To a New Year

Happy New Year!!! 2010 proved to be a trying year for me and my family, although it is not lacking many life lessons.

1. The Lord is a provider. God has provided for my family in ways that I could have never imagined in this past year. March 12 my brother Stephen was in a terrible car accident. He ran into the back of a semi trailer. We learned this summer that he was only inches from the bumper of the semi when emergency crews arrived on scene. Stephen came away from the accident with several facial fractures, but no other broken bones or internal injuries. It is a miracle that he survived the crash and with no more injuries than he had. He spent a week in the hospital.

2. The power of prayer. First with Stephen's accident it was amazing to see how many people were praying for him. There were people all over the world that lifted Stephen up to the Lord. The Lord answered many prayers in the weeks that followed the accident. The swelling went down in his face and he was able to have surgery just 2 days after his accident. After taking a swallow test 3 times to make sure that he could swallow effectively and not choke he finally passed. His vision was corrected. He is now in braces continuing to work on the healing process. Secondly many people had been praying for me that I would make the right decision regarding my engagement. I didn't not realize how many people had prayed for me until I decided it was the Lord's will to call it off. The Lord answers prayers in unusual ways. Third one of my mentors from OBU was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer in December 09. She was given 6 months or less to live. She is still alive today and fighting cancer. In July 2010 she was pronounced cancer free and remained that way for a couple of months before doctors found new tumors. While having treatment last spring she suffered a severe hemorrhage and those helping her saw angels in the room with them. Her story has inspired hundreds around the world. She insist on telling it to everyone that she meets so she might share the gospel.

3. The Lord is faithful. Many times God wants us to go a in a direction but it takes us awhile. My dad tells me stories about his cows that get out of our fences and how he has to coax them back in. They keep doing, not seeming to learn their lessons. Many times in our lives we want to leave the fence or the path the Lord has set up for us. We want to try things on our set out on our own way. At the time it doesn't matter to us that we have to go through the barbed wire like my dad's cows. We are stubborn and we want things our way. But the Lord is faithful. He waits, calling on us, begging us to listen. He wants us to following in His path for our lives. But he is a loving God that allows us to choose our path. The Lord brings people into our lives to help bring us back to where He wants us. For me this has not only been my parents and friends but a special lady. Jan Studdard, my mom's best friend. She allowed the Lord to use her when I needed the most and I will forever be grateful to that. I challenge you to listen to voice of God. It may be small, and quite but He seeks you. He wants to be in relationship with you. He desires good for your life. At times it may not seem that His "good" is really good. Being in the Lord's will means trials will come. But it is in the trials of life that we grow stronger, that we are made into the men and women God desires us to be. In all actuality the Lord's will is really good for us.

In this New Year, I challenge you to seek out the Lord's will for your life, His good and perfect will. Listen to the still small voice of God in your life this year. Elijah longed to hear God's voice. He ran to a mountain after a show down with the followers of Baal. He was scared for his life. He ran and hid a mountain he didn't want to work any more for the Lord. Read the passage below. Don't worry if you don't hear the Lord's voice in big ways. THe Lord spoke to Elijah through a gentle wind. May the Lord bless you in 2011. May He teach you and show you things you never knew as you seek to follow Him.

And the word of the LORD came to him: “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

¹⁰ He replied, “I have been very zealous for the LORD God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.”

¹¹ The LORD said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by.”

Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. ¹² After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. ¹³ When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.

Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

¹⁴ He replied, “I have been very zealous for the LORD God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.” Elijah 19:10-14

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” - 2 Corinthians 5:17

Daughter of the King

I am a daughter of the king. Not an earthly king, but the King of Kings, The king of the Most High. The one true king. The King who I owe my life too. I'm a daughter of a King that gave his life for me you. I'm valued. I'm loved. In his eyes I'm beautiful both inside and out.

I'm daughter of a King that will on day stand at my side in heaven and tell His father that I am his. I am His and He is mine and nothing can take that away.

“Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all.”
³⁰ Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.

Proverbs 31:30

30 DAYS OF GREATFULNESS

Day 20 1. No more gallbladder. 2. For my caring friends who have prayed for me. 3. For my parents who have taken care of me today. 4. For pain meds 5. “Glory to God in the highest heaven, 
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” Luke 2:14

Day 19: 1. For a fun movie night last night with my parents. 2. For rest. 3. Surgery tomorrow!! 4. No class for the next 4 weeks. 5.

Day 18. 1. Finals are Over. 2. Holiday ball was fun. 3. Fun day with Megan. 4. I get to go take a nap. 5.7 There, in the presence of the LORD your God, you and your families shall eat and shall rejoice in everything you have put your hand to, because the LORD your God has blessed you. Deuteronomy 12:7

Day 17(OOPS TWO DAY 17'S BLAME IT ON FINALS). 1. The semester is finished today. 2. For the wonderful ladies who cooked us dinner each night this week. 3. For starbucks frappuccino's 4. For a wonderfully blessed semester that is made possible only by Christ. 5. 6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:6

Day 17 . 1. One more day left. 2. Peppermint Mocha 3. The Lord's provisions. 4. Julie Dionne 5. "Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart" Psalm 37:4

Day 16. 1. For a study day. No finals today!!! 2. For some rested sleep last night. 3. Fellowship time/Study Time with friends yesterday. 4. For only 3 days left!!!! 5. Matthew 11:28-30

Day 15. 1.On Pearl Harbor Day For the Greatest Generation. My Grandfather's generation Thank you for fighting to keep our country safe. 2. 3. For Old School Bagels. 4. 3 down 4 to go. 5. Being Confident of this that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Phil 1:6

Day 14. 1. Jamba juice is being served today in founders hall 2. Path will be over today for a few days 3. Wonderful evening of worship with 
My church family. 4. Getting to help my parents in the service last night 5. Psalm 19:1

Day 13. 1. For dinner with the Studdards last night. 2. For a restful night's sleep. 3. For heat --no I'm not at school:) 4. For only 1 week left. 5. 6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.1 Peter 5:6-7

Day 12. 1. For 2 down. 2. For Study time with Julie last night. 3. For coffee. 4. For Jackie pulling through surgery yesterday. 5. 5 May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, 6 so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 15:5-6

Day 11. 1. By the end of the day 2- down 5 to go. 2. Space heater in my carrol. 3. Classses are over for the semester. 4. Starting IVs was not that bad. 5. Psalm 46:10 He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”

Day10. 1. For a short but restful sleep. 2. For waking up on time. 3. For the last day of class 4. For space heaters. 5. Philippians4:6-7

Day9 1. For final study signs 2. For the beginning of Advent remind me why my savior came. 3. For starbucks deliveries. 4. 10 days til Christmas break 5. John1:1-2;14

Day 8. 1. for morning prayer time with Miramm 2. 11 days til Christmas Break. 3. For Answered prayer. 4. For Rhonda Brister college mentor who texted me last night to see how I was. 5. 2 Corinthians 4:14-18

day 7. 1. for health. 2. for hazelnut coffee 3. 12 days til christmas break. 4. for a truly blessed thanksgiving, 5. “Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good. His love endures forever. Give thanks to the God of heaven. His love endures forever.” - Psalm 136:1,26

Day6. 1.for apple bran muffins 2. For Sunday early morning study time at Starbucks. 3. For a Sooner win 4. 4 days of class left. 5. Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name;
make known among the nations what he has done. 1 chronicles 16:8

Day 5. 1. For my grandmother that taught me to persevere and never give up. 2. For friends that support me. 3. For peppermint mochas. 4. For the engagement of a dear friend Valerie to Casey...Congrats guys. 5. “Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.”

Day 4: 1. I'm grateful for my dad. He is such a great guy he has been so supportive this year and he hung up my christmas lights and took us to fin and feather yesterday. 2. For sleep. Although much studying will be done today it was nice to be able to sleep in. 3. for pancake night last nite. 4. my nice big warm blanket. 5. Hebrews 12:28

Day3: 1. For fin and feather 2. For my mom's ham that she cooked yesterday it was yummy 3. 3. For answered prayers my friends baby Sullen Grace born 3 mo early came home yesterday. After spending 9 weeks in the nicu. 4. For Jackie Wilks an OBU mentor who has been fighting pancreatic cancer. Her faith inspires me. 5." And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."

Day2 1. Im grateful that I have friends that make me laugh 2. A Dog that cuddles next to me when he's cold.3. My cousin Mary Beth bodily who is more like a sister 4. For prayer time with miramm and her sweet smile 5. Colossians 2:6-7

DAY 1 I'm thankful for my brother. I'm so glad the Lord watched over him last year. 2 I'm thankful that I'm able to attend medical school. 3. For the beautiful weather today 4 for wonderful parents who support me. And 5 Psalm 100:4-5