Fears

 "Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you.  He will not leave you, nor forsake you."--Duet 31:6

 Throughout life everyone has fears and hurdles that we have to over come and jump.  Many of us just let our fears run our lives and let the fears take over our world.   I have many fears in my life, and I am starting to overcome them, but I still have a ways to go.  One of my fears as always been horses, I would never go near them or around them or be any where close to them.  A high school friend of mine, Rachel,  grew up with horses, and has two of them of her own. Over the past couple of years she has been getting me used to being around them, caring for them, feeding them which all lead up to one day.... riding them.  This summer for her birthday outing, I joined her family and loaded up the horses and the dogs.  We went to a camp ground/riding ground to ride horses.  We saddled up, and I rode. (note: I went two speeds, walk and stop!)  And that is one fear that I have overcome.  But this could be considered a simple fear, there so much more complex fears that we can all have.  The Lord our God is there for us, and wants to help us overcome any fear that we have.

These two pictures that i have shared are of the outdoors, they are ones that I took on my drive to Lenoir, Tuesday night.  It was a beautiful day, but as you can see a storm was coming.  And that sure is what happened.  Many counties in North Carolina were under a tornado watch, which leads to another fear.  I fear anything that is going to possibly take away my friends, family, pets, possessions.  And tornadoes is one of those. To be safe, I spent the night at home Tuesday so that I was not driving while tornadoes were around.   As i drove back to Hickory, Wednesday morning, we were still under a tornado watch, and I was paranoid. What if I saw one form in the sky?  What if one touched down near me?  What would I do if one was coming for me?  All these questions, but gladly I did not have to find the answers, because I made it back to Hickory with out seeing a tornado anywhere near me.

But even though we have fears, they are a part of life.  They are there and will always be, minor ones or major ones, they will always be there.  And there is someone that is there for.  He is mighty, and loves us.  The Lord Jesus, is there for us.  We can talk to him in pray about our fears and how we may either want to over come them or we want to just live with that fear, either way he is there for us.

Walking for a cure!

October 23rd, I got in the car around 630am, with my family and drove 2 hours to go walk.  Why drive so far just to walk?  Well it was not just a simple walk to exercise, it was a walk for the hydrocephalus association.  I love raising money and volunteering for good causes, but this one touches home and I would not miss this walk for anything.  I gathered with about 100 people that lives are touched by hydrocephalus..they may have it themselves, or have a children or grand child that has it, or maybe they just know someone with it, and want to raise money and awareness in honor of them. There is no cure for hydrocephalus, there is only treatment. So what in the world does Hydrocephalus even mean?  Hydro=water, and cephalus=brain, it has been known as water on the brain, or water head baby, but more scientifically it is the abnormal accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid on the brain.  Everyone has 'water' on their brain, but some people may be born with to much, or later on in life accumulate too much.  Having to much 'water' is BAD, and if not taken care of fast, can lead to brain damage and other medical problems. 

Debbie and Mom

When I was 4 weeks old I went to the doctor for my month checkup, and when the doctors measured my length, weight, and head, they noticed something was wrong.  My length and weight was in the 15th percentile and my head was in the 90th percentile.  This was not normal and sent my parents with me to the hospital to have a CT scan.  (My parents had no clue what was going on ) Just a few moments later, my parents were told that their 4 wk old baby had hydrocephalus!

"What in the world is that," they asked.  What would you do, if you learned your baby had something you didn't no what it was, possibly couldn't say it along with even trying to spell it?  A week later, I under went brain surgery. Number one reason for babies to have brain surgery to hydrocephalus.   In the picture to the right, is my mom and Debbie. Mom says and believes that Debbie was a God send to her.  The doctors had all the medical things to worry about, but mom needed questions answered as to how to tend to a 5 wk old baby under going surgery, and Debbie had just been through all of it, so she was able to be there for mom.  Debbie's son is 6 months older than me, and has a shunt on the opposite side of mine.  Through surgeries in the first years of my life, Hunter and I grew up together, having our parents share stories and be support for each other.  Gladly we still live close by, and are able to get together for some special events.  

Elizabeth, Cory, Haylea

Here are 3 young adults that were diagnosed with hydrocephalus near birth.  Hunter was not able to make it to the walk, but one day we will have all 4 of us in the picture.  I met Haylea two years ago at the walk and we have stayed in touch, keeping up with each other.  Haylea and I met Cory, this year.  I love meeting people that are close to my age that deal with living their lives with hydrocephalus.  It something that is very special, because it saved all of our lives and we wouldn't be able to gather today if it wasn't for the treatments that we live with.  

Out of 1000 babies born, 2 are diagnosed with Hydrocephalus. It is more common then you think.  Sadly it is not known, and most people think that it is no big deal. ( I have even heard some people making jokes about it..makes me want to scream.) There is NO cure! I like to ask random people if they know what hydrocephalus is, and most people look at me like I am crazy or think that I am kidding and making up a word.  Thats sad.  If I walked around asking people if they knew what Spinal Bifida was, they could.. but not hydrocephalus.. and they are equally common! I hope that you have now learned something.       

In this picture, is a combination of the Hydro Walkers(my team) and Team Bryson and Team Norris.  This picture means the world to me. My team consisted of me, Debbie and Haylea.  My mom wanted to have her own team, so she and my dad (and i guess my dog Skittles).  And finally team Bryson.  Leanna and Brennan were told when Leanna was pregnant with Bryson, that he would be born with Hydrocephalus.  Through the word of mouth, they got connected with us and we shared some information with them.  Bryson was born in May, and as of now has still not undergone shunt surgery, but is being watched very closely. Bryson and I are both Caldwell County babies. :)  It made me jump for joy, when I heard they were coming.  Leanna learned that no one really knows what hydrocephalus is, and wanted to raise awareness for the cause!  These people are part of my family!  

To finish out this blog, I hope that if you didn't know what hydrocephalus was, now you do.  But even if you knew, or didn't and want to learn more, just let me know! And if you know any one with Hydrocephalus, share my name with them and tell them to get into touch with me.  I love being an advocate for hydrocephalus and want to help anyone out with learning about it, giving a shoulder, and being a friend. I love telling people about Hydrocephalus, and have given many presentations about it!  Hydrocephalus Association is in my heart, and everyday i wear it.  I wear a Hydro pin, and a Hydrocephalus bracelet! 

Homeless and Hungry

According to dictionary.com, prayers is a spiritual communion with God as in supplication, thanksgiving, adoration or confession.  It is the act or practice of praying to God.  So how do we pray?  And what really is prayer? Prayer is kind of like our phone line to heaven, it is a communication process that allows us to talk to God, like a personal phone call.  Some tips that I have learned over sometime, and I have tried to remember them when I am praying, but it is tough. Make your prayer personal, like you are talking to a good friend or a family member.  Share your worries, your fears, your joys, your everything with God.  In Luke 11, "So I say to you:  Ask and it will be given to you;seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened.  For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks the door will be opened."  The Lord our God seeks for us to talk to him about everything, even though he already knows what we are thinking about, wanting, and wishing for, he is waiting for us to ask him and to talk to him.  


I think about many things in a day, and I pray all the time for everyone around me, those that are far away, those that do not believe, and especially for me as a believer and all other believers to share the word of God.

Whenever I am home in Lenoir, as I drive along the streets.  I see more of something than I wish to see.  Not all of them are harmful, some are just lacking money, some just want to be loved and need a place to stay.  There are homeless everywhere.  Some at one time had a home and lost their job, their home, and their family.  Some once served our country, and now when they have come home, and they are put to the streets because there is no where for them to get a job.  I understand that some of them are dangerous, but have you ever stopped one of them and simply learned their name?  


As I was looking through the pictures online of homeless people it brought tears to my eyes.  It breaks my heart, not only for the homeless people, but also because there are so many pictures that are placed online to "advertise" the homeless.


There are many things in my future, but one think is one day is to run a homeless shelter in my hometown.  Not where I will be living during that time, but to come home to Lenoir and start a homeless shelter, because sadly there is not one.   I now attend school  in Hickory, and when talking to some of my friends that from here, they say that they never see the homeless. And they are right, when out about in Hickory, you never see the homeless walking around, because they are hidden up somewhere out of site.


We take it all for granted.  We take out lives for granted.  We have a shelter over our head, a nice warm place to stay in the winter and a cool place to stay in the summer.  There is food that we have access to, a comfortable place to sleep.  Most have computers and other electronic devices, but yet we wish for other things.


Dear, heavenly father.  Please help all of your children to learn and to continue growing in knowledge of how to talk to you through prayer. Please help us all understand that not all homeless people are dangerous, and maybe just a simple act of kindness is what they need.  Lord, you are amazing, and I praise you all the time.  In your holy name, I pray. Amen

Memorizing vs. Knowing

 Yesterday, I stood beside my mother at a funeral and we sang some of our favorite songs.  (I am not saying that we like sad songs.)  The songs that were sung at the funeral, were enlightening and we were   celebrating the life that the amazing women lived.  The service started out with Amazing Grace.  My mother and I stood side-by-side, and I am not sure about her, but I sang the whole song without a hymnal.  But then I realized that I really do not know what I am singing about.  And then I quickly thought back to my Confirmation years....I was quizzed on if I had memorized the Lord's prayer, Apostles Creed, and a few others...but I now wonder why.  When you recite something from memory are we really listening and hearing what is being said.  So on the next song, Borning Cry, I decided to use a hymnal and read and sing the words instead of just reciting them.  I would like to share the words with you, of Borning Cry....

1. "I was there to hear your borning cry, I'll be there when you are old.  I rejoiced the day you were baptized to see your life unfold.  I was there when you were but a child, with a faith to suit you well;in a blaze of light you wandered off to find where demons dwell." 

2. "When you heard the wonder of the Word, I was there to cheer you on; you were raised to praise the living Lord, to whom you now belong.  If you find someone to share your time and you join your hearts as one, I'll be there to make your verses rhyme from dusk till rising fun."

3. "In the middle ages of your life, not too old, no longer young, I'll be there to guide you through the night, complete what I've begun.  When the evening gently closes in and you shut your weary eyes, I'll be there as I have always been, with just one more surprise."

4. "I was there to hear your borning cry, I'll be there when you are old.  I rejoiced the day you were baptized to see your life unfold."

I absolutely love this song, and when I stood and sang the song, I looked and listened to what I was singing about.  The Lord is always there for us, from the day we were baptized to the time we shut our weary eyes.  This song is a good demonstration to what our Lord does for us.  But thinking even more about memorizing vs knowing, a good example is the Lord's prayer.  As I was saying the Lord's prayer, I decided to read what I was speaking and really speak the words instead of reciting from memory what we remember. I think for me this is a good analogy to relate faith and belief.  Our faith sometimes to fall into just what we have been taught and we tend to fall into just reciting it over and over, but to really have our grow we must know what we believe and help it to grow stronger!  

Dear God, I pray to you that we will help everyone grow stronger in their faith and know what they are saying instead of simply reciting what we say in church and how we live our life for God.  I would like you to continue to watch over all the men and women that are serving our country and protecting us.  I pray to you that you continue to help me pray to you and talk to you about anything and everything in my life.  In your holy name, I praise and Love you Lord Jesus, Amen.

Widening our vision

"It is not seeing and believing, it is believing and seeing..."--Pastor Tony.  This morning I went to my home church and worshiped with my church family.  I love seeing all of them, and especially catching Pastor Tony's sermons.  Today the Gospel was Luke 17:11-19, and I loved the sermon pastor Tony shared with us, so i took some notes.  Now of course my notes are not perfect, but I hope I can share with you some wisdom that he shared with us.  Pastor shared that many members of the aging congregation are beginning to have eyesight issues.  While some are having cataract surgery, others are dealing with glaucoma--which is going to be used as an analogy to our faith--gathering to worship combines our vision, but unlike glaucoma our worshiping is not damaging to our faith.  He continued on with explaining the analogy.  This is where the analogy ends,  glaucoma that is damaging to the eye, is different from our worship which is widening to our faith. Adding worship and obedience widens our faith but it circles back to worshiping and being thankful for the gift of the grace of God that has been given to us. So the question is what do you see??  In essence it is what we believe in our faith.  Will you allow Jesus to widen your vision or are we going to settle for blindness??

Thank you Pastor Tony, for such an amazing sermon.

The Purpose of Life!

"Without God, life has no purpose, and with out purpose, life has no meaning."-Purpose Driven Life


There is so many things that happen in my daily lives and I sometimes wonder what the purpose of it was.  In the past month, I faced many things, and found a way to overcome them.  It is not possible to overcome obstacles that we, humans, are faced with daily, without talking to the Lord.  Pray is one with you can interact with him, and talk to him about whatever is bothering you. There are so many ways you can talk to the Lord, but another way is through praising him.  There is a song, that I absolutely love, and whenever I am need of talking to my Father, I blast it loud and sing proud to some Christian songs. My favorite one is to listen to My Savior My God.  The lord our God is amazing, with everything is does for us.  Here are the lyrics to the song that I love to listen to and blast wide open and loud all the time.  Not only when I am in need of talking to God, but also when I am happy and loving the world.

I am not skilled to understand

What God has willed, what God has planned

I only know at His right hand

Stands One who is my Savior

I take Him at His word and deed

Christ died to save me, this I read

And in my heart I find a need

Of Him to be my Savior

That He would leave His place on high

And come for sinful man to die

You count it strange so once did I

Before I met my Savior

My Savior loves, my Savior lives

My Savior's always there for me

My God He was, my God He is

My God He's always gonna be

(repeat)

Yes, living, dying, let me bring

My strength, my solace from this spring

That He who lives to be my King

Once died to be my Savior

That He would leave His place on high

And come for sinful man to die

You count it strange so once did I

Before I knew my Savior

My Savior loves, my Savior lives

My Savior's always there for me

My God He was, my God He is

My God He's always gonna be

(repeat 5 times)

My Savior lives, my Savior loves

My Savior lives, my Savior loves

My Savior lives

Our Lord is amazing.  So to continue on about Life, our lives are what is the bases of ourselves.  Looking back over the past few weeks, it began to depress me a bit, so I grabbed my bible and randomly opened it.  Obviously God knew that something was going on that I needed to have comfort in, because as I flipped open the bible to Isaiah. In my Bible with a pencil mark over Is. 43:18-19.  The Lord says, "Forget what happened before, and do not think about the past.  Look at the new thing I am going to do.  It is already happening. Don't you see it?  i will make a road in the desert and rivers in the dry land."  I have a new century bible study bible, and I like this one so much I am going to share it.    [One of the few things that you can count on in this lifetime is change.  Just when you have everything kind of figured out, boom--it's time to go in a different direction.  So many things happen that throw us off balance--new schools every few years, best friends move away, divorce, new teachers with new expectations, Dad gets transferred and the family has to move, new stepparents with new step-siblings, the death of someone you love.  Life is continually changing.  Isaiah says not to look back and long for what used to be, that God is creating something new--new roads in the desert and rivers in the dry land.  You may be a creature of habit, and change may make you uncomfortable.  But one measure of your success will be how easily you adapt to change--to the new things God is doing in your life.  You will miss all the blessing he has for you in this day if you continue to long for the past.  Set your eyes toward the future and welcome the new paths that God is making for you.]

The Lord is amazing, and I love this devotion.  It is so true that if we continue to look back to the past, then we are going to miss out on the new that is ahead of us.  Many things such as taking a bid for Sigma Kappa and then dropping it, dating someone, working at Lowe's and then quitting, are just a few of the things in my past that will stay in the past and be moved on to the new and advanced things that are going to take place in my life.

"God has a purpose for you life on earth, but it doesn't end here. His plan involves far more than the few decades you will spend on this earth."--Purpose Driven Life.

Dear Lord, 

I pray for everyone including myself that when we are need of someone to talk to, we come to you.  You are our father and you care how we feel, you love us and do not want us to be looking down upon ourselves.  I pray that i continue to pick up your holy scriptures and continue to read them day and night.  I pray for the soldiers that are serving our country, as they are the men and women that protect our country.  I pray to you Lord Jesus that you continue to be with the believers of you to teach the non-believers about you.  In your holy name I pray, Amen.

It is a beautiful day in Hickory....

I have a sociology class this semester, and it is not one of my favorites. But like all college courses, you just have to suck it up and go along with it. But one thing that my ancient teacher says every class is, "It is a beautiful day in Hickory today," and our response is suppose to be, "Yes, but it is even more pretty in ______(the place of our choice)." For the first few class days, I thought this was completely stupid, but now I am enjoying it. I enjoy hearing where people think it is more pretty, because even though yes sometimes I would rather be somewhere else, I am thankful I am here in Hickory. These words are simply just a way to start a class, but looking at the big picture, it is as if we are to wish we were somewhere else and not be content with where we are now. This is the same way with our faith.

We are not in always content with where we are in our faith journey,

but having faith in the Lord Jesus, is what pleases Jesus. It does not matter to the Lord the greatness of your faith, but more about our faith. This past Sunday, my youth pastor preached on the story of the mustard seed. "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seen, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from her to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you." --Matt 17:20

Is it possible for us to do with Jesus has instructed us to do in Matthew 17:20? How big is mustard seed? Do you know how small it really is? And if it is only that big, then is your faith the same? Here is a picture of some mustard seeds in the palm of ones hand. If a mustard seed is that small, and our faith is only that big..then how do others see our faith? How do non-believers see that we are believers? Do we share the faith of God, with them?

These are things that I have been thinking about today, and it is only 2:00 in the afternoon. The day still has more to come and more ways in which I will have the opportunity to enjoy the Lord's creation and share the Word of God with others.

I would like to leave on the note, of you and I both thinking of ways in which we share the Word of God. It does not just have to be in the form of preaching, but what are some easier ways.

Dear Lord, Please help us to see that no matter the size of our faith, it is still possible for us to share our faith with everyone around us. It does not have to be preaching, but there is so many other ways, and I would pray that you help me and all believes to see this. In your holy name I pray, Amen.

The Start of Something New

The starting of something new. We all need a time to start something new, and now is that time for me. I am in the early stages of my Sophomore year of college. This is the prime time of a young adults life to grow in faith. I have been thinking about blogging, and have been inspired by a high school friend to start.

The title of my blog is Colossians 3:17, which is my favorite verse. "Whatever you do in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to him."

I plan to have this blog as a place that I share my life journeys, faith stepping stones and just what goes on in a daily college kid life. But finally pray, and hope that as you read you finish out with saying a prayer to the holy Lord Jesus, that gave his life for us, so that we may live.

Dear Lord,

Each and everyday I walk in my shoes, and follow the path in which you have set out for me. Sometimes I stumble and trip because I am unsure of where I am going. But Lord you are always there for me, and ready to direct me in the correct way. I pray that everyone sees this. I pray that everyone all over the world sees how special you are, and realizes that even though it may seem unclear to us, you know where our path leads! You are awesome Lord, in your name we pray. Amen.