In His hands

We've all seen this picture so many times...













Hands cradling the world
Very strong, scarred and capable hands

I'm watching a youtube video and that image flashed across my screen. But this time it was different. I really took in that picture. How amazing it is that God has this world in HIS hands!?! He holds us, so what do we have to fear. As a little kid I use to sing (and maybe still sing it to myself:) the song "He's got the whole world in His hands." So incredible! AND not only is the world in His hands but look how small it seems in His mighty hands. This one picture in particular didn't show the world as being larger than God's hands but the world is small and completely encircled in his big hands. No need to fear cause these worldly problems and disasters are tiny when placed in God's hands and so are you're problems and concerns. To us they seem gigantic and too big for us to hold but for God, there is not argument that he can easily handle them and take care of us!

Not only does He hold this entire world and universe but He holds me, and YOU!
Whatever your worries and cares for today, put them into His VERY capable hands. After all He's got you and me sister in His hands! He's got you and me brother in His hands. He's got the WHOLE WORLD in His hands.

Isaiah 40:12 says Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, or with the breadth of his hand marked off the heavens? Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket, or weighed the mountains on the scales and the hills in a balance?

A look at the scale

Had a good laugh with the gals today after abs class:

we disscussed best criteria to follow before weighing yourself for optimal result.
oh we laughed so hard:)!

-shower
-wash your face...don't want the makeup weighing you down
-brush your teeth
-take of any possible extra weight (clothes, hair pins, elastics)
-clip your toe nails
-go to the bathroom:)
-wash your hands

It was all laughs and fun but it made me realize how superficial us girls can be sometimes.
some picture of being thin is beautiful. somehow there's a cookie cutter shape we all have to fit into to make us beautiful. I have fallen into this lie too. the Lie satan shoves in our faces everyday that our personalities don't matter, WHO we are on the inside doesn't matter but rather what we look like. step out girls. stand strong. The Lord created you to be you. Let's all see the heart like Christ. Heard a song on the radio about a young womans' heart of gold. So why not look for those....those hearts of gold. They are the real beautiful things. The real beauty within:)

Rubbing off

Do you ever find yourself taking on someone else's habits/mannerisms after you've hung out with them for a while?
Whether it be a friend or aquantence, you seem to take on their attitude, or sayings.

I know that sometimes how I talk/react to a person depends first on how they interact with me. If a person is warm and welcoming I find myself opening up and being friendly back. I would hope that that is not true if a person is cold to me and that I would in turn be cold back but they can just take more effort on my part and be harder to hang out with comfortably. I wouldn't be myself around them as with those I feel comfortable with.

For example I will act a certain way with certain people, NOT saying that I change who I AM but rather what I do/act based on what I know about that person. Two of my roommates over the years have been those specific people. At summer camp this year I "roomed" with the girls director, Chiara Stellacci for a while and I found myself talking like her sometimes or acting like her after hanging out for a while. Her caring and charismatic personality was "wearing off" on me in a positive way. I found myself trying to be more caring and accepting of others because that is the way SHE is. And the occassional expressions she would use would often escape my own mouth without me even realizing it sometimes.

Another such person is my current roommate here at Southern, Nicole Ley. She's a person whose positive influence is "rubbing off" on me. If you don't know her, I HIGHLY recommend that you get to know her! She has a huge heart and a high-energy spirit!! She is so much fun and I find myself wanting to be a happier person when I'm around her. When she talks there is a sparkle in her eyes like a joy for life, and she listens when you talk to her with all her attention. I strive to be like these two amazing women of God and I feel like I'm a better person for knowing them and having them in my life. I hope that never changes and our friendships don't die. My mannerisms are still my own personality they are just made better around these people.

Speaking of mannerisms, makes me think of families. Don't you find yourself in a situation and someone notices how much you sound like your mother or father or you act like your brother or sister?. Growing up in my home, many positive solid foundations were laid for my life. I would watch my parents and learn from what they did. I began to act like them and speak like them (and I still do:). So in a sense they've worn off on me:)! I often get the remark that I laugh JUST LIKE my mom and smile like my dad. When I'm being silly or playing around I sometimes act like my brother. I've taken their positive examples and strive to always work harder and do better because of their influence on me.

So the argument definetly does stand that whoever you choose to hang around with, will affect who you are. They will "rub off" on you whether you see it happening or not. Are you hanging around with friends who will make you want to strive to be a better, happier, more christ-like, loving, accepting, and joyful person? Or are you taking on their negative traits? Who we spend time with affects the people we become. SO spending time with Christ can only mean ONE thing. We become more like Him. That's definetly a positive relationship! the more time you spend with HIM the more his character will "rubb off" onto you!! That's awesome. Want to become a more Christ-like person? Hang out with Chirst. you can't go wrong there!

Mountains & Goodness

God is Good, All the Time
All the Time, God is Good

This seems to be one of my maman's favorite sayings. I love it!
It's so true!
This past week I had many struggles, breakdowns, desperate prayers, alone time and tears. I thought I God had forgotten me. But this weekend reminded me of the fact HE will never forget His children. Even in the darkest times when I couldn't hear anything but my fearful thoughts He was right there with me. And he reminded me of that by surrounding me with AMAZING friends. I don't know what I would do without them. And even above that, my parents. They are so supportive and just talking to them makes my crazy world all make sense. I can't thank God enough for my family and Friends. Here at school they take time to pick me up off my butt, talk to me, and just sit with me while I cry it all out. My roommate (Nicole Ley) has been with me every step of this terrible week. She has put up with my ranting and raving, my indecision, my tears, my anger, my absolute immaturity. And then those who take time to throw chocolate at me when I'm just face down on the floor completely overwhelmed:) (Julie Landess and Beth Corn)
God gave me signs of throughout this entire weekend. An amazing text of encouragement from my brother, a skype time to talk with my maman cause she knows exactly what to say to help me through what I'm going through, and a relaxing time with friends sabbath afternoon. oh yes and then a breakfast date with my roomie this morning.
So now I'm off to the library to DO MY MOUNTAIN OF HOMEWORK. BUT God says we can MOVE MOUNTAINS with the faith of a mustard seed. So here I go, gunna move that mountain:)

Keep your chin up, You'll get through whatever you're going through. Hang in there, more importantly Hang on to God. He won't let you go, so don't let go of Him.

The "LIST"

I'm reading this book called "the list" by marian jordan...(ladies, GREAT book I recommend it to YOU!)

It's talking all about girl's hopeless life "lists" and when we all stop and admit it, we all have life lists.
Things we wish to accomplish in our lives by certain milestones or birthdays or markers.
Or we make lists in our future spouses.. whether its a physically written down in black and white or on our hearts minds we have done it at one point in our lives. I mean is it wrong to aspire for high standards and qualities. We are called to not settle. I agree. But are you looking for Christlike qualities OR just looking for a perfect mr. superman. I believe we're ALL human and that we are all God's masterpieces, that are STILL being worked on.
Another LIST in my life is a "I WANT" list.

I want this, I want that.

Top of my list right now is a road bike. then a car.
These things all have one thing in common. MATERIAL possession. Selfish ambitions.
Somehow I think if I have that next great thing then I'll be happy. BUT WILL I? Have you ever wanted something for a long time and when you finally did get it, it wasn't as exciting or great as you thought? You thought that just this ONE more thing would make you happy. That one pair of shoes, that one set of clothes, that one BIKE.....always looking ahead to find joy. I often think when I'm in better shape i'll be happy....loose those few more pounds...be faster...be better at that sport....THEN i'll be HAPPY. But God does not want us to always live for tomorrow. A lesson I have yet to learn!! We can have JOY now! Joy is not found in this world or in any material possessions! That the lie that satan wants us all to believe. If we could cross ONE MORE thing off our list our lives would be better. IT'S ALL LIES!
great quotes..

JOY is not found in some future state; it is available now for those of us willing to make the exchange! The secret of life is not found in consuming but in being consumed by a passion for God- marian jordan

My Mamie

Beauty is in her experienced eyes, which have seen years of joy, pain, war and life.
Beauty is in her golden hair with its sun kissed look of year’s outdoors
Beauty is in her age spots representing a life of hard work and toil.
Beauty is in her hands, which have comforted and cared for others before herself.
Beauty is in her smile, which has light up so many lives with its radiance
Her beauty has only increased with time.
All she may see is imperfections, wrinkles and lines but all I see is a woman who has seen more of life then can be measured and made more of a difference in this world then she could ever know. But more important than the impact she has on this world is the impact she has on my life. She has taught me more then she could ever know and I can see her beauty everyday.

Fantastic Four

It's been a long time since I last wrote in here.
Months have past. Many things have happened.

Camp has always been an amazing experience and as always it seems to fly by in the blink of an eye.
2 months. Gone
This summer was different.
All my summers at Whitesand have been awesome but this one was unforgettable. I made friendships that I hope will never end.
We were inseparable. We were joined at the hip. If you found me you found her. If you were looking for her you found me. Chiara.
Best Friends.
We are the three best friends that anyone could have! Fantastic Four.
This summer was so full of laughs and inside jokes, they'll last a lifetime. It makes me want to jump on a plane and fly back today but I know that no one would be there. Camp is an amazing place but it's about the people! The people are what I miss. What leaves me with a tear stained pillow thinking i'll never see these people again. So I look to that blessed day. That one day when there will be no more goodbyes. When best friends will never have to be distance and grow apart with their own lives. A place where I can be with the Fantastic four forever and my very best friend in the world; Jesus Christ.
DO NOT get me wrong, I am ecstatic to be home with my family. The airport was such a joyful reunion and I did miss my family a lot. I love them to pieces and I love this place. They are some pretty awesome people.
There is however a place in my heart for Whitesand. Leaving it is never easy. The tears flow and the hearts break. Especially when there is no hope of a reunion next summer. It hurts all the more. The days go by in a blurr, just wishing I could see them again, make jokes with them again, laugh till I cry again, just be at that perfect place again.
As I was at the beach yesterday with my little cousins I had some time to think. Here my little cousin is laughing her head off trying to jump and avoid all these waves. She's smiling and laughing, enjoying her time. I thought "I need to do the same." There were three people this summer that had a huge impact on my life. Chiara, Angela, and Jared. These three people are the COOLEST people you will ever meet. As I watched my cousin it reminded me of them and one of the big things they taught me this summer and that was to Just enjoy life in the moment. Don't look forward at what's to come but enjoy where you are right now! Enjoy God in your life right now. Laugh at the jokes. Don't think about leaving or parting but enjoy the time you have with each other RIGHT NOW. So I ran over to my little cousin, took her by the hand and joined her in her wave jumping. Laughing and smiling and making memories. Enjoy today. Enjoy your family and friends today. So while I miss those people with all my heart I will enjoy home. I will be leaving again soon and I really miss my family during the year away. So I'm enjoying my family now:) They are my life.

God calls us to a life of enjoyment. I'm sure he puts people in our lives to enjoy and create everlasting bonds with. May my friendships from this summer not fade out as they have in the past but remain strong and constant. Fantastic Four.



If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Phillipians 2:1-4