UPdate

I know some of you have been wanting to hear how my training for the Crisis Pregnancy Center has been going, so I'll give you a little update.
I have almost completed the classroom part of my training, which is supposed to be about 20 hours worth. I would actually be done, but one of the sessions was canceled due to winter weather. But anyway...I'll be done next Saturday!

After that I will have 5 weeks of orientation. I'm not sure what all that evolves yet, but I believe I will be sitting in on some of the counseling sessions, finding which of the programs I, or rather God wants to focus on, and just learning how things run at the center.

Then after the 5 weeks or orientation.....I should be able to start counseling!!!!

I can already see that volunteering is going to be a huge growing (and yes, sometimes uncomfortable) experience! I have been so blessed by seeing how God has brought together for His work, different people from various backgrounds/family dynamics. Although we may not all be from the same denomination, I see such a love a passion for Christ and for serving Him! It's such a blessing and excites me, to see people get excited about serving Jesus!

One prayer request that I have, is that God would open the door and lead me into the program that He wants me to be involved in. And by "program" I mean, they have different counseling programs for different needs. For instance, there is post-abortion, abstinence, child care training, ect.

I'll leave you with this little tidbit I heard in training:

"Our lives must first go up, before they go out."

Old Year, New Year

As 2011 comes to an end I've been thinking back on what God has taught me and brought me through this year.
In many ways, this past year has been very hard, but God has been faithful to strengthen and encourage me.
There have been times of joy and there have been times of struggle, but I am blessed to see how God has grown me through those circumstances.

Looking back, I feel like this year God especially worked on teaching me to put my trust fully in Him. I tend to be a person who likes a fairly structured plan, so that has been a challenging lesson for me to learn - but a necessary one.

The other main thing that God reminded/taught me this year, is learning to put my joy and delight in Him. There is nothing that can fill the spot in my heart that was meant to be filled by a relationship with Christ; no friend, no family member, no fantasy I might have - only Christ.
I have had to be continually reminded that true joy only comes from God.

Delight thyself also in the Lord; and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in Him and He shall bring it to pass.    Ps. 37:4&5


I am excited about how God has been leading me into new areas, and I know He has great things planned for me in 2012!

See you all next year!
Marie

Day of Thankfulness: Week 4

This is a little late, but better late than never, right?


This week I am thankful for Christmas music! There is nothing more cheery that helps drive away the blues on those dreary days, then a good Christmas song! :)


Here are some of my favorites this year:
How Many Kings

Wizards in Winter

Christmas Canon

And pretty much all the songs in Micheal Buble's new Christmas album!
But it looks like they have killed most of the videos for it on Youtube. :(

May you all have a blessed weekend!

Day of Thankfulness: Week 3

This week I am thankful for friends. For a long time I prayed (and yes, probably did a little complaining) for friends that would be a blessing and an encouragement to me. I have recently realized that although God did not answer my prayer how I thought He would, He truly has blessed me with wonderful friends - better than I could ever ask for!

I love you all!
Marie

Day of Thankfulness: Week 2

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This week I'm thankful that God has given me the ability to study and learn, and I'm also thankful for random breaks! :) I'm not really sure why, but for some reason this past week I had a whole week long break. But hey! I'm not going to complain about getting a break! I was able to spend time with my sisters, and sister-in-law who was visiting, without having to worry about assignments needing to be done.

Day of Thankfulness: Week 1

I have been so blessed and most assuredly have many things to be thankful for! While I know that this is definitely not the only time of year we should be thankful: this month I'm going to try and post something I'm especially thankful for, at least once a week.

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This week, I'm thankful that God gave us seasons, and that there is something special about each one! 

The peak of this fall is past, but there's no better way to end your summer then with the vibrant colors of a Midwestern fall! There is a big maple tree outside my window, so each morning I get to wake up to it's fall beauty. 

                        

                  

                       "Give thanks, with a grateful heart.Give thanks to the Holy one."