Thinking Before Speaking

So, I'm not perfect. Please don't think I am. If you are reading this you know me and you know I'm not, no one is. Yesterday on our way back from lunch some of the counselors and I were talking. They've decided that I should have a husband as well, since they know that I would eventually love to get married and have kiddos. It's been funny hearing them give me advice on how to find a husband. It truly is hysterical at some points.

A few days ago I had mentioned that I would really like to marry someone who was church of Christ or Baptist. It's not like I'm telling people no. No one is asking. :o)

Anywho, we were walking back from lunch and another counselor (not the one who,is a minister's wife) said something shocking. Well, I know she didn't mean it in a rude way, but it really bothered me. I mentioned that the only big difference between the two demoninations was the a capella music. I don't think piano music is the difference between going to heaven or not. That's crazy. She proceeded to tell me that my church was stupid because of that, and insinuated that only dating people that believe the same thing I do is risky and I may not get married.

Again, it sounds rude and that's not the exact thing she said, but it was implied. I was speechless. Really. I can find things to say about anything and everything but couldn't find the words. I finally tried to explain why we don't have instrumental music and how it's actually pretty but I gave up. And, if God doesn't send me a husband then I have to deal with that. But, I shouldn't put myself in a dating situation where I date someone who has totally different beliefs that I do. God's supposed to be the center of our lives, single or married...and if two people have really conflicting views I'm not sure how they do it.

So, again, I guess I'm not really upset as much as I was surprised that someone in my profession speaking before thinking it through. I know I have before and now I'm more sorry than ever that I do.

In short...my bad if I have ever done this to you...please forgive me!!

Trees and Wires

When I went to UMHB I thought that people were crazy when they said that God spoke to them. Really. Delusional much? Part of me thought that God really was going to say, "Debra, the answer to number 5 is D." Never happened. I prayed for God to speak to me and never heard a thing.

Flash forward a few years, and it hit me that God speaks through other people, through the decisions we make and those that are made for us. I shouldn't wait around for God to give me the answers that I want, but I should be quiet enough and observant enough to know when he's telling me something.

I love how He does it. He uses a friend's comments about something remind you that He is faithful to your prayers. He uses students who struggle with every thing from their families to their grades and social skills. He uses the idea of a student balanced on a wire a ropes course to make you realize that you need Him. You see, you can't make it around the ropes course without holding onto one another...and trees. Huge live oak and pine trees that are anchors. Huge anchors that don't move, haven't changed in hundreds of years. Trees that you can lean on and they won't budge, no matter how hard you push.

It's been a good week and I have a feeling it will be a good year. I pray that I am open enough to hear the things that He might be saying.

Jeremiah 17:7-8
7 But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him.

8 He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green.

It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.