Request vs. Praise

I am currently reading a book titled "Castle in the Air" by Diana Wynne Jones. 

The people of the town greet one another  first with compliments and praise. Even if in reality the praise or the compliment is false by its nature, they still do this. Throughout their history this has become their custom . 

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As I read this book I reflect on my prayer life. I must ask myself:

"Do I begin my prayers asking God what He can do for me?"

OR

"Do I begin my prayers by praising God for the magnificent wonders that He has created in me and around me?"

When you greet God in prayer are you praising Him or are you asking Him to do something for you? 

Like the people in my book, if you become aware of how you approach God through prayer it will no longer be something you must stop to think about but will become habit. 

We often hear that if you do something more than 25 times it becomes habit.

**That question begins the challenge for this week. Before you begin your prayer time ask yourself that question and watch how God will change your life by just praising Him for who He is and what He has done and what He will do.**

Blog Revival

Long ago I began a blog. 

It started as me venting the thoughts that clouded my mind on a daily basis. It then grew to become me describing my life and my family and the events that took place within the circle. 

After neglecting this blog for so long it would take a lifetime to explain to you the events that have happened since my last blog post. 

Instead I will give you a summation of what my life looks like now. 

I am currently 23 years old living at home and I have a bachelors degree in psychology. I am beautifully engaged to the love of my life and will be married to him come May! 

I work for the school system in which I grew up in yet because I am getting married I am looking for jobs closer to where my future husband and I will be living. Which I am sad, and happy, to say is closer to where he is living currently. 

I have acquired so much knowledge of the real world, what it means to be a friend, and what it means to be honest with the people that you care most about.

I have felt the burning most dangerous of angers. I have cried the most abundant amount of tears. And I have laughed and felt joy more than I can measure in lifetimes! The friends that I have made I pray will remain friends for years to come and the people that I have lost I pray God will mend the wounds they have left behind. 

I want this blog to be revived to what it was when I first created it. The written story of my thoughts express. 

Longest Untouched Blog

I probably hold the record for Longest Untouched Blog. But I'm here now and boy do I have some serious updating to do!!! I'll just hit you guys with the big stuff & then we'll get into some nitty-gritty.

I'm currently in my LAST semester of college! WOOT-WOOT! This is a huge deal (of course) and I'm beyond excited about it! I've also moved back home with my folks which is another gigantic change in my life. It's awesome financially but a really hard adjustment when I've been used to living on my own for the last 4 years. So far I'm about 3 months into this transition and I'm doing alright (a part from losing my job and having to file unemployment... whole other story that I'm not even getting in to).

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 The biggest news though has to do with me and my boyfriend, Joel, that I have mentioned before. Well to start off with he's no longer my "boyfriend"... he's my FIANCE!!!
That's right! He asked that incredible question and I (of course) said "YES, YES, YES!!!"

Photo Courtesy of Dancing Daisy Photography

Oh yes, he had a professional photographer.... and both our families there! He had gotten my (at that time) pregnant sister to come down and say she wanted to get maternity pictures done with me. So we got our nails done (which took like 3 hours, weird right?!) and she drove me to Joel and I's spot called "Tower Mountain". I thought that was strange until she told me this story about how our grandmother had her picture taken with her sisters here. So I shrugged it off and accepted it. I had no idea that both of our families were all waiting with Joel behind the Tower! We were getting our picture made in front of the blue door (seen above) when Joel came walking from around the corner behind me! Then behind him came our families! Then you can guess the rest ;)

(Check out our wedding page: www.theknot.com/us/heatherjoel2017)

What's crazy is that the NEXT weekend, my sister went into labor! On August 21, 2015 I got engaged. On August 30, 2015 my beautiful niece Elinor Zoe Miller was born!

So many wonderful things have happened to my family this semester! I'm enjoying our engagement and being an Aunt for the 4th time!

Now I'm just trying to adapt to living at home again and focus on graduation.

 

Good To Be Back!

Gracious! 
It's been quite a long time since I last posted anything. 

If I were to use this one post to update you guys on everything that has gone on in my life from November 2014 to Now (March 2015) you would find yourself looking like Tom Hanks from the movie Cast Away... after his rescue. 

Let me just highlight the major, most memorable, moments that each month gave me.

December:
Finals week was hard as expected. I was taking a Neuroscience class so my brain felt as though it was going to explode! Being with my family and sharing in their presence made it so much better! Christmas is always my favorite. I love being able to spend that much time with my parents and my sisters. I always miss them the most right before I get to see them. I suppose it's that buggy feeling of anticipation. 

Btw... my beautiful and talented sister, Misti (in the middle), is the one who did my amazing hair cut!

January:
2015!!! The start of new beginnings and the end of bad feelings and unneeded relationships. I saw so many people start this year off with happier thoughts and expectations. More so than any year prior! It was truly beautiful! I have such beautiful hopes for this year. It already holds so many wonderful things:
weddings, graduations (one is mine), and something extra special that will be announced when we get to February! ;)

I was able to start my 2015 off in the most  spectacular way imaginable... with my family! We took a weekend vacation provided by my parents to Pigeon Forge, TN. We had an entire cabin to ourselves with the most gorgeous view!

This bunch of nuckle-heads makes my world go round!

Sadly when this trip was over it was back to reality. Another semester started and it was closer to graduation! ... Until it wasn't.

I was delayed on my starting back to school right away which meant one more semester until I could graduate. Sounds awful, trust me I know... Graduating in December instead of May. But I found my silver-lining through all the downsides, at least this gave me my summer. I could make lots and lots of money over the summer and maybe get my own place to begin fresh in the fall!

That's what 2015 is all about anyway, right... New Beginnings!

Let me just add that I wasn't able to come to this conclusion on my own... my wonderfully wise boyfriend, Joel, was there to hold my hand through all the struggles and talk sense into me once again. He's good at keeping me on my feet when I need it :) I'm very thankful!!

 He took me out to lunch and helped me realize all the positive things I needed to focus on... rather than dwelling on the bad.

February:

This month began wonderfully! Everyone healthy, happy, and unaware of any events to come! It was beautiful!

My sister, Amber, asked if I would go with her to see our other sister's new house (they had just finished building it). I was working that day so I was unsure but she sounded so desperate. I figured something must be wrong. She even said, 

"I could really just use some sister time right now..."

This really had me worried.. so I agreed.

She picked me up and we drove over to Misti's new place. It was gorgeous! 
Misti and I both were really confused, though. We didn't have time to go out and eat or do anything but sit at the house for a few hours.. and Sister drove all the way from NC. It was just strange. 

So a little ways into the visit Sister wanted to get a picture in front of the stone fireplace. Misti and I were reluctant but agreed. After a few pictures she decided she wanted to take a picture with her jacket off because she just bought the shirt she was wearing and she was too excited about it!

We rolled our eyes... we're girls so we kind of understoodd but whatever, right?

Next thing we knew we heard my niece Halie say, "Is that like a song or something?"

I turned around and saw her shirt and just stared....

What?... No... Seriously?.... Wait... Are you?... NO!!? OH MY GOSH!!!

Misti turned around next to see what the fuss was all about and just lost it crying! Then I started crying... and Misti asked,

Are you pregnant?!

 

"Baby Mama"

Her response, "Yes!"

The hard part on both of us was not being able to say anything until Valentines Day! That was when they announced it to "the world" that there would be another addition to their little family! 

Andy & Amber Miller + 1

So, after the sweetest baby announcement of all time, and a fabulous dinner with the love of my life.. came the ice apocalypse of 2015! 

I live on a mountain so it's always a struggle to get anywhere when it's cold. Well this was different... We had an entire power pole fall across our driveway with a tree blocking the cul-de-sac right after that. My Deddy had to come rescue me for the entire week! My house was without power and water all week.

The following week when we thought all was done.... we received 6 inches of snow! It truly wasn't so bad. I was snowed in with my best friend, Alexis, and we were able to build the best snowman ever! (His name is Rupert) 

 But all Georgians blame Elsa... She was even arrested in South Carolina! 

Tisk tisk, Elsa. I thought you had this under control, girl.

 March:
Now we enter the beginning of a brand new chapter. Here is what to come so far that I am aware... Spring Break!!! I'm looking forward to it and a break from classes! Even though the ice and snow from February brought on a break in itself. This kind of break is different in that it is planned and I wont be trapped or have to be rescued. 
 So here's to March and all that it may hold!

 

The Times and Toils

When tragedy sets in there is no way of understanding the cause. The questions of:
"Why did this happen?"
"Where did I go wrong?"
flood the mind and drag the heart down with it.

What is most difficult to remember is that the Bible speaks of such events and how to handle these. They are my most favorite verses because when I cry or simply feel I must break down but could never get back up, my Father is there to comfort me and help me onto my feet again.

In Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 He speaks of time. 

"For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:

² a time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
³ a time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up;
⁴ a time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
⁵ a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
⁶ a time to seek, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
⁷ a time to tear, and a time to sew;
a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
⁸ a time to love, and a time to hate;
a time for war, and a time for peace."

He doesn't stop there though... 

After giving comfort in times of pain, reminding you that it's ok to cry, ok to laugh, rejoice, love, and embrace. He also gives you tools on how to manage those times of pain. In these verses they are called toils. The definition for toil is hard continuous work; exhausting effort. 

Haven't we all been there? 

You try and try harder! Yet you feel that you have gotten nowhere. As if you're running a race, putting all your efforts into this, feel exhausted... but you haven't even moved from the starting line. 

Here is what the Bible says about these toils in Ecclesiastes 3:9-15:

^" What gain has the worker from his toil? ¹⁰ I have seen the business that God has given to the children of man to be busy with. ¹¹ He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man's heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. ¹² I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live; ¹³ also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil—this is God's gift to man.
¹⁴ I perceived that whatever God does endures forever; nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it. God has done it, so that people fear before him. ¹⁵ That which is, already has been; that which is to be, already has been; and God seeks what has been driven away."

Now this text is one of the most misinterpreted in the Bible. Solomon was not saying for people to go get drunk and fatten themselves up just because they were upset about the amount of work they had to do. He was saying "rejoice in your troubles so that God may be glorified through you." 

As seen in verse 14 -- "God has done it, so that people fear before him."
Fearing God does not mean that you are afraid of Him. It means that you respect Him and honor Him. 
In verse 15 -- " God seeks what has been driven away."
Though you may have lost someone, though something may have been taken from you (time, money, a loved one)... The Lord wishes to see His disciples use this toil for His glorification. So that all may see Him through you.

Many of us have heard the common phrase "let others see God through you." It is preached in almost every Christian church around the world. Let those around you know that God is the reason you are able to wake up every morning, get through your day with a smile on your face, and do it all again the very next day even though you may be going through a hard time. 

Never once does it say in the Bible "hide your toils" ...... it says "take pleasure in [your] toils!"

What Will He Find?

This morning I decided to do my devotion differently and do a web search for all verses related to "signs."

This phenomenon has become so popular in our culture and everyday life, so I wanted to know what the Bible said about relying on signs (even if they are thought to be God-given). Sadly, I wasn't able to find much, besides the occasional Revelation reference and signs related to evil concepts. That was before I came across this last verse which hit me like a brick:

 

Luke 18:8

 "I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?"

It really made me think... have I been truly faithful to the One who deserves my devotion or have I been placing my faith in other, less worthy, things of this world? 

Within my web search, and along side this very verse, were verses reminding us that we don't know the day or time in which the Lord will be returning. This brings me back to Luke 18:8... "will He find faith on earth" when He returns? My first impression was OUCH, what have I been doing with myself these past few months?! Nothing but worrying about those around me and school. 

Not once just stopping to thank my Creator for a sunny day, or even for the rain. Not once did I get on my knees and tell Him how much I love Him and appreciate Him giving me another day. Have you?! Will he find faith in your household when He returns to earth? This is so powerful to think about. Are you trusting in the world, yourself, someone else, or in the God who holds our universe and others like it in His mighty hand?

My challenge is for each and everyone of us to meditate on this verse, post it somewhere to see every morning. This is our reminder to place our faithfulness in Him. THIS is our sign. THIS is our slap in the face from the Almighty.

Get Out of the Ocean!

Discouragement... What does that feel like?

Heavy,

Dark,

Never ending?

Something commonly experienced this same way is known as responsibility.

These past few weeks I've been encountering a ton of that word. From gaining more hours at work (which is a definite blessing in disguise!), struggling with a car that has the temperament of a six year old and the physicality of an 86 year old, and balancing the challenges of two online college courses.

Dealing with these trials brought on a tumble-weed of emotions! These ranged from discouragement, anger, panic, unusual elation (brought on by exhaustion), numbness, and at one point even a slight case of depression. One trial after another presented itself to me like a never ending wave. Currents of hardships began driving me further and further out into a storm driven sea. The peaceful shore was the size of a button on the shirt of a well dressed salesman. It seemed impossible to ever reach again.

BUT!

This is what makes our God so unimaginably great and mighty! When all seems lost and the light just seems too far away.... He lights up the entire room! No more running towards a light that gets further and further away like a light house on the dusty shores of the bay. No more digging through dirty clothes for that bright knit at the bottom of the large overwhelming pile of a horrible day. He brings the light to us. 

All you have to do is stop. When you fight the current it pulls you further out. If you lay back and float the Lord of all Creation will hear your cries and answer. He will reach down His glorious hand and pull you out of the water. 

I found this picture on tumblr this afternoon when I was taking a much needed break form a lot of homework. I believe it's the perfect reminder that when we are going through something tough it's not going to last forever. No matter how it may seem that trial is not going to last. Our God is stronger and as long as we are faithful He will be faithful in answering. We work for Him. So when life is pulling us away from our happiness on the beaches of His glory, just remember, He's about to promote you to a better position. The way I see it...

You're probably in training.