turkish martyrs

adam and i just finished reading this article and our prayers go out to the families who lost a loved one. we pray this will be a turning point for people to come to Christ in turkey. we pray for perseverance for the church as they continue to share the gospel. and we pray for the men who felt they had to do this.

how comforting it is to know that God is in control and he can use us to bring people to him even in horrible events such as this. lives can change. look at the apostle paul. we pray for the five men who heard the gospel before they assisted in these murders. and we pray for the nation of turkey.

usually not a fan of video games but...

the wii is amazing! more on this later...

calendar fun!

i've added a calendar to my blog! how fun! now you can see how busy adam and i are this summer. it is not complete yet so don't freak out if you don't see your birthday on there. i'll add it soon. unless i don't have it.

i've also added a poland picture album, some friends blogs, and hopefully i'll be able to get a picture of myself on here soon. i am enjoying this google world: gmail, blogspot, picasa, hello, calendar, etc. it's very fun.

hope you enjoy it too and check in once in awhile!

attitudes and choices...

this is the day the Lord has made, let us be glad and rejoice in it: i should recite this to myself each morning (especially during the work week) but it doesn't always happen. i have a struggle with being content with the present, how true for so many people in this world. but i don't want to be like so many people in this world. i want to use the "present" for the Lord. but it's hard to do something for the Lord when you are having a bad attitude. and unfortunately, i have a bad attitude almost everyday. and it's my choice. i am choosing to have a bad attitude. i am choosing to let my job, schedule, hours, etc get to me. my attitude is a choice. i can choose to be overwhelmed, stressed, frustrated or depressed OR i can choose to be calm, faithful, content and trusting the Lord. i can choose to make the best out of it. so i am working on it. i'm working on the joy, not alone of course, but with Jesus right next to me. and He is so faithful. i pray for a Christlike attitude, to make sacrifices and to be a servant to Him and only Him. i pray to be selfless...

almost friday

almost friday sounds good but not as good as almost the weekend. thursday is an ok day because it is getting closer to the weekend, but it's like a tease at the same time. today and last thursday, i woke up and it felt like a friday. and both last thursday and today have been the worst days of the week (at work). i hope next thursday is a turnaround.

tonight should be fun though. adam and i invited some friends over for dinner. friends that we love so much but hardly ever see anymore. it should be great fellowship.

i've been frustrated lately about some things, however, james encourages us to consider it pure joy whenever we face trials and to persevere through them (james 1:2-3) so that is what i am trying to do. i can be so foolish and weak and it scares me how much bitterness and hatred can be in my heart at one time. but God is amazing as always and he's right by my side. we sang "i could run away" last night in homegroup and i can't stop thinking about those lyrics

i could run away
but you would never leave
you would always stay
right by my side

everything i've ever wanted
i've found in you

and i need you, oh i need you
every step of the way

so true. i need God every step of the way. i can't do this on my own. he truly is my source of strength and brings me peace in times of trial. i think about all the times that i've wanted to run away, hide, sleep forever, or go home to jesus early. it's usually when i'm failing at something or depressed or feel lonely, but God is right there by my side, every step of the way. and i eventually get up, and i'm stronger than ever; he puts me back on my feet and directs my path.

looking at the verses again in james 1:2-4 "consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." ...i see that God is at work in me and my perseverance is growing. these trials are good for me even if they are hard. i just need to endure it, respond to life's messes with a Christlike attitude and i need to keep the joy.

new work activity

definitions from dictionary.com:

blog - to write entries in, add material to, or maintain a weblog.
blogger - a person who keeps a Web log (blog) or publish an online diary

so i have a blog now. does that make me a blogger? i guess it does as long as i keep it and my blog remains a blog as long as it is maintained. what a life-changing step. i've added yet another thing to my workday that doesn't involve my job, however, it does involve "work". so technically, i'll be "working" at work whether i'm blogging or doing job-related things!

anyway, it's easter week and i have lots on my mind. but i have to get going to my "job" work now so i'll write more later.