Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas! Today is the day all of us have been anxiously anticipating - the day for the gathering of family and friends, for exchanging beautifully wrapped packages, and for reflecting on the generous and gracious love of our Father in Heaven. I love Christmas and all that it represents in my life.

Isaiah 9:6 (NIV)
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Luke 2:14 (NIV)
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom His favor rests.

James 1:17 (NIV)
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights...

Happy Christmas!

Happy December!

A new month begins! Love this time of year with the glistening snow, the lights, the scents...all of it is so magical and beautiful!

With the start of a new month comes a new Scripture Memory Verse...

James 1:21 (The Message)
In simple humility, let our gardener, God, landscape you with the Word, making a salvation-garden of your life.

Only 25 days until Christmas! Ready for some more time off of work and all the holiday madness!

Happy December!

Scripure Memory Verse #22

I'm a few days late with my post, but it was a very busy and tiring week. Thankfully, it's been a great weekend and I now have a little time to post my 22nd Scripture Memory Verse for the year...

Luke 1:50 (The Message)
His mercy flows in wave after wave on those who are in awe before him.

I came across this verse while perusing my Bible's topic index. It's simply stated, yet profound. I need God's mercy on a daily, even hourly, basis. Though marked with moments of victory and wonder, this year has also been incredibly challenging for me in that it's been filled with a great deal of change which has invoked a great deal of stress. I've struggled this year more so than in others. I'm happy that I've managed to make it through thus far, but still find myself wrestling with anxiety and discouragement at times. I'm glad that even though I may not always act or feel my best, that God still sheds His love, mercy, and grace upon me. I'm grateful for that promise and for the fact that He never changes, even when I do. He is AWESOME!

This week is Thanksgiving week! I've continued my 30 Days of Thanks on Facebook - it's been fun to share my blessings - there really is so much to be grateful for and it serves as a good reminder of how amazing life is!

I'm looking forward to only having three days of work this week - it'll be a nice time to spend with my hubby, family, and not have to worry about work stuff for a change. I'm definitely looking forward to the break! And I'll be running the Turkey Trot again this year on Thanksgiving morning so I'm excited for that too! The exercise will give me a good reason to enjoy all that great food!

That's all for now! Happy Thanksgiving! :-)

Happy November!

November 1st...where has the time gone?!? This year is coming to an end very quickly...

So, let me give an update since the last time I was on...

*I ran a Halloween themed race on October 22, the Headless Horseman 5K! It was a lot of fun - I actually finished in 3rd place for my age group which entitled me an award - a stainless steel water bottle! Yay!

*Over the past week, I finished the Duty or Delight? bible study by Tammie Head. It was very cool, and I'm glad I got to share what I learned with my girlfriend who is overseas for a missions trip.

*I took a day off from work yesterday (Halloween) and indulged in some me time, complete with watching the Today show and drinking coffee in my pjs, retail therapy, and a fabulous stress relieving massage at one of the best places in town! It was WONDERFUL and greatly needed!

That's about it - now we're on to November and that blessed holiday season made fantastic with good food, time with family and friends, and time off work - woohoo!

Since it's November 1st, I have my 21st Scripture Memory Verse to share for the year...

Hebrews 12:28 (The Message)
"Do you see what we've got? An unshakable kingdom! And do you see how thankful we must be? Not only thankful, but brimming with worship, deeply reverent before God."

I picked this verse in the spirit of Thanksgiving, because let's face it, there's so much to be thankful for - the first of which is GOD - His Word, His love, His ability to transform and redeem lives, and His faithfulness. He is so GREAT and so GOOD to me!

Here's to a thankFULL November!

Scripture Memory Verse #20

Just a quick post to share my 20th Scripture Memory Verse for the year...

1 John 3:24, The Message
As we keep His commands, we live deeply and surely in Him, and He lives in us. And this is how we experience His deep and abiding presence is us: by the Spirit He gave us.

I came across this verse as part of my bible study, which I am now more than half-way through. This week's lesson focused on how God has supplied with everything we need for our lives through the Holy Spirit and how we can trigger more of the Spirit's power in our lives. Very cool!

Celebrated my birthday on Monday - can't believe I'm 27 years old now - how time does fly! It's been a good 27 years though - can't wait to see what the next 27 years will bring!

Heading out today to see the Spartans play the Wolverines - hoping for a big MSU win! Let's Go State! Then going to my grandparent's place to see family and watch the Tigers game! Oh, how I love Saturdays!

Happy October!

Happy October!

Reasons I love this month...

1) October is when all the colors on the trees really start to the change, the air gets crisper, the scents are spicier, and cozying up with a hot cup of something just feels oh so good (pumpkin spice or gingersnap lattes especially)!

2) My birthday is October 10th (10/10) - so there's always a little celebration to look forward to! (This is also my brother and sister-in-law's anniversary!)

3) October is when we frequent the cider mill, winery, pumpkin patch, and apple orchard. Love making those memories with my hubby.

4) Halloween! Love the scary and family fun movies (Hocus Pocus, Casper, Haunted Mansion), the music (Monster Mash, Thriller), and passing out candy to the cute little ones in costume.

For these four reasons alone, I can say that I really think this month will be great! Super excited for what is in store over the coming weeks.

I just finished my second week of bible study. I'm really liking the lessons. Much like the Kelly Minter studies, Tammie Head's lessons are easy to get into for someone like me who is on the go. The lessons are short and simple, but deep and insightful. I really like the overall layout too - I'm a bookworm and for me, everything from the feel of the book to the look of it inside and out matters. It invites me to sit down and take part in its pages. Last week it focused on how God has chosen me. This week it focused on how God has redeemed me. Throughout the past two weeks, I've been reminded of how much God loves me and just how freeing that love is. It's really amazing what God does for us who believe in Him.

Since I'm captivated by God's love, I decided that my 19th Scripture Memory Verse should focus on this...

Ephesians 3:17-19, The Message
"And I ask him that with both feet planted firmly on love, you'll be able to take in with all Christians the extravagant dimensions of Christ's love. Reach out and experience the breadth! Test its length! Plumb the depths! Rise to the heights! Live full lives, full in the fullness of God."

May my love of the Lord Jesus increase as I focus on and accept His lavish love of me!

Capital City River Run Half Marathon

Well...I DID IT! I ran my first half marathon yesterday and it was AWESOME! I put all of that training (12 weeks, 121 miles) to the test and it paid off! Here are the results...

Capital City River Run Half Marathon 2011
Miles: 13.1
Time: 2:09:22
Pace: 9:53
Place: 42 out of 80 in my age group

I am so thrilled to have accomplished this goal. All year I have wanted to be able to do this and to finally have it under my belt feels amazing!

Saturday night, Kenny prayed over me and yesterday morning before the race, I knelt in prayer again and read the scriptures. I was reminded, of course, of my scripture memory verse (I can do everything through Him who gives me strength) and also of Isaiah 40:31 which says, "Those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." I clung to these promises throughout my run, and in Jesus' name, I was victorious! Even when my knees began to feel the burn of the run and I had to slow my pace, I just continued to lift up my prayers and praises for the beautiful, perfect weather, and the opportunity and blessing to run this race, and He helped me get through to the finish line! God is so GOOD!

I'm continuing to celebrate today by taking my first day off in 6 MONTHS from work, and enjoying a rainy day with my hubby! It's going to be GREAT!

Praise God for everything He has done! I am so blessed!