2.23.2011

82

That is how many days I have left until I go to Germany! yay!


That is also how many days I have left to lose weight. I've currently lost a little over 15 lbs but I am kind of stuck on doing bad and not working out like I should be. I was watching "I Used To Be Fat" tonight on MTV and it's has me inspired. So, I've made my very own countdown chart and will be hanging it on my wall until I find nails big enough to hang 82 sheets of paper.

I WILL be skinny by the time I leave for Germany and I WILL look good. Bye bye bad food, hello healthy crap. I can eat all the Weinerschnitzel I want when I get to Germany!

Pray for me! :)

On a mission for God,
Cherish

2.14.2011

Valentines Day

-stole this from an e-mail at work. So so true. :)

A special guy, romantic dinners, moonlight walks, carriage rides.....ahh, falling in love. Its wonderful. Even more special is when he sends a card or note with his loving thoughts written inside. You read it often, imagining his voice and seeing the love in his eyes. Treasured love letters are bundled together and tied with ribbon or kept in a special box. They are a record of your growing love for one another.




God has sent you love letters, too. His Word, the Bible, is filled with descriptions of His love for you. It tells of His sacrifices for you, His plans for you, His hopes for you. It describes what He has already done for you and His other loved ones.



The words of Scripture affirm His unfailing, eternal commitment to you. He loves you and He wants you to know that. Read His Word as if it were a love letter. You'll be overwhelmed with the extravagance of His love for you.


On a mission for God,
Cherish

2.13.2011

SOOO EXCITED!

Today was just a splendid day.

This morning I went to church and then went to lunch with Taryn. We then went to an informational meeting about Germany. I'm glad I finally got to go to one. At the meeting we just kinda discussed where we were in our decision making process and concerns we may have.

Here are my thoughts/decision about Germany:

I AM GOING! God has provided me with a wonderful opportunity to serve Him in a way that not everyone can. I was so intrigued at the meeting and I just know that I am making the right decision. I love the way God speaks to us.

I could not be more excited to serve Him in this way and help others find Jesus as well.

"But be sure to fear the LORD and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you." -1 Samuel 12:24

On a mission for God,
Cherish

Oh, and if you would like to donate to help me go on my trip this summer, you are more than welcome. :)
For more information about donating and where to send donations, contact me. :)

2.12.2011

Pet Peeves

Everyone has a few pet peeves of their own. It may be silly little things like - smacking when you eat or spitting on the sidewalk (one of mine).

I have silly little ones like that, but I also have one that is a lot more serious. I absolutely hate it when someone takes God's name in vain! I noticed here lately that I have several friends who do and while I haven't said anything to them about it, I'd like too. I don't see how someone can say it! Okay, well maybe I could if someone didn't know God or never really had Christianity in their life, but for someone who does know God and for someone who is a Christian to say God's name in vain, drives me mad!

In Exodus 20:17, it says "You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain." Does this scripture alone not make you think? Why would you take someones name in vain who sent his ONE and ONLY son to die on the cross for you and your sins? I can't even bear to think of doing that. Although, I guess it goes hand in hand with other sins, such as lying or stealing. I know I have my faults as a Christian and I am working on them, but this particular sin just urks me!

Matthew 15:11 says: "Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man".

In my mind, saying the Lord's name in vain is the exact same thing as cussing or swearing. Either way, filth is coming out of your mouth.

What do you think?

On a mission for God,
Cherish

2.11.2011

Germany it is!

So, I am about 99% sure that I will be going to Germany this summer! I am so excited. God is sending me on an amazing journey and I am so thankful to be able to serve Him in this way.

If you were wondering, I have not sold my lease yet, but I have full faith that God will let it be sold soon enough. Students don't want to sign leases this early on anyways. I most likely end up selling it right after Spring Break.

Also, hopefully, I'll be going with one of my closest friends Taryn so I think it'll make it easier being away from my family for a month.

God works in mysterious ways and I believe He is making something great out of me! I've had time to work on myself and my relationship with him. I now believe He wants me to help others find Him (while maybe even finding myself in Europe!). Our God is an AWESOME GOD!

I found this verse earlier today, I absolutely loved it! It was something that I needed to hear!

‎"Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain of the Lord." -1 Cor. 15:58

On a mission for God,
Cherish

2.09.2011

Support

Today has been long and hard to say the least.

It wasn't long and hard due to strenuous activity or anything like that, it was hard due to the fact that I don't feel like God is answering my prayers. I realize God hears all prayers and He answers them, but today it has been hard to keep telling myself that. I had a dream about Germany last night and it was freaky. I had a dream it was time for me to go and I hadn't gotten my cell phone to take over there (I have to get a special one, when-if, I go, because U.S. Cellular doesn't have international plans.) and I was worried about not being able to talk to my parents. Then some strange man locked my brother and I in a room in his house. It was weird.

I'm so worried that God isn't going to let me sell my lease and this is something I need to happen desperately. I know it'll probably happen, and it'll probably happen right before I get ready to leave for Germany, but I am so stressed out about it.

I was talking to someone earlier today about selling my lease and he told me "don't count on it." Those words crushed me. I have to count on it. It sucked (sorry mom) hearing that. It's weird, I feel supported by some of my friends but there are some other people I don't exactly feel supported by and it sucks! (sorry again mom.) I should feel very supported by these people and it feels like they don't want me to go, which to me, makes it even harder to know if God actually wants me to do this or not.

As of right now, I just really need your prayers. I'm praying too, but I need loads of prayer.

In Him,
Cherish

Where You go, I'll go.

Okay, so I feel like I'm pretty dead set on going to Germany. It just feels right. I'm still not 100%, it's more about 95%.

I have been praying SO HARD about it. I think I'm literally tearing myself apart worrying about it. I sincerely want to do what God wants me to do and I'm only 95% positive it's Germany. I've been trying to have more faith that God is going to come through, because I know HE WILL, but I'm only human and it's still hard to have faith when I'm worrying about it like crazy. I read around 20 scriptures tonight regarding having faith in God's plan. I found a couple that I really like that I feel suits my situation.

"They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.” -Lamentations 3:23-24

"Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful." -Hebrews 10:23

"God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord." -1 Corinthians 1:9

I have to realize that God is faithful and if He wants me to go to Germany this summer to serve Him on a mission trip, He will make sure my lease gets sold. HE IS FAITHFUL!

In Him,
Cherish

P.S. - If you know anyone looking for a summer lease, tell them to talk to me. I have one I'd be glad to give up! :)

P.S.S. - Please be praying for Taryn and I. We could really use them.

2.07.2011

Prayers Please

I need you, reader, to say a couple of prayers for me.

-Please pray that I can sell my lease to my apartment complex for the summer so I can go to Germany to do mission work for God.

-Please pray that I make the right decision regarding this trip.

-Please pray for my friend, Taryn, also. She has a big decision to make about this trip as well.

Thank you all.
In Him,
Cherish

2.05.2011

Never Knew Single Could Feel This Good

Okay, so for those of you who really know me, know that I am completely 100% boy crazy. If you know me even better, you know that I hate that about myself.

For years, I have wanted a boyfriend so badly and probably would have done almost anything to get one. (Sad, I know). I mean, I'm 20 years old and I have never had a boyfriend and I've never been kissed. (Yeah, you read that right.) I used to be soo ashamed of this, because I felt like I was inexperienced and undesirable.

But, I recently had a talk with a very good friend. She is the person I run to when I'm needing deep "Jesus" advice while away at college. Alicia, is also my roommate. One night (last week), we were kind of on the topic of relationships and dating. I kept going on and on about how bad I wanted a boyfriend and how stupid I felt because I'd never been kissed. She went on to say, "Cherish, I may have already told you this before, but I feel like you should hear it again. I heard it in a sermon one time. If your running as hard and as fast as you can toward God and you look beside you and you see someone else running just as fast and just as hard, that's when you know who you're supposed to be with." I had heard these words before from her, but I'd never given much thought to it. I heard them differently this time. She also went on to say this to me: "Cherish, would you rather have dated and kissed and done who knows what with several guys and be regretting it today or would you rather be where you are now?" (I have heard these words from several other people including my mom, but it didn't sink in until then.) Those words couldn't have been said any better. She was definitely right. If I would of been the first person she said (& I'm not judging anyone who was or is, remember I once envied you), I would totally regret it! I would be so disappointed in myself and I would be disgusted.But instead, I'm almost as pure as they come. I'm not trying to brag on myself either. But, I can now happily say that I am proud of myself. Yes, there have been numerous chances for me to have a "boyfriend" or "be kissed", but there are reasons those things didn't happen. God has had this in his plans for me all along.

So, now that I am setting here thinking about how happy I am now, how happy I am to be SINGLE (refer to title), how happy I am that I don't have to deal with boy drama and worrying about making my boyfriend happy and having time for him, I am so glad that God's plan for me was this. I never thought I would say it, but even though I am single right now, I am so content with God and so pleased with Him. Here lately, he's been doing amazing things in my heart. AMAZING THINGS. I'm not sure if you have heard the song "Whatever You're Doing" by Sanctus Real or not but there is a line in that song that just describes my life right now. Every time I hear this song, I melt. It's so beautiful. It says: "Whatever You're doing inside of me, it feels like chaos but somehow there's peace." God is doing amazing things in my life right now, and I don't a need a boy to come along and mess up that relationship that I'm strengthening with God. I AM CONTENT WITH GOD, I don't need another man (boyfriend) in my life. One of my prayers that I have been praying lately was basically asking God to let me be content with Him and not care about guys or wanting a boyfriend. I've been praying that for about a week and God's already answered it. I'm not saying that from time to time, I'm not going to be like: "Oh, he's cute.", because that is perfectly normal, I think. But earlier I just sitting in my bed thinking about guys and boyfriends in general, and to be honest, I was disgusted. If there were to be some boy to ask me right now to be "his girlfriend", I honestly think I would say "no." I DON'T WANT A BOYFRIEND and I am soooo happy to say that!

I felt like this verse was appropriate:
"I've kept my feet on the ground, I've cultivated a quiet heart. Like a baby content in it's mother's arms, my soul is a baby content." - Psalm 131:2 (The Message)

Sorry this blog was a tad long, hope you enjoyed it. Feel free to leave comments and show it to your friends.

In Him,
Cherish

2.04.2011

Ahhh. Snow Daysss...

I have had 4 snow days this week and I am so sick of being in the house. I really just want to get out and do something.

Don't get me wrong, for the last few days we have been sledding...

(I'm pushing my little "sister".)


We tried to just sled in our yard, but it wasn't working out too well. We have a pond on our land, it's dried out and hilly, and it works great! I'm actually about to go back out there and sled some more..

We have also built igloos..

( It's not completed yet, but we're working on it.)


These past few days have been relaxing and enjoyable, but I'm ready to get back outside and be active!

We are supposed to go see this play tomorrow at a Theatre and Wichita Falls, TX.


Fingers crossed that we get too, it'll be a blast! :)


Enjoy the snow!
In Him,
Cherish 

2.01.2011

Pros & Cons of Germany.

Trying to make this decision and doing what God wants is stressing me out!!

I made a pro-con list.

Germany:

Pros:                 
  • Serving God
  • Traveling to Germany...again
  • Spending 1 month of my summer with amazing Godly people.
  • Getting closer to God while helping people find God.

Cons:
  • 1 month away from my parents.
  • Missing Lu-Jo.
  • Cost: $3,250

Feel free to add some for me if you'd like.

I need to pray, pray, pray. I'd appreciate your prayers also.

In Him,
Cherish