Joshes Back Home!

Welcome Home

I was so excited today. If I haven’t shared my excitement with you…my cousin and one of my best friends…Josh and Josh just got back from Iraq. They were stationed over there for over a year and were missed greatly. It was really hard for me to see them go, they are both younger than me and had so much going for them where they were at in their lives….then they had to drop out of college, pack up and go serve our country…I was a young child when my dad left in the same manner for the Gulf War.
Though I missed them greatly I didn’t write them a lot, (in basic, I wrote them letters all the time) didn’t talk on the phone a lot, instead I sent with them one letter each expressing how much they mean to me, and how this needed to be their journey, their walk with their faith in God. This was to be their time to find themselves and reflect on who they need to become. Having them home now brings great tears of joy to my eyes. How God has blessed them, driving them to be great, bringing them home safely. When I think of this return it for some reason made me think of Luke 15:13-25….. ”24For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.” I know that this may not be the journey they saw themselves going on, that they may have felt really lost and I just pray that their hearts may get back into the right place, to be given directions home. God Bless their return and all of the soldiers that serve this country from our past and present.
Always,
Kristy

Life's Journey

I’m going to reflect pastor Mark’s sermon today. He took a look at our journey in life and how it is a pilgrim progress. He stated that we “walk a straight line of a narrow beam.” Meaning that we all fall of a beam unless if we have excellent balance. Unfortunately it is hard to keep balance in life. Pastor mentioned that even if we try to stay on a beam that we often fall off through small temptations just by even waking up in the morning we can start our day off on the wrong foot without prayer and maybe even breakfast…we leave ourselves no time to reflect on what is important, we forget about the little things.

Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in
the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. Psalms 1:1

Walk, meaning that we notice the small things that are making us fall.
Stand, meaning that we start to think about it
Sit, meaning that we might get side tracked
It sounds like and easy walk, but it isn’t. Sin isn’t straightforward, it is the little things that aren’t so obvious to us that may throw us far from the journey we are suppose to be taking. We never go through life saying to ourselves, we are going to fail, we are not going to try, we are going to fall away…but changes are thrown at us, life is there and is unperfected and at constant change that is always unexpected. The main thing is that the Lord watches over the way of the righteous. Psalms 1:6. It is like repelling with someone at the end of the rope belaying you down for safety. They are there watching out while you slide down a wall, helping you not to fall. Just as God is always there for us and watching over us… we can always go to Him when we fall off, we need to ask for forgiveness and get back on the beam to balance once again. Isn’t it breathtaking that God forgives us over and over again no matter how many times we are broken because of a fall, molds us together and fixes are broken hearts…Our God is an AWESOME God!
I know that right now, my focus is being strayed that I want a fulfilling life and I want my life to having meaning, I need like so many others to find the right journey. I hope that everyone may find thier place on the road of their own journey.

May you life be bless through the love of God,
Kristy

Heart of Worship

I was talking to one of my friends on the phone today and she had asked about my plans for the rest of the weekend and next week so I told her… “Go to church Sunday, homework, back to church for pastors dinner, Monday I have peer ministry calls with Val, Tuesday Bible study, Wednesday praise worship devotion, Thursday calls with Aaron, Bible study with Pastor Mark, and after that my week gets a little hazy amongst the classes, projects, and working full time.” She wanted to know why I seemed to be at church a lot, wasn’t Sunday enough? Out of everything I do I feel that it isn’t the church that is important but it is being able to focus on God and making Him part of my life and thoughts daily….I don’t have to go to church all the time, but I love being surrounded my friends and others who are there to strengthen their faith, what better place to be? I need to build my faith on a foundation and let the spirit come within me and focus on why I’m worshiping. One of my all time favorite songs is one that we ended our Florida trip with huddled arms all linked with our new friends heads bowed in prayer to God, every time I hear it I think back to those people and how they helped me in my walk with Christ. The song focuses on how we need to come to the Lord with love and focus on why we are really there.

When the music fades and all is stripped away and I simply
come
Longing just to bring something that’s of worth that will bless your
heart
I’ll bring you more than a song, for a song in itself is not what you
have require
You search much deeper within through the way things
appear
You’re looking in to my heart

I’m coming back to the
heart of worship
And it’s all about you, all about you Jesus
I’m sorry
Lord for the thing I’ve made it
When all about you, its all about you
Jesus

(Heart of Worship by Matt Redman 1997 Thank Music and EMI Christian Music Publishing)

I know so many people that go to church just to go to church, because it is a routine (like everyone of the older people at my home congregation, they just got so use to it. It is like a thoughtless step out the door) There are those that just go to church on Christmas Eve, or Easter, (those are important days to remember, but everyday is a good day to remember) Anyway to end my long blog….I just want to say,remember why you go to worship, is your heart in the right place, is the reason your faith in Jesus Christ? Remember that you can worship the Lord our God anywhere, walking down the street, in a church, and even singing in your car!

Worship and pray,
Kristy

No Fear

I had to write a poem for one of my elementary education methods, it got me thinking about how I would describe myself, what I feel, what I am a lover of, and what I fear….(my poem is cheesy, but served its purpose in class and followed the questions asked)
Kristy
Who is Patient, Loving, Quiet, and often times Content
Who is a Lover of God, Friends, and Family
Who Feels Happiness, Anger, and Stress
Who Fears life alone, failure, and spiders crawling on me
Who would Love to see a Grandfather that has passed, old friends, and the locations around the world
Anyways, it took me along time to figure out what a list of three things were that I feared. I try not to think about them, put them in the back of my mind. Fear makes me think of myself as a child again…when I would have to turn off the lights at night to go to bed while a thunderstorm is roaring out my window and lighting up the sky. I was scared of things as simple as a small shadow that would appear and disappear in the flashes. Fear makes me feel incomplete, makes me think that I’m not in control. I know that fear is like worry, like the luggage I carry around with me from place to place. Have you ever taken a second to think about what you truly fear and why? I know my number one fear is going through life alone (meaning I’m 22 and still single/or thinking that I might go through life without children of my very own)…not having that one person to love completely is a scary thought for me. I also have this fear of failing…not meeting standards of those around me, myself, and those of my education. I know that the Lord is there for us and answers us when we call on Him for a little chat other wise known as prayer…He not only takes on our grief, pain, and so many other burdens, but he takes our fears and makes them disappear in their own little way. “I sought the LORD, and He answered; he delivered me from all my fears.” Psalm 34:4 I think about what fears I have and how insignificant they are….do you ever let the fears get the best of you, override your life? I don’t normally but I know that someday that might happen and all I can do is pray about it. Prayer, what a wonderful way of communication that can be done everywhere.
Fear Not,
Kristy

Worry Wart

Stress according to dictionary.com is a "subject to physical or mental pressure, tension, or strain. " Stess to me is something I feel when my thougths all jumble together.... I can't keep classes, work, and home seperated. The words I read on the page look like a giant bowl of alphabet soup. I feel like it is the ninth week of class instead of the third week. I have so much to read, so many projects, so many people to seperate my time between. I get really worried about things when I get stressed (not to mention normally a cold hits at the top of the peek of a stressful week)

Matthew 6:25[ Do Not Worry ] “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? "
Matthew 6:34"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. "

That is so true, today in itself has so many troubles so many problems that need to be put aside, but while I look in to my future and continue to plan for that I realize that I'm going to have to stop worrying about today, tomorrow, or things that had happened in the past. It is easy to write done but the more I think I shouldn't worry, I think about the types of things I worry about...like being alone, getting assingments done, spring break trip. I know that I should not worry and stress about things Lord, I ask for forgiveness and help getting rid of these daily sins dear Heavenly Father.
love always,
Kristy

Hide and Seek

Why do we think that we can hide from God? In the beginning way back in the book of Genesis, Adam and Eve thought they could hide from God but God sought them out. He didn’t do this because He didn’t know where they were, but to show them that He wasn’t going to lose them to sin. Tonight at Bible study I watched “The Apostle.” It is a movie about a popular southern preacher named Sunny. Sunny’s wife got into and adultery relationship, left Sunny and was going to remarry this other man. Sunny started drinking and in a rage one night killed the man and left town. He leaves heading towards a small church in Louisiana. He tried to run from his problems and then finally realized he can’t escape punishment of what he has done. The people of this small southern congregation helped him to realize that he needed to turn his life around…it wasn’t riches or power, but it was the need of forgiveness. This story is similar to how Jonah ran away from God, left a city and went in the opposite direction. (Jonah 1:3-4) Jonah was thrown over board to calm the sea and spent 3days and 3nights in a giant fish to think about his relationship with God and why he was trying to run. Psalm 139:1-16 talks about how God doesn’t give up on us because of His unconditional love. God invites us to return to Him for forgiveness. In Psalm 51: David realizes his sin and can’t escape his problems or hide from God. He has sinned not just against another man, but against God. He realizes that he needs to ask for forgiveness from God and then realizes that that is a gift he can share with other people. Often times I find that I don’t intentionally hide from God, but there are things I know that I’m not proud about in my life that I wish God didn’t have to see. I know that I need to constantly go to Him and seek His love and forgiveness. Lord, please forgive me all of my transgressions whether it is by thoughts, words, or deeds. Amen
God Bless,
Kristy

Who am I?

I have been struggling in my life trying to find out who I truly am, where I am going, and what I might be leaving behind. I go to work each day knowing that this is what I have chosen my profession to be, my love for children and search of the little light bulb that goes off in their heads when they figure out something as simple as tying their shoes for the first time is something I want in my life on a daily basis. Some days are much harder than others I know not everyone is happy all the time….but there are days that their incredibly bad moods really stress me out because it always is heading full force in my direction and then goes splat like an insect on my car windshield. I find myself stuck in a daily routine…go to work, then class, then work…then church, then home to sleep. Homework is done in the middle of that and friends find a place amongst the mess. I am a senior this year I really need to figure out who I really am suppose to be, am I suppose to be a teacher, a wife, a mother some day, am I going to be any good and any of these future roles….see how many questions I really have about my life. I some times wish life was like the game Clue and God would let us have a peek at the card when we pass over the magnify glass so to solve the mystery of our own lives. I know that I am a child of God through my baptism, I know that the Lord God is with me always, I know that my body is a temple, I know so many things, but I am still searching to understand them. I have been randomly searching through the Bible tonight hoping to come across several different passages…pointing my finger at random ones wasn’t a whole lot of help, but a song popped into my head from the Casting Crown’s cd and the song “Who Am I”…the chorus is:

Not because of who I am but because of what you’ve done
Not because of what I’ve done, but because of who you are
I am the flower quickly fading
here today and gone tomorrow
a wave tossed in the ocean
a vapor in the wind
still you hear me when I’m calling
You catch me when I’m falling and
You’ve told me who I am
I am yours, I am yours.
Whom shall I fear, whom shall I fear

I guess that is all I need to know, I am His just like you are His and we don’t have to question our future because it is in God’s hands….the answers lie in what Christ has done for us. We are who we are today because of God’s love for us and our purpose is to worship him, and call out to Him with praise.
Lord, I pray that we may all come to know and trust you. I ask that our worries and doubts may be put aside as we look to you, Lord. In Your name we pray. Amen
God Bless,
Kristy

Dare I say I’m growing up

So I went home this weekend (back to where my parents live). It is there that the harsh reality strikes me of how much things really do change. (don’t get me wrong I noticed before… I was the girl that when I turned 22 my quote of the month was “I’m getting closer to 30…aaah.” I was standing in my old high school just in the first floor hallway looking around not only do I not know anyone walking by me, but the old building has under gone some small changes itself. I was standing in the office working on wrestling tournament seating and teachers would walk in that I had never seen before and would ask why I wasn’t in class and then other ones that have been around for forever would have to correct them in saying that I was old and that I haven’t gone to school here for a while. Man are things different….just sitting a the wrestling tournament I was talking to one of my classmates, he has graduated from college and is working at a radio station in the same area he went to college… every year the two of us are back in our home town for the John J. Harris Invitational (the second largest tournament in the state…very exciting and stressful event.) any ways we were looking into the crowd and looking at the wrestlers and started talking about how we didn’t really know any of them when in previous years you knew the wrestlers what they were ranked, their weight class, and who was there to cheer them on. We talked about his upcoming wedding and our class reunion talking about kids that I use to watch and the fact that they are graduating from high school. The main part of our conversation was about friends and people we knew from our class and where they are now at in their lives. A lot of his friends are stuck in our small hometown farming for their dad’s and others have gone and left the town never to return. Most people I know think that when they go off to college that they have to forget about high school friends…for me that wasn’t possible. I wanted to keep in as much contact with them as I could. They are the people that I have spent years building friendships and connections with and I didn’t want to have to start all over again with each new college I attended. (I’m a shy and busy girl, what can I say) I knew that we were all going in different directions in our lives’ and I didn’t think that we would drift far but I know it was bound to happen with a few of us in our little tight group. A few weekends ago we had our winter gathering, this time they all came up to where I attend college because most of us have gathered back together and live pretty close to one another. All of us made it except one…1:7 is a good ratio I guess when you add on that everyone except me is seeing someone and had a date for the evening, we make a pretty large group to party with at the clubs. Anyways the point to my long winded story is that no matter how many years go by or how long time passes before I talk to anyone of these girls I still feel that we are close and that I can go to them with anything because they know my history and they do not judge who I am.. I am trying so hard to make the friendships in my life all line up and make sense to me but they don’t and maybe that is all about growing up….I’m not really sure….I know that I’m having some difficulty with some friendships and don’t really know how to deal or where their place is at. I have so many great connections in my life though I’m not sure what they all mean to me yet I know that I want to build upon each new one in the coming year….I look at pervious friendships that are still growing and know that they are my foundations for the new ones to come. As messed up and dramatic my life has been lately this is one positive thing that I look at. Friendship means a great deal to me, because they are like another family…going through high school I know that they are the only reason that I am alive. Now they are what help me know that I can make it through each day with a smile. I know that change is good, but sometimes it is hard to deal with. The whole reason that sparked this extremely long Blog was a phone call that I had last night. I had met a few girls in Florida this summer and for some unknown reason we clicked and it just felt like we had known each other for years when realistically it had only been a few days….this is an awesome connection and I know that it is there for a reason it made me want to put friendship in to consideration…I just think that God puts people in our lives to make us stronger, to challenge us, and to help us grow in our love for Him. We all have a lot of growing up to do, just keep in perspective that God is right there with us and so are our closest friends.

Love Always,
Kristy

Devotion

I just got home from Wednesday night devotion and wanted to share the song that we (a group of college students) sang together....some of you might remember this from a child?
Jesus loves me this I know
for the Bible tells me so
little ones to him belong
they are weak but he is strong
Yes Jesus loves me
Yes Jesus loves me
Yes Jesus loves me
the Bible tells me so.
Pastor Osslund brought up the fact that this song is so wrong and I guess I had never seen it other than what it is. I'm really tired so this is going to be short and to the point. Pastor brought out a manger(the thing Jesus was laid in after his birth). He stated that the manger is to Jesus as the Bible is to Christ. The Bible doesn't tell us Jesus loves us, Jesus showed his love to us by becoming flesh, His death, and His resurrection. Our devotion was getting into the word on a daily basis but not only wanting to read it but wanting to build our relationship with God. The Bible is a means in which we can share that knowledge just like we use our own words, we don't need to rely just on the scripture because it is in our hearts we need to speak God's word. Just like Jesus is put in the manger so his love was well noted and placed in the Bible.

God Bless,
Kristy

Importance of Life

Have you ever thought about what life would be like if you had never been born? Jeremiah did. (Jeremiah 20:14 talks about how Jeremiah wishes he was never born)He was set up to fail in this world…to go through life telling the people of his time about the love of God…and was persecuted for it. Who would have thought back then that we would be reading about his struggles this far into the future? His life has defiantly influenced people’s life. Can you say that about your life? Have you made a difference in someone’s life in the slightest way or better yet who has influenced your own life? Matthew10:41-42 is saying that the smallest act done out of love, God remembers. John 6 is the story of the feeding of the 5,000 men where a small boy had a small amount of food, but when it was blessed it could feed so many. It wasn’t that God couldn’t do any of this within the snap of fingers, but it is obvious to us now that he used that boy so we could see his contribution and remember it. This shows me how we can take something so small and make it grow into something spectacular because God chooses to use us to serve Him. Matthew 26:6 is a story that includes a bottle of perfume and an act of a young woman that was remembered throughout history. In the movie It’s a "Wonderful Life"(if you haven't seen it that is ok, tonight was my first time watching it), George Bailey goes through a night in his life if he was not even born and only then did he see that he made a huge difference in the lives of the people around him no matter how insignificant his life truly seemed to him. Please realize that every life has a purpose everyone is important. We have a chance to have this “George Bailey experience” when we enter the kingdom of God, the Day of Judgment. Matthew: 25:31 says this is when we will see how full our cup really is and how Christ’s love leads us. Look at your life today and see what and who influences you, are you showing the love of God in even the smallest ways?

God Bless,
Kristy

Sound of Music

I was inspired by the sound of music today, however, it wasn’t your normal inspirational song….think back to your childhood and what songs you remember? Does the “Itsy Bitsy Spider” sound oh so familiar? If you don’t know it the words are

The itsy bitsy spider went up the water spout
Down came the rain and washed the spider out
Out came the sun and dried up all the rain
And the itsy bitsy spider crawled up the spout again

I was sitting there singing this when I felt my mind thinking that this song is so moving to me today….I don’t know why that is, but I jotted down a little note as to remind me of it later in the day…so now it is much later in the day and I’m still thinking about it. Doesn’t it sound like something you would sing at church? Well maybe not, but if you did this is how it would go with a slight change in words….don’t laugh too hard if you find your self singing it while you read…

Jesus Christ our Lord came from the heaven above
He died on the cross to wash away our sins
Up from the grave He is risen from the dead
And Jesus Christ our Lord is with His father again.

*I know it isn’t going to top the chart of being the number one song in America, but it serves a purpose for my devotion and reflection of God’s love today.
I guess when I looked at the song I was just over powered by wanting to change everything about it because the song was saying a lot, but the meaning was hiding. I bet you have never looked at this song in this way? I saw the spider facing a large challenge just like Christ when he entered this world in the flesh. We poured our trespasses, burdens, guilt, and all of our sins on him that caused Him great pain and death on the cross… like washing the spider out. Then one fine and glorious day the sun (son) came out, out of the grave. Christ conquered death so we wouldn’t have to die in our sins. Then He ascended in to heaven or went up the waterspout again as the verse goes. I pray for you today that you find a simple thing in life such as a song and look at it in away differently than you ever have before!

May God continue to bless you,
Kristy

Please forgive for the typing errors and my non-musical skills in writing lyrics to an old classic.

Unconditional

I was sitting in church this morning, listening to the sermon when I drifted off…not asleep but just on the topic of one of the sentences that pastor had mentioned. It reminded me of devotion early this week. I had a chance to watch the movie Beautiful Mind and then we looked at how scriptures could be seen through the movie in some way or another. If you haven’t seen the movie I don’t want to ruin it for you so stop reading at this point. Any way we focused our lesson on unconditional love. We looked at John’s life and how he was tempted by his mind. Throughout the movie he was unaware of what was real. He assumed that he was really helping the country and that all people around him were taking significant roles in his life…he was unaware of what was real. Towards the end of the movie he finally found that he could tell what is real while still having the false images in his life….the only way he could do that is through his wife…. John’s wife watches him go through pain and treatment, she feels obligated, rage against God, guilt, but forces herself to see the man transformed by love. John was able to rationalize what is real though one touch and the unconditional love of his wife….she didn’t leave him in his time of need even when he didn’t even realize she was there. She loved without getting anything back in return. How does this relate? Christ gave his life for us, what better way to show that he loved us unconditionally, without question, no matter what we do or how distant we are from God… we are sinners. He showed his love by sending a human being…why is that important? “Christ Jesus is God with skin on him” quote from pastor. This gives us something real….the realization that the He is the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world…that is what is real…very real. Something else that is awesome…. we now have a chance to show Christ unconditional love. God loves us an enables us to love him back instead of living in sin that is all around us and apart of us. Christ compels us…not only does He forgive us but makes us want to go and share that love. We should be compelled to share love with other people, share God’s love with others and embrace love all together. As my thoughts and reflection comes to an end I ask that you reflect on some of the good book and think about some unconditional love!

Share the love of God’s grace,
Kristy

Pathway

So I’m sitting in the hall waiting for class to start….I’m not really sure why I came so early… first day jitters I guess? I was just sitting on a bench by myself when people would ask me where a classroom is, based on class name…not room number, asking for directions to get coffee at the cafe, asking where the water fountains are, and some questions even more random. For the most part I could answer them and others I could only reply “sorry, but I’m not really sure.” The most confusing building on campus is where I’m sitting, luckily for me all of my classes this year are in the building we all call Lago…no more sprinting across campus to go from one class to another just to make it on time. I remember going to class on the first day of my freshman year and then again at a new school my sophomore year, and once again my jr. year. I know how it feels to be confused and lost…it is no different for each new semester for some students; some people never stop feeling like it is a “freshman experience”. It is nice to know that there are people to ask directions from, to guide you down the right path. Today in class I had a teacher tell us to look at our lives and ask ourselves…. “Where have we been? Where are we going? and What is the road map we are going to use to get there?” I realize that there are so many people that help me in my path, people that keep me on track, and sometimes give me directions, while there are so many that lead me a stray. I want to thank those of you who guide me in my faith and lead me down a road that isn’t always the easiest but the right way to run. God is with us on our pathway; He is our ultimate tour guide through this earthly life and carries us into eternal life with Him. What path are you taking in your life? What are you using as a map to get you where you are going?
sorry for my errors...i didn't have time to read this over again
God’s peace be with you always,
Kristy

Aw-choo

Have you ever wondered why so many things like a cold, the flu, or the chicken pox are contagious? Those are never things that we ask to get or to share with others. I was sitting down at work bright and early this morning. Behind one of the dividers in my classroom, little giggles along with playful voices could be heard over all of the children putting puzzles together and the other half playing their video games. It continued for sometime…. I found myself starting to crack a smile. It is funny how being around those giggling sounds make me want to giggle, talk about contagious. It is like being with a bunch of people who are always down in the dumps, you might start to feel like them…but if you are around people that are happy, hyper it might affect your mood in a different way. Have you ever noticed that when some one smiles at you, there is a better chance of you smiling back? A little giggle got me to think about once again how we shape each other’s lives, how we are like colds. We are contagious….we have a chance to spread the good news of Jesus Christ to others. Mark 1:17 says that we are fishers of men. Starting back at school this week means that Bible study and devotions start back up weekly at church this is very helpful in my own foundation of faith, but sometimes I forget that it needs to be a tool for other people to know God. Normally these classes are just the same people over and over again and we all start to get comfortable….I think we need to get contagious, become fishers of men, inviting friends, and strangers to come and visits, to get to know the Lord our Savior. I encourage you to be contagious this week, not with your colds but with you love of Christ, feel free to giggle and laugh a lot too!

Empowerment

May 29, 1983 this date may mean nothing to you, but it means the world to me. It isn’t the day I was born..tho that is a date to remember too…lol, but it is the day that I was reborn through baptism. Today is the first Sunday after the Epiphany when the Lutheran church looks at the baptism of Jesus Christ by John. (find in the book of Matthew) Have you ever really thought why Jesus was baptized? Growing up it was always to my understanding that we are baptized for the forgiveness of our sins and to become a child of God. Jesus didn’t have any sins…so why was He baptized? I guess I never questioned it before…it was written; he did it because that was part of his life journey. This morning pastor Osslund’s sermon was based on this question; it really helped me look at my baptism in a different way than I ever had before. I know that most of us went into this because our parents took us to a church one day as a little baby so we could get the water and words for this holy sacrament…thinking that now we are saved, now I know my child will go to heaven. It doesn’t stop there though. Those people made a promise to make sure that we are influence in a joyful path following the Lord, that we are led like little lambs to follow Christ and know the words of God. Pastor said that there are three things involved in the meaning behind our baptism…1)doing good 2) healing, encouragement 3)the empowerment of baptism I believe that baptism is gracious gift and a blessing from God. I think that the empowerment is not only are we given forgiveness by grace through Christ, but that we are equipped to also be forgiving. Which is were the baptism of Jesus is given meaning and answers the question (why baptize Christ when He is sinless?) Christ was baptized as I see it, so that we know that he has the power to forgive our sins because sometimes just hearing the words are not enough for us. Baptism is about our relationship with God. Now is that time I should pull out my catechism from conformation, which I had taken umpteen years ago, but I think I will leave it at that as being my definition of the sacrament. Baptism isn’t just the way but it is the truth. When Jesus was baptize the Lord spoke and said “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”Matthew 3:17. This is just one ways that I know that Jesus is Christ. But how do I know that I am a child of God though baptism? Answer pastor discussed this morning… “because I know that what I am doing is what I am suppose to being doing.”…as in serving God. Today I pray that you look at your own baptism and see how God works through you as a child of God. How does God empower you in your life?

God Bless,
Kristy

Guilt

Once again I was looking through pictures today and came across this one(the one posted below), this is a picture of my pure bread black lab, Goliath (meaning behind name…largest of eleven puppies, giant). Since you don’t know my dog, this is his guilty face. I was out fishing with my dad (because fishing is a fabulous hobby…I’m not kidding) and my dog likes to swim instead of fish. He decided after getting in trouble for going into the water too soon (meaning that he scares the fish away when he jumps and paddles everywhere, and it can be upsetting if you are just starting to fish in that particular spot)…anyways Goliath decided that he would get even, I guess, and take his wet, dog smelling, not so clean body and place it in the driver side of the F-150 pick up truck. I thought it was hysterical…I didn’t have to sit in that seat on the way home…lol, but my dad did….the expression on my dog’s face was priceless…he knew that he had been caught doing something he shouldn’t have been doing when I took the picture. (isn’t this so true in our own lives?) Your probably wondering what is the point of this, is there another meaning that I am heading for other than just a story about my puppy….of course there is.
I know that there are things in my life that I’m not so proud of, that I feel guilty about after the moment passes or even while it is happening. Going out with the girls to have a night on the town, hurtful words, and physical temptation, along with many others. These sins burden me and I can pray and pray about them and ask for forgiveness, but sometimes I still get the feeling of guilt that lingers around. I know that the Lord God forgives my sin for it is written “ Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sins the Lord does not count against him and in whose spirit is no deceit.” Psalm 32:1-2. However, in Jeremiah 2: 22 it says “ Although you wash yourself with soda and use and abundance of soap, the stain of your guilt is still before me.” To me this just means that I need to whole heartily give my sins unto Him for there is never a burden to heavy for the Lord, he has forgive our sins and the sins of the world. There are so many verses in the Great Book that talks about our sins, transgressions, guilt, I encourage you to read some of them like…Psalms 51 and Hebrews 10:22. At RUSH the “sin box” to me was a great idea and was really helpful. For those of you who don’t know what a “sin box” is, it is something that you write down the sins that are burdening you and fold them up and later they are all burned it symbolizes that they are gone if we just give them over to God. I have a tendency to write down things that are really bothering me, I pray for them most of the time more than once and then rip the paper to shreds (burning is not so safe inside..) I know that there are things it will just take time to get over, things that I hang on to because they helped me make it through other things, with the help of Christ of course. We weren’t made to carry around that much baggage, the baggage of sin….but it doesn’t stop us from thinking we can each take on the world by ourselves.
DEAR HEAVENLY FATHER YOU ARE A MIGHTY GOD, I HAVE SO MANY THINGS IN MY LIFE THAT I AM SORRY FOR LORD AND I GIVE THEM OVER TO YOU, I ASK FOR FORGIVENESS FROM THOSE SINS THAT ARE STILL LINGERING IN MY HEART, LORD IF IT IS YOUR WILL. LORD I KNOW YOU HEAR ME WHEN I’M CALLING OUT TO YOU, YOU HEAR ME IN MY TIME OF TROUBLE, YOU FORGIVE MY SINS AND THE SINS OF THE WORLD BECAUSE WE ARE YOUR CHILDREN. YOUR GRACE IS SO IMMENSE AND LOVING LORD. THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THE BLESSINGS YOU HAVE BESTODE UPON US ALL LORD. AMEN.
Loving Peace,
Kristy

This is my puppy!

serendipity

I am sitting bored once again because the child I am babysitting is now fast asleep. I’m sure he is dreaming about the snowmen and forts we are going to build tomorrow in the snow.
I’m flipping through channels on the tube and the only movie I could find that was half way decent was Serendipity. I know it is a “chick flick,” but I had watched it with my grandmother some time ago at the theatre and thought what the heck…..I have a long time to stay awake and the games on my computer are starting to get old.
Watching the movie really made me think about the true definition of fate, destiny. I know that God knows us before we were even conceived, I’m not questioning that God knows our plans for our lives before we ever do. But in that plan is there such a thing as destiny or fate for us? Is there for instance one person that we are destined to spend our life on earth with? In the movie one of the main characters walks into a room to find a giant box that reads “open me”…she opens it to find another wrapped box and continues to open box upon box before getting to a ring box that is empty. To me that makes me think of how God is trying to play tricks on us (may not be the right words, but is the only one that comes to mind), searching for a significant other could be a form of entertainment for Him, ya never know…lol) thinking that one person is it, but then there might be some one else that is a better match or many others until the one that is with a wedding ring box is right in front of us, but is that person the real the “one”? What if it were just a guy that was passed on the road…what if it were a best friend over looked…what if it were someone on the other side of the globe that we might not even ever see. How do we know who is really “right” for us and is that a choice we honestly get to make or is it fate and feelings? To me I look at dating as an ice-cream shop that lets you taste samples of the ice-cream flavors before you pick out one that you really want. *You always have room for ice cream after a big meal because it fills in the cracks*…sorry this is just my little saying thought I would add it in. That is all of the thoughts I have for one night. As you can see I don’t know where my path is leading, but I’m really searching to find one that is the right one for me…destiny or not. Sorry about the error in typing and my random thoughts…I wasn’t going to write a blog tonight and I don’t think anybody reads them any ways, but I made a personal goal to write down one thought a night this year…I’m not sure how long it will last when classes start, but an effort I will make.

God Bless,
Kristy

LCMS National Youth Gathering Orlando, Florida 2004 

Beyond our own Imagination

I was killing time on my computer tonight since I wasn’t able to connect to he Internet in my time of boredom. I was going through pictures that were saved and came across my volunteer vacation to Florida this summer and what stories came about from the occasion.
This summer I had an awesome experience in Orlando, Florida at the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod National Youth Gathering. I know I’m not a youth anymore, but I never had the opportunity to go as a high schooler. I went as a college track young adult volunteer corp. I gained a step in my path and finding a stronger faith in the Lord and I met a lot of friends that I will always remember because of our common bond with Christ Jesus. I could have never imagined what a truly great experience that flying to Florida and spending a week of my summer volunteering would mean to me. The group I was with was a youth group and college students for the Midwest that all attend the same church. I had never been on a plane so that in it’s self was a nice reality for the dreams I had of flying…I had never been to Florida either. The group I was with was a very musical group…we didn’t always sound great, but we would randomly think of songs to sing (mostly praise and worship songs) that would keep us entertained when we weren’t playing Frisbee on our breaks. The first night in Florida we went to Johnny Rockets for dinner (old school, 1950’s diner) we were the only people singing to the songs on the jukebox and because our waitress danced for us, a few of my friends decided to join into the festivities…..oh the looks we were given (at least we got hats out of the deal). After that we had taken a walk to Pirates Cove were we played miniature golf…and kept singing random songs even a few Disney (cause we were in Orlando) and Christmas carols (there were English people behind us that were on a holiday…still not sure why carols would be sung) We were the trendsetters, not only could you hear us across the greens, but small groups after us would sing a song following our lead. We were singing walking back to our hotel rooms as well; we decided to try a difficult task, a round (while walking). We all had are parts but we just couldn’t get the timing right, all of a sudden we heard voices behind us. There were three police officers following us on their bikes. Coming from the Midwest you don’t really see things like that very often and definitely not after midnight. The officers said they would count us off so we could all sing the song, after that we told them why we were here and that their were more of us to come (only 36, 000 or so). We weren’t done singing yet. The event was all about lifting up our hearts, prayers, and voices to the Lord. The best experience in Florida didn’t happen at the gathering, but after while the group I was with went to Island Adventure at Universal Studios. Our first ride we wanted to be the Hulk….the lines were huge we figured that 85mins in line might not be so bad….we just made it inside when the blue sunny skies turn gray and opened up on us (it started to downpour like no other). As we stood in line we met people from all over the country that had attended the event…how could we tell??…the shirts, the bracelets, the glow around them, not to mention the bright orange backpacks we saw them put away. We weren’t just going to stand there so we started singing songs that were stuck in our heads from using them all week long at the event. We slowly started moving up in the line though the rain hadn’t let up. People started requesting songs, families were singing along, high schoolers were clapping their hands. It was awesome. Were there some people that we drove nuts, were there people who thought we were crazy??…you bet. Some even cursed us and left the line to deal with the rain someplace else. “ Each of us makes a difference. It is from numberless acts of courage and belief that human history is shaped.” ~Robert F. Kennedy. This is my history a whole 2 ½ hours that we waited in line, but it was wroth it. The ride itself was the best roller coaster I have ever been on, but the experience of worshiping with so many unknown people and having the chance to witness to others in such a way was far beyond my imagination. I love how God is so grand, so wonderful; so amazing that just one voice can shake the mountains. We as humans can’t even imagine what God has in store for us in our lives…do we still get a choice of what we do…yes, but God is with us always even if we deny Him, ignore Him, or place him in a box to unwrap once a year. The final experience before leaving the state was when I walked out of the hotel room and in the sky written in the clouds was the message Jesus Loves You…the whole way to the air port the plane circling in the clouds kept writing messages of God’s love in the sky….it was like the frosting of a cake that was already too good to eat.
Wow, what memories we can recreate from just a few pictures. Pictures are apart of our past that help us keep our memories (especially when we get old), memories of how people were changed and effected by and event or ones they know. There is nothing that will warm you up more when there is over a foot of snow outside than thinking of summer vacations! It is beyond our imagination what God has in store for us, keep dreaming of great things for yourself and those around you for nothing is out of reach for God.
God Bless,
Kristy

sorry about they typos...it is early in the morning

Running the Race

I was doing a little light reading today (it was a snow day and all of the surrounding schools were closed….had lots of free time at work) One of my favorite authors to read (when I have time) is Max Lucado. In the book Just Like Jesus, I was reading the chapter that talks about finishing strong. As I get ready to start back to class on Monday, I start to think about things that I can do to make my semester better, to show improvement in myself and the way I live my life. I know that I procrastinate assignments, put off readings, and put other things first that really should be last. (the average college student) I also tend to forget to eat, sleep, and work out like I know I should so I can make it through a semester without getting deathly ill (at least that is what it feels like sometimes). I need to figure out where my focus truly needs to be in my life. “The Christian’s race is not a jog but rather a demanding and grueling, some time agonizing race. It takes massive effort to finish strong.” I want to figure out what I’m tempted the most at….putting a paper off until the night before it is due or going out dancing, having a few drinks at a club or two (I am of age). Then I think about the things Christ was tempted to do and how he never gave in. Luke 4: 1-2 “The Spirit led Jesus into the desert where the devil tempted Jesus for forty days.” I can’t even imagine what types of temptation Christ was faced with. My temptations seem to be littler than nothing compared to His. I know that Christ was given the chance to quit the race and He kept running no matter who criticized Him. So how do we keep running the race like Him? I know that our hearts aren’t as strong as His, that we don’t have the strength, the speed, the endurance as He did, but how do we achieve that? Hebrews 12:2 says “…let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. ” I don’t know where my path is leading me, which race I should even start. I just know that I need to try my hardest to put forth 100% effort and faith into what I am doing.
I’m going to be doing the first devotion at our Wednesday night praise devotion and I’m focusing on new year’s resolution. Have you thought of what yours is by now or do you even have one? Mine is to a line my priorities from God, to studies, to friends & family. I know most people’s goals are to go to the gym and work out, mine isn’t written in black and white. I am working on something more in-depth than that. (Not that I don’t plan on working out) With in the last few months I have gotten older. As I get older I know that my life doesn’t feel complete. I think back to when I was a child (or much younger than now) when I had what seemed to be possible, (but now non-realistic dream) that I would be almost done with school, ready for marriage, and a family. I look now and I’m single, and still have another year or school left before graduating again, I wouldn’t mind my sister adding to her family, but time is not yet here for myself….so there go those great dreams and great races I thought I had to run…now where is my path, how will I run the race? Do you have a race that feels like you keep running by yourself? How are you going to finish? Do feel like temptations are too hard to face alone? ? Remember to look around you; the Lord, God never leaves your side…. just talk to him about it one on one.
These were my only thought provoking questions for the day. I know more will pop into my head tomorrow because another snow day is on the way with at least another 12inches of snow…yippee!

God Bless,
Kristy

Let it Snow...part II

Wow, there is such a blanket of snow right now setting on my car, covering the roads, and causing a lot of stress on a lot of people. I decided that it might not be a good idea to go all the way home so I’m attending a snow party at my friend’s apartment! I don’t have anything deep to talk about right now, if anything I say is ever very deep. I have a good side note though. One of my co-teachers just had a baby today, the news was told to me right before I left from work as I prepared to go marching out into the wondrous snow. I’m so excited for her! I know that deep down I can’t wait to have children…though I know that right now is not the time for more than one reason. I love working with children and I always wonder what type of parent I’m going to be. It makes me nervous when I watch parents and how they are and then reflect on how I was raised compared to my own friends. Parents influence children’s moral character, and are a big part of who they are when looking at a child’s personality any way. I don’t know where I am truly going with this except to reflect on a previous blog that I had mentioned that we are all influence by those around us.
I have some other random thoughts for today. On most days I find myself either using the Bible in regards to my feelings about something going on instead of turning to it and applying it to my everyday life. I find myself praying that when I open it up and see a verse that it will be something that I can put a lot of thought into a reflect it in my daily life to come. Today I flipped to Luke2: 49 “Why were you searching for me? He asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” The other verse I looked at was Luck 6:46-49 “Why do you call me, Lord, Lord, and do not do what I say? I will show you what he is like who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice. He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. …. But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground with out a foundation.” I would love to know what some one feels about these verses. They are just the a few out of a wonderful chapter in the Bible that talks about the life of Jesus Christ.
Well I’m going to go out and play in the snow that has yet to calm it’s falling.

God Bless,
Kristy

Let it snow....

So they say a big winter storm is coming. Who ever really wants a storm to hit…a little snow to go sledding maybe, not being able to leave the house…not so much fun.
Have you ever really taken the time to look at a snowflake? Each one is beautiful, gentle, and individually different. When I think about how people try to go through life trying to be like everyone else. People wearing all the right clothes, going to all the right places, hanging out with the “in crowd”, getting just the right job so their status can be elevated. I tend to look at a snowflake and remember that each one is different, but when they all come together it creates a mound of snow perfect for everyone to share in a late night of sledding (that is if you are a college student). So in terms I try to look at myself as an individual, unique, different than everyone in the world, created by God to serve a purpose and praise him. I advise you to look at yourself today and everyday and see how truly different you are from everyone in the world and what a blessing it can be. How do you use your blessings to fulfill God’s purpose? (question of the day)

God Bless,
Kristy

Patience

After putting in eleven and a half hours at work today I came home to reflect on one of my favorite chapter from the Bible, 1Cor. 13. I knew that all day long, besides being exhausted from working with children mainly 3 year-olds all day, that I could feel my patience growing short by the time it was to take on my own classroom of school agers at the end of the day. I gave my aide a heads up this afternoon that there is a chance that if all 26 of them were rowdy that I would probably get to be pretty grumpy by around 5pm. (lack of sleep will do that to a person)
Patience is something that I have tried to gain and work with knowing that it is very important in the field of special education when I start teaching. 1Cor.Chapter 13 says that “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it dos not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects always trust, always hopes, always perseveres.” I hear this verse almost every time I am at a wedding, but I’m not getting married and I’m not in love so I’m applying this to something other than love for a significant other. I am using this verse to reflect on my children that I see day in and day out. I take on the task and daily obligation of watching children grow and being apart of how they are molded. (I’m always nervous that I’m going to mess them up) It is a big responsibility in my eyes to be apart of the future of a small child. I had a lot of time to reflect this weekend in the amount of time I spent in my car traveling from Okoboji to my parents, back to my own apartment. (it wasn’t all singing out loud to the music, as people stared as I past them) I actually focused a lot of that time praying to God and asking him for guidance in my own future, asking for patience and strength to deal with daily problems and questions that are unanswered in my life.
I had such an awesome time at RUSH being able to worship the Lord our God with so many others. We focused on Jeremiah and his struggles being a prophet of God. I look at Jeremiah and I look how my life is affected by the struggles or problems in my life and how they compare to that of Jeremiah himself. In Jeremiah chapter 18:1-10 these verses talk about the potter and clay. I sat for a while one day in reflection of these verses molding clay in my hands. I realized that I don’t always look at the big picture. I don’t always realize how everything around me molds me into the person I am and the person that I should become. I look at how my actions and how they reflect on people around me and the children I work with daily. How am I affecting how people are molded through my own choices in life? Jeremiah 18:12 “We will continue with our own plans; each of us will follow the stubbornness of his evil heart.” We are all stubborn in our own way, sometimes our evil ways are harder to change than others, and it is hard to think that we are not alone during times of change that God is with us always, because some times we can just feel completely alone. Philip Yancey once said “When we have nothing else to lean on, not even ourselves, He is still here.” To me that is the most difficult challenge, not focusing on fixing all of my problems by myself, but put my trust in Christ Jesus fully and completely. I know that the Lord is always with me and all around me he gives me strength to be patient and loving through his grace alone are we all save.
Sorry if when I write it is normally pretty random thoughts all jumbled together.

God Bless,
Kristy