It's been awhile!!!!

After returning from BigStuf I have been wanting to share some of the things I learned there. Even though BigStuf is aimed at kids in middle school and high school, I think you are never too old to learn something new. The first thing that really hit home was one of the talks from Jared. Before going to Bigstuf I began thinking a lot about RELATIONSHIPS… Whether or not it would ever be right for me? I look around at different couples in different situations and see love and heartache. So I ask myself, Why even put yourself through it? Well, this is what I learned.
You can go down two different paths in a relationship. I) The path that everything is right and you love one another the way God meant for love to be. 2.) The wrong path!!!!! This is the one I feel like I see all around. People loving the way they think it should be, not the way God intended to be. So I think of the phrase I hear often in church Love Wins!!! True, but that is always GOD’S Love that Wins not our own version of what we think love should be.

Okay so to my point now, there are 6 areas or degrees of a relationship each one with a rating 1 to 10.

1.) The Emotional Area:
#1- you like someone, a little you think they are attractive and you talk occasionally.
#10- you have a high emotional connection
2.) The Physical Area:
#1- you hold hands
#5- Kiss
#10- Sex
3.) The Social Area:
#1- you see each other in Groups, She has her friends and he has his friends.
#10- You become ONE socially. You have the same friends.
4.) The Intellectual Area:
#1- You talk about your own separate ideas with one another.
#10- You share ideas, you want to do the same things.
5.) The Spiritual Area:
#1- you go to church together
#5- you pray for each other
#10- You have a spiritual connection. You move towards God together. Pray Together
6.) The Commitment Area:
#1- You hangout
#5- Your dating just each other
#10- Marriage.

So how these 6 areas work in one. There is a need that exists for these 6 areas to stay on the same level. They should also progress slowly. When they do not stay on the same level that is when you end up on the wrong path relationally. So what I mean as staying on the same level is when you are at a #1 in the beginning of your relationship emotionally, socially, intellectually, spiritually, and in commitment you can not jump to a #10 physically without something going wrong. That is not how God meant for our relationships to be.

Not Sure why this topic was my favorite. I just know it made me realize alot. One thing I do know is you can't have a true love with another person until you have a true honest love with God!!! Only then can you have a relationship that is pure.

Fun Times!!!

Yesterday, I went with the Sixth Graders from youth to the Skate Center for "80's Skate" Yes complete with hair in side ponytail, leggins and even a blonde mullet worn by a former AU football player, Hiram. I have to say it definetly brought out my childhood of countless weekends of lock-ins full of lots of skating and having fun!!

Today was a normal Sunday for me filled with church service in the morning going to lunch then going back to church for Youth Group! Tonight we had a Superbowl relay, which consisted of the first event high knees, and the second throwing a football through a hoo-la-hoop and the third Mack and I got our arms painted with the Steelers and Cardinals Logo, and last was a double stuff oreo eating contest inspired by the commericials with my favorites Peyton and Eli Manning. The "cardinals" or the boys won, by one second!! We then learned about Jesus in John 2:1-10. Where Jesus is at a wedding and they were out of wine. In this time, not having wine would have been a symbol of new life and abundance, and not to have the wine at the wedding event would have been a social let down. So we learned that Mary brought the situation of the lack of wine to Jesus' attention because she cared for the family she didn't beg him to do it she just allowed him to make the decision whether or not to help the family. Mary said to the servants to do whatever he tells you. This showed Mary's faith in her son, that he truly is the Messiah. Then Jesus ask the servants to fill these 6 clay jugs with water, they could hold approx. 20 to 30 gallons a piece. and the Servants filled them, not only did they fill, they filled them all the way to the BRIM!!!!! And this is the message that hits me the most. I would think if i had a jug that could hold thirty gallons i would probably only fill it to the ability that i could carry. That is not what these servants did They had these things overflowing!!!

Since school has started back life has been busy fiull of 14 hours of school, babysitting, tutoring, working out trying to lose lbs, and Church! I have had so much fun! And this week I start a new Journey Bible Study class that wil teach us how to read the bible!!! I first I thought this was something that was easy, I though oh you just pick it up and read it, but no its not that simple. True you can pick it up and read it, but its much more difficult to understand it all. I have learned that you can't do it on your own you have first pray to God for wisdom and to guide through his word, that you will take it in and learn it and understand it. I am excited for this class because I will now have the tools to keep My own Journey with Christ in line going more in depth with his word and being rooted in it!!!!

Baptized!

This morning I was baptized!!! It was the greatest feeling in the world. All the anticipation and nervousness I have been experiencing all went away once I stepped into the baptismal and took Josh's hand. No words can describe the feeling you get once you rise from the water, its like you can feel God beside you saying I am with you and you are mine!

Josh told me to read this

Matthew 3: 13-17

-The Baptism of Jesus-

Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. But John tried to deter him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you come to me?" Jesus replied, "Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness." Then John consented. As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased."

Josh told me he thinks of this story every time someone is baptized. So when I came up from the water this morning I looked and Josh and knew we were thinking the exact same thing. And that was that God was before us saying "This is my daughter, whom I love; with her I am well pleased."

So as I am "remembering" the events of today, I become excited with what my future holds and what road I will travel as a child of God, through his journey.

I also became a member of Cornerstone today!! It feels good to have a church to call home again!

So that has been my day thus far and what a great one it has been, having my family in Auburn and having my Auburn family (Agertons) supporting my felt amazing!!!

I am so thankful for today and ready for what lies ahead!

First post!!!

So, this is my first blog..... So why blog? I have been feeling so disconnected from friends and family lately and thought you know, I could start a blog, maybe one person will read it and know what is going on in my life. A good friend of mine and a person I babysit for, Leslie and I were talking and catching up the other day. She made a comment that really stuck out in my mind that really made me decide to start this thing. She told she felt like we needed to catch up that we haven't really got a chance to talk lately (I let her in on all the drama in my life). It got me thinking I have lost touch with so many people after coming to Auburn, but at the same time life is so fast paced and I stay so busy I haven't even been able to catch up with the people closest to me.
Another reason I felt like starting this blog is because of this relationship I am building. And that relationship is with God!!! Don't me wrong I have had a relationship with Him throughout my life, but this is different. When I first started working at Cornerstone UMC in Auburn, I began going to service. The sermons at this church are amazing I have never experienced something like it. When I leave on Sundays I feel like I leave a completely different person. It is constantly on my mind what was said at church, what can I do relate that sermon to better myself. Josh Agerton did a sermon washing the feet of others, and all I could think about was how can I serve, can i make a difference in someones life? Little things such as coming to Auburn and Cornerstone and meeting the people I think God sent to me. I know he wanted me to come closer and follow(SERVE) Him and he brought me these people to make that happen.
I'm hoping to keep this blog going for those interested to be able to follow me on this journey to who knows where, only God knows!!!!!!!!!