Blessings come in all shapes and sizes

Wow has it been a LONG time since I've posted something! Sorry about that but my life has been this crazy awesome whirlwind lately. Since my last post I have started my photography classes at the Art Institute of Pittsburgh Online Division. The program I'm in is completely online classes which is awesome because it still allows me to continue to work full time while I go to school full time. Being a full time employee and full time student has taken some getting used to for me because I've either gone to school full time and worked part time or worked full time and gone to school part time but I've found a pretty good balance so it's all working out. The Lord has seriously blessed me with this opportunity to go to school and finish my photography degree and when things look like they might not work out and I have my fleshly freak out moments the Lord gently taps on my heart and says "Megan I've already told you I've got this under control! Leave it to me and trust me!" And he ALWAYS comes through, He NEVER fails and never will! I can't believe how the Lord has answered prayers so much for me this past week through ways I wouldn't even have guessed He'd use! That's what is so amazing about God, He works in mysterious ways that we'll likely never understand until we get to Heaven. The little things I see God doing in my life on a daily basis are awesome. I will hopefully be sharing some of my photography on this blog in the near future so stay tuned and have a blessed Sunday!

Megan

New Year...New Adventures!

2013 was Amazing! I have met some amazing people, made new friends, and had many wonderful experiences and adventures. Some of my favorite memories of 2013 are that I rededicated my life to the Lord in May, got baptized in June, spent some quality time with family, strengthened friendships, crossed some things off my bucket list, and the list can go on and on. I'm super excited to see what the Lord has in store for my life in 2014! The Lord has opened the doors for me to finish my Photography degree, which i'm very excited about! But what i'm truly most excited about is to continue to strengthen my relationship with the Lord and to be a better witness for the Lord! A verse that is really helping me is..1 Peter 3:15

But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.

Praying for  a wonderful and blessed 2014 for y'all!

Patience...

Well it's been a while since I've posted something, but I've been doing some soul searching and throwing myself into the Word and reading some pretty amazing books and I've been putting off a post because I wasn't quite sure what the Lord wanted me to share with y'all. But now I want to share with y'all what the Lord has been showing me throughout the last few months. The Lord has been showing, no telling me that I need to be patient and wait in HIS timing. I want certain things, have certain goals and I get frustrated when then don't happen in my time. However the Lord's timing is perfect so why wouldn't I wait for HIS time!? Trust me, by no means have I gotten this down to a science! I still struggle with patience everyday, but when I find myself complaining or becoming impatient about something in my life, I take a step back, ask God to forgive me and center my mind and focus back on HIM, and I find myself becoming more and more patient with the things I can't control. 

I'm reading the book Altar Ego by Craig Groeschel (he is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors!) and I just finished reading a chapter that was all about patience and it really hit home for me. One quote that really opened my eyes was this..."The world offers substitutes for (or counterfeits of) real things: physical pleasure, material things, pride in what we have and what we do. Before long, our sinful desires for the counterfeits of this world lure us into short-term decisions with long-term consequences." Another quote from this book that really hit me was..."We allow our out-of-control, fleshly desires to overwhelm our better senses. We allow our egos, instead of our altar egos, to drive our desires." So many times in my life have I let my fleshly desires to get in the way. I've wanted more material things and I've been prideful of things that I can't even take to heaven with me! Why!? One of the main reasons why is because I wasn't keeping God the center of my life. When I got my focus back on the ONE who gave me this life and gave me breath is when I really started to realize that all the material things I have don't matter one bit! I don't want to live for a counterfeit I want the REAL thing! Like Craig Groeschel said towards the end of this chapter "[When] We pursue God with all of our hearts his desires become our desires." I want my desires to be God's desires for my life so I'm gonna pursue God with all I've got! A verse that has always been a favorite of mine and has really helped me recently is Psalm 37:4...Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

It's Official!...I'm an Arbonne Consultant!

I have embarked on a new adventure! I have become an Arbonne consultant. For those of you who don't know what Arbonne is, let me tell you a little about the company. Arbonne is an all natural beauty products line that was founded in Switzerland. All the products of Arbonne are Pure. Safe. and Beneficial. They have no artificial fillers or by products in them. They sell make-up, skin care lines for men and women, and health and wellness products like protein shake mix and vitamins. I LOVE Arbonne's make-up line and the protein shake mix!  I'm very excited that God has provided me with this opportunity to sell products that I use and believe in! If y'all have any questions about Arbonne and what it is go a head and contact me! Hope y'all have a blessed day!

Megan

Overwhelmed with Love

Sorry I haven't posted in over a week I've been busy taking care of my Momma! I also started a couple college classes this week as well. I just want to update a little on my Mom's progress since her surgery. I'm so overwhelmed with the love that is being poured onto my family! Since my Mom's surgery a week ago we have had countless visitors and phone calls. Almost every night someone has brought over a cooked meal and/or a dessert. The love of Christ is shining through big time! I feel blessed beyond belief and I thank God everyday for the people he has put into my life. We've even had friends come over to visit and ended up helping us with things around the house! Now those are true friends. We have SO many people praying for my Mom and it is showing because she is getting stronger every day. Her physical therapist is extremely impressed with her progress after only a week. God is so amazing!

Megan

Workouts, Hospital, and Work...Oh My!

Whoa what a week it has been so far! I started out my week with the beginning of a new school year. I have been working like crazy in my classroom to get it ready for the school year and it has come along great. The classroom was 95% ready when school started on Monday. I'm finishing up a few things then I hope it's done, but all you other teachers out there know that a teacher's work is never done. The first day of school went great, we have been blessed with a wonderful class. Monday also marked Day 1 of my 8 week training for a 5K i'm running in October. Now running is not my idea of fun, give me basketball or volleyball to play and I could play all day but just running I really have to motivate myself. The training program I'm doing is a great one and I'm really excited to push myself and accomplish this goal! On Wednesday my wonderful Momma had hip replacement surgery, so I spent all day at the hospital with my Dad. When I say all day I really mean ALL day, we had to be there at 4 am and we left at 5pm. Needless to say we were exhausted when we came home. They did my Mom's surgery outpatient! (I'll give you a minute to pick your jaw up off the floor, I know it took me a good minute to get over my shock!) Her surgeon was amazing, he performed the surgery in only 45 minutes! (again take a moment to get over the shock) I was amazed that they could do a full hip replacement surgery outpatient and in only 45 minutes. My mom was in recovery for a while because her blood pressure was fluctuating too much, so we couldn't see her right away which was hard for me and my Dad. Once she got into a room she ate some lunch which made her happy and then they got her up and walking with a walker and a cane so they could send her home. I'm am still amazed that she was up and walking with a walker the SAME day she had her surgery. My Mom was sent home the same day and we got home about 6pm last night. She is doing great with a little pain and is pretty tired, which is to be expected. God has truly blessed her with amazing,caring doctors and nurses. I know God was with her and my family through all of this and He will continue to be with us through her recovery! I want to thanks all of you who did and are praying for her! God is so good.

This is me and my beautiful Momma after her surgery! This was right after I got to see her for the first time since right before her surgery! I was so excited that I got to see her again and that she was feeling pretty good. Hope y'all have an awesome day!

Megan

Chill and Be Still...

God has bean showing things to me a lot lately. He's basically been telling me that I need to chill and be still. I need to rest in Him and trust Him everyday. I have been struggling lately with letting things go. He's been revealing to me that He is in control of everything and that my stressing and worrying about things I can't control and shouldn't control only hurts me more. I'm letting God take the driver's seat in my life because I live for Him and I love Him. I know that He will never leave me and that He will always protect me. I know and believe that His plans for my life are way better than my plans for my life. I just need to stop being stubborn and completely let go and let God! Here are some Bible verses that have encouraged me lately...

Be still and know that I am God

Psalm 46:10

You know with all your heart and soul that not one of all the good promises 

the Lord your God gave you has failed. 

Every promise has been fulfilled; not one has failed.

Joshua 23:14

Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed,

for his compassions never fail.

Lamentations 3:22

I instruct you in the way of wisdom and lead 

you along straight paths.

Proverbs 4:11

My prayer for all of you and me this week is that we chill and be still in God and listen to his guidance and direction for our lives. Let me know if there is anything I can pray for for you! I hope and pray y'all have an awesome blessed week! 

Megan