2013 Recap

Yes,... I'm still here. It's been a quiet year for me on Blogger but let's face it, no one was holding their breath each day waiting for a blog post from me so I have no regrets in that aspect.

2013

Wow. I can't believe it's nearly over; only five days to go and how many New Year's Resolutions did I meet? That's right. None. I'm not richer, skinner, healthier, tanner, artsier, married and I don't have a dog. I really know how to achieve and meet goals, huh? Let's add "Read the goal meeting/stop procrastinating/inspirational book" to 2014 resolutions.

But overall, 2013 wasn't a horrible year. Let's see,...

• I became an auntie at the end of 2012. I LOVE IT! I spoil precious Baby Kensi each chance I get. She is so cute,smart,precious, lovely and darling ...etc. Oh! you wanted to see a picture of her? Well, here you go! See I told you she was a cutie!

  

  Baby K

• I found a new addiction in 2013 - Pinterest. Y'all... I have planned my future house, pets, wedding, kids, photos, recipes, jobs, Bible reading, etc. It's a problem. Ladies, if you don't have a Pinterest, don't get one. It's a black hole of home decor and wardrobe planning. Major time waster unless you are a "go-getter" who actually does the DIY projects.
• My best friend of nearly 20 years got married.  She was lovely and she got married at a Southern plantation. Um, can we say classy!? How time flies, just yesterday we were meeting for the first time in grade school and now she's married.
• My hobby of photography became a little more profitable this year.  Now, I know my skills are limited (to put it nicely) but I had more people requesting me to take their photos this year and honestly, it was a great feeling. I have so far to go and so much to learn but I'm up to the challenge.
• I got a new job at the Bank. Due to a series of crazy events (which I won't go into) I was hired as an assistant in the Commercial Lending Department. Key music to A Whole New World.  It's completely different and I'm learning so much. I feel overwhelmed some days by it all but it's going to work out. I truly believe God placed me here.

And these things are just a tip of the 2013 iceberg! All in all, it was a good year but between you and me, I have a feeling next year will be even better!



Abide in the Vine

Hebrews 5:11-14 NIV


11 We have much to say about this, but it is hard to make it clear to you because you no longer try to understand. 12 In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! 13 Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. 14 But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.

This passage was my Thursday Word for the day,... and it's wrecking me. It frightens me because it applies to me. "you no longer try to understand,..." OUCH! Have I stopped searching, learning, yearning after the Word and the Creator of the Word? Am I where God intended me to be in my spiritual growth? Am I still in infancy when I should be in adulthood? Have I stunted my growth?

Last night in Element Service, Michael Cena spoke to us about "abiding in the vine." You are either apart of the Vine or you're not. You can't have it both ways and the Word is plain on what happens to branches that fail to produce the fruit of the Vine.

John 15:5-6

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.
I can't allow myself to be stunted. I have to kept growing and nuturing my walk with God. I must grow into the Vine and not allow anything to uproot me. I cannot become useless. I must keep growing... I must keep trying to understand...

Onward and Upwards

 Complacency has been on my mind lately... I see it everywhere I go and quite frankly, it bothers me.

The questions in my mind is this: As an Apostolic Christian, should I feel complacency in any aspect of my life? Should complacency exist in the personal, social, or spiritual areas of my life? Is it okay to feel contentment or self-satisfaction with the who,what, when, and where's of my life? 

Yes, the Word says in Hebrews 13:5 "Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”  And in Philippians 4:11 "Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content:"

Yes, we should be thankfully content with the things divinely given or the state in which we've been divinely placed. Contentment is different from complacency.  Contentment centers around being happy and according to freedictionary.com, complacency is "a feeling of contentment or self-satisfaction, especially when coupled with an unawareness of danger, trouble, or controversy." 

We should be wary of feeling self-satisfied within our life. Self-satisfaction leads to laziness. Read Proverbs, the book is full of what happens to those who are lazy. Proverbs 1:32 "For the turning away of the simple will slay them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them."

If we allow it, complacency will destroy us and our walk with God . We need to take on the attitude of Paul in Philippians 3:12-14

12 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

If we are still living and breathing, then we have not achieved our divine purpose. We must keep pressing forward towards the "upward call of God."  We must not become complacent in what we possess or where we are. Our life motto must be like the cry in 'The Last Battle', the last of the Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis, "Onward and Upwards,..." 

My Thoughts Thursday

SO grateful it's finally Thursday! I feel like I can see the light at the end of the work week tunnel. This week has been insanely busy, which isn't always a bad thing. It just makes for a whole lot of crazy drama. Whew!

Anyway, back to my Thursday thoughts. The following is a few things that have been on my mind this week.

 And here we go, ...

• The Beach: One week from today I will be driving to meet my dear LA. Friends for our Annual Girl's Trip. I am so ready for sun, sand and surf. I've already started mentally packing my book bag. There really is no better place to study the Word than beach lit by a quiet sunrise. Love it!


• Friends: I am truly thankful for my LA. Girls. These girls have been my friends for years. We've laughed, cried, giggled, shopped, shared and prayed together. These girls have shouldered many a burden and prayed many a prayer with me. They’ve shown me the right path more often than I'd like to admit. They've been there for me even when I may have been distant. I appreciate them and value them so very much. If you don't have a group of friends or even A friend like my LA. Friends, you need to find one. You will definitely need one.


• Nagging vs. Burden: This topic has been on my mind lately. We have to make sure we recognize the difference between nagging someone to reach God and having a burden for someone to reach God. The burden makes the difference. When you have a burden, it's about the individual's soul and eternity location. When you nag at a person, it's about you and getting your way. One way is altruistic, the other selfish. Which are you?


• Graduation night: For many high school teens, tonight and tomorrow night marks the ending of a phase. Six years ago I graduated high school... that seems like a lifetime ago. To the graduates of 2011, I say pursue those God dreams in your life and don't be surprised when the dreams begin to change. Dream change can be very healthy. It's apart of life. It's apart of growing up. It's apart of becoming who God designed you to be.

To quote Steven Tyler, “Dream on,..."

 

  

My Thoughts Thursday

It's Thursday, thank goodness! I am so ready to shed this work week and take on a lovely weekend! AR weather is GORGEOUS! It's time to soak up the vitamin D and relax!

Being that it's Thursday(which is of no major significance), I've decided to start having " My Thoughts Thursday."  A posting about my thoughts on a random, mix of topics.

And here we go!
BTW: the order of the list is not by importance.

• Alexander Dumas- The man could write! I try to read  Count of Monte Cristo each year. One of my favorites! I've read the book over three times but I still get lost in its pages. On that note: I think that book is going on my summer book list.

• White Sand Beaches- I miss the ocean. The sounds, the sand, the smell,.... all of it. Cannot wait until May for the annual Girl's trip. This year we revisit the beach. I'm ready! Favorite part of it? Watching the sunrise and the sunset on the ocean. Normally I'm an earlier riser and I will venture out on the beach for some God time. The beach is quiet and deserted. Just me and God,...
• FPB- The First Pentecostals of Benton is booming! God has been doing amazing things here. I'm glad I am apart of one of the friendliest churches in the world! Don't believe me? Come visit, I dare you.  I love how God has been raising up people in the church. Pray Matthew 9:38 and watch what happens!
• Painting- One of my goals this year was to create at least one decent painting.I want to try my hand at some abstract work. Note: I've never painted. Ever.  We'll see what happens. If anything, I'll have fun getting paint all over me.
• AdoptUsKids- I follow AdoptUsKids on Twitter and they wreck my heart with each tweet about a child who needs a home. If I currently could, I would. Someday,... If you are going to adopt, please consider adopting a foster child. Those kids need it!
• Matt Wertz - "I'm waiting, all of my life been waiting, ...Maybe, if I had a Somebody, maybe...Until then I'll be the one pretending I'm perfectly fine with all this living life here on my own." Aptly spoken, Mr. Wertz.
• John 15:1-11 Especially this seventh verse: "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will[a] ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you."  hmm,... check out the verses before #7. Questions raised: Am I abiding in Him? A sign of abiding in Him, is fruit. Is fruit evident in me? And if I'm abiding in Him, am I correctly exercising the authority I have as branch of the Vine?

Thus concludes My Thought Thursday.... I told you it was a insane mix!