Pay It Forward and Liebster Award

     We've all heard it happening, and seen video's of people's lives sometimes changed by the "Pay-It-Forward" thing that goes around.
     I never thought that I'd ever be one of those people that someone paid for my drink/food..etc... This last week, I had some returns and exchanges to make. I also had to get my Driver's License and such changed, since getting married, and moving. So, it was a day that I wasn't really looking forward to, but I knew had to be done. I thought to myself, "I'll stop by Starbucks on the way down to run my errands, and I'll feel refreshed having a coffee in hand while running errands." I pulled through the Drive-Thru, and ordered my usual, "Iced Venti Vanilla Latte (light on the ice) coffee." The man told me to pull to the window, but didn't give me my total what I owed. I pulled up to the window, and was preparing to pay, when he opened the window, handed me my coffee, and said, "The lady in front of you just paid for your coffee, so you're all good to go!" :) You can imagine my delightful surprise! I was so astonished, that I just said, "Really?! Wow! Thank you!" And with that, I pulled away. I pulled over into a parking spot to take in what just happened. And then I thought, "I should've paid for the person's coffee behind me! Oh well, maybe next time."
     I never thought that something like that would've ever happened to me. It's something that I always saw that happened to other people, and that I always thought would be a good idea if I did it to someone.
     Have you ever had something happen to you that moved you in some way? It could be maybe someone offering to watch your kids or cook your dinners. A neighbor who mowed your lawn to surprise you, a child coming up to you, and handing you a flower, just because. :)
     " Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the Lord your God which He has given you." ~Deuteronomy 16:17 :)

I was nominated for the Liebster Award by: https://concealedfoundation.wordpress.com 
So here are the official rules of the LIEBSTER AWARD:

• Each nominee must have under 200 followers
• Thank and link to the nominating blog
• Answer their 10 questions and propose 10 new ones for your nominees
• Nominate 10 blogs and tell them that they've been nominated
• Write a post containing the questions
• Include these rules in the post

Here are the 10 questions I was asked:
1 What is the meaning behind your blog’s name? You can refer to my "What is a Daughter of Destiny" page for that meaning... it's long. ;) 
2. What’s the first thing you’d do if you got 5 feet of snow? When I was younger, I would've gone out to play in it, but now, probably sit with some music and a book, and snuggle on the couch with some hot coffee. ;)
3. What’s your favorite way to style your hair? My hairs pretty stubborn... so, probably just let it down. It's thick and Curly, so, it has a lot to it. ;)
4. Would you rather wear a skirt or pants? It depends on the Weather Outside. Usually skirts though. I wear pants usually when I have a lot of running around to do, or when it's cold outside. ;)
5. How often do you wear makeup? Probably about every day. 
6. What’s your blogs main focus? To encourage and Inspire other like-minded believers in Christ. 
7. What’s the last book of the Bible that you read? Psalms
8. Which do you like better, apple or pumpkin pie? Hmm... tough one... Pumpkin Pie if there's lots of Whip Cream, but usually Apple pie taste better. ;)
9. How many siblings do you have? 5... 4 brothers, and 1 sister. :) 
10. How many things have you made in the past week? As far as cooking and baking, too many things to count... maybe 15? 
I'm going to open this up to anyone who'd like to do it... it's fun! :)Here are my 10 questions to the nominees:
1. What Type of Church do you go to?
2. Do you Play any instruments? Why or Why not?
3. What interesting studies have you done that you find fascinating? 
4. Do you live in the Country, Suburbs, Apartment, or other? 
5. What's your Favorite Kind of music? Why?
6. Coffee or tea? Hot or cold?
7. Do you like Baking or Cooking better? 
8. When's your Birthday?
9. What's your Middle Name?
10. What's your Favorite Bible verse? Why? 

Trusting God in Every Area

This past week, I've been learning how to trust God even more.
We all go through phases in life that we don't quite give our all to Christ. We may give parts of our life to God... but what do we really "surrender" to Christ?
We say that we trust God in all things, but what happens when our faith is tried and tested? When we find out that a loved one has passed, or when we find out that our loved one has cancer. Do we trust God that Is He's in control of everything even then? Do we trust that He is still sovereign over all?
I can remember 13 years ago, when my mom was pregnant at the time with child number 5. She carried to full term, but baby Grace ended up being a still born. During this time of loss, my parents became so close to Christ, because they knew it was part of His plan and His will. It wasn't easy at first to accept that they had lost a child. My mom had her up and down days of trying to figure out why God had chosen to take their child away. My mom began to realize, it was never her child. It was always Gods child.

6 Weeks later, my mom was pregnant with my sister, Joy. The realization that God gives and takes away in the blink of an eye, was unreal. My sister, Joy, ended up having a cleft lip and pallet. She wasn't breathing when she was born, and then my dad talked to her and said, "Joy! Joy!" The doctor said to keep talking, and so my dad did. Joy responded to my dads voice, and started to breath.

I couldn't help but think of how we respond when God calls us by name. In those moments that we might have gone astray, or  feel lost, scared, and alone, God is with us even then.
9/11 was just a couple days ago. The day in history that has been marked as a terrorist attack. Many asked, "Where was God when _____?" we all might have doubts like that; but what do we choose to do with those thoughts? Do we choose to trust God, and know that He has a will and plan that may defer from ours? I pray that in my trying times, that God uses it for His glory, and not my own.

"In God is my salvation and my glory; the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God. Trust in Him at all times, you people; pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us." ~Psalm 62:7-8~

"As for God, His way is perfect... He is a shield to all who trust in Him." ~Psalm 18:30~

"These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." ~John 16:33~

When Will my Life Began? A lesson from Tangled

"Stuck in the same place I've always been

I just keep wanderin' and wanderin' and

wanderin' and wanderin' 

when will my life begin?"

-Tangled

I have heard the myth of "my life hasn't started yet" often since I graduated high school and entered the new phase of questions life.

You graduate high school and "just like that", the consistency is gone. No more of the steady continuation of doing the next chapter in a math or science book. Until advanced education courses start (or whatever path that God is leading you down) you inevitably begin to ask "what's next?" "what is my purpose?" "and what is purpose-filled?" "when will my life begin"? You cry out to God asking Him to Show you the path of Life (Ps. 16:11) and questions rise far quicker than conclusions are reached!

This post-graduation truth quest, though internally challenging at times, is an incredible blessing. The temptation is there to ask "when will my life begin"? And start to subconsciously insert "maybe when I get this job", or "maybe when I get married", or "maybe when I have kids..." etc. but the truth is that our life began at conception. It doesn't start with the new good job, marriage, a college degree, a dream house etc. (although all those things can be blessings and good). Our life began at conception!

Embrace the searching, knowing that it produces growth. But don't let it cause you to waste the moments that you're living now. Enjoy them, use them, fill them with meaning and purpose. Prepare for the tasks that the Heavenly Father has laid on your heart and as Proverbs says, get wisdom.

Use the season of questions to search deeper into what you believe - talk with parents, get together with mentors and most importantly, search the Word of God. Remember that each day is a blessing from the Father to serve and glorify Him, to use the talents and opportunities that He has given us for Him. To make even the most mundane of tasks a living sacrifice to Him...(do all things to the glory of the Father). Your task might be small - but if you do it with joy as unto the Lord, then you have done well, faithful servant.

Ultimately, let the questions lead you to the foot of the cross. Realizing that without our Heavenly Father we are nothing but with Him we have purpose in life! Our life began at conception and our spiritual life with acceptance and belief that He is our guide and Savior on this beautiful life journey, where He guides us with His commandments, precepts and the Holy Spirit.

With God we don't keep wandering, because our life has begun. In Him, our purpose is fulfilled, our questions answered, our hope found. What a privilege and joy to walk day by day in His guidance and always in His grace.

"I have been driven many times upon my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had no where else to go." -Abraham Lincoln

Jenna from: http://femininefarmgirl.blogspot.com/ wrote a neat post, and I thought I'd re-post it, as well as 

add a few of my own thoughts. :)

Questioning God's Sovereignty?

Today, our family had quite the scare. We got a call from my dad saying that he'd been in a car accident.
You can imagine what was going through our heads when we found out... "Is he okay?" "Is he hurt?" "Will he die?" "When can I see him?" ... all this and more was going through my head. After I got off the phone with my mom, I thanked God that he was okay!
Many people may ask the, "Why?" question. "Why did ____ die?" "Why did God take_____ away?" (fill in the blank.) Whatever the case may be, why do we question Gods sovereignty?
Psalm 115:3

"Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases."
Proverbs 16:9"The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps."
Job 42:2

“I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted."

We think that our ways are better than Gods. We think that just because someone is a "good" person, that nothing bad will happen to them. We tend to play this game with God... "God I will ___ , if you do ___..." "God I will take a break from my computer, if you give my mother back her life."
The thing is, Gods already got a plan, we just can't always see that plan. I've got news for you... life isn't perfect. We all have consequences for everything we do. When we have free will, it comes with the territory. You can't smoke for a couple years, and then blame God when you have to be strapped to an oxygen tank.
What if today, was my dads last breath on earth? Would I have blamed God for my fathers death? Would I blame myself? We can't play the "what-if" game. God IS sovereign, and He is ruler over everything! What he says, goes... yes, it may hurt, and yes, we will get wounded in the battle.
Keep up the faith! Fight the good fight!
I thank God for the gift he gave me... a dad! More than a dad... a mentor, father, spiritual leader, husband to my mom, leader of the home, visionary, and a Godly man! Thank you dad for taking the Baton and passing it along to further the next generation! I love you!!!

Beautiful Blog Award

It seems I am being showered with blogger awards this month!  Thanks to Bethany Carson at: http://todaylibertyordeath.blogspot.com/ for the Beautiful Blog Award.  Here are my answers to Bethany's questions:

1. If you could have an expenses-paid vacation to anywhere in the world, where would you go and why? Hmm... probably Ireland, because I love their accents!!! :)

2. What would you like to accomplish by the end of 2014? I'd like to become a certified Labor and Post-Pardom Doula.. we'll see! ;) Memorizing chapters of the Bible.

3.  What are a few of your favorite quotes? "A person is a person, no matter how small!""I believe with all my heart that standing up for America, means standing up for the God who has blessed our land."~Ronald Reagan 

4.  What Bible character do you relate to the most, and why? Hmm... tough one! ;) Probably Esther... because sometimes I feel like I have to hide who I am, because it will "offend" someone... if that makes any sense. :)

5.  What is your dream car? I always tell my brothers, anything that drives smoothly, and that's an automatic! ;) I don't know one kind of car from another... so, anything really! ;)

                              6.  Are you a morning person or night owl? Definitely a Night Owl!!! 

8.  Do you have a favorite plant or flower? I love Roses, and Colorado Columbines! :)

9.  What are some of your favorite foods? Taco's, Pizza, Fettuccine, Stir-Fry, Marinade Chicken, Mac & Cheese... pretty much anything else that's not healthy! ;)

10. What cause(s) are you most opinionated about? Homeschooling, Pro-life, Jesus Death and Resurrection, Guns...etc...

11. What is the best advice on life you can give in up to 3 sentences? Be content in Christ, love others, and fear God! Don't be Idle or wishy-washy... learn, and keep learning! Words can tear down or build up, it's up to you to choose!

Kelly-Anne at: http://www.kelly-annesblog.blogspot.com/

Leah-Albright at:http://beautifullybrokenleah.blogspot.com/ 

Kimberly at: http://www.anathomedaughter.blogspot.com/
Sarah Elizabeth at: http://threemaidens.blogspot.com/ and http://sarah-plainandaverage.blogspot.com/

And if anyone else would like to answer the questions, consider yourself nominated.
Questions for Nominee's:

1. How would you describe your personal style?

2. What was your first pet?

3. What is your ancestry (e.g. German, Italian)?

4. What cause(s) are you most opinionated about?

5. What Bible character do you relate to the most (it can be character, life experiences, or anything like that)?

6. What is the first favorite scripture verse that comes to your mind?

7. Do you have any food allergies?

8. You would be really excited if you woke up tomorrow morning to the smell of ____ cooking.

9. What are you looking forward to this summer?

10. What is one thing you've learned from blogging?