Once again, I'm back

Okay, I'm REALLY, REALLY SORRY that I haven't posted lately. Part of it is due to my home computer being way too slow right now and the other part is totally laziness by me. ;) I got home Saturday from the Wilds, and I had an absolutely AMAZING week! God showed me so much that I need to do to grow in Him, but also showed me that He'll be there for every step of the way. I had the most amazing counselor in the world named Jana Matthews, who got sick on the last day but it doesn't matter b/c we love her anyway! She encouraged me so much this past week, if in no other things than to push me to do things I never thought I could or would do. So I finished last, and? I tried and did my best, and that's all that God asks. One of the things that I'm really working on now is letting God have control of my life. Now, I don't really like having someone else plan out what I'm going to do with the rest of my life, but when that someone else is God why should I object? He has things planned out more wonderfully than I can imagine! The other main thing I'm working on right now is doing my devo EVERY DAY before I get started doing everything else. I managed it today, and I plan on doing it tomorrow. One day at a time, and I'll get this! So that's an overview of some things that's been going on in the past week, more might come later with some pictures.....we'll see. ;)

16th Birthday!

My 16th birthday was most definitely NOT the most planned out birthday ever, but ya know what? I enjoyed it anyway! I'm pretty sure it's impossible not to have fun at a table with Ms Barbara, Mrs Julie, Mr Duane, and SaraBeth and Ginny of course! My morning was spent helping my mom shelve books, but a good chunk of the afternoon was spent at the PAWS picnic (with the people mentioned above). I think that's as close to a birthday party as I've actually gotten.......this is going to be completely random, but I just remembered something. I forgot to get my mom to get the stuff for my birthday cake last night........oops. I'll get my cake later. :D And my brain is fried (being 16 definitely hasn't made me any wiser), so I'm off to go shelve books once more. Although I doubt it will help the condition of my brain..........

Oops.....

Sorry for not posting lately......I've been a little busy......and my normal computer is being resurrected right now so it's not in working order. And the other computer is WAY to slow to work on a blog with (it's a Windows98 if that tells you anything.) I've created something else of late....a website! B/c I was bored and me and pictures don't always get along on here. AND I can have a forum, which I tend to enjoy more than just commenting on my blog or someone else's. I like having a common ground that everybody can annoy each other on......ANYWAY, if you're interested the web address for it it's http://claranut.webs.com And now I'm off to do my real job........and then a concert.

Breaking and Entering ;)

I did something yesterday that I hope never to have to do again. I climbed through my bedroom window. Now to give some background the REASON for climbing through the window was b/c my mom had locked the keys in the house. My dad wasn't home yet. What's a girl to do but climb through the window? Now getting the window raised from outside is a task,, but getting up there is even more of a task for a short(ish) person. To top it all off I was in my Easter sunday clothes. Climbing through a window is now on my "Don't really care to do this again" list. But climbing through modestly should give me points against being booked with breaking and entering, right? Not that I really broke anything. ;) Just thought I'd share the most interesting part of my sunday with you. :) Or maybe just the most odd.........

Spiritual Definitions #5

Decisiveness - The ability to finalize difficult decisions based on the will and ways of God

Hebrews 11:24-25 - "By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;"

James 1:5 - "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him."

Psalm 18:30 - "As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the Lord is tried: He is a buckler (shield) to all those that trust him."

Do we have decisiveness? Moses had enough to depart from EVERYTHING he had been raised to be. Imagine being part of the royal family, but to do what's right, you become a slave. Doesn't sound too great, but God honored Moses for it. And while he isn't mentioned in the verses above, I can think of someone else in the Old Testament who had decisiveness. Joseph! As an adult we see him go from slave to ruler of Egypt (kinda the reverse of Moses). But no matter where he was his decisions were based on God's will for his life. And even when his brothers sold him as a slave, or when he was put in prison on false accusations from Potiphar's wife, he still followed God's ways. Do we have the courage to live like these men of God and make decisive decisions?

My Photography

Since I was kinda bored (and I've shelved all my books) I thought I'd share some of my photos. :)

Spiritual Definitions #4

Discretion - The ability to avoid words, actions, and attitudes which could result in undesirable consequences.

Proverbs 21:23 - "Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles."

Proverbs 22:3 - "A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished."

Proverbs 2:11 - "Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee:"

Okay, answer this question honestly, how often has your mouth gotten you in trouble? For me, the list would be pretty extensive. And so often, if I had just thought about what I was going to say, I would have saved myself a LOT of trouble. As I've grown older, I've learned to keep more of a chain on my tongue (sometimes). But there are days when I just want to let certain people have a piece of my mind. Would it help my testimony? No. Would it make me feel better? Yes. Would it get me in lots of trouble? YES. One thing I've learned though is that to keep from blowing up on a person if a situation happens again (which would be a major LACK of discretion), I go find someone who understands the situation, and I vent. Good friends come in very handy when that happens. :) While having discretion is not ALL about watching you mouth, a lot of it is. Proverbs 21:23 refers specifically to your mouth and tongue. So I guess more people than just me have a problem with their mouths. :D