"Even Though I Walk, Through The Valley, Of The Shadow Of Death, Your Perfect Love Is Casting Out Fear.."

Hey all,
In my post a few weeks ago called "Crazy Love" about my on going struggle to come out of a dry period in my faith life. I just wasnt feeling God, feeling his presence at all.

And now to my amazement.... He has shown me that He is right here with me :)

I hear Him and see Him in my friends all the time, and I am so grateful for God giving me wonderful friends. I see Him with the people and residents at my work. I have learned to see Him in the small things, and I now realize that everything that happens is because of Him. The words I speak are not my own, the things I do are not my own, they are all for the Glory of God. :)

So many things have been happening that have forced me to put my trust in God 100% and leave it that way, its challenging, but i feel reassurance through it. I've come to realize that making decisions, doesnt only revolve around me, it revolves around Christ's will for my life :)

"Ironically" enough my mom came home from her NYC trip yesterday, and she brought me something... They visited St. Patricks Cathedral and she brought me home this bookmark. The book mark is of Mother Teresa, and it has a medal of her on the top of it :) Immediately I loved it! Then I realized Mother Teresa's story.... for those of you who are unfamiliar with her story, she gave up everything and went among the poorest of poor to serve because God told her to do so. She was an amazing woman, but what most people dont know is just like you and I... she fell into spiritual darkness, for years on end, but she overcame it. Through all of this she continued to serve God and Glorify Him, even if she wasnt hearing Him or knowing He was there. :) Sooo cool! :)

"Holiness is not the luxury of the few, it is a simple duty, for you and for me"- Mother Teresa :)

God Bless,
Ashley

Leaps And Bounds!

Hey all!! :) So.... on this bright and sunny day, in the lovely month of July on the 26th day in the year 2010..... I made a LEAP! I have only made one College visit so far, and that was to the wonderful University Of St. Thomas, for an event that they were hosting for High School seniors :) I had a great time and really loved the campus! :) So today my leap was.....

I APPLIED! :)














Crazy right?!?!?! I cant believe this time has finally come in my life, and I just applied to my FIRST college! :) I paniced when i saw the confirmation that it had been sent, but then I got excited! :)


I also applied to........

As well! :)

Please pray for me in this new time in my life, that I follow God's will for my life and do something that glorify's him! :)

God Bless,

Ashley

God Blesses Us

Hey all! :)

So I need to share something with you all, and its amazing.

I have BEYOND amazing friends! :) They are always there for me and know what to say no matter what. Last night I woke up to a phone call at 2am, i looked and saw it was one of my guy friends from St. Johns. I saw his name come up on my phone and inside i thought "Oh no! Whats wrong?!?" I answer the phone and my guy friend is completely in awe of God's grace, that helped him through a situation. It was such an amazing conversation to hear God working through him, as well as God speaking to me through him. It was just a great God moment and I felt so blessed.

Thinking about all of these things I thought about how many AMAZING friends I have. God has blessed me so much with amazing people who want whats best for me and are always here to support me. I see God's love in all of them. I am so blessed and daily i will continue to thank God for the amazing friends he has blessed me with :)

God Bless, and Take Care,
Ashley

Could You Be A Little Clearer?!?

Hey All!

So today has not been the best day ever..... The Ex is in a new relationship after 1 month and 4 days, fantastic right?!?!? Not so much. Not getting the whole telling me he loves me a month and 4 days ago and now he is on to someone new... interesting! But all i can do right now is pray for him and this girl. Hopefully he can grow closer to Christ.

I have been working out with a trainer who is really great, plus eating healthier. So i am hoping that all pays off! :)

I have been a counselor at middle school day camp this week and it has been so great! :) Those middle schoolers rock! :)

Please pray for me as I am still going through a dry patch, trying to work my way out of it :)

Thanks all!
God Bless,
Ashley

Annoyed

Hey All! So sorry for the lack of posting, school is finally out and i have some time to relax... lol who am I kidding?!?!?
I need to get something off my chest so please bare with me through this....

Lately I have been bogged down with comments/insults/asumptions/and judgements from people around me at school and in life. People who do not look past what is visible to the eye, people who feel that they should make rude comments about others, and most importantly people who have no idea what they are talking about but still decide to make comments. Dealing with all of this on a daily basis is SO hard, and no easy to look past.

Since my boyfriend and i have started dating, people feel the need to be rude. Flat out, rude, mostly to him. Knowing this it hurts me beacuse I dont want him to have to deal with that because of me, its truly horrible. People have approached him saying:
"Your dating her? Isnt she fat and ugly?"-NO LIE
"Well he is just takin' one for the team, so none of us would have to date someone like her"
"Your dating WHO!?"
*I could continue but in all honest i dont want to*

Hearing those things hurts me, and infuriates my boyfriend.

As for me, I dont want him to have to deal with that because of me, who I am, what I look like etc. I feel that he shouldnt have to deal with all of that crap, because he is dating me. It really hurts me inside to hear these things, but it almost hurts worse for me to know that he has to deal with it, almost daily.

Readers, you know how insecure I am about myself, and yes its embarrassing to admit that, but I am going to be honest. I feel like I can never be good enough, look pretty enough, be thin enough, be smart enough, and the list goes on.

But my main point of this post is to tell you that....this whole situation bothers me to no end!  I DO NOT understand why people feel the need to judge others, I DO NOT understand why people feel the need to be so incredibly hurtful, and I DO NOT understand why people feel the need to impose and try and alter other people's happiness. Its like with anything you do in life people are always going to stick their noses where they dont belong... But here's a NEWSFLASH!
*I AM HAPPY with Billy!
*Our Relationship is built upon Church, Respect, Understanding and God
*We know the TRUTH.

And still no matter how much i try to not let this whole situation bother me it still does....but right now is where I lean on God, and HIS TRUTH. His Will for my/our life(ves) is still unknown, but it is great! Please pray that I can find strength in this situation and stop being so... ANNOYED!
God Bless,
Ashley

Apology

Hey all!!
So after posting about society and all of those things i recieved a comment. At first i wasnt sure how to take the comment, but then i realized that i need to clear somethings up.

When i say society, i DO NOT mean EVERYONE i am refering to what society says. I apolgize if i have offended anyone by making such blanket statements.

And here is the thing about my future husband. I trust God to bring us together in his timings, but i feel that what my readers need to be informed of before attacking me is that I am not dating. What is the point of dating around, putting your heart out there, just to get hurt if you do not see a future with the person? or if your relationship isnt God honoring? Relationship like this may lead into temptation? I understand that men may be "scared, or put off by the way i am when it comes to this. But i have given it to God, he honors and respects what i am doing and wants to help me along. So i dont see the issue of waiting for my prince charming when giving in and letting God take control is such a beautiful and wonderful thing?

God Bless,
Ashley