Life: God works all things for good!

This I drew during everything...

A few years ago, my family was asked to leave our church... We had been there for 4 years, the pastors family was like family to us. There were rumors spread and lies told to the pastor by people in the church. The pastor believed it and on Saturday afternoon, (after having a meeting with the deacons in secret) told my parents not to come back on Sunday morning. The whole church was told later that we had decided to leave on our own. The worst part was that we were not allowed to say good bye to the pastors children, because the pastor believed we would still be "friends". That hurt the most because I considered them as my brothers and sisters. Anyway, during this, someone else working with Satan was also at work in deceiving people. Someone was sending letters from my family and from theirs that none of us ever wrote or sent. This only made things worse... It made it to the point where my family wasn't permitted to see any of the pastors family... The pastor had received a fake email from my dad saying that if he(pastor) ever came near my family or talked to them he, my dad knew where he lived... etc. Pretty much the letter was threatening his family.... Now my dad never wrote this email.... my dad just received the response from it... My family also received another letter from them... As you can see, it was a big mess, with many people hurt, not just us, but people in the church who didn't know what to believe... Pretty much... Satan had fun trying to pull us all away from Christ.. but that didn't work!

Recently, the pastor texted my sister and apologized to her (she was the one slandered the most). He told her she could come back to the church anytime.... Pretty much for her.... its gone back to the way things were before everything happened.  While in FL, I got to visit with some of the pastors family and we kind of become friends again. It was weird..... I remembered all the hurt and all the promises I had made my younger "brothers and sisters". It made it hurt really bad... When I got back from FL, I had a total meltdown. I was scared... and reliving all the hurt again... This made me realize something, I never fully forgave them.

I say this to explain what I am going to say next...

Sometimes.... We have to be hurt by others, and to reach bottom so that we realize God is Lord over all..... When things happened back then... I remember spending days.. crying, reading the bible and writing in my journal... I didn't understand "Why" God was doing this... I mean, why would he let people betray me and stab me in the back?? Why Why Why???

During that time... I had one thing to hold on to: "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28NIV

This means, what I go through... God is working for good... not evil...

After this, I met some amazing people at our "new" church who I now call family... They taught me... and I learned from them... They loved me... and that's what truly mattered... However, I learned one thing through all this...: One has to trust God... not matter what! You have to trust him, to allow others to hurt you.... He is in control of everything... I mean when I think back to everything that happened..... I learned so much about God and trusting Him through that time, than i think I had in all of my life.I learned to love, even though I might get hurt.. to trust others even though they may stab me in the back.... I learned that he will be there and will never forsake me... That it doesn't matter what others think or say... all that matters is Jesus... I learned to trust Him with everything (This can still be hard at times)...


Bottom line: He used the hurt and the pain, to make me more like him... 

When you are in the middle of a storm... its hard to see the light... but after the storm... comes the rainbow and you realize why.... 

He is still using that experience to make me more like him... When I realized i still hadn't forgiven.. it caused me to repent...
 

He truly is an amazing God, who works all things to good, for those who love Him!

Think for yourself:
If you love God, no matter whats going on, or has happened in the past... He is working it for good... 

Ang

P.S. I hope this encourages you!

There is this hurt deep down inside,
I do not want to let it outside
It has been there for a while,
So it has begun to pile
When will I finally let it go?,
When will I finally say no?
When will it stop festering?,
When will it stop pestering?
I try and try to let it out,
but nothing really comes about
I know that there is one who can,
He is there telling me he can
Why don’t I just give it all?,
So that the pile doesn’t fall
Give it to me he says,
But what if it stays?
Even if I give it away,
Will it really go away?
I know deep down inside it will,
Go away and not be here still
Yet I keep it locked away,
To fall down on me one day
Now I think the time has come,
I've decided that I'm done
I give it all to Him,,
The one who has no sin
Who will take it all away,
And none of it will stay
It will be gone forever,
Because he heals forever
Why He loves me I don’t know,
when I tell him please go
Yet he stays here by my side,
I know He'll be here till I die
I give Him all that is within me,
All that I am, was and will be
It now belongs to Him,
And I know I can trust Him
To take care of me and love me,
Because He was and is and will be,
My Lord, my Savior and my God.

Student Teaching

So for my student teaching, I was hoping to work with students K-2nd.... However, I have 4th grade. Last fall I worked in special education, with 4th-8th graders... I really liked the fourth graders.. but I still prefer kindergarteners. Anyway m my thy goal is to put my thoughts about this experience on here, starting around August 27th....

Here's what I know as of right now:
      I will be expected to create and teach 2-3 unit plans(plus various other assignments). I will also be required to have at least 6 of my 10-16weeks in the classroom, be full time teaching experience; meaning I control and teach all lesson and do everything in the classroom. Starting week one I will get to know the school and students (I have to meet with the teacher beforehand). Week 2 I will begin to slowly take over subject areas one at a time until I have finally taken them all over and keep them for at least 6 weeks. After this I will slowly give each subject area back to the teacher.
       During this time I will also be taking 2 classes: Senior Seminar and Curriculum for Teaching Students with Severe Disabilities. This means I will be taking a total of 15credit hours... This would be no big deal because I have taken 15 credits most of my college experience; However, 10 of those hours are considered "Student Teaching". The problem is that I have to be in the classroom/school the entire time the teacher is required to be there Monday thru Friday... This means working from 7am-4:30pm. That's more than 9hrs a day making it  around 50hrs a week in the classroom, not including the time I have to take to complete "extra" assignments for that class as well as do whatever homework is required for my other classes.    Plus making dinner, spending time with the hubby and taking care of our multiple pets.

I am already starting to stress and its not even here yet... All I can think is "Can December 15th get here already??"


"I think I can, I think I can, I think I can...." Ever read the book/seen the movie "The Little Engine that Could"?
(If you havent.. Read the book! LOL!)

Anyway, I am so happy I have Jesus on my side! He will get me through this, so I shouldn't be saying "I think I can" I should be saying "With Him I can". :D

Have a Super De Doooper Tuesday!
Ang

New Look/Sorry Everyone!

So... I haven't blogged since April..... WOW! A lot has happened/changed since then.

Since I last blogged:
1. Mikel's Parents came to visit us. We had a great time together, went to the grand canyon, the zoo and just were plain lazy tourists. LOL!

Carol (Mom), Mikel, Me, Carl (Dad)

2. I survived Finals week made: 3 A's and one B.

3. Mikel and I went back to FL for a trip. We had a great time in FL! We went to the Heidi and Jerold's Wedding, my mom's graduation (So proud of her!), the beach and spent much time with friends and family. :)

Me, Mommy, & Grammy

Me, Heidi, Jerold, Mikel

4. Summer classes started for me about 3 weeks ago. I only have one class so hopefully I will keep up with my blogging better. My hubby also started one of his last 3 classes for his Associate of Science. :D

5. I got my placement for Student Teaching (aka my teaching internship). I will be working with 4th graders in a school 15min away from where we live.

6. Mikel, my husband, got switched to mid-shift aka night shift. He now goes into work between midnight and 2am each night/morning (Whatever you want to call it). Tonight he goes into work at 1am... Just 2hrs from now.

7. We adopted a Chinese Water Dragon. They get to be 3 feet long. Right now our lil guy "Toothless" is about 6 inches long.

Well, there's my update. I am sorry I never finished the A to Z challenge. Things got crazy and I got behind and then it got to the point of that there was no way to catch it back up.... :/

Ang

A to Z: K is for King of Kings

K is for King of Kings

Jesus is also known as the King of Kings,

(1 Timothy 6:13-16 ESV) I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which he will display at the proper time—he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.

Jesus is not only the King of kings, but he is also the Lord of lords.
The King of Ages:
(1 Timothy 1:17 ESV)To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
   
The King of Israel:

(Zechariah 9:9 ESV) Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem!Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

The King of the Jews:

(Matthew 2:1-2 ESV) Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”
   
The King of Nations:   
(Revelation 15:3 ESV) And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying,“Great and amazing are your deeds,O Lord God the Almighty Just and true are your ways,O King of the nations!

Think about what you just read.... Jesus is the king over all kings, nations and even the ages... WOW!



Today:
1. Look it up for yourself about Jesus being the King.
2. Pray About it!
3. Meditate on it throughout the day.
4. Write down what you learned for future reference.

Hope you are having an amazing Thursday!!!
Ang

A to Z: J is for Just One

J is for Just One

Another name of Jesus is: The Just One or Righteous One

(Acts 7:52 ESV) Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who announced beforehand the coming of the Righteous One, whom you have now betrayed and murdered,

(Acts 3:13-15 ESV)  The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus, whom you delivered over and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him. But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses.
   
 In Acts chapter 3 and 7 we hear of how the people murdered the ones who told of the Just/Righteous one and how even he himself was betrayed and murdered.

Today:

1. Reflect on what it means that  Jesus is the Just one and how that affects him taking on our guilt and dying on the cross for us.
2. Look it up in the bible.
3. Pray about it.
4. Write what you learned down and meditate on it throughout the day.

Have a great Wednesday!!
Ang

A to Z: I is for Immanuel

I is for Immanuel

Jesus is called in the bible Immanuel.

(Isaiah 7:14 ESV) Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

What does Immanuel Mean??
from Hebrew `immānū'el, literally means: God with us.


Jesus was called Immanuel, because it means God with us. When Jesus came to earth to be born a man, he was both God and man... making God be with us humans. Isnt that just amazing??

Today:

1. Read for yourself in the bible where it talks about Jesus being the Immanuel.
2. Pray about it.
3. Write down what you learned and really think about it.
4. Meditate on Jesus being God with us, for the rest of the day. :D

Have an AMAZING Tuesday!!
Ang

A to Z: H is for Head

H is for HEAD 

Jesus is known in the bible as the Head of the body.

(Ephesians 4:15-16 ESV) Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

(Colossians 1:17-18 ESV)  And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.

(Ephesians 1:22-23 ESV)  And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.

Jesus is the Head of the church, He should be the one ruling and what He has said should be done, should be what we are doing.  

(1 Corinthians 11:3 ESV) But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a wife is her husband, and the head of Christ is God.

Jesus is the Head of every man. He is the one who should be in charge..
   

(Colossians 2:9-10 ESV) For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority.

Jesus is the Head over all rulers and authorities. In one translation it says over all powers and principalities.


Jesus is the Head over everyone. He is the one we are supposed to submit to. The one we are to obey.

Today:

1. Look up in the bible for yourself where it talks about Jesus and Him being the Head.
2. Pray about it.
3. Write down what you learned!

Have a happy Monday!!!
Ang

A to Z: G is for God

 G is for God 

Many times in the bible Jesus is called God. 

(Isaiah 40:3 ESV) A voice cries: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

(Isaiah 9:6 ESV) For to us a child is born, to us a son is given and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

In the first verse found above, Isaiah the prophet is prophesying about a prophet who would come, and prepare the way for the messiah, his God. The second is where Isaiah is talking specifically about the birth of the Messiah and what he will be called and his attributes. 

(John 1:1 ESV) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Jesus is also called both the Word and God in the verse above... Not only is he the word of God, but he is God. 

(Matthew 1:23 ESV) “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us).

The above verse is one of the most important ones, because it explains why Jesus came, he came to save sinners and to reconcile their relationship with God so that they could be with God and not separated from him. Is that not amazing? What we celebrate on Easter has everything to do with this, Jesus died and bore our sins and rose again so that we could be with God. 

(1 John 5:20 ESV) And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.

Jesus is God and eternal life!

There are many more verses than just the above that call the messiah or Jesus God. 

Jesus who was God, took our punishment and died on the cross for you and me! He died so that we might one day have a relationship with God through Him. Before Jesus died, there was no way for man to be "with" God. 

Aren't you glad Jesus came and died and rose again???

Today:

1. Reflect on the fact that Jesus is God and that he died for you on the cross.

2. Look up in the bible for yourself where it calls Jesus God, do and internet search if you want to.

3. Pray about it and ask God to reveal more to you about his Son through the knowledge that Jesus is God.

4. If you have some extra time on your hands listen to the songs on the links provided below:

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

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTYe9sWYKdo

Have a great Easter weekend and remember: He is Risen!!!

Ang

I couldn't resist posting this cute lil chick on here. :D

A to Z: F is for Faithful Witness

F is for Faithful Witness 

(Revelation 1:4-6 ESV)    John to the seven churches that are in Asia:
    Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth.
    To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

The above verse is from the book of revelation where John is taken to heaven and Jesus the son, tells him what to write. He calls Jesus the Faithful witness. 

What does Faithful mean? It means one who stick by another no matter what and says/does what is true and right.. Jesus is Faithful to God the father and those who are his.

adjective

1.strict or thorough in the performance of duty: a faithful worker.

2.true to one's word, promises, vows, etc.

3.steady in allegiance or affection; loyal; constant: faithful friends.

4.reliable, trusted, or believed.

5. adhering or true to fact, a standard, or an original; accurate: a faithful account; a faithful copy.

(Revelation 19:11 ESV) Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war.

(Revelation 3:14 ESV)  “And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: ‘The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God's creation.
Later on in the book of revelation, John calls Jesus the Faithful and true witness. 

(John 14:6 ESV) Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Jesus called himself the truth.

(1 Peter 4:19 ESV) Therefore let those who suffer according to God's will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.

He is also called the Faithful creator.

(Hebrews 2:17 ESV)Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.

And the Faithful high priest.

    Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we can confidently say,
    “The Lord is my helper;
        I will not Fear;
    what can man do to me?”
(Hebrews 13:5-6 ESV)

Why is is so important that Jesus be Faithful? Because if he is Faithful, we know he will never leave us nor forsake us... no matter what we do!  If he is Faithful, then his promises are true. What he has promised he will do.

Today:

Take time yourself to search the bible, use a concordance or even google and search for Faithful witness and the word Faithful in the bible. Find out what God wants you to learn about himself and his son through this name.

Have a great Friday!!!

Ang

Here is the link back to the A to Z challenge :)

A to Z: E is for Everlasting Father

E is for Everlasting Father

I am carrying on with my themes of Jesus' names, today's is Everlasting Father.

(Isaiah 9:6 ESV)    

For to us a child is born,
        to us a son is given;
    and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
        and his name shall be called
    Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
        Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

In the above verse Isaiah a prophet of the old testament is prophesying about the coming Messiah. He calls him many things in this verse one of which is everlasting father.

This verse tells of the attributes or characteristics that the Messiah would have.

 (2 Samuel 7:13-14 ESV)   He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. When he commits iniquity, I will discipline him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men,

In this verse God promises David and heir whom God will establish the throne of forever! This is again where the characteristic of everlasting is found of the Messiah.

  
(John 1:1-5 ESV)  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
   
The messiah, Jesus, is the Word... He was with God in the beginning and is God.

(John 14:9 ESV)    Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?

(Hebrews 1:1-4 ESV)    Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.


Jesus is the representation of God the Father. The exact imprint of the fathers nature.

Why is it so important that Jesus is the everlasting father?

Because that makes him the Messiah, the savior of both Jew and gentiles. The son of God.

Today:

Take sometime yourself to look up in the bible where it talks about an everlasting father. Think about what that means. Pray about that name and ask God to reveal to you more about himself through that name.

If you want, check out this song by Chris Tomlin called Everlasting God. Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yubLGTOcm8c

Have an amazing Thursday!!!
Ang
Here is the link back to the A to Z challenge :)