Remarkable Secrets

It is always a delight to receive an invitation from someone whose company we enjoy. Certainly we have been invited by God to know Him, to experience Him, and to be a part of His plan. To refuse such a request seems unthinkable. The eternal, majestic God of the Univerise wants to converse with me--how can I say no?

Yet, I find myself decling God's invitation. Why? Because I am selfish; I am lured away by my own desires. I do not seek His Kingdom first; I do not seek His face. I allow myself to be distracted. I am too busy.

The Lord says, however, that I do not have to live this way. I can change. He has extended to me a wonderful call. He has given me His Spirit to enable me to accept His invitation. I can choose to enter into His secret chamber; I can choose to spend time with friends interceding for what God lays on our hearts and for what will bring Him glory.

I want God's very best. I want to know Him, and I want to see Him act. 

"Ask me and I will tell you remarkable secrets you do not know about things to come." Jeremiah 33:3

How tragic to miss out on any of God's remarkable secrets because I never took enough time to answer His call.

-Cynthia Heald

It's funny how after rejecting my bible for so long I stumble upon this.  God can make Himself heard, yet He desires a hearer reaching out to Him. Thus the command to “call to me!” God seeks to speak to an upturned face not a preoccupied back. 

John 13

When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. "Do you understand what I have done for you?" he asked them. "You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

Right. 

Sometimes I forget that Jesus has already paid my price and I am here to do his work-  not complain about the work/life He has given me because He already told me it wouldn't be easy.  But I get to walk through it with the most understanding counselor of all. 

Worry is like a rocking chair, it is always in motion, but not going anywhere.

Whiskey flowers sway like a breath,
in the woods of our freedom they’ve stood to the test.
But you’ve fought a long time; some think it’s been too long.
But I dread this day ahead, oh I dread this day ahead.


I wouldn’t talk to you; you sat there wanting me to.
I wouldn’t listen to you, you dreamt I’d hear the truth.


The birds sing in a glorious fashion,
I move slow and talk fast as if to avoid what will happen.
But I’ve fought a long time, maybe it’s been too long.
Cause I dread this day ahead, oh I dread this day ahead.
Give me your tired, your poor. Your huddled masses.

Here are some photo's my best friend Nicole took when James and I announced our engagement at church.

I edited them and made them into a collage on photobucket!

James' family brought that super sweet cake and precious cake topper.

                      .happiness.                                 

Oh, happiness there is grace enough for us.

The LORD is near to the brokenhearted And saves those who are crushed in spirit.
Psalm 34:18
I felt so brokenhearted and angry 6 months ago on my birthday. I am still putting piles and piles of letters, pictures, presents, and loose ends away that it's hard to forget and move on. I am at a standstill. Time has gone by so quickly and sometimes that is the only remedy. But when things go by so quickly and it seems that everyone has gone back to normal it's harder to move on and forget. I once heard someone talk about forgiveness . We can forgive each other but it's hard to forget because that memory will forever be there. 
Why search for love that was so far away and out of sight? I realized my search for love should have been in our heavenly Father alone. 
So I'll stand, with arms high and heart abandoned to the one who gave it all. 


God tells us, A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps Proverbs 1:33
I know it is wise to have goals in mind, but for now I will take one day at a time. I have so many new adventures awaiting me soon: a wedding, a marriage, school, a degree, new job, new family members. I am going to try to focus my attention on the unconditional and unchanging love that has always been there for me :) 

here is a special message from James and Ashley..

Dear family and friends,

If you are getting this, you are very important to us!

I have exciting news! On May 19th, we were engaged. James took Ashley on a planned treasure hunt  (aka, we went geocaching) in Coeur d'Alene Idaho. We had perfect weather, a great view, and a wonderful time. It was pretty much magical.

here is a link with a picture of the view :)

http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=533b1c0b-0699-4a3a-8136-a30b2088690c

James hid a personalized cache box with a message-in-a-bottle inside! The message was a poem he wrote, and the last line read "A question comes, sweet, soft, and still...I hope the answer is- I will". Ashley was completely oblivious to what was going on, especially when James awkwardly got on one knee...Ashley asked "what are you doing?" and then the next thing she knew James was proposing!  She said YES!

We still do not know about wedding details but we plan to wait at least a year before our wedding. Any questions, suggestions or warm wishes are totally welcome!

We thank you for taking the time to read this and we hope you know we love and care about you all :D

God bless,

James and Ashley <3

"But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere. And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness."

James 3:17-18

New Beginnings :-)

"God's light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed. But those who do what is right come into the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants." John 3: 19-21

Amen. If people only knew what their hearts truly ached for. Not the drugs, alcohol, boyfriends, girlfriends, money...or any temporary high.  But a personal relationship with our Saviour Jesus Christ. 

I started a new job recently. At the Isabella House in Browne's Addition. I prayed God would place me in a new place where I can be helping women and that is exactly what he did! I loved my coffee job; but it was time for a new beginning. 

"Every blessing you pour out I'll turn back to praise"

Thank you Jesus, you know my heart so well.

I soon will be able to register for fall classes at Eastern, woohoo! I can not wait to be back in school.

Last week Joyce Meyer put on a free conference in Spokane, I was lucky to be able to attend 2 nights! The topics were mostly about trials and getting through them. She is awesome; she has a very simple way of explaining Jesus that just opens your eyes to what you have been missing. One of my favorite things she talked about was a person's testimony. She mentioned that we often forget what that word even means. The first part of the word signifies the tests Jesus puts in our own personal lives as a challenge to overcome. Without the test there would be no testimony...just the monies :)