Blissfully Happy... it's been a while

I took this picture a week or so ago while I was still in the book room.  I had taken a bite of my apple and to my surprise the inside was molded and abslutely repulsive.  Rewind to 5 minutes previous, I pulled my apple out of my bag and glanced at it - I hate apples, I don't like how the apple skin gets in between your teeth or the texture of the apple is sometimes mushy (you know the almost bad apples - the ones I always get).  So as I pulled my apple out I took a small and cautious bite. However, it was surprisingly amazing.  It was crunnchy, delicious, and super sweet.  I was shocked.  So the next bite was huge!  I mean I opened up WIDE, and those of you who know me - know that my mouth is pretty big, so I got a chunk outta this thing.  I don't usually look at my food especially when I am doing something else, you know multitasking!, haha but this time I did... Oh my gosh!  I literally threw up!  I was disgusted by what I saw.  By what had just taken occupance in my mouth!  I ran to the bathroom and washed my mouth out with soap.  I know you can already see the analogy... So let's dive in:

Galations 5:19-21
Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

How many times have we fallen to these works of the flesh?  How many times have we been the "christian" on the outside, yet on the inside we are no different then the athiest or the sinner who constantly lives in sin and denies God.  Everytime we sin, we forsake the Lord, and fall AWAY from Him.  Galations says if we do these things we will NOT inherit the Kingdom of God.  How serious is this!  It's serious.  Just like I spit out that apple and sprinted to the bathroom - that's how we should react to sin.  Satan will try and mask it, he will try and make the sin look so pretty...

Let's take drinking for instance.  How pretty and appealing does alcohol look?  I mean seriuosly - the girls that drink in the commercials are soo pretty.  I want to look just like them - so how can I look like them?  Put a bud in my hand, I will be cool then.  Are you kidding me?  Not Cool!  Above in the verse:  Drunkenness is a SIN - however, Satan makes it look so cool and appealing. 

Whenever we are attacked by the devil to sin and tempted to do something that does not bear fruit - we should spit it out and sprint to Jesus and ask him to cleanse us.  But is that what we do? 

Matthew 18:20

Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? So, every HEALTHY tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. ...

This is serious.  If we do not bear good fruit we will be thrown away - just like I threw that apple away.  It was repulsive.  No repulsive thing will make it into the Kingdom of Heaven.  I pray for you today that just like I realized this truth - that you realize it as well.  Be encouraged!  Just because we bear bad fruit everyday - we sin.  We are human, sin will happen.  We pray to God that he will help us not be tempted - but it's going to happen.  But that is why Jesus died for us.  He went through a painful death so that we could be accepted into the Kingdom of Heaven even though we bear bad fruit.  Thank God today for the price he made.  He gives new life to our bad branches - he makes them healthy and fruit bearing. 

BE FRUIT BEARING TODAY!!!


MY TRIP TO HOUSTON!!

Last week I drove to Houston to spend the night and quality time with my "Big Sis" Laura.  She is such an inspiration and I love her so much!!  We are so similar in so many different ways.  I probably kept her up way to late chit chatting, but she just has so much wisdom to impart into my life. 

Her knowledge is vast and deep and her love for the Lord is evident - her marriage is inspiring and the way she loves her kids and others is contagious.  I want to learn from her!  So I drove the 2.5 hours south east and made it in time for dinner.  Her daughters Hannah and Meagan are precious!!  At the dinner table Hannah insisted that I pray - so of course I did.  No big deal!  She was just so cute I couldn't refuse! 

She was also dressed in her pretty princess outfit and gave me like 10 hugs before she could go to bed!  I love that little girl. 

The nextday we went to Sprinkles - and I follow them on Twitter... And I have always gotten their tweets that say "first 50 people to whisper... get a free cupcake"  So at lunch I looked it up and sure enough they had tweeted if you whisper "all roads lead to Sprinkles" you get a free Hazelnut Vanilla Cupcake! It worked! i got a free cupcakes!

WOOOO.  I love sprinkles and CUPCAKES!!!

Sweet Meagan (left) and Hannah (right)

I can't wait until the next time I can see them!!

Thought I would introduce you to the wonderful outside seating at Common Grounds.  This morning it was a great 64 degrees!  It was beautiful!  God's earth is amazing!

I think the different seating is unique and makes common grounds a homey place.  Some place that I can really enjoy my coffee and feel like I am at home! 

I like all of the windows on the wall!  If you want a shabby chic look - this is definitely a cool idea!

I also think the tree through the middle of the outside area is a nice touch!  Makes it feel like we are in a tree house!

Took the liberty of sort of decorating my office last week - so now it feels a little more homey!  I like it I like it alot!  Hope you enjoy!

I can't have an office without MICKEY!! haha and a SCENTSY! which I brough Simply Irresistible on Friday and everybody made fun of me saying it smelt like a baby's diaper - so today I brough Skinny Dippin' and they love it. However, Bart said it smelt like Chocolate -the woman don't agree. 

Dad came in for the BAYLOR/TCU game on Friday - and if you didn't see it... we knocked off No. 14!  WOOO Go BEARS!

We went and ate dinner first at Ninfa's (poor service and disappointing Mexcian food :( oh well!)

Great seats!!!!  WE had a blast!  There is the stadium!  Very underwhelming picture but it is a huge stadium!

That is the Baylor Line.  The Freshman girls get yellow jersey's that say Baylor Line on the front and their nickname on the back!  They get to make the tunnel that the guys run out of. President Judge Starr said that it was the biggest Baylor Line ever!! how cool!

Me and Dad at the game! We had such a good time! :) and of course the military men for my little sister!!! Thought that would make her day

Hope you had a great Labor Day Weekend!  My class got cancelled... so maybe you will see a pinterest or Youtube post later today!  I don't have to tutor until 11.  What to do what to do!

Enjoy and Be Charmed today!

Abby

P.S. Thanks for the prayers - obviously you can tell that I love Baylor and the Lord is blessing me here for my patience and perserverance.  Now if Taylor could only be closer - my life would be complete.  But he is being the best and most encouraging BOYFRIEND ever!  I am so thankful for him.  I am just going to brag for just a moment.  ( I am only saying this because I want you to know how great guys can be and that you should NEVER settle for less - I am so thankful and blessed to have such a strong leader and man of God in my life - be encouraged by this!) 

"I mess up but I love you.  Forgive when we mess up encourage when we fall congratulate in the good and follow the Lord!  I love you!"

How encouraging is that text!  I get those all of the time :)  I am the luckiest girl in the world!!

I am blissfully happy.

The Wait Is Over!!

Taylor and I finally took a picture together and how I'd love for this to be an entire blogpost about how cute and precious he is or how perfect we look together.. I'll refrain because it will probably sound like Delilah and I don't know about you but when I hear Delilah on the radio I want to gag. So I'll jut show you pictures! And if you want to comment.. Feel free!


Did I tell you that Taylor brought me to St Louis this weekend? We drove up after he got off work on Friday and brought my cousin Trey and his girlfriend Madison. They are juniors in college. It's so wonderful how Taylor was thinking about us and our witness and how we should NOT come alone to a city! Taylor is great and always takes the high road with me! Love it!

We got up today and went downstairs for hotel breakfast and it was $12 a pop so we went to McDonalds!!

Then it started raining so we chilled in the hotel room for a while and finally left and went to the Galleria where we had Panda Express - I do not know what it is about mall foo courts but they rock! We saw several cubs fans and because Taylor is a Huge cubs fan he had to talk to them all!

When we came up here Dad was still trying to get us tickets.. Well we got them around 1:30! They were great seats behind 3 base line! however, it would have been nice if i would have known the game started at 3!  at 3:30 Taylor received a text from a buddy asking where we were sitting.. hey guess what!  we were still at the mall! So we rushed to the stadium (about 15 minutes) made some great friends at the parking lot and then ran inside!  Our seats, again, were wonderful and we had just the most wonderful time.





Here we are at the food court!  First official picture together!! Adorable!





In the suit store waiting on our boys - this is Madison and she is dating my cousin Trey! She was so much fun to hang out with this weekend!






This was Maurice and he helped Taylor pick out a suit for next weekend.  Okay let me let you in on a little something special in Taylor's life (besides me haha joke!)  Taylor is getting the honor to perform the wedding ceremony at one of his great college friend's wedding's next weekend.  How awesome is that.  So he had to get a suit - which is a great purchase for a 22 year old. He needed a suit.  Well, this suit was wonderful. and Looked very handsome on him.  I am getting to go to the wedding and I am wondering what I should wear - I will probably call my friend Amy, she is the best dressed... EVER!  I wish she lived with me!  She should most likely come over this week to check out my options.  I will give her a call.





Taylor in his suit!  Love it!  OKay - can i just state again if I haven't before how crazy I am about this boy and how excited I am to see him do his job.  He has been going over notes and praying about this sermon for a while and I am thrilled to see what God has in store for this couple - And I get to be there!  Have you ever been with your family, boyfriend, or friend and just been in utter joy that you were with them... that is called BLISS my friend! And I have a ton of it right now!  This boy makes me soo happy.  Oh, and I am excited to sit and watch him do a great job... can you be excited for that?  I am.





Here we are at the Cards Cubs game.. which the Cubs lost MISERABLY at.  However, the cubs came back today and won 6-3.  Touche Clark!  Taylor does not meet a stranger so everybody we saw ALL DAY that had a cubs shirt on, he had to talk to!  We got some crazy stories, but for the most part - I have learned that Americans are very friendly people and if you are being authentically genuine - they will be the same back to you and it will all work out!  Be inspired to be authentically genuine to a stranger tomorrow.. whether that be in the gym, at the store, or even driving - wave, say something nice, ask about something positive!  You will find bliss.





The gang at the game!  We had so much fun altogether and let me tell you something - madison can talk some smack!  The cubs were not playing veryw ell, the GM got kicked out, bad play at third, lowsy call at second - and they could not hit - 3 up 3 down every inning but the first.



After the game we went to Cheesecake Factory and there was an hour wait to get a beeper!  and then a 2 hour wait after that.  we said - no thanks!

and headed to red lobster -

Rules of the trade:

1.Get the Coconut Shrimp!
2. Get the Lobster Pizza
3.  DONT FORGET DESSERT _ CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIE AND ICECREAM!



No lie - it was gone in a blink of an eye - and it was GOOD!




Me and Taylor - Still with that silly hat on - At least I know he is faithful and loyal!!  :)






So Today - with everything going on... I have decided to sit in peace in the knowledge that God sees everything, he knows everything, and he holds me together!  He knows what is coming up and what shall pass!

Deuteronomy 32:3-4 I will proclaim the name of the LORD.  Oh, praise the greatness of our god!  He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all His ways are just.  A faithful God who does no wrong, upright, and just he is!

I am sooo impatient!  I want the answers NOW!  However, I bet God is laughing.  He is probably saying oh my child - have you learned nothing.  How many of us wander in life and think why isn't this working out - why isn't everything happening like it should.  It's because we don't have the missing puzzle piece - JESUS.  It is so bard sometimes to see God's hand and his plan at work, but walking daily and praying daily for his hand and his help and guidance in faith knowing that HE HAS REASONS AND HIS PLAN IS PERFECT!

Psalm 33:11 - But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations.

Yes sir, that is a true verse!~  As everything in life starts wokring out again, and everything begins to unfold - I always feel so silly - like Look at your perfect plan jesus!  Your wonderful timing - WOW!!   Every curve, every tear, every bump and bruise had a purpose - and that purpose gave me a divine conspiracy.  He formed me - he knew what would happen!

I hope you are encouraged to slow down and be patient!  God does have a plan - and if you are unsure what that is right now... GET EXCITED!! that just means the best part of the story is yet to come!!  YAY!

Have bliss in a charmed way!

Abby

Ms. Worry Wart!

Today I have really been searching the Word for a peace about troubled times.  No I am not without food, shelter or clothing - so I am more privileged and well-off than over 75% of the world.  However, my heart is not peaceful right now - I am not completely happy and I am worrying about something - which I can't tell you because I don't know what it is.

Have you ever woken up in the middle of the night and been stressing out about something only to realize that you are stressing about some fight or test that was occurring in your dream? That is how I feel right now.  Am i stressing about something stupid?  Am I worrying about something non-existent... something is wrong in this picture.

So I searched the scripture with a prayerful heart - and this is what I found...

When doubts filled my mind, your comfort gave me renewed hope and cheer - Psalms 94:19

But I urge you - if you are feeling like I am... read Habakkuk - all 3 chapters!  It is amazing!
Habakkuk is completely trusting God even though God has pretty much told him that He will destroy Judah.  Here are the verses that stuck out to me:

Habakkuk 3:2,16c,18

2.  Renew them in our day, in our time make them known, in wrath remember mercy.
16c. Yet I will wait patiently for the day of calamity to come on the nation invading us
18. yet I will rejoice in the Lord - I will be joyful in God my Savior.

Habakkuk affirmed that even though life was going to be hard he would wait for the hardships and he would wait patiently on them.  I know I have said it before and I will continue to say it -

PATIENCE IS NOT MY VIRTUE>

I don't think about it, I don't do it, and I am NOT good at it.  But Habakkuk says not only is he going to wait on the protection and mercy and love of the Lord, but he is going to wait PATIENTLY on the calamity - that is the BAD STUFF! holy cow!  are you kidding me... so by canonizing this book - is God telling me that not only do I need to wait PATIENTLY on the desires of my heart but on the calamity to happen in my life?

And then 2 verses later Habakkuk says when nothing makes sense, when I don't even have the strength to continue - I will rejoice in the Lord - and be joyful in God!

I am a girl - so as you can imagine - Cinderella is someone I aspire to be.  I want to get married and have kids and be successful.  I also want to timidity that Cinderella has - let's just be honest - it's not going to happen.  However, it is a desire of mine to be married one day - hint: ONE DAY and have children.  I am learning slowly right now that I must CONSTANTLY rejoice in the LORD everyday in the little things in life - because it might not necessarily be my time right now - but if I continue to rejoice in the Lord - he will do what David talked about in Psalms 94:19 (above) He will give me comfort and a renewed hope and cheer.

None of us are completely worry free - however, God's presences gives us the comfort and the strength that we need to bounce back, sometimes not immediately, but when doubt fills our mind - God is there READY TO COMFORT US!  Today, I hope I have enouraged you to lean on God - no matter what life throws at you!  Pour your heart on Him and He will comfort you and bring you back to that Charmed Bliss!

The joy and hope of the Lord be with you always!

Abby