I'm an...

Uncle.... TWICE!!!!

Excited much?

Ya, you could say that!!!! TWICE!!!

Between Tissues and Coughdrops

Pray for me guys, I'm sick.

The Charlotte Observer

Actually I've been sick for the past five days, but I feel like I should update ya'll on what I've been thinking about a lot lately, but I'm gonna abstain for a little longer till I can at least think with my mouth closed... (cuz I can't breath otherwise). Until then, here's a little teaser on the subject of thought.

No Clue

Being Forged

Junior Semester has brought such truth. In my 1Peter class, Grace is the big kahuna that not only saves us from hell, but also keeps on track in our daily life.... that is, sanctification. As my professor states:

" As Peter writes about the true grace of God he reminds us that when we responded in obedience to God's truth it had a purifying effect on us. This purifying effect makes it possible for us to truly and sincerely love (phileo) the brethren. Because of this grace-given potential, we are exhorted not only to agape one another but to do so from the heart."

This is great truth to know... but what about truly understanding it? Some things you can't understand unless you've experienced them personally. I have not exactly experienced this but one thing I do know is that purifying usually involves fire.

The question is now: "How can going through the fire make it possible to understand true love??"
The same professor relayed this story to the class.. Refiner and Purifier

Malachi 3:3 says... " He will sit as a Refiner and purifier of silver."

This verse puzzled some women in a Bible study and they wondered what this statement meant about the character and nature of God.
One of the women offered to find out the process of refining silver and get back to the group at their next Bible Study.
That week, the woman called a silversmith and made an appointment to watch him at work. She didn't mention anything about the reason for her interest beyond her curiosity about the process of refining silver.
As she watched the silversmith, he held a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up. He explained that in refining silver one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fie where the flames were hottest as to burn away all the impurities.
The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot; then she thought again about the verse that says: "He sits as a refiner and purifier of silver."
She asked the silversmith if it was true that he had to sit there in front of the fie the whole time the silver was being refined. The man answered that yes, he not only had to sit there holding the silver, but he had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it was in the fire. If the silver was left, a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed.
The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked the silversmith, "How do you know when the silver is fully refined?"
He smiled at her and answered, "Oh, that's easy-- when I see my image in it."

-the SoulJournaler

That is how true love comes from going through trial and opposition... because we become more like the One Who IS LOVE. We suffer and so can have compassion for those suffering too, because we have experiential understanding. In the same way, Christ suffered as we suffer... and has experiential understanding of our fire.

And we're Back....

Back to the races again!!!
School officially starts tomorrow along with Snow Crew in the morning and Dish crew after breakfast. Hello routine!!! I've missed you.
 Had a nice drive up to the North land with a friend and his dad. Crazy all that God has provided for me to be here. I gotta get off to dinner, and then Jail ministry at 7pm, but thought I'd toss out a couple things ...

-"If you're going to pray, don't worry. Because, if you're going to worry, why pray?"
-When you're really letting God be in control, things rarely turn out the way you think... they turn out better.
-When in doubt, Trust God.
-"Never doubt in the dark what God showed you in the light"

Second Serving of Christmas

I realized that I never did a post that I had wanted to.. that being a few pics of the wonderful yummies that were around during the Christmas stay up North with my family.

I made some seasoned pretzels

olive oil, garlic salt, and more!

New Year's Goodies

Cranberry soda and Hawiian Punch? Heck Yes!

Clockwise: NoBakes, PB, Whoopie Pies, CandyCane (anise),

Vanilla Sticks, and Springerlies

Christmas Lunch!! With Baked Pinapple, Baked Corn, Cream Peas, Chicken salad, and Ham

Let's make some magic!!!

Some plain...

But add a little sparkle

and you get...

Sweet goodness

The First Brother-in-law made some Apple Pies!!

And yes, we played "Apples to Apples" as they cooled

Home Again, Home Again, ...

Jigg-a-dee Jog!
So excited to see all the folks I didn't think I could back in the mid-west. I've not only been enjoying times with good friends, but also the oppertunity to work for money! Money that will be going to my school bill, and my school bill (paid) that will allow me to continue the deep study of God's Word up in the north-land.

Please pray for me. I have a lot on my plate right now with family, friends, moving, working, schooling, emotions, heart-craziness, and spiritual lagging.

For the new year, I give you this: one of my new favorite songs, because it speaks of truth... not who I think I am. I love the video too, because it's totally me to do something like that.


Thanks guys, love ya all.