A Challenge

It's been a little while since I've updated here. Sorry friends. I've been busy getting started with work and getting ready for my sister coming home. She's flying from Philadelphia right now to Chicago and my dad will pick her up in Merriville. I'm excited for her to be home. The first week of work went very well. The kids we had are great. And this week, we'll even get a few new ones. As I previously mentioned Quentin Blount...I will talk about him again. Friday night I closed at work. I stayed until 5:30 when Quentin's Mom's...someone came to pick him up. But, I had a good 20 minutes alone with Quentin. He tried to worm his way into treats, but I couldn't give him any since he had been bad. But, I did give him a piggy-back ride around the school. He really enjoyed that. I did too. I really love him. He's honestly so rotten, but, he's captured my heart. I have been praising the Lord all week for giving me a love for children. I only hope that one day, I may influence some children to live their lives for God.

I really want to teach Kindergarten. It was because of my Kindergarten (and 1st grade) teacher that I wanted to go into teaching. Yes, I knew at that young of an age that I wanted to be a teacher. And I still can't imagine doing anything else. I work with 1st-3rd graders this month in Jr. Church at my church and it's the best. The kids are so well behaved and they have a thirst for hearing God's word preached to them on their level. It's wonderful to see God working in children at that age. Every time I'm around kids, I can't help but thank Him for this desire and gift He has given me. I love it!

Well, enough about that. Some of you that read this may or may not know that I used to listen to CC and even some country music. Now, I don't want to get into any sort of discussion...especially on one of these things, but I did want to share what God did in my life. I was thinking about music and how it really is a big part of my life. I realized that I was...well, addicted to CCM. I couldn't go anywhere without having the radio on or a CD in or something. I was then challenged to go one week without listening to anything except Christian...true Christian music. Things that I've gotten from BJ or people when they came and visited my church. I was challenged to see what it would do to my walk with Christ. I had said that it doesn't matter what music you listen to, as long as your walk with God was right. So, I figured it wouldn't be a big deal. I didn't think anything would change. I earnestly prayed that God would change my heart. And I wasn't even a day into my challenge before I honestly felt a huge difference in my walk with God. I've gotten rid of any CCM or country CDs I owned and now, have a deeper, more personal walk with God. I can't describe the feelings other than complete joy and happiness...not to mention the feeling of a burden being lifted off of my shoulders. God has since shown me other things in my life that I needed to change. I never thought I could be so eager to change for God...but I am.

I challenge you to earnestly pray for God to show you anything wrong in your life. Whether it's in the area of music or not...it doesn't matter. We always need to be changing to be more like Christ. Let Him truly work in your life to change you. He wants to. Let Him.

I want to mention again that I don't want to start a big discussion on music or anything. I wanted to share what God had done in me. What He chooses to do with this, is His plan.

"Break up my fallow ground..."