"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for man." Colossian 3:23
This morning during chapel for my students, we were challenged to live each day by this verse. This is a verse that I have hanging in my room over the board, and I always talk to my students about it at the beginning of each year. I've heard this verse so many times, but for some reason today during chapel I felt like God was speaking directly to me through this verse. Boy, was I convicted this morning.
I needed the reminder that whatever I do, I should do it with ALL of my heart. I know for me, it's easy to only put 90% into something and then blame it on having too much going on at one time, or to complain the whole time I am doing a task because I didn't really want to do it in the first place. But, God desires for me to work at it with all of my heart and to do so without complaining and grumbling (Philippians 2:14). When I'm doing something halfheartedly or complaining about doing something, I'm not glorifying the Lord. My desire should be to glorify Him in ALL I do so I was definately challenged with that this morning!
At the same time, I need the reminder that in EVERYTHING I do, I should do it for the Lord - not to please men. This may sound easy, but most can testify that it's something we forget about from day to day. Too often we get caught up in trying to get the approval of others and we take our eyes off of Him! I don't want to take my eyes off of Him, because when I do, I fall into sin. My desire is to turn from my sin and keep my eyes off of Him, but I fail at that daily! I'm so thankful though that my God is a forgiving God, because I need that forgiveness daily. Lord, help me to live out your Word!!
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Yet Another House Update
We have been so blessed with many friends and family that have come out and helped with the house and we praise God for that blessing! We are prayerfully only two weeks away from moving in. We are in the process of touching up the trim paint and laying tile. The lights are in now so we can work past dark. By the end of this week, hopefully all the tile will be completed and then we can work on laying the hardwood. As soon as that's done, the carpet will be installed. The plumbing will be done by the end of this week as well. The garage door was installed yesterday. Our kitchen appliances will be delivered the first of next week.
We can't wait to move in and get settled! Praise the Lord for the blessing of this new house!
Sunday, August 17, 2008
What a Blessing!
God has blessed me in so many ways and I don't take enough time to thank Him for all His many blessings. So many times I take for granted all that God does for me. One of those blessings that I take for granted too often is my husband. God has blessed me with an amazing man and I'm so thankful for that. If you had asked me in highschool if I thought I would "grow-up" and marry a pastor, I would have told you a quick "no". Not because I wasn't saved then, I was. But because I just didn't see that for my future. But, God has other plans and He orchestrated my life in a way that I met Michael Buffaloe at just the right time. Michael and I often joke that if we had met in high school we would have hated each other, we were just so different then. But, God was working on us and allowed us to meet when He knew we were ready.
For those that don't know, Michael and I met at church when I was a Junior in college. We became fast friends. We had a large group of friends that we were always with and all of us were very close. Michael will tell you though, that he knew we were supposed to be together way before I did. He even told me one day that he was going to marry me. I thought he was crazy....we weren't even dating, and at the time I didn't see dating Michael in my future. But, once again, God's plans are different than our own....and better than our own as well!! God was working in my life during that time in ways that I didn't fully understand. And eventually, after much running from listening to God, I realized that my future did indeed include Michael Buffaloe! We began dating and after 8 months we were engaged. Now, 5 1/2 years later, I can look back and thank God for placing Michael in my life just when He did.
I'm so thankful for the gift God gave me, when He placed Michael in my life! Why?? Oh, there are SOOOO many reasons!
Michael loves the Lord with all his heart. And he loves me despite my imperfections. He is caring, kind, and considerate of others and their feelings. He takes care of me when I'm sick. He's a provider and a protector. He goes above and beyond what is expected when it comes to ministering to our youth. He makes time for me even in the midst of the chaos that seems to be our life right now. He spends time with me doing what I like to do, not just what he likes. He leads me, even when I don't want him to! :) He'll always do what it takes to get the job done, even if it means staying up until 4:00 in the morning. He's fun, adventurous, and spontanious. He is gifted in many areas, like preaching, teaching, and painting. I could go on and on, but what it comes down to is this: He's AMAZING and I'm SOOO thankful for him!!
Thank you God for placing Michael in my life!
For those that don't know, Michael and I met at church when I was a Junior in college. We became fast friends. We had a large group of friends that we were always with and all of us were very close. Michael will tell you though, that he knew we were supposed to be together way before I did. He even told me one day that he was going to marry me. I thought he was crazy....we weren't even dating, and at the time I didn't see dating Michael in my future. But, once again, God's plans are different than our own....and better than our own as well!! God was working in my life during that time in ways that I didn't fully understand. And eventually, after much running from listening to God, I realized that my future did indeed include Michael Buffaloe! We began dating and after 8 months we were engaged. Now, 5 1/2 years later, I can look back and thank God for placing Michael in my life just when He did.
I'm so thankful for the gift God gave me, when He placed Michael in my life! Why?? Oh, there are SOOOO many reasons!
Michael loves the Lord with all his heart. And he loves me despite my imperfections. He is caring, kind, and considerate of others and their feelings. He takes care of me when I'm sick. He's a provider and a protector. He goes above and beyond what is expected when it comes to ministering to our youth. He makes time for me even in the midst of the chaos that seems to be our life right now. He spends time with me doing what I like to do, not just what he likes. He leads me, even when I don't want him to! :) He'll always do what it takes to get the job done, even if it means staying up until 4:00 in the morning. He's fun, adventurous, and spontanious. He is gifted in many areas, like preaching, teaching, and painting. I could go on and on, but what it comes down to is this: He's AMAZING and I'm SOOO thankful for him!!
Thank you God for placing Michael in my life!
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Gone are the Days of Summer
This summer has been super busy with the youth and working on the house. However, summer has drawn to an end and it's back to school for me! I started back last week and then the kids came back this week. I have a really good class this year and I'm so thankful for that. Unfortunately, I'm sick. I've been sick since the first day of school and it's getting worse. It's bronchitus, I'm assuming, because normally I get it twice a year. Needless to say, I haven't felt well this week. I'm praying that it passes quickly though. Now that school has started back, I teach during the day and then work on the house each night. It makes for long days but we are praying to be in the house in the next three weeks. Once we have actually moved in and all the hard work is behind us, I know I'll feel SOOO relieved and thankful for the blessing of this new house! Praise God for his many blessings!
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