Teaching Biblical Studies?!

I'm smiling... smiling from ear to ear. I've finally made the effort to seek out potential employers and finally pursue the career I've been talking about for months. I don't necessarily want to be a teacher, but it will definitely be a great starting point for a recent college graduate with my degree in Religious Studies. I Googled Christian schools and private academy's in my area where I could possibly begin substitute teaching.

How cool is that? I found three schools in the surrounding area that I will, Lord willing, submit an application to in the next week! I'm so excited because the applications are not as strenuous as some and this could be a promising career for a while and it'll look so good on my resume! Not to mention what a great opportunity it will be...


...teaching middle school and/or high school students at a biblical school... I've been wanting to do this for so long it seems. Every time someone asked me what I wanted to do with my life, that's what I'd say... or, similar to what I'd say... "I want to be a counselor at a Christian college..." Well, maybe we're not at that level yet, but we're at a GREAT starting point!!

Lord have mercy. Pray for me and my application process and my self-discipline to actually begin the application process at these Christian schools! This is such a great opportunity I cannot pass it up, even if I wanted to!!

Glory,
Whitney

Dearly Beloved

HELLO, welcome and glory to God for Crystal, Just Be Real, Marsha and Sanchere! Blessings and mercy to you from our Lord Jesus Christ. I love you with the love of Christ and I pray your strength and growth throughout this journey we call life. I hope your days have been pleasant and the glory of God has manifest in your everyday life. I thank God for you and may He keep you all the days of your life.

Whitney

Hey everyone,

Just dropping in to leave a few pictures from earlier today. Things are ok with me. God knows it could surely be better. Pray my strength, ok? As I pray yours.

Love you,




Whitney

Untitled

I loosed, freed... and disconnected myself today from something so detrimental and so faith-conflicting. I now feel liberated and I will myself to live a healthy, prosperous and God-ordained life that Almighty GOD has called me to! Thank You JESUS! And it is so!!!!

What Matters Most

Those things that matter most in life... that's where I strive to dwell. To be at a point of contentment, yet a desire to grow higher in the Lord as well; that's a great place to be. That's the place where I am, and I can smile simply thinking about it.

We have a slew of happenings occurring in the next few weeks and coming months. My family isn't as active as I'd like them to be, but when we do go out together, surely it is a sweet treat.

First up is our annual baseball game at The Durham Bulls Stadium. I love going each year, experiencing the fanatic-like atmosphere, filled with happy kids and just-as-happy adults. Cotton candy, funnel cakes-- good ol' classic junk food that fills the belly. YUM.

The food. The food is the best part (of anything, lol!), besides the great view of the grassy baseball field from on-high and the announcer's voice gearing up the crowd with baseball classics such as "Take Me Out to the Ball-game" and similar sing-along activities and tunes. Ahh, I love it.

Do I follow the game? Sure I do, whenever I'm not chowing down on my expensive goodies, taking note of the surrounding families in their Bulls paraphenelia, or catching glances of the fascinating stadium workers with those heavy trays of delicious snack foods. The scenery is far too distracting for me to become loyally absorbed into the game-playing. The surrounding activity is far more captivating. Experiencing the wind in your face and the warm weather is enough for me... getting outdoors and just being there is perfect in itself.

In early July, after the fourth of July crowd, off to Wilmington Beach we shall go! Me, my mom, younger sister, and my mom's friend will take a short vacay to the beach and soak up the summer sun at my mom's friend's beach house... hmm, the beach was such a fond memory-- yet, I check my pictures and I haven't been since summer 2007? Wow, that long, huh?!

Here I am at Myrtle Beach in 2007 for our annual family reunion. I don't plan on buying a new bathing suit because I'll more than likely be buying an umbrella, a beach chair and a nice beach towel. They will come in handy for the coming years, AND for the following month!

Yep that's right, another beach trip in early August with my good friend Gabrielle and her friends, to celebrate her birthday. My birthday is actually that following week in August so, this will pretty much be a gift to myself as well. Ahh... what matters most-- quality time with the people you adore, in the places you adore.

My time at Wilmingtom Beach next month will be a time for relaxation, reflection, ponderance and time alotted for my God. I miss missing my God and I consider Him often, very often. In my thoughts, in my time alone, in my lonliness, in my aloneness... in my happiness, in my temptation and in my trial. I see myself soaking up the sun on the shore, cozy book in hand, iPod handy with sweet gospel tunes and cold beverages nearby. This is how life should be... a vacation every day, sincere time spent with God and pure thoughts always.

Whitney

6/21/09
Check out the beach chair I bought yesterday at CVS! It was originally $17.99, on sale for $9.99. I paid for it with $10 in ECB's, so nothing out of pocket! It's reeeally cute, really bright. It's a 5-position long-back chair. I love it! :)



[As of June 3, 2010 I have deleted the picture of me on the beach. Too many weirdos were clicking on it. WATCH your website, folks!]

Reconnecting

To know God is to know life.
To miss God is to miss your soul.

I just want to be right with God, always. I hate looking back, I hate disobedience. I hate being in this fleshly body at times, when all it wants to do is go against God's precious will.

I couldn't run from God if I tried.

I'm just hoping to stay back on track. Backsliding is never fun... well, it can be fun but only for a moment. And, as the Bible tells us, enjoying the pleasures for a season are not great gain. Something to that extent.

I love my God so much. My soul loves Jesus. My heart cannot deny the new life that He has given me which instructs me to live as though. There is no good thing within me.

The time is now.

There's a peace about God that is unmistakable.
People can't make you happy. And if they do, they can't keep you happy. God gives tangible joy... joy overflowing. That's what I want, have and hope to never lose... and, hope to never give away or give up.

Jesus I want to live for you now and always.

Help my impatience.
Help my ungratefulness.
Help my disobedience.

Keep me God.
Keep me pure.
Keep me holy.
Keep my heart.

I'm in this thing for life, God. My heart is committed to You.

In Jesus' name. Amen.

Whitney

10 Days

This is by far the longest I've gone without blogging. 10 days... wow. That's pretty crazy, huh? Funny how it only takes a few seconds or minutes to compose a blog post, yet I've gone this long without doing so.

Lately I've just been trying to maintain my personal relationship with Christ. I want to be in a position to hear from Him, and I've just been trying to get back on track and not forget where I came from (spiritually). Also, I want to continue working on my book that the Lord will be having me release in the near future. It'll be a testimony of my trial through the wilderness this past month. It'll be good because it's a testimony of the Lord in my life, and it's real. Those are the best kind of books.

So, I look forward to blogging more this week and keeping all those interested, updated on my endeavors. As well as blogging for my personal growth. I had a meeting with Pastor Nichols yesterday that went fine. I was under the impression that I would be meeting with him one-on-one, but there ended up being about 18 other people there. So, that was mildly disappointing.

Nevertheless, tomorrow evening Pastor and First Lady Grace are holding a singles seminar, based upon their new book entitled "No More Drama." It is available at most Wal-Mart stores and can be ordered online, I'm sure. The meeting with them on Friday will be good and I'm looking forward to it. It's important that I feed this aspect of my life, as I've been having countless thoughts about it lately and the idea of marriage. Happy in the Lord, will I be, as I am. I ask God that I long not for the things in which He hasn't blessed me with yet. I have expectations in God that I will one day be married, but it will not consume my thoughts. If it does, I won't be in a position thats spiritually healthy because it'll be all I think about, and all I'm chasing after. Not so.

Be blessed in the Lord.
I love you with the love of Christ,

Whitney

"I am a Christian"

My mom sent this to me this morning.

BEAUTIFUL CHRISTIAN SISTER
By Maya Angelou

'A woman's heart should be so hidden in Christ,
That a man should have to seek Him first to find her.'

When I say... 'I am a Christian' I'm not shouting 'I'm clean living,'
I'm whispering 'I was lost, Now I'm found and forgiven..'

When I say.... 'I am a Christian' I don't speak of this with pride..
I'm confessing that I stumble and need Christ to be my guide.

When I say... 'I am a Christian' I'm not trying to be strong.
I'm professing that I'm weak and need His strength to carry on.

When I say.. 'I am a Christian' I'm not bragging of success.
I'm admitting I have failed and need God to clean my mess.

When I say... 'I am a Christian' I'm not claiming to be perfect,
My flaws are far too visible, but God believes I am worth it.

When I say.... 'I am a Christian' I still feel the sting of pain...
I have my share of heartaches, so I call upon His name

When I say.... 'I am a Christian' I'm not holier than thou,
I'm just a simple sinner Who received God's good grace, somehow!

Pretty is as Pretty does... But beautiful is just plain beautiful!

TODAY IS BEAUTIFUL CHRISTIAN SISTERS DAY - TAG; YOU'RE IT!
I'm supposed to send this to BEAUTIFUL WOMEN, and you are one of
them!!!

If you share this with other women, you will boost another woman's
self esteem, and she will know that you care about her.

Status Update #4

Accountability

I talked to my Godmother this evening. She called me; I was all smiles. I love her. I haven't talked to her since I spent an evening over at her house last month. I went to stay with her because I was having issues at my home; I live with my parents. She was very kind to me and allowed me to stay with her. I wanted to move in with her! That's how serious the problem was at my house! Haha, but I'm over it. I'm learning toleration and patience. I cannot always run when things are not going so well.

But anywho, she said she would be my accountability partner!! When she said that, I was so happy! I've been wanting one of these for so long, I just never knew who to ask. But, come to find out, she asks me. So, praise God! Do you remember the post I wrote a while ago called Lord, help? Well, this here is the answer to my prayer. Glory to God.

Accountability is so important in the lives of God's people, in the lives of growing Christians. We must have someone to tell our issues to, someone to confess our faults to, as the Book of James instructs. It's all about holiness and staying pure before our God. If you don't have an accountability partner, no matter your age-- ask a trusted member of the church, or if your parents are saved, ask them to keep you accountable. Married couples have one another as accountability partners.

My Godmother said she'd keep me accountable for praying and reading my Bible daily. And, I asked her what her weaknesses in Christ were, and she told me that she's dealing with anxiety, and how she needs to have more joy in the Lord in the sense of slowing down a little and laughing, enjoying life.

So, it'll be good. I'm grateful. I'm also going to go to some of her Bible study groups, beginning May 5th, which meet every Thursday, sometimes on Tuesdays. God is good to me! Thank You, Jesus.

Working Girl

Tomorrow is my first day of work at my new job! I'm excited. It's crazy because this job is a new job because I haven't worked in so long, but then again it's not a new job because... I've worked there before. Yep, my "new job" is my "old job;" my FIRST job... the first job I ever had when I was 16. Can you believe that? Sometimes I think it's pretty sad, but then again I see it as someone doing me a favor and looking out for me in these bad economical times. I'm grateful and I cannot complain. I finally get a paycheck! So, all is well :) :) Pray my strength!

Whitney

Movie & Books

Fireproof
I watched this movie the other evening. I'm not a big movie-buff, so this was a bit out of the ordinary for me. Yet, I LOVE a good Christian movie (and let me tell you that there are HARDLY any out there). I don't cry at movies, I hardly even cry at funerals, if you can fathom that truth... but, this one made me cry some. I'm not really good giving reviews, but I definitely know when I like a movie/book and when I don't. This one was great... with great resources:

http://www.fireproofyourmarriage.com
http://www.thelovedarebook.com
Check it out. It could save your life.

Boy Meets Girl: Say Hello to Courtship by Joshua Harris
This here is a book I've been wanting for a while. I ordered it a few days ago and it came in the mail recently! It was on my wish list along with his other book "I Kissed Dating Goodbye." Both are books that encourage courtship and a godly union between a man and woman who seek the please the Lord in all of their doings. I personally no longer agree with dating, the world's way of finding a mate. It does not have the same characteristics and qualities of courtship. It's as if you have to go through trial and error in order to experience love... I don't approve. I'm interested in beginning this book right away, but I'm already in between three other books, so I'll have to wait!

The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis
I've never read any books by C.S. Lewis if you can believe that, even with being a graduate of religious studies! So, this one will be a first. I've read the reviews on Amazon.com and I must say that I'm quite impressed. The book is written from the perspective of a grand demon [Screwtape] who writes letters to his nephew, and up and coming demon, giving him tips and advice on how to tempt various Christians [referred to as "patients"].

The Christian author is very successful in invoking repentant feelings within the one reading it because it's like reading a book written by Satan himself; in the author's case, from the perspective of Satan. It's a very intriguing book, from what I've read and I've already learned a few life-changing lessons from simply reading small excerpts from the book! I'm excited. Go check out Amazon.com's reviews and I bet you'll be taken back a bit as well.

Goodnight,
Whitney

April Couponing!

Couponing, couponing. My absolute favorite hobby BY FAR. Why? because you get sale items for dirt cheap when you combine them with strategic shopping (couponing habits). You can do this too, it's really simple.

Here's what I got at CVS:

Purex $6.99 BOGO Sale + $6.99 BOGO Q = FREE
Sobe $1.49 BOGO Sale + $1.49 BOGO Q = FREE

$.08 OOP
$34.84 Saved

Can you believe I only paid eight cents for ALL of the above items TOTAL? Phenomenal, huh? :) If you look at it like this... I paid one cent per item. How cool is that? I was giddy when I walked out the door after I bought my items!! I actually got CHANGE back from 10 cents! LOL, I paid with one dime. It was exhilarating, lol. Click on my CVS receipt to the right to see my transaction enlarged!

If you want some couponing tips, visit the Coupon Mom forum here. It's a really great and friendly community. If you end up joining, look me up: Child0fGod [that's a zero] :)

Philippians 4:8 says "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."

Best,
Whitney

BOGO = Buy One, Get One Free
OOP = Out of Pocket
Q = Coupon