Just some thoughts...

Have you ever loved to do something so much, you wanted to do it all the time? But then you got busy, and other things took priority, and that activity that brought you so much joy was thrown to the wayside.
This happened to me. When I was thirteen, I started to discover things, things that quickly became my passions. I found history, reading, and writing. I was obsessed with these three things the most, with a few other interests gaining momentum.
But life happened when I was about sixteen. Suddenly those things didn't matter as much as what was going on in my family. As the years passed, my love for the 3 (history, reading, writing) never died out. They were a quiet part of me, waiting for their time to shine again.
A little over a year ago I rediscovered these passions. It started with reading about history, then expanded into writing, and then back into reading. Now I can't imagine giving them up ever again.

What are some passions you have? Are they healthy or helpful? Why do you think you have these passions?

Here's the thing about my love of writing: I started at a very young age. My mom boasts about a time I made up some stories about twin egg brothers from a small children's TV show. She wrote down the stories and I drew the pictures. But it wasn't till I was much older that it became something I truly understood and desired. People that have read some of my writing tell me I know how to tell a story, and that I have a unique way with words. I don't fully comprehend what they mean. All I know is that I have the most wonderful feeling deep down inside when I write.
All I can say is that God has given me this gift to write. I must write for His glory, and not my own. It is very easy to take the compliments and move on feeling good about myself, but the truth is I need to start giving God the glory for this gift He has given me.

What about the gifts you possess? Do you feel something deep down inside that makes you happy when you use these gifts? From my experience, this is a special gift from God. Thank Him for it, and use it to His glory.

~Elizabeth :)
Jesus Loves You! <3

Just Listen

What do you do when someone shares their sorrow with you?

While no one has shared their deepest darkest sorrow with me, they have hinted to their feelings. Usually, I'm at a loss about what I'm supposed to do. Should I pray with them? Should I change the subject to a happier one? Should I say I know how they feel, or share a similar experience?

I think part of this is our culture's need to react or respond quickly. Sometimes the best thing we can do is just listen. Don't try to fix their problems. Just listen. Hold their hand, cry with them.

"Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep." Romans 12:15

I usually don't think about being quiet and listening. Sometimes someone else's problem may not seem like a big deal to you. The thing is, they are in a dark moment. Be in the moment with them, for just a second. If you were in their shoes, you would feel the weight of the sorrow they are currently experiencing.

If you were in a dark place, and you shared your pain with someone, wouldn't you want them to just understand for a minute? They want the same thing, even if it's something silly.

After they come out of that dark place, after all the fear and sorrow is over, they will look back and realize either it wasn't that bad after all, or they will just be happy they made it through. But the one thing they will remember the most is not what you said, but how you treated them, how you sat beside them, held their hand, listened, and cried with them. That is a better comfort, a better gift, than anything you could say.

~Elizabeth :)

Jesus Loves You! <3

School Update!

In my post "It's been a while...", I mentioned that I was taking four Summer classes. For those of you that don't know, Summer college courses are condensed from their normal semester schedules of 16 weeks down to 5 weeks. Summer is also divided into two sessions, Summer 1 and Summer 2. The school only allows a student to take two classes a session because of the crammed schedule. I took two classes during both Summer 1 and 2, for a total of four classes. Each session only had a day between for rest, and then a week before the Fall semester starts.
I was very nervous, to say the least. As far as I know, no one ever takes four Summer classes. I did this because it meant I could graduate with my degree this December, on time with the program. Otherwise, it would be another semester before I could look for a job. I knew this was the right course of action, but I was feeling terrified that it would be too much, that I would somehow fail. I couldn't afford to fail.
But everything fell in place. I easily signed up for the classes and the schedule worked. I had to remind myself what I had decided almost two years ago, a month before classes started, that I was going to fully trust God with my education. I would leave it in His hands, and I wasn't going to freak out and quit.
Classes started, and it felt like a whirlwind. I was constantly at my computer day and night. If I took a day break and did my homework at night, I ended up staying awake all night long to catch up. The first five weeks certainly taught me how to better manage my time. I needed to start earlier in the day or I was going to keep making myself sick catching up.
That one day between the Summer sessions was wonderful! I relaxed and caught up on sleep. Then I got back to work the next day, implementing the time management skills I had learned just a couple of days before.
Now, here I am, at the end of the off week between Summer and Fall. I look back now and I think, that wasn't so bad after all. In the moment it was highly stressful. But now I'm thankful I went through with it. God was certainly there by my side, because I was somehow able to finish with flying colors.

Now I just have the final semester to complete. My final Jedi trial, if you will, is Portfolio. This class is all about time management, with over 20 projects and one deadline that closes the semester, it has been described by all upperclassmen as the hardest class of the program. In addition to this class and the other two, less stressful, required classes, I have to take a remedial math course with College Algebra.
However, I am ready. I am excited about the upcoming final semester. I can think of several reasons why I'm excited about school starting Monday morning when everyone I know is stressing hard: it's the last semester, and I have some high goals; it means I'm just four months away from looking for a job and buying my first car; there's just something about this school that I like, and I am probably going to miss it.
It's an exciting time in my life, and I am so thankful I decided to trust God with all of it!

~Elizabeth :)
Jesus Loves You! <3