Give it Up

If you had to give up one thing today, what would be the hardest thing for you to give up?

Your iPhone? Your computer? Your job? Your friends? Your family?

 

Desires

The other night my friend Christina and I went out for sushi. I have found my new sushi soul mate since my dear Maegan went back to America.

Christina and I could eat sushi probably 5 times a week if you let us. When we go to sit down, we immediately look at what is going by and just start taking plates off of the conveyor belt. Then, we realize that we have 5 plates each in front of us and that we should get to eating. This happens almost every.single.time. What can I say? We LOVE sushi.

Anyway… while we were nommin on some raw fish, I started talking about the desires of my heart. Telling her how I want to get married. How I want to become a mother. Then in my head I was thinking of all of the other desires of my heart. How I want to see my Japanese friends come to know Christ. How I want to see my family turn towards the Lord and love Him with every ounce of their heart.

I then asked her: Do you think that the Lord puts desires in our hearts if they aren’t meant to be made true? How I want to be married and be a mother. What if I die before it happens? Would the Lord give me those desires?

I know that I can die at any moment. I know it sounds morbid, but it is true. Every second, I am closer to going to heaven. Closer to seeing Jesus on His throne. Closer to seeing those streets of gold.

What do you think? Do you think that the Lord would put desires in our heart if they weren’t meant to be accomplished?

Joy

This week has been nothing less than amazing.

My heart is so full of joy.

A type of joy that only comes from our Father.

This week, I have been showered with so much love and encouragement from all over. From friends here in Japan to friends back in America to friends in different parts of Africa.

I have been challenged by my friends to dig deeper into the word of God to understand what the scriptures really mean. I have been told by friends that the Lord is going to be doing something amazing in my life in the next month. I have spent time with wonderful friends who really care about my heart. I have cried with friends over Skype about the amazing things that the Lord is doing in our lives. I have laughed more than I have in a really long time. I have grieved because an amazing friend went home to be with Jesus. I have cried, literally, out to the Lord to let him know my hearts desires and that they would be not of my own flesh but a desire that He has placed in me.

This week has been a week of joy. Some people will think that these things aren’t all that you would be joyful over.

But, I am.

I am joyful and thankful that the Lord has placed these things in my life.

He is growing me.

He is molding me.

He is loving on me.

He is giving me joy.

How has your week been?

10 Years

This time 10 years ago, I was discussing with my friend about my salvation. We were both wondering if we were really saved or of it was satan just making us doubt.

It was high attendance Sunday at my church. I had invited a lot of my friends to go to church with me. My friend, that I was talking about my salvation with, was there and she told me that she knew that she was a Christian. I on the other hand wasn’t so sure.

I was sitting on the blue couch in the youth room. My youth leader gave a great lesson on believing and trusting the Lord with all that we have. One of the youth helpers, Laura, got up to give the plan of salvation. She gave the prayer and everything. I prayed to the Lord with all that I had. I admitted that I am a sinner and that I am not perfect. I believe that Jesus is the son of God and he died on the cross for my sins. I then confessed that I wanted to make Jesus the Lord and Savior of my life.

It was at that moment, that I gave my life to Jesus. I knew that I was saved. The Lord had saved me from the depths of Hell and from eternal suffering.

It was September 9, 2001.

I felt funny because I didn’t know what to do even though I did know what to do. I didn’t want people to think that I was being a fake Christian or whatever. Well, during the altar call, I went up front. I told my pastor that morning in Sunday school, I gave my life to Christ. He was totally surprised. He didn’t know what to think. My mom was in the kitchen cooking a meal for all of us to eat after service. She came up and she didn’t know what to think either. It was a total shock to everyone.

Today, I am 10 years old in Jesus. It has been a rough 10 years, but the Lord is forever faithful and he has pulled me through lots of hard times. I know that it isn’t easy to be a Christian and things aren’t perfect, but this was THE most important day of my life.

I pray that if you aren’t a Christian and you have questions about what I am talking about, please feel free to email me or leave a comment.

Jesus is waiting for you to let him come into your life.

Well hello my friends.

It has been quite some time since I have posted on here.

Lately, I have been enjoying my time at home with loved ones. I have been soaking it all up so, I have forgotten about my blog. Just being honest.

Things that I love about being here in America with my family; My sister coming into my room and jumping on my bed, like a crazy person, for 30 seconds or more before we even say a word to each other. Getting to pet and love on my cat whenever I want. Having home cooked meals (I haven’t cooked a meal in almost 3 weeks :]). Sleeping in my marshmallow bed. Seeing all of my wonderful friends. Telling people about how Jesus changed my life this year and in a way that I was totally not expecting. Hearing amazing testimonies of friends coming back to Jesus.

As all of those things are truly wonderful but, I miss Japan. I miss the wonderful people who I work with. I miss my dear friend Danielle more than words can say. I miss Sunrise Court 203. I miss all of my precious students saying, “Ms. Maroli”

Why do we always have to be missing something? Why can’t we be content in our current situation? Don’t get me wrong, I love being here in America. But no matter where I am in the world, I will be missing something or someone.

The answer is that this Earth is not our home. Our home is in Heaven.

And today, I am longing for heaven.

Store

Random thought for today:

I’m thankful that I cannot purchase my God in a store.

He is much bigger than that.

Cake and Jesus

Last week seemed to be a success. I’m glad that everyone enjoyed that lovely video that I posted. I will be sure to find more for all of you.

This week:

~ cakewrecks.blogspot.com
This site is hilarious. It is exactly that.. cake wrecks. Sometimes I don’t think that people are really using their heads when they think something is a good idea but then… it turns out bad. ENJOY!

~ Ellen. Holy Moses… she is stinking hilarious. I know that it has been about 2 years since this video was aired, but sometimes you need to be reminded of the hilariousness that comes from this show. Watch this video… I PROMISE… it is not gross. I love Jesus but drink a little. And I think that we can take away a lot of great ideas from this lady.

~ laughing. If you haven’t laughed today, you need to watch that video. Laughing is one of my most favorite things to do and if I haven’t laughed all day long, something is VERY wrong with me.

 

Ok well enjoy and let me know what you think!

 

 

taken off guard

Jesus loves you.

This was said to me this morning while I was workin at the bux. I handed the lady at the counter her coffee and commented on how cute her purse was and gave her the left over change. She then replied with “Thanks, have a great day and Jesus loves you.”

If you were the next person in line or a small fly on the wall you would have thought that I was spacing out. I was trying to remember if I really had heard someone tell me that Jesus loves me.

But WHY is this something that takes me off guard? Shouldn’t I be excited that someone wanted to bless me this morning? Yes, it did touch my heart and made me smile, after I realized what was said, but it is not the norm nowadays.

People usually don’t even say anything to me. Even after I tell them to have a great day or thanks for coming in.

hmmmm….

What is something that has taken you off guard?

Happy Birthday!!!

I love birthdays and I have been called a birthday snob about it too!

I love my actual birthday but what I love even more, my half birthday.

I love my half birthday because it is a super special day. A day that I will always remember. A day that I hope most people will remember. The day that Jesus became my Lord and Savior. That was 8 years ago today. I thought that I had asked Him to do this before but I didn’t really mean it.

September 9, 2001 was the day that I gave my whole life over to Christ. It was the day that I really understood what it meant to become a Christian. Everyone was shocked. They couldn’t believe that I wasn’t a Christian already. Yes, I had gone to church my whole life. Yes, I had been on mission trips. Yes, I attended Vacation Bible School every year prior. But, I am so thankful that I dedicated my life to Christ on this day.

What makes my spiritual birthday even more life impacting is that 2 days later, the United States of America was attacked. 9/11/01.

I remember people coming up to me and asking for me to pray for them and for their families. I knew from the beginning that Jesus had great plans for me and wow… my spiritual walk started out with a BANG!

I always celebrate my “birth”day with a lovely Starbucks adventure.

When is your spiritual birthday? How do you celebrate it?

Working…

Yes. I am working!

I got a job at Starbucks and it is amazing. I am so excited that I am getting this opportunity to work at such an amazing company.

I love the environment and it is so much fun! I love all of the people that come in and my coworkers already know what they want because they come in everyday. I hope that I am able to know what people want to drink soon!

Right now I would really like a Grande Carmel Cinnamon Dolce with 4 shots.

But when I was leaving work the other day, and walking to my car, there was a lady that was getting yelled at by a man. It connected in my head that she was his “lady” and that he apparently didn’t like what she did. My heart instantly broke because this lady was NOT being treated how she should. I wish I had the guts to stick up and tell that guy to shut up and treat her properly but I don’t think he knows how to do that.

Here lately, my heart has been breaking for people. I have been wanting to share Jesus more and more. I want people to know what true LOVE is and what it feels like. How it feels when no one will ever leave you and will always love you through no matter what.

What are you doing to share the love of Christ?