Tuesday's Thoughts & A Funny Story

1) I need Africa more than it needs me. You must go read THIS post. I don't link too often, so you better believe it's good when I do.



2) I'm officially on Thanksgiving break. Woohoo! :)



3) If you feel the earth tilt, don't be alarmed. It's caused by the mass of humanity (a/k/a my family) that is converging upon my neck of the woods. At last count, the headcount was somewhere between 30 and 40. Mercy. This holiday ought to be interesting. Maybe I'll get a good blog post out of it. :)



4) I'm still laughing about some of the songs that popped up as responses in my last post.



5) Happy Thanksgiving. Choose an attitude of gratefulness this holiday season (and always). As a friend and I were "talking" (typing) about last night/this morning (for her), attitude is a BIG part of thankfulness. There will always be someone who has more or better things, but they're just that ... things. Stop the horizontal comparisons ... stick with the vertical.



6) I love Skype ... and the person it let me talk to! :)



7) There's a sweet feeling of satisfaction (not pride) that sweeps over me when I see hard work paying off.



8) Sometimes you give "it" everything you've got and things still don't go your way. Sometimes your best is not good enough. No amount of blood, sweat, or tears will change that. It's a hard lesson in life to learn.



And now for the funny .... consider this a PSA.



** I feel like I should preface this story with this fact: I'm not dumb. This will indeed be in question at the end. :)



A few weeks ago, I was shopping at Bath & Body Works. My favorite scent of theirs is Winter Candy Apple. They had a new product available that I'd never tried before, so I figured, what the heck ... let's give it a try. Here is the product: (for what it's worth, the words say "roll-on shimmer scent")

What does that look like to you? Please, for the love of everything good, will someone please comment and agree with me that it looks like lip gloss. When you unscrew the lid, it has one of those roll on applicators like some lip glosses do too. (Sorry, no picture ... just try to imagine it.)

Well, I get home all giddy to try on my new purchase. What could go wrong ... my favorite scent AND a shimmery lip gloss. Hmph.

Wanna know what my first indication was that this was indeed NOT lip gloss .... the burning sensation on my lips. My second indication? The overwhelming alcohol smell.

I take off running through the house yelling "What's poison control's number? Where's one of those YUCK stickers when I need them? Mom, are my lips peeling off?" (Okay, so I can be a tad bit dramatic.)

Now that the burning sensation is dying down, I take the product to my mom and ask her what she thinks it is. She concurs that it is lip gloss. Wrong.

Oh wait ... the story gets better ...

So curiosity gets the best of me and I've just got to know where this product is supposed to be used. I'm pretty sure I sent the precious girl that answered the telephone that night into fits of hysteria as soon as she hung up with me. Turns out it's to be rolled on your wrist or neck for a little bit of scent and some shimmer. "It's perfectly sized for your purse," she tells me. Yeah, but who designed the dad-gum thing?!?!

So consider this fare warning ... if you are the recipient of such a gift this holiday season, do your lips a favor and don't apply it there.

*PS - My lips did not fall off and the burning did eventually stop. I tallied this up to one of the stupidest things I've ever done while thinking I was doing it right. He's gotta keep me humble, right?! ;)

Happy Thanksgiving!

Be a blessing.

We're Young and Beautiful

1. Put your music on shuffle.
2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.
3. YOU MUST WRITE THAT SONG NAME DOWN NO MATTER HOW SILLY IT SOUNDS!

IF SOMEONE SAYS "IS THIS OKAY" YOU SAY?
Undone

WHAT WOULD BEST DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONALITY?
Everybody Wants to Go to Heaven

WHAT DO YOU LIKE IN A GUY/GIRL?
Things That Never Cross a Man’s Mind

HOW DO YOU FEEL TODAY?
Flat on the Floor

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE'S PURPOSE?
Don’t Blink

WHAT IS YOUR MOTTO?
Change

WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU?
American Dream

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT VERY OFTEN?
Set the World on Fire

WHAT IS 2+2?
Guitars and Tiki Bars

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND?
All-American Girl

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
Take a Little Time

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY?
Father, Spirit, Jesus

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?
Miss Independent

WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LIKE?For Future Generations

WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU?
Fearless

WHAT WILL YOU DANCE TO AT YOUR WEDDING?
Here With Me

WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL?
Starts With Goodbye

WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY/INTEREST?
The Life

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SECRET?
Our God is With Us

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS?
Trust in You

WHAT'S THE WORST THING THAT COULD HAPPEN?
There’s Gotta Be Something More

HOW WILL YOU DIE?
Just a Dream

WHAT IS THE ONE THING YOU REGRET?
Let My Words Be Few

WHAT MAKES YOU LAUGH?
Me and Jesus

WHAT MAKES YOU CRY?
Speak to Me

WILL YOU EVER GET MARRIED?
I Ain’t Settling (Dear Lord, please don’t let this be a sign.)

WHAT SCARES YOU THE MOST?
Crazy Dreams

DOES ANYONE LIKE YOU?
Your Love is Extravagant

IF YOU COULD GO BACK IN TIME, WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE?Got a Little Crazy

WHAT HURTS RIGHT NOW?
So Small

WHAT WILL YOU POST THIS AS?
We’re Young and Beautiful

---

Some of those responses had me laughing out loud. :)

Feel free to play along. If you do, let me know so I can stop by and read your answers.

An Award ... for me!

~LL~ gave me an award!

Now, here are the *rules* that go along with this award:
1. Put the award up on your blog
2. Add a link to the person who awarded it to you
3. Nominate at least seven other blogs
4. Add links to these blogs on your blog
5. Leave a message for your nominee on their blog

7 people with cool blogs:

Colorado Dreaming

Following an Unknown Path

Funderstorm

Glorious Grace

Hunan Spice

Land of Pink

Skin Kaleidoscope

Those Yankees!

Mass. woman's 1 cent debt paid in full

"ATTLEBORO, Mass. – A 74-year-old blind woman's 1 cent debt to a Massachusetts city has been settled.

People from across the country called Attleboro City Hall on Tuesday offering to pay the 1 cent balance owed by Eileen Wilbur for an overdue water and sewer bill.

Antonio Viveiros, a former city councilor who does not know Wilbur, wrote a check for one penny. He says he was "irked" by the fact that the federal government can spend billions for bailouts, yet a senior citizen was threatened with a lien on her home over 1 cent.

Wilbur's daughter first noticed the letter that warned of a lien and a $48 penalty if the overdue bill was not paid by Dec. 10.

Mayor Kevin Dumas says the whole situation was blown out of proportion."

Ya think?


Source: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081119/ap_on_re_us/odd_penny_bill

One and Only One?

Thanks to those of you who voted in the poll on this question. I can honestly say that I’m not surprised as to the results of it. As far as I know, there is no clear, definite answer to this question, thus the following is my opinion. You’re certainly free to disagree with me. :)

Short answer: Do I feel there is one and only one person meant for you to marry? No I don’t.

*Insert gasps here.*

Initially this was my opinion simply because of the improbability of it. Knowing that there are 6.something billion people on the planet, the idea that God has one and only one person out there somewhere seems to me like a game of hide & go seek. However, I decided my position needed a little more sustenance, so I went to the Word.

First things first ~ I do believe that God is concerned with who we marry. For Christians, there are certain criteria that any potential spouse should have – namely being a Christian – but beyond that I think we’re free to choose. God can certainly lead – through leading you to a certain church, a certain job, a certain city, etc. but the choice is yours.

ALL choices have consequences – some good and some bad. I believe that even if you marry “Mr. Wrong” once you say “I do” he becomes your “Mr. Right.” There’s a reason many vows include the phrase “Forsaking all others …” You are making a choice to commit to that person and marriage is based on commitment, not on feelings. (Note: I know there are biblical grounds for divorice, but just because it’s permitted does not mean that the pain of the divorice is minimized.)

Proverbs 18:22 – He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the Lord.
Proverbs 31: 10 – A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies.
These are verses I’ve read many times in the past, but this time the word “find” stuck out to me.

Our society today has a skewed view on love. All too often it’s a selfish thing. That couldn’t be farther from what true love is. Read 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 and 1 John 4:19 (just to name a few).

I’ve found in my life that there are rarely “burning bush” moments. Where’s the faith in that? More times than not, I must weigh decisions based on His character and His standards that are outlined in His Word as opposed to receiving a burning bush of direction. That’s how intimacy is developed and grows. I don’t say that to downgrade burning bush moments. If God wanted to, He certainly could plop someone down on your path with a blinking arrow above their head that says “This is the one!” I’ve yet to meet someone that has had that happen though. ;)

The Bible story that I’ve heard used the most to advocate this “God has one person for you” idea is in Genesis 24 where Abraham sends his servant to find a wife for his son Isaac.

Then he [the servant] prayed, “O Lord, God of my master Abraham, give me success today, and show kindness to my master Abraham. See, I am standing beside this spring, and the daughters of the townspeople are coming out to draw water. May it be that when I say to a girl, ‘Please let down your jar that I may have a drink,’ and she says, ‘Drink, and I’ll water your camels too’ – let her be the one you have chosen for your servant Isaac. By this I will know that you have shown kindness to my master.” (Genesis 24:12-14) {Does anyone else wish it were this easy today?? :)}

Well guess what … Rebekah responded just how the servant had prayed she would. But I think the kicker is in verse 21. (Which is often skipped over when people refer to this story.)

Vs 21 – Without saying a word, the man watched her closely to learn whether or not the Lord had made his journey successful.

Even though Rebekah responded in the way the servant prayed she would, the servant still watched her to determine if she would make a good wife for Isaac. And for what it’s worth, just because God led the servant to Rebekah for Isaac doesn’t mean He’s promising to do that for everyone.

Who we choose to marry is no surprise to God. He is all-knowing after all. While there are certain attributes that believers should look for when seeking a marriage partner, we’re free to choose who to commit to. Seek Him for wisdom, make a decision, view marriage as the ministry it is, aim to fulfill your God-given gender roles (knowing that you will fail time and time again), and above all, seek to glorify Him in and through your marriage. That’s what matters.

Simple Joys

After a particularly trying 2 weeks FULL of assignments, studying, tests, crazy work days, late nights/early mornings, etc. today was a good day. It’s all about the simple joys:

· Lunch with friends
· A quiet afternoon at work
· Tried a Vanilla Bean Frappucino (sp?) from Starbucks (it was alright…I'm not hooked though!)
· Drove home barefoot with my windows down … had my hair whipping in the wind … favorite song blaring on the radio {I think this is my favorite one on the list!}
· Burning a cinnamon candle
· New CD playing
· A soft pink and blue and purple sunset that took my breath away

16 days left of the semester … 8 until Thanksgiving Break!!

Life is good.

God is good.

PS - Have you voted in the poll on yesterday's post? Go do it ... now! (Please.) :)

Marriage: Predestined vs. Free-Choice

This is what happens when my mind is in overload with school ... I start contemplating way too deep of issues at way too late (or early) in the day.

I thought it would be fun to have yall weigh in before I post my thoughts on this.

International Day of Prayer

This Sunday (11/9) is the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church. Personally I feel that we should lift up our persecuted brothers and sisters daily, but I digress.

Here are some specific prayer requests from Voice of the Martyrs:

· The Lord will give courage to His people who are enduring persecution for His Name

· The Lord will place His restraining hand on those who seek to harm His people

· Churches facing government opposition will stand firm in their ministry

· Christians will have opportunities to reach out with the Gospel without fear of intimidation or harassment

· Servants of the Lord will be able to deliver Bibles and Christian literature to places where they are most needed

· Christians who have been left without pastors and teachers may be kept strong in their faith

· Christians who have been imprisoned for their faith will be released safely

· The Lord will restrain the callousness and brutality of prison guards in their treatment of Christians in prison

· Pray against the increasing problem of young Christian girls being kidnapped, r*ped and forced to marry

· Those who have lost loved ones by martyrdom will be comforted and strengthened by God during their grief

· Christian pastors will be kept from danger and strengthened in their faith as they care for the people of God

· New converts may be protected and provided for should their family turn against them.

· The current laws in many restricted nations forbidding evangelism, missionary activity and religious instruction, will be repealed

I’ve often said that Christ-followers in America have it easy. Sure we may be judged, scorned, or made fun of, but that’s nothing compared to the conditions in which many Christians around the world live. Let’s lift them up today and every day.

I love this nation!

*I wanted to post this yesterday, but I was just too busy.*

Election 2008. What a historic one it was!

First things first ~ I am no doubt disappointed with the outcome of this election. I have cried out to God many, many times in the last 2 days regarding the future of this great nation. The first words out of my mouth when I heard that Obama was the projected winner were "Dear Lord, what have we done to ourselves?" But that's not the purpose of this post (that was the last post!)...

The truth of the matter is this: I GOT THE CHANCE TO MAKE MY VOICE HEARD!

My current Facebook status says "Ashley loves the U.S.A.!" A friend of mine approached me about this, basically questioning how I could say such a thing at such a time as this. Here's my response: "While the candidate I supported may not have been elected by the majority, I still got a chance to have my say. That's a privilege many people around the world would kill for. I don't agree with where Obama stands, but the majority has spoken. So now I pray ... for him and the nation ... just like I've been doing while President Bush has been in office."

Regardless of my personal views of them, I am proud that my first presidential election had both a female and an African-American running. But more than that, I am grateful that I, as a woman, had the chance to peacefully make my voice heard without fear of retaliation. That is a blessing that I certainly do not take for granted. I love this nation!

My Thoughts on Election 08

I love all (Okay ... most) things political. I could "discuss" (or debate depending on who I'm with!) politics all day long and not grow tired of it. So really, you should consider yourself blessed that this is my first (and most likely only) political post. You're welcome. ;)

This election is critical. A lot of people died for your right to vote ... so GO VOTE! Don't mock their sacrifice.

If you're a Christian, you'd better vote Biblically. There is a clear choice.

First, I want to point out that there is no perfect candidate. Both are fallen, sinful men (Romans 3:23).

Now with that said, let’s talk issues.

Almost every Obama-supporter that I’ve talked with cites the economy as the reason for their Obama vote. I agree that our economy is in pretty bad shape. As someone who will be graduating college in 6 months, the job market has never been more important to me. BUT (you knew a but was coming, didn’t you?) here’s the deal: my God trumps the economy. Every. Single. Time. Jehovah Jireh – God our Provider. God’s sovereignty isn’t impacted in the least by the condition of the economy. I would also like to point out that the fluctuations in our economy are part of the beauty of capitalism – the ebb and flow of the markets.

For many voters, the economy is the #1 issue. This grieves me deeply. How can we put money/jobs/lifestyles over the sanctity of human life? (1 Timothy 6:10 comes to mind) I cannot … nope, strike that … WILL NOT support a candidate who does not value human life. Once a baby has been aborted, he or she is dead – never to have a chance at life on Earth. The economy fluctuates. Why is it that the permanent decision of abortion is given less importance than the temporal condition of the economy?

Not only does Obama not support unborn life, he apparently doesn’t support life at all. The Born Alive Infant Protection Act is a piece of legislation that would require hospitals to care for infants who survived an abortion. Guess who voted against it? That’s right … Obama. So if by some miracle of God, a baby managed to survive his or her attempted murder, Obama voted against the hospital having to care for him or her. Does this make anyone else literally sick to their stomach?

Does it seem like I’m passionate about the topic of abortion? YOU BET I AM!!! I will do everything within my power to speak up for those who cannot yet speak for themselves, but who have been lovingly created by God and knit together by His hand.

Do you believe marriage is a sacred covenant between one man and one woman that’s been established by God? If so, Obama’s not the candidate for you. He doesn’t.

The next president will nominate several Supreme Court judges. It is of the utmost importance – for our generation and our children’s – that we have a president who stands with us on issues such as abortion and the sanctity of marriage. Judges technically serve for life, therefore the next president’s decisions on nominations have far reaching implications. For your children’s sake, I plead with you to vote Biblically.

I’d like to close this post with some of my thoughts.
• The outcome of this election – either way – will not be a surprise to God.
• He will still be on His throne and His sovereignty will not change.
• As I spent some serious time in prayer about this election, God reminded me of Romans 13:1 – Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.
• Just an FYI - My prayers have not been focused on who wins, but rather that God will not completely turn this nation over to our sinful desires.

May God be glorified!