so while I was in costa rica a few months ago, one of the students in our group felt lead to put together a mission trip to Haiti. Now, I have NEVER felt called to go on a hard core mission trip that involves me sleeping on the ground and not showering for a week.. thats just not really me lol. I love helping people and going on mission trips, but only to a certain extent.. but God placed in my heart the desire to go on this mission trip to Haiti.. (I knew it was God, because I would have ever come up with the idea on my own to go and do this haha) anyways, so this trip never worked.. there were financial issues and a few other hindrances..
so throughout all of that I continued to pray about it, and I wondered why God would have placed that on my heart and then not worked it out for me to go. While sitting in church a couple Sundays after returning home from CR, I discovered that a couple from my church would be going on a medical mission trip to Haiti with some other doctors and nurses. With Haiti still on my heart, I volunteered to help them in any way I could. I ended up going every wednesday for about 3 weeks to help pack the medical supplies. Last week, I said to the guy in charge (not expecting anything to come out of this..) that I wished I could go with them.. He told me, "Ashley, if you get the money for the plane ticket, you can come with us. We have enough room."
The money, however, was my problem in the first place. So I told him I would pray about it and see if I could get any money donated. So I began to pray....
The next day this guy informed me that the church this trip is going through had talked and voted and had to decided to provide me with part of the money for the trip!! So I continued praying and I spoke with some family members and people from my church and 2 days later... I HAVE ALL THE MONEY I NEED TO GO!!!
God has completely worked it all out. He answered my prayers about Haiti. He really was the One who put the desire in my heart.. I guess I just had to have a little faith in Him to work it all out. It all happened not at all the way I had anticipated. God is teaching me that He WILL place desires in my heart.. but then I have to look to Him to fulfill them and to provide and guide me.
GOD IS GOOD... all the time... AND ALL THE TIME.. God is good.
amen.
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
jumping out of the box
When I ventured off to Costa Rica, I left behind a job. I trained a friend (also my brother's girlfriend lol) to replace me. So coming back home.. that meant I had no job. Q triste (how sad..)
I had been praying, for about 2 months before I returned, that God would provide for me a job when i got back to motown. I needed a job in order to start saving up for college.. and to have gas and other spending money. I prayed that God would provide me a job where I could either do some sort of ministry or be able to practice spanish.. and whatever the job may happen to be, that I would still have time to do ministry things within the community.
When I returned home (about a month ago), I quickly found that there were ZERO jobs to be had in our good ole town. So I kept prayin.. Last week I started getting myself more involved in my church. And I've jumped out of the box. I'm not doing things with the youth. Instead, I have started going to a pastor lead Bible study, an intercessory prayer group, and a women's Bible study.. all lead at the church I attend. I have also been blessed with the opportunity to start a young women's Bible study with my bff, Jennie :) and that awesome chick, Heather :)
Last week I realized that God had given me a job for this summer. That job was to take all of this free time that He had given me..... to LOVE and SERVE HIM!!! and you know what??? He's even been paying me for it!! He has blessed me with money randomly given to me by family members, brothers and sisters in Christ, and even churches! It is CRAZY how God works. And it just goes to show that He is completely unpredictable!! and He doesn't always answer our prayers in the ways we are anticipating. But His ways are so much better (and way more thought out) than ours!!
All of this was really just to say that God has really been blessing me lately. I don't deserve it at all... and its awesome. I have been so blessed by the women of my church. There are a handful of wonderfully amazing ladies who are older and so so much more wise and spiritually mature than I. I am so excited about all the things I am going to learn from them, and all the encouragement that they've already given me!!! Oh! and I joined a Sunday School class that includes these beautiful women. My heart has been so blessed... I've gone to this church for my entire life.. but over the past year my heart has really grown away from the congregation... Now when I go off to school, I am really going to miss this church. I'm gonna miss these ladies who have blessed me. It is SOOO good to be around those who are older than us! They have so much to teach! They have had much more experience, they've studied the Word longer..
So... I encourage you to get yourself involved with some of the 'older' crowd in your church. 1. They love it when young people show interest in learning from them. 2. You're going to grow and be encouraged and gain so much knowledge and wisdom from them!
So thats all for today.. be blessed!!
Ash.
p.s. I'm not saying you should quit your job in order to serve God.. haha this is just a way He has blessed me.. and i do plan on getting a job at college..
amen and the end.
I had been praying, for about 2 months before I returned, that God would provide for me a job when i got back to motown. I needed a job in order to start saving up for college.. and to have gas and other spending money. I prayed that God would provide me a job where I could either do some sort of ministry or be able to practice spanish.. and whatever the job may happen to be, that I would still have time to do ministry things within the community.
When I returned home (about a month ago), I quickly found that there were ZERO jobs to be had in our good ole town. So I kept prayin.. Last week I started getting myself more involved in my church. And I've jumped out of the box. I'm not doing things with the youth. Instead, I have started going to a pastor lead Bible study, an intercessory prayer group, and a women's Bible study.. all lead at the church I attend. I have also been blessed with the opportunity to start a young women's Bible study with my bff, Jennie :) and that awesome chick, Heather :)
Last week I realized that God had given me a job for this summer. That job was to take all of this free time that He had given me..... to LOVE and SERVE HIM!!! and you know what??? He's even been paying me for it!! He has blessed me with money randomly given to me by family members, brothers and sisters in Christ, and even churches! It is CRAZY how God works. And it just goes to show that He is completely unpredictable!! and He doesn't always answer our prayers in the ways we are anticipating. But His ways are so much better (and way more thought out) than ours!!
All of this was really just to say that God has really been blessing me lately. I don't deserve it at all... and its awesome. I have been so blessed by the women of my church. There are a handful of wonderfully amazing ladies who are older and so so much more wise and spiritually mature than I. I am so excited about all the things I am going to learn from them, and all the encouragement that they've already given me!!! Oh! and I joined a Sunday School class that includes these beautiful women. My heart has been so blessed... I've gone to this church for my entire life.. but over the past year my heart has really grown away from the congregation... Now when I go off to school, I am really going to miss this church. I'm gonna miss these ladies who have blessed me. It is SOOO good to be around those who are older than us! They have so much to teach! They have had much more experience, they've studied the Word longer..
So... I encourage you to get yourself involved with some of the 'older' crowd in your church. 1. They love it when young people show interest in learning from them. 2. You're going to grow and be encouraged and gain so much knowledge and wisdom from them!
So thats all for today.. be blessed!!
Ash.
p.s. I'm not saying you should quit your job in order to serve God.. haha this is just a way He has blessed me.. and i do plan on getting a job at college..
amen and the end.
Monday, July 12, 2010
Romance me.
As I write this, I am listening to the beautiful music of Michael Buble.. If ever you are in a romantic mood, or want to create a romantic mood, Mr. Buble knows how to get it done!
Over the years I've experienced that bubbly feeling that goes with a new crush, a new love interest. I've had the satisfaction of being pursued. I've been heartbroken. I've laughed. I've cried. Laughed some more. Thought a lot. Cried some more. Thought a lot more. I've prayed. I've read. I've prayed.
I've always had a 'picture' of my perfect guy (as most girls do..) Over the years, and a lot over the past year, I've thought a lot about the kind of guy I want to be with, who I want to marry, spend the rest of my life with, the qualities I want, the qualities I NEED.
We all (or at least the majority of us) like being liked. We love being loved. We want that special someone who thinks the world of us, that someone who gives us goosebumps and butterflies. Someone who will care for us, love us unconditionally. Someone we can be real with, have fun with, cry with. More than a 'significant other', someone who is also a companion, a best friend. The one we can connect with, the one who knows everything about us.
Women. We like being pursued. We like being told we're beautiful. Women, you know what I mean... whether you show it or not, when someone earnestly tells you that you look beautiful today, how does it make you feel? (especially on one of those woke up late, didn't shower, no makeup, haven't done laundry in a week so i'm gonna have to wear sweats days.) This is how we are, how we were made to be.
I'm excited to announce with the blogging world that... I have found my True Love. my Prince. He's perfect. He's compassionate. He's wild. He's gorgeous. He loves me for me. He loves me when I'm in a bad mood. He loves me when I'm angry. He holds me when I'm sad. He helps me when I'm sick. He tells me I'm beautiful when I look my worst. He's an artist. He's honest. He's encouraging. He makes me confident. He loves children. He always has time for me. He lets me talk to Him all the time. He's completely giving and unselfish. He's not controlling. We even dance together! He's absolutely perfect....
He's planning our wedding.
He's preparing a home for us.
He's God.
That's right.... I'm in love.
I'm being romanced. My Bridegroom is romancing me. Our kisses: sunsets, beautiful landscapes. Our romantic music: the ocean breeze, the birds chirping.
And I'm not scared. I don't fear rejection. I know that this One is gonna love me forever. I know He isn't going to leave me for something more exciting. He LOVES me!! He is deeply passionate for me. It's the real deal. I'm captivated in love.
"The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom's voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete."
John 3:29
"I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness."
Jeremiah 31:3
"How beautiful you are, my darling! Oh, how beautiful! Your eyes are doves."
"You have stolen my heart, my sister, my bride; you have stolen my heart with one glance of your eyes..."
Song of Songs 1:15, 4:9
"He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing."
Zephaniah 3:17
"Therefore I am now going to allure her; I will lead her into the desert and speak tenderly to her."
"In that day," declares the LORD, "you will call me 'my husband'; you will no longer call me 'my master'."
"I will betroth you to me forever; I will betroth you in righteousness and justice, in love and compassion."
Hosea 2:14,16,19
1"At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 3The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. 4The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. 5The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep. 6"At midnight the cry rang out: 'Here's the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!' 7"Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. 8The foolish ones said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.' 9" 'No,' they replied, 'there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.' 10"But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.
Matthew 25:1-10
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-1WhcLDEEDQ
Let God romance you. <3
Over the years I've experienced that bubbly feeling that goes with a new crush, a new love interest. I've had the satisfaction of being pursued. I've been heartbroken. I've laughed. I've cried. Laughed some more. Thought a lot. Cried some more. Thought a lot more. I've prayed. I've read. I've prayed.
I've always had a 'picture' of my perfect guy (as most girls do..) Over the years, and a lot over the past year, I've thought a lot about the kind of guy I want to be with, who I want to marry, spend the rest of my life with, the qualities I want, the qualities I NEED.
We all (or at least the majority of us) like being liked. We love being loved. We want that special someone who thinks the world of us, that someone who gives us goosebumps and butterflies. Someone who will care for us, love us unconditionally. Someone we can be real with, have fun with, cry with. More than a 'significant other', someone who is also a companion, a best friend. The one we can connect with, the one who knows everything about us.
Women. We like being pursued. We like being told we're beautiful. Women, you know what I mean... whether you show it or not, when someone earnestly tells you that you look beautiful today, how does it make you feel? (especially on one of those woke up late, didn't shower, no makeup, haven't done laundry in a week so i'm gonna have to wear sweats days.) This is how we are, how we were made to be.
I'm excited to announce with the blogging world that... I have found my True Love. my Prince. He's perfect. He's compassionate. He's wild. He's gorgeous. He loves me for me. He loves me when I'm in a bad mood. He loves me when I'm angry. He holds me when I'm sad. He helps me when I'm sick. He tells me I'm beautiful when I look my worst. He's an artist. He's honest. He's encouraging. He makes me confident. He loves children. He always has time for me. He lets me talk to Him all the time. He's completely giving and unselfish. He's not controlling. We even dance together! He's absolutely perfect....
He's planning our wedding.
He's preparing a home for us.
He's God.
That's right.... I'm in love.
I'm being romanced. My Bridegroom is romancing me. Our kisses: sunsets, beautiful landscapes. Our romantic music: the ocean breeze, the birds chirping.
And I'm not scared. I don't fear rejection. I know that this One is gonna love me forever. I know He isn't going to leave me for something more exciting. He LOVES me!! He is deeply passionate for me. It's the real deal. I'm captivated in love.
"The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom's voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete."
John 3:29
"I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness."
Jeremiah 31:3
"How beautiful you are, my darling! Oh, how beautiful! Your eyes are doves."
"You have stolen my heart, my sister, my bride; you have stolen my heart with one glance of your eyes..."
Song of Songs 1:15, 4:9
"He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing."
Zephaniah 3:17
"Therefore I am now going to allure her; I will lead her into the desert and speak tenderly to her."
"In that day," declares the LORD, "you will call me 'my husband'; you will no longer call me 'my master'."
"I will betroth you to me forever; I will betroth you in righteousness and justice, in love and compassion."
Hosea 2:14,16,19
1"At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 3The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. 4The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. 5The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep. 6"At midnight the cry rang out: 'Here's the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!' 7"Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. 8The foolish ones said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.' 9" 'No,' they replied, 'there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.' 10"But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.
Matthew 25:1-10
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-1WhcLDEEDQ
Let God romance you. <3
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
The start of something new--- not just the name of a HSM song
hello world, ashley here--
Well, Jen talked (more like pressured.... haha) me into it. I've started a blog. I can't wait to share with you what God is doing in my life and some encouragement and truth about what He wants to do in yours.
Thought for today--
Did you know that God actually LIKES blessing us? Yeah! He loves you, you're His child.. He actually WANTS to bless you with good things. All you need to do, is claim those blessings!! Ask Him to bless you. Love Him with your life and start being blessed!!
With love from Above-- ash.
Well, Jen talked (more like pressured.... haha) me into it. I've started a blog. I can't wait to share with you what God is doing in my life and some encouragement and truth about what He wants to do in yours.
Thought for today--
Did you know that God actually LIKES blessing us? Yeah! He loves you, you're His child.. He actually WANTS to bless you with good things. All you need to do, is claim those blessings!! Ask Him to bless you. Love Him with your life and start being blessed!!
Psalm 115:12-15 (NIV)
12 The LORD remembers us and will bless us:
He will bless the house of Israel,
he will bless the house of Aaron,
13 he will bless those who fear the LORD—
small and great alike.
14 May the LORD make you increase,
both you and your children.
15 May you be blessed by the LORD,
the Maker of heaven and earth.
With love from Above-- ash.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)