Continued...

During my senior year of high school, I decided I wanted to attend Baylor University.  However, my parents decided it cost too much and I didn't think I could handle living that far away from my parents.  So, I opted to stay home for a year and attend a junior college to get my basics out of the way.  During that time, my aunt, uncle, and cousins invited us to an A&M game (against McNeese State), trying to get me to like A&M and want to attend. (I was a big longhorn fan!!)  I couldn't understand all of the traditions that A&M had and quite frankly, I thought it was weird.  However, the band took the field and I was in awe.  I knew right then and there that I had to go to A&M and that I would do everything it took to get into A&M.  I know God had a plan for me to get into A&M, but it wasn't right away.  I enrolled into Blinn College while Chuck attend A&M.  During our first semester out of the house, our lives took an unexpected turn.

Let me back up for a second, Chuck and I started dating when I was a junior. (We were friends since I was a freshman in high school)  We only dated for a few months when I broke up with him for various reasons, and then suddenly realized I didn't mean to do that.  During our break, I read a book "How I Kissed Dating Goodbye" by Joshua Harris.  I realized during that time that I needed to pray for my future husband and that God would place that guy in my life.  Chuck and I started talking again and I was praying and asking if Chuck was the one (I know, we were young and still in high school).  At the end of my junior, I really and truly felt that Chuck was the one God had planned for me.  So, we started dating again and this time was way different from the first time.  We were very open and honest with each other and loved being around each other.  We talked about marriage, but wanted to wait until closer to the end of our time in college.

Fast forward - we found out in September of 2002 that we would be expecting a little one in 2003.  We both grew up in the church knowing that we needed to save ourselves for marriage and that Satan will try to mess things up and make you disobedient.  I didn't try to make an excuse for my actions because I knew we were in the wrong.  We married in October 2002 and Chandler came in February 2003.  We moved back to our home town in December 2002.  I told Chuck when Chandler turned a year old, that we would need to reapply back to A&M so that we could finish our degrees.  I prayed and prayed during that time.  In January of 2004, Chuck and I were talking about the statistics of teen pregnancies and how they never get their degree.  I told him that we were not going to be another statistic and that we needed to start applying to A&M.  He told me that he didn't think that was a good idea because we wouldn't have the money to attend.  I told him that I had been praying that God's will would be done and that He would provide a sign to let us know what to do next.  If we earned a spot at A&M, then we were going with a baby in tow.  We both applied.  I figured Chuck would get in because he is super smart and had previously attended.  I didn't think I would get in because I just didn't. 

Well, Chuck got his acceptance letter first.  So, we started looking around for jobs and apartments.  I was still thinking that God had something else in store for me.  In April of 2004, I received my letter and it said that I had earned a spot into the education program at A&M.  I can't tell you how excited and emotional I was.  So, in August of 2004, we loaded up the Uhaul and made the trek to A&M.

When you rely on God, He will provide.  Matthew 7:7-8 says "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened for you.  For every one who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened."

God always provides, but it doesn't stop there because I have seen God work in more ways.  So, the story continues...

Do you have plans?

Do you make plans? Immediate? Long-term? Short-term? Big? Small?  I make plans all the time and lists to go with these plans.  I even try to plan things that I have no control over. Gasp!! I know, I know!!  The big man upstairs I am sure laughs at me all the time for trying to control the plans for my life, when in fact He already has my whole life mapped out.  My favorite verse at the moment is Jeremiah 29:11, "For I know the plan I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give hope and a future".  Over and over again, I have to apologize to the Lord for trying to take His job from Him and make it mine.  It is our nature as humans to plan, control, and fix everything around us.  However, if we just sit back, trust in the Lord, remain patient, and spend lots of time on our knees, we will see His plan unfold right before us and it is better than anything we could ever plan for ourselves.  With God in control of the handle bars of your bike, you will travel to places you never imagined possible.

***If you like love to read as much as I do, I would like to recommend books written by Karen Kingsbury.  She is a phenominal author.  She writes christian ficiton that is hard to put down once you start.  She has several stand alone books and several series.  My favorite is about the Baxter family.  She has written several series about this family with a new series coming out starting March 2nd.  You can become a Facebook fan of hers and check out her books at your local library and/or church library.  Happy reading!!!***

The day of Love

"For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in  Him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16

As we celebrate the day of Love, I have step back and remember the first love that I ever had.  It was and still is the greatest love that I could ever receive.  My heavenly father loved me first before my parents, family, and friends.  Just knowing that He loves me no matter what, gives me great comfort.  I know He gets frustrated at me and is dissappointed in me more times than not, but He never leaves.  His unconditional love and His forgiveness of my sins keeps me balanced on this path called life.

Don't let a bump in the road cause you to lose balance.  Trust God and let Him love you for you.  Just insert your name into the above verse, and you will see how much God loves you.

"For God so loved, Britni, that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life."

Testimony

I want to share my testimony so that you know where I have been, but I am going to break it into parts over the next week.  Looking back, I love how I see God's hand over my life, but in the moment, I couldn't see it.  I pray that my testimony will be a witness to you and that you will see that God never leaves you.  You may think He has while you are in the moment, but when you take a step back and look at the grand scheme of things, you will see that He was right beside you the whole time.

I was baptized when I was either in 3rd or 4th grade.  I had been to church all of my life and one day felt the Lord calling me to take a leap of faith and walk down the aisle to say that I have asked Jesus into my heart.  I don't think I fully understood what it meant to be a Christian until my junior high and high school years.  The first time I really remember God answering a prayer was in the 9th grade. (I am sure He answered prayers before then, but this is the first one I distinctly remember.)  I had tried out for cheerleader from 6th gradde through my senior year of high school.  I didn't make it the first year and was heart broken.  I wanted to be a cheerleader so bad.  I prayed each night for God to allow me to do well during tryouts and that if it was his will, I would make cheerleader.  I didn't understand why I didn't make it in 6th grade for the 7th grade squad.  I practiced and tried out again in 7th for the 8th grade squad.  Again, I didn't make it.  I didn't understand until one day shortly after the tryouts were over, my mom and dad said we were moving because my dad had earned a new teaching job in another town.  So, we moved and I started my 8th grade year in a new school and town.  I didn't make it again.  So, now I am 0 for 3 and am determined to make the squad and was still wondering why I still wasn't making it.  But, my hard work an prayers payed off.  I finally made it on the JV squad during my sophomore year.  I loved it and everything about it!!!  I again made it to the Varsity squad my junior year.  I was on cloud 9 for two years.  I tried out for my last year of high school.  I knew being cheerleader my senior year would be the icing on the cake and make my senior year a blast.  As I look back now, I know God had me on the squad for a reason, but I just kept ignoring what He wanted me to do.  So, I didn't make the squad my senior year.  Again, I was devastated.  I cried my whole senior year.  Like I said, God asked me to spread His word and not put anything before Him, but I did.  I put cheerleading before Him, not the other way around.  I knew I needed to get it together and start spreading His word.  I took my bible to school and read it during lunch and during extra time throughout the day. 

To be continued....

I want to leave you with a verse that is a command for all of Christ's followers: Colossians 1:9 (KJV) "Do not cease to pray".

Anxious? Worried? Stressed?

That is me at the moment.  I have so much going on that I don't know where one thing ends and the other begins.  I tend to keep it bottled up and then my husband can say one thing and I just explode.  Honestly, I don't mean to and I always apologize for being rude, hurtful, and stubborn.  Really, there is no excuse.

However, as I was reading tonight, God showed me the perfect verses to help me get through this "season".  Phillippians 4:6-7 says "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."  God is telling me to just give all of this to Him and he will take care of it.  As humans, it is hard to hand it over because we think we can fix it ourselves.  God is so gracious and understanding that He wants to carry this load for me.  When the time is right and after faithful prayers, He will show me what to do.  So, as I pray for you, please pray for me.  God doesn't want me to anxious about anything because in the end none of the earthly things really matter.  As long as I have trusted Him, followed Him, and obeyed Him, I will live with Him for all eternity and that is my goal.

So, don't be anxious, let God guide your handle bars while you enjoy the ride.

What is behind the name?

Every night, I set aside 15-20 minutes to spend in the word of God.  I have a little book called "Our Daily Bread" that I pick up at church every three months, which holds three months worth of daily devotions.  One devotion was titled "Life is Like Riding a Bicycle".  Einstein once said "Life is like riding a bicycle.  To keep your balance, you must keep moving".  This is so true with our walk with Jesus.  We need to keep moving so we don't fall off of the path.  It is not easy to keep our balance, but with our eye on the cross, all of the obsticles seem so small.  While on this path we will be ridiculed and persecuted, but the end of the path has a great reward that is far better than anything we can receive here on Earth.

Proverbs 3:5-6 says "Trust in the Lord with all your hear and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight."

Lord, show me your way so that I may not loose balance and fall off of bike as we travel this path together. Amen

A New Blog

I decided that I didn't have enough on my plate already.  So, I decided to start another blog!! :)

I have been praying for God to show me how to spread His word to believers and non-believers. (I am not very good at sharing my testimony face to face.)   During church on Sunday, I realized that I spend a lot of time on the computer as do most people I know.  I am on the computer a lot for not only my job and masters program, but also during my free time.  I love to stalk look at other people's blogs and hope that people like to look at mine.  So, what better way to spread the message!!

The last few weeks the pastor at my church has delivered some great messages that I feel God had just for me.  This past Sunday's message was titled: You get what you pay for.  To sum it up, we should love God the most, make God the priority in our lives, take up our own cross and follow Christ, and give up every thing for Him.  So, I am taking up my cross and following Christ.  I am hoping you will join me!!

Each day, I will post a verse and explain what it means to me.  I am praying that God's word will touch you as it does for me.

I want to leave you with a verse that started this blog: "Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit," Matthew 28:19.