he tells them that he is not eloquent with words, he is weak, fearful, and he could only minister to them through the power of Jesus Christ. That's what Paul's message was all about! He NEEDED God's help. He could NOT do it on his own! Oh, how many times I fail at that...anyway...Then in 1 Corinthians 11:1 Paul tells them to "be imitators of me as I am an imitator of Christ." He told them to follow his example. Even though he knew he was worthless without God's help and all of his work would be in vain, even though in 1 Timothy 1:15 he counts himself "the chief of sinners", God told him to have the Corinthians (and other churches, too) to follow his example. Here was the Apostle Paul, the former persecutor of the church, "the chief of sinners", the one who was nothing on his own, and God wanted others to follow his example!!!!! What?!?...Oh, let me say that again..WHAT?!? Wow!!!!! Oh, wowie, wow, wow!!!! That's SOOO awesome! It's really made me start thinking about what kind of example I am. Would God ever want anyone to follow my example? Hmmm...Ouch! Think on that for a while...Would God ever desire that anyone follows after the pattern of our lives??? Do you have a lot of work to do? I know I do!!!!!!

Spring!

Wow! Our God is simply amazing! Here we were just a week and a half ago being surrounded by millions of little white flakes falling from the sky, and now, just look out your window! It’s simply GEORGEOUS out there!!!!!! Having just come off spring break, I am super glad for the nice weather that accompanied me back up to Ankeny. It’s was refreshing to wake up for class and not worry about lugging my coat around all day. The robins are splashing in the puddles, classroom windows are open, clouds have that white, ultra-puffy look to them, the sun is shining, and the weather is just right! Yep! Spring is definitely in the air!!!!!!! This afternoon, I was able to share the lovely weather with my dear friend Kirsten over a picnic lunch. J I just love picnics! Last night, it rained. It was such a pleasure to saunter through the drizzle without a care in the world. Sure enough, everything about last night and today screams of spring…right down to the last little earthworm crawling across the sidewalk! I know in a few weeks we’ll all probably start complaining about the rain, or we’ll wish that summer was here already, but it’s nights like last night and days like today that remind me God is ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS in control of EVERYTHING! He controls the weather, and He knows exactly the right time to change the seasons! Praise the Lord that He is in control! For now, take a moment to thank Him for this wonderful season called spring. I know I am!!!!!!

Valentine's Day: Moment of Truth

Well, it's official. Valentine's Day has come once again. For me, Valentine's Day doesn't really mean a whole lot. It's my oldest sister's birthday, so most Valentine's were spent celebrating her. Oh, we always got gifts on this day, and Mom usually made us "love toast" :) , but mostly I enjoy Valentine's Day because of the parties we would have at school. However, this year, being at college and all, Valentine's Day has become a whole new affair (no pun intended). ;) So many crazy people running around trying to woo their special someone. Too many people spending way too much money to find a way to creatively express their love for another. OK, maybe I'm a little cynical...I'm working on that.... Moment of truth? OK. Deep in her heart, somewhere, Laura Sue Vance is a hopeless romantic. I mean come on, what female out there with any sort of a brain wouldn't want some nice, strong, handsome, godly, amazing man to hold her close and whisper sweet nothings in her ear? Who doesn't want a big box of chocolates and a dozen bright red roses? But, in all reality...what good would all of that be? They are all fleeting and worthless. I am perfectly content to sit here an wait a very long time before I deem any man worthy of my time and energy. For the time being, I am perfectly content to work on my ultimate, first-and-foremost love story...the one I have with my amazing Saviour! He alone is worthy of my praise, adoration, and love. He is what all of my focus, attention, and energy need to be centered around. He is my first love, and He always should be! So, this Valentine's Day, I'm going to spend some quality time with my God! Of course, He has given me some pretty great blessings so far today (much better than a dozen roses)! I have an amazing friend, Kirsten, that I am going to share dinner with tonight, I got off of work early (granted, it was because I wasn't feeling well, but I got off early nonetheless, and it was a blessing), I found out I got a part in the school play, I opened my Valentine's package from my parents, I got a cute little hamster eraser in my mailbox (his name is Beauregard), and I don't have any homework that I HAVE to do for tomorrow! Yep! God sure chose to bless me on this Valentine's Day! So thankful that He loves me unconditionally and always knows just what I need! Thank you Lord! Happy Valentine's Day!!!!!!!

What a Wonderful Weekend! :D

Yep...ALL day long on Friday, I sat there, counting down the hours and minutes until I would be able to hop in my little red car and take off for home. Classes went by slowly and work even more so! I could not wait for the clock to read 6:00 so I could be done with Ankeny for the weekend!!!! Finally, it happened. I found myself signing out of work and getting in my car! The time had come for Kirsten, Ian, and, me to make the two and a half hour trek down to Bonaparte. Kirsten and I loaded our things, and then we went to get Sarah, who also rode with us as far as Fairfield. Then, we went to get Ian...whose phone and mine evidently have a small disconnect somewhere. We waited and waited for him to come. Finally, we asked one of the boys in the parking lot to go and get him...Yeah, he finally got the text that I had sent him about ten minutes down the road...Oh, well, we left, and that's the important thing. We stayed up into the wee hours watching a movie and just spending time together as friends. Saturday was a rather lazy day. I had a chiropractor appointment, we did laundry, I messed over Sunday's dessert, pillow fights were prevalent, Left Behind movies were on the agenda, a lot of Acts project, and again, in general, just having a really great time being friends. (I SOO wish that I could have wrestled with them, but, since the whole reason for the trip was my trip to the chiropractor, I decided against it...:( Oh, well! Once again, we stayed up into the morning talking and doing random things. Sunday we went to church! I love my church. The people there are wonderful. We sang special music "There is a Redeemer". Grandpa came for lunch, as did Lindsey, Bethany, and Alexxa. We had a super fun time. Again, more pillow fights, and food fights, too. :D We finally took off for Ankeny once again at about 6:30 Sunday evening. Oh, how short the weekend was! I wish that it could have gone on forever, but, alas, reality has once again reared its ugly head. Classes started bright and early at 7:00 this morning. Such is life! I'm so thankful that I was able to enjoy the weekend while it lasted! I hope that we can do it again...SOON! :D

February! :D

Oh, how great this February is starting out! Let's see...
1) The weather is GORGEOUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
2) This means that we got to go outside at daycare again today!  This makes me super happy!
3) It started on a Wednesday, so I got to do Bible study with Daniel and Megan again. I LOVE watching the three little boys! Super fun!
4) There is just a little over one month until spring break, a little over two months until Easter, and just over three months until school is done for the school year! :D
Oh, my goodness! Another day full of God's amazing blessings! Thank you Heavenly Father!

God Loves to Give us Little Blessings! :)

Yep! That's right! God LOVES to shower us with little blessings...just because He can! :) He doesn't have to have a reason, He jsut does. He does it to remind us that He really does love us and care about EVERY detail of our lives! He does it because He know it will bring a smile to our face! He does it because He enjoys showering His children with blessings! HE IS AWESOME! This morning, I didn't think I would have anything to blog about, but, alas, I have been proven wrong! And I'm so very glad about that! God did some crazy, amazing things today. Not big things...Just little things to remind me of His unfailing love. Let's see how God showered little blessings out on me today:
1) It was a BEAUTIFUL day! For January in Iowa, it was georgeous! Sixty degree weather...Yeah! I was wearing flip flops!
2) Beacuse of the weather, my friend Kirsten Passwaters and  I ate a picnic lunch...OUTSIDE this time!
3) God answered Kirsten's prayer that I would be able to go outside at daycare today...I was getting very tired of staying inside all afternoon with 60 loud, crazy children. It was SO nice to get out and enjoy the lovely day! (And to have a place appropriate for the kids to scream for the first time in over two weeks!)
4) I got back to my dorm this evening, expecting to have hours and hours of homework, only to discover I had about 30 minutes of things I HAD to do for tomorrow. Such a blessing!
5) When my fantastic roommate and I discovered that we didn't have a lot of homework we decided to do something random and crazy...just the two of us...So, we made a quick trip to Hy-Vee and got the ingredients needed to make fudge! :) (Which we will consume as soon as I am done blubbering here...)
6) With nothing else to do tonight, I should be able to get to bed early for once...You know, before midnight! :)
Yeppers, I'm pretty sure that God loved blessing me all day long as much as I enjoyed beign blessed by God all day long!

My Weekly List of Thankfulness

A black and white stripped afghan,

*The ability to fill up my garbage can,

Letters from home (from family and friends),

The love of God that never ends,

Cereal, bananas, and vegetable oil,

The fact I was born on Iowa soil,

Three-ring binders and chewing gum,

Saturday mornings to act like a bum,

W2s and other tax forms,

Living in the campus dorms,

Refrigerator magnets and pictures to boot,

Nerf guns that at my professors we shoot,

A chocolate breakfast with some great classmates,

Talking until the night is quite late,

Devotions and prayer journals fit in here, too,

Knowing for sure God loves me and loves you!

*(I know, I know, I know...filling up the garbage can doesn't sound like something to be very thankful for, but think about it. How many people around the world don't have anything to put in thier garbage cans beacuse of the poverty that they live in? And here I am, taking out my garbage at least once or twice a week because it gets full of my breakfast trash and such. I am truly blessed to be able to fill up my garbage can!) :)