Hello fellow readers,
It has been way too long since I blogged. As you may have noticed I don't have a list of how I'm going to do things this year...I will blog when I feel like is what I'm trying to say. I go bogged down with when and what to write. I am writing more and I should post it on here.
Well of course we are in the new year and I have made some commitments, not resolutions. I don't like resolutions. I've made commitments instead because I will keep to my commitments. I will share some of them with you but a few I'll keep to myself.
1. Have a quiet time with the Lord for at least 30 minutes a day and have it regularly, 66% of the year to be exact. Now while I am striving to have it everyday, that just isn't realistic for me so I was honest with myself. I committed to 2/3 of the year. I'm pretty sure I can do that and I'm off to a good start with it.
2. I want to read and thoroughly study 6 books of the Bible. Since my other goal is for 2/3 of the year, I just might surpass this 6 books thing, which would be great. The more the merrier. But we'll see how it goes.
3. Read 12 spiritual or non-spiritual books (separate from the Bible). That is one a month of course. It doesn't seem like much considering 2 years ago I read almost 30 a semester, but things change, that was for school and I don't have to do that anymore. I am on my way to this 12 for the year. I have already read 1, almost 400 page book. I'm pretty proud of myself actually. The Lovely Bones, by Alice Sebold. Great book, you should read it if you like a good fiction piece. Now I'm finishing up Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World. I started it last year and never finished it, but I'm trying to finish things that I've started. It makes me feel better about finishing what I've started.
And I have quite a few more commitments, but I'll keep them to myself. Those are the big ones that I like to share with everyone. My dad has always said, "The person who doesn't read is no better off than the person who can't read." Of course I'm paraphrasing and that is from Thoreau, but you get the most of it.
So those are mine, what are a few of yours?
the future Mrs. Ginny Gafford, otherwise known as GiGi
I don't love God enough but I'm learning, soon I'll be a wife and that scares me some but I try my best at everything because I'm happier when I do.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Thursday Thirteen #5
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--A few of my favorite Bible verses that I've come across the past few weeks. I'm really enjoying my study at church and we flip through the Bible all the time. I'm learning so much. I love it! Most of the passages listed below are ones I've come across the past few weeks in my study. I'm only listing the what they are, not the verse itself. So, you need to look them up. Good Bible drills for you, lol. 1. Galatians 5: 22 2. Acts 14: 22 3. Galatians 1: 10 4. Galatians 3: 6 5. Proverbs 13:12 6. 2 Corinthians 3: 5-6 7. 1 Peter 3: 8 8. Isaiah 60: 4-5 9. Proverbs 31 10. Ephesians 2: 13-14 11. John 14: 27 12. Psalm 62: 8 13. Matthew 14: 22-33 I hope you enjoy looking up these verses. I pray you take the time to look them up. Maybe they'll spark something in each of you. Enjoy! |
The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
View More Thursday Thirteen Participants
Friday, September 28, 2007
Prayer For a Friend
I have recently purchase Casting Crowns, The Altar and the Door. Pick it up if you haven't. It's awesome! It has the same tone and sound as their other two, Casting Crowns and Lifesong. This is becoming a favorite of mine. I think I listen to it every morning on the way to work and it stays in my head all day. I love the words. They are powerful as are most or all of the words in their songs. Read and enjoy.
Have a great weekend!
Prayer for a Friend
Lord I lift my friend to You.
I've done all that I know to do.
I lift my friend, to You.
In complicated circumstances
with clouded view.
Lord I lift my friend up to You.
I fear that I won’t have the words
that he needs to hear.
I pray for Your wisdom , oh God.
And a heart that's sincere.
And Lord I lift my friend up
to You.
Lord I lift my friend to You.
Though he's my best friend in the
world, I know he means much
more to You.
I want so much to help him, but
this is something he has to do.
Lord I lift my friend up to You.
There's a way that seems so right to him.
But You know where that leads.
He's becoming a puppet of the world.
Too blind to see the strain.
And Lord I lift my friend up to You.
Lord I lift my friend to You.
I've done all that I know to do.
I lift my friend, to You.
Have a great weekend!
Prayer for a Friend
Lord I lift my friend to You.
I've done all that I know to do.
I lift my friend, to You.
In complicated circumstances
with clouded view.
Lord I lift my friend up to You.
I fear that I won’t have the words
that he needs to hear.
I pray for Your wisdom , oh God.
And a heart that's sincere.
And Lord I lift my friend up
to You.
Lord I lift my friend to You.
Though he's my best friend in the
world, I know he means much
more to You.
I want so much to help him, but
this is something he has to do.
Lord I lift my friend up to You.
There's a way that seems so right to him.
But You know where that leads.
He's becoming a puppet of the world.
Too blind to see the strain.
And Lord I lift my friend up to You.
Lord I lift my friend to You.
I've done all that I know to do.
I lift my friend, to You.
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Thursday Thirteen #4
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1. My house...My mom is the best cook. Though she's not a fan of cooking, she likes to bake and she's great at that. Luckily I've picked up on it so I can cook for Daniel. 2. Olive Garden...I just love the soup, salad and breadsticks they have. Zuppa Toscana is my favorite, delicious. 3. Casa Mexicana...Daniel and I here every Sunday after church with Will and Jabria. I always get the grilled chicken fajita quesadilla, yum yum yum and our usual bowl of cheese dip. And the free chips and salsa. That's a no-brainer! 4. Baskin Robbins...I love love love their chocolate fudge ice cream and the mint chocolate chip. 5. J. Alexanders...I love their Steak Maui, its sweet and tender. Too good to miss out on, 6. Maccaroni Grill....They have a delicious chianti wine and good pasta. 7. Milano's Pizza...I love their bruschetta and just the cheese pizza. 8. Central BBQ...I love ribs and they have some good ones. 9. McDonald's...You can't beat their french fries and a good vanilla milkshake. 10. McAlister's Deli...I love the club sandwich and a big bowl of chicken tortilla soup. I don't drink their tea b/c I don't like tea, yeah I know I'm not a true southerner b/c I don't like tea, blah blah blah. 11. Chang's Chinese Food...Mmm, chicken fried rice, chicken lo mein, and sesame chicken (yes I know I like chicken). 12. Folk's Folly...a little high in price but awesome service, awesome food, awesome place, it's worth the money. Daniel and I went for our engagement dinner. My dad gave us a gift certificate to celebrate. It was so great. We had our own private room. Our server was great and our food was awesome. Save your money before going, but do it at least once for the experience. 13. Memphis Pizza Cafe...Daniel and I went on our first date here, a few months later they closed it. We went to the one in the Wolfchase area, the other one is still open. They have the best thin crust pizza. So there's my thirteen. I think that's all I really like, for the most part anyways. There are a few others I could think of I'm sure, but these are definitely my favorites where I am a frequent visitor. Enjoy!
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The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
View More Thursday Thirteen Participants
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
What I've been hearing/seeing/reading... More on Beth Moore and my studies
I told you yesterday I'd write up on my favorites of the ten I listed. As you've probably read in my last few posts I'm struggling with who to call "friends." I'm at a crossroads in my life where I'm changing and the people around me are staying the same. I like what Emily said about friends and the age we're at now, "It's so weird that people our age can be in such different places in live: single and loving it, single and lonely, engaged, married, married with children, divorced, divorced with children, homeowners... I know exactly what you mean. " I agree with her totally. We are at an age where we're surrounded my people who are after different things. It's not like high school where you'll all just in high school, waiting to graduate and go to college or find a job.
So this "Ten Characteristics of the Crucified Life" stuck out with me. All of them did, but a select four really hit me with the things I'm struggling with at the moment.
1. Few will understand.
Few understand anyways but it is becoming harder by the days. I want certain things out of life, church, etc so I'm putting my best foot forward and doing them. But the people I once called "friends" (and still do to a point even though we barely talk) can't understand my motivations for doing certain things. I'm the same fun-loving, optimistic person I always was, I have just turned my focus away from them and turned it on God. I feel they don't care enough about what I'm trying to accomplish because they're immature and selfish. I'm moving on with life. People can jump on the train with me or get off.
3. Your intimate spiritual companions will be few.
This pretty much goes along with number 1. It's happening all around me, it's inevitable. I feel I've always been on a different road than most of the people around me but I've been a little more tolerant of behaviors, until recently. I've felt I've been on a different road because I did things differently with my life than most of the people around me. I went away to school for four years, that made me grow up. I'm not saying I'm better than these people for going away, I'm better for me. I see things differently now because of the decisions I made earlier in life. I'm fortunate enough to have parents who love me and were financially able to pay for me to go away to school, I know there are people who aren't. But this and other things have put me on a different life path. I feel I truly see what is important in life. I'm not so much focued on myself now. I am looking out for others who want and need a change in their lives.
4. Intense times of aloneness with God are required.
I know the only way to truly worship God and know Him more is the quiet time I spend with Him daily. I've gotten into a routine with that. I come home from doing whatever between 8 and 8:30 and have my quiet time for almost an hour. It really depends on what I'm reading and writing. The Beth Moore stuff I'm doing takes about an hour, other studies don't take as long. I hear people all the time saying, "I just don't have time to do those studies." My answer now is yes you do, you just choose not to. You have to be disciplined. Leave your friends, you see them all the time anyways and go home. Sit at a desk or somewhere where you aren't laying down and you have the possibility of falling asleep. I tried that excuse too, but now I see it as that, an excuse. Yes, some days and weeks are busier than others, stuff happens, stuff comes up, but don't get down on yourself, pick back up when it slows down.
5. You will be constantly on the witness stand.
I don't like being on trial for what I believe. I believe what I believe. If some don't like it, it's not my problem. I'm not going to let people get me down. I'm going to stand firm in my beliefs and do my best. I'm going to study and pray and watch my speech and actions all the time because I know people are ALWAYS watching. That's how I view it anyways. I've made an effort to do these things because I know they are important in my growth.
So there are my select few that are with me right now. Can you relate to any of these items, listed here or in yesterday's blog? Let me know if you need further explanation, I can at least tell you what Beth Moore says on the topics.
So this "Ten Characteristics of the Crucified Life" stuck out with me. All of them did, but a select four really hit me with the things I'm struggling with at the moment.
1. Few will understand.
Few understand anyways but it is becoming harder by the days. I want certain things out of life, church, etc so I'm putting my best foot forward and doing them. But the people I once called "friends" (and still do to a point even though we barely talk) can't understand my motivations for doing certain things. I'm the same fun-loving, optimistic person I always was, I have just turned my focus away from them and turned it on God. I feel they don't care enough about what I'm trying to accomplish because they're immature and selfish. I'm moving on with life. People can jump on the train with me or get off.
3. Your intimate spiritual companions will be few.
This pretty much goes along with number 1. It's happening all around me, it's inevitable. I feel I've always been on a different road than most of the people around me but I've been a little more tolerant of behaviors, until recently. I've felt I've been on a different road because I did things differently with my life than most of the people around me. I went away to school for four years, that made me grow up. I'm not saying I'm better than these people for going away, I'm better for me. I see things differently now because of the decisions I made earlier in life. I'm fortunate enough to have parents who love me and were financially able to pay for me to go away to school, I know there are people who aren't. But this and other things have put me on a different life path. I feel I truly see what is important in life. I'm not so much focued on myself now. I am looking out for others who want and need a change in their lives.
4. Intense times of aloneness with God are required.
I know the only way to truly worship God and know Him more is the quiet time I spend with Him daily. I've gotten into a routine with that. I come home from doing whatever between 8 and 8:30 and have my quiet time for almost an hour. It really depends on what I'm reading and writing. The Beth Moore stuff I'm doing takes about an hour, other studies don't take as long. I hear people all the time saying, "I just don't have time to do those studies." My answer now is yes you do, you just choose not to. You have to be disciplined. Leave your friends, you see them all the time anyways and go home. Sit at a desk or somewhere where you aren't laying down and you have the possibility of falling asleep. I tried that excuse too, but now I see it as that, an excuse. Yes, some days and weeks are busier than others, stuff happens, stuff comes up, but don't get down on yourself, pick back up when it slows down.
5. You will be constantly on the witness stand.
I don't like being on trial for what I believe. I believe what I believe. If some don't like it, it's not my problem. I'm not going to let people get me down. I'm going to stand firm in my beliefs and do my best. I'm going to study and pray and watch my speech and actions all the time because I know people are ALWAYS watching. That's how I view it anyways. I've made an effort to do these things because I know they are important in my growth.
So there are my select few that are with me right now. Can you relate to any of these items, listed here or in yesterday's blog? Let me know if you need further explanation, I can at least tell you what Beth Moore says on the topics.
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