Mistakes shape you.

In my life, I have made so many mistakes.  Seriously, I think I could write a pretty good novel about all the things I've done in my life and things that have happened to me.  The good news is, I learned from every experience.  All of those experiences have shaped who I am today.  I'm sure I still have a million more mistakes to make and learn from in my lifetime.  Some people learn things the easy way, from watching others make mistakes, or just actually listening to what people say and taking it to heart.  I, however, have learned most things the hard way.  By experiencing it myself.  Sometimes I wish I had learned things the easier way.  But then I realize,  I have these awesome experiences to share with others.  I can relate to others and let them know they are not alone.  I can also let others learn from my experiences by telling them about them before they make their own mistakes.  So I suppose there is a reason why, everything I've done and that has happened in my life ...well happened. I wish I could elaborate.  I always get all of these awesome thoughts right before bed, or in the shower, or at work, when I don't have time to write them down.  Then when I actually take the time to sit and write them down... they are disappear. 

Process 2

I kind of left my readers hanging with my blog titled "Process".  I suppose that now I could explain what I was talking about? Haha. In mid- August, a major life change happened in my life.  I was transferred from the branch of my bank in Marble Falls, to our Westlake branch location.  I met a lovely person at the Westlake location who allowed me to stay on her couch, so I would not have to drive back and forth, until I was able to find my own place. She has become a very dear friend of mine.  We seemed to have an instant connection and I just started telling her things that I either don't tell people, or I wait a long time to tell people about.  Things worked out beautifully and I quickly found a wonderful roommate and a great place to live in Austin within my first month of transferring.  About a month after transferring, I got transferred once again, this time to our Barton Creek branch, but what came with it, was a promotion.  Instead of a teller, I am now a personal banker! I applied to go to graduate school, but that fell through. I did not get accepted, but I can always apply again, or figure something else out.  There's a reason for everything.  But God has definitely moved a lot in my life these past few months and I am very happy and grateful.

Ultimate Chocolate Chip Oreo Fudge Brownie

I made this amazing brownie last night.  I found the idea on Pinterest.  Here's what you do

you will need one of these & of course what this requires ... I believe it's an egg and a stick of butter..
Follow Betty Crocker's instructions to make your mix and then pour this out covering the whole bottom of your glass pan... I sprayed some Pam on the pan before.

Then...

Take your oreos and place them side by side covering the cookie mix in your pan, this is your second layer


and then...

Follow Betty's directions to make the brownie mix, I believe she wants 2 eggs and some vegetable oil for this one.

Once you have the mix ready spread this out on top of your oreos and cookie mix as your top layer


Heat your oven to 350

Place your pan in the oven and bake for 45 to 55 minutes

Take out and cool and enjoy the amazingness!!!

=)

Beautiful People

The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths.  These persons have an appreciation, a sensitivity, and an understanding of life that fills them with compassion, gentleness, and a deep loving concern.  Beautiful people do not just happen.

Process

About a year ago I started this blog.  Looking back, I definitely did not keep up with it very well.  I was at a really good place about a year ago.  I started going to church again because I had discovered the Austin Stone and I met a man who taught me some things.  While it was a short relationship, it was definitely one that left a big footprint on my life path.  I just learned a lot from that relationship about God, myself, and what I deserve and want when it comes to relationships.  Of course, in between that time and now things have not always been perfect and I definitely have not been perfect.  I've lost my focus, I've strayed from my path... but the important thing is that I always find my way back on that path and the straying becomes less and less each time. I get stronger  in my faith, stronger in my journey and now here I am.  If you had asked me a year ago where I would be today, I probably never could have predicted this for you.  I fear to say too much, because right now is still a process and I really have no idea what is going to happen.  And despite that instability, I feel completely secure.  I know that everything is going to be alright.  I can handle whatever comes my way with God by my side. 

Why God Created Woman from Man’s Rib

I stumbled upon this today. It's too beautiful to not share.



It’s amazing how God made man, and so beautiful how he made woman!
Why did God create Woman from Man’s rib, when He could
have simply created her from dust, as He did Man? This
is a story that puts a beautiful touch on the
reasoning:
“When I created the heavens and the earth, I spoke
them into being. When I created man, I formed him from
the dust of the Earth and breathed life into his
nostrils. But you, woman, I fashioned after I breathed
the breath of life into man because your nostrils are
too delicate. I allowed a deep sleep to come over him
so I could patiently and perfectly fashion you. Man
was put to sleep so that he could not interfere with
the creativity. From one bone I fashioned you. I chose
the bone that protects man’s life. I chose the rib,
which protects his heart and lungs and supports him,
as you are meant to do.”
“Around this one bone I shaped you. I modeled you. I
created you perfectly and beautifully. Your
characteristics are as the rib, strong yet delicate
and fragile. You provide protection for the most
delicate organ in man, his heart. His heart is the
center of his being; his lungs hold the breath of
life. The rib cage will allow itself to be broken
before it will allow damage to the heart. Support man
as the rib cage supports the body.”
“You were not taken from his feet, to be under him,
nor were you taken from his head, to be above him. You
were taken from his side, to stand beside him and be
held close to his side. You are my perfect angel. You
are my beautiful little girl. You have grown to be a
splendid woman of excellence, and my eyes fill when I
see the virtue in your heart. Your eyes: don’t change
them. Your lips: how lovely when they part in prayer.
Your nose so perfect in form, your hands so gentle to
touch. I’ve caressed your face in your deepest sleep;
I’ve held your heart close to mine. Of all that lives
and breathes, you are the most like me.”
“Adam walked with me in the cool of the day and yet he
was lonely. He could not see me or touch me. He could
only feel me. So everything I wanted Adam to share and
experience with me, I fashioned in you: my holiness,
my strength, my purity, my love, my protection and
support. You are special because you are the extension
of me.”
“Man represents my image, woman – my emotions.
Together, you represent the totality of God. So man:
treat woman well. Love her, respect her, for she is
fragile. In hurting her, you hurt me. What you do to
her, you do to me. In crushing her, you only damage
your own heart, the heart of your Father and the heart
of her Father. Woman, support man. In humility, show
him the power of emotion I have given you. In gentle
quietness show your strength. In love, show him that
you are the rib that protects his inner self.”



Also, check out this link...
http://difficultlyglorious.wordpress.com/2010/03/26/if-ribs-could-talk/

Why God’s Love Is Better Than “Unconditional”

Why God’s Love Is Better Than “Unconditional”

Wow!!!! This gives me a whole new way of looking at God's love. <3


In his essay-turned-booklet, God’s Love: Better Than Unconditional, David Powlison suggests that people who use the term often have good intentions, wanting to affirm four interrelated truths:

1. “Conditional love” is bad—unconditional is shorthand for the opposite of manipulation, demand, judgmentalism.
2. God’s love is patient—unconditional is shorthand for hanging on for the long haul, rather than bailing out when the going gets rough.
3. True love is God’s gift—unconditional is shorthand for unearned blessings, rather than legalism.
4. God receives you just as you are: sinful, suffering, confused—unconditional is shorthand for God’s invitation to rough, dirty, broken people.

These are true—and precious. But Powlison offers several responses. (I can only summarize and paraphrase here—buy the booklet to see the arguments in full.)
First, Powlison suggests that “there are more biblical and vivid ways to capture each of the four truths just stated.” “People currently employ a somewhat vague, abstract word—unconditional—when the Bible gives us more vivid and specific words, metaphors, and stories.”
Second, it’s not true that unmerited grace is strictly unconditional. Jesus Christ opened a way for us to experience the biblical love of God by fulfilling two conditions: a life of perfect obedience to the moral will of God, and a perfect substitutionary death on our behalf. Powlison writes: “Unconditional love? No, something much better. People who now use the word unconditional often communicate an acceptance neutered of this detailed, Christ-specific truth.”
Third, God’s love is more than conditional, for it is intended to change those who receive it. “Unconditional” often connotes “you’re okay.” But there is something wrong with you. The word “unconditional” may well express the welcome of God, but it does not well express the point of his welcome.
Fourth, “unconditional love” carries a load of cultural baggage, wedded to words like “tolerance, acceptance, affirmation, benign, okay,” and a philosophy that says love should not impose values, expectations, or beliefs on another. In fact, humanist psychology even has a term for it: “unconditional positive regard” (Carl Rogers).
Powlison says, “We can do better”:

Saying “God’s love is unconditional love” is a bit like saying “The sun’s light at high noon is a flashlight in a blackout.”
Come again?
A dim bulb sustains certain analogies to the sun.
Unconditional love does sustain certain analogies to God’s love.
But why not start with the blazing sun rather than the flashlight?
When you look closely, God’s love is very different from “unconditional positive regard,” the seedbed of contemporary notions of unconditional love.
God does not accept me just as I am;
He loves me despite how I am;
He loves me just as Jesus is;
He loves me enough to devote my life to renewing me in the image of Jesus.
This love is much, much, much better than unconditional! Perhaps we could call it “contraconditional” love.
Contrary to the conditions for knowing God’s blessing, He has blessed me because His Son fulfilled the conditions.
Contrary to my due, He loves me.
And now I can begin to change, not to earn love but because of love.
. . . You need something better than unconditional love.
You need the crown of thorns.
You need the touch of life to the dead son of the widow of Nain.
You need the promise to the repentant thief.
You need to know, “I will never leave you or forsake you.”
You need forgiveness.
You need a Vinedresser, a Shepherd, a Father, a Savior.
You need to become like the one who loves you.
You need the better love of Jesus.

For a complementary perspective, see John Piper’s answer, “Is God’s Love Unconditional?“