Random Thankful Thoughts...

Have you ever stopped to think about where God has you in your life? Where He's taken you? Have you ever thought about the purposeful orchestration of the people you've met along the way, the fact that they are, without a doubt, people who God allowed you the blessing of knowing? Well, I have, as you who know me, get on these random thought kicks, and I have had this thought recurring and I wanted to write about it.
I have had the privilege of being a serious Christ follower since I was about 13ish, and the journey that God has taken me on and led me through has been ANYTHING but the boring path I would have laid out for myself! The best part about my journey is that throughout it, God has allowed me the ultimate privilege of getting to meet and walk with some of His most amazing creations, my friends.
There are snapshots of my life that stand out to me and in those flashes in time, God provided for me friends (which seems like such a weak word for how I regard these people) to experience life with. God orchestrated in my life, very early on when my family was shaky, a small group of girl friends that are some of my best friends today. God brought us together to experience the breathless and the breathtaking together because we surely experienced that between us all! I am so incredibly thankful for these girls that I call my sisters (which still to me doesn't seem strong enough) because they saw me, see me, and will see me through the rest of my time on this Earth and I know that God ordained them to be my life partners. God did that!
Then I jump to the time that God pressed on my heart to serve Him at a youth camp for the summer with my best best friend. We both had just graduated high school, were so amped and ready to serve God, so scared for the future after the summer, but fully confident that God had it covered. And that He did! That was the summer that God ordained 3 more special people in my life (other than my best friend) who would change me forever! That summer defined God's skillful way of that"just right" kind of timing. I am fortunate enough to still have a pretty close relationship with most of those friends, but even so, God used those people to make an impression on me, to help me grow as a woman of Christ and to learn to love. Crazy enough, that summer was the year I met Marcus and wow, did God change my life with him! :) (Of course in all the best ways, right?! :) ) I didn't know that one of the reasons God had pressed me to volunteer for this camp was because He had done the same pressing on the heart of the man that I had prayed for for a very long time. A year after camp, 3 years after that and 3 years of marriage have made me so so thankful that I obeyed God's call. God did that!
Then I rewind and slightly fast forward to the year after that first summer camp, where I felt called to serve on a different youth ministry camp. That summer was incredibly fun, crazy, and sweet! God brought me there alone, vulnerable and waiting on Him to move me, and God moved me through the group of friend, who became my family, I shared that summer with. Although time and distance hinders communication sometimes, this family God allowed me to make has left such impressions on my heart, I love them more now, even though we don;t get to talk as much, than I did that summer! God did that!
Then I fast forward a few years to the present. God moved Marcus and I to a church where He had a small group waiting for us. At the time of us moving to that church, our hearts, spirit, everything was hurting and we needed mending. God provided for us a small group who truly IS our family to live life together. Marcus and I have grown so much in our walk with Christ with this group that we ever have before and I can't imagine not knowing these people. We have laughed, cried, vented, questioned, discussed, lived the past year's life together. God allowed us the privilege of being apart of an intimate fellowship of believers and for that I am so amazed! God did that!
I know that God has had His hands on me and my life path for way longer than I realized and to know that God cares enough to provide for me these friendships that have left my heart and soul so much sweeter is such an amazing, humbling reminder. So, when you are thinking, doubting, praying, being reminded that God's got it covered, trust me, (and I am preaching to the choir here! ), God's HAD it covered! God did it and does it!

Thoughtful Thursday...

Here's a thought that you can take literally or metaphorically because it can be applied as both:

Don't trust a cat alone in a room with a glass of Crystal Light fruit punch! This can lead to stains!

Let your minds run wild and crazy with this one! Have a happy Thought-filled Thursday! :)

Thoughtful Thursday...

So, my husband being the cd hoarder of all time, I decided to add to his collection and get him a few more cd's for Christmas. Well, on his list of like literally 50 cds, I chose about 4, one of them being the latest Addison Road cd. Well, Marcus tends to leave his newly acquired collection of cds in the Jeep all the time, so I sometimes take advantage of the time I have with them and listen. On the way to small group Tuesday, I was listening the Addison Road cd and the song "What do I know of Holy" was playing. Below are the words, but, for some reason or another, I really listened to the words and was sincerely struck at how true those words are for me. Just read the words and you will see what a powerful punch they make and how they really make you take an honest look at yourself and your relationship with God:

I made You promises a thousand times

I tried to hear from Heaven

But I talked the whole time

I think I made You too small

I never feared You at all No

If You touched my face would I know You?

Looked into my eyes could I behold You?

(CHORUS)

What do I know of You Who spoke me into motion?

Where have I even stood

But the shore along Your ocean?

Are You fire? Are You fury?

Are You sacred? Are You beautiful?

What do I know? What do I know of Holy?

I guess I thought that I had figured You out

I knew all the stories and I learned to talk about

How You were mighty to save

Those were only empty words on a page

Then I caught a glimpse of who You might be

The slightest hint of You brought me down to my knees

(CHORUS 2)

What do I know of Holy?

What do I know of wounds that will heal my shame?

And a God who gave life "its" name?

What do I know of Holy?

Of the One who the angels praise?

All creation knows Your name

On earth and heaven above

What do I know of this love?

(CHORUS)

What do I know of You

Who spoke me into motion?

Where have I even stood

But the shore along Your ocean?

Are You fire? Are You fury?

Are You sacred? Are You beautiful?

What do I know? What do I know of Holy?

What do I know of Holy? What do I know of Holy?

Thoughtful Thursdays...

Well I thought that I would revisit this type of post since I have neglected to do so. Ironically, this Thursday is New Year's Eve, so of course this, of all days, is a great day to reflect on the past, present and get excited about the future. I have already posted my anticipations on this New Year, so I won't be repetitive. I will however share a couple of quotes that I thought were insightful concerning the New Year. It is so easy to get wrapped up in the craziness of the holidays, but the challenge that I wanted to try and work towards was that instead of rushing through this time, I really want to learn to savor each moment I have, in whatever I am doing with whomever I am doing it with; I just want to be able to enjoy and soak up every moment so I truly enjoy this life and the people and moments that make it up. (Here I go on a tangent, but just bear with me.) For some reason, especially during holidays, I become more aware of time. I guess what I mean is that the reality of time hits me every year like a brick wall, and as I have no problem welcoming change, I LOVE to revisit stories of past moments in my childhood and adolescence and laugh until I cry, however I do have some difficulty dealing with time changing things (people, places, etc). So during these times, I sometimes get worried about trivial little things like what will happen when things happen. I say all of this to say, I feel like during these times, 2 verses that I love and fear, (in a sense) come to mind. The first is Matthew 6: 25-34 where Jesus is addressing the fact that we should not be worried about anything whatsoever because He can take care of those worries as long as we have faith in Him and seek His kingdom and righteousness. Part of my New Year list is to have more faith and I know that God can take care of it, period, no matter what, no if ands or buts, the matter is me. Another verse that I think about in relation to that verse is in Joshua chapter 1 (it is actually repeated so this isn't just one verse) where God is speaking to Joshua and telling him to "Be strong and courageous", "Be strong and courageous", "the Lord your God will be with you where ever you go". I really try to attach myself to these verses because of my worries and fears because I know that God is with me and hasn't given me this spirit of fear. So, during these times, where life happens and time seems to speed past me, I want to stop, smell the roses and be reminded that God holds me in His magnificent hands and provides the refuge, encouragement and confidence I need to appreciate and enjoy this life.

Here are those New Year quotes that I thought were very "thoughtful":
Another fresh new year is here...
Another year to live!
To banish worry, doubt and fear,
To love and laugh and give!
This bright new year is given me
To live each day with zest...
To daily grow and try to be
My highest and my best!
I have the opportunity
Once more to right some wrongs,
To pray for peace, to plant a tree,
And sing more joyful songs!
-William Arthur Ward

Here's to the bright New Year, and a fond farewell to the old; here's to the things that are yet to come and to the memories that we hold." -Author Unknown

Thoughtful Thursdays...

Today's thoughtful Thursday will not be filled with clever quotes or soul searching questions. No, my Thoughtful Thursday will make you think about eating. Thoughtfully think about what you want to cook for dinner and chew on this (no pun intended; that was quite accidental :)) I came across a dinner recipe that is quick, easy, cheap and soooo good. I am ALLLLLLL about that. So here it is. Try it and tell me what you think (although I will pass all the credit to kraft.com):

Sausage with Peppers and Pasta

What you need:

3 cups rigatoni pasta, uncooked
1 lb. Italian sausage, sliced (I got the regular, mild kind, not hot because I can't handle it)
1 each: red, green and yellow pepper, coarsely chopped
1 can (14-1/2 oz.) Italian-style diced tomatoes, undrained
1-1/2 cups KRAFT Shredded Italian* Mozzarella-Parmesan Cheese Blend
1/4 cup KRAFT Shredded Parmesan Cheese

Make it:

COOK pasta as directed on package. Meanwhile, cook sausage in large skillet on medium heat 10 min. Stir in peppers; cook 7 min. or until sausage is cooked through and peppers are crisp-tender. Stir in tomatoes; cook 2 min. or until heated through.
DRAIN pasta. Add to sausage mixture with shredded cheese; mix well.
TOP with Parmesan.

Thoughtful Thursday

I have seen this on other blogs I have stalked, so I thought this would be something I would like to include in mine; Thoughtful Thursdays, where I post some thoughtful and pretty cool quotes or words. I actually found two for today. This may sound corny, but I am constantly amazed at the awesomeness of God and how He, such an awesome deity, has such love for us. So I found these two quotes that I couldn't decide between the two so I am posting them both. I definitely think that in the daily rush and complete chaos of life, it is nice to be reminded of the simplicity and the uncomplicatedness of God's love for us.

Every blade of grass has its angel that bends over it and whispers, "Grow, grow." -The Talmud

Every person’s life is a fairytale written by God’s fingers.-Hans Christian Anderson