TTFN, Ta-Ta for Now

So today brings me to the end of my blogging assignment for my professional writing class. I have had a great experience testing the waters of blogging and I have really appreciated all the thoughtful comments that people have posted. Thank you all so much for being my followers throughout this learning experience. Although the assignment is complete as of today, I may decide to keep this blog up and running. However, there will most likely be no more posts between now and May 5th. With the last week of classes approaching next week and finals week following that, I doubt I will have time to post on here. Don't give up on me though. I think I'm hooked and I have a feeling I will be back. Thanks again so much for your support. I am encouraged every time I look at my blog page and see that I have a list of "followers." So...as my Grandpa Smith and I always used to say to each other at the end of a visit, TTFN, Ta-ta for now!

Christians and Social Justice

As I was skimming through the "Recent Update" portion of my Facebook statuses this morning I ran into a post from the organization called Focus on the Family. This is a rather well known organization in the Christian world and it focuses on a great deal on living the Christian life. I stopped to read what the post said and was very interested to find that it was leading me to a blog. Apparently, the president of the organization, Jim Daly, is one of the writers on the panel for the Washington Post/Newsweek blog titled "On Faith." I had never realized this and so I was very interested to see what he had to say. With all that is going on with our government right now I thought that I would pass along Mr. Daly's words of wisdom here. Please enjoy Jim Daly's post on Christians and social justice.

http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/panelists/jim_daly/2010/04/social_justice_about_increasing_righteousness_in_culture.html

Quiet Times and Still Harbors

"that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you,"

1 Thessalonians 4:11

This verse was the topic for my weekly devotional this week. I found it ironic that it falls right toward the end of school. I wrote to myself in my devotional notes, "How can I find time for a quiet life in the midst of the end of the semester?" At first I decided that it would be impossible to have a quiet life during this stressful time, but God wouldn't let me end with that. He convicted me that although I cannot get out of any of my obligations for the next three weeks, I can still find a way to live a quiet life. I just need to find (as the book suggests) the small harbors. I need to take advantage of those moments here and there where I have a moment to be quiet and still. It may be for just five minutes before school or it could be only for a half hour at night before I go to bed, but those moments do exist. While I may not be able to live a "quiet life" right now, I can develop quiet moments until God gives me a chance to rest. The more I thought about it, the more I realized that taking these moments of quiet time before God, to refresh myself and just bask in His presence, will probably be one of the most important things when it comes to finishing up a stressful semester. I would encourage all of you to consider the same idea. Even if you cannot back out of your obligations to have a "quiet life" make a few minutes each day just to relax and have a quiet time before God. I hope this blesses you as much I predict it is going to bless me.
God Bless,


Dani ><>

You are Valuable!

I received this devotional in my inbox today and I thought I would pass it along. Sometimes we try so hard to "please God" in order to "win" His love. However, nothing we can do can ever be good enough to warrant God's love...yet He loves us anyway! These two excerpts talk about that very encouraging fact!




Enjoying Peace in His Presence
I love you regardless of how well you are performing. Sometimes you feel uneasy, wondering if you are doing enough to be worthy of My Love. No matter how exemplary your behavior, the answer to that question will always be no. Your performance and My Love are totally different issues, which you need to sort out. I love you with an everlasting Love that flows out from eternity without limits or conditions. I have clothed you in My robe of righteousness, and this is an eternal transaction: Nothing and no one can reverse it. Therefore, your accomplishment as a Christian has no bearing on My Love for you. Even your ability to assess how well you are doing on a given day is flawed. Your limited human perspective and the condition of your body, with its mercurial variations, distort your evaluation.

Bring your performance anxiety to Me, and receive in its place, My Unfailing Love. Try to stay conscious of My loving Presence with you in all that you do , and I will direct your steps.

Jeremiah 31:3; Isaiah 61:10; Psalm 31:16; Psalm 107:8

Excerpted from the devotional book, Jesus Calling by Sarah Young.


You Have Value... Just As You Are
With you very own hands you formed me; now breathe your wisdom over me. Psalm 119:73 MSG

Listen closely, Jesus' love does not depend on what we do for him. Not at all. In the eye of the King, you have value simply because you are. You don't have to look nice or perform well, Your value is inborn.

You are valuable...not because of what you do or what you have done, but simply because you are. Remember that.

God takes you however he finds you. No need to clean up or climb up. Just look up.

A Spoonful of Sugar...

I opened up my email today to find the KLOVE verse of the day in my inbox. Upon opening the email, I found the following verse awaiting me: "A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person's strength."~ Proverbs 17:22, NLT I had to chuckle to myself because this is just what God has been showing me today. I woke up this morning (for some unknown reason) feeling very perky and happy! This is not the norm for me as I typically wake up dreading the school day and worrying about all that must be accomplished. So...the day started out on a good foot. As the day has progressed, I have only felt myself becoming more and more joyful! I was perplexed at my own good attitude and wondered to myself, "Is it possible to be this happy and still be in college approaching finals?" A still small voice inside me answered back, "Yes, if God is on your side!" This only increased my level of joy. As I have relished the cheerful heart which God has so blessed me with today, I can really see the truth of the verse in Proverbs. I really do feel more rested, more focused, and more determined. I would encourage all of us to focus on the positives (no matter how small) today. Make a decision to refuse to let little annoyances, or big problems, get you down. I am reminded of the line from a song in Mary Poppins, "A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down in the most delightful way." Thankfully, the dosage of medicine which comes from a good heart has turned out to taste oh so sweet! Praise God for His love and ask Him to give you a dose of good medicine!

God Bless!

***I will try to post the link to KLOVE's verse of the day in case anyone is interested***

Grace, Grace, God's Grace

Today in my hometown of Douglas, Wyoming there is a funeral taking place at 11:00 in a yellow, brick church, downtown. My trusted pastor will perform the service and many members of the congregation will gather, along with members of the Senior Center, to honor the deceased. However, while funerals may seem like solemn events, we, as Christians, need always remember that outside the doors of the church, high above the sky, way up in heaven, there is a party going on.

The old man from church had lived a rough life. He had done many terrible things and had a reputation that preceded him. One that haunted him. However, this old man came to church with a little old woman whom he had met at the Senior Center. This little old lady didn't seem to care about his past. She just invited him to come to church. Pretty soon the duo was inseparable. They went everywhere together and could always be seen together at church events. Then, one day, this old man accepted Christ. He was able to have his burdens lifted and his sin, which had been as scarlet, washed white as snow. This old man was one of the sincerest embodiments of God's grace that I have ever had the privilege to be witness to. His example shows me that there is no sin too great for God to forgive, no person too far gone for God to reach, and no person to terrible for God to love. The little old lady also seems to have a lesson up her sleeve. She was not judgmental. She didn't care about this man's past. Instead, she befriended him with an honest friendship and brought him to church where he found his salvation. What wonderful examples this little old duo set for me!!

Throw open the church doors and soar high up into heaven. There will be rejoicing and partying at the welcome-home party for one very neat, very grateful, very forgiven, little old man.

"Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the LORD,
“Though your sins are like scarlet,
They shall be as white as snow;
Though they are red like crimson,
They shall be as wool.
Isaiah 1:18

In honor of John Voltruba

This is a very convicting song by the new band Revive. It deals with the fact that life goes by in a blink. I had some trouble on the school computers posting the video, so I posted the link here in the blog and also on the "Links" sidebar. This is "Blink" by the band Revive. I hope it encourages you to make every moment count!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZGRXmrWCxM

Waiting

I was tagged in a note on Facebook this weekend. Inside the note was this poem. I wanted to share it with everyone because it has such a great meaning. It describes where I am in life, and what my attitude often is. It is so comforting and true.
~Dani

WAITING

Fear says"get in there and fix it."
Genuine love say, "wait on God. Wait on His timing." ~ Linda Dillow

Desperately, helplessly, longingly, I cried.
Quietly, patiently, lovingly God replied.
I pled and I wept fpr a clue to my fate.
And the Master so gently said, "Child you must wait!"

"Wait? You say, wait!" my indignant reply.
"Lord, I need answers, I need to know why!
Is your hand shortened? Or have you not heard?
By FAITH I have asked, and am claiming your Word."

"My future and all to which I can relate
Hangs in the balance, and you tell me to WAIT?
I'm needing a yes, a go-ahead sign,
Or even a no to which I can resign."

"And Lord, you promised that if we believe
We need but ask and we shall receive.
And Lord, I've been asking, and this is my cry:
I'm weary of asking! I need a reply!"

Then quietly, softly, I learned of my fate
As my Master replied once again, "You must wait."
So, I slumped in my chair, defeated and taut
And grumbled to God, "So I'm waiting...for what?"

He seemed then to kneel and His eyes wept with mine,
And He tenderly said, "I could give you a sign.
I could shake the heavens, and darken the sun.
I could raise the dead, and cause mountains to run."

"All you seek, I could give you and pleased you would be.
You would have what you want- but you wouldn't know ME."

You'd not know the depth of my love for each saint;
You'd not know the power that I give to the faint;

You'd not learn to see through the clouds of despair;
You'd not learn to trust just by knowing I'm there;
You'd not know the joy of resting in me
When darkness and silence were all you could see.

You'd never experience that fullness of love
As the peace of my Spirit descends like a dove;
You'd know that I give and I save...(for a start).
But you'd not know the depth of the beat of my heart.

The glow of my comfort late into the night.
The faith that I give you when you walk without sight,
The depth that's beyond fetting just what you asked
Of an infinite God, who makes what you have LAST.

You'd never know, should your pain quickly flee,
What it means that "My grace is sufficient for thee."
Yes, your dreams for your loved ones overnight woud come true,
But, oh the loss! if I lost what I'm doing in you!

"So, be silent, my child, and in time you will see
THAT THE GREATEST OF GIFTS IS TO GET TO KNOW ME.
And though oft may my answers seem terribly late,
My wisest of andwers is still but to WAIT."

Author unknown

Debt

Debt. It's a scary word. To owe more than you have the means to pay off. Although the word is terrifying to many people it seems that more and more individuals are finding themselves in this less-than-pleasant situation. Debt can leave people bitter, overwhelmed, and hopeless. While monetary debt is the most commonly recognized idea of debt in today's world, there is also another kind of debt, blacker, darker, and more deadly than anything that could be caused by a credit card. This form of debt is sin, and it is a debt that no earthly creditor can help us get out of.

I sat in my religion class Monday night: Death and Dying-- not the most pleasant way to spend 2.75 hours of my life each week. I was looking around at my classmates when I noticed something peculiar about the girl sitting in front of me. The chairs in this classroom are set on tiers which allowed me to have a nice, clear view of the back of her head. On the little piece of skin directly behind her right ear she had tattoo. In the common "tattoo-black," and in all lowercase letters, her tattoo consisted of one word: debt. Her tattoo astounded me! Why would anyone want to be constantly reminded of such a dark and dreary concept? Why would someone as pretty as the girl in front of me want to be permanently branded with this terrible idea?

The more I thought about it, the more I realized a very pertinent spiritual truth. We are all, every one of us, marked with a big, black, dark tattoo mark of spiritual debt which we have received from "Satan's Tattoo Parlor". Using the ink of sin, the tricky tattoo artist has made our mark permanent. There is nothing we can do to remove the scar. No scrubbing with good deeds will make it come off. No scraping with the act of being a good person. No earthly creditor or "get out of debt fast" self-help method can help us. Our situation may seem permanently hopeless.

But it is not.

Although we are all tattooed with the debt that comes from the sin we have committed against God, there is a way to break free from our scar. Christ's blood is the ultimate "get out of debt" solution. His death on the cross paid our debt, allowing us to become debt-free. In the process of taking our debts upon Himself, he poured His blood out for us, washing us clean and removing our tattoo of debt in the process.

The more I thought about this truth the more grateful to God I became. I am so thankful that I do not have to walk around marked with something as black and terrible as the brand of debt. I also felt sorrow for the girl in front of me, a girl I know to be skeptical of Christianity. I hope that one day she will find the ultimate form of debt-removal in Jesus Christ. Will you join me in praying for her?

While the girl in my class might be stuck with her tattoo for life, we, as Christians, can have our debt paid for, in-full, once and for all! And the best thing about Jesus' tattoo removal business? Unlike most laser removal options, it doesn't even leave a scar.

As a matter of fact, it doesn't leave a single trace!

Creation Speaker

I was so blessed over the course of Spring Break to attend the creation science speaker from The Institute for Creation Research who spoke at First Baptist Church. Dr. Randy Giuliuzza, or Dr. G as many called him, was an excellent speaker and further affirmed my belief in the truth behind Genesis 1:1 and the 6 day creation account. Dr. G held a session on how we can see God through the workings of the human eye. It was amazing to see just how complex the eye really is. I am convinced that nothing that complex and intricate could ever have evolved from some random parts of the primordial slime. Dr. G also did a seminar on the age of the earth, and how just by looking at the different rock layers around Wyoming it should be obvious that the earth is not millions and billions of years old, but rather only thousands. His main speaking point in this seminar was that rock layers, such as those found in the Grand Canyon, were not put down one layer at a time over a long period of time, but instead were put down quickly in a mass flood. This would be supportive of the account of Noah's flood. Dr. G also gave a talk on the supposed "missing link" fossils. These included Lucy, Ida, and Aida. He proceeded to discuss how these remains are built up to be much more than they truly are and, although they have been disproved, they are still not removed from textbooks or museums. Finally, Dr. G did a session on how to approach and talk to an evolutionist. On Sunday morning, Dr. G did a Sunday school on how dinosaurs lived with people, and he followed up by a sermon on how creation should cause us to praise God and recognize his power. I have attended many events like this in the past and I was blessed to be a part of this very interesting seminar in my very own home town Church. God truly blessed the sessions.

Creation Science Speaker to Speak in Douglas

Genesis 1:1 "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." While this appears to be a verse that many Christians feel it is ok to skimp on a little bit, the creation story must be accepted as fact or else the entire Bible will crumble underneath it. Devoting scientific study along with Biblical theology has been the job of many scientists and individuals involved in many different organizations. This coming weekend March 13-14 one of these scientists is going to enlighten the community of Douglas, Wyoming with some knowledge about how the creation account really does line up with modern science and how Darwin's theory of evolution does not.

Here is the schedule for the event, compliments of the First Baptist Church Website: http://www.fbcdouglas.org/

Creation, Evolution, and Intelligent Design

**Free Admission**Free Admission**Free Admission**Free Admission**Free Admission**

Featuring Dr. Randy Guliuzza
First Baptist Church
Corner of 4th and Oak • Douglas, WY 82633
For more information call 307.358.3724 or go to www.fbcdouglas.org

About Dr. Randy Guliuzza:

Dr. Randy Guliuzza is a captivating speaker who presents well-docu­mented and often humorous scientific and biblical talks to audiences of all ages. He has represented ICR in several scientific debates at secular universities and in other forums. Dr. Guliuzza has a B.S. in Engineering from the South Dakota School of Mines and Technol­ogy, a B.A. in theology from Moody Bible Institute, an M.D. from the University of Minnesota, and a Masters in Public Health from Harvard University. Dr. Guliuzza served nine years in the Navy Civil Engineer Corps and is a registered Professional Engineer. In 2008, he retired as Lt. Col. from the U.S. Air Force, where he served as Flight Surgeon and Chief of Aerospace Medicine. He is the author of the recently released book Made in His Image.

Saturday, March 13, 2010

Morning Sessions:
9:00 a.m. The Human Visual System
10:30 a.m. Mount St. Helens

Afternoon Sessions:
1:30 p.m. The Importance of Creation to Both Science and Christians
3:00 p.m. 5 Minutes with a Darwinist: Exposing the Fluff of Evolution


Sunday, March 14, 2010

8:30 a.m. (Worship Service) Importance of the Doctrine of Creation
9:45-10:45 a.m. (Sunday School) Dinosaurs: Facts and Myths
11:15 a.m. (Worship Service) Importance of the Doctrine of Creation

Above It All

Hey Everyone,
Thanks to the lovely amount of homework I have to accomplish before Spring Break, I once again need to keep this short and sweet. The lyrics I am posting is to a song by Christian Rock group Building 429. The song is called Above It All, a song which has been very encouraging to me over the past couple of weeks. It deals with the attitude we have vs. the attitude we should have during difficult situations. Interesting Tidbit: Building 429 took their name from the verse Ephesians 4:29 (hence 429). The verse reads: "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouth, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." Hence the "Building". I cannot find a location to listen to the song, but if you have Rhapsody you should be able to hear it for free. I would strongly suggest taking a few minutes to listen to it. It is so encouraging.

Oh I'm waiting for the answer to the question in my soul
Lord why did You lead me here?
Because I, I take a look around and a desperate world surrounds me
And I know I'm not of this place, but it's here and in my face

And all that I am wants to run
Well God I feel helpless and undone

Lift me up above it all
I'm feeling broken and alone
Don't let me turn to stone
Lift my heart above it all
Because I've lost my hope tonight
And I'm praying for the strength to carry on
Lord will You lift me up above it all
Above it all

Now I'm waiting for a glimpse of hope in an eye
But a flash of sunlight shows a faded gray
Because these streets are hard and cold
And the alleys burn like coal with a stench of helplessness
And all the life that's been misspent

And all that I am wants to run
God I feel helpless and undone

Lift me up above it all
I'm feeling broken and alone
Don't let me turn to stone
Lift my heart above it all
Because I've lost my hope tonight
And I'm praying for the strength to carry on
Lord will You lift me up above it all
Well above it all

*Bridge*
Maybe I'm not supposed to fly
Cause Maybe You want me here tonight

To lift them up above it all
When they're broken and alone
Don't let me turn to stone
Lift them up above it all
Because they cannot stand alone
And they're praying for the strength to carry on

Lift us up above it all
When we're broken and alone
Don't let us turn to stone
Lift us up above it all
Because we cannot stand alone
And we're praying for the strength to carry on
Lord will You lift us up above it all

'Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus

Short blog this week because of my crazy busy schedule. I found this cool link to a rendition of 'Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus. I love old hymns (at least the ones I know), and I always think it is so neat when they can be remade to the popular music of today. This is Hawk Nelson's version of 'Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=py6HWIZAd1A

Monster

The secret side of me I never let you see / I keep it caged, but I can't control it / So, stay away from me, the beast is ugly / I feel the rage and I just can't hold it. --Monster by Skillet

Sin nature. It looms deep within the dark and hidden chasms of each of us, causing us to do things we will later regret, say things we really don't mean, and in the long run, hurt others and embarrass ourselves. We all have an "ugly side" to us. The one, as the song lyrics state, that we rarely let others see. The side that we try to control and keep locked away. Unfortunately, due to a lack of self-control, self-discipline, or sometimes just a flat-out lack of common sense, this monster gets released and proceeds to wreak havoc on our lives and the lives of those around us. I was faced with a scenario much like this over the past week. Somehow some part of me with the "selfishness" key slipped in and unlocked the cage of the temper monster. While I have a lot of little pet monsters, the ones you might see in a Bugs Bunny cartoon, furry little guys with great big eyes and rather small fangs (such as the worry monster), the temper monster is the horror-film ready creature that is worthy of the steel-barred cage. It is by far one of my strongest monsters and, therefore, the most difficult to subdue once it is out on rampage. After an extremely strenuous struggle with this monster I was able, with some help from God, to throw it back into its cage and lock the door. Unfortunately, during the struggle some damage was done. I not only embarrassed myself, but I hurt the feelings of others. Through this experience God really showed me how much control my monster has over my life. I was utterly ashamed at the way I had reacted, and wondered if I could ever forgive myself for allowing myself to get so out of control. It was as if I was not even me anymore. I was reminded of the passage in Romans where Paul states, "I do not understand what I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do-- this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it" Romans 7:15-20 NIV.

The Skillet song continues: It's scratching on the walls / In the closet, in the halls / It comes awake and I can't control it/ Hiding under the bed, in my body, in my head / Why won't somebody come and save me from this? / Make it end / I feel it deep within, / It's just beneath the skin / I must confess that I feel like a monster / I hate what I've become / The nightmare's just begun / I must confess that I feel like a monster/ I feel like a monster

Thankfully, as I was pouting around the pit of feeling like I could never forgive myself for this terrible side of me, God opened my eyes to two very significant truths:

1.) If it seems impossible to change myself, it is. However it is not impossible for me to change. But, it is not me that does the work, it is God and His almighty power coupled with my willing heart and spirit.

2.) Although change seems so hopeless and far away, it's not. I read a quote on a friend's Facebook page which read, "A part of God's plan is bringing you to a point of desperation where you get so sick of yourself and your inability to change that you throw up your hands in surrender. When this happens, you are closer than you think to knowing the joy of the Spirit-filled life." Charles Stanley

Thankfully, through all this embarrassment, shame, and self-disgust, God has shown me that it is through the times when our ugly side is revealed that He sparks in us the desire for change and the hatred of our sin-nature "monster". The next time your monster, or my monster, escapes let's pray that God will beat it down to size and help us to take it on and ultimately defeat it! God is the ultimate monster slayer.

Every Day

I awoke this morning to a migraine, the third one in six days. Irritated, I skipped my first class, rolled over, and went back to sleep. What a way to start off the day. However, even in the midst of my misery, God wanted to show me that He was still in control. Later on in the day, after I was functional again, I made some time to make up for the quiet time I had missed earlier in the day. I found a nice comfy piece of floor in the basement of the Classroom Building, pulled out my Bible and read a chapter in 1 Thessalonians. It is part of my daily quiet time ritual, after reading scripture, to journal my prayers. As I was writing and praying to God, He led me to a very interesting revelation. He brought to mind one of the verses I had discussed in my Valentine's Day blog, Psalm 139: 16b states, "All the days ordained for me were written in Your book before one of them came to be." This made me think that from the beginning of time, actually, since before creation, God knew that I would be sick today, February 16, 2010. And you know what? For some reason, He allowed it. Knowing that brought me a sense of peace for my day. Although I had missed my first class, I was not behind on where I needed to be in the day. I was right where God wanted me (for some unknown reason) to be. I learned that even when events take me by surprise and pop up unexpectedly God is still in control and He is never surprised. This life lesson from God helped to bring an overwhelming sense of peace and purpose to my day. I was living right in the moment where God wanted me and right where He needed me. This revelation has encouraged me to live my life more purposefully instead of just falling into the groove of the mundane everyday. For some reason, and for some purpose, each day God has me right where He wants me to be. In my current Bible Study, Living Above Worry and Stress by Thelma Wells, a lady quotes, "Live life on purpose." And after today, that is just what I plan to do!

Valentine's Day

"A woman's best makeup is her smile." I found the quote on a friend's Facebook page and it has stuck in my mind as an very important truth. With Valentine's Day just around the corner, I understand that there are a lot of single women who are questioning their relationship status, and maybe wondering if they just aren't pretty enough to "get a guy". While I am by no means a relationship counselor, and I'm not very good at giving relationship advice, there is one subject that God has given me a passion for: The truth that God has designed each and everyone of us perfectly, and He loves us just for who we are. Relationships are one life scenario where girls often feel the need to get "made up" in order to impress their date or the boy they have their eyes set on. But God is not like that. He sees every detail of your face, your skin, your hair, everything, and He loves you. He doesn't care if you're a size 2 or a size 32. He never comments that you are too short or too tall, too boxy or too curvy. "I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well" Psalm 139:14 In this verse the psalmist is praising God for His wonderful workmanship on a very personal subject, the psalmist's own body. Contrary to what we often believe, our bodies are another one of God's creations~a project that He has made just the way He wanted it. However, we often don't think of our bodies as one of God's miraculous creations. We stand in awe of the mountains, look with wonder at canyons, rejoice in the beauty of bird on a fence post, gaze in praise at the vastness of the oceans and plains, but we don't often take time to complement God on the wonderful job He has done in creating our bodies in way that makes us so much more than beautiful in God's eyes. I think that the band 3 Cord Wonder has done one of the best jobs at putting this idea into words in their song "Made Perfect". In the song, God is talking to a young woman who is upset with the way she looks, and is describing how He made her perfect. The lyrics to the first verse and chorus read:

The girl you see in the mirror

isn't who I see,

When I look at you

I see reflections of Me,

You don't like your face

so you paint over My masterpiece,

You hide your face

so you hide My face

and fail to believe:

That I made you

the way that you would be most beautiful,

And I planned you

way before the universe was born,

When you try to change yourself

it only makes Me cry,

I don't know why

you try to make better

what I made perfect.

This song is always really touching to me because it brings to light the embarrassing fact that, when we stand in front of the mirror and look in disgust at our bodies, we are not criticizing ourselves, or our parents who gave us the gene for that big nose or that tiny mouth, we are criticizing God, and second-guessing the fact that we are indeed fearfully and wonderfully made. The psalmist says in Psalm 139:15-16, "My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be." The idea of being woven together implies that we were not just a combination of God's spare parts in the baby factory. We were painstakingly put together in just the pefect way by God's own hands. And so, I want to encourage everyone this Valentine's Day to take a look at yourself in the mirror and, instead of cringing at that nose, shrinking from that mole, imagining that blonde hair as brown, or those brown eyes as green, take some time to praise God for just how beautiful He has made you. Afterall, God knew just how to make us the most beautiful. As a friend once told me, Jesus thinks you're drop dead gorgeous.

**If you are interested in hearing all of the 3CW song, I have posted a link to it under the "Encouraging Links" section of the blog.**

In Everything, A Purpose

It was Saturday night. I sat down in my recliner, propped up my feet, and snuggled in to start a novel for a class. Tea by my side, I burrowed underneath my plaid snuggie and cuddled up close to my oversized stuffed frog. All things considered, I should have felt relaxed and peaceful. However, while I was reading, I couldn't help but feel lonely. My roommate was puppy-sitting for a friend and wouldn't be home until late. My family was having fun attending a wedding back home. My fiance was spending time with friends in the town where he attends college. I had been working on homework, minding my own business, when out of nowhere, this flood of lonliness washed over me, and I remember thinking to myself, I need a cat. I felt the desire to have something that was always there, something that would cuddle and bring me comfort when I felt alone, something that wouldn't go away just when I made a stupid mistake. Since I am renting a house with a strict no-pet-policy, this new companion was out of the question. It was then that I asked the infamous question, "Why, God?" Why did you put me here without my family and my fiance? Why are you allowing me to go through a season like this? I don't like the way it feels. As the questions came, so did something I wasn't expecting. Peace, an answer. As I paused my complaining to think about what God could be doing, the answer was crystal clear...growing. I realized that God was using this time of lonliness to draw me closer to Him. When I literally had no one there for me, God was there, and He had never moved. By allowing me to feel completely alone, God helped me to realize that He is always with me. My parents and fiance all have to hang up the phone, log off of Skype, and stop sending emails at some point. God never has to leave. I realized that God is using this time, the time when I am away from those who are most important to me, to develop an intimate God and Dani relationship, to teach me to lean on His love, to fall into His arms, and to acknowledge His eternal presence. I am reminded of Joshua 1:19 where God promises, "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go" (NKJV). Have you ever, or are you lately, feeling confused as to why God has allowed you to end up where you are? I would encourage you to pause, and to pray, and to make a conscious effort to look for ways (maybe make a list) that God is showing you His presence and drawing you to Himself through these circumstances. After all, God says in Romans 8:28, "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose" (NKJV). No matter what I, you, we are going through at this very moment, God has it all under control, and He is doing it for a reason. So, what did God allow me to learn this week? In everything, a purpose.

Blessings in Disguise-The Migraine

Today started out beautifully. I woke up on time (a first for the week) and had time to eat breakfast, call my fiance, AND do my quiet time before rushing out the door to school. I admit was stressed about all the work that had to be accomplished today, but I was trying to take things one day and one step at a time. I made a conscious effort to listen to uplifting songs on my iPod and take note of all the good things that God had placed in the day that He had made. I walked for a while without my headphones and just listened to the birds twitter in trees. I enjoyed the clean, fresh, smell of Laramie and couldn't help but think that it was starting to smell a bit like Spring. I was walking to class in a very cheery and upbeat mood when I noticed that my vision was going away...the red flag that a migraine was on its way. I rushed to one of the school's many coffee shops and purchased a double-shot latte and swallowed a dose of ibuprofen. Having taken these preventative measures I felt certain that my headache would be almost non-existent (except for the inability to see). I was wrong. My head began to pound and my stomach began to churn. I finished up with class and cautiously went home. There, the brunt of the attack hit with a sharp, pounding headache, and a trip to the bathroom where I was given the opportunity to see my latte and breakfast again. I was very upset that this had happened on a day that I had so much to do. However, God had something up His sleeve for me. I emailed the professor of my night class and asked if this scenario counted as an "excused absence". Surprisingly, she said yes. At first I felt guilty about not going to class (I hate missing school), but after some encouraging words from my mom, my fiance, and my friends, I realized that this was an opportunity straight from God. He was giving me an "excused" chance to relax and allow my body to recuperate. He was preparing a way for me to get rested up and take a breather. My stress instantly melted away when I was able to see a very tangible way in which God was working for my best interests. It was so much a God thing because, during my quiet time this morning I had read Romans 8:28 which says that, "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose." (NKJV) God used something that I deemed terrible for good and as part of His plan to bless me with a gift today! God's love is amazing!

Genesis of the Blog

"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." Genesis 1:1 We all know how God, being the all powerful being that He is, spoke the world into being in 6 literal days. Well, I am not nearly as powerful as God, and it has taken me a little bit to get this blog up and running, but I would like to think of today as the "Genesis" of my blog. I know that God saw all that He had made and called it "good". I am looking at my nice little template right now and I think I can safely call it good. Hopefully, that adjective will continue to describe my posts. In this blog, The Hand of God: God's Presence in Everyday Life, I hope to blog about all the different ways that I see God moving, whether it be through an encouraging song that I heard on the radio at just the right time, a Facebook post from a friend who said just the right thing, the birds singing in the trees when I was feeling depressed, or an interesting revelation from my morning quiet times. I hope that through this blog I will be able to encourage those around me to look for God's hand, and His presence, in every aspect of their everyday life. I pray that maybe this blog will be used by God in a way that can encourage others just as others, and the Lord, have encouraged me.