You moved, again?

Yes. It is true. We moved again.

But...

This time it is a permanent move. Or at least a move intended for us to plant some roots.

So, how did we end up in Upstate New York anyway?

Well, after trying and trying to move up here and Travis being unable to find a job. We finally started to settle down in Houston, coming to grips with the fact that we would be there for at least five years, or so we thought. In a sense we finally stopped trying with our own efforts and we began learning how to be content right where we are.

And then it happened.

The Lord opened wide a door of opportunity for Travis to work up in New York. At first we were thrown off guard. I had planned to teach and he had planned to continue his career at ITC. We both unintentionally continued on with this void in our hearts. Feeling as if we were wandering around aimlessly, like we weren't where we were supposed to be. (Let me add also that yes I did miss my family, however, I wasn't complaining and miserable about it... this wasn't the reason we moved). Honestly, we missed a lot about NY, the seasons, the mountains, the fresh air, things to do outdoors, etc. Anyways, back to the story... so this company had a phone conference all with Travis and loved him! They decided to fly him up to the port of Albany to interview in person. They offered him the job on spot, and we were AMAZED! It all sounded too good to be true. But, there was one issue... we were still recovering from our loses in DR and quite frankly we didn't have the money to pick up and moved cross country, again. So we prayed.

Lord, if you want us to move, then you must provide the way. Even though we desire to be up there, we cannot do it in and of ourselves. Let your will be done.

And then the first miracle happened. They offered us a relocation package. The miracle part, they DO NOT offer relocation packages, ever, to anyone! Whoa Lord!! Thank you!!

So we continue the process of finalizing this job and the day we hear they are ready for us we begin packing. 36 hours of straight packing we hop into our truck and begin the 48 hour journey (which normally takes 30).  During the middle of our packing one of Travs' sweet uncles comes by and tells us that the Lord laid it on his heart to give us a certain amount of money, so he acted in obedience and gave us the gift. This is yet another blessing from the Lord because we had car trouble in New Orleans, and this money covered exactly what we owed the mechanic. WOW!! After the truck was fixed we continued on... we were so determined to get up there asap that we didn't even stop to sleep (yes, probably not the smartest thing we've done).

Hillbilly style*

*My hubby driving :)

*Proof that I drove this massive haul! (and going on 50 hrs of no sleep!)

We finally reach NY on Sat. night and Travis started work on Monday morning. I naturally start to worry and be anxious about my vocation. What am I going to do? Where am I going to work? How much will I make? Worry worry worry! A week or so later I apply for a job at Grace North, an awesome church! I wasn't too confident because they didn't even know me... but I interviewed anyway. To be honest, I thought I totally blew the interview. I never really interviewed before because the Lord has always just handed me jobs... so I was a bit unprepared to say the least. The next day I get an email from the pastor who wants me to take a spiritual gifts and personality test to see if I would even be a good fit for their staff. A couple days after I hand that in, he tells me that he needs me to fill out an application, and by this point I'm trying to now get ahead of myself... but I'm getting excited!!

So, officially as of today... I am offered a job at Grace North (and for those you who know me, know that my calling is to ministry and I love being creative). I will be the communications coordinator & event planner... basically I get to be creative, everyday!

Yayy!! So now we are both doing what we love, and with the Lords divine orchestration of our lives, the vocational void is no longer present! God is so good!

And now its time for the Baggett's to settle down :)

Be Blessed!
*D

www.wix.com/dnbaggett/design

Finally, a chance to blog :)

I finally have a day off, but only because I'm feeling a sicky... So you take the good with the bad! :)

This past week has been so crazy and the Lord has put me into so many situations that I have really had to wrestle with... for so long I have just adapted the views of everyone around me, but I have rarely ever thought for myself. For example:

Last week I worked in a severely low functioning special education class for three days. I have worked with special education for a very long time, and it's something I am not uncomfortable with. But this population was different from all the others I have experience with. They are teenagers, in junior high, and all bound by wheelchairs. They could barely move, unable to speak, were fed through feeding tubes, and had to wear diapers. I mean take my heart out of my chest and rip it into a million pieces here!! Some days its very hard for me to work in this environment because it does hurt my heart so bad. Two of the teens would occasionally lift up their delicate heads and muster up a smile at me, and that makes everything worth it. However, this third boy would never open open his eyes, and never ever move on his own. He slept all day at school and frequently would make this little noise like he was agonizing in pain. So as I sit in the classroom and just look at him, I can't help but wonder, "why, Lord?". I mean truly the only thing this 14 year old does is breathe, he doesn't know when someone is talking to him, he can't see, is he even aware of anything? And if not... what then is the point of life if he is merely breathing? I don't have an answer... just something I've been wrestling with. Modern medicine is amazing and has enabled some amazing miracles, but what if this boy was supposed to be with sweet Jesus and modern medicine is prolonged his life here just to exist? I don't know... and please don't think badly of me... It's just when you witness a day in their life, it makes you wonder....

On a POSITIVE note... I had something awesome happen at the public High School here last week. After I got done taking roll for my class this sweet girl raised her hand and asked if she could say something... she went on to say two of her guy friends got in a bad car accident the night before and they were in severe condition and asked if we would pray for them. Well obviously I wanted to jump all over that and pray right then and there, but as a teacher I am not allowed. So as she started to sob, I stood there with a heavy heart and clueless how to handle this and keep my job. The whole class was silent except for her little cry, and then this 11th grade boy stood up and said "come on guys! She means this! We need to pray right now!!" So everyone bowed their heads and he prayed for these two boys in front of the whole class, unashamedly... wow. I was blown away! Praise the Lord!!

The Second Positive note! Travis' love for the Lord is growing daily, and I have to give the glory of that to the Lord! The ladies who took the prayer challenge are now on day 16 and I can first hand say I have seen the Lord working in his life. He is blessed to have today off too, and he's running around doing things around here with his ipod in his ears singing sweet worship songs to Jesus. There is no time that makes him more attractive then when he's loving our Lord. If you aren't actively and intentionally praying for your husband, I encourage you to! It's the best marriage revolution you will ever experience!!

Be Blessed ya'll!
D

If there was one thing I wanted YOUTH to BELIEVE...

(This has been on my heart for some time now... and it's time to get it off my chest!! It's not one of my "cheery" make you feel good blogs, but its real and its raw :) )

As I sit here and think about the sweet teenagers that I sub for, and other young teens that I just know from moving around so much, I can’t help but be heartbroken when I think about the way they believe that their actions do not have long-term effects on them… Specifically their actions regarding impurity.

 As I sit here and think about the sweet teens that I sub for, and other young teens that I just know from moving around so much, I can’t help but be heartbroken when I think about the way they believe that their actions do not have long-term effects on them… Specifically their actions regarding impurity.

If I could give one message to the youth, one message that they would actually believe, take hold of and APPLY to their lives it would be this…

No matter HOW appealing it is to mess around with the opposite sex, there is absolutely no positive outcome from it. Not one, not even half of one. That is the absolute truth, because believe me I have been there! I desperately want them to realize that they do not need boyfriends or girlfriends in Junior High and High School, save it for college! Those are the best times of your lives that you never get back… they should be spent hanging out with your girls or your guys enjoying life with no responsibility of work and money.

Perhaps you think I am a hypocrite because I did indeed have a boyfriend throughout High School, and I did indeed make poor choices. But, now that I can look back on it, I can honestly share that it was utterly destructive on my life. It wasn’t worth it to lose my girlfriends, it wasn’t worth it to have a boyfriend and all the drama that comes with that, it wasn’t worth it to slowly give myself away, and it wasn’t worth it to have to carry the pain and memories with me into my marriage.

If youth could only see how devastating immorality really is, if the temporary “high” could no longer blind and seduce them they would be so much better off! Even too, that “high” does not last very long, especially if you are a believer, because the Spirit inside of you will rid you with guilt. Not only do you walk around with a guilty conscience from the Lord, but you worry about your parents catching you, you worry about what your friends might say, and you worry if that boy/girl will even like you tomorrow! It’s truly is the best way to waste your precious teenage years…

And after that, after you realize that “fun” is no longer appealing to you, you finally want to settle down with that amazing man/woman who loves the Lord and who is capable of having a great marriage…. You have to share with him or her all your dirty laundry, every person you have fooled around with and given a piece of yourself to. As you tell them, you feel humiliated and full of regret. Oh how you wish you could go back in time and choose to do the right thing. How you wish you have saved ALL of yourself for that special man or woman who you have finally met!! And then, you get to wait for their response… will they forgive you and give you a clean slate? Or will they choose to wait for someone who has “not even a hint” of sexual sin in their past? You won’t know until you get there… but believe me that is the most painful conversation you will ever have to have with your future spouse.

Instead of completely disregarding what I wrote… think about it, soak it in. If it seems like a feat that is too big for you then I encourage you to take it one situation at a time, and “DO THE NEXT RIGHT THING”! I promise you it will make your life much more enjoyable and in the end, you will thank me and believe me!!

 

Love ya’ll!

D

Product of the WEEK!

Happy Monday ya'll!!

So the weather is starting to get a bit cooler (well not so much here in ol' Texas, but for all you northern folks I know it is... and I am oh so jealous!!) and the cooless has inspired me to do a "product of the week"!!

This week I am zoning in on Satin Hands & Lips, because that skin during these seasons needs a bit of extra attention. I'm a northern girl and I KNOW the uncomfortableness that dry/cracking hands and lips brings. LUCKILY, Mary Kay has designed this fabulous product that fights this irritation and leaves your hands more "satin-y" than ever!! Believe me, it's AWESOME! They offer it in non-frangrance, peach, and my favorite, VANILLA!!

This week I'll run a special for this SET (Satin Hands & Satin Lips) $5 off AND free shipping!! If you refer a friend, I'll give you $10 off AND free shipping!!

Check it out ladies! If by chance you don't love it, which I have no doubt you will, MK backs all their product with 100% satisfaction guarentee! They are THAT confident in their product!!

email me at dbellanti@liberty.edu or check out my website: www.marykay.com/dnbaggett ((You can place your order here or via email and I will alter the price for the deal of the week!))



Be Blessed!!
Danielle

Have your way

I think one of the most difficult aspects of Christianity for me to accept is the idea that God desires to be fully in control of my life. Its not that I don't want him to be!! I want Him to more than anything else in life. I just struggle sometimes to find the balance between trusting the Lords good and perfect will and trying to plan things out anticipating the Lord to help you see it through. I guess that's where His peace comes in and if the Holy Spirit in me grants me that overwhelming peace, then I walk in that direction.

"You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you." Isaiah 26:3

And that's my prayer for yall today!! That you can find the peace of God to navigate you through this crazy and unexpected journey we like to call LIFE

Be Blessed!
Danielle

At what AGE does your skin begin to age? You'll never believe it...

Some guessed in their twenties...


Wrong.


I was SHOCKED to find out that your skin on your face begins to age at the ripe young age of SEVENTEEN!! Oh my word! That is so young! Therefore, my face has already begun creating those oh so lovely fine lines and wrinkles for a whopping SIX years...


the sad part. I have done NOTHING about it, up until 4 days ago that is!


But, with this newfound knowledge I am now choosing to combat it... not necessarily to never have wrinkles, but rather to have my skin in the best possible condition I can. I mean lets be honest, your face is the first thing people see on you... not your outfit or jewelry. Anyways, I just began my journey using Mary Kay Time Wise Miracle Set.. and I absolutely love it!! (I had Travis try it last night and we woke up this morning and told me his face felt amazing ;))

The TimeWise® Miracle Set™ provides incredible age-fighting results to help you maintain younger-looking skin. The set offers 11 age-defying benefits in one skin care regimen: cleanse, exfoliate, freshen, energize, hydrate, smooth, firm, soften, protect, rebuild and reduce fine lines and wrinkles

That's enough information today... soak that all in and I'll give you some statistics about Time Wise Tomorrow!! You will be amazed!! (Oh and did I mention, all MK products have a 100% satisfaction guaranteed!!)

If interested... check out this line on my website: 

www.marykay.com/dnbaggett

Be Blessed!!

Danielle

ps- ladies don't forget what truly matters... 

Proverbs 31:30 - "Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; 

but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.

Website!!

I now have my own website you can look through all our fabulous products & order from me!

Check it out!!

My Mary Kay!

Be Blessed!
Danielle

By FAITH alone

Ever since I started "31 Days of Praying for my Husband" (I will blog more about this later!!) I have finally gotten myself into a wonderful morning routine that begins with time with the Lord. To be honest, it's hard having a consistent quiet time, I mean it's hard finding quiet time PERIOD in this crazy, jam packed schedule society... go go go!! So anyways, I have finally found this routine, and it truly has revolutionized my days. I believe in the power of James 4:8 "Draw near to the Lord, and He will draw near to you". The peace that comes along with walking closely to the Lord is indescribable... and it's right where I want to be. 


I usually read from "My Utmost for His Highest" by Oswald Chambers and a week ago I began reading Jerry Falwells book, Building Dynamic Faith. Some call it irony that I chose this book before the Mary Kay opportunity even came about, but I believe it was all apart of the Lords divine plan. He was equipping me and encouraging me to step out in faith, and believe! This morning as I was reading from this book I came across two quotes that absolutely fit me right now, and I want to share them with YOU!

"God continually pushes us out of our comfort zones and into a new challenge. And when a challenge is bigger than our ability to handle it, we grow our faith we we attempt to do this new task."


"New steps of faith are not about the things you do, but they're about God working in you."

"it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure" Phil. 2:3


So here goes the journey of faith!! Who wants to jump on board?

Be Blessed,
Danielle

I'll have to admit...

I have NEVER been the type to sign up for "self-starter businesses" such as Pampered Chef, Avon, Christmas around the World... you get the point. I guess they intimidate me. How could I go up to random people and offer my product? Do I even have enough friends to get me going? It just seems so very complicated and not for me...

Until... the Lord opened a door and told me to walk through it.

Just a few days ago, one of my girlfriends down here in Texas told me about how she just started doing business with Mary Kay as a beauty consultant. I was so very excited for her, and kept thinking about how fun that would be to be my own employer. But again, it's just not for me. So anyways, a few days after our coffee date she was having her "Debut Party", she invited me to come and of course I did! I wanted to show my support for her! Well, while I was there I felt an overwhelming call from the Lord to step out in faith and get into the business as well.

I gave it a few days. I wanted to pray, HARD about it. Perhaps let the Lord change His mind about it, because surely I am NOT the girl for this!! Well, turns out He definitely wants me to pursue this. So as of yesterday, I am now a beauty consultant for Mary Kay.

I'll have to admit, I'm very excited now. Because I, without a doubt, realize that I am incapable of doing this on my own. I believe though, in a huge God who can equip me and provide for me. One element that gets me excited is that Mary Kay is a Christian based company. Their priorities are God first, Family second, Business third. I mean really, how many companies hold true to that these days? I can't think of very many...

Also, I am excited because there is no pressure with this business. I can go as fast or as slow as I want. I make my own hours. Not to mention the start up cost is only $100 for the kit (which is $350 worth of product!!), AND I get 50% off all of their products. Surely I can make at least $100, or at least I hope! :)

The flexibility is what I desire most. My sweet husband works SO many hours... unfortunately not only is it so many hours but it is shift work. He flops back and forth from days and nights, weekends and weekdays. It truly is insanity. This summer hasn't been too terrible because I haven't been working a normal job. I've been blessed to work with the designer (and one of my besties!) Tristian, with Gracylu Originals. She has been so wonderful with letting me make my own hours and such. However, now that school is about to begin I'm a little nervous of the toll of me working M-F, 7-4 is going to take on our relationship. So, as you can see, I would be thrilled to build a business where I can have the flexibility to spend time with my husband, while also knocking out some school loans!

Please pray for this business, above all else I want this to be a form of ministry for me. I want to see lives changed first and foremost through the Lord, and secondly through self-confidence with Mary Kay!

You might also want to pray about jumping on this opportunity! :)

Be Blessed,
Danielle

Birdies & Sunshine

Okay ya'll! You can breathe now! I know you've been fretting about my poor mother-in-laws car keys, but they are found! Woohoo!!

This morning I went over to my in-laws after dropping my hubby off at work because I had a few minutes before I had to leave for my job and well my apartment is the opposite direction. Even though they're not home they still let me hang out... thanks Baggetts :) Anyways, by the time I pull up to their home the sun is just starting to rise, and it is absolutely stunning! As I walk up to the house you can hear the birds chirping and singing away. For whatever reason this morning I noticed it. So much so that I stopped in my tracks and just paused, soaking in the natural beauty that surrounded me. I don't ever want to become so busy that I don't appreciate the small beauties in life, such as the morning sun rising or birds innocently singing in the wee hours of dawn.

So then I got to thinking, I wonder what kind of verses are out there that talk about the sun, and here are a few!

Psalm 37:6 (NLT) "He will make your innocence radiate like the dawn, and the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun."

Psalm 50 (ESV) "1The Mighty One, God the LORD, speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to its setting. 2Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God shines forth."

Psalm 84:11 "For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless."

What things did you stop and appreciate this morning?

Love you!
me

St. Patty's Day!

*Sigh*

Warning: The first few paragraphs of this blog will be ranting about my not-so-perfect morning :) Proceed if you wish...

You know those mornings when you would give anything to go back to sleep, wake up again, and start over?

Well that was mine today.

Last night Travis and I (along with Uncle Robert, Cullen, Austin, & Kim-- Thank you all!!) moved into our new apartment, which we absolutely LOVE! I was running around like a crazy woman trying to organize before I would collapse and call it a night. I wouldn't call myself OCD, but I definitely prefer a put together and clean home. So to no surprise I went 90 to nothing and looking around 3 hours later, I think we've made amazing progress! We passed out late last night, woke up at 5:30am, ate breakfast, got ready super fast, grab the keys and... where is my lovely purse? My heart starts racing... All the women out there KNOW how detrimental her purse is. I mean a missing purse is like missing a piece of your life, your purse is vital! It has every little detail to aid our days. It is possible to even have a sucessful day withour your beloved purse? Okay, maybe I'm being a little dramatic... maybe not? So I'm racking my brain trying to figure out where it would be hiding amongst this still not-completley-put-together apartment. Luckily after a few minutes I thought "maybe I left it in my sister-in-laws car"... and I did!! We quickly flew over to her place before having Trav at work by 6:40am.

*Phew* Now here comes my commute to work.

I'm driving to work all frantic because I hate being unorganized and losing things. I set my life, I mean purse down at my desk and see my phone has three missed calls from my mother-in-law. She had given me her keys last night to use her car if I needed it to move. Oh no!! My heart starts racing again... I tell her where I think they are, and they aren't there. I'm downtown, 40 minutes from home, and feel utterly helpless and HORRIBLE that I'm putting her in a bind. It's one thing to lose something and drive myself crazy, but when I have to drag someone else in... then it really bugs me. Luckily, she has a great friend who works close to her and offered to drive her. As for the keys, well they're still playing hide and seek, and quite frankly I'm over this game. But, that doesn't solve the fact that I'm racking my brain here at work trying to figure out where in the world they are! Sorry Valerie :(

I blame it all on St. Patrick... Clearly the luck o' the Irish isn't working for me :)

Speaking of St. Patrick... Here are some fun facts for you, even though I'm not Irish.

-According to the Guinness Book of World records, the highest number of leaves found on a clover is 14!

-Legend says that each leaf of the clover means something: the first is for hope, the second for faith, the third for love and the fourth for luck.

That's all I have for now... maybe once I relax & de-stress I'll write more...

Love ya'll!
me

North Vs. South

So the other day at work, the mailman found out that I was from New York and he asked "Tell me three things that are different between NY and Texas..." Well, I'm blatantly aware of how very different these states are, but I've never specifically noted the differences. So this morning as I'm driving to work, I'm noticing, and I figured I would share!

Here I go...


-New Yorkers only dress Cowboy-ish on two occasions: 1. Halloween 2. When we go to Country Fest in which we pose as if we're country. Here, they wear cowboy attire any chance they get.
-The common car in Texas is as big of a truck as you can find, where as in New York people generally drive cars, occasionally some SUV's but RARELY a jacked up F250 turbo, or whatever they're called :)
-People look at me like I have three heads when I order unsweetened iced tea and sweet n' low, you would have thought not drinking sweet tea was a sin!
-There are TONS of mega churches and most of the people here claim Christianity. Up in New York, it's almost epic when you find out someone is a Christ follower.
-Vacation to Texans means go skiing, vacation to New Yorkers means going somewhere/anywhere warm!
-Now Texans, don't get offended on this one... but quite a few Texans use improper English. For example: "I don't have nothing" or "She don't know I'm coming". It makes me giggle inside because for whatever reason, you never hear people speak like that up north.
-Yes it's true, people in the south ARE nicer than people up north.
-Texan's have this crazy Texan-pride thing going on. There are Texas flags EVERYWHERE, I mean does anyone even know if New York has flag??
-Both states enjoy dancing, however when referring to dancing, both are on entirely different ends of the spectrum. Going dancing in Texas means getting your cowboy get-up on, and going to Two-step, Polka, and occasionally some Hip Hop songs, going dancing in New York means dressing very slinky for girls, and very preppy for boy, and bumping and grinding until the wee hours of the morning. There is no "two-step", unless of course it's Missy Elliott style.
-Texas certainly enjoy their fried food... fried okra, fried tomatoes, chicken fried steak... I have to pass on this one :)
-When going out to eat in Texas the restaurant choices are the following: Gringos, Las Hadas, Border Grill, Taqueria, Casa Ole', On the Border, Bullritos, Chipotle'... I mean do you see a theme? If you don't like tex-mex, you won't survive here. Up in the north, we're a bit more diversified in our eating habits.
-When you drive down the road in Texas it is very common to see signs in Spanish, up in the North we prefer the native language of English.
-Ever heard the quote "The bigger the hair, the closer you are to heaven?". Well women most definitely live by that quote here! But I love it, I love me some volume and hairspray :)
-Where I live in Texas, EVERYONE works for some Oil & Gas company. The first time Travis introduced me to a group of guys it went like this... "This is Bob he works for Shell, this is Frank he works for Chevron, this is Andy he works for Lubrizol, this is Peter he works for BP". I'm thinking, is there any other kind of work here! Up in the North I wouldn't say that one sector of business is dominate, it's much more diversified.
-Texas is flat, and to my utter amazement the first time I visited here I learned they have palm trees! New York has seasons and mountains, and trees, lots of trees!
-Texas has the Rodeo, which is absolutely fabulous, and Texans flock to it every year. Pre-Texas I didn't even know rodeo's were real...
-In Texas people love to hunt and shoot things. They have things called "deer leases" in which they set out every weekend and prowl around on some acreage and look for deer to kill. In New York we might go away into the wilderness for the weekend too, but its generally to watch wildlife and soak in the beauty, not so much to seek and kill it. :) (But yes, I do like shooting guns!)
-Texan's say "ya'll", while New Yorkers say "You guys".
-You can drive all day long in Texas and still be in...well Texas. You can drive a day in New York and be two states away.
-It's very common to walk into a Texas household and see some animal hanging up on the wall, up in New York that is virtually unheard of.
-Texas has AMAZING sunsets.

I think that's a pretty good list for now... I'll add more as I notice more.


And at the end of the day, I love them BOTH! It's wonderful to be able to experience such different styles of life!

Sugar Baggett

Yesterday Travis and I decided we had to give away our little puppy, Sugar. We both love her and she has been quite the traveling little pup, however with us both working full time and moving into a small apartment we felt like it wouldn't be fair to her. Not to mention the pet deposit is $500, yikes!

So the bad news is, we had to give her away. The good news is, Travis' aunt and uncle decided to take her. They live an hour and a half away, have another dog, and have 20 acres in the country. She LOVES playing outside and she is going to be in heaven on earth. We'll miss her, but it's the right thing to do at this stage of our lives. :)

Hold fast to the vision

Does life ever throw drastic curve balls at you that leave you utterly clueless? Or perhaps you busy your schedules with so much that your life doesn't even feel like your own? You thought you had such a grasp on what this season of your life should look like, when all of the sudden your world gets rocked...

For me, that seems to be the theme of my last year. Go here, go there, do this, do that, change plans, now wait, don't change plans... I mean sometimes I really feel like my head is spinning out of control. It's at these moments when I find it hardest to maintain a clear vision of why I'm here, what I'm called to, and who I am really am. My Utmost for His Highest devotional for the day was absolutely amazing, and I wanted to share it with you. It blessed my life and inspired me to hold fast to the vision, I hope it does for you too!

Check it out!

VISION-- March, 11, 2010

"I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision." Acts 26:19

If we lose the vision, we alone are responsible, and the way we lose the vision is by spiritual leakage. If we do not run our belief about God into practical issues, it is all up with the vision God has given. The only way to be obedient to the heavenly vision is to give our utmost for God's highest, and this can only be done by continually and resolutely recalling the vision. The test is the sixty seconds of every minute, and the sixty minutes of every hour, not our times of prayer and devotional meetings.

"Though it tarry, wait for it." We cannot attain to a vision, we must live in the inspiration of it until it accomplishes itself. We get so practical that we forget the vision. At the beginning we saw it but did not wait for it; we rushed off into practical work, and when the vision was fulfilled, we did not see it. Waiting for the vision that tarries is the test of our loyalty to God. It is at the peril of our soul's welfare that we get caught up in practical work and miss the fulfilment of the vision.


Watch God's cyclones. The only way God sows His saints is by His whirlwind. Are you going to prove an empty pod? It will depend on whether or not you are actually living in the light of what you have seen. Let God fling you out, and do not go until He does. If you select your own spot, you will prove an empty pod. If God sows you, you will bring forth fruit.

It is essential to practise the walk of the feet in the light of the vision.

my favorite quote at the rodeo

DOUBLE good news!

First good news: my Poppop is doing EXTREMELY well! He is already sitting up and they have moved him from ICU into a regular room. Please continue to have faith and pray for his healing and recovery process.

And on a side note: I want to add that my Poppop is a very healthy man who is not overweight, and religiously takes long walks. If someone with such discipline can get a blockage in his heart, imagine how your heart looks when you eat french fries and cokes regularly. Not preaching, just saying... :)

Second good news: Travis and I signed a lease for our apartment yesterday! We get to move in on Saturday and I am SOO excited! Pictures to come...

Much love,
me

They are new every morning, great is your faithfulness.

I just got word from my daddy that my Poppop is out of surgery and all went well. My mom and grandma can not see him for another two hours, but we are so grateful that there were no complications. His recovery is going to be 6-8 weeks and we have been warned it is a difficult one. However, my Poppop is a very strong man who handles pain with grace. I think he will do beautiful! Thank you Lord for watching over my precious grandfather, and for hearing our prayers!

"The Lord is gracious and full of compassion, slow to anger and great in mercy. The Lord is good to all, and His tender mercies are over all His works." (Psalm 145:8)

"Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray." (James 5:13)



Lamentations 3:22-23 "Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. 23 They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."

"The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much." (James 5:16)


Much Love,
me

l-o-v-e

This morning I randomly began reading some of Moses' writings in Deuteronomy, the last book of the Pentateuch. One neat aspect of this book is that it contains exhuberant dialogue between Moses & God. To no surprise "Deuteronomy" translated from Jewish means "words", how appropriate. The distinct passage I read is included in the second disclosure of the book of Deuteronomy, Chapters 5-28, it is in these chapters that you witness a recap of the ten commandments. Specifically, in chapter 6 you see an amplified version of the first commandment, to Love the Lord with all your heart ,soul, and mind. Check it out:

Deuteronomy 6: 4-9 "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. 5 Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 6 These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates."

I don't think this passage was necessarily reiterated because the Israelites didn't understand it the first time. You see, I believe it was rehashed because they were about to enter into their new land. Moses and the Lord feared that upon enerting into such a "utopia" that temptation to unintentionally forsake their first love, the Lord, might arise. Or perhaps they feared that this new land might bring fresh aspects to everyday life, and allure them to idolize something that has no reason to be placed on a pedestal. The exact reason is a bit blurry, but one could hypothesize why these verses were so imperative.

Moving on...

For some reason, while I was reading these few verses... they struck a different cord within me. To me, it was no longer a simple instruction that a first grader could comprehend. It was a command that embodied so much more. Somehow I think the word "love" symbolized so much more when Moses scribed this. Think about it... in today's day in age we throw the word "love" around so much! We LOVE everything! We love sunny weather, skinny caramel macchioto's iced upside down, glamorous shoes, a perfect hair day, a kick-butt workout, a no-traffic commute, our precious families, and God, the maker of heaven and earth. Some how it just seems odd to have such a perfect and holy person in this category, doesn't it?

I yearn to love the Lord in an extravagant and unique way. A way that is clearly distinguishable from the other "loves", a way that brings glory to the deserving God. I mustered up a few pratical ways that can enable us to fall more in love with Him.

First, we must stop doing things of the Lord as a routine. You know, as if we are checking off our weekly list of to-do's. Merely attending church and reading our Bible efffortlessly does not bring that closeness that He desires. It's not a matter of physically being somewhere, it's a matter of the heart. Therefore, we must first draw close to Him, with an open and vulnerable spirit. James 4:8 (New Living Translation) "Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world."

I also think our belief & faith is vital in achieving that closeness. Excessive doubt, worry and anxiety proves to the Lord that you don't trust Him with full control of your life. Yes, at times things do not make sense, but, the beauty is that  "we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them." Romans 8:28 (New Living Translation).

Thirdly, I think we all need to dwell on the grace and blessings that are bestowed upon us. We should have an attitude of continual praise and joy for we are richly blessed! Even if we are lacking monitarily or physically, we have eternity in the Kindom of Heaven waiting for us, and to me that is enough reason to be continually grateful! Hebrews 11:6 (New Living Translation) "And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him." Psalm 107:1 "Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!"

Fourth, we should love others with an uncondtional and unshakeable love. If it seems hard at first, I urge you to pray that the Lord will give you eyes to see others in the way that He see's them. I can't tell you how much my perspective on others, even strangers has changed since I started praying this. The compassion you feel, and the prompting to pray for others in need is amazingly divine!

Luke 6:27 & 32 "But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you," "If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' love those who love them."

Romans 12:10 "Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves."

Romans 13:8 "Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law."

Hebrews 10:24 "And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds."

I think thats a good place to begin, yet I still feel like I've only reached the tip of the iceburg regarding what it truly means to love the Lord with all our heart, soul, and strength. But, I suppose if I desire to continue seeking, the love will continuously flow!

Now go and love! :)

Love, me

A poem that reflects my drive in life... I love it!

"Making Life Worthwhile"

"May every soul that touches mine -
Be it the slightest contact
Get therefrom some good;
Some little grace; one kindly thought;
One aspiration yet unfelt;
One bit of courage
For the darkening sky;
One gleam of faith
To brave the thickening ills of life;
One glimpse of brighter skies
Beyond the gathering mists -
To make this life worthwhile
And heaven a surer heritage."

George Eliot

Imagine the revolution that would take place if each person yearned to leave this mark on others' lives? It would be amazing!

Update on my PopPop

I just recieved an email from my mom updating us on my PopPop's status... she says: 

"PopPop is out of surgery. The stints look good but he has a large blockage under the aorta which is a hard spot to get to. He will be having open heart surgery Monday or Tuesday after the Plavix medication that he is on is out of his system."

Please continue to pray for him & those who are close to him.

Love, me

My Poppop

Today I ask for prayer for one of the most amazing and generous men I know, my very own poppop.

My mom just gave me news that he has been having heart pains and that they will be going in to try and place some stints in his heart in the morning. He previously had a heart attack as well as stints, so they are unsure if this will work. If stints are not an available option they will have to do open heart surgury right then and there.

Please pray for wisdom for the doctors, for peace for my family, and for little pain for my poppop. He is absolutely wonderful.

Love, me

Honesty is the best policy :)

Dishonesty and bending the truth seem to be a persistent theme in today's society. Seemingly, everywhere you turn awaits one who, without batting an eye, is willing to verbalize a statement that is entirely false, having every intention of you believing it.

I heard of a book called The Day America Told the Truth, this book reports that 91 percent of Americans lie on a regular basis. It goes on to say "The majority of us find it hard to go through a week without lying,". "And one in five cannot make it through a single day without lying." Apparently, we are a lying culture. The problem is that you cannot merely lie once a day and consider your life righteous and pure. You see the Bible encompasses the idea that you can not compartmentalize integrity. If you jeopardize your commitment to integrity in one area of your life the ramifications will desecrate the whole of who you are.

And, I'm not okay that.

Or with mediocre social standards.

I want to be the point of difference. I want others, when they consider me and my friendship, to be able to freely say that I am a person of integrity and honesty. I believe that no matter how arduous the truth is, it is always less piercing then a lie.

I hope I shall possess firmness and virtue enough to maintain what I consider the most enviable of all titles, the character of an honest man.
- George Washington

To be trusted is a greater complement than to be loved.
- George MacDonald

“Yes, what joy for those whose record the Lord has cleared of sin, whose lives are lived in complete honesty.”
Psalm 32:2, NLT

A good marriage is not one

in which perfection reigns;

it is a relationship in which

a healthy perspective overlooks

a multitude of unresolvables.

"In the world ye shall have tribulation:
but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world" (John 16:33).

Sometimes you just need a refreshing verse! Yes we are GUARENTEED to have trials and tribulations. "Signing up" for Christianity does not take away these painful obstacles. But what Christians are able to find amidst the chaos is the unexplainable joy and peace that the Lord is going to protect us and shield us.

Choose Joy!

Love,
T&D

Friday, 2.26.2010.

This morning I was reading these verses and they were so encouraging to me. My heart desires to follow these in complete obedience:

"Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them in all together in perfect unity." ~ Colossians 3:13-14 (NIV)

While reading an online devotional by Margaret Mitchell I was shocked at how much it paralled what I was learning yesterday and how much it applied to this season of my life. Check out a few blurbs from it:

"But if we commit ourselves to remaining in our divinely-assigned role, moving forward in God's purposes, we will witness Him break obstacles and make a way to unity (God's finest), which can involve changing people's hearts and attitudes, promoting people or reassigning those who, by their free will choice, are not willing to cooperate.

Therefore, unity is often a process. And in this process, God forges us, our co-workers, our leaders and our organizations often through the heat of pressure. The reason He has us in this vice is because He's trying to teach us, purify us and position us for promotion. But are we willing to be teachable? Are we willing to die to the limitation of selfishness?
"

I love it! Be teachable, choose to forgive, and stive for unity!

Love,
me

Servant

If you've been around me the last week you might have heard me jokingly complain about how I do all the dirty work for my job. I bleach the refrigerator, I wash the dishes, I pick up after people and deliever all their needs. And yes at some points I do have a poor attitude while doing it. Sometimes I even wonder "who goes to college to be a receptionist and clean up after everyone?"

But then the Lord quickly convicted me that I need to be grateful that I even have a job. Yes it's cliche, but times are tough and I am blessed to be working and compensated fairly decent. Do I wish it was challenging, let me be creative, and not sit at a desk all day? Well of Course! :)But I need to be joyful and thankful regardless. While I was soaking all of this in I was reminded of this verse:

“So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” I Corinthians 10:31

Ultimately it doesn't matter if I'm washing dishes or if I'm a CEO in corporate America, my attitude should be that as if I am doing it unto the Lord, because I am. My devotional today in My Utmost for His Highest, was also about the value of being a servant. Think the Lord is trying to teach me something? You bet! Check this blurb out from my reading...

"The ecclesiastical idea of a servant of God is not Jesus Christ's idea. His idea is that we serve Him by being the servants of other men. He says that in His Kingdom he that is greatest shall be the servant of all. The real test of the saint is not preaching the gospel, but washing disciples' feet, that is, doing the things that do not count in the actual estimate of men but count everything in the estimate of God." (Feb. 25, 2010)

So thats my new life challenge, to willingly serve others expecting nothing in return... no matter how small (as maybe a smile or thank you) or how big the return.

I challenge you to serve today too! See if you're not blessed as you bless others!

Love ya'll!
T&D

The latest...

So here we are in Houston, TX... still settling down from all of our crazy adventures. Travis landed a job as an operator for ITC. Today is his third day and he has done nothing but rave about his company and his job. That thrills me more than you could imagine! It's not very common for someone to actually enjoy their profession AND company. As for me, I'm a temp. receptionist in downtown Houston, and I just got accepted into the Texas Teachers Certification program. My classes begin in March, Lord willing if I pass all my exams I will be able to work as a full-time teacher! I'm not positive, but I think I'm going to get certified to teach Special Education. I have a big heart for those children :) I am very excited about this... I would love to end my day of work feeling as if I have actually accomplished something. As if my hours spent away from home were used to impact someones life... that would be wonderful! So please pray for me, that I can pass all these state tests!

So why haven't I blogged in a while? Well, life gets a bit harder after college. You can try and anticipate how different it will be, but you don't really know until it comes and smacks you right in the face. As much as I loved going to Liberty University, I don't think it sets you up for real life very well. In that I mean, while you are there attending school you have church Sunday morning & night, convocation 3x a week, and church Wednesday night. As most of you know, this is not a "boring church service that makes you fall asleep", it is amazing! They have the most amazing bands, and world renowned speakers flown in to talk to the student body. What I always said was, you cannot attend Liberty, and not be moved as a person. To me, it is impossible to go to LU and not grow spiritually and desire a deeper relationship with the Lord. So for four years of your life you are almost in this "spiriutal bubble". This place where all of your best friends are, those people who are there to encourage you and speak Biblical truth to you.

But, what happens after thsoe four years are gone?

Well for me it meant marrying my best friend and moving far away (6 times) from everything I'm used to. The only person I truly had/and still have is Travis. So for me, if something goes wrong with us... then it's as if my whole world has crashed before me. Of course it hasn't, because my Lord will never leave me or forsake me. But sometimes you need that tangible and physical person to love on and be loved from. Well the past month has brought some battles into Travis and my marriage that I never thought we would have to face... I have truly been learning what it is like to depend only on the Lord. I have nothing else to sustain me, encourage me, or make me joyful. What's more difficult, is I don't have the plethora of church services to attend like I did at LU. We haven't found a church home here in Houston yet, but trust me... I'm on the lookout!

I have undoubtedly realized the importance of maintaining my relationship with the Lord. I can no longer be spoon fed my spirituality and wisdom from God. I must daily seek it out. And most days it is a challenege. Being gone 12 hours a day at work doesn't leave much time for anything. But this is where the real test of life comes in. How will I balance all that is beckoning my attention, and in where will my priorites truly lie? It's all up to me and it's a challenge I'm willing to take. Because to me, I have nothing to lose. I want to be a strong woman of God and I desperately want Travis' and my relationship to be revolutionized. I no longer want to be mediocre or allow sin to seep in. I want to honor purity and privacy in our marriage always. Above all, I want to be able to say that I did my part, I sought the Lord daily and stayed true to my convictions.

We greatly appreciate your prayers!
Love & Miss ya'll!
T&D

Writing again...

So I guess it's time to crawl out of my hole and start writing again.

(Although it isn't entirely my fault for not writing, our wonderful computers hard drive crashed again, losing all my pictures, documents, etc. Therefore, she was at the store getting fixed for a while too.)

So, most of you probably know that we are back in the states now... safe & sound. We are so grateful for being able to come back with no obstacles hindering our departure. I tell you what, nothing makes me more grateful to be back in our homeland than hearing about the devastation Haiti has just experienced. I can't imagine still living in the DR and dealing with that fear & havoc.

So here's a quick synopsis of what we've been doing:

we went straight to NY from the DR and we had a wonderful time up in the snowy north with my family & friends. There's nothing like spending the holidays cuddled up in a blanket next to a fireplace, listening to Christmas tunes and watching the snow fall. It really is magical :) We first intended to stay there, if we had means of working and paying our bills. However, we got overwhelmed with discouragement and decided to come to Texas where we thought the chance of landing a job was greater. So we made the trip by car from NY to Texas. Ironically, we did that road trip exactly a year ago right after we got married. I really hope this doesn't turn into an annual tradition! haha Luckily we got to see some family along the way and that made the trip even better.

We spent New Years Eve (and our One Year Anniversary) in Kansas City, MO with some of my family. Unfortunately we both got the flu and ended up going to bed at 9pm that night. Not quite the way I thought my first married anniversary would go... but I was just glad to be with him. Actually, now that I think about it... we still need to celebrate our anniversary :)

So here we are back in Texas.

Travis' parents have been so wonderful to us and offered us to live with them until we get our feet on the ground. What a blessing that has been for us! Our time right now is being spent by countless hours on the computer for job searching & networking, and of course playing scrabble and farkle.

Travis and I are just trying to survive at this point. Yes it may seem dramatic, but we have encountered a lot of trials in only one year of marriage. Our first four months of marriage Travis worked 7 days a week on nights so we never saw each other, we've already moved 5 times (once internationally), I've had two different jobs in the last year, we established our own tourism company in a third world country (and you know all the obstacles that came along with that), and now its as if we are right back where we started. We have nothing to show for it, and that sometimes gets the best of us.

While our friends are starting to buy their first homes & all their fancy furniture & climbing the ladder at their jobs we are living with our parents and both unemployed. Trust me, we still have it wonderful but these are just the thoughts that Satan tries filling our minds with... that we are failures and will never amount to anything, that we have silly dreams and are immature. But, at the end of the day we must remind ourselves that we truly desired to take the risk that we did. I firmly believe that we would have always regretted it if we didn't try... so now we must recover from our risk. I believe the Lord has something really neat in store for us, it's just the patience that might kill us in the mean time :)

So, please pray for direction for us. For the peace of God to rule in our lives and to not be anxious about what we should do. Above all, I just want to use these experiences to help others and offer encouragement in some way.

Love & Miss ya'll!
D

ps- the picture is of Deer Park, Texas