Reason for my absence, Video, Pictures that prove Spring must be coming and more!

Sorry for the long time since last posting something, my laptop is now finally up and running again thanks to Auntie Jenn and Uncle Dan for letting us use one of their power chords! :) I'm not sure what happened to ours, but it wasn't charging the laptop, so I wasn't able to use it for about a week and a half.

It was actually good for me, (I did go on a couple other computers during that time, but not as much), and I got to see what it would be like to not be able to go on the computer. At times I was frustrated thinking "I really wish I could go on right now. Why can't the laptop just work?" Then I would think, what if God took it away from me forever? Would I be "okay with it" or would I "not be able to stand it?" I still feel like I don't totally understand the aspect of just totally letting go of everything in your life, surrendering it to the Lord, and letting Him have control, but I think this experience (even though it was small) was used to teach me more about what it is like to surrender ALL of the areas of my life to the Lord. Being able to say, God, I surrender my whole life to you, whatever happens, I will give you the glory and will always praise You.

Like I said, I still don't understand it totally, but I think I am learning more and more of what it means to surrender different areas of your life to Christ. One of the things I think I have learned that it means is being able to say "I give this to You Lord. I could live without this. If You took this away from me, right now I would be able to stand it, and be able to say that He is enough for me, even if everything was taken away from me." God is still teaching me, and I'm still learning the process of how to let go of everything myself, and to truly be able to say that if everything else were stripped away from me, I would still have God, and He would be enough to fulfill my deepest desires. He should be being that right now in my life anyways, but I think you know what I mean. This video by Leslie Ludy really touches on what I am talking about, and it came to mind when I was typing, so I thought I would share it with you. It's more geared toward girls, but I think anyone can listen to it, and be encouraged by it.

Isn't that such an encouraging video? I want to be like that guy. If that happened to me, I hope that I would have that same attitude, and be so fulfilled in the presence of God, that even if I was in a dark place for a long period of time, my face would be shining with His love and joy, and I would think that it was like a honeymoon with Jesus, and I would gladly do it again! What a great attitude! And like the video said, we all think we have to have our computer time, our movies, our friends, our starbucks, whatever it is that you go to for comfort when what you really should be going to is the Word of God, time spent talking with God, pouring out your life for other people, etc. There are people out there who are suffering, who have no family, no food, no clothes. And we complain cause we don't like the food, or we want different clothes... Some people don't have any of this stuff! There are so many orphans, and we complain about the tiniest little things that have no eternal value! Sorry, I'm kind of getting off on to a different subject, but I'm just speaking from my heart. I didn't really start this post thinking I was going to write all this. lol. Anyways, like Leslie said at the end of the video, are you willing, my friend, to give it all up now, in order to have a honeymoon with Jesus? I sometimes think about that myself. I think would I do that? I think, how could I live without the computer, or my cellphone, or my blog, or whatever it is? But, I must learn to give these things up, so that I can have a honeymoon with Jesus. (**Not that I think that you have to give it all up, and just totally don't do it anymore, etc. But you have to make sure you are not making it your number one priority, or putting it above God in your life, for then whatever it is that you are putting first becomes like a god in your life. You have to be willing to say, if God asked me to, I would give this up**) I hope that I am making at least a little bit of sense. I just get really tired of lots of different things sometimes. Not that I'm perfect, cause I'm far from it, and nothing without Christ! Okay, I think I will leave this subject now. I may come back to it later, we'll see how it goes. Now for some pictures that I hope prove that Spring has to be coming soon! :)

Abandoned sweatshirts :)

Birds hanging out at the bird feeder :)

Fresh Green Grass! :)

I just stuck this was one in here cause I wanted to post it. I zoomed it in a little, but that's it. :)

Flower Buds on the trees :)

After it rained :)

Well, right now I am eating a yummy chocolate chip peanut protein bar and drinking water in case you wondered. lol. Today Susanna wanted to go for a walk, (we have been wanting to start taking walks/jogs, so we finally started :P ) so her, Mom, Julianna and I went around the block. When we started out it was just drizzling rain, and by the time we had about 5 minutes left, it was raining pretty hard. It was so refreshing and nice though! We were pretty wet when we got back, but like I said it was nice. Julianna and I twirled through the rain as we walked! :)

We did stretch a little before, but I think we are going to be sore tomorrow, cause we pushed ourselves a little bit for the first time. lol. But, it was good. Then we came home, and had eggs, grits, turkey sausage, and raisin bagels for lunch! Yummy to my tummy! lol.

Well, before I head out for the night, I want to share a song with you all that I heard when I was listening to Air1 on-line the other day. It was the first time I had heart it, and I really liked it. I wanted to share it with you, because the words are indeed what I would say to you if I were talking to you face to face. Whatever you are going through, my friend, whether bad, good, or in-between, remember to always be strong in the Lord, and never give up hope. God has His hands on you, don't live your life in fear. I will let the words finish! As you listen to them, know that this is my prayer for you today, and what I hope you will remember and do as you go throughout your day. :)

The Words I Would Say lyrics

Three in the morning, and I'm still awake

So I picked up a pen and a page

And I started writing just what I'd say

If we were face to face

I'd tell you just what you mean to me

Tell you these simple truths

CHORUS:

Be strong in the Lord

And never give up hope

You're gonna do great things

I already know

God's got His hand on You

So don't live life in fear

Forgive and forget

But don't forget why you're here

Take your time and pray

These are the words I would say

Last time we spoke you said you were hurting

And I felt your pain in my heart

I want to tell you that I keep on praying

That love will find you where you are

I know cause I've already been there

So please hear these simple truths

CHORUS

Say... from one simple life to another

I will say... come find peace in the Father

Be strong in the Lord

And never give up hope

You're gonna do great things

I already know

God's got His hand on You

So don't live life in fear

Forgive and forget

But don't forget why you're here

Take your time and pray

And thank God for each day

His love will find a way

These are the words I would say

In Christ,

Karissa Noelle <3