Last First Day

Today is my last first day of school...ever!
Well, unless I am blessed with children and take them to their first days.
Or if I become a professor and have a first day of school-teaching.

But, I am still very excited about the prospect of graduating and starting my life as a social worker!  All the hard work, time reading, working on papers, interning at various social service agencies, and time stressing out will pay off in December when I will get my Master's Degree.

To start off my last-first-day-of-school morning, I made myself an egg-white omelet with ham, one piece of bacon, a small amount of cheddar cheese, mushrooms, and tomatoes.  I also ate a banana and had a small glass of apple-cranberry juice.

This morning meal was created with the help of Bethenny Frankel's book "Naturally Thin".  This recipe idea wasn't in the book exactly, but Bethenny does talk about your "diet bank account".  This bank account, much like one you have to manage your finances, also manages what you eat each day.  So, if I eat a healthy breakfast and a small lunch, I can have a larger dinner and more sweets later.  It's all about checks and balances.  I like this concept a lot.  So, in an effort to live out a "Naturally Thin Lifestyle", I attempted to eat a (mostly) healthy breakfast and have nutritious snacks throughout the day so I don't feel guilty when I eat a piece of cake later.  :)  I'll keep you posted on my journey through Bethenny's book-afterall, this is the first day I'm trying out this "diet bank account" concept.

Now, I'm off to make my healthy lunch/snack pack for the rest of the day.  I have class from noon until 8pm (plus driving home), so I have a long day ahead of me.  I hope your day is absolutely fantastic!

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All Paid Off

It feels so good to have all my credit card debt paid off!
I'm not someone with a million credit cards, but it still feels great when their balance(s) are $0.

If I have debt in my life, it prevents me from being able to give as much as I could to the Lord or other people in need.
When I remove the debt, I am better able to serve financially when I feel called to give.

I recently told my younger brother something along the lines of, "What is the point to having money if I won't share it with others and give to those in need?  Yes, it helps me pay bills and sometimes I splurge on this-or-that, but it doesn't bring true joy.  If I can help someone else out, then I will always choose to give my money away.  Being able to help someone else out and give of my resources brings me joy.  It's not like I can take the money with me to Heaven."  And I meant it.

Now, I'm not saying this to make myself out to be some overly-gracious, always giving person; I'm not.  But this is my philosophy about money and other material things...whether I truly live it out every day or not, I do believe that we as people are blessed so we can bless others.

So, as I go on from today and start my part-time job again at TMOC, my goal is to continue to give of myself, my time, my resources, and my finances as much as possible-so I can give the glory to God and help to bless others around me through God's graciousness.  And if someday I am the one in need, I believe that God will provide in those circumstances as well.

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Sunday Morning

Today, our church had the privilege of having a guest speaker, the youth intern and my friend, Titus.  The message was about leaving our comfort zones and putting our complete trust in the Lord.  When we grow to know and fall in love with Jesus Christ, we are more able to put our trust in Him completely and follow Him in everything we do in our lives.

The message revolved around Philippians 4:5b-7, which reads "The Lord is near.  Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your mind in Christ Jesus."

I have often meditated on this verse and what it means in my own life, but I am continually challenged when being taught about trusting the Lord completely.  I find it so difficult to completely surrender everything in my life to God, even when I desperately want to.  Today's message was, yet again, another call to action for me.  A call to grow more in love with the Lord and strive to follow Him, even when (or especially when) I am uncomfortable.

Thank you, Jesus, for speaking through Titus and convicting me of the fact that I am nothing without You.  I pray that I continue to seek Your Word and take steps each day to put You before me.  As I was reminded of today, in my weakness, You, Lord, are strong.

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