tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-80464766611048333872024-03-05T21:48:29.044-05:00A Little Room to GrowMiranda Rileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00425779492672899104noreply@blogger.comBlogger33125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8046476661104833387.post-36304708664242821472013-01-02T13:56:00.001-05:002013-01-02T13:59:27.371-05:00A New Beginning - Hello 2013!Everybody gets super excited when the time comes for a new year to roll around. At least, that's what it seems like anyway. It's a chance to start over... to write a new chapter in your book... and to grow in new ways. I don't think that I've ever been more excited for a new year than I am about 2013. Everything will be completely different in this year....I'm newly married, I'm in a new state, a new town, a new church. We're making new friends, I'm looking for a new job, we're in a new home. It's all new. In fact... everything is so new that it's a little scary, and makes me homesick for Georgia. However, I know that the Lord has us here for a reason... I feel it down deep in my bones. It's going to be a year for us to remember, that's for sure. I'm excited!<br />
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I'm excited to write the pages of this journey called marriage. I'm excited to learn how to be a wonderful wife... caring for, loving, and respecting my husband. I'm excited to learn how to make a home. I'm excited to meet new people and to see where I will end up in the job market. Will I go back to corporate TV or will I work in a more domestic small town position? Will we be disciplined in our endeavors to get out of debt and live like no one else? Will we go on a vacation? Will we get a dog? Will we see our families often? Will we keep in touch with our old friends? Will we stay in Virginia? Will we move? So much can happen in a year!<br />
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It's really exciting... no matter what happens! I'm ready for it, because I know that God has a plan and a hope for my future. I know that he works everything together for my good. I know that if I have faith as small as a mustard seed... mountains can be moved. And I know that His mercies are new EVERY morning... not just once every new year. What's even more cool though about this year... I get the chance to walk through it with my husband. We get to experience and live this year of life and the rest of our lives together. So... BRING IT ON! Let's do this baby! Happy New Year!Mirandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14694319308705100282noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8046476661104833387.post-44632549127362740042012-05-22T11:01:00.001-04:002012-05-22T11:01:11.750-04:00Ice Cream and Disney MoviesIt’s a Monday evening. I’m sitting here watching Pete’s Dragon because Disney movies make me happy. It’s about 7:45, so Jon should be calling me in about 45 minutes. I’m really excited to hear from him. Yesterday, Jon’s mom and I left Jon in West Virginia. Today he started his new job as the Graphics Designer for the Appalachian Trail Conservancy. For those that know my fiancé, know how much this means to him. Before Jon met me, hiking was his passion. And it still is to a certain extent. Jon has hiked the entire Appalachian Trial that extends from Georgia to Maine (like 2500 miles, I think). Jon has also hiked the Colorado Trail (500 miles) and the Olympic National Forest Trail in the Pacific Northwest. (I think that’s the name of it anyway)… regardless, my future husband has walked across America, and he LOVES it! So this job working with the Appalachian Trail is his man cave! Ha! I imagine that every dude would love for their job to be their man cave. I’m so proud for him and am so excited he gets a taste of what it’s like to live out his dream career.
However, because Jon took this job… he had to move to West Virginia, which means he will be up there for the last half of our Engagement. This is extremely tough for us, because although we haven’t lived together, Jon and I have seen each other every single day (with the exception of just a few days) since we started dating. Being apart for a long period of time is torture… but I’m confident that the Lord is going to teach us both something during this season. However, right now… it’s pretty tough. Yesterday when Jon and I were saying goodbye to each other, he picked me up and started running down the street with me. He wasn’t ready for me to get in the car and leave. And then when I finally got in the car with his mom for our final goodbye… that was so tough. I had cried myself to sleep the night before and the waterworks were starting again. It was so hard to let go of Jon … I had to force myself to undo my embrace around his chest. When we pulled away, Jon started running after the car and I poked my head out the window to watch him fade in the distance. After I couldn’t see him anymore, I just cried and cried. Jon’s mom warned me that she probably wouldn’t cry when we left Jon (because she was use to him going away for long periods of time with his hiking), but I think our love for each other got to her because she cried with me. Come to find out, that Jon sat down on the curb and cried after we drove out of site. He’ll probably not like that I said that, but that just shows you how strong of a love we have for each other.
I can’t believe that I’m with a man like Jon. In fact, I didn’t know that men like Jon existed. He’s respectful, he’s kind, he loves with the strongest genuine love that I’ve ever felt before, he looks at my eyes, he tells me I’m beautiful at random times during the day, he says “I love you” so much that he asked me if he was saying it too much, ha! I’ve never met a man like Jon before. He love Jesus with all of his heart, and he’s “waiting” for marriage with me (which is super tough! But definitely possible!). He prays with me every night, he takes me on spontaneous trips, and kisses me each time I get anywhere near his lips. Oh my goodness… my man is so amazing! I can’t sing his praises enough, he makes me want to be a better person. We have so many inside jokes and phrases, and we’re so goofy with each other. Ha! We feel like we’ve lived a lifetime (in a good way) together just by how open we are in our communication. Last week, we ended our pre-marriage counseling… and that was the best thing we ever did for our relationship. So many hard issues were surfaced, and we were able to talk through them instead of fighting through them later when they arose in our marriage. We were able to talk through the tough situations that could play out during our marriage. Jon and I had some disagreements and some little bickers… but nothing major. It was all healthy stuff that has helped us learn more about each other and to grow our love in the direction that God wants it to grow. Another thing I love about Jon… he doesn’t yell. He is the most patience, kind-hearted, slow-tempered man that I have ever seen and he never raises his voice to me or to anyone. Jon looks like Jesus on a daily basis… and he even looks like Jesus in this season of our life. Jesus has gone before Christians to prepare us a place in Heaven. And Jon has gone before me to West Virginia to prepare us a place to live once we’re married. The bible encourages us to strive to be like Jesus, and Jon is definitely doing that. He has made sacrifices so we can save money and afford for me to quit my job once we’re married so I can move too. It was really hard to leave Jon without a place to stay and living out of his car, but if anyone can do it.. it’s my Ulitmate Man’s Man! He’s the closest to Chuck Norris that I’ve ever seen… in fact, he could one up Chuck! I’m so thankful that I have a man that’s willing to live out in the woods for the next four months, and getting up early to use the health club showers to be clean for work… just so he can save money for me to live with him once we become husband and wife.
So these are some of the reason’s why it’s so hard to leave him or be apart from him. I’m convinced that we have one of those loves that they make movies of … one of those loves that our future children will be sharing stories about. I’m praying that the Lord would protect that love and allow it to grow and that Jon will be protected in every way possible.
I have faith that this season will be one that will inspire couples. So that makes me feel a little better. In the meantime, I’ll go back to eating my ice cream and watching my Disney movie as I anxiously await for the phone to ring so I can talk to my honey :) Ah... I really can't wait until we're married!Miranda Rileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00425779492672899104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8046476661104833387.post-4377207244751087862011-03-18T20:54:00.002-04:002011-03-18T21:54:01.079-04:00Just Thinking...."Opportunities are never lost. Someone takes the ones you miss." <br /><br />I believe this quote wholeheartedly. Therefore, I'm trying my hardest to soak up and rock out every opportunity that's presented! My grandpa says, "Can't never could do anything." I use to really hate when he'd tell my sister and I that, because it was generally when we were whining about having to clean something or straighten something up. Ha! But now that I'm older, I've realized that the only way to make things happen for yourself is to get up and do things yourself. Things REALLY aren't going to be handed to you. *gasp!*<br /><br />I'm really lucky that I had a Daddy who constantly planted the yearning inside me to make something of myself. He would always talk about how it takes hard work and the drive to apply yourself to achieve the things you want to achieve. <br /><br />I have crazy high hopes and goals that, to some, might seem unreachable... but I don't see it that way at all. Everything CAN be reached... but Daddy was right - It DOES take hard work. Crazy hard work. But I wouldn't trade it for anything. Sometimes I get really worn out and sometimes I feel like I don't have much of a social life anymore... but I just keep praying, and I know that God is going to use it all. I believe with all my heart that I'm going to be where I want to be one day... .and that helps me get through my "Character Building Years." I'm so thankful for these years too... because I'm having to humble myself in so many different ways. I wish my life was glamorous right now... but it's not at all. My apartment is still pretty much bare of furniture, my refrigerator has about three things in it, my car is missing three hub caps (lol!), I don't own any technology that starts with the lowercase "i", and I'm always faced with the decision of buying super cute shoes or eating dinner for the next two nights. The shoes generally win. <br /><br />Dad was right... Life is about working your butt off to make things happen for yourself and the sacrifices you may have to make to seize opportunities. I'm so happy. I'm so happy things are the way they are right now. Granted, some days I may complain, but I know that I'm still smack dab in the center of the Lord's will for my life. He promises that everything happens for the good and He has a plan and a hope for my future. I'm so fortunate that I've learned early that money isn't everything... joy and happiness come from somewhere that you can feel... but isn't tangible at all. It's in the attitudes that you choose for your day and the attitudes you choose for others. I'd rather have the joy of building REAL friendships with people instead of the motive to step on them to advance. I'd rather do things the right way and work harder... than do things the wrong way because it might seem easier. <br /><br />Chances are ALWAYS worth taking. Every Opportunity is ALWAYS worth pursuing. When it's all said and done... we're either going to succeed or we're going to fail. But failure is just a new beginning, because then...the joy in the journey starts all over again.Miranda Rileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00425779492672899104noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8046476661104833387.post-72522021310364174462010-11-28T13:28:00.002-05:002010-11-28T13:47:14.367-05:00It's Time to Start Stirring Things Up!I am a very loyal and committed person. When I do things I do them whole-heartedly and with every bit of passion that I have inside me. When I love people, I love them with a strong, genuine affection that embroiders itself into my heart. This is why goodbyes are not my strong suits. I have a hard time letting go of past memories because at some point or another they have made a huge impact on my heart. So I cling to them and cherish them…. but I don’t like living off of memories. I like making memories. <br /><br />This morning's church service reminded me that lately, that’s all I’ve been doing…living off of memories instead of making them. I’ve been clinging to what isn’t there anymore to avoid having to start anew. Starting over is hard. It’s hard to get out and make things happen. It takes work to get to know people, time, and energy. I’ve had some of the best friends ever and when we all had to move on it was so hard to let go. I told myself that I wasn’t going to let myself make friends like that again until I finally got settled and could stay put to where nobody would have to say goodbye. I tried my best to close myself off to others when I had short term stays in different towns, but that didn’t really work. It was hard to not love people. So…I made more friends and held onto them…and once again when it was time to move on…it hurt. <br /><br />So here I am. I’ve been in Atlanta for 10 months now and have yet to get settled. I still have unpacked boxes in my apartment, I still haven’t committed to a church home, a bible study, or any type of small group. I still haven’t allowed myself to get close to people…. All because I’ve trained my heart to stay closed. NOW…I’m finally in the place that I feel I’m going to stay at for a while (because I’m praying for my job to prosper) and I just can’t bring myself to let go and finally settle. I’ve been moving and moving and moving for six years, so yeah… it’s understandable to be afraid to dive in and get involved because I’m scared I’m gonna have to pack up and leave again. But this time I don’t. I don’t have to go anywhere. I can finally commit again. I can make new friends and let them into my life. I can pursue fully what God has planned for me. I can start making things happen right here where I'm at, because this is where I've been called and by letting fear rule in my heart...I'm missing out on the best days of my life. It's time to stop being safe and making excuses.... it's time to stop going out of town to live my life as if it were someplace different...it's time to start shakin' things up right here in Atlanta. Granted I had absolutely no intentions of ever living in Atlanta.... but God had different plans.... and He has put me here, so now I need to open my heart and embrace it and I'm sooooo ready to do that. Living a life that's based on what use to be... is stopping me from living a life based on what could be. <br /><br />So here I am Lord, I'm ready to start living out life here in Fayette and Fulton county. I am ready to start getting involved again and meeting people an stirring things up. I'm ready to start taking better care of myself and embracing the fullness of life... and that includes the people that are only in it for a season. I declare that I will not be scared of being hurt, because happiness and sadness are apart of the bigger picture. <br /><br />So here are my early New Year's Resolution (I guess, since it's so close to 2011)<br />*I am going to start working out in the mornings before work again. <br />*I am going to start attending the same church regularly (and stop church hopping)<br />*I am going to sign up for a Women's Bible Study that starts in January<br />*I am going to get involved in a co-ed small group and start meeting new people and opening up life for brand new adventures...and brand new friendships filled with true compassion. <br /><br /><br />Well there it is....I've shared way more information than I wanted....but it's true. I have to stop living as if this season of life and it's location is temporary. So what if it is? The fullness comes from soaking it up. I'm about to do that.... in more ways than one.Miranda Rileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00425779492672899104noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8046476661104833387.post-57131977287407227262010-11-13T15:02:00.006-05:002010-11-13T15:20:09.349-05:00The Character Building YearsAh yes…. The Character Building years<br /><br />Definition? <br /><br /> The years of early adulthood where you learn that the key to survival is simply to survive. It’s the years of sacrificing your wants for your needs…. or sometimes your needs for your wants. It’s the years of car payments, eating Indian style on the floor because you don’t have furniture while you watch the same movies over and over again because you don’t have cable. It’s the years of sitting in the parking lot of McDonalds to use their free Wi-Fi so that you can log onto the internet to pay a bill because you don’t have the money for the stamp to mail in your check or the gas to drive directly to the place. Then you pray that the site really is secure so you don’t have to deal with identity theft. Not that they would have much to steal anyway. It’s packing everything that you own into a small little car and going to the next adventure because God says so. It’s sleeping in your car on long trips, because you’re exhausted and can’t afford a hotel room. It's living on a dream and doing what it takes to make your dream a reality.<br /><br />Along with that… it’s the years of learning who you are. There’s a lot of trial and error of who you want to be in life. It’s making up your mind and changing your mind. It’s dreaming of where you’ll be in five years when you’re (hopefully) out of the character building years. It’s a lot of living in the moments and absorbing the innocence of beginnings. Just the same…it’s living out of the moments and planning for the future. Daydreaming takes up a lot of your time. You have a vision of your future and you're doing everything you can to get there.<br /><br />But the best thing about the character building years is what you learn. You learn that money really isn’t everything. You learn that being with people is one of the best medicines to a lonely heart. Friends come in and out your life. You lose touch with old friends and gain touch with new friends. You find yourself turning to God for everything, and you rely of Him for directing your next steps. You learn that humility is one of the best things to keep your heart genuine and getting everything that you want is over rated. You learn to love what you have and to cling to what you love. Pride goes out the window in the character building years. You have to swallow it down without any water. There are many things that you need help with, and you have no choice but to graciously accept an offer from someone who lends it….then immediately brainstorming of the way that you want to bless them back for helping you. It’s giving and taking. It's encouraging others when they're discouraged....it's listening to others when you're discouraged. <br /><br />It’s the years of making mental notes of all the paying it forward that you’ll be doing once you’re finally able to stand on your own two feet. These years inspire you to want to be that person who helps other people, because of all the people who have helped you. It’s training for understanding how others feel, because you’ve been there. They’re years of embarrassing moments, lots of laughing at yourself, and just knowing that you’re living in the moments that you’ll one day tell your grandchildren about. It’s the years of being molded by the Refiner’s fire, and then being the vessel that sails in the wide open waters and reaches the destination. It's loving life and EVERYTHING that comes with it. I wouldn’t change these years for anything, they’re a part of my life and who I am and who I’m going to be. These are the years that truly build your character.Miranda Rileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00425779492672899104noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8046476661104833387.post-75154845839572146002010-10-04T20:42:00.009-04:002010-10-04T21:50:01.985-04:00Open WoundsA week ago I was in a chaotic type of accident. It is really complicated to try and explain, but it left my legs all bruised, scraped, and wounded. Too, I got this crazy gash on my finger that-oddly-never bled, but it hurt like crazy. My knees, however, that's a different story. The wounds on my knees were pretty deep, and I'm still in recovery with having to change my bandages twice a day.My legs have become such an eyesore to me. I get so upset when I change my bandages, because I fear that the open wounds are going to eventually close up into ugly scars.<br /><br />The physical wounds on my legs aren't the only open wounds that I've received this year. My heart has been pierced so many times in the past few months, it is still recovering and will occasionally bleed through the bandage that covers it. There have been several moments where I felt as if I were smack dab in the middle of some crazy Lifetime movie just praying for the channel to change. Instead of the channel changing though, it seemed as if I only got brief commercials that would allow me to breathe for a moment, but then I'd be right back in the movie with another twist of events. However....as much as it felt like a movie... it wasn't a movie. It was reality. The difference between reality and a movie, though, is the ending is still being written.<br /><br />I could choose to sink down into the depression of my pain or I could choose a "bring-it-on" type of attitude. I am a true believer in stories...good stories. I know that every moment has the potential to be a good story. I know that God works everything for the good, and I happen to believe that the "good" is referring to the "good" story that will be told from crazy life events. The thing with a good story is it has the potential of being told, and if it's told right... it can inspire somebody else. <br /><br />If I were to wallow in the blows of life, I'd be so full of misery I wouldn't know what to do with myself. But wow...to take the alternative and to swallow hard, to wipe the tears (but still carry a box of Kleenex) and to face the things that break our hearts head on is so much more beneficial. Pain is always going to be around. It's always going to come unexpectedly, and it's only goal is to make us fall completely apart. BUT...we don't have to fall apart. We can face the biggest tragedies of our life and still walk away in tact with only a few open wounds. Of course those wounds may still bleed through the bandages months later, but I'd much rather be healing from an open wound, with the possibility of a scar....rather than trying to mend the broken pieces that could shatter again in an instant. After all, a scar can be a beautiful thing if the story is told right. :)<br /><br />Hmmm....come to think of it, my legs don't look all that bad after all. :)Miranda Rileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00425779492672899104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8046476661104833387.post-77869403085008455592010-08-25T20:26:00.001-04:002010-08-25T20:34:24.896-04:00Good Things Happen to Good People :)I just have to tell this story.... my heart is just so touched right now.<br /><br /><br />Today I went for dinner with one of my BFF's to Applebees. I took exactly enough cash that I knew would get me through the evening. I had it all budgeted out and everything.<br /><br /><br />Well, when we go to pay, I pay with the cash that I had and waited for the change to leave the tip. I credit myself as a good tipper. Meaning I will leave you a nice tip regardless of the service... but if I have a waiter or waitress that is awesome and wonderful... I will tip them above average. I don't know... even if I don't have a lot of money, I just have this overwhelming urge to leave good tips. I've never been a waitress, but I have worked in a restaurant, and I guess I just know what it means to them...being on their feet all day, serving, and having to work really hard for someone to come in and not leave them a dime. It's just not right.<br /><br /><br />Anyway...back to tonight... I had paid for my meal, and when the girl came back to give me my change... I realized that I only had a dollar returned. I totally mis-calculated. I was soooo upset, because this particular waitress was outstanding. In my opinion, she did such a great job...too, I felt like we could have been friends. So I asked my friend, Christina, if she had any cash... all she had was a dollar. I just didn't feel that two dollars was enough.<br /><br /><br />So I flagged the waitress over, and I told her what was going on.....I literally felt like a horrible person. I told her that she did such a FANTASTIC job, but I only had two dollars to give to her. She was so gracious and she assured me that it was "okay." However, I said... no it's not.... you deserve more of a tip...and I offered for her to take it off my debit card. However, she couldn't take anything off my debit card without a purchase. But truth be told... I didn't have it on my debit card to give to her... that's why I paid in cash. I then asked her how often she worked there, and she said she only came on the weekend...because she went to school during the week. That made me feel even worse, because I know how it feels to be in school and living completely on the edge with 10 cents to your name.<br /><br /><br />Anyway, she kept telling me it was alright, and I kept telling her that it wasn't... and told her that I almost wanted to ask her for her PO Box #. Haha! She probably thought I was psycho... but you just don't understand how bad I felt. Here I was about to leave a $2 tip for this girl who went over the call of duty to make our meal wonderful. I then did the desperate thing... I dumped out my change purse on the table... that maybe had 46cents altogether. Haha!<br /><br /><br />Anyway, I was leaving her a nice note (because that's just the kind of person I am...a note writer) and as I was leaving her a note... I see something flying at me in my peripheral vision... I look up and there is money flying at me. This random guy walked up to our table... pulled some money out of his wallet, and tossed it down on our table and walked away before I could even utter "thank you."<br /><br /><br />It was such a blessing, so I flagged the waitress back and I told her what happened. She was just laughing and completly blessed... and I told her that the guy had just come out of nowhere... and I told her that it was totally God blessing her. She quickly agreed and we had a huggy bonding moment. It was so sweet. My heart was so happy and blessed... I could have cried. It just meant that much to me.<br /><br /><br />So I finished writing my note and I concluded it with that verse in Luke 6.... "give and it will be given to you, a good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be poured into your lap."<br /><br /><br />It's the chain of love....<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRBPeGp4Ei5IdO_XIt_sOmFAULGstn0LWWZiUuCKytni_h5buXh-dlRKW6N4TpWClpczTxQu2k_OYw0MmsqpzSzBjRc6RgPvp0eQ04lj6fXLnzPZrjcWkPdybbChdnE6DRjJ_X6Ukj9fTP/s1600/Tipping.gif"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 220px; height: 195px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRBPeGp4Ei5IdO_XIt_sOmFAULGstn0LWWZiUuCKytni_h5buXh-dlRKW6N4TpWClpczTxQu2k_OYw0MmsqpzSzBjRc6RgPvp0eQ04lj6fXLnzPZrjcWkPdybbChdnE6DRjJ_X6Ukj9fTP/s320/Tipping.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509510239026954226" /></a>Miranda Rileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00425779492672899104noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8046476661104833387.post-15635992297092126992010-06-30T22:48:00.001-04:002010-06-30T23:00:23.956-04:00Things Could’ve Changed Just Like That…I was so eager to get off on time today at work. For several days now I have been working over, merely because of the fact that I’m OCD and don’t like to leave until everything is finish. Well, sometimes it’s just not possible and I have to learn to let it go and leave it for the next day. So that’s exactly what I was bound and determined to do this afternoon. I was going to leave right at the time I was supposed to get off. I was a little upset though, because I had already went 30 minutes over the time that I told myself I was going to leave by because traffic gets really bad in particular time frames. Then I saw it was pouring, I mean POURING down rain. As I grabbed my stuff and headed to the door… I caught myself turning around and walking back to my desk. What’s the point? I might as well stay and work a little more because rain in Atlanta means the traffic is going to be worse than normal. All I could think about was how I would have to sit in the traffic, watch my car’s temperature gauge run hot, then having to turn my heat on full blast to take away from the temperature rising and not being able to roll down my windows to release the heat from my car. I’d have to just sit there and swelter into a puddle. However, I had made a promise to myself that I would not stay late that day, because it was starting to become a routine. So I needed to draw myself a line. So I just decided to leave and prayed that I wouldn’t get stuck in the rain and sweat with the heat on in my car to keep my car from overheating. <br /><br />So here’s where the story really begins. As I was exiting off the exit ramp to merge onto the interstate (the six lane interstate, mind you) something super scary happened. I almost crashed! Here’s what happened…it was raining so hard, it was hard to see. I had my wipers on as fast as they would go and I wasn’t driving no more than 30 miles an hour. Well, there was a car in front of me, and I saw it hydroplane on the water. When it did that, the car’s tires slung a waterfall of water up on my windshield and I couldn’t see ANYTHING but water. It was so much water, it overpowered my windshield wipers. To make it worse, it the midst of not being able to see, my car then started to hydroplane. It was like everything then went in slow motion. The water on my windshield seemed to become still in a freeze-framed photograph and I looked at my hands on the steering wheel and thought to myself, “ So this is what it feels like before you get in a major crash.” I just felt it coming. Because I was on an exit ramp, merging onto the six lane interstate and my car was hydroplaning and swerving to the left… I just knew that I was about to have cars crashing into me. To make it even worse, I knew they were going to hit my driver door, because that’s just the way the car had swerved. <br /><br />But for a moment… it’s just as if time had frozen. Everything went so very slow and I even had time to think, “don’t tense up… you’re not suppose to tense up when you prepare to brace yourself for a car accident.” Then I heard it…. it’s like the radio had been mute the whole time, but then I heard it… as my life was flashing before my eyes… I heard Chris Tomlin singing “Amazing Grace” so softly, so slowly on the radio. Then Psalm 91:11 came to my mind, “For He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.” Then I closed my eyes…(yes while driving… at this point I had submitted to the crash.) I mean..it was probably for a split second, but it seemed like eternity. Then all of a sudden, when I opened my eyes.. the water on my windshield had gone away and I could see the road and tried to regain control of the car again. I had swerved on the exit ramp, but although I should have already been on the interstate, I had stayed on the exit ramp and pulled myself back into my lane. It was a true miracle. It was the Lord. It totally was… <br /><br />Then I did what any mature young adult would do after such an intense experience… I called my Mama. I was shaking so bad and crying, I thought I would have to stop the car. I would of had to stop the car, but traffic had already done that for me. I had never been so thankful in my life to be stuck in Atlanta traffic. To make it more cooler? I sat in traffic for a long time too, and not once did my car run hot nor did I have to turn the heat on. THAT was God. I felt so lucky and blessed and protected. Thank the Lord I was safe, because it could have been really bad. Things could’ve changed in an instant…just like that. BAM. But... thankfully I had Amazing Grace...Miranda Rileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00425779492672899104noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8046476661104833387.post-20362620215298203062010-06-25T20:17:00.003-04:002010-06-25T23:39:50.600-04:00Family MattersI don’t know if many people know this or not, but for the last six months I have been welcomed to live in the home of a wonderful family…the King family. It’s so cool, because last summer it was such a God-ordained thing. I had applied for two internships for last summer… “CMT” and “gmc.” I really never expected to get either of the two internships. The cool thing? CMT called to accept me into their internship program in Nashville, but they had made a mistake. Instead of accepting me for the summer of 2009, they accepted me for the spring. The cool part comes in later, because after I was accepted to intern with CMT for the Spring, gmc called and accepted me for the summer. So… had CMT not accepted me for the spring, I wouldn't have been able to do both internships. God is so cool like that!<br /><br />Anyway, I am getting off track with my story. So back to my internship with gmc. I didn’t have a place to stay in Atlanta and I couldn’t afford an apartment by myself for 3 months on an internships salary (which is $0.00.) So I reached out to some friends of mine, and they reached out to their friends. One sweet and precious family prayed about it, and decided to welcome me… a total stranger…into their home. So I stayed here for six weeks last year. Then I just felt the Lord calling me back to gmc after graduation, so I came back for a continuation of my internship. I reached out to the family again and once more they welcomed me back into their home. I was only going to stay here for six more weeks, but then gmc invited me to take a part on their team! At the time, I also had another job opportunity, so I began to pray over the two and I knew in my heart that I was to stay here in Atlanta. Which is funny, because-at the time- there wasn’t anything in Atlanta that appealed to me. It’s so neat how the Lord changes our heart. <br /><br />So, after praying about it and hearing from the Lord, clear as a bell, I accepted the job with gmc and was invited to stay with the King family as long as I needed to. <br /><br />Now that you have the back-story… here is the absolutely wonderful part about this family. They have a 14-year-old daughter, Olivia. Olivia is sick. She has been for several years. She is in complete need of a liver transplant, and up until now Mr. King was searching for employment all while being a student working on his second college degree. Having said that, it just brings tears to my eyes and makes me completely misty too know that this self-less family decided to take this random college student into their home and put a shelter over her head. God is completely amazing, because I have fallen completely in love with this family and feel as if I really am apart of their family. I just can’t get over the love of Jesus that they have shown to me by just allowing me to live with them. I’m now preparing to move, and they have made it clear to me that they don’t want me to go. I can’t think of many people that would honestly feel that way after having a stranger live with them… you’d figure they’d be ready for me to leave. But no… wow. Makes me cry to feel so extremely loved. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgie2jwf3UTZGWMYt3_sppDcIAVzt42ThbiQ5dXfib_TJf5KpA9IoaXujIqQd3F0aIqIDJLHhZBYQqB4W9DFYQP3-F0f3MiinHZpJIoF6KLzydrKIeBeXugZpAXR10cmQEtomQ8n0Fo3CeK/s1600/DSCF8400%5B1%5D.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgie2jwf3UTZGWMYt3_sppDcIAVzt42ThbiQ5dXfib_TJf5KpA9IoaXujIqQd3F0aIqIDJLHhZBYQqB4W9DFYQP3-F0f3MiinHZpJIoF6KLzydrKIeBeXugZpAXR10cmQEtomQ8n0Fo3CeK/s320/DSCF8400%5B1%5D.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486870812756017458" /></a><br /><br />Anyway, sweet Olivia turned 14 today, and I’m sitting here listening to the ice cream maker going, smelling the corn cobs roasting on the grill, and watching everyone run around the house with complete joy. Friendship. Love. Dinner is almost ready and we’ll all sit down together, as Family, to eat and celebrate another year of Olivia’s life. Liv is getting ready to transplant sometime this summer, and I know God has great things planned for her life after this. She truly is my mini me and I can tell that she looks up to me. I love that, because at 14, I can still name each person that had an affect on my life. I’m glad that I am able to be apart of hers and this great family. Just watching what this sweet girl has gone through in her life, and how she still has so much “life” in her spirit, it’s totally inspiring. It’s amazing how someone so young can teach someone who is ten-year-older than her so much. It’s so cool how God works too, Olivia has always wanted a sibling… and I’ve always wanted a younger sister. It’s a winning situation. But… you always win with God. Yeah. Thank you, Jesus.Miranda Rileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00425779492672899104noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8046476661104833387.post-74700304178502709162010-04-27T18:50:00.004-04:002010-04-27T19:43:05.501-04:00Gotta Love Those Embarrassing MomentsEmbarrassing moments. We all have them….some of us more frequently than others, but hey!..they come with life. Me? I definitely fall into the “some of us” category because no doubt I am the poster child for unintentionally looking like a doof. I’ve always been this way, but I have become more aware of it ever since I started my job. I think it’s because I’m more aware of how I need to appear in a professional environment that I’m getting paid to be apart of. None-the-less, I’ve had WAY too many moments where I’ve thought, “I can’t believe I just did that” than a person should be allowed to have. So I pray for grace from my boss and co-workers. Ha! Thank the Lord; I’ve received it… so far. It’s those moments that you don’t plan on happening, yet somehow they show up and your palm hits your forehead for the umpteenth time. Like for instance:<br /><br />• Embarrassing Moment #1: A week after I started work I leaned over my computer monitor to look for an usb jack and got my earring stuck in the monitor. So there I am sitting on my desk with my ear stuck to my computer monitor. All I could think about was how ridiculous I must’ve looked and it didn’t even occur to me that all I had to do was take my earring off instead of trying to wiggle it loose, still attached to my ear. <br /><br />• Embarrassing Moment #34: I walked out of the restroom with my skirt tucked in my undershorts. (Thankfully I felt the breeze before anyone else saw! I probably would have literally quit and my reason for leaving would have been: utter embarrassment.) <br /><br />• Embarrassing Moment # 82: While talking to my boss, I nervously tried to balance the big box that I was carrying in the palm of my hand. (It was one of those moments where your hands are doing stuff that your mind has no clue about.) Of course I lost its balance on my palm and right before it took a tumble in the hallway the VP caught it. (Suddenly, I feel the red rising in my neck again.)<br /><br />• Embarrassing Moment # 109: Oddly, I ran from a quacking goose in the middle of the parking lot.<br /><br />• Embarrassing Moment # 178: While dropping off boxes, I somehow forgot to put my car in park. Excitedly I just took my foot off the brake and hopped out of the car. Thankfully I caught it before it hit anything. Wow. That one could have been dangerous. Eeesh. <br /><br />• Embarrassing Moment #234: While walking with my boss I “push” on a “pull” door. <br /><br />• Embarrassing Moment # 311: After casually mentioning that I had a headache in the left part of my forehead to my co-worker, I proceeded to bend down to pick up something and HIT the left part of my forehead on the corner of a shelf. You can’t deny that was uncomfortable in more ways than one. <br /><br />I could go on and on with all the odd things that I do on a regular basis. I sometimes stop and think at how much of a “mess” I would let myself be if I’d let those awkward moments “get” to me. Instead, you can bet that in each and every one of those moments I “let it go” and just laughed at myself (and invite others to laugh with me)….because life happens and embarrassing moments are not exempt from life. Believe it or not those are the moments to live in, because they create the opportunities for laughter in your day and memories to transform into stories. I also believe that it builds character, adds to your sense of humor, and definitely humbles you. <br /><br />By faith, I believe that the “Proverbs 31”woman was no stranger to embarrassing moments, either. I bet she owned them too, saying, “Oh yeah that’s right. I sure did just do that.” Ha! Yep…The Bible tells us in Proverbs 31:25 that “she is clothed in strength and dignity; she can laugh about the days to come.” When I heard this verse repeated at Beth Moore’s “So Long, Insecurity” conference it got me to thinking. In this situation, I believe that before we let ourselves get overwhelmed with embarrassment and feel the urge to be insecure about the silly things that we do (that probably nobody pays attention to anyway)… we can pause and take a moment to clothe ourselves with the strength to laugh in the moment and the dignity to let it roll right off our shoulders, while embracing the fact that “it happens.” <br /><br />I just know that God has a great sense of humor and takes delight in the goofy moments that His children create, just as any parent would. My mom has said, “Oh that’s just Miranda” more times than I can count, and my dad use to make the “whooshing” sound as he swiped his hand over his head as in to signal the “it went right over your head” sign.. So sometimes I can just picture Jesus, after one of my embarrassing moments, looking down and “whooshing” His holy hand over the top of His holy head and saying, “Yep…That’s my Miranda. Gotta love her.” And He does :)<br /><br />(For a fun a visual: A few months ago, while visiting friends in Nashville, I thought it'd be funny to pretend I was a "box monster" and put my arms through the sides of this box. Yeah....well I kind of got stuck. After much laughter, the box had to be cut off because I just couldn't get out of it. And to answer your question, NO. I had not been drinking. Thank you. Ha!)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhESygjLudDZYzTNa2pD1zblz1PqEfcOt2VsofrCpRzGKuekTQqimzcc-7Rw9W3n7RX-HUD8-1Iv9idfdCPXwefoNrnP9h_IMKVdC5uvyTx9NXpHWqY3eTE0_zXK42xvxrAdEPYPYXFRnmc/s1600/box.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhESygjLudDZYzTNa2pD1zblz1PqEfcOt2VsofrCpRzGKuekTQqimzcc-7Rw9W3n7RX-HUD8-1Iv9idfdCPXwefoNrnP9h_IMKVdC5uvyTx9NXpHWqY3eTE0_zXK42xvxrAdEPYPYXFRnmc/s320/box.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464956288179821730" /></a>Miranda Rileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00425779492672899104noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8046476661104833387.post-51500301490638641462010-02-14T17:24:00.013-05:002010-02-15T00:35:34.434-05:00Here Am I, Send Me: Part Two<span style="font-weight:bold;">Leaving for Waxahachie</span><br />I had left Houston around 9:30pm to head for Waxahachie to speak at the Women's Prayer Breakfast at the Cowboy Church of Ellis County the next morning. My GPS told me that I would arrive in Waxahachie around 12:30am. I was so excited, because everything was going perfectly. I knew that going to bed around 1:00am would be just fine for me to get a goodnight’s rest before I was to awake at 6am and prepare for the prayer breakfast. Just as I was getting excited about how smoothly my plan was going… it happened. Houston had shut down part of the main interstate for night construction, and traffic had stopped almost completely. I began to pray and ask God what I was to do. “Lord, do I turn around and stay with one of the siestas for the night and get up early in the morning to leave?” I felt the Lord whisper to my heart, “no this is what you’re suppose to do…keep going, don’t turn around.” I almost cried as I sat there and watch the “arrival time” on my GPS slowly get pushed further and further back… 12:30 am, 12:45am, 1:00am, 1:15am, 1:30am, 1:45am, 2:00am. I almost felt sure that I had maybe missed God’s will at this point, and should have chosen one or the other to have gone to..either the SMT Celebration in Houston or the Prayer Breakfast in Waxahachie. <br /><br />I sat in Houston traffic for nearly two hours before I finally got a break and was able to travel. I had been on the phone with Siesta Janice, for most of the wait time…, which was great, because she was helping to keep me awake. Then as I got moving and gained mileage towards Waxahachie, I began to pray. It then occurred to me that the traffic jam was the enemy’s plan to break me down and keep me from doing what God had called me to do. It was confirmed that something was trying to stop me from getting to Waxahachie when, about an hour from my hotel, I came upon some really bad smoke that almost looked like fog. There had been a wreck on the other side of the interstate. The moment the smoke had cleared, I saw it. It looked as if there was a gigantic log lying in the middle of my lane (no other debris around… just this single log in my lane.) I had no time to swerve….and it sounded like the bottom part of my car was ripped off as my car bounced over top of it, (but continued driving, to see if I could notice the damage.) <br /><br />Simultaneously, my phone began to ring, and the jolt from hitting the log threw my phone into the floorboard… I managed to grab it and it was, Kathleen, one of my many “mothers” (I have collected several over the past two years) who had been praying for me over this trip. She was calling to check to see if I had made it to Waxahachie safely, which was so ironic, since I was kind of freaking out from hitting the Log. I was so scared that I had done some damage that might cause my car to blow up or something, but I was too scared to pull over on the side of the dark stretch of highway to look for things that I had no clue about. I assured Kathleen that everything would probably be fine (although I had no clue) and she assured me that I had better call her if it wasn’t and that she would continue praying for me. I totally felt the prayers, because I continued driving without any problems (and without the car blowing up.) I finally made it to Waxahachie at 2 o’clock in the morning, and prayed over my car that nothing was punctured underneath and that all the oil and other car juices would still be intact when I awoke a few hours later. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivklu2nJXkTy0zPLpngS8mW9jWCrbeelqEG2bSGsrWsNITBO0h6BayKJ0hmF8I1gzI6pn3JGyZiRoQ46ti3yFJTUoRQvd-tMF7Ug8l-HsWWas6uvMmY2qZ5Tlu-kIej2IJXBjWc8x-FhPI/s1600-h/Road+Trip+2010_Full+Camera+Pics+235.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivklu2nJXkTy0zPLpngS8mW9jWCrbeelqEG2bSGsrWsNITBO0h6BayKJ0hmF8I1gzI6pn3JGyZiRoQ46ti3yFJTUoRQvd-tMF7Ug8l-HsWWas6uvMmY2qZ5Tlu-kIej2IJXBjWc8x-FhPI/s320/Road+Trip+2010_Full+Camera+Pics+235.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438229592725258242" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Women’s Prayer Breakfast</span><br />I checked into my hotel and immediately crashed, looking at the clock and counting up the hours that I had before I had to wake up…three hours. I prayed that the Lord would miraculously give me a full nights rest within the three hours that I had to sleep….and then I drifted off. <br /><br />The next sound that I heard was the rooster crowing on my alarm clock. It was 6am. Time to get up, meet with the Lord, and prepare for the Women’s Prayer Breakfast at 8am. God is so amazing, because I was literally not tired when I awoke. Okay, I don’t mean for that to sound all blissful and perfect… I mean, I was tired, but I had this excitement, then renewed surge of energy. I was so excited too to walk into the lobby and see piping hot coffee with biscuits and gravy as a complimentary breakfast. I thanked Jesus for every single bite, because biscuits and gravy is my absolute favorite breakfast…period. And the gravy was SOOO very creamy. Yum.<br /><br />God had been amazing the entire morning. I had gotten ready by jamming out to praise music and spending time repeating scriptures to myself. I was totally at peace. It might have been the fact that I didn’t really have time to be nervous, but I was so at peace with the message I was to deliver. Then I remembered..... was my car okay??? I immediately went outside to look to make sure nothing had fallen off or leaked. PRAISE THE LORD, there was not a spot on the ground from any leakage or anything. I always pray a bubble of Jesus around my car before trips, and thankfully His bubble had really been there when I hit that log!<br /><br />Once I arrived at the prayer breakfast, I met up with Liz Prater, who had been the one in charge of the event. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf_0MSMFPgj_TL_AbIdx_GgvQ1ZFYJOioi3EbNU5RXx8Exo0un3M9bKpfCsvCjFPG8WVrjs0wU73RAv6ItHQkQCPnpNLupSGnZm_EzAquSMg_nOmIECfsG3_05Cho1lU9K-99KkSk0bgw6/s1600-h/Road+Trip+2010_Full+Camera+Pics+297.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf_0MSMFPgj_TL_AbIdx_GgvQ1ZFYJOioi3EbNU5RXx8Exo0un3M9bKpfCsvCjFPG8WVrjs0wU73RAv6ItHQkQCPnpNLupSGnZm_EzAquSMg_nOmIECfsG3_05Cho1lU9K-99KkSk0bgw6/s320/Road+Trip+2010_Full+Camera+Pics+297.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438230980534404162" /></a><br /><br />I was able to have everything set up and ready to go as the women walked in. It was such a joy going around and introducing myself to several of the women there and meeting them. I had gotten up to deliver my message, and God showed up in such big ways. He ignited so much in my heart while I was speaking; I knew that if the women weren’t getting anything from it… I sure was. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhapkLVY7niN77WJK7N7I9sjAfk9qU8iiFX49sun4ojp3Fm2waSgLLtRY_A2rz3fQnkus1KGB51qMBUJFJo_Z0IcefgUm-n83s9DeIwTXlDnb1RMGLx39SS27zyVKw3bpjikbslXj8VWIH4/s1600-h/Road+Trip+2010_Full+Camera+Pics+246.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhapkLVY7niN77WJK7N7I9sjAfk9qU8iiFX49sun4ojp3Fm2waSgLLtRY_A2rz3fQnkus1KGB51qMBUJFJo_Z0IcefgUm-n83s9DeIwTXlDnb1RMGLx39SS27zyVKw3bpjikbslXj8VWIH4/s320/Road+Trip+2010_Full+Camera+Pics+246.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438232182349454114" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7189qqZgwRWEV10Tb79_DyPlqnsBCW9q0Q7onL66OoC_av02v510ti2l7c70w3YKIGkBPQGoPpYsTKDodEDPM1NPY36FU-IHUc64p6ZXb1ja30P7zLyg_03mvYtiuoK_9gVU0Og0P6j7E/s1600-h/Road+Trip+2010_Full+Camera+Pics+241.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7189qqZgwRWEV10Tb79_DyPlqnsBCW9q0Q7onL66OoC_av02v510ti2l7c70w3YKIGkBPQGoPpYsTKDodEDPM1NPY36FU-IHUc64p6ZXb1ja30P7zLyg_03mvYtiuoK_9gVU0Og0P6j7E/s320/Road+Trip+2010_Full+Camera+Pics+241.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438232178045291442" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheif7-f5A_hz1rssnvxR3MloJzkvVp0m0wRQzhTwNSJ3G7FDVSjs5rOA1pjcYAaw9OuMRsyKEH0TkU3VfwIKNTuLIXIuzE-s30rks0k96a2GHHyQULTWPQsS0EQCGsDqUBz0km-5l-bXLf/s1600-h/Road+Trip+2010_Full+Camera+Pics+239.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheif7-f5A_hz1rssnvxR3MloJzkvVp0m0wRQzhTwNSJ3G7FDVSjs5rOA1pjcYAaw9OuMRsyKEH0TkU3VfwIKNTuLIXIuzE-s30rks0k96a2GHHyQULTWPQsS0EQCGsDqUBz0km-5l-bXLf/s320/Road+Trip+2010_Full+Camera+Pics+239.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438232175689023794" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih79yaH6lTXdbeSpik_HDDvGHMMGqXk86gaCSXhiP9g9lJVOgRbE3h_fWzREDh1iKCxry2Q6UrvppSgzJW9_3s7H52WwQlb4rEW9bRbdL-T4UT17M54VWa44df7W9FPGWUuO9_GQoB-O5u/s1600-h/Road+Trip+2010_Full+Camera+Pics+238.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih79yaH6lTXdbeSpik_HDDvGHMMGqXk86gaCSXhiP9g9lJVOgRbE3h_fWzREDh1iKCxry2Q6UrvppSgzJW9_3s7H52WwQlb4rEW9bRbdL-T4UT17M54VWa44df7W9FPGWUuO9_GQoB-O5u/s320/Road+Trip+2010_Full+Camera+Pics+238.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438232164761816594" /></a><br /><br />However, that wasn’t the case at all. After it was all said and done, I had several women come up to me to tell me what the Lord had spoken to their heart from the words that I said. I’m constantly praying, that whenever I do something publicly for Christ, I pray that He would bring just one person to me to give me confirmation that He was using me. God outdid my prayer this day. I had women, one after the other, sharing their stories with me and blessing His name. One woman, was so precious…I mention in my message that I needed a translation of the Bible to meet me on my level of understanding when I’m reading to comprehend…well, this sweet lady came up to me almost in tears, as if a relief had come off her shoulders, with the concept that she didn’t have to read from the version that she had always known, but never understood. She asked me what kind of translation I used so she could go and buy it. Well, God didn’t stop there, my friend Amy, had already decided to bless me with one of the bibles that the church orders in bulk (which was the God’s Word translation-an easier to understand version) and she had brought down an extra one. Wouldn’t you know it? The Lord had already chosen that bible to go to that sweet woman. I can almost guess that she immediately went home to open it up and explore the bible in a way that she could understand. Bless God! <br /><br />It is so incredibly amazing how God will break down walls for people. I have met many people who use to think that you could only “walk” with the Lord a certain way, could only read from a certain translation of the Bible, and could only sing certain songs. How cool is it though, that God can enter in… in all His glory….and reveal that He is everywhere…we can commune with Him in all kind of ways, and He meets us just where we are. Wow, We have such a wonderful Father! Just gets me all kinds of excited!<br /><br />After the breakfast was over, it was time to hang out and fellowship with four of my dearest friends that I had met at a women’s conference the previous year. Andrea, Teena, Jessica, and Amy. Well, I had met Andrea, Teena, and Amy at the conference… and had gotten to know Jessica through Facebook. We were all so excited to be able to hang out and had planned to have a “girl’s day out” for the rest of the day. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA__an4hKHiwoYwQBdVrcxKCCNg8jhWb-VL9UmEZ20UPoL340so4SD0ZaJCF2o3l7d9MpONPliMh6QSbQRV2SbrIVYMURyjPlmjmf8xVf7Jp8MW-9iiTDxC-qqMCUogL2Z_gsjJVP-BHN4/s1600-h/Road+Trip+2010_Full+Camera+Pics+258.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA__an4hKHiwoYwQBdVrcxKCCNg8jhWb-VL9UmEZ20UPoL340so4SD0ZaJCF2o3l7d9MpONPliMh6QSbQRV2SbrIVYMURyjPlmjmf8xVf7Jp8MW-9iiTDxC-qqMCUogL2Z_gsjJVP-BHN4/s320/Road+Trip+2010_Full+Camera+Pics+258.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438232957463132962" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPZQ-rb07UeMn15K62hKacdrajjo-3T51sX5hfKgZWycjEHC6xG7CyCcgiyqN5J81Rez26JwE6PmAAT40c8KyKNypscRYeCBQLaUn6_jmCLpK3Rz1x97FwoOpwmObesVuDVl_bs3NMG1Jj/s1600-h/Road+Trip+2010_Full+Camera+Pics+254.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPZQ-rb07UeMn15K62hKacdrajjo-3T51sX5hfKgZWycjEHC6xG7CyCcgiyqN5J81Rez26JwE6PmAAT40c8KyKNypscRYeCBQLaUn6_jmCLpK3Rz1x97FwoOpwmObesVuDVl_bs3NMG1Jj/s320/Road+Trip+2010_Full+Camera+Pics+254.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438232953535247490" /></a><br /><br /><br />We went shopping and browsing around all over the place, laughing and cutting up and just having such a good time by simply being together. While we were browsing around at Kirklands, Jessica decided to bless me with a travel journal. An empty-paged brown book with a cross on the front…such a beautiful book. Jessica made me promise that I was to use it to allow people that blessed me to sign it. That book has been such a blessing, as I had everyone that I encountered sign it on that trip, and God has blessed me so much through the things that they have written. I am so blessed to love and know these wonderful people who allowed me into their lives over the two-week span. <br /><br />Later that night, God showed up in such a powerful way as Jessica, Teena, and I sat down and poured our hearts out to each other on behalf of what the Lord had done in our lives. In those moments, I was able to witness how God’s healing transformation can come in the simplest form…sharing and listening. It doesn’t take an altar call or splash of anointing oil to receive healing from the Lord. Sometimes it just takes a couple of friends with open ears and open hearts, ready to receive what the Lord has to offer. Boy, did we ever drink from the healing cup that night…. How precious is the Father to pour out His love for us through His Son. How precious…<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrKzdJxzoSFaAMh3MTjBkK6Q-NpALr_W9i5tBEX7aqRNnHZcT78EKLtp6fjmTdRYXPehlmOVCGnauYz7slfK_qCOm-uRbGmpkbBTh6Yoy2UkGJHv_vYYq7DusSVGKvu_MhQd2G8sSgEo9N/s1600-h/Road+Trip+2010_Full+Camera+Pics+281.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrKzdJxzoSFaAMh3MTjBkK6Q-NpALr_W9i5tBEX7aqRNnHZcT78EKLtp6fjmTdRYXPehlmOVCGnauYz7slfK_qCOm-uRbGmpkbBTh6Yoy2UkGJHv_vYYq7DusSVGKvu_MhQd2G8sSgEo9N/s320/Road+Trip+2010_Full+Camera+Pics+281.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438233689498465282" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigw1arGpKn_djcd-r0NdyubS2mwyYsu9LIA0A9pMJ_E90JuMHFbvjcZnIsi43uH6Rg5CnKP-XkroUskG0GkKF7PXhGJOJLzW91V1Y7nC98f9AMveoOmBiTjCm768sHcRWorx1yzKWg8jAA/s1600-h/Road+Trip+2010_Full+Camera+Pics+280.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigw1arGpKn_djcd-r0NdyubS2mwyYsu9LIA0A9pMJ_E90JuMHFbvjcZnIsi43uH6Rg5CnKP-XkroUskG0GkKF7PXhGJOJLzW91V1Y7nC98f9AMveoOmBiTjCm768sHcRWorx1yzKWg8jAA/s320/Road+Trip+2010_Full+Camera+Pics+280.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438233684201744994" /></a><br /><br /><br />His love-fest among these precious women and I didn’t end there, the next morning I went to breakfast with Andrea. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlYCiz6J2ly83gPjhcTe489UHr8iStWpzJqSHZOuSxNhC-WsSsypG4t0ZdWIoR2YK5eRA5yS9vI_PfFltDly1_syD257-Cvo5KxNT3mYvpeft1MxEN33iRVCN1T0YYdYUEOQ1CIxAqZHni/s1600-h/Road+Trip+2010_Full+Camera+Pics+300.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlYCiz6J2ly83gPjhcTe489UHr8iStWpzJqSHZOuSxNhC-WsSsypG4t0ZdWIoR2YK5eRA5yS9vI_PfFltDly1_syD257-Cvo5KxNT3mYvpeft1MxEN33iRVCN1T0YYdYUEOQ1CIxAqZHni/s320/Road+Trip+2010_Full+Camera+Pics+300.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438234215841656962" /></a><br /><br />She and I have become so close through e-mails this past year and God has touched both of our hearts in such special ways. It was Andrea that had been praying over the prayer breakfast fervently a few weeks prior, and we had spoken about this trip many, many times. I was so thrilled when she invited me to breakfast to hang out one-on-one. It was one of the moments that I had prayed over, because before the trip I had prayed that the Lord would use me in every situation from the large groups that I would speak in front of, to the small groups of fellowship, and all the way down to the one-on-one times….which, at times, can be the most monumental in the way God moves. God opened both of our hearts and allowed me to peer inside this woman’s walk and love her more. She has such a radiant love for God and it is so inspiring. <br /><br />After breakfast we went to church, and it was the first time I had ever been to a Cowboy Church. I was thoroughly blessed by the simplicity that God has wrapped among the believers there. Such a pure way of doing things and allows you to feel right at home. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRlyFCRKT2K1xdDfvrYHxc8qsGUYAEjoIy2vUYcAfUr-I2ve-bNDpz0nJElo7NUkl9Gu6z4UDRhtUfc31_pnFnPdvP5IKCOCaUHRfhtG7MPkML41leGXI5PsMEYwf4OAYOp5KVPMi8CYj2/s1600-h/Road+Trip+2010_Full+Camera+Pics+268.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRlyFCRKT2K1xdDfvrYHxc8qsGUYAEjoIy2vUYcAfUr-I2ve-bNDpz0nJElo7NUkl9Gu6z4UDRhtUfc31_pnFnPdvP5IKCOCaUHRfhtG7MPkML41leGXI5PsMEYwf4OAYOp5KVPMi8CYj2/s320/Road+Trip+2010_Full+Camera+Pics+268.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438235107092518722" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2kzxZ9Sy15yM7KCG7eZOkdeNkUxpOer2TayMQkEvAkWEtA0G_5-pxn01dagvywBZw1pnTk1bwjdy69USPNmJblXO6unWCyXkSrxqyPCnw5eEpj1ZdaRu5GIE4dkT_q-5X_UoZueWkoQDK/s1600-h/Road+Trip+2010_Full+Camera+Pics+266.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2kzxZ9Sy15yM7KCG7eZOkdeNkUxpOer2TayMQkEvAkWEtA0G_5-pxn01dagvywBZw1pnTk1bwjdy69USPNmJblXO6unWCyXkSrxqyPCnw5eEpj1ZdaRu5GIE4dkT_q-5X_UoZueWkoQDK/s320/Road+Trip+2010_Full+Camera+Pics+266.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438235100465753298" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyvp85GiYElCUYXdGagMJ9LfpCMrBcndEWCeRuVKZ6P1dnMovmy9Hw6IPOv2yga-SMzRWbzhrbGdPz86V2-LLgoO13jNskpAn6zJJAG2Gfoftsv_SAF19vd9OnTxLLdNngLrmmNZCwmtNP/s1600-h/Road+Trip+2010_Full+Camera+Pics+265.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyvp85GiYElCUYXdGagMJ9LfpCMrBcndEWCeRuVKZ6P1dnMovmy9Hw6IPOv2yga-SMzRWbzhrbGdPz86V2-LLgoO13jNskpAn6zJJAG2Gfoftsv_SAF19vd9OnTxLLdNngLrmmNZCwmtNP/s320/Road+Trip+2010_Full+Camera+Pics+265.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438235089783767138" /></a><br /><br /><br />I enjoyed spending the rest of the day with my friends in Waxahachie …complete with authentic Louisiana gumbo (courtesy of Jessica, ha!) It may have only been two days, but it’s memories that will last a lifetime.<br /><br />But that is not it. This blog is still in the beginning stories of my wonderful road trip, after Waxahachie, I ventured to Dallas to spend time with one of my dear friends Ms. Janice, then another speaking engagement in Red Oak, OK, then had another lovely visit with a dear friend and her family in Antlers, a breakfast in Atoka, went back to Dallas for a surprise blessing, and then over to Shreveport to finish the two weeks before I headed back to GA. <br /><br />There is so much to write about (and not enough time to proofread, I apologize!)… and I know I am not able to tell it all in a way that shows it’s true worthiness. <br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">To be continued soon, in Here Am I, Send me: Part Three…</span>Miranda Rileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00425779492672899104noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8046476661104833387.post-16451471461519843022010-02-14T14:56:00.010-05:002010-02-15T00:07:28.127-05:00Here Am I, Send Me: Part OneHave you ever just sat in the quiet, and all of a sudden you feel this immense joy take over your entire thought process and you just take the most wonderful deep breath because you feel extremely blessed. That’s me. I feel so incredibly blessed. I love the journeys of life. I love where the Lord longs to take us if we just listen and have the courage to go with it. This past month the Lord has taken me to so many places. He has taken me to so many wonderful people and has touched my heart in so many ways, because He used me to touch their’s. It’s an incredible feeling to know that the Lord chooses you for specific things.<br /><br />“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for He has chosen me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, and that the time of the Lord’s favor has come.” Luke 4:18-19<br /><br />This is one of the 24 verses of scripture that I memorized last year as apart of Beth Moore’s blog community. All of us, Siestas, joined together to commit ourselves to memorizing two verses of God’s Word a month. Since I came to Christ a little over two years ago, it was the first time that I had actually made myself memorize scripture, and the great thing is… I had over 2,000 women to keep me accountable. A few months into the formation of our scripture memory team, Beth announced that we would have a celebration for staying glued to God’s Word at the beginning of 2010. I knew that I wanted to go to this SMT celebration, because last year was absolutely amazing for me. God did so many wonderful things in my life with all my internships, the Christian families that I lived with, the amazing people I met, and the incredible experiences that I had. I had walked through all of last year clinging to the Words that I had embedded in my heart, so I knew that there would be a great yearning for celebration with all the wonderful women I became connected with. We all had different years and different verses to represent our situations, so I prayed and prayed about joining them for a time of fellowshipping in a cloud of scripture.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><br />Planning the Trip</span><br />Eventually registration time had been opened up, and I didn’t see any way possible for me to drive all the way out to Houston from Georgia by myself. I didn’t have enough money to my name to even pay for half of the gas that a trip like that would require. Then God did something really cool that led me to believe that the trip needed to be made. However, I hated to drive all that way for just one weekend, so I began to pray more about the trip. Then it occurred to me that I could e-mail all my friends out that way to let them know that I was planning a trip. Well, one thing led to another and God opened up speaking opportunities for me to boast in His glory! Totally amazing. <br /><br />So this one-weekend trip grew into a two-week event of fellowship with many different people. I had planned to go to Houston and celebrate with Siestas for two days and then travel and speak. Well, one of the speaking engagements fell on the Saturday that I had planned to be in Houston. This opportunity for this church had been prayed about for over a year by one of the ladies there and myself. So it was a big lesson that God was teaching me. The entire purpose of the trip in the first place was to go to the SMT Celebration and everything else was just an addition to the plan, but when one of the additions for God’s glory affected my original plan, I had to make a decision. Do I turn down an opportunity to speak and bring glory to the Lord for an opportunity to hang out and fellowship with friends? Or do I die to my own wishes and run after His?<br /><br />Hmmm….hold that thought. <br /><br />Here is a cool thing? Before my trip I attended the Passion Conference in Atlanta, and Beth Moore happened to be one of the speakers. I remember Beth talking about getting on with what God has called us to do. She told us that it may be uncomfortable or out of the ordinary, but He will call us to it and fully equip us for it. <br /><br />After reflecting back over those thoughts, I knew that I needed to give up my plans and follow through with the Lords. <br /><br />Then came the ordeal, of whether or not it was worth it to even go to Houston. However I knew that it was because everything fell into place perfectly. I didn’t have a place to stay, but found out that my great aunt and uncle lived just outside of Houston. God opened many doors, and I was able to go and spend time with them…getting to know family that I had never met before. I was able to leave Georgia on Tuesday, January 19th and stay in Houston until the scripture memory party on Friday. It was absolutely wonderful. The Lord used those moments in a way that I could connect with my distant family and get to know and love them for who they are. I especially enjoyed connecting with my 2nd Cousin, Cheryl. It’s amazing to find out how much in common you have with someone….instant connection. I felt as if Cheryl and I were able to share anything with each other, to give each other uplifting encouragement. I’m so happy that our paths were able to be crossed…God is so great.<br /><br /> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVbpxJD5s437zxF69iTfw_dg7E1lxdOq_Gkbb0leVzfy-_eTR94SjewUwQu5yinZWDZ1k9EwcksXOY3JURJcZA-t6GqNYMrLkM47oNSibxyPTHRMyWMv1O9xJqY9LdGkOdbdRerEZrtvo6/s1600-h/Road+Trip+2010_Full+Camera+Pics+178.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVbpxJD5s437zxF69iTfw_dg7E1lxdOq_Gkbb0leVzfy-_eTR94SjewUwQu5yinZWDZ1k9EwcksXOY3JURJcZA-t6GqNYMrLkM47oNSibxyPTHRMyWMv1O9xJqY9LdGkOdbdRerEZrtvo6/s320/Road+Trip+2010_Full+Camera+Pics+178.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438191360284121218" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">SMT Celebration</span><br />Friday afternoon came around and it was time to start- what I like to call- the joining together of several friendships. I was extremely excited to come face-to-face with these women that I had prayed for over the past year and vice-versa. There is just something special about when women who love Jesus come together. I’m convinced it’s something like that old cartoon of Captain Planet when all the heroes put their rings together of earth, wind, fire, etc., and they become one and join Captain Planet. Wow, now I’m convinced there is a really good message that can be formed through the analogy of that cartoon. However, before my A-D-D gets me sidetracked, let me pick back up with Friday afternoon. <br /><br />I first met up with Yolanda and Beth H at the Holiday Inn Express in Houston. I’m such a nerd because when I knocked on their hotel room door, I all of a sudden got really really excited, so when Yolanda opened the door, I pretty much tackled her with the biggest hug and cheek kiss! It was so great meeting Yolanda, especially, because I feel like she has mentored in the Lord through her wonderful blog posts, e-mails, phone calls, texts, and FB posts. As exciting as life has been for me over the past year, there have been many weary times and Yolanda would always write something profound to bless my heart. Then I met Beth, Yolanda’s roommate for the event and it was like we had all known each other for years. Eager to eat something, we all hopped into my car to head over to Red Robin. Poor Beth had to slide into my backseat that was almost full to the brim with clothes, blankets, and other junk that was “necessary” for my road trip. After all, this was only the beginning. <br /><br />While at Red Robin we met up with Siesta Janice (who is my age) and her Mom, Susan. Janice came from South Carolina and brought her Mama along for the trip in honor of her birthday. I had previously met Janice at the Passion conference in January, and we just had an instant connection. Of course though, we’re Siestas! We had such a fun time chatting and catching up over lunch. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiypWkrKVzDAkpw1gbcNlux7nWADhEt3t_ypJUGiaAu9rWCAxB40Um4URE9i_0DnwmhGS_geeB0G2kBODO7TPZLyDb3AWSYruqurw13bPky3kWiB5IscEb0W_45AD8g_FZFoRWDrWD35KDF/s1600-h/Road+Trip+2010_Full+Camera+Pics+181.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiypWkrKVzDAkpw1gbcNlux7nWADhEt3t_ypJUGiaAu9rWCAxB40Um4URE9i_0DnwmhGS_geeB0G2kBODO7TPZLyDb3AWSYruqurw13bPky3kWiB5IscEb0W_45AD8g_FZFoRWDrWD35KDF/s320/Road+Trip+2010_Full+Camera+Pics+181.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438192089623642722" /></a><br /><br />After we ate we decided to head over to the Omni Hotel (where most of the Siestas were staying.) When we arrived , there was a SEA of pink boas wrapped around women of all shapes and sizes. It was such a beautiful sight, because the joy in the boas came with knowing that it was wrapped around the neck of a woman who dearly loves Jesus…. AND THAT JUST GAVE ME THE BIGGEST SURGE OF ENERGY! I immediately started walking up to women and introducing myself. It was so awesome. Then I ran into Ms. Lichelle from Austin who had made me this pink poster that read, “Miranda Brown’s Fan Club.” <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3FwRDbHnQNrY-xZiOKYf81LS-N0HLeDS5yI4k_7LnE_IR11knqgQB5-Y1BUwLOd4RGeQivl1Y1Cc1azZOYe6eBqzvwkLDbbPXfunQ5dwuVPUNDW-B7G4RrniM1_AF1np-b2R_xmeA-8Z6/s1600-h/Road+Trip+2010_Full+Camera+Pics+190.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3FwRDbHnQNrY-xZiOKYf81LS-N0HLeDS5yI4k_7LnE_IR11knqgQB5-Y1BUwLOd4RGeQivl1Y1Cc1azZOYe6eBqzvwkLDbbPXfunQ5dwuVPUNDW-B7G4RrniM1_AF1np-b2R_xmeA-8Z6/s320/Road+Trip+2010_Full+Camera+Pics+190.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438192593798810306" /></a><br /><br />I had about choked earlier when she texted me a picture of it. I couldn’t believe that she would take the time to make a sign for me that just showered me with love and encouragement. (Ms. Lichelle, you truly made my heart swell with joy.) Along with Ms. Lichelle, we saw Melana-from Wyoming, Tiffany-from Dallas, and Adrienne-from Tennessee, standing in the lobby. What a reunion we had there!!! Words can not express how much I LOVE these women. Then out-of-the blue I noticed that Amanda Jones was standing right there. Amanda is Beth Moore’s daughter, and she is the one who started the LPM Blog. The one who created the community of Siestaville. I had to introduce myself, and she already remembered who I was from my blog posts. I felt so special to be apart of our little community of fellowship. <br /><br />After the reunion in the lobby, we went up to Janice’s room so I could get ready, and in the midst of jazzing up… we all decided to recite our verses. I was SOOO excited, because this is what the entire event was about… and I was so sad because I knew that I wouldn’t be able to pair off and recite scripture since Friday night was to be my only night. So we all took turns reciting scripture and it was amazing how God filled up that little hotel room in Houston, TX. <br /><br />I am trying to not be overly detailed oriented, especially considering that I’m still writing about the first stop of my road trip… I apologize y’all, I am incredibly long-winded… and I’ve probably made about a million grammatical errors so far. Oh well, it’s either proofread or finish the blog…so I’m choosing to finish and just pretend that it will error-free when it is all said and done. <br /><br />When the SMT Celebration began, it was a complete movement for God. Over 500 women craving a touch from God united in one room full of fellowship. I met so many Siestas that I had longed to meet that evening including: Ms. Patty, Kari Ann, Georgia, Ms. Jan, Ms. Karen, Ms. Nesha, Ms. Valerie, and several more that I hate to leave out… but they were all so wonderful and to join together in fellowship, worship, and a study from Psalm 119… I couldn’t have asked for anything more. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9JVHrK7zOh57UiOjZ3P-N4pjtQG53fNvw3tkRZ3sNZ0yWUQoXkl87btBF16YOps4jCwoPvVGtXPJwS7B8q52YTHBHDfspKVy5PVBaosqvPKzlSBiKq_NCo2lwc8TCGR9egJwW6HzvLbNb/s1600-h/Road+Trip+2010_Full+Camera+Pics+208.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9JVHrK7zOh57UiOjZ3P-N4pjtQG53fNvw3tkRZ3sNZ0yWUQoXkl87btBF16YOps4jCwoPvVGtXPJwS7B8q52YTHBHDfspKVy5PVBaosqvPKzlSBiKq_NCo2lwc8TCGR9egJwW6HzvLbNb/s320/Road+Trip+2010_Full+Camera+Pics+208.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438196718752187874" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3j4lwRfH1F7-g9UwLHEFh1sMKkp-oEssX23sR_PpKSZ8JklG21HAyrBGdnNilO1pJ9S8YAKz0IIHABySmfn74WWbMC99ztGfyCuSddK4Kq-xV4kUc86M-pFdy-o_IJ5R6uvN-HA28Ym9z/s1600-h/Road+Trip+2010_Full+Camera+Pics+216.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3j4lwRfH1F7-g9UwLHEFh1sMKkp-oEssX23sR_PpKSZ8JklG21HAyrBGdnNilO1pJ9S8YAKz0IIHABySmfn74WWbMC99ztGfyCuSddK4Kq-xV4kUc86M-pFdy-o_IJ5R6uvN-HA28Ym9z/s320/Road+Trip+2010_Full+Camera+Pics+216.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438196712394688226" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtegpfkgGyyk5ziVZKoO9ojQdQc9ZkVYxQX-17hUnAui-5SfCrDnrL8YixNwkOa39jzr2KRKaeZ8R0ZHiZvn05aJA_cwBNr6Hmm4836KOu1IPfUdPdpg1FxAM2niiDJjmpQO6W8eUCR-KO/s1600-h/Road+Trip+2010_Full+Camera+Pics+191.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtegpfkgGyyk5ziVZKoO9ojQdQc9ZkVYxQX-17hUnAui-5SfCrDnrL8YixNwkOa39jzr2KRKaeZ8R0ZHiZvn05aJA_cwBNr6Hmm4836KOu1IPfUdPdpg1FxAM2niiDJjmpQO6W8eUCR-KO/s320/Road+Trip+2010_Full+Camera+Pics+191.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438196703206314482" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFy9aaSfe7LXanOsZHvKao6uJPRRzEyeL6UbjYaPoTh8GP6E5oGLWvXEr3p4VOc20IRRkebO2P1WeE3v0oKtyYv3hxFgh7rpZLzcgQMVJyhPa7cHiF08_1H9gRdn_mGte9VjChFcyRiIzg/s1600-h/Road+Trip+2010_Full+Camera+Pics+204.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFy9aaSfe7LXanOsZHvKao6uJPRRzEyeL6UbjYaPoTh8GP6E5oGLWvXEr3p4VOc20IRRkebO2P1WeE3v0oKtyYv3hxFgh7rpZLzcgQMVJyhPa7cHiF08_1H9gRdn_mGte9VjChFcyRiIzg/s320/Road+Trip+2010_Full+Camera+Pics+204.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438196698395578274" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0tzb_B4-oZrKvaqa1n21jgvJddolJY2qURlTag47Yq9KE5KVCWgU0mGCWFbl2FXOKp-60bR14ztlzYd1pxDzu-gr8ZVpUk_u3NcKND61FHDqn1fdf-z2XQaTkkjA8EIuYEVE0RYXW9z_Q/s1600-h/Road+Trip+2010_Full+Camera+Pics+201.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0tzb_B4-oZrKvaqa1n21jgvJddolJY2qURlTag47Yq9KE5KVCWgU0mGCWFbl2FXOKp-60bR14ztlzYd1pxDzu-gr8ZVpUk_u3NcKND61FHDqn1fdf-z2XQaTkkjA8EIuYEVE0RYXW9z_Q/s320/Road+Trip+2010_Full+Camera+Pics+201.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438196692132961858" /></a><br /><br /><br />Then it was time to leave, and I was to hop back in my car and drive to Waxahachie for my speaking engagement the next morning. The Lord completely blessed me before I left, when I had the chance to briefly talk with our Siesta Mama, Beth Moore, and meet her. Then it was just icing on the cake when this anointed woman of God- who has mentored me so much in my Christian walk- pulled me close, wrapped her arms around me, and began to pray over me.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6lN_X0NlIxNYEzzF4az81fcWA0yjF3XhnltCX0Lru2N3ah3G0fRqF7Jq5Y-Cne4YaUVGINm65aLOT2JJCFdqgHKoYjnpuHm3g1XipgIxTbN03mciVpw3lNFI5l_tgVZLiz2bLWn0ANWLG/s1600-h/Road+Trip+2010_Full+Camera+Pics+229.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6lN_X0NlIxNYEzzF4az81fcWA0yjF3XhnltCX0Lru2N3ah3G0fRqF7Jq5Y-Cne4YaUVGINm65aLOT2JJCFdqgHKoYjnpuHm3g1XipgIxTbN03mciVpw3lNFI5l_tgVZLiz2bLWn0ANWLG/s320/Road+Trip+2010_Full+Camera+Pics+229.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438193981893994130" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNmgEYLB7Z5-oBS9w5hLWog6WPDyF2C7WzgYfCf4dvInNT0RlolBBfkqikbOhgdTXQ86nHGZEmkHP2gPyLBhXswyk6exomc7Tl4P8rNdmmA04tVSrLeqWYDbVYGTLSNUpNzj6wSw1kVawe/s1600-h/Beth+Praying+Over+Me.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNmgEYLB7Z5-oBS9w5hLWog6WPDyF2C7WzgYfCf4dvInNT0RlolBBfkqikbOhgdTXQ86nHGZEmkHP2gPyLBhXswyk6exomc7Tl4P8rNdmmA04tVSrLeqWYDbVYGTLSNUpNzj6wSw1kVawe/s320/Beth+Praying+Over+Me.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438194114818728386" /></a><br /><br />I left that evening with such a peace about walking in the will of the Lord, and I knew that I was leaving to go where He wanted me to be next…Waxahachie, TX,, where 11 hours later I would be given the opportunity to serve the women at a prayer breakfast and bring GLORY to the name of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.<br /><span style="font-style:italic;"><br />To be continued in "Here Am I, Send Me: Part Two"</span>Miranda Rileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00425779492672899104noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8046476661104833387.post-86903882286843001232009-12-23T15:11:00.003-05:002009-12-23T17:17:15.820-05:00Let Me EXCLAIM Something!MARY VISITS ELIZABETH<br /><br />“When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed: ‘Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!’” Luke 1: 41-45<br /> <br />I don’t know about you, but this is one of my favorite passages in the New Testament that leads up to the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. I absolutely love how Elizabeth greets Mary. I mean, to me, this was the ultimate greeting. It’s always exciting (well, sometimes) to see a relative that you haven’t seen in a long time, and the first greeting can instantly make up for the lapse in time since the last visit. However, this specific greeting, between Elizabeth and Mary, was more than just a gentle hug and a kiss after a prolonged absence. This greeting filled Elizabeth with the Holy Spirit, and caused baby John to leap in her womb. It’s so refreshing to hear how that little baby just jumped for joy because he knew that his Savior was being developed in Mary’s womb. Wow. That just gets to me. I can only imagine the joy Elizabeth had when she felt her baby kicking up a storm at the sound of Mary’s voice. I’ve never been pregnant, but because it doesn’t specify in the Bible that Elizabeth immediately ran off to the little girl’s room after John’s burst of excitement in her womb, I’m sure that means that God had spared Elizabeth’s bladder for this holy greeting. *wink*wink*<br /> <br />It doesn’t stop there for me though. I just love every piece of this passage. I love how it says in the NIV that Elizabeth “exclaimed” when she spoke to Mary” That’s right…exclaimed…as in ending with an exclamation point! She was absolutely thrilled that “the Mother of her Lord would come to see her.” Who wouldn’t be? If it were me, it would have been one extreme or the other. I’d either be super-hyper and bouncing all over the place or I wouldn’t be able to talk at all. But with Elizabeth, I can just picture her shouting with a big smile on her face and rushing up to Mary’s side and putting her hand over her belly while saying, “ Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear!” I just figure she put her hand on Mary’s belly, because that’s what we women do. If we see a girl friend or family member who is expecting, that’s the first thing we do…we touch their belly. It’s like some kind of magnetic law or something. I mean, who doesn’t want to touch the tummy that holds a growing baby? Anyway, maybe it’s just a southern thing, but that’s still my theory.<br /><br /> Let me get back to the point (of the exclamation, ha!)…Elizabeth was tremendously excited!! Wow. I am not sure what kind of excitement could top being able to have one of the first encounters with Christ… the Messiah... .the Savior of all. The cool thing though? Although we weren’t able to encounter Mary while she was pregnant with Jesus, we are still able to have that kind of excitement in our lives when we encounter Christ on a day-to-day basis. I heard Beth Moore say one time in her “Living Beyond Yourself” bible study that she is an exclamation point for Christ. It was so funny when I heard her say that, because I AM TOO!! I’m always saying that the Lord has brought me to exclamation point living. However, you have to be careful treading on those words, because it doesn’t mean that my life is without sadness or tears. The thing is, being in Christ, there is a certain joy wrapped around the hope that you’re able to hold through everything…even the trials. I told a friend of mine one time (when I was going through something,) “once you get past the fear, it’s kind of exciting to see what God is going to do.” If you stop to think about what God may be “working out” in your life, it is definitely exciting. If you allow it to happen, there can be joy through the tears. <br /><br /> Hebrews 11:1 (NIV) says, “ Now faith is being sure of what we hope and certain of what we do not see.” We have faith to know that things are going to work out for our good. (Another promise, Romans 8:28) Now listen to the same verse, in Hebrews, from The Message, “ The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living.” Do you see that? Life worth living is also known as the firm foundation that brings us to exclamation point living.<br /><br />Elizabeth already knew this when she made her exclamation; John knew this when he leaped in her womb. The moment that they heard Mary’s voice, as she carried baby Jesus, they knew that the world was about to change...their world was about to change. It was about to change for the good of sinners. One little baby changed the world. One little baby changed my world. This Christmas, won’t you greet the Lord, and let Him change yours? <br /><br />“His mercy extends to those who fear Him, from generation to generation.” Luke 1:50Miranda Rileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00425779492672899104noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8046476661104833387.post-59183159862848393582009-12-12T16:09:00.005-05:002009-12-12T16:28:54.891-05:00Mirror, Mirror on the Wall<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin6kmlGYhgWQYlPXm2TW13uN4hT4SIv2Y1vabPBDcPTYk21HtZj3ijKg1ajoNyCawUiMyy1bZri4FLrx9OHeF6fpuio1nwuMl9lNjvirs61b5DCDJ_NNIE1IXRfMN3ROTwhH1DmdIk7GVp/s1600-h/Random+035.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin6kmlGYhgWQYlPXm2TW13uN4hT4SIv2Y1vabPBDcPTYk21HtZj3ijKg1ajoNyCawUiMyy1bZri4FLrx9OHeF6fpuio1nwuMl9lNjvirs61b5DCDJ_NNIE1IXRfMN3ROTwhH1DmdIk7GVp/s320/Random+035.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414460227994586242" /></a><br />I really should be cleaning and organizing things to get ready to pack up and leave my college town of Augusta. However, there's a specific verse that has been laid on my heart for a few days now. It’s one that we’re all familiar with, but this time I was able to relate it with something new.I also was able to share my thoughts over the verse with a professor, who I’ve grown to love as a friend and sister in Christ, and we were able to shed some light over it's encouragement value. It's pretty awesome if I do say so myself, so I want to share. This is the verse that has been playing in my mind over and over again:<br /><span style="font-style:italic;"><br />“When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish thing. Now we see things imperfectly as in a cloudy mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely.” 1 Cor. 13:11-12, NLT</span><br /><br />It is so cool how a verse can theologically represent one thing, but then God can totally use it to relate to specifics in your own life too. For example, I’ve never graduated college before…this is my first time. (HA!) It’s also the first time for our family. So you can see that this is an entirely new experience. It is the most thrilling and nerve-racking occurrence I’ve ever gone through. Thrilling because I finally made it, and I’m going to have a college diploma with my name on it. Nerve-racking, because I have no clue what the future is going to hold for me, and I’m not sure what to expect. I am SOOO nervous! However, I can find rest in the arms of the One who has gone before me, because He has already laid out the path that I’m to take. Yes, there is one that has my name on it! The only thing that I have to do is to trust and have faith in Him and His will for my life. <br /><br />That takes me back to my perception of 1 Corinthians 13:11-12. I am 23 years old, which classifies me as an adult. I am a woman. I am not a little girl any more, so it is time to focus. You could say that this verse is implying that it’s time for me to put my big girl panties on and cowgirl up. *wink*wink * Yep I said it. <br /><br />What really touched my heart, though, was the part that speaks over seeing things imperfectly right now. That is totally true, because I see an image in my mind of who I want to be and what I want to do…it’s all still a dream. However, it’s still just a cloudy mirror I’m looking into. I am not able to fully understand what it is God really has in store for me in my life until I go out there and pursue it. If I just continue to walk side-by-side and hand-in-hand with Him, then one day I will see it all clearly. He will fill my life up with the opportunities that He has created me for, there will be no void….it will be complete.Miranda Rileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00425779492672899104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8046476661104833387.post-53226781694647701532009-12-09T21:02:00.001-05:002009-12-09T21:05:24.763-05:00A Dream is Coming True!!!I can’t believe that I have finally finished my last final of college today. I can’t believe this is what that feels like. All butterfly flutters, happy, giddy, nervous, and disbelief all at once. I can’t believe that next week, on December 15, 2009 (if all goes well *wink*wink*) I will hold my very own Augusta State University diploma.<br /><br />My diploma.<br /><br />MY COLLEGE DIPLOMA….<br /><br />WITH MY NAME ON IT. <br /><br />My diploma that I earned with my own hard work and determination. <br /><br />I’M GONNA HAVE A DEGREE!!!<br /><br />I’m gonna have a Bachelor of Arts in Communications Television and Cinema. That just blows my mind!!! This is so incredibly cool, because I’ve really accomplished this. This first generation college student has raised the level of education within her family! I’ve kept with it and persevered through the chaos and now I’m finally graduating!!!!! I didn’t quit! I did it!!!!! I made it!!!!<br /><br />I’M GRADUATING!!!!!!!!!!!!<br /><br />I’M GRADUATING FROM COLLEGE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!<br /><br />WOOO HOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Miranda Rileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00425779492672899104noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8046476661104833387.post-43168444600091833942009-10-07T22:53:00.002-04:002009-10-08T10:57:00.326-04:00Me. Worried? Nah!I am sitting here with lots of thoughts going through my mind. I can’t seem to grab one thought and hold onto it though. Lately, my life has been in the fast lane. I’ve hardly had anytime for myself. I have been going and going and going (sounds like the energizer bunny, huh?)<br /><br />I get up in the morning, I love on my Tipi girl (my doggie), I eat a bowl of cereal, I go to classes, I come home and walk Tipi (she’s a little overweight, so I’m trying to change that so she will have a longer healthier life…and for your information, her obesity is not my fault. It’s my grandparent’s fault. My Pawpaw STILL slips her bacon under the table.) Anyway… after I walk the dog, I normally trot back up to the school to spend the rest of the night in the library working on some type of project. I’m in Advanced Public Speaking, so we have a lot of speeches to present and guess what?…..They’re advanced! Advanced is another word that means… time-consuming to the point of insanity. Then on top of that I have my senior project that is progressing, and I have my Spanish class that is the devil incarnate and 3 other classes that would make Obama write another stimulus package.<br /><br />So anyway… when I do have a little extra time I will go to the gym to work out. Why? Because I live in a society that reflects highly on image, and I just so happen to pick the career field that is the most tedious of all on image reflection. However, I am not a gym lover. I’m not an exercise freak, and I’m not a health food junkie. So you can see where my problem lies, right?<br /><br />Anyway… I am sitting here on the couch tonight… Tipi Tot is at my feet (she was at my side…but both of us can’t sit on the couch side by side because half of one of us is always hanging off.) I am trying to grasp hold of a few things in my mind. Most of it reflects on my career. I am not sure which area to shoot for first. I have an idea, but is it the right one? Will I be accepted? Will I make the most of it? Or Will I even get a job? Will it be the right one to start off with?<br /><br />All of these questions are making room for “fear” to arise. It’s in my throat. To know that I only have two months of school left, and then I have to make a decision. I have to sort out all the files in my mind and prioritize them. I need a starting point of where I want to go in life. But where? I have an idea, but is it right?<br /><br />Then it’s the worry of being 23 and knowing the last time that I dated a guy was back when I put little circles over the tops of my lowercase “i’s.” Mostly all of my friends I went to school with are married with children or engaged or in an extremely serious relationship with a guy and engagement is just around the corner for them. Me, however? I had planned to be married by 23 and kids by 24. Well… I’ve already passed my time limit… well for one of them anyway, however, one ain’t happening without the other! I can sure tell ya that much!<br /><br />But anyway… amidst all of these chaotic thoughts, there’s something that always restores my peace-of-mind.<br /><br />In Matthew chapter 6, verses 25-34, Jesus talks about worry. In fact, He even accuses His disciples (the ones who left everything to follow Him) of having little faith. Well, I can’t really say accused… because He KNEW they did. Imagine that, disciples of Christ failing on a daily basis. Who would have thought? :)<br /><br />But Jesus teaches in this chapter that we should not worry. That God will always provide for us. He will always lead us to where He wants us to be.<br /><br />What spoke to my heart tonight though, is that I don’t have to worry about tomorrow. I don’t have to worry about my next step… because I have the ultimate muscle that is going to take it for me….faith in God. He will not let us grow tired, and He will not let our lives be lived with anything that falls below abundance. My God is mighty to save and our fortress in time of need. He will direct our paths and give us a hope for our future. And He will impregnate our hearts with His desires for our life….and He will do it at just the right time. All we have to do is keep the faith and press on.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-style: italic;">So do not worry…your heavenly Father knows what you need. –Instead of getting caught up in worry, -- seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Matthew 6:31-34<br /></div>Miranda Rileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00425779492672899104noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8046476661104833387.post-49111186167669524592009-08-20T11:41:00.001-04:002009-08-20T11:42:58.104-04:00Crazy for Jesus!<span style="font-size: 12pt;font-size:100%;" ><i>"If it seems we are crazy, it is to bring glory to God. And if we are in our right minds, it is for your benefit." 2 Cor 5:13</i></span><br /><span style="font-size: 12pt;font-size:100%;" ><br /><br />Have you ever been called crazy? If you're a woman and you happen to drive...maybe you've been called it once or twice? It almost seems as if any driving mistake gets blamed on us for some reason. Not sure why...I mean, it's not like I meant to back into my sisters car when it was parked in the driveway. Then she backed into my Dad's truck when it was in the driveway. But still, I don't think that puts us in the stereotype. Ha! Just don't let us park in your driveway.<br /><br />But anyway, that was crazy, I'm not sure why I said that...<br /><br />Aside from that.... <br /><br />I watched a video by Louie Giglio tonight called Fruitcake and Ice Cream. And I am really not giving anything away by telling you this, but he explained 2 Cor 5:13 in his message. <i>If it seems we are crazy, it is to bring glory to God. And if we are in our right minds, it is for your benefit. </i><br /><br />In other words....any one who has been saved by grace, having Jesus Christ in their heart, should get extremely excited about things, and to have random outburst of excitement (whether it be during a worship service or the privacy of your own home) that bring Him glory. Praise that makes you think you can fly or praise that takes the strength from your legs so you fall to your knees.... <br /><br />Okay pause... you have to know, well before Louie began to talk about this verse, he said other things that had already blessed me beyond measure and (sshhhh don't tell anyone *wink*wink*) I had gotten up and danced around my apartment with my hands up in the air praising His Name! (Yes. I'm crazy. Absolutey Insane. Flat out wierd when it comes to Jesus!I'll be the first to own up to it!)<br /><br />...Resume. Okay, so Louie was mentioning that people who are in Christ will absolutely go nuts for Him, and then I had to laugh because I had gone nuts just a few minutes before he said that! Ha! Who knew?<br /><br />But then it was really cool, because he went on to explain the second part of the verse.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;font-size:100%;" ><i>And if we are in our right minds, it is for your benefit. </i></span><br /><span style="font-size: 12pt;font-size:100%;" ><br />We all want to go absolutely CRAZY for Jesus, but we don't always because we don't want non-believers or Christians who aren't fully "there" yet to think we are crazy. Whenever we are in our right-state-of-mind, it is for the benefit of the person who is searching. And a person who is searching, doesn't "get" our outlandish excitement for Christ..... yet!<br /><br /> So.. it is for their benefit that we contain our random outburst in public. Else we would all be walking around the mall screaming at the top of the escalators JESUS CHRIST IS LORD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!<br /><br />But we don't... why?? Because we want people to think we are normal. (<i>To Think</i> is the operative phrase there! Ha!) Because we aren't normal. We're the righteousness of God in Christ, we're above average! But still, we want to carry on casual conversations (seasoned with salt) so that people can see a glimpse of the hope that we have. So they will want it. Then when they get it.... they will come to Christ... and then we can all be wierd for Jesus together and be one big happy family! <br /><br />Anyway... I just thought that was kind of cool.....God can use us to advance His Kingdom if we're just our normal everyday self. That doesn't mean I'm saying don't express your excitement for God. By all means do!! Do cartwheels, stand on your furniture, cry out His Holy Name!.... BUT... the reminder is...there is a time to do so.. and a time to not. If we are in our right minds.. it's for the benefit of the person who hasn't fully "got it" yet. So we stay prepared, and in our right minds minister the message of grace to them. But none-the-less... if it seems we are crazy... it's to bring glory to our Father!</span>Miranda Rileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00425779492672899104noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8046476661104833387.post-26014232535615117732009-08-13T19:23:00.002-04:002009-08-13T19:25:46.473-04:00Moving On<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMwi58eajmyhZLu5d2fnXcl2meNdxHVlzIKAKGZQ2iac1gg46C8cgWZGvowC_eLNqd7P5sf30jy7kt24atviYjXkXPdDThyyEGXhJx8p4LzMq2-iqVJ3BIWUBwmR8kuIe579p32tNPLGqO/s1600-h/Fox+17+News+in+Nashville+009.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369593611390410898" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMwi58eajmyhZLu5d2fnXcl2meNdxHVlzIKAKGZQ2iac1gg46C8cgWZGvowC_eLNqd7P5sf30jy7kt24atviYjXkXPdDThyyEGXhJx8p4LzMq2-iqVJ3BIWUBwmR8kuIe579p32tNPLGqO/s320/Fox+17+News+in+Nashville+009.jpg" /></a><br /><div>Hey y'all! Well... the time has come for this season of internships to close. I finished my last day at Fox this morning, and I will be headed back to Augusta on Saturday to start school on Monday. It is a bitter sweet moment, because I am going to miss all my friends up here in Nashville like CRAZY. Just crazy.... but at the same time I am so pumped for school to start back. I feel very blessed to have stories to share of what I've learned with other students in my field. Too, the quicker school starts back.... the quicker December will come....and the quicker I will FINALLY GRADUATE COLLEGE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Oh Lawd.... it's taken me almost six years to get a four year degree. Ha! So that will be a happy moment. The Lord has been so wonderful throughout this season, especially with the wonderful people who opened their homes to me. I am praying the Lord blesses them beyond measure. I know that everything that I have done was so ridiculously awesome..... and only God can be that cool.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>I have all my boxes packed up. Wondering how it's going to fit in my car. Ha! But then tomorrow I get to hang out with all my gal pals from church and live it up for one more night. Jesus and Karaoke.... that's what we're doing! Also.... I want to remind you that my national tv debut (HA!! j/k) will air on August 21st. Remember??? The CMT Invitation Only Reba Special that I got invited to attend and got to ask a question (on camera) at? Well... that finally will air August 21st (Friday, I think) at 9pm Eastern/ 8pm Central on CMT. (Country Music Television) I have no clue what I sound like.... so I'll go ahead and ask you to pardon me if I sound or look embarassing in anyway. Ha! (They told us to be energetic.....so I was! LOL)</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Lastly... I decided to share a couple of the stand-ups that I did at Fox with y'all. These will go on my resume reel (when I make it) to send out to all the places I'd be interested in working at. They are all different and about 12 seconds each. Also... I created the "script" all by myself on these. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div><a title="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=" target="_blank" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CSG42xpoeoY">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CSG42xpoeoY</a> </div><br /><div></div><br /><div><a title="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=" target="_blank" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ju-pARy4feg">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ju-pARy4feg</a></div><br /><div></div><br /><div><a title="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=" target="_blank" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YjyYk4uU_1Q">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YjyYk4uU_1Q</a> </div><br /><div></div><br /><div><a title="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=" target="_blank" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IkZ8YWwZgL4">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IkZ8YWwZgL4</a> </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Any favorites? Let me know what you think?..........unless you don't like it. Ha! But I feel these were okay. Remember that I am still brand spankin' new at this... and time and experience will only make me better. I look in the mirror everyday and tell myself that! (Ha! I'm totally joking!.......every other day.) </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Thank you so much for being my friends and caring about and being interested in what happens in my life. Now on to the next phase. Love y'all!! Miranda</div>Miranda Rileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00425779492672899104noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8046476661104833387.post-59443836010210699352009-08-12T00:28:00.004-04:002009-08-12T00:34:30.553-04:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiowLpaJzCa8_f1TeRpLTUh5E5dazKUN5PbPx8Fu9iXSqFwFe7pBoTCS5_45VTU0f891no4zBKV62AigT3U-PvrknIZ_MFivwqtUEZ0fJBw1h7DCTVuGkG6CAE8SpPlrXZcETc3_HWrc6qm/s1600-h/DSC_0217.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368930962575196738" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiowLpaJzCa8_f1TeRpLTUh5E5dazKUN5PbPx8Fu9iXSqFwFe7pBoTCS5_45VTU0f891no4zBKV62AigT3U-PvrknIZ_MFivwqtUEZ0fJBw1h7DCTVuGkG6CAE8SpPlrXZcETc3_HWrc6qm/s320/DSC_0217.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkmEFZnhumdw2dPcTIdkF41g4OJJN-xx9P0BlaKEeWnnglbekdntcTv_IfSoPgoIstWvZBIyqVyIcsh1_Njj2FRTsW5_1FNwcYQYJU9sPIaQ8tG70pv_1tuUD5JIki5pJPcicuO9Kxabwt/s1600-h/(3)+DSC_0199.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368930695863028514" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkmEFZnhumdw2dPcTIdkF41g4OJJN-xx9P0BlaKEeWnnglbekdntcTv_IfSoPgoIstWvZBIyqVyIcsh1_Njj2FRTsW5_1FNwcYQYJU9sPIaQ8tG70pv_1tuUD5JIki5pJPcicuO9Kxabwt/s320/(3)+DSC_0199.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><em>"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me." Matthew 25:40 (NIV)</em><br /><br /><br />It was the last night of the week, the night in which the Spanish language calls Viernes. When we arrived the children were all smiles and their eyes beamed with anticipation of what we were going to do next. I remember when I stepped out of the van and walked around to where the kids could see me, I was flooded with several little brown hands wrapping themselves around my waist. Their voices floated through my ears as they were calling out to me in their language. What a sweet sweet sound.<br /><br />I remember meeting those same precious children early Monday morning, July 20th, in the countryside outside of Acuña, Mexico. It’s amazing how kids will warm up to you. I walked in there trying to high five the kids and pull them up to dance, but all I got were stares that seemed to say “who is this crazy white girl?” But as the week progressed, the excitement surged and the crazy looks became anticipating smiles! I could walk in there and just high five rows and rows of anxiously awaiting kids!<br /><br />I had been praying all week for the Lord to use me to minister to the children and speak of His Name in a way that they would understand and be attentive. Well, each morning we would have the kids do a craft. It was really hard sometimes, because I couldn’t say all the things I wanted to say. Thankfully one of the little girls in my group-Emily- could speak English. So I would have her translate a few things to the rest of my group. One day we were making these little “clapper” instruments. The clappers had three parts to them. The kids were decorating the outside of the instrument, and then I realized that the middle of the clappers could be decorated too. However you couldn’t see the middle unless you shook the clapper back and forth. Then it occurred to me that I could draw a cross on the inside! Then a sweet little ministering moment came to my mind and I pulled aside one of the translators that came from our church, James, to translate. I told the kids that I chose to draw a cross on the inside of my instrument; so that whenever I played it everyone could see that Christ is the center of my life. And wouldn’t you know, just about every child in my group chose to do the same thing. It was so precious to see those little hands drawing crosses!!!<br /><br />Normally after dancing to Spanish praise songs, having the kids recite a Bible verse, and making a craft we would send the kids off with their instruments and remind them to meet us again in the evening. After eating lunch (which was sandwiches that we had packed) we would walk the streets of the neighborhood to seek out families in need of prayer. This was so wonderful, because at each house we went to, we were welcomed to invite the name of Jesus Christ and to pray in unison over various situations. One lady’s husband was in an accident and on top of that she had complications in her body. One man had an infection in his eye and was praying for healing. Others wanted prayer for their families and their children. One 20 year old wanted prayer for the baby inside her womb. Another lady was desperate for prayer over her husband who needed to have open-heart surgery and she was asking for peace of mind. There were two older women whose knees were weak and they were believing God for pain relief and restoration. The Spirit of God was just alive and moving amongst that little village in Santa Monica.<br /><br />Not only did I witness the Lord working in the hearts of the people we were there to bless, I also noticed Him working in the hearts of all of us from the church. Especially me. One specific situation comes to my mind. There was one night that a little girl came up to me and told me that she was thirsty. Well… all I had was my water, and it was still early in the evening. I knew if I let her drink out of it then that was it… I wouldn’t drink out of it anymore. I really didn’t want to give it to her. I had been told that there was a water spicket around there somewhere, but I had never seen it and I didn’t know where to direct her to go. But just looking into her precious little eyes I couldn’t just tell her dry little mouth that I didn’t have water to give her…. I remembered the scripture in Matthew that says, “I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink”….then I knew that I couldn’t let that precious angel go without a drink of water. Soon after I gave her a sip a few moments later a couple other children came up asking for water. Then it really touched my heart when an older lady came up and asked for water. Within moments my water bottle was empty…..I didn’t fear for my own hydration, because I knew in my heart that the Lord was pleased and He reminded me that I had Living Water flowing through my soul that would quench my thirst for the night. I knew that because I did it for the least, I did it for the Father.<br /><br />Throughout the week, I was believing the Lord to reveal Himself in a new and refreshing way. As the scripture in Psalm says, “He is faithful to the faithful” and oh was He faithful! He completely surrounded me with His presence and decided to deepen my walk with Him a little more. I had been praying for an outpouring of His spirit to just move in my life and this trip to Mexico was the perfect place to for that to happen!!<br /><br />One of my favorite moments was on the last night when Pastor Larry had called every one of the Mexican adults to the front for prayer. Then he called all of us Americans to lace the outside of the circle and to just pray for the people. I prayed and I prayed for those around me, but the moment I looked up I saw a lady that I had remembered seeing at the beginning of the night. When I had saw her earlier I remember thinking that she looked desperate for a touch from our Father. Since I was to go outside with the children, so when I walked by her, I just wanted to give her a Word….but the only Spanish phrase I could think of was “Mucho Bendiciones Senora”….. which was my way of wishing her many blessings.<br /><br />So when back to when Pastor Larry was having us circle around the people….I saw this woman again. Though I couldn’t see her face, because I was behind her. I could read her body language. Her left hand was held up in front of her body close to her heart, and her right hand was just trembling in the air. Again, I sensed that she was desperate for a touch from the Father. So I broke out of the circle and began weaving through the people to where I was directly behind her. She never saw me, but she felt “the touch” of when I laid my hand on her back. It was almost instantaneous when I laid my hands on her, it sounded as if she just completely broke down. As if a big relief was lifted off of her shoulders. I began to pray under my breath for her, and then I began to move my hands from her shoulders to the top of her head. I’m not really sure why I did this. I could blame it on being a touchy-feely person…….. and it was a big risk, because this woman that I didn’t know may not have wanted me to touch her head. But I tell you… the moment that I did, she just started trembling. Again I couldn’t see her face, because I was behind her. But she started shaking and I could hear the sobs coming from her. Only the Lord knows what He was doing in her that night, but it was so amazing that she was able to feel Him…..not me……but feel Him and His love…His touch… all around her. It was Amazing.<br /><br />Another story was when we had finished performing our dramas out in the plaza of Mexico. This short little Mexican man in a blue and white striped shirt approached a small group of us. He was probably in his late 30’s but looked as if he was much older. He just looked like a man who has had a hard life. And come to find out he had. He approached us seeking out prayer for his wife who has breast cancer. But then it became more of a confession time for him, he felt as if the enemy was attacking him from all areas and he couldn’t escape. He said that he wanted to live for the Lord and he wanted to do good things. He said he didn’t want to steal things; he wanted to pay for them. However, he can’t seem to break his cycle of sin and didn’t feel worthy. So, through the translator, I told him how our God is one of forgiveness and love. He erases the past and allows you to step foot into abundant living. That he could live in righteousness with Jesus.<br /><br />We asked the man if he had Jesus in his heart…that if he had specifically prayed to receive Christ. He said he did, a long time ago… but it was almost as if he had closed the Lord off and wouldn’t let any of Christ live through him. So we prayed for the guy over everything specifically that he had asked for, and then we told him that God wanted him to recommit his life to Him. That from that moment on, everything bad he had done would not matter anymore, that Christ would take up his burdens and He could walk in freedom from sin. The guy was completely in tears during his confession, but after we prayed he seemed to have hope that the Lord would work in his life from that moment on. He walked away excited and eager to get into the Word and into church.<br /><br />The Lord did some wonderful things in Mexico during the week of July 19, 2009. I am forever grateful that he provided through someone $400.00 to pay my way, and then another $100.00 for food and spending. But the most precious things I took away, money can’t buy. The special letters written in Spanish that the children wrote to me, and the things that have been written on my heart. Oh how I bless His name for that. I am so grateful that He chose to send me. So I will forever say, like Isaiah…”Here Am I! Send me.” Never underestimate what God can do and how He can provide. I thank Him so much for blessing me with this trip! I pray that the people who provided money, medicine, bedding, etc….. will be blessed 100-fold over. I look forward to going to Mexico again next year, should it be in His will, and I believe this experience has opened the door for many more mission trips. So here I am Lord! Send me!!!<br /><br /><em><br />“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me </em><a target="_blank" rel="nofollow"></a><em>to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives… And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed; To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.” Luke 4:18-19</em> </div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br />I have a couple of links for you to go to. One of them will direct you to a photo album of Mexico that is filled with several pictures that one of the guys on the trip took. BEAUTIFUL pics! I hope you will take a peek! </div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a target="_blank" href="http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2017626&id=151300333&l=7f49bfaa53" rel="nofollow">http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2017626&id=151300333&l=7f49bfaa53</a> </div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>Also, here is a link of the drama that we did in the plaza!</div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a target="_blank" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0N52yBAWzk" rel="nofollow">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0N52yBAWzk</a></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>It was truly an A-mazing week! Love y'all!Miranda </div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div>Miranda Rileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00425779492672899104noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8046476661104833387.post-6272248474255404292009-05-03T22:59:00.004-04:002009-05-03T23:06:54.512-04:00ACTIVE or INACTIVE?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1pxmv7MkmtiKnIJPS5Lv8oInE218AGJUFG0XVgT2Qiwh6oGR0zSUoYfkEr8z-vD_6KIJcYMRg7_eVUx7kYhhTkcKSDAr-NRIf-59nXKWEQSuiGym0OnfaCY7w169jJr2DR3ZdB2hWrGJd/s1600-h/B0009F3MUG-1-lg.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 178px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331799885589684978" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1pxmv7MkmtiKnIJPS5Lv8oInE218AGJUFG0XVgT2Qiwh6oGR0zSUoYfkEr8z-vD_6KIJcYMRg7_eVUx7kYhhTkcKSDAr-NRIf-59nXKWEQSuiGym0OnfaCY7w169jJr2DR3ZdB2hWrGJd/s400/B0009F3MUG-1-lg.jpg" /></a><br /><div><br /><br /><div>I was asked a couple weeks ago to speak at the Young Adult gathering. I decided to tell my testimony and what the Lord has done in my life. </div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div>It's fun, because I've noticed that my testimony keeps getting longer and longer each time I tell it or each time I think about what the Lord's doing in my life. I know that it's not just because I'm long-winded, but He truly is working that much in and through me. Then He works all around me and gives me the priviledge to "see" the work of His fingers. Just AWESOME! I sure serve a wonderful God! </div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div>I feel like the Lord has done so many wonderful things, I just can't help but want to give back to Him. Wow, why would I not want to bless Him right back?! He blesses me so much, I want to almost "out-give" Him. Ha! If that even makes sense. </div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div>Okay, well I've been wanting to share with y'all ever sense it came to me to share at the meeting, because it really is something to think about. A few weeks ago, while I was washing my hair, I had this kind of epiphany...if you will. (Just stay with me here ) </div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div>So.. I'm washing my hair and as I look up, I can see the shampoo bottle. Okay. It's Dandruff Shampoo, the Kroger brand.... and just for the record...it's not because I have dandruff. We'll just say that I use it once a month because it smells too good to use it more. Ha! But I don't have dandruff.. just this little .....oh nevermind...that's besides the point. </div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div>Moving on! I was looking at the back of the bottle and because I'm bored.. I just start to read it. You know the Active Ingredents, Uses, Warnings, directions, inactive ingredients, all those things on labels like that. </div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div>Okay.. well it occured to me that the ingredients in that shampoo bottle are much like who we can be in Christ... how we can grow. So, imagine with me....let's just say we're this little molecule in the bottle of shampoo. So.. yes, once we've accepted Christ we're in the bottle! That's done! We're in Christ. WOOO HOOOO!!!!!!! Happy dance! </div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div>Then as we begin to walk with Christ.... and start to come out of the shampoo... we have a choice to make. We can be active or we can be inactive. It all works together to make the suds...but it's only the active ingredients that perform the desired function. The entire purpose of the product.</div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div>I've learned that Faith is a like a muscle and we can grow it if we want to. </div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div>We can choose to be the active ingredients that accomplish the purpose of the Lord in our lives.... or we can choose to be inactive. We're still going to heaven, but we choose to not bear fruit in our lives..we choose not to grow our faith or live closely with God. All we're doing is creating suds as the body of Believers but not anything more than that. </div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div>However, with being an active ingredient we choose to be fruitful and to perform the desired function. Not only are we creating suds as the body of Believers, but we are getting down and dirty and fulfilling our purpose! </div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div>God's "desired function" in our lives is to trust and obey Him and to live out the Great Commission and spread the good news of His one and only son, Jesus Christ who came to Save us and give eternal life to all who call upon His name. As a product of God, that is our purpose...to be ACTIVE in our walk with Him!! </div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div>If we're not active.. we're still going to heaven. We're still getting all the benefits of eternal life.</div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div>But wow, to bless the Father and to be ACTIVE in what He wants and to experience the abundant living that only He provides in the here and now. It is just a wonderful way to live!!! And not only that, we are storing up our treasures in heaven. So...my logic is... if I'm only here for a little while.... and I'm in heaven for eternity... why not bear fruit, please the Father, and store up treasures in Heaven. I mean... I want the whole shebang! Ya know? So.. I'm choosing to grow my Faith and be an active ingredient in the body of Christ and just dare to serve the Lord with everything that I have! </div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div>Wow! Isn't that so cool!! Now, you'll never look at the back of a Dandruff Shampoo bottle and not think of this e-mail. *wink*wink* </div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div>But it's simple..... Do you want to be active or inactive?</div></div>Miranda Rileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00425779492672899104noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8046476661104833387.post-91362755341877132872009-03-22T00:43:00.000-04:002009-03-22T00:44:38.230-04:00Dribble it, pass it.....we want a basket!!Have you ever been so caught up and consumed with everything that is going on around you? Getting so pressed down by life that it seems to overwhelm you and you feel like you're only just existing ...instead of living?<br /><br /> It kind of goes back to that age old feeling of standing in the middle of a crowded room screaming, yet not one person even flinches. The fake smile that you've painted on your face to walk around with, but the yearn to tuck away and hide so no one will get wind of your broken places.<br /><br />However, a wise man once said, "There is no brokenness of heart of which Jesus cannot bind up." Wow. I don't know about you, but that is so incredibly reassuring to me.<br /><br />There is no brokenness of heart of which Jesus cannot bind up. Just think, everything that we are going through, whether it be bad or good, crazy or calm, sad or happy, the Father will use to shape us into what He has planned for us, so that ultimately we may have the image of our Lord and Savior created in us. There was a passage of scripture that really just ministered to me this weekend. It's Deuteronomy 8:1-5....read closely,<br /><br /><div align="left"><br /><em>"Be careful to follow every command I am giving you today, so that you may live and increase and may enter and possess the land that the LORD promised on oath to your forefathers. Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands. He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your fathers had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD. Your clothes did not wear out and your feet did not swell during these forty years. Know then in your heart that as a man disciplines his son, so the LORD your God disciplines you."</em><br /><br />Those verses just completely touched my heart. And this is why:<br /><br />My life feels like basketball. (Not that I'm full of hot air either)......but that I am thrown from one place to another... and in between passes there is dribbling. I'm talking about some hardcore bouncing. Going from hand to pavement... from the palm of a hand to the pavement, dribbling up and down. Then a pass.. then dribbling... then a pass... then dribbling.<br /><br />And over a period of time... we know the basketball will eventually begin to slowly deflate. Then someone has to pump it up again.<br /><br />If you will "picture" with me for a second...a pair of hands and a basketball. Got it in your head??.......Good.<br /><br />Imagine the pair of hands being our precious Father in Heaven. And of course the basketball represents us.<br /><br />Well.. imagine the Father's hands passing the basketball (us) to its intended destination. Then there is dribbling and pounding and ups and downs. Then we are passed again..... Following me here?<br /><br /><br />Okay... well as the verses in Deuteronomy point out, the Lord instructs us to follow His commands. If He wishes to "pass" us around, He is going to pass us, and it is up to us to not let the other team knock us out of bounds but to stay in line with the primary will of the throw. We are to reach that destination that He intends for us to reach. I don't know about you, but that could seem like ALOT of pressure on a little ole basketball! But there should be no pressure... because with faith we know that the Father will be on the other side of the pass to catch us.<br /><br />But even when we follow His command.... there is going to be some dribbling, HOWEVER; ya gotta catch the promise!!!!<br /><br />The promise is... although there is going to be dribbling, He is wanting to see if we will obey. Testing our obedience to Him. He KNOWS that we will deflate a little over time, but He wants to see if we will obey, respect, and honor Him through the deflation and trust that He will be the one to fill us up when we honestly need it. He will cause us to hunger, but then He will feed us with manna. Oh wow, that just gave me chills!!!<br /><br />And that's not even the end of it. If you will skim back to verse one.... we remember.....should we follow the LORD's commands...the bigger promise is that we will live and increase and will enter and possess the land that was promised to us. Now don't just think eternal life here (we are promised that with professing Christ as Lord... ka baam...that's a done deal)... but with obeying His commands while we're walking out our Christian walk, we are promised abundant living on earth. For the measure you use; it will be measured to you. (In Basketball terms.... we've scored a basket!!!)<br /><br /><br />If we will just obey and follow and trust.... we know, through the Word of God, that our clothes will not wear out and our feet will not swell. <br /><br />As overwhelmed as I may get sometimes, I know that if I will just listen, trust, and follow the Lord... my God.... I will get one step closer to the promised land He has intended for my life... and I will experience His great plans for me.<br /><br />He does His greatest works through people with grateful, trusting hearts.<br /><br />Love y'all.<br /><br />Miranda<br /> </div>Miranda Rileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00425779492672899104noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8046476661104833387.post-28492589038554071222009-01-29T23:37:00.000-05:002009-01-29T23:38:07.287-05:00Need A Drink?<div align="center"><em>As the deer pants for streams of water; so my soul pants for you, O God.</em> Psalm 42:1<br /><br /><br /><br />Independence is, at some point in our lives, what we all strive for. Think about it… My four-year-old niece constantly tells me “I can do it Aunt Ran, I can do it by my own self”…. When my sister and I were younger and we were starting school there came that first day of school where we no longer wanted our parents to tag along with us while we entered into our new classrooms. As my niece would say, we could do it by our own selves. Ah yes,… then comes the time when we became teenagers and we worked to get our own cars, make our own money. Eventually we couldn’t wait to move out so that we could truly experience freedom……Independence.<br /><br />Independence: Direction of one’s own affairs without interference.<br /><br /> Well.. It occurred to me today that I really am not an independent person. I rely heavily…and when I say heavily… I mean HEAVILY on my Faith in God. (I mean, who says yes to an internship without figuring out a place to live, how classes will work around it, or even if I’ll have enough money to do another unpaid internship….I mean, who in their right mind does that sort of thing?) Everyday I find myself more and more dependent on the Lord. I depend on His Word to get me through the day and direct me. I depend on that still small voice to lead me and correct me. I depend on my faith in him, I depend on His promises, I depend on His answers, and I depend on His love. Yep.. I’m very dependent…I totally count on God to lead me. I don’t fight for independence in my spiritual life, because I’ve realized that when I try to do things aside from Christ, I’m no good. Like.. for real. I stink. But yet… I can do all things through Christ (and then I have the wonderful fragrance of Christ!! *wink*wink*)<br /><br />I’ve realized that the deer and I are very similar. Yep…besides us both being slim, sleek, muscular, and not to mention cute (ha!)….we both pant after what will replenish us. Especially after a strenuous run through the woods….just as the deer can’t live without water…I too am in need of a refreshment… I’m in NEED of God. I can not live with out Him. I can’t even stand with out Him. I look forward to revitalizing my spirit with His every day. Connecting with Him through quiet worship and alone time with Him. Now, I’ve already taken a drink of the living water that Jesus promised, so I‘ll not thirst for that any longer…that is a done deal.<br /><br />In case anyone is wondering... I'll elaborate a bit …Just as we would be dehydrated without earthly water… we will be dehydrated without living water. Jesus is the only way to have living water (a.k.a. eternal life) ...In fact…. if it were to go long enough and we didn’t drink in the living water… we’d be a little more than dehydrated….we’d be suffocating in flames. (Whew.. glad that ain’t happening to me!)<br /><br />I’m so glad that I have had a taste of that living water that my sweet Savior supplies. So I know that I will never be dehydrated again. I will never fall short of salvation. I will ALWAYS have that. AND it just blows me away that I can still have those rivers of living water flowing through my soul so that I may constantly have my spirit washed and full. Jesus will always be enough for me. He will always be the One who makes my cup overflow, and He will always be the One who lights my fire on a daily basis. He will always be the One that I love, and the One who will supply my every need according to His riches and glory.<br /><br />So Yes….I’m happy to announce that I’m dependent on Him. I have complete faith that He has a purpose and a will over my life. So…with knowing that… He makes me just race towards Him… He makes me want to run as fast as I can to His feet…He makes me want to just run the race and fight the good fight and live according to His plan.<br /><br />...just as the deer pants for the water.....so my soul pants after my Lord.<br /> </div>Miranda Rileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00425779492672899104noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8046476661104833387.post-49439427854543024832009-01-08T00:00:00.001-05:002009-01-08T00:20:46.168-05:00~So...this is love~I can’t explain why… but I feel embraced by the Lord tonight. I’m not sure why, because I’m not sad or upset….but, wow.. I can barely stand. I have tears that are just streaming from my face, because I can feel the presence of my Lord holding me and telling me that I am His child. Kind of like I'm in the garden alone with Him. It's so wonderful...<br /><br />You know? Being younger… I can honestly say that I’ve never experienced real love… that is….until the sweet day that the Lord called my name and chose me to be His. Ever since then my heart has been given away to the One who makes me feel whole. That kind of Love just scoops me off my feet and makes me want to be a better person.<br /><br />The way He chooses to speak to my heart, the way He chooses to direct me and guide me, and the way He lets me know that I am His…….wow… it truly just makes me weak in the knees. My knees get so weak that I can’t even stand… I’ve finally realized why the common prayer position is on your knees, not just as a way to humble ourselves before God….<br /><br />…but....with me...because He just makes me want to surrender everything that I have...so that I may embrace the comfort of His unfailing Love ….and, WOW, it‘s a Love so strong that... moments like this, I can‘t even stand… but He catches me when I fall. I’m convinced that He catches me with His hands…only His hands are disguised as my knees, because when I‘m on my knees… there is this strong sense of enveloped comfort that I feel....truly an amazing grace.<br /><br />I am not reluctant...AT ALL... to say that He has my heart, my whole heart…. And the way that He can strum the strings of my heart…..brings passion unlike any other. Makes me want to stay in the garden with Him. Always.<br /><div align="center"><br />I come to the garden alone</div><div align="center">While the dew is still on the roses</div><div align="center">And the voice I hear, falling on my ea</div><div align="center">rThe Son of God discloses<br /><br />And He walks with me</div><div align="center">And He talks with me</div><div align="center">And He tells me I am His own</div><div align="center">And the joy we share as we tarry there</div><div align="center">None other has ever known<br /><br />He speaks and the sound of His voice</div><div align="center">Is so sweet the birds hush their singing</div><div align="center">And the melody that He gave to me</div><div align="center">Within my heart is ringing<br /><br />And He walks with me</div><div align="center">And He talks with me</div><div align="center">And He tells me I am His own</div><div align="center">And the joy we share as we tarry there</div><div align="center">None other has ever known<br /><br />I'd stay in the garden with Him'</div><div align="center">Tho the night around me be falling</div><div align="center">But He bids me go; through the voice of woe</div><div align="center">His voice to me is calling<br /><br />And He walks with me</div><div align="center">And He talks with me</div><div align="center">And He tells me I am His own</div><div align="center">And the joy we share as we tarry there</div><div align="center">None other has ever known</div>Miranda Rileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00425779492672899104noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8046476661104833387.post-83645773589125152082009-01-03T13:25:00.001-05:002009-01-03T13:25:33.747-05:00The Work of Your FingersI love looking at the clouds. Each one has a unique shape, and a unique form. Some are beautiful, full and fluffy. Some are long, elegant, and whispy. And some have shapes that cater to each imagination that dares to dream upon it. I guess the phrase “head in the clouds” can be tacked to me. I’m always staring up at them… always looking at the shapes… always admiring the beautiful creation that forms in the sky each day. Oftentimes, I’ll pretend that it’s a canvas. Sometimes when I look up… I don’t see the sky. If I close my eyes and re-open them…. There is the most beautiful ocean that anyone has ever seen. The white ripples of the tide lay stationed in place, adorning the sky with its ever still, breathtaking beauty. Isn’t it wonderful? The Artist who formed man from dust and fashioned woman… is the same One who created the beautiful masterpieces that frame our lives every day. The One who is the Keeper of all creation and the One who lets His wonderful works be displayed throughout all the nations. He chooses to let His splendor linger everywhere.....even in the clouds!<br /><br />Everywhere. Wow, think about it? That is a vast range of places, yet it is where we can always find the presence of our LORD. In Psalm 139: 9-10,<br /><br />“If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.”<br /><br />King David, Israel’s greatest King, revealed that God’s presence isn’t that of a spectator. He doesn’t just stand on the sidelines...instead…He prefers to be attached at the hip, I think! God was always at David’s side with extended arms. He was always there to lead, guide, correct, and direct him. God’s right hand was right there… ready to hold him up. Isn’t it awesome that He is the same way with us!! One of my favorite scriptures is Isaiah 41:10 (the second half)…<br /><br />“…I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”<br /><br />I want that kind of strength in my life! You want to know something funny? Just yesterday I saw a cloud that reminded me of this verse! Ha! No joke... it looked like a hand… and the way it was angled... you could so tell it was a RIGHT hand. And it was ironic that I saw that and was reminded of that verse… because I was driving from Milledgeville; where I had met my friend who is watching my Chihuahua, Tipi, for the next four months. It was a very hard drive for me because I LOVE that dog. She’s my baby, and it was just tearing me up that I had to send her away. But, in my heart, I believe that was God’s way of reminding me that’s He is everywhere, that He is with my doggie and that He is with me, and He will hold us both up as I venture off and try to live in His will.<br /><br />Get this.... this is so fun!! Did you know that God is omnipresent?! God’s omnipresence means that God is present in ALL places. There isn’t a place that doesn’t have the presence of God, and not only do all places have the presence of our great God… but He is completely present in every place. You don’t just have Him there half-hearted upon your life. He is right there, and He has His whole heart wrapped around your life and wrapped around my life. Yeah, don’t even try to think about it… it is beyond us and you’ll probably get a headache if you try to understand it with human reasoning. Ha! It’s not just what King David penned through the words of the Holy Spirit upon him….it’s the same thing our Savior said to the disciples before He descended back to heaven after His glorious resurrection that gave us His righteousness and freed us from the bondage of sin. Jesus said,” And surely I am with you ALWAYS, to the very end of the age.” Matt 28:20 ……<br /><br />Immanuel: “God with us.” Isn’t that awesome?!?!?!<br /><br />That is definitely a Word of encouragement as this New Year begins… to know that no matter where this year takes us… God is always right there with us, so why worry? Just listen to the first half of Isaiah 41:10<br /><br />“So do not fear, for I am with you, do not be dismayed, for I am your God…”<br /><br /> Lord, The work of Your fingers (Psalm 8:3)...even in the clouds... is SO incredibly awesome to me! Thank You so much for everything that You are and everything that You do. Thank You for Your awesome omnipresence. Lord, may I always remain in You, so that You will remain in me (John 15:4). May I always draw near to You, so You will draw near to me (James 4:8.) May my eyes remain fixed on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of my faith (Hebrews 12:2) so that I may never miss a moment to recognize His splendor or bring glory to His Name. May I remain in Your Word to receive direction this next year, and may I not just be a “hearer” but a “doer” (James 1-22.) As Beth Moore says, I want a Jesus-year! Lord, I want to witness scripture being fulfilled in my own life and being obedient and faithful to Your Word, living it out, and trusting Your commands …and by doing so...by keeping at it… I know that I will receive the blessings that You have to offer! So, I will not fear what this New Year brings…for I know that You are MY GOD! WoO hOo!! In Jesus’ name… Amen!Miranda Rileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00425779492672899104noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8046476661104833387.post-19036043079506106082008-12-29T11:11:00.002-05:002008-12-29T11:19:41.698-05:00Thanks for Chaos!(This was written back in September.... I just never posted it, and ran acrossed it yesterday...and it blessed me all over again... at how God "sets things up"...Awesome!!!)<br /><br />Sept. 14, 2008<br /><br />I've had one of the most busy/ crazy/ stressful weekends this weekend, and I can't help but write to tell y'all how the Lord blessed me through it.<br /><br /> First of all, I know that I e-mail a lot talking about the Lord... but seriously it is because I just can't help but feel Him working on my behalf over my life. It's not that I'm crazy religious or super spiritual and go around passing out every time I feel Him.. ha! It's just simple everyday things, that make me step back in awe and say, "Lord.. that is You!".... and I just give thanks to Him. It's just that I've begun to completely yield my life to Him, and His promise is that He will supply all our needs according to His riches and glory in Jesus. Phil 4:19<br /><br /> I also relate well to this verse:"Like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation, if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord." 1 Peter 2:2-3 <br /><br />I can't tell you how much I have tasted the kindness of the Lord over the past 9 months... and just like the verse says, I can't help but long for the Truth that His Word reveals to me. Wow, I love the Word of God! I love God and the salvation He's given me through His Only Son. Gives me chills! Yep! I seriously, seriously relate to the joy Paul experience in Christ after he was converted.<br /><br /> So... on to my weekend... Wait a sec! I can see right now this may get lengthy. So... just go ahead and stop (you have my permission).... you may get up and refill your coffee cup... but ya gotta come back! LOL (In fact, I'm going to refill my coffee cup... ha!) So you can go too.. but come back, now!<br /><br />Ok.. are ya back? I'm back too! I have a nice Hot cup of french vanilla coffee, that is just SO good! Mmmm! <br /><br />Ok... NOW on to my weekend... My best friend from High School, Rebecca, was having her baby shower this weekend... it was scheduled for Sat. the 13th. Well, I've been planning and planning to go, but last weekend I had to make a unplanned visit to my hometown to go to the Orthodontist because one of my brackets had broken. Let me tell you, I aboslutely LOVE braces!!....NOT!! So, since I only get paid once a month, and all my bills are due at the beginning of the month.. I pretty much go a whole month without extra money. LOL. The joys of being a student. I keep telling myself that these are my humblilng years.<br /><br />So, since I had to make that trip to the Orthodontist last weekend, that was the money I was going to use to go to my friends' baby shower. You don't know how much it hurt me to call her and tell her that I wouldn't be able to come. I could tell that she was disappointed, and that she had been excited to see me.<br /><br />The next day, Rebecca texted me and told me that she wanted to give me money to come down. Now... I'm sad to say that my pride stepped in... and I told her that I didn't want her to pay for me to come to her baby shower. I was suppose to be the one giving her the gift, not her paying for me. Nope.. I didn't want her to do that. But she insisted... and eventually I said, Ok. <br /><br />THEN! I wake up Friday morning and gas has sky-rocketed to $5 a gallon! No lie... and I call Becky, and I tell her that there is just no way.. It would be way to much money to borrow, and the truth was, I wouldn't have the extra money when I got paid to pay her back. So we were back where we started. It just killed my heart to know that I wouldn't go to my Best friends baby shower... I was her Maid of Honor in Her wedding.. but do to unchangeable circumstances, I had to miss her wedding.. and I just felt like the crappiest friend in the world to miss her baby shower too. You know? I mean, who wants to be friends with me? I miss all the major parts of their lives. Goodness...<br /><br />So.. I prayed. I pray to the Lord to provide a way or either to grant peace over my heart to accept not going.<br /><br /> Y'ALL!!! At the very last minute.. and when I say last minute.. I mean last minute. My friend Jessi called me at work, and I smile to think that the family I work for wasn't there at the time, so I was able to answer my phone. Jessi... asked me if I was going to the baby shower, and I told her that I couldn't..but really wanted to. Well.. Jessi told me that she had been waiting to give me my birthday present (back from July..ha!)... and if I wanted her too.. she would give me it now. <br /><br />Well.. I just felt the Lord over it.. and I told her that would be WONDERFUL! Jessi financially provided MORE than enough money for me to drive the 3 hrs (even with $5 gas) to the baby shower, and have some left over to get me through the rest of the month. Glory to Him! Right??........ Well...of COURSE!!! (Also, it must be NICE to be a nurse! *wink*wink*)<br /><br />Nope... this isn't even over!!! Go take a potty break if you need to. It's ok...but come back! LOL<br /><br /> Ok... So now God has provided a way to go to the baby shower, but ..oh!...as you continue reading you'll see how He gave me so much more.. through the craziest of circumstances. <br /><br />So, I go drive the 3 hrs and I go to my Papa's house. I had asked him if he would take my car up to Wal-Mart to have the oil change while Jessi and I went to the Baby Shower Sat morning. (I needed him to do this during that time, because I needed to head back to Augusta right after the baby shower, because I have a TON of work I have to do for school) Well.... Jessi and I go to the baby shower, and we have tons of fun... I collected lots of the necklaces for when people would use the "B" word.. baby, ha! It was tons of fun! Rebecca, however, she was having some mild contractions (she is due Oct. 1st)... so I went and spoke to her belly. I said, "Come on out, little man!!!" It was funny.. so all the throughout it, I loved on my dear friend and her family then I had to leave....<br /><br />So when I got back to my Papa's house, I saw Papa..but I didn't see my car. UH OH!! BAD FEELING!! Well it turns out that the last time I had my oil change the guys at Wal-Mart in Augusta didn't do something right, and now my car is messed up and it is going to take a few days to fix it. WHAT?!?!?! ARE YOU KIDDING ME?? I HAVE TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL!!!! LORD? What am I going to do? Lord? I need you!<br /><br />Well... good news.. Wal-mart is going to pay for all of it to fix my car.. because it was their mistake.. they had it on record that I had gotten my oil changed last there.. the mileage, THANKFULLY, added up correctly, so they KNEW it was them who made the mistake. (I'd tell you what it is that is wrong with the car.. but I don't speak in car language...ha!)<br /><br />The bad news.. Miranda is without a car. NOT GOOD! So.. my grandpa had the solution for me to borrow my sisters car, and she would borrow his truck.. and he would pay for ALL of her gas in the truck. So I called my sister, and I was so grateful that she was ok with that... but of course... Satan, loves to torture me.... there was one problem with Danielle's car. She was riding around on a Doughnut... so she needed a new tire. SOOOO.. My Papa is just a Angel.. he really is... He told Danielle to come over right then.. and he would take her car to get a new tire..because.. I HAVE to have a way back to Augusta (and Papa's truck isn't an option for me because it's HUGE and only gets 12 mpg)<br /><br />So... I'm thanking the Lord the entire time... but we go to three different tire places, and they are ALL out of the tire that matches Danielle's other tires. WHAT?!?!? Lord????? I need you!!!! I'm freaking out at this moment... and I hate to say that my flesh could have been revealed a bit... When I get stressed... I get impatient.. and I sometimes I can be a bit of a brat. Well.. I KNOW it was the Lord... because He spoke peace over my heart, and I didn't act the way I would normally act when things don't fall into place like I want them to. <br /><br />I KNOW it was the Lord, because had it not been.. I wouldn't have been so patient with all the chaos around me. I mean, I NEEDED to go..to leave.. I have homework to do! You know? >>> Let's stop, and praise Him for a second<<< Ha! I'm so serious.. Glory to Him!<br /><br />Ok.. well the tire guy, must have seen the sorrow on my face (because although I may not be acting like it bothers me, I do tend to wear my emotions on my sleeves) He gave the suggestion that they could put another tire on the car that would fit it.. It just wouldn't be the same type as the other three. And I'm thinking to myself... What does it matter if it's a different brand? But that's what my sis wanted... so I called her.. and I praise Him that she was so gracious to say.. a differnt tire would be fine! Woo Hoo!!!!<br /><br />Well... the Lord had to speak peace to my heart, because all of this had taken a long time... and I was so stressed out.. I had a headache... and I was tired, and there wasn't any way that I felt like driving the three hours back to Augusta. So... I had peace to just stay the night and leave this morning.<br /><br /> So.. when I settled down at my Papa's (he was going dancing.. and I was thinking that I would go take a hot bath.. LOL... but I had to try to do my homework).. Well.. after Papa left to go dancing.... I finally sit down to rest...and I get a phone call....<br /><br />The caller Id said "Rebecca" on it..... Her husband had called me to tell me that Becky was in the hospital and that she was about to have the baby!!! WHAT?!?!?! (I SUDDENLY KNEW WHY EVERYTHING HAPPENED THE WAY IT DID!)<br /><br />Bec's Husband was thrilled to know that I was still in town, because Becky had wanted me to be there. SO I went up to the hospital, and I got to go in and spend time with one of my all time best friends and enjoy the moment we've talked about since 7th grade together. And how sweet was it, that when that Baby came....while I was standing there, in my mind I prayed over him and his Mama. What a special moment!!! <br /><br />Thanks goes to the Father, because had everything (as stressful as it was) not happened exactly the way it happened.. I wouldn't have came down to find that something was wrong with my car, and I would have caused irreversible damage (so that's one blessing).. but the best blessing is.. I wouldn't have been there to see my best friend holding her first child in her arms after delivery. Wow... those are the precious moments in life, that I've realized... you just have to Praise Him!<br /><br /> So He.. may allow us to have some stress with broken cars and non-available tires... but he allows it because He has something bigger and better that He wants us to experience.... <br /><br />So yes... I hope you can see why I e-mail lots about Him. I e-mail lots about HIm, because He is so good.... and there are things that happen... to where He is the only thing that makes sense.... SO yes.... I PRAISE HIM! <br /><br />And.. Lastly, Since all this happened... I stayed here in my hometown for the night, and I wasn't able to go to church this morning because I have to journey to Augusta in a little bit.... but how wonderful that He allowed me a good night's sleep.. so that I could wake up early without being tired.. to write this out to you.... so that you can see the Grace He bestowed upon me this weekend. What an awesome God?!?! Just Awesome!!!! SO this is my way of praising Him on His day....<br /><br />And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28<br /><br />Blessings!<br />MirandaMiranda Rileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00425779492672899104noreply@blogger.com5