Consider It...

I was reading James today and wanted to share this:

2Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. 6But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; 8he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.
James 1:2-8

It seems to be so hard to 'consider it pure joy' at first when you are going through difficult things. I realized though when you really sit down to think about it...it is a privilege that we get to go through tough stuff. That stuff makes us so much stronger in the end...it prepares us for what God has in mind for our lives and for anything that might come our way. I have learned that the stuff we go through brings us so much closer to God...in a way that can only happen through challenges and problems. Those times also reveal so much about those close to you. It shows who's really going to be there for you and who was befriending you because it was convenient for them. It's funny how people pop in and out of our lives based on convenience rather than being unconditional. It's so great though, to see those who are unconditional...to be able to know who the people are that you can truly count on.

I am grateful for those in my life that I can truly count on! The family and friend that Matt and I have that we know are there for us, no matter what...They rock :)

Prayer

So last night was a rough one...We found out that Matt's grandfather passed away. He was very sick and we were expecting it soon- not that soon. We had planned to go to Tampa and visit him today or tomorrow. He was a great person who lived a great life. We are grateful for him being around as long as he was. We are the most grateful for the fact that He knew Christ. What more could you ask for? He was a sweet and loving follower of Christ...I only knew him for a short 5 years but in that time I got to know his kind heart.

If you could pray for Matt and his family...more than just Matt but our hearts go out to his grandmother. They were married for so long and they were so happy...I couldn't even imagine. We are also praying for his mom...It was his mom's dad and they were very close. We know he's in a better place and in no pain anymore...but we just pray for comfort and strength for those who loved him.

Thanks to all our friends who are praying...we love you guys!

INSPI (RED)

Yesterday was an amazing Sunday! Pastor Byron introduced the C3 Christmas project. They gave away over $10,000 to the people at C3 to give out to help a need of someone's...wherever or whomever you feel lead to give it to. You just can't use it yourself or give it back to the church. I think this is going to be awesome and Matt and I are looking forward to how we are going to spend our money! We have thrown around options...I wish we could do them all! I can't decide. I am excited though...it will be great to hear all the stories, too!! I know God is going to use us all in amazing ways through this...what a great opportunity to show love to those around us. Being that is exactly what He wants us to do...I know He will bless in amazing ways.

It is so great to be a part of something so life-changing. You may not change someone's whole life with your gift, but you could show them the only love they have seen in a while, and you never know what kind of life change that could turn into. Maybe they will pass the favor on to someone else...how amazing would that be if you inspired someone else to be kind to a stranger. It's just like that Liberty Mutual commercial that Barry Oser blogged about a while ago. The commercial more shows how our kindness to others is seen by so many people...and just others seeing it can be inspiring to them. All that to say...I can't wait to see what God is going to do through this! C3 Rocks:)

Okay so you might be wondering why I titled my blog the way I did...that would be in honor of one of my favorite shirts and a great cause. GAP sells these shirts that have various words on them, in order to raise aids awareness. Half of the money from the product RED clothes goes to helping people with aids in Africa. Check out stuff about it here.

I couldn't agree with Angie more...Love does WIN!

Football Woes and Other Randomness...

Okay so this was not the best football Saturday! LSU lost yesterday...I like LSU for those of you who didn't know :) and then FSU lost today. What makes it even worse is that they lost to the Gators!

Of course...my Colt's won on Thursday so that rocks! :) That doesn't quite make Matt happy though. I think he's ready for a new season for the Seminoles! I think most 'Noles fans are...let's put this year behind...

We got up at 4am to go shopping yesterday. I love shopping on "Black Friday." We got some great deals on Christmas stuff...mostly decorations! I love decorating for Christmas... :) We put our tree and new decorations up yesterday, too. Tomorrow we're moving on to the lights outside! That's Matt's least favorite part of the Christmas decorating :)

We have so much leftover from Thanksgiving...it's awesome! That just means not too much cooking for me for a little bit. Plus, it is so yummy still...who needs to cook! We had so much fun having all our family over for the holiday.

I feel like I'm getting sick...maybe it's stress...maybe it's my sinuses. They have a tendency to flare up...a lot! Whatever it is, I hope it goes away.

This weekend has been amazing! I love all the time I have gotten to spend with Matt :) He is the greatest!

I'm excited for tomorrow...Sundays at C3 are just that way. They are something to look forward to. They are refreshing!

See you there :)

Happy Thanksgiving :)

It's going to be a very busy day...but I wanted to post some more of what I am thankful for:

* My Savior Jesus Christ...He saved me and gave me life.
* My amazingly wonderful husband, Matthew. I can't thank God enough for him being the one I get to spend the rest of my life with. He is the greatest husband I could ask for and my very best friend.
* My family...it is great to be able to be with them all today!
* My puppy Princess...yep I am so thankful for her. She is so cute and I love her very much!
* My sister...I know I already said family but my sister rocks! She might only be 11 but she is such an awesome little sister...I love her!
* The great friends that Matt and I have in our lives. God has truly blessed us with awesome people that we can do life with.
* C3...C3 is such an amazing community of faith. Matt and I are so glad we are a part of something so great and so...barbaric (what better word is there to describe it?!) We can't wait to see what the future holds!
* For the staff at C3 who all work so hard to pursue Christ's vision for C3.
* For all the people who make our country great...Soldiers who fight for us, teachers, doctors...all who work for something greater than themselves.
* For food :) Shouldn't we be so thankful for having food to eat...so many don't.
* For technology...not facebook or myspace...but technology has made many things possible in so many areas of life.

* These are just some of the things I am thankful for...God is awesome and I am so thankful for how much He has blessed and for His love.

Happy Thanksgiving

Week of Thanks...Pt 2

I wrote yesterday a couple things that I am very thankful for...today I wanted to write about what I'm thankful for the most. Christ's love for me. I am blown away when I think about His unconditional love...The fact that He loved us all enough to die on the cross...for our sins...our shortcomings. It is amazing and there has never been a greater act of love.

I think back to the person I was before I let Christ into my life...wow...I was so different. It's so hard for me to imagine that part of my life because I am so different now. I now understand the amazing freedom of living with Christ being in my life...of course it isn't the easiest...but He never said it would be.

Not only do I think about how much I changed when I accepted Christ into my life, but also how much He has changed me throughout my walk with Him. I have grown so much, learned so much, and become someone so changed through Him. It is unbelievable to me to think how much Christ has done in my life...

I am so thankful for His unconditional love and grace.

Crazy Week of Thanks...

This week has already been crazy so far! We have so much to do before our family comes in town tomorrow...I really should be cleaning instead of blogging but...oh well :)

I have been thinking a lot lately (not much else to do while you clean) and remembering how much I am thankful for. Also remembering that my problems in comparison to some people's are nothing at all. There is a family at C3 who just lost their husband and dad. My heart goes out to them and I would ask that you would be praying for them and she has two young children. I can't even imagine...I just pray that God would comfort her in this time and that she would have friends and family be there for her to support her through this most difficult time.

I am so very thankful for those people that God places in our lives to support and comfort us in difficult times. Those people He gives us to do life with. As Madea would call them...our roots. Madea is a smart woman! :) As Travis talked about on Sunday with the students...we all have a God-shaped hole in us...but we also have a human shaped one. God designed us to have community with others. He knows we need other people around us to do life with and connect with. I am grateful for those people in my life.

Of course, I am thankful for my wonderful husband! I don't know what I would do without him. He is there for me always and loves me unconditionally. Sometimes I don't know how he does it...I can be difficult at times ;) No matter how difficult I am...He still loves. His birthday is coming up very soon (Dec 7) and I can't wait to celebrate him...He is too amazing for words. I can't be thankful enough to God for placing us in each other's lives.

I will post more on my thankfulness later...these are just a couple things :)

-Love and Thanks to you