Don't judge!

When you see someone doing something that's wrong, how quickly do you condemn them? Why are we so quick to judge and condemn when it isn't our place at all to do so.

¹¹Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaks evil of his brother, and judges his brother, speaks evil of the law, and judges the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge.
 ¹²There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judges another? (James 4:11-12)

My lovely friend Chelsea Z. was just over and we were talking about this, about our old church and how we see some problems, but as we talked we encouraged and reminded each other that it is not our place to judge them but rather to pray for them and to pray that we would not condemn our brothers and sisters in Christ. I personally feel like I have no right to point the finger at anyone but myself. I am accountable to God only for the things that I do and say- I'm not accountable for anyone else and I do not know their hearts. Who am I to speak evil of my family in God? Who am I to say that I'm better than them or have it more figured out? Maybe I'm wrong and they're right... or maybe what really matters is where my heart is. That's how God judges us, on our hearts. If our hearts are right then the rest of our life will come into alignment for, "out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks." (Matthew 12:34) and all of our actions follow what is in our hearts.
One key thing I want to say before I move on is this, judging and discernment are two different things. If we see the fruit of someone is bad we know to pray for them and love them and be careful around them. For me this is very important since my walk with God is not as strong as it should be and it is easy for me to fall prey to sin if I surround myself with sinful people. Being wise is a good thing, making boundaries about the things you should and shouldn't do can be good, especially if you're in the place that I'm in. However, if you have the strength to be around those people and show them Christ's love then it is your job to do that. It is selfish and wrong to hold in the Word, grace and love that God has given you.
"Therefore to him that knows to do good, and does it not, to him it is sin." James 4:17

We were also talking about our lives and just following God on a day to day basis. If you've been reading my blog you know that I've made plans for college and originally did it without any blessing or permission from God but He has given me grace and not told me to stop on the path that I've headed down.
This is the verse God gave me concerning my future, "A person may plan his own journey, but the LORD directs his steps." (Prov. 16:9)
Going right along with that I read these verses today in my quiet time,

"Go to now, you all that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain:

 Where as you all know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor, that appears for a little time, and then vanishes away.

 For that you all ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that." (James 4:13-15)

It is a great comfort to know that my life is resting safely in God's hands; I don't know what tomorrow will bring or if there will even be a tomorrow, but I do know that I belong to Jesus and that He is faithful to guide my steps.

"⁶But He gives more grace. Because of this he says, God resists the proud, but gives grace unto the humble.
 ⁷Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
 ⁸Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
 ⁹Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.
 ¹⁰Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up." James 4:6-10

If we put ourselves in alignment with God, humble ourselves before Him, draw near to Him, obey, honor and submit to Him; He is so faithful to give grace, to draw near to us, to send the devil running away with his tail between his knees, to lift us up and direct our steps. Besides all of that, He gives us His love of which we are so unworthy. He has called us His children now! What an awesome God we serve!


I'm really encouraged and it was cool that in my quiet time James 4 was the chapter to read because that's what Chelsea and I were talking about. Made my heart happy and I thought it would encourage all of you as well. I know that it's easy to talk about all of this and some people may say it's easier to talk about than to do, but talking about it encourages our minds to stay on these things. I'm not perfect, and I don't always submit, obey or draw near to Him, but remembering His promises and sharing them with the world helps me to act upon His promises.

Stay strong my sisters and brothers... we serve a wonderful Savior, an Almighty God who loves us. Let us  remember our place, that we were never called to judge or condemn, but to lay those things at His feet and trust that He is a big enough God to handle other people. Love you all!!!! Leave me any comments/thoughts that you have on this subject.

Welcoming in the New Year- Mary-style!

The new year is almost here... I believe New Year's week is a good time for reflection and a time to make sure you're walking in the direction you want to be walking in. Last year in December I had just started going back to church, my heart and life were a mess. I was depressed, angry, bitter, etc.
Now a year after admitting that I needed God, I find myself calm, collected, anticipating the adventure He is going to bring me through this next year.
I may have piercings, pink hair, a sweet tattoo and big boots, but just as He promised, my heart is growing softer and softer and I'm learning to listen to Him more and more. My New Year's resolution is simply to start reading my Bible again, even if it's just once or twice a week, something is better than nothing.
When i decided to change my major to dental hygiene I wasn't walking with God at all, and I'm concerned this isn't what He wants for me but I've started on this path and He has not told me to stop.
I am willing to do whatever He asks of me with my degree, go wherever...
I'm so worried about moving to Portland, now that it's coming up faster and faster I feel my stomach flutter with nervous butterflies at the very thought of packing all of my belongings up and going to a new house, a new job, a new school, placing Dominic in a daycare and being so far away from the friends and family that I love so dearly.
Well, with all this contemplation I know I must learn to lean on God much, MUCH more than I have been.
Everything is going so well right now, my roommate Brenna is an absolute sweetheart and my best friend. My relationships with all of my Bend family have gotten better and better... money is tight but somehow all of the bills are getting paid. Of course, a lot of it has to do with all the financial help my family and friends give me. What would I do without all of you? Mom, Dad, Joanna... you all give so much for me; more than just money-wise. Thank you for all of your love and support. I could not do any of this without you. And Dan Frank... You have been a huge blessing in my life and pray that you will be rewarded in more ways than just material possession.
Welcome in the new year and live like today is your last day... "For what is your life? It is but a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away."
Love all of you!!!

The Spinster... hehehe... we're gonna talk about sex!

What is it about being single that makes me feel stronger? I think it's because I don't feel like I have to have sex with someone and honestly... I don't want to have sex with anyone ever again! I feel having sex is giving up your power, and that is not what it is supposed to be. I want to be married before I have sex again... I want it to really, truly mean something. I know this is graphic and that my parents and grandparents read this so i apologize if this candid talk is uncomfortable for you. Unfortunately it is something that my generation deals with on a regular basis; premarital sex is just a part of life and I do not know how this became a norm but it isn't right. I wasn't really sure how I felt about this until last night, and now I know for sure that I want to marry a God-fearing man who won't push me or ask me to do things I never wanted to do and make me feel uncomfortable or unsure or confused or obligated. No. Hell no. I know that I've wandered off the path quite a ways, but I've been deliberately walking back to that one true path, towards Jesus and this is for sure... His Holy Spirit does not like premarital sex. No way! I'm glad I've been abstinent for awhile, last night was interesting but I'm glad it didn't go further than where it did. Never again... I want a relationship and a family and a home that is full of love and truth.
If i have learned anything from walking away it is simply that premarital sex is almost always destructive and selfish. STDs are common and unwanted pregnancy occurs and then tough choices have to be made... choices that multiple friends of mine have had to make. This is not what we are made for ladies, we deserve a man who WANTS to WAIT! We do not deserve someone who we have to shove off of us because he can't keep his hands to himself.
I may never find such a man, a man full of the Holy Spirit, slow to speak, slow to anger and quick to listen... but right now that is okay! Right now I am trying to learn how to be slow to speak, slow to anger and quick to listen. I still have some things in my life that I know aren't right that I need help with- I need to learn to be filled with the Holy Spirit again, to be determined and dedicated in my walk with God- not just an inactive lump in the back pew.
Pray for me that my heart will be fixed on this and that I won't waver... and for all of my sisters struggling with the decision to remain abstinent until marriage, who have fallen before and wonder, "What's the point? I'm not a virgin anymore so what does it matter if I sleep with my boyfriend, he loves me after all, doesn't he?" Ladies, if he loves you, truly loves you as Christ loves the Church, then he will not expect you to sleep with him before he has said those vows before God and man. Keep the faith sisters, do not quit, do not let sin keep you from your true Husband, your Maker, the Holy One of Israel, Jesus.

Merry Christmas!!!

Hello everyone, how are you all this fine Christmas week? Present wrapped? Tree decorated? Cookies made? Well... we're getting there and I'm so excited! Besides the excruciatingly painful and annoying tingling sensation my carpal tunnel provides whenever I attempt to anything artistic; I have been practicing playing Christmas hymns on the piano my dad gave me. I never knew how challenging or enjoyable "Joy to The World" is to play and sing... it's the bass and tenor parts that I find most enjoyable, and have been singing the tenor part an octave higher than it is written... absolutely beautiful! It is worth the pain to play something so well written.
I'm looking forward to Christmas Eve more than Christmas morning... my grandpa, mom, dad, younger sister Joanna, younger brother Nolan and my older sister Katie and her husband and two children will all be over at my house. This will be my last Christmas in Bend for awhile... and I'm going to enjoy it to its fullest. I asked my Grandpa to read a passage from one of the gospels about Jesus' birth and to give a little history about the date and time he was born. I'm really looking forward to it.
My roommate Brenna is helping me come up with new traditions for Dominic and I- we decorated stockings and are going to decorate cookies on Christmas eve. She bought us both a TON of presents yesterday... thank you Brenna for making our Christmas so very merry. You are such a blessing!!! I'm so glad you are my friend.
Dancing over the weekend was fun. Brenna came with me Saturday and Sunday night and is falling in love with west coast swing just as much as I am. I won't be able to do lesson in January because of financial restraints but I should be able to start again in February and I'll still go to practica Sunday nights.
Dominic is getting so big, and I think he's entering the terrible 2's. He throws the most glorious fits for no reason at all... I can usually calm him down by counting and breathing but if not he ends up in time out, which is working so far. Today I found him taking all of the shoes out of the closet, thankfully he was a sweet boy and helped me put them all away.
Well... I've run almost all my errands, brought Katie her shoes, picked up Brenna's package from the post office and now I just have to go and drop off some paperwork at the DHS office and then my mom and I are going to go do some wine tasting!!  Nom, nom, delicious.
Well folks, I've gotta wake that baby up and run my last errand. Keep it real and have a very merry Christmas!!!

Internet!!! WOO!

We have internet again!!! WOO! I feel as if we have emerged from the deep silence of the dark ages and into the 21st century- and I don't even know what to do with all of this now that I have it. It's truly mind boggling.
Dominic is taking a super long nap,which is ok by me since my sister Joanna will be babysitting tonight while I go dancing at Mavrick's. Hehehe... I love you Joanna!
This is a super busy weekend dance-wise, last night we had our weekly class for beginner-plus West Coast Swing, and tonight there's a country dance at Mavrick's, tomorrow there is the monthly west coast swing dance and beginners' at Azure and then Sunday night is practica! Whew... my feet may fall off before Monday comes around but I'm excited to get to go out so much. Thanks to my sister Joanna, my friend Dan Frank, and my lovely roommate Brenna for taking turns babysitting my lovely little Domino so that I can go and dance WOO!
I've been kinda going a little crazy on my Christmas break, totally ready for school to start again, ugh, January seems like a million light-years away. That first week of January I'll be applying for housing assistance in Portland, where I'll be moving to in July. School will start again and I'll have the paternity results back. I'm excited for that week and it can't come fast enough!
I've been able to keep on my bills a little better than I have before but of course, it's the in-between-term-crunch... bank account has $1 in it and I have $1 to get Dominic a Christmas present. Haha... Mom and Dad have been helping with gas and diapers... I dunno what I'd do without them. People always tell me that I should just get a job but going to school full time, working at the college and being a single mom is enough for me... when I move to Portland however i will have to obtain a job. Hoping that since I've been working up at COCC in the CIS (Computer Information Something-err-other, not Criminal Investigation Something-err-other, haha) department that I might be able to get a job at OIT. Keep your fingers crossed!!

Been going to Mission church and attending the Bible study that my brother-in-law leads. It's been really awesome.
I am single, plan on staying single... I mean, I will be moving in six months, why would I try to start a relationship now? Besides, I'm happy and content to be single, which is weird for me, but it's been 3 months since I broke up with John and I'm just so happy to be free!!!!! Haha... love you all. Keep it real, leave me a comment and let me know how much you missed my blogs- will try to post a Dominic blog soon but I gotta get that kiddo up!