There is nothing like looking out the window and seeing snow pouring down from the foggy clouds. There is also nothing like eating a Thanksgiving meal with your family. That is what I did over the weekend; I ate, laughed, and spent time with amazing people
(my familyJ) I was able to go home for a long weekend. We had such an awesome time together. The big day came and the aroma that filled the house was absolutely heavenly! It’s funny how you are in such anticipation to eat the food and finally when the time comes it is all over. It has been the tradition to set up Grandma’s Christmas tree for her. The tree was pulled out of hibernation and came to life as the little kids just poured on the lights, garlands, and ornaments (with a little help from the older onesJ) After clean up there was an intense game of catch phrase that was played amongst the family. After all was said and done I think it would be sufficient to say that it was most amazing.
I was riding home in the truck with my mom and dad and we were talking (well that is I was talking A LOT) It’s great to have parents that will listen, hear you out, and then they speak to you and straighten you outJ But there was something that was troubling me of this holiday. And maybe it was just me, but here it is. It was great, the time together, but honestly, it was shallow. It was like there was so many things left unsaid, that it was just “surface” conversation, nothing too personal or intimate. We love each other but we are not an intimate family. I guess I am just now noticing it, and I have to do something about it. Yes, there are things that go on in our lives that are pretty personal, but who do we go and tell them to but our friends, not our family. Well, that may be too harsh of a judgment. I am talking about our family as a whole: extended and immediate. Again, this is just my perspective. The main thing I want to see happen is for us to be investing in each other’s lives, praying for one another. I love them like no other, and I want the best for them. Okay, I need to start putting forth an effort-it’s true. I am going to try and start. I want to know what is going on in their lives, I want us to be close and not just talk about the weather or simple things like that. I want to be able to have the ability to be transparent with them and have them know that I truly care about their futures. So much has happened in our family-even before I was born. We have stayed together but now lets come together. Only God can do this, only He can do it. This is my prayer for my family. So, Zellons and Daltons watch out cause I am going to be praying for you, and I expect God to move in a great and powerful way. ILOVEYOU!

Be still know you are God. It keeps running through my head today. Be still- remain calm. Let go and let Him deal with it. Deal with situations, issues, problems-whatever suits you to call the things in your life that you can't handle. Be assured that GOD is in control, He knows better.
There are so many things that happen to us and it is so easy to push it out of your mind-but it doesn't leave, it is still there. Those things that happened to you those choices you made are still there. They come back to mind, they taunt you.
Good news- you can give them to some one- you can give them to Jesus. Go to Him-cry on Him. He will come and take it away. I write not for just my sake but for yours as well. You know where you are at-you alone know what has happened in your life. No matter what it is you are accepted in Jesus-He has open arms for you. You may not understand fully how He could do that for you but He can, just let Him. No matter how young or even how old you are-you are never, no never, to 'far gone' for Him to reach out to you and pull you to Him. There is nothing in your life that He can't restore, forgive, release, comfort, love, or accept.

Last night I went to the Police academy and it was drug night. A woman from the DUMEG Police was talking and telling us how they operate. Afterwards our officer spoke about Alive at 25. A program about driving safety. It was powerful and something that you won't soon forget. On a whole, the night was very good. Our graduation is coming up in about three weeks.

Ukryj mnie terazOkładka mniePod skrzydłaTwoje ręce potężny w ciąguKiedy powstanie i oceany grzmi szumiBędę podskoczyć z wami, nad burząI będzie nadal i know Jesteś BogiemZnajdź reszta mojej duszy, w Chrystusie samJego moc wiedzieć, w ciszy i zaufaniaOjcze, Ty jesteś królem nad powodziowym

Ever had that feeling in your stomach-the one that feels like some one socked you and it takes breath away? Where your mind is not able to think straight on one thought much less concentrate on what you are supposed to be doing? Around is this whir of chaotic noise, you cry out and it echoes in an empty room, you are left cold, alone, and have nothing to turn to. Then all it goes still, something envelopes you-it takes the pain, the noise, the confusion. You break as you know that you already are broken. You fall down yet it does not mean you are forever going to be there, you are picked up, set up to stand tall again. You brace yourself, thinking that you are going to be hit yet again but this time some thing blocks the blow coming your way. He is there in the middle of it all. He didn't just show up-He has been there the entire time. Why did it all happen, why did you have to be in the confusion and pain? Why did He let it all happen? Why didn't He stop it before He started? I don't have all the answers, I don't know why. But He is showing Himself strong, He is showing that He is God and I am not. What else matters? I am to the point where there is none but HIM. There is no one to turn to, no one to run to, no one that I could say I love more than Him. This is where He wants me, you may not see the reason-neither do I, but listen to Joshua1: 9 "Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest"
Moving on. Today we went to Egg Harbor Café. I enjoyed a wonderful bacon and ham skillet along with fresh fruit and banana bread all washed down with delectable coffee. It was the mail room crew along with a few others. Fun times as always!
We went to the Messiah at Moody Bible Institute on Sunday and it was amazing!!!! Afterwards we went to the Cheesecake Factory and had an awesome time just hanging out and enjoying decadent Tiramisu Cheesecake along with raspberry lemonade. (Don't ask me why I am all about writing the details of my food, but I must say it is fun to write about)

אני אשיר מהרחמים שלך שיובילו אותי דרך עמקים של צער לנחלים של שימחה

The wind is a little blustery today, the air just a bit nippier, and it seems like I have felt these things before. The time has come for warm sweater, hot chocolate(possibly from Starbucks), and Christmas music! Here in the mail room we have begun to fill the basement with carols and songs about White Christmases. Hopefully soon we will begin to deck the halls and make it festive around here. I know that it is not yet Thanksgiving but soon it will be! There is exactly 6 weeks left till Christmas! How exciting:)
"Buna dimineata" is how we are greeted in the morning when we arrive at staff meeting. There is a group of Romanian pastors here at Head Quarters. They are here to meet with Mr. Gothard and for some of them it is their first time being in America!
Last night we had a banquet in their honor. Andrew Ouatu, Brandon Keilen, Janny Moore, and myself. The dinner was wonderful and the dessert even better :) A group sang for them and they in return sang for us. The voices of these men are indescribable. They have such power in them and they demand your attention when they lift their voices together. I would have to say that my favorite part about them being here is singing with them. We sing in English and they join in Romanian. There is nothing like it, it makes me think of the verse that says every tribe, tongue, nation will profess Jesus as Lord. To hear that sound would be amazing-I can't wait:)
Every morning the staff comes together to listen to Mr. Gothard. He encourages us to take notes, afterwards we turn them in, he reads them, and they are returned to us. Here are some notes that were taken a couple of days ago....
Praise God and rejoice in your suffering
Connect back with God
Obey then understand john 15:16
Make the most of the relationships God has placed in your life even if they are for a short season
Isaiah 6:8 Trust God whether He sends you or not
Choose to forgive
Take every thought captive and bring it under Jesus authority
Put your fear on God's throne and experience His peace
God after God-do whatever it takes

I know that they are not very focused on one particular subject but they are powerful statements that he made. So I leave you with this-

Isaia30:18,,Totuş Domnul aşteaptă să Se milostivească de voi, şi Se va scula să vă dea îndurare, căci Domnul este un Dumnezeu drept: ferice de toţi ceice nădăjduiesc în El!

John 16:20-24
Verily, Verily I say into you. That ye shall weep and lament but the world shall rejoice and ye shall be sorrowful but your sorrow shall be turned into joy. A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come but as soon as she is delivered of the child she remembereth no more the anguish for joy that a man is born into the world. And ye now therefore have sorrow but I will see you again and your heart shall rejoice and your joy no man taketh from you. And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily I say unto you whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name He will give it to you. Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask and ye shall receive that your joy may be full.

Captivating
We must constantly direct our gazes toward the face of God, even in the presence of longing and sorrow. It is in the waiting that our hearts are enlarged. The waiting does not diminish us. As a pregnant woman is enlarged in her waiting, so are our hearts. God does not always rescue us out of a painful season. You know that He does not always give to us what we so desperately want when we want it. He is after something much more valuable than our happiness. He is restoring and growing in us an eternal weight of glory and some times…..it hurts.

James 1:4
But let patience have her perfect work that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

Verses from Psalm 37

Delight thyself also in the Lord and He shall give you the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way into the Lord, trust also in Him and He shall bring it to pass. Rest in the Lord. Wait patiently for Him. The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord and he delighteth in His way. Though he may fall he shall not be utterly cast down for the Lord upholdeth him with His hand.

Psalm 40
1I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.
2He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.
3And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.
4Blessed is that man that maketh the LORD his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.
5Many, O LORD my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.
6Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required.
7Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me,
8I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.
9I have preached righteousness in the great congregation: lo, I have not refrained my lips, O LORD, thou knowest.
10I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart; I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation: I have not concealed thy lovingkindness and thy truth from the great congregation.
11Withhold not thou thy tender mercies from me, O LORD: let thy lovingkindness and thy truth continually preserve me.
12For innumerable evils have compassed me about: mine iniquities have taken hold upon me, so that I am not able to look up; they are more than the hairs of mine head: therefore my heart faileth me.
13Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me: O LORD, make haste to help me.
14Let them be ashamed and confounded together that seek after my soul to destroy it; let them be driven backward and put to shame that wish me evil.
15Let them be desolate for a reward of their shame that say unto me, Aha, aha.
16Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: let such as love thy salvation say continually, The LORD be magnified. 17But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me: thou art my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God.