This Road I Have Traveled

"The Road Not Taken" -Robert Frost

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

This is one of my favorite poems by Robert Frost. It's written amazingly.

Some people wonder what it would be like "if they had" or "if they hadn't". But for me, that thought just diminishes a little bit more in my mind every day I grow a little older.
If I had, or if I hadn't, I would be me today. I don't regret my mistakes; they have taught me lessons I would have never learned other wise. I've learned to take the good with the bad....to take one step at a time...and most importantly, always depend on God, Who is always right by my side.

I'd just like to say, that I am so very thankful for everyone I have met on the road I have traveled. Though tough, it has also been full of blessings. I wouldn't trade this road for any other in the world.

Given up on how to lose weight? Here's the answer!!!!

Preach the Gospel

As a Christian, I understand that I am to spread the Word of Jesus Christ.

As a Christian, it saddens my heart to see people die in darkness without the opportunity to know Christ...or even to hear of Who He is.

But, as a Christian, there is something that I cannot comprehend no matter how hard I try. How can someone know, I mean REALLY know, Who Christ is and experience Who He is and then continue to live their life like He does not exist? How can they ignore such an amazing God? How do they go on every day knowing that He is there, but just not care?

I just don't understand.

Maybe we're trying too hard

Mental note: It's hard to write about an emotion, when the emotion can't be felt.

Have you ever experienced a situation that left you so hurt, so scared that when something similar happens...you're numb? You don't laugh. You don't cry. You don't feel a thing. You feel nothing. Absolutely no emotion. You're just a blank page.

Unfortunately, numbness is not something we want to feel. But an upside to that numbness is the blank page it brings us to; the blank page is an option. In my opinion, we have three options. One, stay a blank page. For however long you feel it, you stay numb and never acknowledge it. Two, you color your blank page negatively. You cover your page in black and chose to look only on the worst parts of the situation. Three, you color your page positively. You use color and imagination and you make the best of things.

Better mental note: Color your blankness(numbness) or blackness(bad emotions) with imagination and REAL color. Make the best of the worst situation God gives you.

Humble I bow down

"What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you? You want something, but you don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on YOUR pleasures. [James4:1-3]

God, less me with a humble heart and mind. Bless me with the patience and understanding to withstand false accusations and arguments. Bless me with the ability to let go of what is not of importance. Bless me with a heart that will bless those who persecute me. When others look at me, let them see Your grace. Amen.

My God is the God Who provides

(1) I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: (2) preach the word; be ready IN SEASON AND OUT OF SEASON; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. (3) For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, (4) and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. (5) But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, FULFILL YOUR MINISTRY.
2 Timothy 4:1-5

In this world, it is easy to lose sight of why we are here and what our responsibilities are. It is easy to get caught up in things that have no importance whatsoever. There are so many people that surround us every single day that have done this.
One of the greatest things God has ever entrusted to His children is the blessing of sharing His love. We get to share the greatest thing that has ever existed. What an honor that is and how disappointing it is to see people lose sight of that.
Ministry isn't about showing off for God Himself. It's about showing God off to the world who is missing out on Him. It's about showing the souls He created that He loves them unconditionally, forever. That He was and is and is to come. That He is everything you could ever need.

Sometimes people lose sight of that. Sometimes I lose sight of that.
Recently, I heard one of my own leaders pray a prayer that I know pray for my life. That if I ever get in the way of God and His will, that He would remove me from being in the way.
It's an honor to get to be a part of what He is doing in this world today. I love every minute I spend doing it. It can be exhausting at times, but every time I see someone take a step towards Christ, I realize just how much it really is worth the time, the exhaustion, the late nights, the early mornings, the criticism, the hardship...it's just worth everything. It will always be worth it. Even if it's only for one person, that is one more person that won't have to suffer any longer.

Thank you, Father, for the opportunity You have placed in my life. For the honor of serving You. For everything You do for me. You are mighty, all powerful, amazing. I'm willing, Lord, for You, I will go. Send me. I love you.

Merry Christmas

Just wishing everyone a very merry Christmas!!! =]

Mine has been terrific.
Clothes, books, tinkerbell stuff, giftcards....and Rockband. =]
Though I love Rockband, I will be exchanging it for Guitar Hero World Tour. Can't wait. =]

Wish you all the best!!!

Holly jolly days?

Three words: Christmas and Retail

After an 11 hour shift Monday and an 11.5 shift today....I'm exhausted.
Tomorrow is another 8 hour day....and then church, and then a gathering my parents want me to go to, and then Kev's Aunt's.
The day after Christmas, my shirt starts at 7:30 am and ends at 3pm.

Boy....am I going to need a vacation.

Night.

Readers Participation Required

Out of all holidays my favorite is Thanksgiving. It has all the great food from Christmas (plus the people I get to spend Christmas with). It's also my favorite because I love feeling so Thankful. We should feel Thankful every day we live, but Thanksgiving is a day that really makes you realize what you have to be thankful for.

My favorite part of Christmas is wrapping the gifts. I loooooove the secrets and the excitment. I love the face the person makes when they open it to find what you got them. I love making the boxes look really pretty. But most importantly, I like giving the gift the most. Honestly, I'd be perfectly okay if I didn't recieve a gift, but I love giving the gift.
I guess it reminds me of the way I should live all the time. God gave me His Son as a gift, and Christmastime is a way of reminding me to share the gift, not only with the people I love most, but the world.


Now, since you know my favorite holiday and my favorite part of Thanksgiving...it's time to share yours.

<333

I passed....

...my driving test.

=]