Randomness: Weddings of 2013, treatment & finale!

Long time, no write :(

I'm so sorry I've been absent for awhile, but I'm back!

I've been busy, busy!

 

One of my best friends got married this past Saturday and I was her maid of honor.

We've been friends since 3rd grade. Crazy, huh?!

I'm so happy for her & feel honored to be a part of her beautiful day!

She was gorgeous AND although it was very hot (outdoor wedding), it didn't rain!!

It was a beautiful ceremony focused on Christ being the foundation of a marriage.

Now the happy couple are on their "mini-moon" and I can recoup from the festivities.

I would never let Lyme Disease get in the way of a beautiful union like 2 of my best friends' weddings the past couple months!

Here are a few pictures from this weekend...

 Getting my hair done!

 Viola! Isn't that a cool hairstyle?!

 The Bride & I :)

 The Brides of 2013

 The Bride & her maids

 

Not only have I been busy with Mindy's wedding, I have continued my IV treatments.

It has continued to be rough because of the dying of bacteria (Herxhiemer reaction), but luckily, I have seen the fruits of this not-so fun treatment protocol.

I went to the doctor a few weeks ago and for the first time in a long time...drum roll please... we can see some improvement! It wasn't a huge improvement, but it's a few rays of light coming through the end of the tunnel. I've only been on IV for a month & a half so that's pretty good...I'll take it!

Hopefully, I'll be able to make even more progress so I won't have to have this lovely (not) PICC line for 6 months, but I guess if that's what it takes, I'll have to tough it out.

Also, our gofundme fundraiser to help pay for this treatment (not covered by insurance) is going really well! Although we have not met our goal, we can feel God providing! If you don't mind, please keep me in your prayers for both healing & finances...thank you so much!

 

Last but not least, I started reading a new book titled, Red Letter Revolution. Woa-it's really good! So good that I've had to put off my finale post of Following in Your Footsteps series. There is too much good stuff that has opened my eyes even more to following in Christ's footsteps. So get ready, the next post will be the last post of the series (hopefully tomorrow)!

Bible Reading Plan:
Today: Isaiah 31-35
Tuesday: Isaiah 36-41
Wednesday: Isaiah 42-44
Thursday: Isaiah 45-48
Friday: Isaiah 49-53
Saturday: Isaiah 54-58

 

 PS- Kindle & Nook have a special sale price on A Year of Biblical Womanhood by Rachel Held Evans for only $2.99 until the 31st! I'm not paid to advertise this either, I just love the book so much, I figured I'd share this awesome deal with you!

 

So much to talk about...choices, choices, choices!

I have so much I want to write about it! Don't worry though, I'll try and limit myself. I don't want to bore you with a novel, but sheesh, there's so much to write about!

So I've been reading a lot the past 2 days (because I haven't felt like doing anything else). These are the 3 things I've read: my Bible, "His Princess: Love Letters from Your King," and "Sincerely, Jesus". Man, God has given me some good stuff to read, let me tell you. "Sincerely, Jesus" is by Edward Goble (I got it free on my Nook!) and it is about the letters that Jesus wrote to the seven churches listed in the book of Revelation. Although the letters were addressed to these seven groups, Goble explains how Jesus is talking to us, too. It's a short read, filled with historical information and tons of Jesus' promises for us that relates to our daily lives. I'm so glad I found it and look forward to reading it again. "His Princess: Love Letters from Your King" is by Sheri Rose Shepherd and is a devotional book that is in the form of letters from God. It is beautifully written for any age. So many times I finish reading a chapter/devotion in tears. Lastly, today's reading for the year long reading plan was chapters 7-8 in the book of Matthew. Out of these 3 books, God has filled my head with so much to write about! I decided to write about the reoccuring theme of the 3 books...choosing the right path.

I don't know about you, but I'm not real good at making decisions. I don't know if it's because I doubt my discernment or I just don't like making decisions. I've realized though lately that as long as I'm focusing on God, His will for me, and obeying Him; I can't go wrong. Jesus says, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes through the father except me" (John 14:6).

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." So you may be wondering, "What's all this gate talk about? I haven't went through a gate."   Well, if we look at John 14:6 again, we know that Jesus is life, therefore, to go through the "narrow gate", all we have to do is believe and follow him. The wide gate is what the rest of the world goes through. If you want life, you want Jesus.  Simple as that. But you may be thinking, well I'm living and I don't need Jesus. The truth is, when we don't have Jesus we don't experience what true life is and we definitely don't get to experience eternal life.  Basically, if you want destruction (which I don't see why), go through the wide gate. Do what everyone else is doing. I know it may be the easy thing to do, but is it really worth it? If you want life (sounds so much better than destruction), go through the narrow gate - Jesus.

Romans 12:2 says, "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will." When we are walking on the narrow way, following Jesus, we are able to figure out what God's will is for us. Decision making becomes less complicated. It will still be hard at times, since we are competing with the world and our fleshly desires so we must choose Jesus' path everyday. Like I've talked about before, it becomes easier when we use our faith in the reward God has promised us. Goble says in "Sincerely, Jesus", "Sometimes the footing is tricky because there is an enemy lurking in the shadows who will do anything to get you off the path." Satan wants us to do the things that everyone else is doing, so he is going to work his butt off to tempt us, but keep in mind when we follow Jesus' path, we recieve life. All Satan can offer us is destruction, but Jesus offers us eternal life. That should be a pretty easy decision right there...who are you going to choose? Do you want destruction or life?

Let Jesus be your way...your truth...and your life. When our faith is in Him, choosing which path to take becomes simple.  Proverbs 4:26-27 says, "Watch the path of your feet and all your ways will be established. Do not turn to the right nor to the left; Turn your foot from evil."  Goble says, "When we repent and place Jesus in the central place of honor and love in our heart, He will be our strength and energy for life. (p. 51)" When we start to slip off the narrow path (and it will happen, but don't freak out!), all we have to do is  refocus our eyes on the "way" (Jesus). Choose the narrow gate. Choose the narrow path. Choose life. Choose Jesus. It's worth it.

 

Today is the day that we choose a new bible verse to memorize, mine is Romans 12:2. Let me know what verse you are memorizing by leaving me a comment!

Also, are you joining the read-your-bible-in-a-year plan? Please let me know if you are! Today is Matthew, chapters 7 & 8.