Hello again everyone! :)
It has been a wonderful Lord's day! It's been relaxing and restful and also full of laughter! Today is Father's Day, and I just wanted to say a few words to tell my Dad how much he means to me. I don't often know how to thank my parents...but I thought that this would be a good way! Even though I couldn't be with my Dad today, I was glad to talk to him on the phone and hear about the fun he, Mom, and my brother are having in D.C. I am so thankful to my Daddy for raising me up with discipline and true love. He is never afraid to make a sacrifice for us, his family, and knows that this is what true love is all about. He makes sacrifices for us every day when he goes out and works long hours on a smelly dairy (although I'm sure he's quite used to the smell now!) so that we can live a comfortable life with many blessings. So much of what we have is because of all the work he does, and I don't think that he has been thanked nearly enough for all of the hard work he has done for us. He is a hard working man who is willing to give up his time, energy, and money to those whom he can offer his help. He's so smart and I'm so thankful for his willingness to always give of his wisdom to help me in school or give me words of advice in big-decision times! I'll always remember him teaching me about character and I live by his advice that having character is doing the right thing, even when you know nobody's looking. He disciplined me, but I'm thankful for it, because it made me respect him. And even though I could say so much more...I'm glad that he was there to support us kids in whatever we did! He is a father who always wants to listen, absolutley cares about what we're into, and is there to watch and support us in our pursuits! Thank you so much for everything Dad!...especially all the road trips you planned and took us on!! They were my favorite times with you! No matter what, Dad, I will always be your little girl :)
As some of you may know, today was also my 20th birthday! I can officially say that I am no longer a teenager...even though I may still look like it ;) It was a wonderful weekend and I am very thankful! My roommate and her family took me in on Friday night and gave me a mini-birthday party (since they knew I'd be spending it away from home). They bought me a cake, sang happy birthday to me, and we got to play lots of card games together! It was so much fun!! Then on Saturday I got to spend the entire day with Caleb! He took me to the aquarium and we got to enjoy seeing God's many wonderful creatures and enjoy laughing at how cool-looking and cute they were :) Today we got to go to church to a message about our adoption into the house of God! It was very encouraging and the rest of the day was full of rest and enjoying spending time with my best friend!
On that note, I just want to tell you a little bit about Caleb, for those of you who don't know him! I am so blessed to be his girlfriend! I can't believe that so much has happened in the past 10 (almost!) months. Its amazing what God has brought us through and how the two of us have grown together. First of all, he is probably one of the funniest guys I have ever met...but that could just be a result of how weird we are when we are together! :) He is so caring and is a gentleman in about every respect (he's always opening doors for me and always holding out a helping hand). One of his best qualities is that he's a wonderful listener. No matter what we are going through (or how emotional I am feeling) he always takes time to sit, listen, and give me wise advice.
But my favorite thing about him is that throughout our time together, he has encouraged me in the Lord in so many ways. Even before we started dating I saw how he had a great reverence and fear of God and His holy Word. Caleb has encouraged me to see God's Word as powerful and truth. "All scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competant, equipped for every good work" 2 Timothy 3:16-17. "Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding. Who determined its measurements--surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it? On what were its bases sunk, or who laid its cornerstone, when the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy?" Job 38:4-7. He inspires me because he desires to live according the Holy Word of God, and do God's will for His glory. His desire is to live God's way. Being at his side has helped me see that God's way is so much better than doing anything my own way. I am also learning that God's Word is absolutley irreplaceable in a Christian's daily walk. It has helped me see that God is so good, no matter what, and that His promises are always true.
Since the beginning of our relationship I have seen how Caleb has such awe for God's majesty and greatness. "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom" Psalm 111:10a. He has always been respectful, self-sacrificing, and pure of heart, and his desire to do things God's way has made him a great leader. I love that he is willing work to make God's truth known! I love to see him get so fired up when someone twists God's Word. It just shows me how pure and passionate His heart is for God's truth. "Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man" Ecclesiastes 12: 13. "Your throne, O God, is forever and ever. The scepter of Your kingdom is a scepter of uprightness; You have loved righteousness and hate wickedness." Psalm 45:6-7. Together, God has helped us to find comfort our Father through trials, in times of joy, and in times of uncertainty. Through our relationship, God has grown my desire to live according to God's will. We've learned together about truth, the power of a spoken word, God's true love, and how important it is to encourage each other and be there to support each other day-to-day. "There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear" 1 John 4:18."Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear" Ephesians 4:29. He has also encouraged me to have a thankful heart! When I'm having a bad attitude, he reminds me of what God has done already and what we have to be thankful for.
I'm not saying that he is perfect, by any means. We are both sinners and know that we fall short of God's standard in so many ways. We both know that we will make mistakes, but we have the love of God to love each other through those mistakes. "Two people are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow...And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him..." Ecclesiates 4:9-13. It's so funny, because I see so much of my dad in him, and it makes me smile :) I'm so thankful that God brought him into my life! We are so blessed and I praise my Heavenly Father thank both of our fathers (and mothers for that matter!) setting such a good example for us, in faith, in purity, and in strength. We are very thankful!
There's also some wonderful news I wanted to share with you before I go! Sinced I talked about my employment situation a little bit in my last post, I just wanted to let you all know that I got a part-time job!!! Actually...I technically got two!...one is a consistent job at a local senior center and one a job that I will do every once in a while. So, to tell you the full story, I didn't actually plan on getting a job when I went to the senior center. I went in to have a meeting to find out how I could help out at the center during the week. I told the directors that since I didn't have a job I wanted to help out in any way I could. I was taken completely by surprise when one of them told me that they'd like to give me some volunteer hours, but that they'd actually like to pay me for my services. My heart basically jumped inside me with excitement!! I couldn't believe what I had just heard. They wanted to pay me! They said since they had such a small budget they could only pay me for half of my hours there...but I didn't care...I was ecstatic!! I get to help write thank-you's to donors, write/design the monthly newsletter, and write grants! I'm so excited because they could really use the help and these are all things that I'm good at!!! After weeks of looking I never thought I'd ever find God's provision for my needs at the senior center...especially one that I offered to volunteer at!! I'm so thankful! I finally feel like this is where God wants me to be this summer. The people that work at the center are so sweet and I'm excited to work with them! I'm praying that God uses me for good and His glory while I'm there! "Great is the Lord, who delights in the welfare of His servant!" Psalm 35:27b. It was such a sweet gift and surprise from God that I didn't expect. God had a plan for me to get a job, it was just not in the way that I expected and not in my timing. And I'm glad it wasn't! Because this is wonderful!! "Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him." Psalm 37:7. "Behold, God is my helper; the Lord is the upholder of my life...I will give thanks to Your name, O Lord, for it is good. For He has delivered me from every trouble" Psalm 54:4-7
"Come and see what God has done: He is awesome in His deeds toward the children of man...Come and hear, all you who fear God, and I will tell what He has done for my soul. I cried to Him with my mouth and high priase was on my tongue. If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened. But truly God has listened; He has attened to the voice of my prayer! Blessed be God, because He has not rejected my prayer or removed His steadfast love from me!" Psalm 66:5&16-20
So basically what I'm saying to sum up this whole blog post is that God is so good! I now have a way to pay for my groceries and gas and a wonderful place to commit my time. I know that He is FOREVER FAITHFUL!! He continues to show me every day that this is true and that His promises are always true! So, when I am afraid of what is ahead or nervous for the day, I will stand strong on these promises: "Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you" Deuteronomy 31:6. "And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." Matthew 28:20. And even in trials, we know that our trials only last a little while. We know from God's Word that this world is only a place that we are passing through. We know that we are running towards the prize of our home in heaven, where we get to reach the prize! The prize and the inheritance of being in perfect presence of God himself. Where love and grace abound to His children--us, His saved ones. The ones He purchased by the blood of Jesus."Since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; for All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the glower falls, but the Word of the Lord remains forever." 1 Peter 1:24-25. "According to His great mercy, He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you" 1 Peter 1:3b-4. We can rejoice wherever we are because of our hope for our future home in heaven with God! So let us continue to run the race with courage: "For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control" 1 Timothy 1:7. Always remember that this is not our home and we have a perfect one to come, where there is no more pain and no more tears! So, we can rejoice in whatever situation we may be in! And we have no reason to lose hope! Let us rejoice with thanksgiving for all that God has given us! And hope for what is yet to come! "Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for His steadfast love endures forever. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom He has redeemed from trouble." Psalm 107:1-2
"So we don't look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever" 2 Corinthians 4:18.
Thanks for listening! :)
Praise the Lord! For He has blessed us!
Kasey
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