blessed beyond measure

I can't believe that, for my entire life, I've followed God and yet never appreciated Him the way I have been lately. God is incredible. He's teaching me so much and guiding me in so many ways. He's blessed me beyond measure in so many things - yet so often all I notice is the bad stuff in my life.

lately I have been OVERWHELMED with the ways God has been blessing me. It truly moves me to tears every time i try to talk about it.

One of the biggest ways I've been blessed recenly is thru GOC. For some unknown reason, God saw it fit for me to play mary this year in GOC and it was an experience I cannot put into words. this was not just another performance. It was something so much more. I began to feel the burden of play this role...the role of a young teenage girl who actually bore the son of God...I prayed daily that God would help me put myself in her place...and when he helped me to do that...it was incredibly overwhelming. How incredible. How amazing. God is not someone we can ever fully understand - but I do know that He blessed me so much by giving me the priveledge of this year's GOC.

His ways are not how we expect - and I have to say that this was one of those things. It was life changing. It produced so much growth in me and in my relationship with Christ.

all I can say is thank you. Thank you to God who has bigger plans for me than I can ever even imagine. Thank you to Kristi - my personal coach and encouragement thru the whole thing - you know I couldn't have done it without your help and prayers. Thank you to my girls who loved me and supported me and encouraged me when I thought I was void of anything else to give. thank you to those people in the choir who were always there giving me hugs and warm smiles and encouraging me in so many ways...it was awesome getting to know some of you. thank you to the crew who were always there helping and making me feel safe and encouraging me as well. I have never felt so blessed in my life....thanks to you all.

most of all - remember that sometimes God is using things in your life to really push you in your journey with Him...don't shut Him out. It could be the smallest thing or situation or opportunity - yet it could create the biggest life change yet. be open to it!

Hasta La Taco 2006

2006 has been the worst year of my life....

as I typed that sentance, I just realized that what it really should say is:

2006 has been the worst year of my life...on the surface...

...turns out, as I've always suspected, God's working amazing stuff beneath the surface and beneath all the hurt and pain of this past year.

needless to say - I'm soooo ready to usher in 2007...just start over again and see what God has for me in a whole new year. I know I shouldn't live for that, cause God's still teaching me stuff in 2006...but I'm just so ready. Usually I HATE New Years Eve and Day...this year it can't come fast enough!

Guess I have to just keep in mind something I read earlier today:

"remeber the past, live in the present, look to the future"

anywhoo....I hope that all of you have had a FAR better 2006 than I have...but know that the odd years tend to be the years that treat me best ;) so look out! haha

talk is cheap

It's so easy to say things that sound practical and pretty and wonderful and ideal...but the truth is that I've learned in my life, despite how well spoken I am - if I don't back it up with my actions - those words mean nothing.

Had Jesus said He loved us and was going to die for us and to set us free, yet never actually went to the cross, we'd be screwed! I want to be like Jesus - and Jesus was a man of His word. He backed everything He said up with His actions.

The last couple of days I've had some conversations with people that have really reminded me of this principal. I'm so sick of people saying things to me that sound great, but then they turn around and contradict those very words they've spoken. If you say you're not going to betray someone's confidance and then you go tell 5 of your closest friends about it - that means you're NOT trustworthy or a man/woman of your word. And if you're NOT a man/woman of your word - then you can't get upset when others do the same thing to you. It all starts with YOU. If you show others you respect them and are trustworthy - eventually that will spread.

Be careful. Words can sound perfect. Words can be deceiving. Words can hurt. Words are powerful...but not more powerful than the actions. I've been "dooped" before...and i'm a super decerning spirit. But the truth is, sometimes we so badly WANT to believe in the words. But don't be deceived. Don't be fooled. If actions aren't backing up the words - chances are that person lacks integrity...and if that's the case, do you REALLY want to be involved closely with this person?

I want to be trustworthy. I want to be a woman after God's heart. I want to have integrity. I think that we, as christians, have a responisibility to hold each other to these things. Let's help each other strive to be men and women with these qualities.

beautiful baby

How amazing is God? The fact that He allows us to be a part of reproducing human life is just amazing. Tonight I spent about 2 hours on the couch with my sister, Jennifer, watching TV, and mostly watching her belly! Jennifer is due with her first baby on January 13, and the baby was super active tonight. It was sooo weird and amazing to watch her belly move as the baby moved, and to be able to touch and feel the baby. In fact, we played a little game where i'd push on her (my sister hasnt' found out what she's having - but i'm 200% convinced it's a baby girl) and she'd push back - it was sooo cool! It's such a blessing to be a part of the whole process with my sister.

Tonight she even asked if I'd be in the room with her and video tape - what a huge priveledge. a lot of people might think that's a punishment...haha - but i can't wait! what a cool thing to witness and be a part of!

God's such an amazing and creative creator!

hello fellow bloggers

well hello to the wide world of blogging. i decided to join the gang!

stop in to say hello!

jessica