What 2013 has in store for me :)

      2013 is 100% dedicated to my relationship with the MOST HIGH. I am not worried about boyfriends, making situations un-awkward for others, compromising my personal values or anything else that takes away from Me and God being together. It's gonna be fun!

      With that being said, I'm not a huge resolution person but I am a believer in plans. Here is the plan I have for making the most out of the next 365 days in 2013 with the Lord.

1.  Spend at least 30 minutes daily in the word, reading, meditating and reflecting.
2. Journalpray daily (This is something I like to do, I just write my prayers out at least one time a day, though I try to pray  mentally and verbally as much as possible throughout the day.

1. Yearly focus is WHO ARE YOU?- The focus of 2013 is who are you and who do you want to be? Who does God say I am? What can I offer to this world? In what ways can I be the best version of myself in Christ Jesus?
1. 1 Have a monthly focus of a characteristic that I would like to build up/cultivate within myself. This focus should infiltrate everything I do.  

                   a. January - FAITHFULNESS- in all things asked of me. 
                   b. February- Loving others/Humility
                   c. March- Loving Self/ Personal Empowerment
                   d. April- Quietness/Meekness (BIRTHDAY MONTH :))
                   e. May- Listening
                   f. June- Kindness
                   g. July- Faithfulness (a second time this year to get a re-up halfway
                        through the year)
                   h. August- Humility
                   i. September- Wisdom
                   j. October- Discretion
                   k. November- Observation
                   l. December- Working in my gifting (Writing)

These are tentative and of course can change but these are the top qualities I want to work on! Already working on the faithfulness.

I want to be in love.... with God, with self and with all others.

-- Be strong. Be kind. Be confident--

Meghan

p.s.
Other Goals:
Read a book a month (non school related) This is gonna be tough but I can do it)
Lose another 30 lbs this year :)

Top 12 Moments of 2012

This year was fantastic simple because I was ALIVE and God was working something for me!

There were plenty of fantastic moments but I narrowed down 12 really really good ones - Meghan

12. Reigniting my dreams :)

11. Making new aqaintances and meeting new people!

10. Going to my first NBA game since I was 8 years old :)

9. Dropping lbs :)

8. Getting Practicum placement  at a Children's Hospital 

7. Starting Graduate School at the University of Laverne

6. Moving to the Los Angeles area

5. Finishing reading the bible throughout again :)

4. Thanksgiving on the beach with my family

3. 4.0 GPA in my first semester of graduate school

2. Meeting Holocaust Survivor Bill Harvey

1. Life stirring phone call from my Pastor

GOD IS GOOD!

Proverbs 28:19 - Get your bread!

Soooo I was reading my word last night and as usual asking the Lord to reveal to me the things he wants me to garner from his word. Currently I'm in Ezekiel but this verse popped up. Ill give it you in two versions:

NIV
He who works his land will have abundant food, but the one who chases fantasies will have his fill of poverty.

ESV
Whoever works his land will have pleanty of bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits will have plenty of poverty.


I PREFER the ESV so I'll go with that :) but anyways BAM this verse hit me hard! Let's dissect it a little....

WHOEVER (me and you) works his land (works his talents, what he is tasked with, what he is given etc.) will have plenty of bread (success, money, something to show for your hard work etc., this is subjective)

So this verse is talking about me really working my land. Now obviously I'm no farmer so my land must be something else right. What is your land? Without getting too personal, my land is preparing for the next level in my life. (There are about 3-5 specific things within this preparation that I need to be doing) This is my current "job" from the Lord. I know it deserves almost all of my daily attention and most of my free time as well but I have been straight up neglecting it. THERE IS NO EXCUSE EITHER. I don't have a job right now.... so I have ample time for the more important work which is tending to my "land". By neglecting I'm talking about playing computer games, sleeping late, talking on the phone, thinking about other things etc... Stuff I know good and well will not help me accomplish my goal or tend to my land.  This is sad but I needed another wake up call. I needed to be reminded of what's at stake.

THE VERSE lays it out plain and simple.... If I take care of my "land", I will have lots of bread (success)
Do I not want the bread? HECK YES I WANT IT, In my case I know exactly what my bread will be!
So why wont I do what needs to be done? Fear, uncertainty, laziness etc. The same ole excuses I have given before. No these are no longer acceptable. I must do the work if I want my bread!!

What's the rest of the verse.... BUT he who follows WORTHLESS pursuits will have plenty of POVERTY.... so this is what I'm trading my bread for.... POVERTY or being without. I have to remember that this is the choice I make. There is no middle ground, when I follow worthless pursuits it will end in poverty. It is a very clear equation.

Very Sobering

I think I found my wedding cake...

No I'm not even dating...
...engaged...
or  pregnant lol
BUT THIS CAKE IS BEAUTIFUL....

Jenny's Bakery Houston, Texas

31 Days of Prayer for your husband or future husband

31 Days of Prayer for Your Future Husband


1.To become a holy man, mature and growing in the Lord.
2. For contentment.
3.To take every thought captive, and not be conformed to the world’s thinking and to think scripturally.
4.To seek God with all his heart and grow in dependance on Him.
5.That he would be ever captivated by my love
6.To be a man of courage and boldness.
7. For wisdom to lead his family physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually.
8. To look at the plank in his own eye before seeing other’s sawdust.
9. To be a called man, not driven, with well thought-through and prayed-through goals in life
10.To be a man of prayer, guarding his heart and mind, putting into practice what he has heard, seen and learned.
11.To stand firm against the wiles of the devil and resist Satan in all circumstances.
12. To strive after the Christian ideal, and partake of the deeper truths of the gospel.
13.Not to depend on his circumstances for happiness but on God alone.
14.That he would enter victoriously into spiritual warfare.
15.To have God’s strength in the midst of his busy schedule.
16.To have a burden to see lost people saved.
17. To be kept from strange women.
18. To have godly companions.
19. That his self image might be a reflection of the Lord’s thoughts toward him.
20. That he might not be deceived into unbelief, sin or bitterness.
21. To learn to love as God commanded.
22. That the fruit of the Spirit might be exhibited more and more in his life.
23. To grow in humility.
24. To grow daily in Godly character.
25. To keep a clear conscience.
26. The Lord might protect him.
27. To learn to manage his time well.
28. The Lord would put a song in his heart.
29. To have a holy fear of God.
30. To have a desire to minister to others.
31. That I would be the best helpmate and encourager for him.

P.S. I read this book and it was FANTASTIC! These prayers didn't come from here but it is still a good resource :)

Nails

Those who know me know that I have a slight NAIL obsession and I only use OPI, well everyone has been asking about my nails so I will tell you :) These colors are all OPI and most are from the ballet line, I forgot to write down the names but since I got stopped so many times I will let you know the next time I go in the shop:)

Happy Nails to you !

-Meghan

Solomon's Temple

1st Kings 8 and so on...

So I am currently on the Chronological Bible reading plan which is AWESOME! I did it last year and it was the first time I REALLY read the bible from cover-to-cover. I like it because it enables you to read the Bible in order of how things actually happened and it gives you a little more historical insight and understanding. Now that I'm doing it a second time I have even MORE insight because of additional bible studies and books and sermons so it really is awesome because every time I read a passage I know a little more and I get something different but anyways...

I used to think the Bible was extra boring especially the long parts about "So and so begot so and so" and Solomon's Temple... I was like "Why I gotta know how much gold he used and how he decorated the walls????" . Around this time last year when I was reading it I really just sped through it so I could say I read it... but TODAY, ohhhh today, I asked God to stir up some revelation for me and make this word speak to me.

For those who don't know the story I will give it to you in short. King David (yes same David from David in Goliath) grows up and has a son named Solomon. Now David was supposed to build a temple for the Lord but in the end he doesn't get to do it and the task is passed down to his son Solomon. Solomon grows up to be the wise king and he begins building this intricate, extravagant and beautiful temple for the Lord. It took him 7 years, help from others (craftsmen, artists, laborers etc), and alot alot alot of fine materials (cedar, gold, bronze etc.) He took his time to oversee, pray on it and make sure it was done right.

God spoke to me in this story today, and he pretty much told me I NEED TO BUILD A TEMPLE in my heart for the Lord like Solomon. I need to make this special place for us. Lately I have not been honoring our relationship properly. This is right on time because my pastor gave a great bible study on Thursday about Relationship and it bothered me (in a good way). Solomon did it right, he did it just the way God asked him to do it, he did it with honor, he used the finest materials, he enlisted the proper help, he prayed over it and even though he couldn't do it overnight he still worked at it daily, for seven whole years. He made SURE it was done and he didn't take any short cuts in work or finances because he knew the value of the temple, and why he was executing/performing this task. Excellent food for thought.

Like I said, I used to just skip and skim over these chapters in my BIBLE but EVERYTHING in the word applies to you if you let it and ask the Lord to HELP you. Today I read with intention, sat with it and changed my attitude to be open to hearing from God about what I was reading. We get so "busy" with life that we don't build upon our personal relationship with God. This is not just about going to church every once and awhile, your relationship is yours, its PERSONAL. Only you can praise God for you, he wants to know you and hear from you.

I CAN BUILD A TEMPLE. Yesssss its gonna take time, but its gonna be beautiful and worth it.

I can take my blueprint from good ole Solomon. I'm getting the best materials (gold, bronze,cedar/ time, discipline, effort), resources (craftsmen, artists, laborers = pastors, friends,mature Christians & books ) (y'all know I love a good book ;) ) and the BEST GOD!

As I keep plugging away and pushing this relationship with God :)