New Horizons

my mind is heavy with all of the things I need to do, but can't do. resume. cover letter. decision making. Ahhh. it makes my mind get all jumbled up.
when I started college, I chose communication studies as my degree because of the flexibility. i didn't know what I wanted to do while I was a freshman.
and then a sophmore.
and then a junior.
and finally a senior.
i have ideas of what I want my life to be about, but there are so many decisions.
stressed out?
a little.
trying to just rely on God and be motivated to do the things that I need to do. never knew a job search would be this hard.
am i qualified for the job posting?
ugh.
these are just a couple of my small worries. God tells us to not worry about our lives, about what we will eat or about what clothes we will wear.
makes me appreciate God more. He alone knows my future. i can try to imagine it but ultimately He knows it and that's a very good thing my friend.
so, i take time to pause right now.
breath in and out.
keeping God as my rock and my fortress.
praying that He alone will be my peace.
God is so good.
i just wanted to write down some of my heart in these busy and crazy days.
let God be your peace and joy.

Peppermint Tea Ponderings

At the moment, I am currently drinking a hot glass of peppermint tea (which my sweet roommate made me). I'm not a typical "tea drinker", but I am fond of this particular kind of tea. I have contracted a cold, which makes homework a big drag, and a nice cup of tea a pleasure. I just got finished watching the movie "Runaway Bride". I related to the character of Maggie. Maggie tried to be "the one" to many men, but in the end she realized that she didn't know who she was. She had dreams and aspirations that she had never acted on. In the end, she finds out "who she is" (as much as that sounds cliche). I find myself acting like everyone else at times. Trying to be what others want me to be, instead of what God has created me to be. God has given each of us unique talents, gifts, abilities, and strengths.
1 Corinthians 12:14-19 says:
"For the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot should say,"Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body, " that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as He chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body."
Just realizing that God has given us each different-unique talents is a blessing. We all can't be opera singers or Heisman trophy winners, but we can be the person that God has created us to be....and we can glorify Him with the gifts that He has blessed us with!

Peace,
Lisha

Choosing the Right Path

A little bit over a month ago, I heard a sermon on the narrow way. Matthew 7:13-14 says, "Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it." The picture above is supposed to be a reminder of that truth. The person above is at a crossroads. They can choose the easy and wide road (which is symbolized by the concrete path) or they can choose to take the narrow road (which is symbolized by the leafy path). The narrow road is not easy, but it is so worth it! Luke 9:23 says, "And He (Jesus) was saying to them all, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me." This is tough. I am so consumed in selfishness that this verse is hard to live out. It's a daily thing. Every day we must get our eyes focused on Christ. We are called to be the hands and feet of Jesus in this lost world. We are called to share the Good News of what Jesus has done for us. This is an amazing privilege, and so many times I see it as a task or duty, instead of a blessing. So my question for you is this: Which path are you on? If you're on the broad path, get off of it. It leads to destruction and death. Get on the narrow path. It leads to life.

~Lisha

I am a Victor not a Victim!

God has been convicting me recently of how I look at myself as a victim instead of a victor. When I see myself through the eyes of a victim, I see all the negative things about me and my life. I focus on the negatives, and form the "woe is me" attitude. Yes, of course there are hard days in my life, but that does not mean I should just give-in to this attitude.

So instead of a victim attitude, what type of attitude am I supposed to have?

I should be having a "victor" attitude. I am a victor through Jesus Christ. Jesus came to earth, died on the cross for my and your sins, rose again the third day, and is now seated at the right hand of God! Because I have chosen to believe these things, and because I have asked Jesus Christ to be the Lord and Savior of my life, I am a victor through Him! I can have peace knowing that my Redeemer lives inside me and will carry me through the tough times. He is my light in this dark world!

Hope this brings you encouragement today! Love you all!

-Alicia

thinking, thinking, thinking, thinking, thinking

So, I've always known that critical thinking is not one of my strengths...I just don't like to think that hard...I would rather think creatively. I'm trying to write a philosophy paper...note the word "trying." Very tedious, very time consuming, very...I don't know. Honestly, I felt like crying...I couldn't figure out what I was supposed to be writing about.
In life we have these moments (those Ughhh moments), and thank goodness...yes, you heard me right, "Thank goodness." Without those times where we don't have a clue what we're supposed to do, it seems that God becomes a little more real. We start talking to Him, and asking Him for help. How many times do I think I can do something on my own? Many times for sure. So, even though this college student is facing a daunting task, she will get through it with God's help.

Have a good night!
-Lisha

Early Morning Thoughts

Lake Shore Ponderings

Ever
Wonder
What                                                                 
It
Would
Be
Like
To
Fly?

I have. I think it would be amazingly fun. I've thought about taking flying lessons, but until my bank account "soars", I won't be doing that anytime soon. :) Sometimes in life, it seems that we are "flying"...we are experiencing the "height" of life....and sometimes, it seems that we are flying through fog...we can't see the beautiful scenery...we can't feel the sunshine...we are just lost and concentrated  on getting through this "barrier". Our concentration should be on God. He will guide us and never ever leave us. He is a constant companion...sometimes we're just not listening...or we're just tuning out His voice. So even though we all face depressing days, we know that we will soon see a crack in the clouds and see the sunshine once again. I hope this provides you encouragement....
In my quiet time today, I read one of my favorite passages:

"Hear my cry, O God, listen to my prayer; from the end of the earth I call to You when my heart is faint. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I, for you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the enemy."            (Psalm 61:1-3)

"Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint." (Isaiah 40:30-31)

                                      Fly!
                             To
                     Get
           You
Hope

Lisha