In The Moment

Great is Thy Faithfulness

2011-10-10T12:59:00.000-07:00

So many times I have heard that God does miracles for those who believe him in the most difficult time

The condition for a miracle is difficulty, however the condition for a great miracle is not difficulty, but impossibility

Over the past few weeks I have watched God do many miracles in my life. Financially, right when I needed it the most He provided for me. I have seen Him point out the little miracles He has done for me every day also. He gave me a wonderful church to help support me and strengthen me in my Christian life. He gave me amazing friends to uplift and encourage me and sometimes correct me when I need it most. He gave me a wonderful family, and a mother who truly cares and loves me. He has given me a roof over my head and over abundance of everything I need in life.

Can I say that the past few weeks have been perfect? Anyone who knows me understands when I say they have not, but God does not need a spectacular need to provide a miracle. I was reminded over and over again how important the little things that God gave me are. I am so thankful I have a God whom I know I can rely on through thick and thin. A God who shows me throughout even the hardest of times what true love is...to love without condition. We love Him because he first loved us. As humans in our nature we love only when someone returns that love to us, and when that love has stopped then our love comes to an end also. Yet God loved us before we even thought to love Him. If only people would grasp this concept of the inadaquacy of man to be the recipient of the love of God, there would be a different outlook on life. This is the greatest miracle of all that God loved us so much he sent his Son, or as Peter said, "The Holy Child", to die on the cross and bear the shame and weight of the world for our failures. That is the greatest miracle of all.

Pastor Bishop preached a sermon at our chapel, and he used a song that has stuck with me since.

Great is thy faithfulness O God my Father.
There is no shadow of turning with Thee.
Thou changest not, Thy compassions they fail not.
As thou hast been Thou forever wilt be.

Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by Morning new mercy I see.
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided.
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto me!

Love...

2011-08-31T18:46:00.000-07:00

Love in life is a funny thing...it comes in many shapes and sizes. Little reminders here and there that this world, so cumbered with sin and despair, still's controlled by an Almighty Loving God.

Andy (5 years old completely serious): Miss Christina will you marry me?

Me (laughing): Well Andy I don't really think that it would work out to well

Andy(sad): But I really need you to marry me!

Colton (the wiser 5 year old): You can't marry Miss Christina she's our teacher!

Andy (still determined as ever): But I want to marry her. She just looks so pretty today.

Colton: (now seeing the teacher is a little pleased with the last statement and not wanting to be bested): Well you can't marry her cause I want her too!

Andy (a little too triumphantly): Nope I already called her. Miss Christina is mine!

time...

2011-08-30T12:04:00.000-07:00

My Senior Year of College is starting in just a few days...

As I look back I can see why people say "time flies"....

As I look forward to the future I know I am on the right path...

And although I am uncertain where it may lead me....

I am excited to see the work of God in my life!

No you are not at the wrong place...

2011-04-15T21:42:00.000-07:00

Yes, I changed my blog name. It is not anything breathtaking or profound. Yet it describes my life and the life I know I will lead. Each moment of every day counts for eternity. I want to make each moment of my day the best I possibly can.

This is a picture I took in Georgia. A beautiful moment when the sun set by the ocean.

Special People...

2011-04-15T18:16:00.000-07:00

I thought I would try to take the time to write a little about the people in my life who mean alot to me. The first person who means the most to me, is my mom. She is always there when I need someone the most. She always has the right words to say. She was the one who helped me through my very first Spaghetti dinner (those who have been in Home Ec. know what that is like) And she was the one who showed me that although life may not turn out the way you think it should, God knows what is best in every situation. I love my mom, because she has taught me simple every day truths that I will be able to take with me throughout the rest of my life.

Left to tell

2011-03-13T12:03:00.000-07:00

I had the opportunity to read a story of a genocide that happened in my lifetime. The story starts off in a small country called Rwanda. Immaculee Llibagiza was a studying at the university in Rwanda when the genocide started. She weighed 115 pounds and by the end of the war she weighed 60 pounds. I will leave you to read the rest of the details of this amazing and heart wrenching story.

A cup of sweet water....

2011-02-10T18:50:00.000-08:00

"A cup of sweet water, never spills bitter, no matter how suddenly jarred..."

This is a quote from a class I am taking. My Pastor's wife was talking about making sure you are right on the outside as well as the inside. She was making the point that when the beauty fades on the outside it doesn't matter as long as you have kept up your inner beauty, and that is the most important beauty of all. This quote especially stuck out to me, because sometimes I am anything but sweet in certain situations. These are the times that I catch myself thinking afterwards that I could have possibly said that differently or may be I could have done that a nicer way. What better way to fill oneself with sweet things than to read the Bible? The Bible is full of answers on how to answer someone "A soft answer turneth away wrath" and "Grevious words stir up anger". I have been trying my very best to keep a sweet spirit about everything and in every situation. I have already slipped up a couple of times, and I know that I am not going to be able to do it by myself, but I have a great God to lead me every step of the way. Proverbs 30:5 "The word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him."

from the mind of a child...

2011-02-08T20:05:00.000-08:00

Chase: "Miss Christina, this is my heart for you." (shows me a heart with his fingers)

Me: Really!

Chase: (Grins) Yep and You know what Miss Christina?

Me? What Chase?

Chase: My heart loves you very much!!

This made my day. It takes away all the messy diapers, the snotty noses, the screaming children, and everything else that my job entails. Just those few words made me smile and remember why I love what I do.

Life...

2011-01-25T08:05:00.000-08:00

Ok....so I know I have not posted for a while. I could give you so many excuses and reasons why I have not posted like school, new job, moving, and the list goes on, but really what happened was life. I love having a busy life. Over Christmas break I was able to get a break from the business and stay home, read a book (that wasn't assigned..shock!!) and just relax. Now that break is ended and I have to say that I am not sorry. I hate having the feeling of not being needed. I had no one depending on me to get anything done, and I had no assignment that was due in 24 hours, it seemed as if I had all the time in the world to do nothing. I know to some it may have come as a relief to not have anything to do, but I soon found out that I would much rather be busy.
Over the break I was able to stop and think about what would happen after college. If you would have asked me a year ago where I would be after college I could have spelled everything out for you. I could have given you a general idea of where I would be, what I would be doing, and how I would be doing it. Yet God had different plans for me. I am not sure yet where I will go or what I will be doing, but I know that God is in control and that is one thing that I lean most on.
I found these verses in my devotions, and although I have read through Psalms many times this time these verses stuck with me. Psalm 8:1, 3-5 "O lord our Lord, howexcellent isthy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens. When I consider thy heavens, the wok of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, whic thou hast ordained; What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? For thou hast made him a little lower than the angles, and hast crowned himwith glory and honour."

We don't deserve the love of God and yet he gives it to us in a cup runnin over. How great our God is!!

classes, books, and such

2010-09-18T16:35:00.000-07:00

Well it is already 2 weeks into the semester. After getting all of the requirements and papers due from each class I am a little less excited about some of my classes. This semester I get to take a few more Bible classes than usual. I am taking Systematic Theology (this is actually one of the easier classes) Cults, Gospel of John, Bible Geography, Teaching Elementary Science, and my last year in PE!

Bible Geography is going to take alot of work. We have a Power Point presentation due every week. You should have seen me sitting there for 3 hours trying to figure out how to use the program.

I have never been a Science person. As I was looking at the classes available, Teaching Science caught my eye. I convinced myself I could bear through a Science lesson if only for the sake of one of my favorite teachers teaching the class, Mrs. Jennifer Wright. So far I have learned that Science consist more than learning definitions and the parts of the flower. There is actually experimenting and observations involved too!

I am currently reading To the Golden Shore. The life of Adoniram Judson his victories, trials, doubts, and convictions become clear throughout the pages. I enjoy learning of the path God chose for Mr. Judson. And although it seemed as though all odds were against him God provided the way. I may post more about this book later.

For the past couple of weeks I have been working on coasters for baskets to earn money for the Make A Wish program at work. I am just a beginner so some of them are not completely perfect. I will post pictures when I am done with all of them.

Be still and Know

2010-08-28T20:24:00.000-07:00

Have you ever just stopped and looked back wondering whatever has happened to time. There are moments I wish I could freeze in time: like the time one of my kids looks up at me with those big adoring eyes and hands me a picture they made JUST for me; or when I am driving down the road and see a beautiful sunset; or maybe its just the realization that God is watching and he will take care of me. The school year will be here within a week. Summer has already flown by, and now I catch myself wanting to freeze time. Don't get me wrong I don't want to be a Junior in college forever, but maybe its just the realization that no matter how hard I try I cannot stop things from changing around me. I have to keep on moving and trusting in God, but now I have also learned that I have to take the time to Be Still and Know that He is God.

Do you remember....

2010-08-09T17:17:00.000-07:00

At my work today (Daycare in my hometown) we had a contest with the kids. We named the Mother Goose poem and they had to quote it here are some of the answers we got....

CHALLENGE: Can you remember the way these poems really go?

Litte Miss Muffet

Little miss Muffet sat on that tuffet

Eating her curves and whey

There was a big spider that came down behind her

and I think she like screamed or something!

Hush A Bye (Rock A Bye)

Rock- A Bye baby

on the tree top

when the wind blows the cradle will rock

Down comes that baby cradle and all

Jack Sprouts

Jack Sprout could eat no lean

His wife can't eat....I don't know what she couldn't eat.

Baa Baa Black Sheep

Baa Baa Black sheep

Have you any wool?

Yes sir, yes sir, three days full

One for my master

One for my queen

One for the little boy who lives in the green.

Three Blind Mice

Three blind mice three blind mice

See how they run See how the run

Oh WOW that's a sight!!

A Sunny Flower!

2010-07-26T20:07:00.000-07:00

I love sunflowers. If I could I would grow a garden of them in my back yard just to be able to watch them grow. There are many reasons I love the sunflower more than any of the ordinary generic flowers such as the rose, tulip, and others. Did you know that no matter what time of day it is the sunflower always faces the sun? This reminds me that no matter what I might be going through in life I should always have my eyes on The Son also.

Another reason I love the sunflower so much is because of its happiness. Now I know this sounds a bit strange to say that a flower can be happy, but that is what I think of when I see a row of these bright yellow flowers.

The next reason I love them so much is their seed. They are salty and great for a quick snack. This is the only flower I know of that has seed that can be eaten!

YUM!!!

Just us girls!

2010-05-14T17:04:00.000-07:00

For Mother's day I had my best friend's sister (her blog), take pictures of my sisters.I had them framed and made them into a picture book for them. It was a treat to spend some time with just us girls. I know these pictures are something my mom can keep forever.

Dates!

2010-05-01T16:59:00.001-07:00

I cannot bowl for anything, but for some reason it has become a family tradition to go bowling late at night, with the disco lights and all. Unfortunately I was reminded once again what its like to get a gutter ball almost every time I bowled.

Of Course, Angela had to have her own personal shot:)

Mom and the girls!

Last night Jared came over. We had planned on going to the Dunes and just walking around, but because of a pending thunderstorm we chickened out(well I chickened out:) . Instead we got ice cream at Baskin Robins and went to my house and played checkers(which I won!) Regrettably, the evening ended sooner than I anticipated.

Interesting quotes

2010-04-09T21:27:00.000-07:00

I promised myself I would try to put some pictures up, but that has to wait. I found these quotes. Some of them you may have heard before, but I thought they were interesting, and some even enlightening!

The grass may look greener on the other side, but it still has to be mowed.

It is better to be silent and be considered a fool than to speak and remove all doubt.

Many a good man has failed cause he had his wishbone where his backbone should have been.

If at first you don't succeed, try reading the instructions.

Patience is a quality you admire in the driver behind you, and scorn in the one ahead.

Some people complain because God put thorns on roses, while others praise Him for putting roses among thorns.

The cure of crime is not in the electric chair, but in the high chair.

The might oak was once a little nut that stoodits ground.

If you don't stand for something you'll fall for anything!

Sorrow looks back. Worry looks around. Faith looks up.

A man is rich according to what he is, not according to what he has.

The best way to forget your own problems is to help someone solve his.

God can heal a broken heart, but he has to have all the pieces.

When confronted with a Goliath sized problem, which way do you respond: "He is too big to hit" or like David, "He's too big to miss"?

God's Little Instruction Book

Update!

2010-04-05T19:44:00.000-07:00

Well this is just because a friend ask me too. I had spring picture to put on here of the start of spring, but on Easter day my sisters destroyed the beautiful bed of flowers that I was taking pictures of in order to give flowers to my mom. Despite my dispair, I had managed to enjoy the beauty of the flowers for a little while in the vase until my youngest sister decided to pick all of the petals off and pretend to be flower girl making a path throughout the house of wilted yellow and white petals.

Spring break has come and gone. Needless to say it went by too quickly and it feels as if I have a million and one things to accomplish before the end of the semester. During spring break I was able to have an off campus date. Jared cooked for me and then we just sat and talked for a couple of hours. Stopping in between to play Uno and Blitz. It ended up being the perfect night.

Well that is all for now. Until next time!

When You Thought I Wasn't Looking

2010-02-09T19:21:00.000-08:00

When you thought I wasn't looking,
I saw you hang my first painting on the refrigerator
and I wanted to paint another one.

When you thought I wasn't looking,
I saw you feed a stray cat,
and I thought it was good to be kind to animals.

When you thought I wasn't looking,
I saw you make my favorite cake for me,
and I knew that little things are special things.

When you thought I wasn't looking,
I heard you say a prayer,
and I believed there is a God I could always talk to.

When you thought I wasn't looking,
I felt you kiss me good night,
and I felt loved.

When you thought I wasn't looking,
I saw tears come from your eyes,
and I learned that sometimes things hurt but it's all right to cry.

When you thought I wasn't looking,
I saw that you cared,
and I wanted to be everything that I could be.

When you thought I wasn't looking
I looked,
and I wanted to say "thanks mom" for all the things I saw when you thought I wasn't looking.

The Land Overseas

2010-01-31T19:44:00.000-08:00

My brother recently returned from overseas on leave. Here are a few pictures that he brought back with him.

There has been a record of about 15 men crammed into one of these little carts.

If you look closely you can see a donkey...this animal and camels are very popular for transportion.

The market place...just a little crowded.

A little boy

Some kids posing for the camera

Once the ladies reach the age of 16 they have to wear a covering from the top of their head to their feet.

These little cars are basically the only kind driven over there. All of the cars are either yellow or yellow and white mixed. If you are lucky there might be a little red in there too.

A Christmas tree that was confiscated so the soldiers could have a little bit of holiday spirit in the barracks. There is a story behind this little tree, but it has to wait for another time.

This is remnants of king Alexander the Great. There is part of a wall left and a outpost way up at the top of the mountain.

The Little kids flock to the soldiers wherever they are. Interestingly, instead of asking for food, candy or money, they often ask for pens! Imagine that!

The boys love to help out and hang out with the soldiers!

This bread is the staple of their food. You can find it at every meal eaten. They make it with flour and stuff, but they mixed it by stamping it with their feet! Yum!!!!

My brother enjoying whatever that is?

Brighten the Corner!!

2010-01-30T19:52:00.000-08:00

So many times it is easy to get down and feel sorry for yourself. Here is something I am trying to remember throughout this semester. I need to concentrate on being a blessing and a help to others, and just like in a sermon recently preached, "It is more blessed to give then to receive." How wonderful it is to give to those around if only by a smile or a kind word!!

If everybody brightened up

the spot on which they're standing

By being more considerate

and a little less demanding,

This dark old world would very soon

eclipse the evening star

If everybody brightened up

the corner where they are.

The year 2010

2010-01-08T21:15:00.001-08:00

Can you believe it's already the new year? It's amazing how fast this past semester has flown by. I love the New Year. I love being able to make new resolutions and see which ones stick and which ones...well have to be made again the next year. The thing I love most about the New Year is picking out my year long verse. I have always tried to pick out one verse that I could use as my theme the whole year through.

Last year's verse was Psalm 119:54 "I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies." This verse helped me to remember to not just go through every day mundainly and get in a routine. It reminded me to think through everything that I did, and to make sure that I glorified God with everything. I have to admit that sometimes I forgot to do this throughout the last year. It is so easy to just go through the motions and habits that you do every day, and not to stop and think "Am I doing this unto God?"

So as I was thinking about this year's verse, God laid this one on my heart. Psalm 18:2 " The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength , in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower." This is a verse that I am teaching on my bus for this month. A fellow bus worker and I were discussing it and trying to decide how to explain this to our kids, and we decided to teach them to not worry about what might happen tomorrow, or the next day, or even the day after that, because we have an Almighty God who is just waiting to show them how powerful He is. And as I taught those kids that and we sang "Why worry? When you can pray?" I realized that although things may look alittle bleak at times with our country the way it is today, and there are some things in life that I may not think are turning out just right. I have the most wonderful, powerful Comforter who can see me through. So no matter what happens throughout the year 2010, I will not worry, but rather lean alittle harder on my Rock and my Strength, who is the Lord Jesus Christ.

Christmas

2009-12-28T09:28:00.000-08:00

Opening Presents!!!

This is the time of year that is looked forward to with much anticipation. All of the time and thought put into each present is what really counts. Our family always reads the story of Christmas from the Bible first before opening presents. Stephen called right as we started so he was able to listen in, and share his thoughts as we read. Then we started opening presents. In our family everyone gets one present and then we all open it at the same time. Being a family of 8 children, this just always seemed to be the most reasonable way. So here are some pictures of the present-opening ceremony!

Even Tubby got a present. She waited patiently for it under the tree. She got a mouse with a laser on it. Needless to say most of the entertainment the rest of the day was watching our two pets go at that laser!

Every Christmas, we have always tried to take pictures by the fire place. Here are a few of our attempts!

And then last but not least just some random pictures!!

Christmas Lights!

Our Gingerbread House. It looks too nice to eat!

Wildfire!!

2009-10-26T19:28:00.000-07:00

Last Friday, Jared and I were able to go on a date with the Mitchells. The night started off with Jared giving me a dozen gorgeous red roses!!

We went to Wildfire for dinner and then finished off the night with some shopping!!

2009-07-24T17:01:00.000-07:00

I am an American Soldier.

I am a Warrior and a member of a team.

I serve the people of the United States and live the Army Values

I will always place the mission first.

I will never accept defeat. I will never quit.

I will never leave a fallen comrade.

I am disciplined, physically and mentally tough, trained and proficient in my warrior tasks and drills.

I always maintain my arms, my equipment and myself.

I am an expert and I am a professional.

I stand ready to deploy, engage, and destroy the enemies of the United States of America in close combat.

I am a guardian of freedom and the American way of life.

I am an American Soldier.

Freedom. Rights. Safety. Words that in this country are taken for granted by many. These past couple of days have been spent with one of my older brothers who just yesterday was promoted to Corporal. He will be deploying to Afganistan on July 29th, just three short days from now. I am so proud of the sacrifice and devotion that my brother is giving for his country.

Needless to say, Angela was the center of attention:)
The army had a ceromony to see our soldiers off, and ended it with a barbeque for the soldiers and their families.

Please pray that the Lord will keep him safe ,and that my brother will stay close to Him during this time.

A child's simplicity

2009-05-21T20:38:00.000-07:00

I found this poem and I thought it was the very true, so here it is...

Tiny hand and tousled heads

That kneelin prayer by little beds

Are close to the dear Lord's heart

And of His kingdom more a part

Than we who search and never find

The answers to our questioning minds--

For faith in things we cannot see

Requires a child's simplicity.

The end of the beginning

2009-05-11T12:22:00.000-07:00

I walked down the hallway triumphantly carrying that precious, black notebook. Walking up to the teacher I placed the notebook down, and then gave out a sigh of relief. My days as a freshman at Fairhaven Baptist College are over. I have completed my finals, and am now looking towards the summer with much anticipation. As I look back on the past year, I can see that I learned a lot from different aspects of my life. I have learned that no matter what may happen God is in control. Throughout the past year I have seen God answer my prayers and do over and above what I asked him to do. I have learned to lean on Him and not myself for the courage and strength needed to make it through this first year of college. Now as summer approaches I am looking forward to getting closer to God during my spare time, and catching up on sermon outlines and book reports for CE (We'll see how that goes;) Now I have finished the end of the beginning of my college education.

Busy week

2009-04-30T08:08:00.001-07:00

Preaching Conference...this is the one week that everyone in our church looks forward to with much anticipation. This is the week that most save there days off work for. Many look forward to the friends and family they will be able to fellowship with, but there is one part about Preaching Conference that I love the most. This is the time every morning and evening when everyone comes together to listen to some good fundamental preaching. God really dealt with me on some areas in my life, and it turned out to be one of the best Preaching Conference I have ever attended.

To top it all off I ended the week with a date!! Jared and I went with his family to a park. I was able to play tennis (or at least attempt) and spend time with their family. Then we went to Dynasty in Valpo and met his grandparents. I had a wonderful time, and really enjoyed meeting his grandparents.