Giving God Glory ~ I've always had a problem with this...

As I was preparing for my Bible Study tonight I was reading chapter 3 in which it talks about giving God glory. I've always had a problem with this. I don't have a problem giving God glory when it is due. (So, basically, that's all the time!!) But I found a problem with the statement "God wants to be glorified." It sounds so arrogant. It says in Leviticus, "By those who come near Me I must be regarded as holy; and before all people I must be glorified." And in Psalms it says, "Trust me in your times of trouble, and I will rescue you, and you will give me glory." So why is my God so arrogant and so self serving?

Then the Lord spoke to me through the book we are reading for Bible Study. This is what it said:

"Make no mistake. God has no ego problem. He does not reveal his glory for his good. We need to witness it for ourselves. We need a strong had to pull us to into the safe boat, just like the pilot of lifeboat does. [We] need to hear him say, "I am here. I am strong. I have room for you. I can save you!"

So by promoting God, and by God demanding promotion, we are helping ourselves and other realize that He is good and He is the all in all and He IS our sustainer and HE IS MIGHTY and HE IS....I could go on forever, but I would run out of finger strength.

So next time I glorify God I will rest in the peace that He is there and deserves glorification.

What's in MY name?

I've always liked my name, but tonight as I was doing my quiet time I realized how truly awesome my name is and also how completely humbled I should be my name.

Cynthia - It means moon.

I am currently reading Max Lucado's book It's Not About Me with the Fusion College Ministry girls. (So far, it's good. Anyone, not just girls, should take a gander.) He starts proving that it is not about me by analyzing the purpose of the moon and how it "models our role" of how we should be as Christians, followers and reflectors of Christ. Here is an excerpt:

What does the moon do? She generates no light. Contrary to the the lyrics of the song, this harvest moon cannot shine on. Apart from the sun, the moon is nothing more than pitch-black, pockmarked rock. But properly positioned, the moon beams. Let her do what she was made to do, and a clod of dirt becomes a source of inspiration, yea, verily romance The moon reflects greater light.

And she's happy to do so! You never hear the moon complaining. She makes no waves about making waves. Let the cow jump over her or astronauts step on her; she never objects. Even though sunning is accepted while mooning is the butt of bad jokes, you won't hear ol' Cheeseface grumble. The moon is at peace in her place. And because she is, soft light touches the dark earth.

What a name sake! What an amazing thing to live up to! And, man do I have a lot of work!

Anchalee - It means to wai (pronounced "why"). Wai means to bow. It is the term used for the slight bow or curtsey one does in Thailand upon greeting someone.

When you greet someone in Thailand, the proper thing to do is to bow and say the appropriate greeting. It is respectful and expected. Aren't we expected to do the same thing to our Lord? Shouldn't we be bowing out of respect for our high God? Shouldn't that be the appropriate and only way to greet our Lord? Except our should be much more than slight. Our greeting should be on our knees or flat on our faces.

What a name sake! What an amazing thing to live up to! And, man do I have a lot of work!

Lawrence - "It is of Latin origin, and the meaning of Lawrence is "from Laurentum". Laurentum was a city south of Rome known for its laurel trees." "According to Greek and Roman mythology, the laurel was said to repeal lightning, which many have been why wreaths of laurel have adorned the heads of people in ancient depictions. The laurel wreath also symbolizes a poet and one who excels in the sciences and arts. The laurel was sacred to the god Apollo and came to stand for victories and spiritual cleansing."

Laurel leave wreathes adorned peoples head, a place of honor. They were also utilitarian in nature because they were placed there to ward off lightning. And, as you can read above, they symbolize so much status.

What a name sake! What an amazing thing to live up to! And, man do I have a lot of work!

What a name sake! What an amazing thing to live up to! And, man do I have a lot of work!

Sources:

Lucado, Max. It's Not About Me. Nashville, TN.: Thomas Nelson page 6

Meaning of Lawrence: http://www.thinkbabynames.com/meaning/1/Lawrence

Laurel Tree info: http://meaningofgifts.com/?p=829

Valentine's Day...My thoughts on the day...

I have never had a beau on a Valentine's Day and unless something changes in the next two days that trend won't change. This is not going to be one of those whiny blog entries. One of those "Woe is me! I hate my life. Why doesn't anyone love me?" blogs. Don't get me wrong, I have felt that way before. There are days when I see me friends falling in love, getting married, and living the life I know the Lord has for me at some point, I feel awful about myself.

Instead, the point of this blog is not to dwell on the things that I feel my life is lacking but to focus on the BIG God that blesses my life everyday. This blog is for the glory of God and His glory only. Even the title is "For I am Not." For I am Not and He IS!!

Okay so what has HE blessed me with:

• Family that loves me more than words. They bail me out and stand by me when I need it. A wonderful mother and father who show me what a real marriage, a real relationship, real love looks like. A beautiful sister who is one of the best friends a girl could have who is about to marry the love of her life and give me a brother. A momaw and popaw that are such great role models for a Christian marriage that lasts through the years. And to all my other family, the love me from, some from great distances, and I am so not worthy of all their love.
• Friends that are my chosen family. Friends who God has given me to provide me with so much joy and love. I am forever in His debt for the relationships he has put in my life. My girls. So many sisters a girl just doesn't know what to do with them all. They are my precious loves and I can't go through a week without talking to them. I often rely on them to get me through everything. My boys. They are my big and little brothers and I know they have got my back in anything.

• My roommates! Two of the most precious souls on this earth. They are two of the most brilliant people I have ever met and two of the greatest educators. I am privileged to share a home, a life, and many other things with them.

• My Sunday School class! The most wonderful people in the world who I share so much with and with whom learn so much about our God and His plan.
• The College Ministry of HGBC. I love to serve those students and to serve along side my fellow followers of Christ. God has blessed me so much in that ministry.

So on this weekend before Valentine's Day I reflect on how many people God has given me to love. And though mystery man and I have not started our relationship yet, I have so many Valentines this year. I am too lucky and too blessed.

Picnick is my fave!

Sometimes this is what I do with my time...

What ya think?

The Woman Who Fears the Lord

Proverbs 31

10 An excellent wife who can find?
She is far more precious than jewels.
11 The heart of her husband trusts in her,
and he will have no lack of gain.
12 She does him good, and not harm,
all the days of her life.
13 She seeks wool and flax,
and works with willing hands.
14 She is like the ships of the merchant;
she brings her food from afar.
15 She rises while it is yet night
and provides food for her household
and portions for her maidens.
16 She considers a field and buys it;
with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.
17 She dresses herself with strength
and makes her arms strong.
18 She perceives that her merchandise is profitable.
Her lamp does not go out at night.
19 She puts her hands to the distaff,
and her hands hold the spindle.
20 She opens her hand to the poor
and reaches out her hands to the needy.
21 She is not afraid of snow for her household,
for all her household are clothed in scarlet.
22 She makes bed coverings for herself;
her clothing is fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is known in the gates
when he sits among the elders of the land.
24 She makes linen garments and sells them;
she delivers sashes to the merchant.
25 Strength and dignity are her clothing,
and she laughs at the time to come.
26 She opens her mouth with wisdom,
and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
27 She looks well to the ways of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children rise up and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
29 “Many women have done excellently,
but you surpass them all.”
30 Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain,
but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
31 Give her of the fruit of her hands,
and let her works praise her in the gates.

A few verses that inspired me...

A few of my friends from HGBC's College Ministry (Fusion) posted some pictures of some verses that were around the Passion conference. These were the ones that struck me to the core of my heart.

I forget to BE STILL and focus on the LORD.

I need to remember pray to come boldly in that prayer.

I try to remind myself of this daily! All of my life, in every season, He is still is God. I have a reason to sing. I have a reason to worship.

Snowmageddon!!

Yep, it's definitely SNOWMAGEDDON! It snowed Monday so school was cancelled. The snow froze so school was cancelled. It was still frozen Tuesday, Wednesday, and today so it was cancelled. And what call do I get at 4:45 today? Oh, yes, school cancelled for a fifth day in a row! It's insane, but I just have to go with the flow I guess. As a student I loved getting days off, but as a teacher I can't stand this many days off. So my kids will be off for 5 full days, then off on Monday for MLK day and then four days during the work week. AND we have to go for a full day on Saturday. The school systems around on Saturdays only have half a day, but we have one full day.

I am trying desperately to stay positive but it is difficult with all this going on around me. Nevertheless, in order to keep up my Christian witness I must. So I will rise above and be the Jesus that they see. The loving, sweet, forgiving Jesus that they need to see each day.

Exciting Things from my week...

I celebrated my mother's birthday with her on Tuesday. We had chocolate cake. Delicious

I'm getting back into my routines. Love routines!

My friends got home safely from Passion. Their lives were changed.

Today we are having sweet potato fries, tomato soup, and asparagus! Yummy!

I get to see some of my best friends this weekend.

I am blessed daughter of God. Blessed beyond words. Just thought I would share a few of the ways God blessed me this week.

New Year, New Day, New Things!

I woke up this morning a little earlier than I normally would on a Saturday because my roommate's family was coming over to help us move our washer and dryer on top of each other so we could move the new freezer into the laundry room. They arrived around 1 pm and started to move the washer and dryer around but they needed some items from Lowes. While Ryan and Mr. Rovenstine were at Lowe's they called to ask a question and somehow during the course of the conversation decided that they were going to paint the laundry room! So now, at 10:00 pm, we have a newly painted laundry room, an XBOX 360 Kinect, and a rearranged living room. What a day! And it was supposed to be an ordinary day!!