unashamed.

I'm watching GYC 2009 "Unashamed" from Louisville, Kentucky on www.gycweb.org. Are you?


(via GYC)

GYC LIVE Streaming!!!

We are excited to announce that we are able to bring GYC to those who are not able to attend! This year, GYC will be streaming LIVE from our website each main meeting along with one seminar on the web, our "webinar." Below you will see a schedule of streamings.

Wednesday:

6:00-8:00pm Justin McNeilus--Keynote Address, Unashamed

Thursday:

7:00-8:00am Sebastien Braxton--Morning Devotion, But Now

9:30-11:45am Ron Clouzet--Seminar, The Greatest Thing in the World

12:00-1:00pm Deniza Hush--Plenary, Testimony

2:30-4:45pm Ron Clouzet--Seminar, The Greatest Thing in the World

6:30-8:00pm David Asscherick--Evening Meeting, Unashamed of the Creative Christ

Friday:

7:00-8:00am Sebastien Braxton--Morning Devotion, The Interpreter

9:30-11:45am Ron Clouzet--Seminar, The Greatest Thing in the World

6:30-8:00pm David Asscherick--Evening Meeting, Unashamed of the Crucified Christ

Sabbath:

7:00-8:00am Sebastien Braxton--Morning Devotion, Just This One Time

9:00-10:45am Sabbath School--Yamil Rosario and Panel, Q&A

11:00-12:30pm Mark Finley --Divine Worship Service, When God's Passion is My Passion

3:30-4:30pm Concert/Outreach Testimonies

4:30-5:30pm Paul Howe--Plenary, Testimony

6:30-8:00pm David Asscherick--Evening Meeting, Unashamed of the Coming Christ

Sunday:

7:00-8:00am Sebastien Braxton--Morning Devotion, Unfulfilled Dreams

9:30-11:00am Chester Clark III--Challenge, Unashamed? Which Cloud are You In?

tired.

I am so tired of all the do's and don'ts that many people focus on.

I decided to live for Jesus three years ago, and ever since then, I focused on what to give up, what should I do, what shouldn't I say and so on. Where has that gotten me? I never thought I was a works-based Christian. I thought everything that I was doing was coming from the heart. I think early in my walk with Christ, they were coming from the heart because I wanted to do whatever I could to get to know Jesus better, but as I grew and got more exposed to others...I think I just started to do stuff because it was "right," and not to be a stumbling block or whatever.

I'm tired of just doing works and not knowing Christ. I want to love Jesus with my whole heart!!!

MIA

Sorry I haven't written in a very long while. Things have been busyy.

And that's all for right now.

amaaaaaazingggg.

The NBA may be "Where Amazing Happens," but GOD is for sure "HOW Amazing Happens."

I know I haven't blogged in FOREVER and a day, but I'm just so happy right now and in awe of God!

Long story short, I failed my first MS 2 test. I received a 71% and I was like..."I need to raise my grade during the 2nd test!" I calculated it out and I was like...okay I need to get an 80% to be passing the course by the 2nd test (You need a 76% average on three tests to pass the course).

Today was our 2nd MS 2 test. I didn't study as much as I should have but I for sure studied harder than I did the first test! I fell asleep yesterday because I didn't feel well and then I fell asleep early this morning when I should have been memorizing chemotherapy drugs and what not. I came to the test and when I was looking through it, my heart fell. It was so much harder than I thought it would be! I just began to plead with God and I started to claim James 1:5 and I was like, "Lord, I know YOU cannot like. Your Word SAYS you cannot lie. So right now, I NEED you to help me. Forgive me for what I've done and please...Your Will be done."

I was so nervous because as I was going through the test, I started to think about what would happen if I failed. I was so afraid to tell my mom that I failed the test...and to consider the option of withdrawing from the course...or just studying foreverrrr until the final and hoping for the best. I was so beyond nervous that when I began to transfer my answers to the scantron, I was shaking.

During my test, I calculated that I needed to miss 14 to at least pass the class. I wanted to get whatever I could to have an 76% average, but I knew at this point, I would be lucky to just pass. As I went through the answers and counted it at the end...I missed only 14! I had passed the test! I was like, "Oh my goshhh PRAISE GOD!!" Walking to my room, I knew I was going to have to step it up major to pass the class and I knew I had to do well on the final. I was relieved that I passed..

But then GOD surpasses what we NEED and everything! I just went on Blackboard and my teacher posted the grades already and mentioned that she had accepted multiple answers for 3 questions. I was excited because that could mean my grade went up...AND IT DID! 49/60 = 81%!!! MORE THAN I EVER EXPECTED! And right now...I have an average test score of 76%!

GOD IS SO GOOOOOOD! =)

nursing dedication.

On Saturday afternoon, more than 1oo (I think?) of my schoolmates and I were dedicated into the profession of nursing. Us girls wore the infamous nursing caps that some schools still wear today during clinicals and carried nursing lamps that had pen lights as candles. The program lasted for an hour and I guess...it was special. Haha! Okay, okay, okay...it was special.

Anyways, I just wanted to post the pledge that we all recited so it acts as a reminder to ME about what I have stated before the God, the universe, and others to keep me accountable!

My roommate and I got pazookies from BJ's today and it made us...a little...umm...I'll just say--hyperglycemic. It's midterm week for us (I just finished my Pharm midterm that's worth 40% of my grade! Praise God I passed, but it's not good enough...I know that I can do better!) and we should be studying. SO yeah...I need to remember what I pledged to uphold as a nurse to keep me MOTIVATED!

International Pledge of Nursing

I SOLEMNLY PLEDGE MYSELF, before God and in the presence of this assembly to practice faithfully my profession of nursing.

I WILL do all in my power to make and maintain the highest standards and practices of my profession.

I WILL hold in confidence all personal matters commited to my keeping in the practice of my calling.

I WILL serve as a loyal member of the health care team and will devote myself to the welfare of my patients, my families, and my community.

I WILL endeavor to fulfill my rights and privileges as a good citizen, and to take my share of responsibility in promoting the health and welfare of my community.

I WILL constantly endeavor to increase my knowledge and skills in nursing and to use them wisely.

I WILL zealously seek to nurse those who are ill, wherever they may be and whenever they are in need.

I WILL be active in assisting others in safeguarding and promoting the health and happiness of humanity.

life's best things.

We have Ladies' Bible Study every Tuesday at 8 P.M. and we've been going through the book, The Ministry of Healing. We started reading it at the beginning of the 2008-2009 school year and we've been going strong since! It's been such a blessing!

Anyways, I just wanted to post up a passage that I really liked so I don't forget it:

"Men and women have hardly begun to understand the true object of life. They are attracted by glitter and show. They are ambitious for worldly pre-eminence. To this the true aims of life are sacrificed. Life's best things--simplicity, honesty, truthfulness, purity, integrity--cannot be bought or sold. They are as free to the ignorant as to the educated, to the humble laborer as to the honored statesman. For everyone God has provided pleasure that may be enjoyed by rich and poor alike--the pleasure found in cultivating pureness of thought and unselfishness of action, the pleasure that comes from sympathizing words and doing kindly deeds. From those who perform such service the light of Christ shines to brighten lives darkened by many shadows." page 198

soooo cool.

As I was browsing through the GYC website during my study "break," I came across this page and I thought it was so cool! =)

no more sleep!

Last night and this morning, I decided that I rather have prayer and devotion than to sleep (earlier...not so much early) and review for clinicals. Lately, I've been saying a quick word of prayer and reading a few verses and then starting my day. But today, I remembered testimonies of my friends and I was reading about it in Set-Apart Femininity by Leslie Ludy (a wonderful book! All girls need to read it, forreals!), and I decided to take the time.

Well as it turns out, the Lord has blessed! This day is starting out wonderful and I know it's because I took that time to spend it with Him. I hope this experience draws deeper conviction into my heart about the importance of prayer and devotion.

I also pray that I don't waste this day, but use it to the glory of God by preparing and studying for my classes and reviewing my skills to best serve His children when I go to clinicals.

less than 24 hours.

The girls of the Ladies' Bible Study and I have decided to go on a social networking website fast for seven days! We begin tomorrow, January 21, at 9 P.M.

Craziness! Haha, okay not really. We were discussing it today after our weekly reading of The Ministry of Healing and it was quite obvious that we really need to go on this fast, especially with the beloved Facebook site.

Why are we doing this? It's not because networking sites are wrong! It's because of the way that we've been using them and how it's basically taken over our lives. I actually admitted that Facebook has become my best friend. How sad is that? When I, one who has proclaimed many times that I've decided to live for Jesus, have named Facebook as my best friend. That's when you know something is forreals wrong! When something in your life takes the place of where Jesus Christ should be, I believe that you really need to take a look at that and make the change!

So...since I won't be using MySpace, Facebook, Friendster, Army of Youth, for the next week...I may be blogging more often...or not. LOL.

BTW, History was made today! It's exciting to know that history books are being re-written at this very moment. Not so exciting for students and teachers who will have to purchase those new editions of history books...but good thing there is www.amazon.com!

out of this world.

Yay, it's Sabbath! So glad that I don't have to think about beta-blockers, adrenergic antagonists, hypertension, focused assessments, etc. today! =)

School has been...well, let's just say I'm trying to stay afloat. I haven't been stressed out or anything yet! Maybe that's because I know God will take care of me! =) But because I haven't been stressed...I haven't had that "fear" to study or anything. LOL, and I know that even though He will take care of me, I still need to strive for excellence! Pray that I stay focused!

Anyways, back to the title: "out of this world." Do you feel like you don't fit into this world? We are pilgrims just passing through and we just don't...fit into the world. Meet some people who don't fit into this world and are boldly proclaiming that they are "Misfits." Visit them here: www.gomisfits.com and gomisfits.blogspot.com

hungry.

As I was (and still am!) cleaning out my desk, I came across some letters from Finish the Work's time in the Philippines. They reminded me of the friends that we had made and I'm so thankful that the Holy Spirit used us to be a blessing to them.

In the pile of notes, cards, and pictures from the Philippines, I found some letters that Mike had left in the Philippines that I had picked up. I shook my head thinking about what I would say to him when I'll give him the letters at our meeting on Sunday. I saw my note to Mike neatly folded and I wondered what I had written, but pushed it aside until I had placed the other notes in a special folder. After, I picked up the note and unfolded it. I smiled at the words I had written to him; I can almost remember writing the letter! As I came to the middle of the letter, I read a story I had written to him. I had forgotten about this story--this was a memory that stuck out the most from the time in the Philippines.

It was about the first quiz we had during our evening program at NDC Tagum City. Tina was the quiz master and she had us girls go out into the audience and watch and pick the students who raised their hands first. I remember her asking the first question and I think that this student was the first person to get the right answer. She handed him the Bible and his reaction was SO priceless--He was so excited to get a Bible, that he waved it up in the air and had the biggest smile. I remember that I looked to the rest of the team that was sitting on stage and I met Kurt's gaze and we both had the biggest smiles on our faces because of that guy's reaction. I had never seen anyone react so joyfully when receiving the Bible! I wrote to Mike regarding that experience saying, "That reaction was worth more than anything the world can give."

When we came back to the States, that memory still stuck in my head. I shared it in front of my church and just told them about how blessed I was to have experienced that. It had shown me that there were so many people that were just hungry for the Word, and just searching for the Savior.

It's only been about six months since that experience and if it weren't for cleaning up my room and finding that letter to Mike, that memory would have remained forgotten. I realize that it's because I've been so caught up in myself and my desires that I've forgotten that there are many in the world seeking for the Savior and hungry to study the Bible. I've forgotten that my purpose here on Earth is not to be what the world considers a "success" and seek for happiness in this world, but to give glory to God in all that I do and to share what He has done to all the world.

Let's keep each other accountable, friends: let's not forget our purpose. Just like the well-known song says, "People need the Lord."

"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen." Matthew 28:19-20