Mini-vacation / Verse of the Week (on Wednesday)

So ... I did it again. I missed Monday's post. So I'm going to make it up right now. On Wednesday before I leave for the weekend. Which, by the way, is super exciting! I"m going to Florida to help Krystal shoot a wedding!! WooHoo!! I've been looking forward to this weekend for so long. Although this isn't the only Trip I'm looking forward to. This year I am also planning to attend the Resolved Conference, which this year is in Palm Springs, CA. This conference is so amazing!! It is a conference all geared around encouraging collegians. They have incredible speakers including John MacArthur, CJ Mahaney, and John Piper. This is one of those conferences that you start planning the next year's trip on the plane ride home. I can't express just how encouraging it is to be surrounded by that many people who are so deeply rooted in the Word and all moving toward one eternal goal. And I am especially excited about this year's topic... Heaven and Hell. I can't wait!! On the website for the conference there is a short video of John MacArthur talking about the cross. I love what he says and it give a small glimpse of how great the teaching is and the great Godly wisdom these me have. Here is the video:



Here is the trailer for the '07 conference, which was incredible as well. This video includes little bits of each speaker and is very well made! I found these on youtube if you want to see more!


I am also going to visit my sister. I'm going a few times this year actually. I'm planning to travel with them when they come in April, and then again in the Summer. And then again when the baby is born. That is the tentative plan anyway. We shall see how things are going when we get there. There are so many things I am looking forward to this year! I can't wait to see what God has in store that I don't even know about!

This week I chose a verse that we read at the beginning of the church service this past Sunday. Our pastor read the entire chapter but this verse especially stuck out to me.

Psalm 84:11
For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor. No good thing does He withhold from those who walk up rightly.

Though this past year has been filled with mixed emotions and various trials, the flip side to all of that is the incredible number of blessings God has given me. Everything from having a Godly example of who I want to become someday and finding grace in the most unexpected places to God providing jobs and the money to get by. I am so amazed at how much grace God gives me and how, in His time, it begins to all make sense. I wonder how much more could be revealed if I only had a little more patience for things to happen in His time and not mine. This verse is a great reminder that as long as we follow Him we have nothing to worry about. He loves and cares for His children, so why would He keep us from getting what we need. The only thing He does withhold from us is the very thing we deserve. Eternal suffering. When that is all we deserve everything else is a blessing. No matter how big or small.

Have a great week!