WOW! 3 weeks makes a difference!

Hey all you fellow bloggers out there!
Wow! Ok...3 weeks ago I went to the mennonite Bible study carless and jobless and depressed about both. 2 weeks I came back and had a car and a job! It just amazes me how faithful the Lord is and how much He has been doing in my life!
So yes I do have a car now and the Lord has just been providing for that in so many AWESOME ways!
I had been wanting and needing (so I thought) a car and a job for a year about. Things would come up but the Lord just never really confirm them and so as a result I was 17, going to college, jobless and carless! Boy! The Lord really was teaching me a lesson in trust though. Anyway, for about a year and 1/2 I had been really wanting to work at the YMCA where we train for Tae-Kwon Do. The job that i wanted was working at the front desk (kinda like a receptionist/secretary thing). So I had applied for it over and over again but nothing ever came up plus I didn't (CONTRACTION! My Eng. professer would have a fit lol :-p) have a car and we are a one car family anyway so unless I got a car I really couldn't have worked there anyway!
So, for 1 1/2 years I just patiently waited for the Lord's timing and was completely content with where I was!.........(LOL :-p) ACTUALLY, it was really a real hard time for me and the Lord really had to teach me some lessons on contenment and trusting Him to provide in HIS timing.
So...I waited and prayed and went to school and waited some more. And you know what? As He always does and promises to do! THe Lord totally provided for me. He got me a car (for $1,000 less then it was going for!) and a job at the YMCA at the front desk! I started friday! :)
God is so good but, I have realized that I really need to get my priorities straight with Him being #1. I am very much a person that rellies on what people think and not so much what the Lord thinks. I am very people oriented and that can be a bad thing. SO, I am with the Lord's help attempting to just give it all over to the Lord once again...my desires (husband, family) and dreams (husband, family) I am just realizing that I need to just completely trust them to HIS care...I want HIM to be #1!
Well, I am sorry I haven't updated so much...hopefully now that school is almost over I can be more faithful in updating :)
Blessings to you all!

Honoring your Parents: Whew! That is hard sometimes huh!?

Hey all you fellow bloggers out there!
So, the older I get the more I realize how blessed I am to have parents that love the Lord Jesus Christ and strive to serve Him with their whole life.
The Lord has really been working with me on how I treat them and when to honor them both outwardly and inwardly...I found this really cool list of stuff by John Piper on honoring parents and I thought I would share it with ya'll.

Teenage Resolutions in Honor of Mom and Dad

1. Resolved: I will obey your instructions and do what I know you expect of me, even when it is not mentioned. I will not force you into repeated reminders, which I sometimes call nagging.

2. Resolved: I will not grumble or complain when I do my chores but remember what a great thing it is to have a family, a home, clothes, food, running water, electric lights, and central heating in a world where millions of teenagers have none of these.

3. Resolved: When I think your demands are unfair, I will move to do them first, and after showing an obedient attitude, I will ask if we can talk. Then I will explain my side and try to understand yours.

4. Resolved: I will not stonewall you and give the silent treatment, which I dislike when my friends do it to me. If I am depressed and want to be left alone, I will say, “I’m sorry, I don’t feel like talking now. Can we talk later? I’m not mad. I just need to be alone.”

5. Resolved: When I do something wrong and let you down, I will apologize sincerely with words that you can hear. Something like, “Mom, I’m sorry I didn’t pick up the pile of clothes.”

6. Resolved: I will call you by affectionate family titles like “Mommy,” “Daddy,” “Mom,” or “Dad.” I won’t let other kids pressure me into calling you nothing or calling you something disrespectful as though true affection were embarrassing or childish.

7. Resolved: I will say thank you again and again for the ordinary things you do for me. I will not take them for granted as though you were my slave.

8. Resolved: I will talk about my feelings. Both the positive ones (like happiness, pity, excitement, and sympathy) and the negative ones (like anger, fear, grief, loneliness, and discouragement). I will remember that unshared feeling lead to estrangement, coldness, and even more loneliness and discouragement.

9. Resolved: I will laugh with the family and not at the family. I will especially laugh when my little brother or sister tells a simple joke with expectant excitement.

10. Resolved: I will give two compliments for every criticism. And every criticism will aim to help someone improve, not just belittle or cut down.

11. Resolved: I will enter into family devotions and treat Bible reading and prayer with respect and do my part to help others in the family enjoy them. When I don’t feel spiritually strong, I will pray about this as a personal need rather than pouring it on others as a glass of cold water. I will remember that confessed weakness knits hearts together.

12. Resolved: I will not return evil for evil or try to justify my meanness because somebody treated me meanly first.

13. Resolved: I will read my Bible and pray every day, even if it is only a verse and a brief cal for help. I know that teens cannot live by bread alone but by every word that comes out of the mouth of God.

14. Resolved: I will come home at the time we agreed on. If something happens to stop me, I will call and explain and ask for your guidance.

15. Resolved: I will greet our guests with courtesy and respect and try to make them glad they came.

16. Resolved: I will always tell the truth so that you can trust me and give me more and more freedom as I get older.

17. Resolved: I will pray for you as along as I live, that we will be united in faith and love, not only now in this world, but for all of eternity in the kingdom of God.

Aren't those really cool and really convicting? What do you think? Pls. comment or write me!
Blessings to you all!

Boys: Why is is such a big deal?

Hey All You Fellow Bloggers out there!
Interesting title huh? I made it up myself [see I am able to think up some small things! LOL :)] Well, I just wanted to share with you some personal stuff concerning guys that I have been really dealing with lately...Here is a poem that is just amazing though 1st:

On His Plan For Your Mate

Everyone longs to give themselves completely to someone, to have a deep soul relationship with another, to be loved thoroughly and exclusively.
But God says to a Christian, "No, not until you are satisfied and fulfilled and content with living, loved by me alone, with giving yourself totally and unreservedly to me alone. I love you, my child, and until you discover that only in me is your satisfaction to be found, you will not be capable of the perfect human relationship that I have planned for you. You will never be united with another until you are united with me, exclusive of anyone or anything else, exclusive of any other desires or longings.

"I want you to stop planning, stop wishing, and allow me to give you that most thrilling plan existing, one that you can't imagine. I want you to have the BEST! Please allow me to bring it to you. You just keep watching me, expecting that satisfaction, expecting the greatest things, and know that I Am. Keep learning and listening to the things I tell you. You must wait!

"Don't be anxious. Don't worry. Don't look around at the things others have received. Don't look at the things you think you want. You just keep looking off and away up to me, or you'll miss what I want to show you.

"And then, when you're ready, I'll surprise you with a love far more wonderful than you would ever imagine. You see, until you are ready and until the one I have for you is ready (I am working this very minute to have both of you ready at the same time), until you are both satsifeid exclusively with me and the life I have planned and prepared for you, you won't be able to experience the love that exemplifies your relationship with me...and this is perfect love.

"Dear one, I want you to have this most wonderful love. I want you to see in the flesh a picture of your relationship with me and to enjoy materially and concretely the everlasting union of beauty and perfection and love that I offer you with myself. Know that I love you utterly, I am God Almighty. Believe and be satisfied."

--Author Unknown

Isn't that just the most amazingly wonderful and just yeah! I love that poem!
Anyway, Here is my personal scoop on what has been doing on in my life lately with the whole guy aspect of it: AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!
That about sums it up! :-) Seriously, the Lord has just been so good to me lately. I am finding myself being attacked by the enemy really on all sides about this topic and I must say taht it has been really hard. I have been feeling very lonely and left behind...See, most of my friends and other really close people have started pairing off and dating and I am just still here waiting...it has been a struggle not to be jealous let me tell you! The neat thing is though that somewhere out there there is a guy that will love me for ME and I just have to be patient while the Lord prepares him and I for the time when we will be together.
I dug out that poem today and was just so reminded of the fact that it has to be the Lord's timing and not ours. It was so neat...when I read it it was as if the Lord was just whispering those words in my ear...just encouraging me to hold on. And so I in turn encourage you all that are out there and maybe have been feeling down and out in the romance department to ust turn your eyes upon Jesus and look full on HIS wonderful face! If you ever want encouragement or just to talk you know my email (it is on the top of the page for those who don't)...May the Lord bless you and keep you in HIS love and grace!

"Don't try to do something about your singlehood...do something with it!"

Very interesting Article!

Hey all you fellow bloggers out there!
Here is a really great article that my friend sent me this morning! Take a look:


Prince Charming in Retrospect

Ruth Bell Graham wrote the following at 19 years of age:

Dear God, I prayed, all unafraid
(as we're inclined to do)
I do not need a handsome man
But let him be like You

I do not need one big and strong
nor yet so very tall,
Nor need he be some genius
Or wealthy, Lord, at all

But let his head be high, dear God,
And let his eye be clear,
His shoulders straight, whate'er his state,
Whate'er his earthly sphere;

And let his face have character,
A ruggedness of soul,
And let his whole life show, dear God,
A singleness of goal;

Then when he comes (as he will come)
with quiet eyes aglow,
I'll understand that he's the man
I prayed for long ago.


Obviously Ruth's beautiful prayer was answered in the form of her husband, Reverend Billy Graham. But don't forget, Ruth is the same woman who is also accredited for stating, If God had answered every prayer of mine, I would have married the wrong man seven times! and, Have I ever contemplated divorce? Divorce, no; murder, yes!

Marriage- like any other of our womanly desires and dreams- is often idolized and idealized prior to and taken for granted afterwards. How many young single women do you know who are so busy seeking marriage that they are little good for anything else? And how many married women in your circle of acquaintances live so distracted by the daily grind of life that their marriage suffers in the process of simply living?

Marriage is a beautiful, Biblical covenant that rightly deserves our appreciate both before and after the vows have been said!

If you are a single young woman, don't lose heart that God is preparing a Prince just for you. At the same time, don't become so distracted by your desire for marriage that you neglect the beautiful season of singleness. God's will entails every chapter of your life; it is not limited to some future time or date. Pray for your future husband and marriage but don't forget to enjoy the here and now, as well!

As for us married ladies: How easily we forget all the hopes, dreams and prayers that are wrapped up in the form of the man whose name and life we share! Every now and then we all need a good reminder to put on our rose colored glasses and once again become a starry-eyed girl with a stolen heart. Consider this your reminder. :o)


Forget about his faults for once; ignore them if you must. Focus on the qualities that won your heart in the first place and strive to win his heart anew, as well! Prepare his favorite meal, rub his feet, sratch his head, or whatever else suits his fancy! And don't forget the manly soul-food: I appreciate you, I'm proud of you and Thanks for all your hard work.



A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person. Mignon McLaughlin



Isn't that really something great to think about :) Blessings to you all!

Boy am I sore!

Hey all you fellow bloggers out there! Well, today it is raining! :p Yesterday was gorgeous though! OH MY WORD! Last night at Tae-kwon Do I tested for my blue belt (which means I am now a high rank with 5 ranks to go until I am a black belt and 5 ranks below me.) I was the hardest thing I have done in a looooonnnnggggg time! See, with a test they push you to the point physically where you think you can not go on and then once you get to the point...yeah it was tough and I almost cried but i passed and now me and abby and Jen a blue belts together! I am so excited! :) I will have to post some pics. So yeah, I was so tired after the test that I fell into bed at like 9:33 and slept till 9:00am. Now I am kinda sore but I have my blue belt! Sorry I was just rambling but I thought that maybe you would be interested in that :) lol :) Here are some pics (they aren't the greatest but hey they give the general idea!): Me doing basic motion...I was so wiped out I thought I was going to collapse! Breaking boards...this was the last part of my test...I was kind of in a fog! One of the hardest things I have ever done is testing alone! Let me explain what I meant by testing alone. All 4 of us kids have tested together for 5 ranks (yellow stripe, yellow belt, green stripe, green belt, and blue stripe.) Then Danny decided to retire from TKD and it was just us 3 girls. On Tuesday Abby and Jen tested for their blue belt w/o me! I was in a childrens lit class and had a break so I got to see them get their extra strips (they waited to get their actual blue belts with me). So I had to test alone of Thursday. Testing alone is harder because the instructer is focused on you and only you! Hence, it was very hard! lol :) THe whole time though I was just praying and repeating "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." That yeah, it was so neat when I was to the point where I truly thought I could not go on (they pushed me that hard) HE was my strength and helped me finish strong. We serve an AWESOME God! :) And here are us 3 girls getting our BLUE BELTS!!!!!!















Whew that took awhile! Blessings to you all!

Catch-up needed!

Hey all you fellow bloggers out there! I am sorry that it has taken so incredibly long for me to write and up-date you on what has been going on in my life. Whenever I had the chance...the words just didn't come out right you know? Anyway, tonight I am going to give it a shot!
SO what has been going on in my life since I last wrote? Hmmm...lots to tell! :) My last post that I wrote...wow! We have met an amazing family! And yeah... SO much has happened since then. God has been working in so many incredibly ways in my life and our families life. It really has happened since He brought the Backlas' into our lives. We have really just bonded-2 lonely families and then all the sudden we had people to be with and yeah...it has been great. For a while after I decided not to go to BBC I was torn with what I was supposed to do and what I wanted to do. You know me...always wanting to leave and see the world and then get married and settle down and have a family. It just does not seem as though that was what the Lord had in mind though. ANd what do you know? I am still here...with no manly prospects :) That was A LOT to give to Him and it has taken a lot to do it. But the neat thing is that as I give it to HIM...He is giving so much to me :) I mean, yeah, it seems so weird that just having a family that loves each and everyone of us for our own personalities has made such a differece in each of us. We have all been growing sooooo much closer as a family! And Danny! Oh my word! The Lord has done such a work in him. And you would not believe the difference in him since becoming friends with Louis. Louis to him is a brother, mentor, and best friend all in one. THe best thing is that Louis loves Danny for who he is and does not try to change him as so many other people over the years have tried to do. Danny has just bloomed! I mean, he has become so much more sensitive and loving and less annoying. My brother is becoming one of my best friends! How AWESOME is that? It has been so neat watching him grow up physically (Grandpa measured him on the door today and he is 7/8's of an inch shorter than Grandpa Kelley! He is over 6 ft.!) but also watching him grow spiritually. It has been really neat!

SO much has been happening to us girls since knowing the backlas' as well. It is like having another brother and close friend! It is really neat! Louis is becoming one of my closest friends and it is not weird at all! GOd has been teaching me about waiting and yeah, it is just really neat having another little brother. He is one of the sweetest guys I have ever met along with Michelle and Fred...God has just been blessing us!

HIS plans are sooo much better than ours! Even though we are getting really close to the backlas' I will not say that there haven't been some tear-filled nights and alot of uncertainties about what the Lord wants me to do BUT I can tell you one thing...My GOD IS SOOOOO FAITHFUL!

With the whole guy thing...I was really upset and I wrote an old friend and mentor and her reply was this:

"Just think what could happen to your love relationship with Jesus if you turned that desperation for a guy into desperation for HIM!!!!"

WHOA!!! Talk about...just direction and a reminder from the Lord! :) Yeah! I just...it bowled me over and really made me think about it for the 1st time in a really long time. My desperation for a guy to love me was overshadowing my love for the Lord...Got lots to work on! But again, MY GOD IS FAITHFUL!!!!

That is something to think about...that quote...AGAIN:


"Just think what could happen to your love relationship with Jesus if you turned that desperation for a guy into desperation for HIM!!!!"

Love you all! :)

Influences and some life-altering decisions...

Hey all you fellow bloggers out there!
So how 'bout it? What influence's your life? I have been thinking about that lately and when I honestly admit to myself some stuff that I had been allowing to influence me...I got kinda scared and really convicted!
See, the Lord really has been doing a major work in my heart concerning this...
This year has been really hard just because I have been going to a secular school and getting crazily stressed out and because I was so incredibly busy...my walk with the Lord began to fall by the wayside and now I find myself stuggling to regain the innocence and purity and spiritual maturity that I really lost.
These past few weeks though the Lord has really been "knocking on my door". I realized that I had a decision to make. Was I really going to continue living like the world OR was I going to allow the Lord to take control of my life once again?

I had my life all planned out as you all well know:
#1: Get done with GCC
#2: Go to BBC and major in Women's Ministries
#3: Room at BBC with an AMAZING sister in Christ
#4: Get married after meeting a really cute Christian guy at BBC of course
#5: Get out of college
#6: Pay of my 0ver $50,000 dollar debt
#7: Start my girls home
#8: lHave tons of beautiful little babies and raise them to love the Lord

This weekend that all changed. God has a way of taking our plans and then kind of crumpling them up, and taking them away and then REPLACING them with something so much better.
This weekend I went to a youth seminar with my Mennonite friends. And while I was there I really felt the Lord just challenging me to make a deeper commitment to Him and...NOT go to BBC in the fall. I battled it all Sunday evening. How could I NOT go? That was MY future! Everything depended on it! How could He close that door expecially as me and Cynthia ,the girl I was going to room with, were just starting to get really close? So, I went home and sought counsil from Mom and Dad.
One thing that had struck me during that weekend was the freedom of these girls who were not in school to go and serve the Lord in various ministries that did not cost a lot of money. I went home and just started crying as I was talking to Mom. I really knew in my heart of hearts ,that while I still wanted to open the house for girls and have a ministry to them , God for some odd reason (at least it seemed to me) did NOT want me at BBC.
I knew that if I didn't go (oh I used a contraction! My english teacher would have a fit :)) I would be more free to serve the Lord without have debt and loan payments looming over my head. I also knew that I could continue in my ministry with the abused kids youth group and could remain in Tae-Kwon Do.
And my main reason was that I would not be faced with the many temptations of being on my own yet. I know that I will have to face them someday but as a result of this past year I was not sure I could handle it.
So, with the blessing of Mom and Dad I decided to not go to BBC this upcoming fall. Let me tell you it was the hardest decision I had to make. I knew that I wasn't "quitting" because I still have the same goal: Ministry to teenage girls; the difference was that God had a different plan for me to go about it. And let me tell you as SOON as I surrended that to the Lord I just felt this complete and total peace that I had made the right decision just envelope me.
Has it been hard since? You had better believe it! I had to tell my future roomie I would not be going and that just about killed me just because BBC is were I WANTED to be.
Here is an intercept from a letter I wrote her tonight that kind of explains what I have been feeling these past few days:

"I have been thinking and then I just broke down last night and sobbed and was up with MOm till like 12:30. I just had hit the point where i was basicly blaming the Lord for not allowing me to live MY dream (aka: BBC with you and lots of cute boys) I just was so depressed and downspirited i did not know what to do...I mean...yeah it was just really rough.
I know that the Lord has a reason for both of us and a lesson for both of us to learn out of this. Maybe for me it is a test to see if HE is enough for me. IF HE is the 1st thing...not my dreams or anything like that...HE has to be 1st in my life and that is just so hard to grasp right now.
SO don't think that I am not struggling with this situation Cynthia...I wish that I could be at BBC with you and cute guys and great friends instead of here with no friends, no guys (NONE, I am not exagerating, I know NO christian guys), and just wanting out. I have wanted out my whole life and just when I thought I had a way (BBC) He shut that door...I think He is trying to teach me contentment or something!
So yeah pls. do not think that I have not had my share of tears over this (i was sobbing hysterically last night) it is so hard! But as I said before:
HE HAS A REASON!!!! As long as we both just surrender to Him He will show us...what the reason was.
I love you so much girl and that will never change...If we are never roomates here....I am sure we will have a great room in Heaven together!"

I know the Lord has a reason for all this but PLEASE I really do not know what to do or were to do. It seems as though He wants me HERE and don't get me wrong I am excited to see what the Lord has in store. I mean, I still have tkd and once school is out SO much pressure will be gone!
It is just hard because I have always wanted to just GET OUT and SEE THE WORLD. And here I am...all those dreams I had? Right now the one that was dearest to me heart, getting married, does not seem possible as I know NO christian guys (and I am not exagerating! Me and my 2 sisters and 1 brother are the ONLY teenagers at my church). I guess for me each day has become a time to just totally surrender.
So question (and pls. comment I will comment back to you) What influences are you allowing into your life? We live (as a whole the American church) such cushy christian lives with one foot in the church and then one in the world. THe movies and clothes and books and music...That is what the Lord has been challenging me on lately. Are you up for a challenge? Something to really think about...
Pls. Pray for me...and if you have an overabundance of cute christian guys send some over to Western NY! LOL :)
Blessing to you all!

Ps: if you have any advice or ideas or know of somewhere that needs some people to come help minister to teen girls pls. let me know by contacting me at casefamily@rochester.rr.com.
BLESSINGS!

The Greatest Weapon in the World:

Hey all you fellow bloggers out there!
So I spent some time with the B's youth group today and we were talking about the words that we say and how they can hurt people and how they are so powerful. Wow! Talk about convicting...I think that it is hard because so often we as Christians really do not think about the words that come out of our mouth even jokingly.
I mean, how often do you say things like "You are so stupid." or "You are such an idiot." Or other stuff like that and do not stop and think about the consequences that one phrase could have on someone.
I don't know about you but I think that the Lord really wants us to learn to watch the words that we say to others even if it is only meant in jest. We need to remember that we are reflections of God Himself. So here is a question I have been asking myself: When people look at me, who or what do they see? Who do I reflect? Who do you reflect?
Also today I was just reminded again about just the importance of family. One of the youth group girls was sharing about how her Dad will say "I love you." to her sister but not to her. And how she told him that the only thing she wanted for Christmas was for him to come to her christmas concert but he said he was not and that they are soo stupid and ended up not going. SHe is so desperate for her Dad's love...it just breaks my heart. It is to girls like this that come from sad and broken homes that I wish to minister too. Anyway, I just was struck anew by how blessed I am to have a Dad who tells me multiple times a day that he loves me and shows it to me daily...I am really blessed!
Please pray that I would be able to minister to more girls like her...
Blessings to you all!

Boy it is hard to come up with titles for these things!

Hey all you fellow bloggers out there!
So yeah, just thought I would catch up with you...wow, the Lord is so faithful :) This weekend was a good one. I had two mennonite friends over and we were up till 3:30 am! YIKES! We had such a blessed time just spending time together...it was especially nice for me as it was the 1st time since...Christmas break! We had a ton of fun. We went to AppleBees and watched movies and ate a 1/2 gallon of icecream and then they came to church with me and then afterwards. Kar was asked to take Danielle, art, and Michaels family pics for their prayercard (you can find their website in my links) at Letchworth park so we went and did that. We also took some pics of us...here are some of them (Kar and Kris are sisters by the way):

Kris, Me and Kar


Icecream while driving...don't tell my Mom Lol :)


A whole 1/2 gallon...gone! And it was worth every bit of weight we gained! LOL :)




Kar, Me, and Kris in front of the lower falls.


Kris


Me


Kar


Hmmm...do you think they will stick?


Me and Kar


A thorn between 2 roses....NOT! I love this picture :)


Goofing off...


Friends...Sisters-in-Christ...the older I get the more and more I grow to appreciate the many friends that the Lord has blessed me with. Not only are my friends there to goof off with me and have fun with they are also there to be serious with and to help me to grow closer to the Lord.
It makes me think what kind of friend am I? Am I a true friend in every since of the word? Do I point my friends to the Lord or to I help them away? That is a scary thought!
What kind of friend are you? Something to think about...
This is the Falls that we were standing in front of. Look at those Falls! How magnificent they are! And our God created them! He is so good...take time to praise Him for His goodness.
Blessings to you all!

The 1,001 Time

Hey all you fellow bloggers out there!
Have you ever read a verse(s) 1,000 times and then the 1,001 time the Lord just kind of hits you over the head with it so to speak? Well, that happened with me 2 days ago.
I had called the admissions office at BBC and was told that I will probably have to pay money to get in and so I was worried about that and then I was trying to get this blog updated and so I was trying to get that done. Anyway, I decided that night that I would start reading one chapter in the old testament and one in the new every night. MY plan was to read Genesis 1 and Matthew 1 and...yeah, I did not get past Genesis 1:1-2! HE had other plans!
I had been (as many of you know) just really struggling with going to the Lord with my problems 1st and not turning to other people. As I was reading Genesis 1:1-2

"1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was[a] on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters."

As I read it I started thinking about the fact that God has been around for forever and how He was the one that created everything and then I started looking up other verses and Isiah 42:5 really touched me:

"Thus says God the LORD,
Who created the heavens and stretched them out,
Who spread forth the earth and that which comes from it,
Who gives breath to the people on it,
And spirit to those who walk on it:"

Then I started thinking about the fact that I think that I have soooo many problems but instead of going to the Lord I try to "fix" them myself or try to get others to help me fix it and yet I do not turn to the only one who really can fix it...the Lord Jesus Christ.
The Lord has always been and always will be...why do I think taht my problems are "new" to Him? He was there before "new" was even thought of. Why do I not trust the Creator of the Heavens and the earth implicitely? Why is it so hard for me to give things over to His control when, in reality, He has been controlling it all since forever!
It is so neat to me...every single time something comes up where I am starting to doubt the Lord or starting to worry, the Lord just provides either through a letter, or a phone call, or a gift, encouragement and a reminder to keep trusting Him...
Trust Him!
Blessings to you all...

Life is a routine right now...

What do I mean by that? Well, things have really just fallen into a pattern! Basically consisting of school, tae-kwon do, school, tae-kwon do, church, school...do you get the impression that school is a huge part of my existence right now? LOL :)
Wow, through all the "boring" day-to-day life the Lord has really just been working and working away at me. Mainly in the whole guy department...have you ever just stopped and marveled at how far the Lord has brought you in an area of your life? I have just been marveling on how the Lord has just really helped me learn contentment. I wanted to share a letter that I got from a lady which really just encouraged me to continue to just wait on the Lord:

From me:
That is really neat how you are content were you are especially with getting married...i have really been struggling with that! Being content being single :) It can be really hard...especially with my friends having guys and me having no one. I sometimes wonder what in the world is wrong with me. Lately though i have been getting closer to the Lord and that is why I think that I don't have anyone. Who knows what is going to happen with college anyway!
I am going to BBC and I will be majoring in women's ministries. My dream is to build a house for abused girls...I am really excited and kinda scared about the whole change...the culture is so different down there and I don't want to get down there and then start the whole crushes on guys thing...i want to go to get closer to the Lord (don't get me wrong, a guy wouldn't hurt! lol) but I know myself...i get obsessed! lol :-) I am a "hopeless romantic" in the words of my best friend. How did you meet your fiance'? Did you ever feel the way I do...?
Hope you have a good day! Blessings!

Ps: the cruise sounds AWESOME!!!! lol :)

From her:
Hey girl, I TOTALLY know where you're coming from...all my friends are married and/or parents by now - ever heard the term "always a bridesmaid, never a bride?" My life's theme up until this point. :O) Plus is doesn't help when you're a little older and everyone feels like it's appropriate to ask you, "so when are YOU getting married?" That has to be the dumbest question in the history of mankind...

Anyway, I definitely felt lonely much of the time. It was hard to find solace in the fact that it wasn't God's timing for ME, because it felt unfair...why God allows some women to be older and loveless is a question that I will definitely ask upon entering heaven, but I chose to make the most of it and not be hindered by the fact that I was single because realistically, you will get married. You will meet someone amazing and have babies and be a mom, a wife, and all that good stuff...but not yet. If you believe that God has good things in store for you (and He always does), then you can be confident and trust that your desires to be loved are nothing more than an incredibly normal emotion instilled by God Himself.
I always tried to think of my future children. That might sound silly, but what do I want to teach them and encourage them to become, especially if I have daughters? My mother married at 18 and I saw some struggles and a lack of identity...I never wanted to be like that, so I fought through it and refused to marry anyone other than someone who is my absolute best friend. He is everything and more I ever wanted, and I always tell people that if I knew guys like him existed, I would wait til I was 40 to get married! He is most definitely worth the wait.
You and everything about you will drastically change as you mature and experience new things...when girls get married so young, it's almost like they're not allowed to change and develop into who God really made them to be. Change is a good thing, especially when maturity enters the picture - you might have a change of heart in what you want to do with your life, you might want to relocate, travel, or do something that does not confine you to one place. I know some women who always had a "dream" of going to Africa - when they found out I was going, there was some intense jealousy goin' on...it was crazy, but I didn't have a husband and kids like they did. Their dreams could've been obtained, they just got hindered by the little things. :O) Sorry for writing a novel, but I feel so strongly about young women possessing the confidence to be what God intended. I have no regrets going into this marriage. I've done what I wanted to do, I've educated myself culturally and educationally, and I know where I stand spiritually, and I'll tell you, it's different (better) then when I was 18. I thought I knew so much about life, but I really didn't know anything at all! I see your maturity already, and I believe it will develop into something unstoppable through the years, but don't be afraid to challenge yourself and don't settle. Ever! Realize that you only live once, so do everything you want to do, and the man that God has for you will do everything he wants/needs to do to prepare himself for being a husband/father, and when you intersect paths, it will be a rockin' experience. Who knows, maybe he will want to open a shelter too. :O)

P.S. - Erik and I met at a young adult service at my church. I work at a large church in Williamsville. I moved up this way for many reasons, one being that there were "no good guys left in Batavia." Upon meeting him at this church, I asked him where he was from..."Batavia." Unbelievable! Where was he all the years I was searching IN Batavia! God has a sense of humor...and it's all about the right timing. :O)"

God truly does have a sense of humor :) He is so faithful! Well, I have to go to tae-kwon do...I have posted some new links especially for girls so check it out! Blessings to you all...

Hey All!

So my brain has been on overload and that is my excuse for not updating in a while LOL :) No seriously, school has been crazy and life has been crazier! God is good though and it is such a relief to be able to turn to Him when I am at the bottom of me! He is AWESOME!
So, yes...God has really been doing a work in me personally and in things around me. He has really mean teaching me the big meaning of the little word trust :) It is so amazing though how He provides! Ever since I willingly told Him that I would trust Him to provide for BBC wouldn't you know it? He has! (Go figure!) Things like a box with clothes in the mail, a job teaching Tae-kwon do, being able to babysit for a wonderful family! He is so good and I am just in Awe of all that He has done!
Wow. I have just been going through a lot these past week. A lot of things to entrust to the Lord. School has been CRAZY and then I got really sick. I started having really bad coughing spells and then 2 days ago in class I could not breathe. I had also just found out that I have an enlarged thyroid. So, I went to the docter this morning and was sooo incredibly sick it was bad. But they gave me some medicene and the a nebulizer test (which is one of the most embarrasing things to me ever! I couldn't stop drooling ANYWAY! lol :)) Afterwards, I couldn't breathe and almost fainted and then I couldn't stop shaking but it was just a side affect of the medicine and I got over it. So my problem? I have a reaction to the acne medicine that I am on. The result? I have an inhaler and I have to stop acutane (my acne medicine).
Ok, about stopping the acutane...here is another area for me to just trust the Lord. See, all my life I have been extremely self-conscious about my looks. Particularly me acne. And now...well, I thought that it would be gone forever and I would not have to deal with it anymore. I have always struggled with maybe that being the reason that guys seem not to like me or whatever. BUT, as I sit here and think about it I realize that that is the devil's lie. I mean, that is what the world is throwing at me and other girls like me but, what we have to realize is that our beauty should not just come from the outside but from our spirit within. I realized that my outward "beauty" (lol) will fade and continue to fade the older I get. Girls, here is a challenge for you to really rebel against the worlds definition of beauty and start enhancing you inward beauty which is really what matters! I am doing this also...lets pray for eachother and please write me and tell me what you think. Blessings...

PS: Here is an amazing website that is just...been a great blessing to be in finding my true beauty in the Lord: http://www.teen-beauty-tips.com/

Katia and Sergei...

Hey all,
Do you love ice skating? I do! These past few days I have been watching alot of husband and wife team Sergei and Katia, russion skaters who won 2 world championships and 2 olympic gold medals. Sadly, in 1995, Sergei tragically died at the age of 28. Below is their story and I really recommend watching it...you won't be disappointed!

Part 1:



Part 2:



Part 3:



Part 4:



Part 5:



Part 6:



Part 7:



Part 8:



Part 9:



Part 10:



Part 11:



I don't know about you but I sobbed when I watched this beautiful story of love and devotion between 2 people. After I watched it I wrote in my prayer journal and I just would like to share with you what the Lord laid on my heart...:

Monday, February 4, 2008
Dear Heavenly Father,

Pls. help me to wait for my future husband faithfully. I watched a beautiful documentary on Sergei and Katia who were skaters then he tragically died in 1995. They fell in love and were married with a little girl named Daria. The love for each other was so evident...I just sobbed. I realized that marraige is not just going to bed together. Rather, it is living each day and enjoying every moment together. I think that is what touched me so about their story.
Lord, I know there is someone out there for me... pls. prepare me for him. I am not strong in my walk with You as much as I would like to be and, Lord I want to be in love with YOu 1st...

Ps: I am reading Pro. 31:10 talking about a wife having "noble character." Lord, mold me till I have a more noble character.

What does noble mean? That was the question that I pondered last night...I pray that the Lord will mold and shape me into a noble woman after His own heart and that He will prepare me for my love...
Blessings!

Typical Saturday Morning!

Hey all!
So, it has been a pretty typical Saturday at the Case household. We went to Tae-kwon Do this morning and then got back and have been just doing stuff around the house really. Jen is at a skating thing so...yeah...we are so boring! lol :)
Actually, I wanted to share with you all something that was totally not boring that I learned in my devos today...
I have been reading through a Voice of the Martyrs http://www.persecution.com/ and I was stuck by this quote:
"Spiritual maturity is not measured by a birth certificate. Chronological age has little to do with conviction. Rather, spiritual maturity is measured one day at a time. We measure our maturity by how well we daily apply our faith. Contrary to popular belief, spiritual maturity is not how much we know about the Bible, many people are very familar with the Bible, yet they remain strangers to spiritual maturity. Obediance to the Bible's commands is the mark of maturity. One question will help us know how well we are growing spiritually. We must ask ouselves each day, 'How much more do we look like Jesus today then we did yesterday?' Our answer is a true reflection of our growth."
"How much more do we look like Jesus today then we did yesterday?" That can be a scary question! I find myself wondering if I will ever be more like Christ...This is my challenge to you: Today are you closer to the Lord Jesus Christ than yesterday?
Blessings...

Praise the Lord! (PTL)

Hey all you fellow bloggers out there :) PTL I have finally gotten my act together and committed to putting Christ 1st and foremost in my life. It took me long enough but the Lord helped me to finally realize that I needed Him and I could only survive with Him...
Part of the commitment I made was to let go of certain temptations in my life that were pulling me away from Jesus. Some would think they were silly things but in truth they had all really began to effect me. Things like: fiction books, to much time spent on the internet, and then making the commitment to be in the Word each and everyday...making the commitment to MAKE time to be in the WOrd every single day no matter how busy I am.
Being in the Word everyday was the really inmportant thing that I wanted to focus on...
I want to be in Women's Ministries, in fact, that is what I am (as of right now) going to major in. I realized that I can not expect the Lord to allow me to minister to others in His name when I am really not living 100% for HIM. How will I or anyone be able to really council someone if we ourselves are not constently drawing from His Word and Prayer/Fellowship with Him. In the long run, it is really not possible! I did not make this commitment because I am legalistic or just trying to put on a show. GOd brought me to the end of myself and I realized (once again)that I am nothing without Him.
I was having my devos the day after I made this commitment and I found this really neat article of the Rebelution blog (which you can get to from my links section):

"Now it might seem confusing that we are telling you to not despise the day of small things, but also to avoid getting stuck there, and to keep going. We quote Jim Elliott saying, “Wherever you are — be there 100%” while also instructing you to pursue every open door. It could seem like we want everyone to “stay where they are” and “move” at the same time.

In reality our hope is that you would learn to throw yourselves 100% into the small things God has in front of you, but to not get so comfortable there that you miss the next thing, the bigger, better opportunities He brings your way when you keep your eyes open for them. We want you to be like someone who has been faithfully exercising, but is constantly looking for opportunities to use the strength that he or she has developed to serve others in a productive, real world situation.

One of our mother’s favorite sayings is the line, “Hustle while you wait.” She might tell us that after dinner when we are all sitting around waiting for dessert but the table hadn’t been cleared. She would get the dessert all served out but often wouldn’t bring it to the table until everything was completely cleared. ‘Hustle while you wait’ meant that something good we wanted depended on our quick and cheerful execution of a task immediately in front of us.

In a way, that is God’s command and promise to you today. Don’t despise the day of small things — do them with all your heart — and as you are faithful with that which is little He will put you over much. Keep moving, hustle while you wait, and the door of opportunity is sure to open to you. That is the kind of God we serve."

Isn't that great? So, my challenge to you today: Live 100% for the Lord...we only have a limited time here on earth, don't waste it. May God bless you all richly this day...

Great Article!

Changed from the Inside Out
by Max Lucado

When you believe in Christ, Christ works a miracle in you. You are permanently purified and empowered by God himself. The message of Jesus to the religious person is simple: It’s not what you do. It’s what I do. I have moved in. And in time you can say with Paul, “I myself no longer live, but Christ lives in me” (Gal. 2:20).

If I’m born again, why do I fall so often?

Why did you fall so often after your first birth? Did you exit the womb wearing cross-trainers? Did you do the two-step on the day of your delivery? Of course not. And when you started to walk, you fell more than you stood. Should we expect anything different from our spiritual walk?

But I fall so often, I question my salvation. Again, we return to your first birth. Didn’t you stumble as you were learning to walk? And when you stumbled, did you question the validity of your physical birth? Did you, as a one-year-old fresh flopped on the floor, shake your head and think, I have fallen again. I must not be human?

Of course not. The stumbles of a toddler do not invalidate the act of birth. And the stumbles of a Christian do not annul his spiritual birth.

Do you understand what God has done? He has deposited a Christ seed in you. As it grows, you will change. It’s not that sin has no more presence in your life, but rather that sin has no more power over your life. Temptation will pester you, but temptation will not master you. What hope this brings!

Hear this. It’s not up to you! Within you abides a budding power. Trust him!

Think of it this way. Suppose you, for most of your life, have had a heart condition. Your frail pumper restricts your activities. Each morning at work when the healthy employees take the stairs, you wait for the elevator.

But then comes the transplant. A healthy heart is placed within you. After recovery, you return to work and encounter the flight of stairs—the same flight of stairs you earlier avoided. By habit, you start for the elevator. But then you remember. You aren’t the same person. You have a new heart. Within you dwells a new power.

Do you live like the old person or the new? Do you count yourself as having a new heart or old? You have a choice to make.

You might say, “I can’t climb stairs; I’m too weak.” Does your choice negate the presence of a new heart? Dismiss the work of the surgeon? No. Choosing the elevator would suggest only one fact—you haven’t learned to trust your new power.

It takes time. But at some point you’ve got to try those stairs. You’ve got to test the new ticker. You’ve got to experiment with the new you. For if you don’t, you will run out of steam.

Religious rule keeping can sap your strength. It’s endless. There is always another class to attend, Sabbath to obey, Ramadan to observe. No prison is as endless as the prison of perfection. Her inmates find work but never find peace. How could they? They never know when they are finished.

Christ, however, gifts you with a finished work. He fulfilled the law for you. Bid farewell to the burden of religion. Gone is the fear that having done everything, you might not have done enough. You climb the stairs, not by your strength, but his. God pledges to help those who stop trying to help themselves.

“He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Phil. 1:6.) God will change you from the inside out.

"Trust"

“Trust”

I got accepted to Baptist Bible College in Clarks Summit, PA (BBC)! I am so incredibly excited! I got to visit the college and spent 2 nights in Carter Dorm L suite. It was really fun and everyone was so nice. Seriously, the only way at you could not make a friend is be staying holed up in your room with the door locked and not speak to anybody.
The campus itself is absolutely gorgeous. It was originally a monastery so the architecture is breathtaking. Plus, it is on a summit (Clarks Summit) so the whole valley just stretches around it. Absolutely gorgeous…
It is so neat how the Lord has been providing already. When I got back I kind of started to panic. I mean, not only does it cost $20,000 a year but that does not include actual living expenses. I was sitting on my bed just thinking and it was almost as thought God spoke to me. Just asking me if I could trust HIM to provide... So I had to make that choice.
That evening I gave a testimony of what the Lord had done in my life since I went on a trip to a mission’s conference in Michigan. One of the quotes I shared that night had to do with trust:
“If I can explain it…God didn’t do it.”
How true that is! That night I told everybody that I didn’t know how I was going to Get to BBC and how in and of myself I know I couldn’t but I knew my God could!
Once I made that commitment to trust Him no matter what happened things really started to happen!
This may sound so dumb but, one of the things I had been worried about getting was dress pants. Basically you have to wear them Monday-Friday to classes and chapel. After that you are allowed to change. Anyway, dress pants can be really expensive and I knew that I would need quite a few pairs. The day after giving my testimony and making that commitment Mom and I went shopping. I decided to just stop at the thrift store and see if they had happened to have any dress pants. Did they ever! I walked out with four pairs of dress pants, p.j.’s that were originally $17 and warm stockings for $17.30 total! Now is that God or what! I did not realize how much of it was really God until I went home. One pair of pants had the original tags still on them. I found the price tag and it turns out that that one pair of dress pants was originally $34.95. And I got all that other stuff for $17 dollars! Again:
“If I can explain it…God didn’t do it.”
The Lord has also provided a laptop for me which I needed desperately for school. It just goes to show how great our God is!
Even though it may seem a little tacky, I have that price tag on my dresser and every time (seriously) I have started to doubt God since He brings $34.95 to my mind as a reminder that He is my Provider. What a blessing to be the child of such a wonderful Heavenly Father! Praise His Holy Name!

Vacation Recap!

Hey all you fellow bloggers out there!
I am really sorry that it has been so incredibly long since I have updated :( This vacation has been so incredibly crazy, wonderful, tiring, exhilirating, scary, and just a time of total trusting in Him (or at least trying too :-) ) So here is a recap:
Well, I went on a Missions conference trip to Michigan like 2 days after Christmas. We left on Thursday and returned on Saturday so I spent 16 hrs. in a stinking car over 3 days! In spite of that it was the most amazing experiance of my life. This is our whole group:



~1st Row: Tim Monger (the leader and organizer), Brian and Ethan Thompson (our group).
~2nd Row: Sarah Britton, Me, Stephanie (our group), Cynthia Nickols, Mrs. Nickols, and Dan Nickols (their family was the worship team).
~3rd Row: Brad (our group), Charlie Mack (Campus Crusades for Christ), Tyler (our group), I can't remember his name but he was really nice, Ashton Raduns (our group leader), Mr. Nickols (rest of the worship team).
~4th Row: Ron (missionary to Japan for 24 years), Bruce (a missionary), Jack (youth pastor and speaker for the general sessions), Brian (student), Big Ed (missionary), Katie Scarborough (my friend who I came with), Sarah Scarborough (Katie's sister), Nathen Radens (Ashtons husband and our leader).

In the 400 churches that were invited we were the only one that came. There were only 24 of us but what a slice of Heaven it was! I have never experianced the closeness and intimacy that we experianced with other Christians that I have never experianced ever. It was so wonderful and none of us wanted it to end :) I made some forever friends there and God really worked in me personally...

Besides us 5 girls (including Ashton) there were 2 other girls Sarah and Cynthia. We bonded so quickly it surprised all of us I think :) God was the focal point of our time there and I think that is what really made our relationships with eachother so deep. Here is a picture of us girls, what a group we were!:



On the left: Katy, Sarah, Cynthia, and Me
On the Right: Ashton, Stephanie, and Sarah

There were 2 Sarah's (yes same spelling) and 2 Katy's (Katie's) in a group of 6 girls! That was fun :-)

Another thing that God did was totally confirmed to me was BBC. As many of you know I had been considering transfering there in the fall of '08 and had even gone so far as to put in my application for review. During the conference that is what was going on. GET THIS! In the 14 other people that werer there 4 of them where a family. Mr. and Mrs. Nickols, Dan and Cynthia. Dan is currently going to BBC and Cynthia was already accepted there for the fall of '08! How amazing and what an amazingly awesome miracle that was :-)
Me and Cynthia (pictured below) got really close especially when we realized how alike we were and that we both wanted to go to BBC. That was a definate God-thing!



So, after weeks of waiting and wondering and stressing I got THE CALL...Dun, dun, dun...I AM GOING TO BBC IN FALL '08!!!!! I got ACCEPTED :) I am so excited :-) God is so good!! I am going to visit this upcoming weekend and am kind of nervous but I think I will enjoy it. :-)

So what else have I been up to? Well, spending time with my friends and family. Elisha and Valerie are home so it has been really nice :-) Here are some pics we took together:

I will continue this later I have to go... Blessings!

Kiss the Girl!

Hey all you fellow bloggers out there!
For a late wedding present for my best friends brother and his wife we made them a music video. I think it turned out really well. I hope you agree! This is the unfinished version (it lacks the actual kiss! lol) but I will be getting the finished version. I've included Ashley Tisdale's version too. Enjoy:







LOL :) Hope you enjoued them!

Major Catch-up is needed!

Hey all you fellow bloggers out there! I am so sorry that I haven't written in a while. School has been crazy! But, thankfully, today is my last day! I have a math exam and then I am done until the 22nd of January! YES!!!!! I am so excited to be on vacation! :) Some crazy stuff has been happening...I had a really bad day and the Lord used it to help me make the decision to transfer out of GCC after I complete this year. Why? Well, basically, I thought when I started going to GCC that my walk with the Lord was much stronger. I have found out that it isn't as strong as I 1st thought it was...so I started to look into Baptist Bible College in PA. I had wanted to go to BBC since I was in 10th grade. I figured that I would just go for 2 years and get a strong foundation in my walk with the Lord. I talked to Mom about it and she was like: "Katy, God will have to provide the money 'cause we can not pay for it." BBC costs about 20,000 dollars a year. I went on the website and just "happened" to click on a financial aid link. I was thinking I could get scholorships and work my way through. Well, imagine my surprise when I realized that BBC accepts FAFSA an PELL which is how I am getting through GCC! I could not believe it! And then, an admissions counsilor told me that because I am a Pastor's daughter I would get 25% off the tuition. WOW! I was shocked! :) So I sent in my application and as of now I am just waiting for GCC to send them my transcripts and then with in a few weeks I should know whether or not I am accepted. I am sooo excited and terrified that I won't be but, I know that if this is where God wants me HE and only HE will get me there! SO yeah, pls pray that His will will be done. I would really appreciate it!
So what else has been going on? Hmmmm...I have been having a really hard time in my walk with Jesus lately...alot of old temptations and stuff that I thought I had conquered have reared their ugly heads yet again...Sometimes I look at myself and wonder who I am anymore...pls. pray for me.
I am going to Michigan on a missions conference with Oakfield Country Chapel. I am so excited as some really good friends of mine are coming and I get to spend a lot of time with them :) I will be gone the 27th-29th of December...
Christmas is one week away! I can not believe it. Danny found his gift... :( I got him the dvd: Meet the Robinsons and he accidently found it! :( It wasn't his fault though :)
Me and Jenny had a blast last night Jitterbugging! :) I made a video so here it is:



This is a video of real jitterbugging! It is hilarious :) Enoy:



Hey, what can I say...we will be professionals one day! :P LOL! Anyhow...I have to go get ready for my test. Hope you enjoyed the update! lol :) Love you all bunches!