My latest blessing

I've always been a bit unsure of myself. I always tried to blend into the framework...and couldn't handle the spotlight for fear of criticism. I've started getting involved with stuff, and am becoming more comfortable with taking compliments and criticism alike.

Anybody who is close to me knows I LOVE to learn. If there's something I'm interested in, I have a hunger for anything/everything I can learn about it. I never thought about the benefits of this, just the fact that I can learn to do stuff myself and save money (more toys for less money!). Since I've started on my degree in Information Technology: Network Administration, I've been waist-deep in anything I can learn. In one of my classes, there are roughly 10 people...not a huge class. I don't pay much attention in class--but that's beside the point. After class tonight, I stuck around for a couple minutes just talking to the prof. He is self employed and does very well with his startup company. Out of nowhere, he was telling me that he was impressed by what I know, how quickly I pick stuff up, and he told me that if I am still looking for a job in June/July (once I've got my certifications in A+, Net+, and Security+) that we'd 'talk'!

I've never had a job offer before, but I'm absolutely amazed by his offer. Granted, it wasn't a true job offer ("I'll give you $xxx to come work for me"), but that really made my day.

I'm not a vain person, but God has truly blessed me with many gifts. I only hope that I can glorify him through my gifts.

Now if I can just figure out how to be as interested in the Bible as I am other things...anybody have a good suggestion?

My wallet and my heart

Jesus spoke often about money during his time on Earth. Money is what makes the world go 'round. I've somewhat worshiped money all my life. It wasn't money for the sake of money, but has always been one kind of toy or another. Tithing seemed unimportant to me growing up.

When Casey and I first started dating, we were tithing like we should have been (funny thing about really connecting with a church!). She changed jobs and we no longer had the money to do so. We have given a little bit here and there as we have been able to. With the upcoming financial issues we're preparing for, we wanted to start tithing again. Last week we gave some (not what we are asked, but what we were able). This week we had even less to give. We had settled on an amount on the way to church, and were going to trust that we would be provided with the money to make it until next Friday. When we got to church, a fellow church member cornered Casey and wrote us a check (a very belated wedding gift). That really made our day, and gave us the ability to give our full tithe.

Trusting God to provide for us through the current and coming struggles is difficult, but we're trusting Him one M&M at a time. The great part about the 'Wait' series we're hearing in church right now, is that God is faithful and is showing us on a daily basis that what PK is saying is totally true. God has blessed us so much, and that just helps us to become closer to Him.

Sin and soda (This is for April 5th)

Some may think I'm crazy but I don't care. I see a link between the two.

I used to drink carbonated beverages quite frequently. They didn't bother me in the least. I decided to stop drinking them because it's not healthy, and I've been without it for a few years now. Every time I go back and drink some (on very rare occasions), I notice it nearly makes me sick.

It seems to me that sin is the same way. If you constantly fall for the same trap, you get to where it doesn't bother you--as you begin to justify it. Once you've been freed of that sin, if you are tempted to and succumb to it again it really sits heavily on your heart.

Don't worry, be happy...or something!

Casey found out today that she can take classes for CNA certification on Tuesday and Thursday nights. That is a blessing and a challenge all wrapped in one. The first is that she will have to do stuff for her math class outside of class (because its on Thursday). Then clinicals will be Saturdays and Sundays at the end of her class.

The good news is that she can work more hours (as opposed to taking classes from 8-12 M-F), so that means we're more financially sound than we were thinking we would be. It's definitely not going to be easy, but it will be doable.

We've both been struggling somewhat with the money aspects of what we're doing, but we have faith that God will provide for us--not make it easy mind you--but help keep a roof over our heads and food on our table. It's very difficult to give this all away, but we've just got to trust that we'll get 4 more M&M's when this 15 minutes is up...that way we can eat :)

My wife, my best friend

My wife is wonderful. I don't tell her that enough, but I try to every time I remember. There are many things I really appreciate about her:

-She is outspoken. I don't have to worry about whether she agrees/is upset/etc.
-She fights fair. When she is unhappy with me about something, she doesn't cut me down but she does get her point across.
-She manages to remember all the stuff I can't.
-She works hard from the moment she gets up (about 90 minutes before me daily), and still manages to stay up as late as I do.
-Without her, I'd be late going places, I would have a horribly messy house (I really need to help her more with this), I'd forget EVERYTHING.

My wife is my best friend. She doesn't let me be lazy or selfish (that's a full time job by itself), and she loves me in spite of my shortcomings. I know I'm difficult to deal with, but she does it very well. What a blessing she is to me. Maybe one of these days I'll be the same for her.

God give me motivation

Phillipians 4:13 says: "I can do all things through Him who strengthens me." I could use some of that strength right now to push on and continue doing my work for my classes. I'm burnt out on work, but moreso homework. I have 3 certifications to study for, 4 classes to do (for the certs), and a full time job. I haven't had time off--other than sick days--since my honeymoon 9 months ago. I need time off, but at this point that time off would be dedicated to studying (or maybe just playing Xbox and KNOWING that I should be studying).

My prayer for today is that God gives me the strength to carry on and keep at this.

I'm listening

I'm sitting here trying to come up with a "what I learned today" or something that God has been trying to teach me...but I'm coming up with nothing. That's okay though, I don't have to hear or learn something every day.

One thing I have noticed is that I am, and likely will continue to have problems with my tongue. What goes in, WILL come out...and all the music I listened to, all the movies I watched, and the things I hear my coworkers say all have an affect on what comes out of my mouth. Without a doubt, it has gotten better--but better isn't good enough. I'm not going to lose my drive, because I know I'll get to where I don't have to censor everything I say. I just have to stop filling my mind with them, and they will stop coming back out (eventually).