Graduation Day

Today is my college graduation. To be honest I never thought that this day would actually come. My life and my education path didn’t actually go to the way that I had planned. However it went the way that God wanted it to. Though I did get a little sidetracked along the way I should have graduated with my bachelor’s degree about four years ago. However I had to learn the hard way, what happens when you listen to your plans and the plans of others instead of God’s plan?

God’s plans are always better than anything that we could come up with. When I changed my major from what my family members wanted me to major in to what God wanted me to use my talents in and major in, I was happier.  It only took me four years to realize and understand that my family would still love me even if I changed my major.

So finally I changed my major from Nursing to Criminal Justice. Not only did my GPA improve, but I was enjoying what I was learning. I was also happy. By changing from Nursing to Criminal Justice it allows me to be a step closer to getting my Master’s in Social Work. My not only having a bachelors in Criminal Justice but prayerfully a Master’s in Social Work, I can become a voice for people who do not have a voice.

So today my graduation day is bittersweet, one chapter and one season of my life has ended and another one is starting. I am thankful for friends and family who were there every step of the way. With their help and prayers to get me through it. I am thankful for my grandparents mamaw and papaw and mom for believing in me as well as helping to pay for school. It was a family effort and I could not have done it without you. 

April Is....

Because I am one this is something near and dear to my heart. 

What I've Learned from Disney

After seeing the because of Disney and what I’ve learned from Disney on pinterest it’s given me an idea for a post. I know I have posted in while but I’ve been busy with school. More on that later, back the Disney post. Growing up I loved Disney movies but not the typical princess movies, because they were nothing like the original fairy tales. As they were written as warnings not stories. But even though I didn’t like the princess Disney movies I still learned things from them. But first what I learned from my favorite Disney Movie

Beauty and the Beast thought

    

From Peter Pan 

I actually did try to fly (kids don't try this at Home) by jumping off the kitchen counter. Thankfully I didn't break anything. 

From The Fox and Hound 

From Ratatouille

From Lilo 

From Lady and The Tramp 

From Mulan 

From Frozen 

   

From Monsters INC 

From Aladdin 

and Finally From Pocahontas 

Verse for 2014

Starting in 2012 I picked a verse or two that would be my verse for the year. That I wanted to hang on to for the year to help me grow in my walk. I ended up using the same verse for two years 2 Peter 3:18 so now that verse has become a life verse along with Jeremiah 29:11.

2014 Is no different. The main verse I am choosing for the year actually come from a signed copy of Paige Rewritten that I order from the author Erynn Mangum. Isaiah 41:10

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed for I am your God. I will Strengthen you and help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right.” Isaiah 41:10

When I got the book in the mail and saw that verse; I knew that verse was what I needed then. Remind me not to fear God is always with me. It’s the verse that I am going to need in the coming year as I face my last semester of college, gradutation and finding a job that lets me use Criminal Justice degree to help people

The first Bible study I am going to be doing this year is The Unburdened  Heart. I feel that it is the study that I need right now. 

End of 2013

It’s hard to believe that this year is almost over. It’s New Year’s Eve 2013. I also know that I haven’t written on this blog as much as I would have liked. But school this year has kicked my butt. I hope to be better at posting in the new year at least twice a week. I have better luck posting on my book review blog. But one of my goals for 2014 is to keep a daily journal as well as a prayer and Bible study journal. So I have should have more thoughts to post. Here’s to a better 2014 and trusting the Lord. 

Merry CHRISTmas

Merry CHRISTmas. May we remember and celebrate the  reason for the season. He was the King of Kings but he chose to come in the form of a little baby. He came to give us hope and His everlasting Peace.

















The Pictures came from my Winter and Christmas pinterest board. 

My Testimony

I realize that I haven’t written my testimony as a blog post yet. If this blog is going to reflect by life and my Christian walk then I to share my testimony and how and when Jesus saved me. Jesus chose me first and after being drawn by the Holy Spirit I answered the call and asked Jesus to come into my heart and save me. To wash me in the blood to forgive my sins.

            As a Christian I am not perfect. I am still a work in progress. A Sinner saved by Grace. God’s amazing Grace through His Son’s blood. Jesus paid the price on the cross so that I wouldn’t have to.

            I didn’t grow up in a Christian home till this day (August 16, 2013) I am praying for my parents and my little sister’s salvation as well as my grandpas. What’s sad is the fact that both my parents have a head knowledge of Jesus but neither have a heart relationship with Him. My dad grew up in a Southern Baptist house with a praying daddy. My mom was raised Catholic until her father remarried.

            I am thankful for a praying grandma (mamaw) and a praying great grandma (granny). Who both prayed for me growing up and took me to Church and Sunday school every other Sunday. That’s how their small country Church services worked. The Pastor had two different Churches that he preached at. I am also thankful that my mom sent me to vacation Bible school every summer. Even though I didn’t realize it at the time that the seeds of the Gospel and Jesus that mamaw and granny had planted were watered.

            Then the time came for me to start middle school, and my mamaw’s  prayers for me changed(she later told me.)  She started praying that God would bring a Christian friend and her family into my life. And I didn’t know it at the time but that’s exactly what God did the first day of sixth grade. When I meet Amber. (It’s hard to believe 15 years later we are still best friends.) it was her and her mom (who become like a second mom to me) who invited me to their Church. It was through Amber that I got introduced to youth group.  Youth group was also were I meet Stephanie another friend that I’m still close to after all this time. Amber and Stephanie showed me what young Christian’s were like.

            God was using the Holy Spirit to draw me to Him all through middle school. It was in middle school that I understood something was missing. But it wouldn’t be till freshman year of high school and the events of 9/11 that I would answer the call and drawing of the Holy Spirit.

            On 9/11 I realized that life really is but a vapor and that we are not promised tomorrow. It was 9/12 the Wednesday  after 9/11 that I accepted to call of the Holy Spirit and asked Jesus to save this sinner. However it wasn’t until Maya 2002 that I finished yielding  and followed through with Baptism.

            Even now I am still learning to daily to give God complete control; I am still in the sanctification process, and I will be until God   calls me home. Even though Jesus never promised easy He did promise that He would never leave me nor forsake me. When I become a Christian I discovered what being a Christian could cost me. I ended up losing many of my so called friends. I also almost became an outcast in my high school. But however I gained so much more my sins forgiven and eternal life, and a relationship with Jesus. I also discovered who my brothers and sisters in Christ were, my true friends were the ones that would stand by me no matter what. I gained a Church family that are sometimes closer to me than my birth family.