Hey all! :)
I'm sitting at a nice black table, surrounded by 3 amazing women. While the wonderful men in my life are on the couch watching sports, I can hear the water trickiling from my sisters bath upstairs. Topics of conversation are changing constantly. I put down Pride and Predjudice and decided that my family is WAY more important (Thank you sparknotes!).
So today....
Right after school we packed up and headed for Duluth, MN for my dad's graduation from St. Scholastica :) Grandma Fran (My dad's mom) rode up with us :) we were pretty shmooshed together but it was cuddly! :) Both Judith and I fell asleep on mom in the middle seat. For dinner we stopped in Hinkley, MN at Tobies. My parents told us stories about how after their wedding they headed for Duluth for their honeymoon and theys stopped at Tobies, so it was really cool :) Then headed on our way to Duluth :)
Judith, Mom and I had fun playing Mad Lib's on my ipod touch :) Heard more stories and then got excited to see all of the lights! :) Took us awhile to find our condo but when we did we were absolutely amazed! :) I will post pictures later, but to give you a visiual visit this web page, these are just the website's pictures i will post ours later when we get home :) http://www.beaconpointecondos.com/rentals-rates-floorplans.php
You walk in to where it says our room number, and you come to 3 more doors, 2 connect to the main aera with a full kitchen, 2 bedrooms, 2 bath, 3 flatscreen tv's and a balcony. And the other door leads upstairs where there is a bedroom and a bathroom, couch, tv, and balcony. Grandma Fran gets a room in the main aera and Grandpa and Grandma Theisen get the other room in the main aera. Mom and dad get the bedroom upstairs, and we moved the couch matress along with the other matress upstairs in the "Penthouse". SO BEAUTIFUL! :) Feet away from the bottom of our condo is the shore of lake superior!
So far we are having a great time! :) Grandma and Grandpa Thiesen made it here which is such a blessing! :)
Hoping the weekend can only get better! :) Commencement is tomorrow! :) I am so proud my daddy! :) Cant wait! :) Signing off to go to bed! :)
God Bless,
Ashley :)
Dear Lord-
As I look toward the future
Bright hope conducts this prayer,
For I know the plans You have for me
Were wrought with divine care.
Holy Spirit, lead me.
Let me run at your command,
Yet be still and know that You are God
When trouble's close at hand.
Your Word will be a lamp for me,
A guide to light my way,
A solid place to set my feet,
A compass when I stray.
May I live my life to praise You,
Not for fortune, nor for fame,
May everything I say and do
Bring glory to your name.
May my eyes stay fixed upon You
As I seek the way that's pure,
Tasting your love and goodness
Sleeping and rising secure.
Planted by your living streams
I'll delight in all your ways,
Hidden by your sheltering wings
With new mercies for each day.
Even in a dangerous land
When storms threaten to destroy,
At the cross I'll stand upon the Rock
My Strength, my Hope, my Joy.
Dear Lord, show me your favor,
At all times keep me blessed,
May your face ever shine upon me,
With peace and perfect rest.
Amen.
December 18, 2009
December 16, 2009
Why So Negative?
Hey All! :)
Alright so diving right in here...
We all have our negative moments correct?? Those days where things dont seem to be going our way and everything is just plain horrible right? Im with ya on that one! Man I definately have those days and everyone does.
But there is a point where its excess.....
I have a person who is now constantly texting me about how bad her life is and always being negative. Always having to pull me into things and she is always complaining to me. Nothing can ever be good or good enough. It has been driving me nuts! I cant figure out what to say anymore to her so sometimes I just dont respond. I mean this is constant and its like the world is out to get her by the way she is acting and telling me these things. Now dont get me wrong I do love helping people.. but man this is stretching it!
I understand that life gets hard and tough but petty things week after week? I am not trying to be mean at all I just really need to vent because this really sucks and im frusturated..
Life can be crazy, hectic and stressful, but in times like that (even though its tough) PRAISE GOD! Cry out to him! Be with him! While typing this I am reminded of a Saint that my youth minister Kym was telling me about and I am absolutely in awe of this man! This is Saint Maximillian Kolbe :)
Here is his story.......
"During the Second World War he provided shelter to refugees from Greater Poland, including 2,000 Jews whom he hid from Nazi persecution in his friary in Niepokalanów. He was also active as a radio amateur, with Polish call letters SP3RN, vilifying Nazi activities through his reports.
On 17 February 1941 he was arrested by the German Gestapo and imprisoned in the Pawiak prison, and on May 28 he was transferred to Auschwitz as prisoner #16670.
In July 1941 a man from Kolbe's barracks vanished, prompting SS-Hauptsturmführer Karl Fritzsch, the deputy camp commander, to pick 10 men from the same barracks to be starved to death in Block 13[9] (notorious for torture), in order to deter further escape attempts[10](the man who had disappeared was later found drowned in the camp latrine). One of the selected men, Franciszek Gajowniczek, cried out, lamenting his family, and Kolbe volunteered to take his place.
During the time in the cell he led the men in songs and prayer. After three weeks of dehydration and starvation, only Kolbe and three others were still alive. He encouraged others that they would soon be with Mary in heaven. Each time the guards checked on him he was standing or kneeling in the middle of the cell and looking calmly at those who entered, while the others lay moaning and complaining, on the ground around him. He was killed with an injection of carbolic acid. Some who were present at the injection say that he raised his left arm and calmly waited for the injection. But he did not die immediately. He gave it to God and he was able to stay alive for a longer period of time while he was praying. Then eventually he died.[11] His remains were cremated on the Assumption of Mary (August, 15)."
Kolbe's life was strongly influenced by a childhood vision of the Virgin Mary that he later described:
What a powerful man of prayer that through all of that torture, agony and pain he praised God and lead others toward him!
So im going to leave you with that.... please dont feel like I am being mean about the person who is always negative. Thats just whats going on right now, and I am taking it as an opportunity to teach through it.
Thanks! Comment and Vote! :) 2 days left!
God Bless,
Ashley
Saint Maxamillion Kolbe :)
Alright so diving right in here...
We all have our negative moments correct?? Those days where things dont seem to be going our way and everything is just plain horrible right? Im with ya on that one! Man I definately have those days and everyone does.
But there is a point where its excess.....
I have a person who is now constantly texting me about how bad her life is and always being negative. Always having to pull me into things and she is always complaining to me. Nothing can ever be good or good enough. It has been driving me nuts! I cant figure out what to say anymore to her so sometimes I just dont respond. I mean this is constant and its like the world is out to get her by the way she is acting and telling me these things. Now dont get me wrong I do love helping people.. but man this is stretching it!
I understand that life gets hard and tough but petty things week after week? I am not trying to be mean at all I just really need to vent because this really sucks and im frusturated..
Life can be crazy, hectic and stressful, but in times like that (even though its tough) PRAISE GOD! Cry out to him! Be with him! While typing this I am reminded of a Saint that my youth minister Kym was telling me about and I am absolutely in awe of this man! This is Saint Maximillian Kolbe :)
Here is his story.......
"During the Second World War he provided shelter to refugees from Greater Poland, including 2,000 Jews whom he hid from Nazi persecution in his friary in Niepokalanów. He was also active as a radio amateur, with Polish call letters SP3RN, vilifying Nazi activities through his reports.
On 17 February 1941 he was arrested by the German Gestapo and imprisoned in the Pawiak prison, and on May 28 he was transferred to Auschwitz as prisoner #16670.
In July 1941 a man from Kolbe's barracks vanished, prompting SS-Hauptsturmführer Karl Fritzsch, the deputy camp commander, to pick 10 men from the same barracks to be starved to death in Block 13[9] (notorious for torture), in order to deter further escape attempts[10](the man who had disappeared was later found drowned in the camp latrine). One of the selected men, Franciszek Gajowniczek, cried out, lamenting his family, and Kolbe volunteered to take his place.
During the time in the cell he led the men in songs and prayer. After three weeks of dehydration and starvation, only Kolbe and three others were still alive. He encouraged others that they would soon be with Mary in heaven. Each time the guards checked on him he was standing or kneeling in the middle of the cell and looking calmly at those who entered, while the others lay moaning and complaining, on the ground around him. He was killed with an injection of carbolic acid. Some who were present at the injection say that he raised his left arm and calmly waited for the injection. But he did not die immediately. He gave it to God and he was able to stay alive for a longer period of time while he was praying. Then eventually he died.[11] His remains were cremated on the Assumption of Mary (August, 15)."
Kolbe's life was strongly influenced by a childhood vision of the Virgin Mary that he later described:
"That night, I asked the Mother of God what was to become of me. Then she came to me holding two crowns, one white, the other red. She asked me if I was willing to accept either of these crowns. The white one meant that I should persevere in purity, and the red that I should become a martyr. I said that I would accept them both."[7]
What a powerful man of prayer that through all of that torture, agony and pain he praised God and lead others toward him!
So im going to leave you with that.... please dont feel like I am being mean about the person who is always negative. Thats just whats going on right now, and I am taking it as an opportunity to teach through it.
Thanks! Comment and Vote! :) 2 days left!
God Bless,
Ashley
Saint Maxamillion Kolbe :)
December 7, 2009
High School
Hey all! :)
On my poll on the left side of this box you guys voted! :) Thanks so much please keep it up! :) Record amounts of voting! :) So by only 2 points the topic.....High School, won.
So here we go!
Ok so I can be the first one to tell you that high school has its perks and its definate downfalls. So to give you a clearer picture on my values, I am going to list the perks and the downfalls of high school for me right here for you....
Perks
-Friends
-Education
-Meeting new people
-Clubs
-Music
-Great role models (Teachers)
-New knowledge
-Homecoming!
-Spirit days
Downfalls
-Cheating
-Swearing
-Drugs
-Alchol
-Sex
-Drama
-Cliques(Not too many but they are still there)
-Non Acceptance
So you can clearly see the difference of the two lists huh?!
A common misconception that is put out there is that "high school is the best time of your life!"-----totally incorrect! It definately has not been the best time of my life. And dont get me wrong, I dont HATE high school. I love having the time with my friends and spending time with them etc I LOVE THAT! Its just the fact that I feel that people define their lives by high school. And if you do that, your not going to go any where!
I know im totally preaching to the choir right here!
Ok moving away from that part of it and into something else about High School.
As a high school student we are SUPER STRESSED! Its insane! I really treasure the nights that I can relax, when that rarely happens. We all have so much going on that I feel that we hardly have any time for the important things in life to be completely honest.
Ok guys im gonna be completely honest right here.... this is SOOO tough for me to write! I have no idea what to say, and how to express my opinions! Ahhh im going to try again with this statement and then leave it at that.....
High school has its good and its bad. For me I do not feel accepted by many people. Thats what High school seems to be about is fitting in or making fun of those who dont. This is why high school is so tough for me to write about.
Honest? YES.
Please comment! Feedback would be great! :)
I will put up a new poll as well about what you would like to hear about next. Please vote, you can vote multiple times :)
God Bless,
Ashley
On my poll on the left side of this box you guys voted! :) Thanks so much please keep it up! :) Record amounts of voting! :) So by only 2 points the topic.....High School, won.
So here we go!
Ok so I can be the first one to tell you that high school has its perks and its definate downfalls. So to give you a clearer picture on my values, I am going to list the perks and the downfalls of high school for me right here for you....
Perks
-Friends
-Education
-Meeting new people
-Clubs
-Music
-Great role models (Teachers)
-New knowledge
-Homecoming!
-Spirit days
Downfalls
-Cheating
-Swearing
-Drugs
-Alchol
-Sex
-Drama
-Cliques(Not too many but they are still there)
-Non Acceptance
So you can clearly see the difference of the two lists huh?!
A common misconception that is put out there is that "high school is the best time of your life!"-----totally incorrect! It definately has not been the best time of my life. And dont get me wrong, I dont HATE high school. I love having the time with my friends and spending time with them etc I LOVE THAT! Its just the fact that I feel that people define their lives by high school. And if you do that, your not going to go any where!
I know im totally preaching to the choir right here!
Ok moving away from that part of it and into something else about High School.
As a high school student we are SUPER STRESSED! Its insane! I really treasure the nights that I can relax, when that rarely happens. We all have so much going on that I feel that we hardly have any time for the important things in life to be completely honest.
Ok guys im gonna be completely honest right here.... this is SOOO tough for me to write! I have no idea what to say, and how to express my opinions! Ahhh im going to try again with this statement and then leave it at that.....
High school has its good and its bad. For me I do not feel accepted by many people. Thats what High school seems to be about is fitting in or making fun of those who dont. This is why high school is so tough for me to write about.
Honest? YES.
Please comment! Feedback would be great! :)
I will put up a new poll as well about what you would like to hear about next. Please vote, you can vote multiple times :)
God Bless,
Ashley
December 2, 2009
Wake Up To God's Word! Social Experiment Chapter 1
Hey all! :)
Alrighty like I told you guys a few blogs back that my youth minister Kym, and I are doing a social experiment! We are both reading the same book, and blogging about our assigned chapters on here :) Its a way to see Kym's take on the book, Kym being a Wife, mother, youth minister, catholic! and so much more! And me being a catholic, being a junior in high school and still learning as I go:) You can visit Kym's blog by clicking -----> KYM alright so here we go! :)
Our first book that we will be blogging about is "Wake Up to God's Word" By Mary H. Reaman :)
Chapter 1 (my job! :))) haha)
So far this book is really interesting and cool to depict and figure out! In Chapter 1 the author is talking about the Israelites being slaves under Pharoah, and their journey to freedom. What I thought about while reading that part is how we are all slaves to the devil and to sin. This was something that was surrounding the Israelites, just like how sin, temptation, evil, greed, lust, dishonesty, and jealousy surround us on a daily basis.
"Though the idea of freedom must have sounded promising to the Israelites, they had to know it would cost something of them to gain it." (6) Does that sound like our lives today?? Now when it said cost I thought... what?? But then once I re-read it I realized that its not the cost that we think of in our lives today, but the "cost" of giving our lives to follow the Lord. That is what will lead us out of that sin, slavery and evil, and into that Freedom that we recieve following the Lord. Like it says in the book, Jesus set off on a journey and invited/told others to follow him on that path. The journey being freedom. This journey that the book talks about is not easy! It is helping us to grow, to learn and to live it out. That takes a lot! What stuck out to me in the beginning of this chapter is the fact that they refered to this journey as a "Transformation". Because turning away from that slavery and running to God, is a transformation, of your heart, mind, soul and whole being! :) This freedom may seem out of reach but, when you decide to take that step, it can only get closer!
Next in the chapter the book references a Cherokee Tradition Story of Two Wolves..
An old Cherokee is teaching his grandson about life. "A fight is going on inside me," he said to the boy.
"It is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves. One is evil - he is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego." He continued, "The other is good - he is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith. The same fight is going on inside you - and inside every other person, too."
The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather, "Which wolf will win?"
The old Cherokee simply replied, "The one you feed."
Isnt that so true!?? The evil wolf being the devil and the beautiful wolf being the Lord. :) How relevant is that!
Some Key Points that I read and noticed were:
-Put on the Mind Of Christ
-For a better understanding of the word, dig deeper into scripture
-Ponder Jesus' call for us to be free
-Acknowledge that inside of us we have the capacity for both good and evil.
-When we are free from our selfish desires we move way from our "Ego"
-Become who God wants us to be
-Ger rid of the "Ego"
-Ego is an emotional response, but dont be locked down by it. Dont see yourself as a victium to it, live up to your full potential and overcome it.
-"The blueprint for dysfunction is something that every human carries within" (11)
- In the story of the Israelites the "ego" is represented by Pharoah, and his control over them.
-The "ego" is the "opponent" trying to distract and sabotage us. Also known as Satan, and Lucifer.
-Unleash Christ's consciousness and be truly free!
-Spread that freedom to the WORLD!
-God's word is within us, spread it! :)
-The living water is within our grasp!
All this "ego" is trying to do is to take us away from God and what we should be following and turn us in a different direction.
At the end of the chapter it gives you four things to do...
1. DEFINE and IDENTIFY what exactly your ego is. Sit quietly for 10 mins observe your thoughts as they come to you and do not resist them. Simply watch them. Do this for 10 to 20 mins in the morning and before you go to bed. This helps you determine what your ego is.
2. CONTEMPLATION-- Memorize this line... "Hear, O Israel, The LORD is our God, the Lord alone" Deuteronomy 6:4-9. Recite this line as often as you can. Contemplate and consider how your life journey is like the Israelites under Pharoh's rule.
3. PRAYER-- Pray that God will open you up to hearing his word in all the ways you can see it. Through people, actions, and so many more! :)
4. ACTION OF LOVING KINDNESS-- Look for someone who you think displays Christ's conciousness, Drop them a note or an email letting them know you noticed their compassion.
This first chapter covers a lot! :) I strongly encourage you to follow along with Kym and I! :) This book is giving great tips to show us how to uncover God's word :)
If you have any questions please comment here or email me at ashleywalz@gmail.com :)
Dont forget to look for chapter 2 on Kym's blog coming soon!
Please comment here with that you think!:) Feedback would be amazing! :)
Thanks for reading and God Bless,
Ashley
Alrighty like I told you guys a few blogs back that my youth minister Kym, and I are doing a social experiment! We are both reading the same book, and blogging about our assigned chapters on here :) Its a way to see Kym's take on the book, Kym being a Wife, mother, youth minister, catholic! and so much more! And me being a catholic, being a junior in high school and still learning as I go:) You can visit Kym's blog by clicking -----> KYM alright so here we go! :)
Our first book that we will be blogging about is "Wake Up to God's Word" By Mary H. Reaman :)
Chapter 1 (my job! :))) haha)
So far this book is really interesting and cool to depict and figure out! In Chapter 1 the author is talking about the Israelites being slaves under Pharoah, and their journey to freedom. What I thought about while reading that part is how we are all slaves to the devil and to sin. This was something that was surrounding the Israelites, just like how sin, temptation, evil, greed, lust, dishonesty, and jealousy surround us on a daily basis.
"Though the idea of freedom must have sounded promising to the Israelites, they had to know it would cost something of them to gain it." (6) Does that sound like our lives today?? Now when it said cost I thought... what?? But then once I re-read it I realized that its not the cost that we think of in our lives today, but the "cost" of giving our lives to follow the Lord. That is what will lead us out of that sin, slavery and evil, and into that Freedom that we recieve following the Lord. Like it says in the book, Jesus set off on a journey and invited/told others to follow him on that path. The journey being freedom. This journey that the book talks about is not easy! It is helping us to grow, to learn and to live it out. That takes a lot! What stuck out to me in the beginning of this chapter is the fact that they refered to this journey as a "Transformation". Because turning away from that slavery and running to God, is a transformation, of your heart, mind, soul and whole being! :) This freedom may seem out of reach but, when you decide to take that step, it can only get closer!
Next in the chapter the book references a Cherokee Tradition Story of Two Wolves..
An old Cherokee is teaching his grandson about life. "A fight is going on inside me," he said to the boy.
"It is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves. One is evil - he is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego." He continued, "The other is good - he is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith. The same fight is going on inside you - and inside every other person, too."
The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather, "Which wolf will win?"
The old Cherokee simply replied, "The one you feed."
Isnt that so true!?? The evil wolf being the devil and the beautiful wolf being the Lord. :) How relevant is that!
Some Key Points that I read and noticed were:
-Put on the Mind Of Christ
-For a better understanding of the word, dig deeper into scripture
-Ponder Jesus' call for us to be free
-Acknowledge that inside of us we have the capacity for both good and evil.
-When we are free from our selfish desires we move way from our "Ego"
-Become who God wants us to be
-Ger rid of the "Ego"
-Ego is an emotional response, but dont be locked down by it. Dont see yourself as a victium to it, live up to your full potential and overcome it.
-"The blueprint for dysfunction is something that every human carries within" (11)
- In the story of the Israelites the "ego" is represented by Pharoah, and his control over them.
-The "ego" is the "opponent" trying to distract and sabotage us. Also known as Satan, and Lucifer.
-Unleash Christ's consciousness and be truly free!
-Spread that freedom to the WORLD!
-God's word is within us, spread it! :)
-The living water is within our grasp!
All this "ego" is trying to do is to take us away from God and what we should be following and turn us in a different direction.
At the end of the chapter it gives you four things to do...
1. DEFINE and IDENTIFY what exactly your ego is. Sit quietly for 10 mins observe your thoughts as they come to you and do not resist them. Simply watch them. Do this for 10 to 20 mins in the morning and before you go to bed. This helps you determine what your ego is.
2. CONTEMPLATION-- Memorize this line... "Hear, O Israel, The LORD is our God, the Lord alone" Deuteronomy 6:4-9. Recite this line as often as you can. Contemplate and consider how your life journey is like the Israelites under Pharoh's rule.
3. PRAYER-- Pray that God will open you up to hearing his word in all the ways you can see it. Through people, actions, and so many more! :)
4. ACTION OF LOVING KINDNESS-- Look for someone who you think displays Christ's conciousness, Drop them a note or an email letting them know you noticed their compassion.
This first chapter covers a lot! :) I strongly encourage you to follow along with Kym and I! :) This book is giving great tips to show us how to uncover God's word :)
If you have any questions please comment here or email me at ashleywalz@gmail.com :)
Dont forget to look for chapter 2 on Kym's blog coming soon!
Please comment here with that you think!:) Feedback would be amazing! :)
Thanks for reading and God Bless,
Ashley
November 30, 2009
What do you want to hear next?
Hey All! :)
Just a quick note to let you know that my poll on the left side of this post has 4 days left for you to vote on what you want me to talk about in a blog coming up soon! :) So far "High School" is in the lead, followed closely by "My Faith Journey". If all you readers that want to read about high school, can you please comment here with more specifics on what you would like to hear from me if high school wins?! That would be great! :)
So please VOTE VOTE VOTE! :) Let me know what you wanna hear! :) And remember you CAN vote MULTIPLE times :)
VOTE VOTE VOTE!
On an ending note....
"May the Lord Bless you, may the Lord keep you, may the Lord's face shine apon you"
God Bless,
Ashley
Just a quick note to let you know that my poll on the left side of this post has 4 days left for you to vote on what you want me to talk about in a blog coming up soon! :) So far "High School" is in the lead, followed closely by "My Faith Journey". If all you readers that want to read about high school, can you please comment here with more specifics on what you would like to hear from me if high school wins?! That would be great! :)
So please VOTE VOTE VOTE! :) Let me know what you wanna hear! :) And remember you CAN vote MULTIPLE times :)
VOTE VOTE VOTE!
On an ending note....
"May the Lord Bless you, may the Lord keep you, may the Lord's face shine apon you"
God Bless,
Ashley
November 29, 2009
Future Plans..Oh no...Help!
Wow, do you know how much pressure teenagers are under in this world today?!? Way way too much!
Although we are faced with many things daily, one of the major things that i believe is so tough is our future.
Daily we are bombarded with homework, studying, lectures, speeches, presentations, and teachers preaching to us about college and what are we gonna do with our future??
And sometimes I want to scream at them and say WHAT HAPPENS IF WE DONT KNOW FOR SURE!?!?!
We are under so much pressure to do so many things, and to accomplish so much that multiple times during the year I break down, cry, am beyond sressed and basically loose it!
Ok, now saying that I think about what Im going to do with my life??
Oh no...
For me right now I really want to go into ministry of some sort. More than likely youth ministry, or something with being involved with the church and in that community. I would so LOVE to do that! :) But then the doubts come into my mind...
-What if i cant get into college?
-What if its too much?
-What if I cant understand it?
-What if I loose all my money?
-How am I going to get a job?
-How am I going to live?
And honestly the list could go on and on. And when i look at colleges thats the list that is going through my head and man, it scares me to death.
On a daily basis i work my butt off to do as well as I possibly can in school to get into college, and it is so tough. So much to do in such a short period of time it seems. Its pretty sad.
So right now I now what I want to do in the future, and I know that I really want to attend St. Thomas. But all the details that come with that are no where close to being comprehended by me.. So much to think about, so many concerns and sooooo many fears. Some days I really dont know what to do. I just want to succeed and live life to the fullest and do what I love and what God wants me to do.
But...
GOD is not very forth-coming about what he wants to have me do with my life! :) *Yeah Mr. Up there! :) A little guidance PLEASE!?!**
So im going to pray daily that God directs me into what he wants me to do with my life. For him to show me his way. Because after reading at the top what I had to say about my future plans you can definately tell that I dont have much of a clue..
Its in God's hands.
"Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths straight" Proverbs 3:5-6
Lord,
Please help me to listen to you and your will for my life. Please Guide me, lead me and push me to do what my purpose is in life.
Amen
Love,
Ashley
Although we are faced with many things daily, one of the major things that i believe is so tough is our future.
Daily we are bombarded with homework, studying, lectures, speeches, presentations, and teachers preaching to us about college and what are we gonna do with our future??
And sometimes I want to scream at them and say WHAT HAPPENS IF WE DONT KNOW FOR SURE!?!?!
We are under so much pressure to do so many things, and to accomplish so much that multiple times during the year I break down, cry, am beyond sressed and basically loose it!
Ok, now saying that I think about what Im going to do with my life??
Oh no...
For me right now I really want to go into ministry of some sort. More than likely youth ministry, or something with being involved with the church and in that community. I would so LOVE to do that! :) But then the doubts come into my mind...
-What if i cant get into college?
-What if its too much?
-What if I cant understand it?
-What if I loose all my money?
-How am I going to get a job?
-How am I going to live?
And honestly the list could go on and on. And when i look at colleges thats the list that is going through my head and man, it scares me to death.
On a daily basis i work my butt off to do as well as I possibly can in school to get into college, and it is so tough. So much to do in such a short period of time it seems. Its pretty sad.
So right now I now what I want to do in the future, and I know that I really want to attend St. Thomas. But all the details that come with that are no where close to being comprehended by me.. So much to think about, so many concerns and sooooo many fears. Some days I really dont know what to do. I just want to succeed and live life to the fullest and do what I love and what God wants me to do.
But...
GOD is not very forth-coming about what he wants to have me do with my life! :) *Yeah Mr. Up there! :) A little guidance PLEASE!?!**
So im going to pray daily that God directs me into what he wants me to do with my life. For him to show me his way. Because after reading at the top what I had to say about my future plans you can definately tell that I dont have much of a clue..
Its in God's hands.
"Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths straight" Proverbs 3:5-6
Lord,
Please help me to listen to you and your will for my life. Please Guide me, lead me and push me to do what my purpose is in life.
Amen
Love,
Ashley
November 27, 2009
The Dignity Of Women
Hey all! :) Im back! :) I hope you all had an amazing Thanksgiving, and hopefully a not too crazy black friday! :)
Tonight I decided to discuss the topic of "The Dignity Of Women". While you read this please keep in mind that this is my opinion, I do not mean to put anyone down by this post. Thanks for understanding! :)
Well I hope you all can see by my posts that I do value myself, along with respecting myself. As well as I do respect, hope and pray for an improvement of the dignity of women in this society we live in today.
I feel as if though women in today's society are lead to believe that they have to fit so many "criteria" to be "accepted" or "Good Enough" Which I find appauling! Also the fact that society seems to look as women as objects. Basically sexualizing, exploiting, and de-feminizing them. In most of the movies that have been released recently what do you see? Sex, fighting, possibly drugs, cursing, women in outfits that DO NOT fully cover their body or attract a man for the WRONG REASONS!
It seems that lots of women feel that they need to dress provacativly, "sexy", seductive, exploitative, and so much more just to get a man's attention. To get that love, to get that attention, but honestly is that what you want to be known for?? Do you want that random guy to talk to his friend about you and say they ask him "well what is she like??" and he says "she is the really hott blonde, with the short short skirt and really low cut shirt. You know what im saying bro?!" *Insert High five*
HONESTLY!?!? Is that what you want a guy to remember about you is how you dressed?
There are so many things that a girl should be remembered by. Not just her body! (Honestly at the very least her body!) There is sooo much more to a woman than just her body, and thats what a lot of people dont understand. And its partially because of the way society portrays women.
I believe that women are so much more than we are shown or lead to believe about ourselves.
As you can tell I have a passion for empowering women, I truly believe its a gift from God. He helps me to help the ones who need it. And so many people come to me with issues and I feel God telling me what to say. I just feel so strongly about this topic and im sorry if this is rambling on, but it just blows my mind what people consider "ok" or how they see women. Its sooo sad!
So what can we do to help?!?
-Dress Modestly (Or encourage other women to!) And I know when some of you think Modesty you think dumpy and not stylish. UNTRUE! :) There are so many cute outfits that are completely modest.
-Value yourself and other women!
-Dont encourage movies, tv shows, magazines etc that dimean women.
-Dont support things that dimean women.
and so many more things! :)
Guys, this can be changed! :) But we all need to work together to make this issue, no exsistent any longer! :) Start today! :)
Your father up in heaven, and his son value you soo much, why shouldnt the world value you that much?! You are the daughter of a king, show it with grace and modesty. :)
You are so loved! Please dont ever think that you have to do all of those things just because thats what people "accept". Because you are so much better than that!
"God gave each man a job..... The dignity of a woman"-- Pope John Paul II
*Sorry if this rambled on! :( Let me know what you think!*
Love, and Prayers,
Ashley
Tonight I decided to discuss the topic of "The Dignity Of Women". While you read this please keep in mind that this is my opinion, I do not mean to put anyone down by this post. Thanks for understanding! :)
Well I hope you all can see by my posts that I do value myself, along with respecting myself. As well as I do respect, hope and pray for an improvement of the dignity of women in this society we live in today.
I feel as if though women in today's society are lead to believe that they have to fit so many "criteria" to be "accepted" or "Good Enough" Which I find appauling! Also the fact that society seems to look as women as objects. Basically sexualizing, exploiting, and de-feminizing them. In most of the movies that have been released recently what do you see? Sex, fighting, possibly drugs, cursing, women in outfits that DO NOT fully cover their body or attract a man for the WRONG REASONS!
It seems that lots of women feel that they need to dress provacativly, "sexy", seductive, exploitative, and so much more just to get a man's attention. To get that love, to get that attention, but honestly is that what you want to be known for?? Do you want that random guy to talk to his friend about you and say they ask him "well what is she like??" and he says "she is the really hott blonde, with the short short skirt and really low cut shirt. You know what im saying bro?!" *Insert High five*
HONESTLY!?!? Is that what you want a guy to remember about you is how you dressed?
There are so many things that a girl should be remembered by. Not just her body! (Honestly at the very least her body!) There is sooo much more to a woman than just her body, and thats what a lot of people dont understand. And its partially because of the way society portrays women.
I believe that women are so much more than we are shown or lead to believe about ourselves.
As you can tell I have a passion for empowering women, I truly believe its a gift from God. He helps me to help the ones who need it. And so many people come to me with issues and I feel God telling me what to say. I just feel so strongly about this topic and im sorry if this is rambling on, but it just blows my mind what people consider "ok" or how they see women. Its sooo sad!
So what can we do to help?!?
-Dress Modestly (Or encourage other women to!) And I know when some of you think Modesty you think dumpy and not stylish. UNTRUE! :) There are so many cute outfits that are completely modest.
-Value yourself and other women!
-Dont encourage movies, tv shows, magazines etc that dimean women.
-Dont support things that dimean women.
and so many more things! :)
Guys, this can be changed! :) But we all need to work together to make this issue, no exsistent any longer! :) Start today! :)
Your father up in heaven, and his son value you soo much, why shouldnt the world value you that much?! You are the daughter of a king, show it with grace and modesty. :)
You are so loved! Please dont ever think that you have to do all of those things just because thats what people "accept". Because you are so much better than that!
"God gave each man a job..... The dignity of a woman"-- Pope John Paul II
*Sorry if this rambled on! :( Let me know what you think!*
Love, and Prayers,
Ashley
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