Nearer My God {Video}

May you all have a blessed Lords Day, and may you find yourself being drawn nearer to God though this week!

{The Post That I Can't Think of a Good Title For}

So I said I had something exciting to share with you all so here it is....

Because I am earning my degree through Collegeplus I have met many of my closest friends online (gasp).

Some I have had the pleasure of meeting in person, and some I am still hoping to have that opportunity.
One of the people I have been waiting and wishing to meet was Katie over at Bursts of Sunshine.
A mutual friend was getting married, and I knew Katie was going to the wedding. But I didn't tell her that I also was going to be there, so it produced just a little bit of excitement when I showed up. Okay, maybe a lot of excitement! :)

Katie, it was such a joy to actually meet you in person! Your laugh and smile are contagious!  I am so excited to get to spend two weeks with you at Summit! Summit better be prepared for lots of giggles! :)

Katie, and I! Kudos to Amanda B. for taking the picture! 

Here are a few more pictures with me and some of my Collegeplus friends:

Alison!  Photography credit goes to Jason Manion

Alison, you heart for Christ and serving challenges and encourages me! I am blessed by God giving me the opportunity to know you! 

This is actually from about a month ago, but these are some of the (former) Collegeplus students who are in my "area" (meaning in the state). 

Even though many of us in Collegeplus live thousands of miles apart, it is a joy and blessing to see how strong the bond is in the body of Christ! I truly am blessed to have such amazing friends!


May God bless each of you this week!
I miss you all!
Marie

Random Wednesday: 2

This week most of my family is out of town camping, so it has just been one of my brothers and I at home.We've had a good time with just the two of us, although we both wish we didn't have as much school this week, so we could have done more things together. We need another whole weekend! We got in the Ultimate Frisbee, but didn't have time for the Repelling that we wanted to do. Oh well, his Spring Break is next week. :)

I drove a manual for the first time this week, and well let's just say we made it home and so did the car.
Probably need a little more practice with that one. ;)

The Piano Guys are currently my favorite study music, so they've been on replay while I've been writing papers. This one always makes me smile. Charlie Brown Medley


Made these for dinner the other night. Mhmm so good, and easy too! Definitely going to make them again!


Did some observations at the Women's Center today! Things from all the training are coming together, and I'm starting to see the "flow" of things. I still have more training/observing to do before I will be in the counseling room by myself, but it's coming together!

I have some super exciting news but......(wait for it)




.....I can't share it yet. So, you'll just have to look back. I promise, I will be sharing it soon! ;)

Credit  

So yeah, thus ends this random post. Take care y'all!

A Deeper Look: Emotional Purity

I have recently been challenged in considering the issue of emotional purity. Christians have often focused on physical purity, while neglecting the importance of emotional purity. Physical purity is very important, but there is much more to relationships than only the physical. Should we not strive for emotional purity as well as physical purity?

She does him good, and not harm, 

all the days of her life. Proverbs 31:12 

In that verse the phrase "all the days of her life" really stands out to me. There are many ways we can be honoring and doing our husbands good - even before we meet them! One of the ways is saving our emotional intimacy for him. God created men and women to not only fulfill each other physically but also emotionally. We can easily emotionally attach ourselves to someone, without there being a serious commitment in the relationship. This results in us giving away a part of us that really belongs to our future husband, thus not truly doing him good.  

I think we all know that girls are easily triggered by emotion, and are also major dreamers. Admit it girls; when you meet an amazing Christian guy who you could see yourself with, it's not long before your last name has mentally morphed into his, and you are living "happily ever after." This is not something we should be doing, but rather should be fighting against.

Something to consider when evaluating a close friendship with someone of the opposite sex, is whether it's encouraging us in our walk with the Lord, or if it's causing us to become anxiousness for things that are not ours to have yet. Whether we are single or married, our fulfillment ultimately needs to come from the Lord, not from our spouse or other person/people.

We need to be guarding our mind, and not allow it to wander wherever it wants to take us.
I did not really touch on it much today, but another area we need to be striving for purity is mentally. Maybe that will be the topic for another post.


A book that I highly recommend which goes deeper into the subject is: Emotional Purity An Affair of the Heart by, Heather Arnel Paulsen

If you have any thoughts or comments on the subject, I would love to hear them!

Random Wednesday

First full day in Oregon; woke up to it being rainy/snowy. Then I find out that it was a beautiful 70 degrees at home today, what a bum deal! But oh well, it's nice seeing my Grandma again!

Went to two little coffee shops with my mom. Had lunch at one, and checked out the book store in the other.

Waited in the car for my mom while she got a few groceries. She came back all smiling, and excitedly tells me that she won a Kindle Fire! Now I kind of wish I had gone in for the groceries. No, seriously I'm really happy for her. I know she's been wanting one, and I can tell she's already enjoying it! :)

My Grandma took my Auntie, my Mom and myself out for Moroccan. That was the first time I'd had it. I liked it, and would say that the "dinning experience" was very interesting. I always find it fascinating to see how other cultures do things.

Worked on some of the never ending homework. I have several papers that I need to start and write tomorrow. This semester has been going well, but I do get tired of always having to do lots of reading and writing. But I guess that's kinda part of being in college....so can't wait to be done!

And yes, I know it is now Thursday, so I am going to bed!

The Words of My Mouth

Recently the Lord has been speaking to me about the words that I speak.

All the words of my mouth are with righteousness;

Nothing crooked or perverse is in them. Pro. 8:8

This verse really challenged and convicted me to consider if it could be said of my speech. Are the words I speak, words of righteousness? 

God has shown me that I have been lacking in this area.
Sometimes I may wish it was not true, but people will be affected by my words. It will either be a positive affect, or to my regret, a negative affect.When I am careless in my speech, I end up hurting my brothers and sisters in Christ.

Rather than hurtful and impure words, I desire my speech to be words of love, purity, humility, and grace. 
I want people to leave their conversations with me feeling blessed and encouraged in the Lord - not hurt and confused.

What has God been teaching you recently?


Blessings!
Marie

Hymns on the Harp

Bought to you by my Venus Encore, Annabelle.

Neither of these arrangements are really difficult, but I enjoy playing simplistic hymns sometimes. 

                                  

I know the video quality isn't the greatest, and that there are mistakes, but hope you still enjoy!

Blessings!
Marie