praying for a set-up

It's the first day of a new year. The possibilities that this year holds are, at this point, endless.

I should say right now:

I'm a constant Facebook status update checker. And Facebook has made it really hard on people like me to stay abreast of all my friends' statuses with their new mobile setup. Blah, I don't want to sound like I'm complaining, but I'd really appreciate it if they fixed that. None of this is my point.

Even though they've made it hard, I've still seen a ton of statuses (I want to say stati, but I  don't think it's a word) today that have wished God's blessings of health, wealth, and happiness on their friends this year.

I would like to politely disagree.

You know what my New Year's prayer is?

That God would do whatever it takes this year for us to seek Him.

If that means losing your job so that He can show you how He provides. Then so be it.
If it means experiencing health problems so that He can show you how He is Healer. Then so be it.
If it means your friends abandon you so that He can show you how He is the greatest Friend. Then so be it.
If it means losing someone you love so that He can show you how He is the best Comforter.

So be it.

I'm not saying this to be callous. I'm saying it because I truly believe it's what He wants.

It's kind of that "not my will but Thine" thing.

Health, wealth and happiness are not bad things. But if there's one thing I have learned (by experience) it is that we rarely seek God's presence when things are happy-go-lucky. We make gods (lowercase g) of other lesser things when He is the only one that's truly God.

I've heard it somewhere that God knows the best thing for ourselves is Him.

I had a breakdown back at the end of July, my dad and I had a long talk on the back deck at their house. I had ugly-cried, like A LOT and been caught red-handed with my pride on high. I'm not sure there could have been a more prideful person at the time. It was extremely ridiculous, to say the least.

Anyway, he shared a story with me that stuck. I was about 4 months old (or something. I was young, can't remember how old necessarily)  and then there was Mama and my older brother and sister. He had just gotten fired from his job (unjustly - not the point) and was in a real tight spot. What was he to do?

He went to a conference at a local church and met someone that directed him to First Baptist - Red Oak, Texas, and it's pastor, Dr. Harold Henderson. He met with Dr. Henderson, who helped him gain perspective. I don't know how long it was before Dad found a job and everything was "fine" again, but I do remember him saying:

"Rebekah, if you asked me today, Would you go through it again? I'd say yes. 100 times. Yes. Because I met God during that time. I met God and He showed me Himself and I've never been the same for it." 

I know, right? My dad is a smart man.

When he was telling me that, inside my head I was saying YES. YES. 1,000 times. YES. I think I started crying even harder. Mostly because I had found it to be true. I don't think I  had ever met with God as much as I did last year when the rug was pulled out from under me.

I think my job situation, my living situation, all that jazz was a set-up. A huge flippin' set-up orchestrated by God. To show me who He was, is, and will always be.

And who I'm not.

So...I hope God sets you up this year.

Because when He takes away the worldy things, it's because He wants to give you everything.

He wants to give you Himself.

 

never once...

Gahlee gee bums. It's been a year hasn't it?

I mean, wowsa. Lots of changes went on here. I had three different jobs this year. Two, if you count substitute teaching as babysitting. ;) Which, sometimes, that's what it is. So, let's say 2 1/2 different jobs.

My living situation changed. 3 times! 3 might be a magic number. I lived in my house for 5 1/2 months, in which I didn't take my Christmas tree down until like...March. Then there was living with Matt and Molly. What a blessing that was. And now it's with Mom and Dad. Which, I'm still learning how to do that.  I thought I knew.

I was wrong.

All these changes,and yet there's one thing that never did.

God.

There were ups and there were downs and there were plateaus in the middle, but He was there carrying me the entire. time.

I wish I had some good words to sum this year up.  My word of the year was really put into action. {It was "trust." I think I'm picking "fun" for next year.} ;) But Amber Haines has two posts that I was just like...ummm...yeah, that's what I want to say except for it wouldn't be as exquisitely phrased. :)

:: The Dream for the New Year ::

Words that stuck: 

"Broken dreams are always building blocks for new dreams. And this time, I’m trying not to have a plan. I only know that God is with us, and it’s never what we think, and that things will fall apart, and that even then, especially then, it’s ok."

:: on soul rest and how the dreams change :: 

Words that stuck:

"God is faithful to change dreams, to make Himself the Vision – His nearness, His voice, His Face. And I’m finding that when the End of my Dreams is God, rather than God being the means for my dreams, I become encapsulated by Him. Storms rage on, but I rest in smooth anchored boat, God-hands cupped in protection around my heart, and I learn to love His hands and even the winds that blow me into them." 

Like...seriously. 

Did you read that last paragraph? 

Those are some crazy awesome words. 

So, that's my prayer for this new year. That He makes Himself the Vision and that, even though it may be hard, I follow Him.

I'll leave you with some of my favorite posts from 2011 on God's faithfulness. 

  And a video. 

Because you can never be reminded enough. :) 

:: God, You reign ::

:: Five Minute Friday - On Waiting ::

:: on seasons. {and life}.  ::

:: nothing is ever wasted ::

Biggest blessings to all of you friends in the new year. It's gonna be good. Like..really.

:)

well...

You've heard of No Shave November right? It's when guys grow out their beards and don't shave for the month of November. It's a cultural phenomenon. I don't know where it started.

Along those same lines, I think the blog {inadvertently} participated in No Blog November.

I had lots of stuff going on in my mind. And in my life. I mean, not like, life-changing things. I was just busy. And sick. And tired. And evidently couldn't find it in myself to peck out a post. Sad. 

If you were wondering about my test. I delayed it. 'Twas no way I would have been ready. New test date is January 14th. Which, is actually sister's birthday. So...I'm giving myself a present of taking a two hour test that kind of determines if I'll be able to teach the rest of my life. Or something.

No biggie.

;) 

The nieces came for Thanksgiving. And I know I've said it before, but I seriously.  SERIOUSLY. HAVE THE CUTEST NIECES EVER. Proof below.

And before I inundate you with pictures, can I just say Instagram has to be one of the best things ever invented. Ever. 

Just a reminder, Anna Woods is the oldest, she'll be 6 in a month. And is in kindergarten. And can READ! Little girl read me a story about a pumpkin and I was just like..."Can you stop growing up? PLEASE?" Also...we decided after seeing one of these pictures that she's basically The Godfather. Except, the playground kind. Or the kindergarten kind. She cracks me up.

Little brown-haired chick is Hadley. She's 3 1/2...there are three pictures of her on the couch that I feel should be in like a baby GQ magazine or something. And what's funny is Mary Neal took those pictures. Ha.

Smaller blonde-haired chica is Mary Neal. And she's actually almost a whole month younger than Hadley, even though she's a head taller.

I loved getting to play with each of them separately for a tiny bit. They are all so completely different. And I'm pretty sure they're going to be the best freakin' friends for their entire life. And that makes my heart so abundantly happy. You have no idea. So without further delay. Proof they're the cutest.

Happy December!

IT'S MY FAVORITE MONTH! :)

my head hurts

I don't think I complain a whole lot. 

I usually see the best in situations. I once had someone say to me, "Well we can't all be incorrigible optimists can we?"

But I just have to say, my head really hurts. 

Part of it is because our weather has gone from fall-like temperatures to really cool fall-like temperatures and my sinuses can't handle it. I still don't  know how all that works.

But the main reason is this...

And this...

P.S. 3 of those 4 graphs are WRONG. Yikes. 

My Saturday was mostly dominated by factors and factoring.  

I was proud that on the last chapter test I took this evening, I made a 26/27. 

My life has been Algebra for the past week. Not much of anything else. 

I take my test exactly 2 weeks from today. 

Trying not to freak out. Especially since I just reviewed the sample questions on ETS' website and....yeah, I don't know how to work most of those. 

Lord, help me. 

All your prayers are appreciated friends!

If it's quiet around here for the next few weeks, it's probably because my nose is buried in some form of math textbook. 

A perk of all this studying? 

I've become an excellent pencil-sharpener. 

{See...incorrigible optimist.}