For Out of the Heart...

What comes out of our mouths reflects what's in our hearts. And who we are (which can be seen in what we say and how we say it) is more important that what we do, so we must take the time to look--really look--at ourselves and see who we are. Consider what you are saying today. Is it angry? bitter? hurtful? joyful? encouraging? apathetic? And more importantly, does it reflect who you want to be? Because you are the only one who can keep you from becoming who you want to be.

"What lies behind us and what lies before us are small matters compared to what lies within us."

Firsts

Finally, I'm posting some pics from the cruise :)

I had a lot of firsts on this trip, such as:

1st time jumping on a trampoline in the middle of the ocean

1st time eating sushi & liking it

1st time riding water slides on a ship in the middle of the ocean


1st gala dinner pic in front of a lego cruise ship

1st time I faced off with a towel duck

1st time I learned to latin dance on the main stage

1st trip to Chichen Itza, 1 of the 7 wonders of the world

We also went Snuba Diving, which was a first (but I'll have to scan those pics) and had lobster and escargo for the first time :/

Stay tuned. More pics to come...

Creeds Breed Deeds

"Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable,--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me--put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you." Phil. 4:8-9

We so often hear verses or songs that we've heard all of our lives and easily overlook what they are saying. This verse is very much that way in my life. It is full of commands and promises while revealing the character of God, but it is so easy not to notice.

Our Pivot message this past week was on biblical thinking, and several points about this verse stood out, so here goes:

~ We are to think godly thoughts so that we might cultivate godly desires - we won't live what we are not thinking. (creeds breed deeds - our beliefs will affect our actions)

~ We let the world be the trend-setter, rather than God. God may reveal something and we just think it's ok. Then, the world reveals the same thing, and we think it's amazing. Our minds are very impressionable, and we let the world have more access to it than God.

~ The reality is that for better or worse, your thought patterns are tied into everything that's going on in your life.

~ Don't overlook the promise in the verse: "the God of peace will be with you"; as we change our thoughts, we experience grace, peace, joy, etc. And as a result, we experience God and learn more about his character, because God is grace, peace, joy, etc. As we think on truth, excellence, and beauty, we encounter Christ, who is truth, excellence, beauty. The God of peace will be with you and the peace of God will be with you.

8 Days from Paradise

Today starts the 8-day countdown to our cruise! Yay! Needless to say, it is MUCH needed right about now.

Come on Oct. 18!!! You can do it! Come ON!! :) :)

Palin vs. Clinton

This SNL skit is pretty funny. Fox would be proud of this 'fair and balanced' speech. :) But don't take my word for it, watch for yourself:

http://www.nbc.com/Saturday_Night_Live/video/clips/palin-hillary-open/656281/

Down with Anxiety!

Just some thoughts from this past week:

"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Phil. 4:4-7

-Rejoice in the Lord ALWAYS. This is not a conditional statement. It's a command. It is not dependent on whether or not life is going as I'd like or whether everything seems to be going wrong. Rejoice always.

-Do not be anxious about anything. Worry is like sitting in a rocking chair. It gives you something to do but it gets you nowhere. And in the end, you're just tired and frustrated and have nothing to show for it.

-Bring everything to God with thanksgiving. We often read God our want list without expressing our gratitude for the things we have. Or we express to God what we are feeling and ask for His help, but again we do not thank him for the situation.

Lord,

Thank you for my bills, for they mean my needs are being met.

Thank you for tests and assignments, because they mean I am being challenged and prepared to serve.

Thank you for interaction with stressful people, because it means I have the opportunity to learn patience and understanding.

Thank you for my job and all of the good and bad aspects that come with it, because it means I am able to work.

Thank you for not letting me know the future, because it causes me to depend and trust in you alone.

Thank you for the daily reminder that I will never overcome sin, because it reminds me of your grace and mercy.

Thank you for health problems, because it makes me more appreciative of the times when I am healthy and nothing hurts.

Most of all, thank you for being faithful, even when I am not. You know my every need, and I trust you to provide. Help me to be anxious about nothing and thankful for everything.

The Neverending Story

While looking through our pics from the AT hiking trip, we realized there was an ongoing story throughout the trip that we had never even noticed. (Disclaimer: The story I'm about to tell is not really true, but it WAS absolutely hilarious to us as we started making up our own story while looking at the pics.) Enjoy!
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There's a legend of a girl who once ventured off into the mountains with her dear friends. However, something occurred in the hills that the group of friends has never recovered from...something terrible and unexplainable. This is the story of the fateful weekend...

Once upon a time, a hiking trip occurred. There was lots of time for thinking and reflecting on God's creation. That is, until "the neverending story" began. The story is said to go something like this...

Marsha: Hey, let's take a pic on this bridge...and then I'll tell you a story that I was just reminded of..."

Marsha: So, one time when I was in the Philippines...

(15 minutes later...)

Bill: (thinking: wow, this story is amazing, but it sure has been going on for a while. I think I'll start walking and she can finish telling it on the way to the waterfalls.)

Marsha: blah, blah, blah.....

Bill: (thinking: ok, so it's been 45 minutes and the story is still going. It HAS to be almost over.)

Marsha: Wait, Bill. Come back! I'm not finished yet.

Marsha: blah, blah, blah, Philippines, blah, blah...

Mari: (thinking: Wow, Bill was not joking. This story is STILL going on!)

Marsha: Bill, Mari. Are you up there? I have to finish my story...

Bill: You don't understand, Mari, I CANNOT listen to any more stories.

Mari: I know, but just try to be nice. We only have 46 hours left. Or, maybe we can lose her on the trail...

Marsha: Hey, listen to this...

Bill: Jump, Mari! Let's get out of here!

Mari: Wait for me, Bill!!!

Later that night, Bill wrote in is journal...

"Dear God, I know I've been praying for patience and perseverance lately, but seriously? Having to listen to Marsha is a little extreme don't you think?..."

The group did have a one night break between hiking, and they were seen out in the square resting and having a good meal. Legend says that one person remembered seeing the group that night and overheard the following conversation:

Marsha: That was so much fun, but I'm glad to be out for the night and rest a little. Hey, that reminds me of a story...

*cricket, cricket*...

And that was the last time Marsha was ever seen again. People sometimes say they can hear her at night...laughing and telling a story. Mari and Bill, on the other hand, also hear her at night, but only because their therapists haven't helped them work through all of the memories and the nightmares continue. Perhaps one day we will find out what really happened in the mountains that weekend. But until then, the legend lives on.

~THE END~