new everything!

i have a lot to blog about today. bear with me. feel free to read as much of this as you feel i am worth. haha just kidding! read whatevaaaa

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-when you're walking with god, when you're praying regularly, when you are living in a faithful way according to His plan, etc.. truly amazing things happen. daniel and i have made a goal to read the bible chronologically in one year, and we started january 1st. granted, both of us are behind.. but even "more regular" reading of the bible has been an astonishing improvement. im rapidly starting to chip away parts of myself and of my own sinful human character and replace them with how i am suppose to live, act, react, and obey. im not sure that makes sense. but like, when you become more aware of who God is, and you learn more about His character, your filter for the secular influnces becomes much stronger. Pretend my past spiritual life is like a window screen. I have a very loose tolerance for the non-christian aspects of my life. As water passes through a screen freely, I let indulgences, temptations and other sins get in my heart and mind a take the reigns. However, as I grow and mature as a Christian, that screen tightens up. Let's say - now I'm dealing with a denim barrier. Water still gets through, but it takes longer and it get's heavy. I am more AWARE of the sin (water) that is weighing me down (because it's heavy.) Haha, in the future, I want to have a chain mail-like filter.
Anyway - what this all boils down to is a few experiences that happened this week that just make me appreciate God more and more. I act surprised when he does stuff like this - but seriously, it's God - I really shouldn't caught off gaurd when the creator of the universe steps in my meager life! lol.

Sooo - here's the application. I listen to Roula and Ryan on 104.1 faithfully everyday. I start my morning with them, instead of starting it with God. I think there show is generally amusing and humorous. However, this week, as I have been really good about my spiritual life, I have become increasingly more annoyed with the content of the show. I think they do have some good segments, with somewhat useful information. I totally see why their entertaining, and I get why they're popular. However, why do I need to waste my drive to work or class listening to sad, sinful, lying, cheating, people complain about their latest upset? I could be worshipping God during that time!! Every single day they talk about cheating, sex (marriage, optional), or some other form of pleasurable yet harmful thing in regard to relationships. This is exactly why Daniel and I live the way we do! We are not plagued by the ailments these people are suffering from. I sooo pray that through our faithfulness in God and in each other people see something different in us. I pray that they realize that the ONLY reason we work so well, love each other so much, and are in a committed and fun relationship is that we love God first, and he runs the rest FOR us! I know it's a difficult concept to understand: to let a supernatural being guide your hands and feet as you make decisions - but I hope from the way I'm writing about it you can tell how passionate I am about the greatness of a relationship like the one I have with Daniel is. God is the only way you can get that. HE created marriage, people!! If you don't do it HIS way - it doesn't work the way he intended it to work! Why are so many people divorced and hurting? Because they're not being obedient!  - - - -Back to Roula and Ryan - I don't need them. I don't need to listen to them everyday and sit and wait in my car for an extra few minutes (worshipping) a freaking secular radio show!

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In other news, 2010 has been going tremendously well so far. I haven't eaten at a single fast food restaurant - still! I am still eating healthy, still working out 3-5x/week. I feel great. I haven't a physical difference yet, but I know it's coming. The numbers are working out, and the loose clothes are to follow!

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In addition, school is good. Tuition and books are as always too expensive, but it comes with the territory. I'm only able to afford 4 classes this semester, but it will be okay. I found out that if I can get into 2 classes this summer and next summer I can graduate in the summer and not december, so I am SUPER excited about that..

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it looks like my schedule is finally more flexible than it has been lately. I'm free almost all evenings, and even if I have a meeting, which I usually do, I'm home around 9 or 10. Weekends aren't always booked, either!

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Emmalie is about to turn 18, which I cannot believe. How did my little sister grow up so fast? (How did I grow up so fast?!)

 

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An exciting chunk of news includes engagement party planning!! It's set for Feb 13th, but nothing else is set in stone. We have a couple different ideas/locations, but it's all dependent on the dollaz. As always. I hope to send out invites by the end of the week!

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I had more to write about that I was thinking about on the way home, but my memory sucks and I forgot....so as a final comment, Molly and Jamie if you read this - this is mainly to you.... but I'd like everyone's opinion..

What is "marriage"? Civilly, and Biblically.
When is a couple "married"?
When does God consider a couple married?
What is the importance of a legal marriage, both civil perspective and biblically?

k thats all for today! i hope i think of the rest of the stuff tmrw!