future



[postsecret]

While at home for Christmas break I knew 3 people that got engaged.

When I got back to Samford there were 2 of my sisters who got engaged.

While hanging with my sweet friends we have watched about 5 people get engaged.

Seriously... I am not bringing this upon myself. [except the last one].

I am not in any way, shape, or form hinting or saying that I am wanting to get engaged any time soon.

Don't freak out I am only a freshman.

I am just excited for the day [God willing] that I will get married.

I am excited to be able to spend my life with my best friend and confidant.

I am excited to grow closer with the Lord through our relationship.

I don't know if God has the plan for me to get married in 4 yrs, 8yrs, 20yrs, or never.

I have to trust in the uncertainty and knowing that God has my best interest in mine.

I love the postsecret above.

It makes me giddy excited for my future.

How sweet is that?!
I just wanted to share.

With Love From My Father,

Diane Storie

It is finished

School has been keeping me so busy.

If I ever have free time from reading Martin Luther, Chemistry, or Anatomy,

 I use that time to rot my brain with TV, mindless talking, exercise videos, or random excursions off campus.

Lately I feel like all of Samford has been in the "pre-spring bug".

This includes excessive exercise and random people wearing shorts outside when it only 50 degrees!

INSANE PEOPLE.

Most people go MIA around 6 because they are dancing, stepping, and singing the night away!

I have had great quality time with the sweet girls on my hall who are not doing it.

JKH and I have been in this Jillian Michael's crazy.

We are trying to workout and get healthy for spring.

I better have no more trouble zones after this!

In 8 weeks I will look like this!

NOT!

I have been waddling my way around campus for the past 3 days.

I think I forgot what it feels like not to be sore every time I try to sit down.

It hurts but the goal will be worth it... hopefully.

Jesus Calling kinda reminds me of the feeling I am going through with my workout craze.

I get frustrated that I have to do this at all.

Why can't my life be easy.

I wish I never had this problem.

I could be that girl who eats anything I want and not show it at all.

Give up the illusion that you deserve a problem-free life.

Part of you is still hungering for the resolution of all difficulties.

As I told you, in the world you will have great trouble.

Link your hope not to problem solving in this life but to the promise of an eternity of problem-free life in heaven.

Instead of seeking perfection in this fallen world, pour your energy into seeking Me: the perfect one.

[JesusCalling]

I really do catch myself getting frustrated and upset with things in this world.

Why is that?

Because I am seeking my satisfaction in them.

Yes there will be problems but we should use those to cling to the Lord.

We must find our peace through the Lord.

John 16:33

 I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.

 In this world you will have trouble.

But take heart! I have overcome the world.

It is finished.

With Love From My Father,

Diane Elizabeth

Confidence in Prayer

Back to Birmingham for me!

I arrived safely to my home away from home yesterday afternoon,

and was pleasantly welcomed by sunny warm weather!

Since when is 50 degrees warm?!

Since snow happened!!

This morning I went to church with a sweet sweet [newly official] little Chi Omega Friend ;)

Ill give a little HOOT in your honor MKB!

Seriously she is a doll.

We went to The Church at Brook Hills.

David Platt's sermon was amazing!

So if you went this morning then this may sound familiar!

Dr. Platt preached from Acts 4-8.

He talked about the 5 prayers we should pray but I want to only focus on the first one.

O God, give us confidence in prayer!

Our purpose in life through Christ should be to advance the gospel to the ends of the Earth.

It is not to have a good marriage, have the best kids, to go to church.

But through all of those things we can advance the gospel, we just need to keep in mind what is most important purpose!

When our purpose is the same as God's we cannot be stopped!

That does not mean that Satan is not trying to divide and distract us.

Everyone is in the face of battles for our purity and holiness but

with the Lord we can overcome this!

We pray to the one who is in control and is always faithful!

God is in sovereign over our lives and circumstances.

Dr. Platt made a very good point today that is thought provoking...

Disease and Cancer is not sovereign.

Part of your life may include you to be ridden with cancer but if so

we are to use that to advance his kingdom!

Did you fully understand that?

Nothing is more sovereign or in control over God.

If our purpose was health than cancer would be the problem.

But our purpose is to advance his kingdom, so a disease is just the tiny picture.

Dr. Platt continues and says 3 things that we should have the confidence to pray for.

Honor of Christ

Boldness of the Church

Adancement of the Kingdom

Acts 4:29

Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak with great BOLDNESS.

Please, Please notice in this verse that the believers did not pray for protection, safety, or personal well being in the face of threats.

They prayed for boldness!

This just SHOCKS ME!

Do I have the confidence to pray not for my safety in the midst of a threat?

To be honest no.

This is why this sermon touched my heart.

I am so selfish.

Clearly, 

I do not focus on the purpose of the advancement of the gospel and

I focus on my own well being.

Acts 5:29

"We must obey God rather than men!"

I shall strive to obey my father's purpse rather my own of men!

Such a hard lesson to hear but so needed!

With Love From My Father,

Diane Elizabeth

Jealous for me

It is my last day in Johnson City.

It is my last day in the beautiful mountains.

Last day in Tennessee.

Last day in the Eastern Time Zone.

Last day with my family.

Last day of peace and quiet :)

I am so ready to go back to school.

To get Back into the swing of college life.

But I am very nervous about what this semester brings.

I hope that I can stay as close to the Lord as I am now if not even closer.

I hope I can stay calm and keep my head level.

I was reading Jesus Calling this morning and I loved it!

Who am I kidding I love it every morning!

Its incredible that this little book was written in 2004 by some lady I don't know,

and that I can read exactly what I need to be reading that day.

It is always exactly what I need to hear.

I have had trouble in the past by putting things before God.

This is called having Idols [duhh].

But I feel like people don't realize this because it is not a statue or something we worship.

Its money or

cars or

shopping or

our sorority or

our grades or

our jobs or

our boyfriends or

our sports teams or

our friends.

I have probably had a time where all of these things meant more to me at the time than spending time with God.

I want you to be all Mine.

I am weaning you from other dependencies.

Your security rests in me alone--not other people,

not in circumstances.

Depending only on Me may feel like walking on a tightrope,

but there is a safety neat underneath: my everlasting arms.

[Jesus Calling]

This summer I worked in Colorado for a month not knowing anyone...

Because he wanted me to be all his!

This summer I am working in North Carolina for a month not knowing anyone...

Because he wants me to be all his!

I go to school in Alabama alone Because he wants me to be all his!

He is jealous for me!

The creator of the universe, the king of kings is jealous for me!

Cling to the Lord in your loneliness!

With Love From My Father,

Diane Elizabeth

Timing

Lately, I have been thinking a lot about God's Timing in my life.

Why did it take so long for this to happen?

Or

Why did I know that then?

Things like that.

I am also becoming more aware of the lessons I am learning from things that I have gone through.

I can remember the times where I felt so down and wondered

how I would ever get out of the situation?

Its incredible to look back on those tough times and to see the positive outcomes.

God calls us to simply trust him and thank him in advance for the good that will come out of it.

Simply Trust?

That to me sounds like an oxymoron.

Trusting is anything but simple.

Its like the saying Faith is taking the first step when you can't see the stairs.

 I do not like to step into a situation blindly and not know the outcome.

So inevidiably, God puts this in my life.

He wants my full trust and will give me situations where that is required.

I have no idea where I will be in 10 years.

I would like to say I am an RN, a wife, a mother, and living happily ever after.

BUT

This may not be what God has instore for me.

Jeremiah 29:11

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. "

My future may not be the same as the future that God has for me.

It is scary but

God Promises me a prosperous future.

He wants me to thank him now for my blessed future.

I am in good hands.

With Love From My Father,

Diane Elizabeth

This is where I will be spending a month out of my summer

Oh Praise The Father Who Gives Me Life Abundantly!

MY GOD is Mighty to Save



Everyone needs forgiveness,
The kindness of a Saviour;
The Hope of nations.

Saviour, He can move the mountains

[yes the huge mountains you climb can be moved like a lego],
My God is Mighty to save [ME],
He is Mighty to save [ME].

Forever, Author of salvation,
He rose and conquered the grave,
Jesus conquered the grave.

So take me as You find me,
All my fears and failures,
Fill my life again.

I give my life to follow
Everything I believe in,
Now I surrender.

Shine your light and let the whole world see,
We're singing for the glory of the risen King...Jesus

My Saviour, you can move the mountains,

You are mighty to save [ME],

You are mighty to save.

Forever, Author of Salvation,

You rose and conquered the grave,

Yes you conquered the grave!

[Hillsong]

This song brings tears to my eyes.

My God, yes MY GOD,

is might to SAVE ME!

He sent his ONLY SON to save ME!

Incredible.

I cannot wrap my mind around the fact that someone loves me that much.

It wrote this blog last night and it was crazy that this morning I was in my car on my way to work and..

It came one.

It was one of those mornings where I was tired and not in the best of moods but

God still pursued me.

How precious the little things he does for me to get my attention.

I lovee it!

So be still and be observant because he is pursuing you too!

With Love From My Father,

Diane Elizabeth

 P.S. This kid is pretty cool :)

and makes me real happy :)

Me

I sat down to do my devotional this morning in the mind set of I want to get this done so I can go about my day.

I can only imagine what the Lord thought as he watched me sit down and begin to read the short passage from Jesus Calling.

 He probably laughed thinking, "Oh YOU just think you can be done with me quickly."

"Open your heart and mind to receive all that I have for you.

Do not be ashamed of your emptiness.

Instead, view it as the optimal condition for being filled with My Peace.

 It is easy to touch up your outward appearance, to look as if you have it all together.

YOUR attempts to look good can fool most people.

But I see straight through you, into the depths of your being."

[JesusCalling]

He got me at not being ashamed of my emptiness, its easy to touch up your outward appearance, MY attempts to look good can fool MOST people.

Oh, dang.

I like how its uses the words "your, you" 8 times in this short paragraph, because that is EXACTLY what I am thinking about...

ME...

I catch myself going into time with the Lord thinking about myself,

what should I change

how this can center MY life,

how I need to get this done,

what am I getting out of this,

what do people think of ME when I do this.

A "Famous" quote from my favorite movie The Princess Diaries is Mia saying...

 "And then I realized how many stupid times a day I used the word "I". In fact, probably all I ever do is think about myself. And how lame is that when there's, like, 7 billion other people out there on the planet and when.."

YOU GO MIA! My point exactly.

Except when I have an Almighty, All Powerful, Loving Creator who has my best interest in mind,

 Why do I try to make things about ME?

I heard on XM Radio "The Message" the other day a quote that says something along the lines of

 "Think of why you worship and remember that God knows why you really do it."

"But I see straight through you into the depths of your being"

He knows our biggest struggles, our biggest pleasures. He knows what we really want and what we really need. He knows the real reason why I spend time with him.

I don't know about you but this sorta scares me because that means he knows the dark things in the pit of my stomach and still loves me the same.

"For I am convinced that

neither death nor life,

neither angels nor demons,

neither the present nor the future,

nor any powers,

neither height nor depth,

nor anything else in all creation,

will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Romans 8:38-39

incredible...

With Love From my Father,

Diane Elizabeth

Perfect Morning

This is not my usual blog but I just wanted to share!

I had the most Perfect Morning.

It was missing  a few things but seriously it was amazing!

I was able to sleep in due to the fresh blanket of snow that was outside.

Gorgeous!

I did not have to go to work due to the roads so I was able to spend a lengthy amount of time with the Lord.

Afterward I went downstairs and cooked myself lunch.

Yes,just call me Chef D!

Yumm a spinach salad with tomatoes, cheese, chicken, and red wine vinnegrate.

Then I worked out.

After my little workout I ironed some clothes.

This may seem strange, but seriously the most peaceful, theraputic activity ever!

I then showered and headed to work for the afternoon!

The Lord truely blessed me with a peaceful morning

 to get my spirit and mind in the right place!

I feel productive and refreshed!

 Definately what I need before I head off to school where I will feel neither of these!

With Love From My Father,

Diane Elizabeth

Store up for yourself Treasure in Heaven

"Every time you affirm your trust in me, you put a coin into MY treasury. Thus you build up equity in preparation for days of trouble." [JesusCalling]

This morning I woke up to a fresh blanket of SNOW on the ground.
 I do not think I have ever seen a view out my window as pretty as the one I have now.
The hills of the golf course, the frozen pond, the trees.
SO PRETTY!
I was getting ready to head to work and when I was completely ready,
walking out the door.
 My dad called to say that the roads were too bad!
So Yes I woke up and was ready for the day at 8 o'clock this morning! WOO HOO!
But the blessing in this was that I got time to do my quiet time in the morning.
Oh its incredible how the Lord knows the days that I may need a little more peace and time with him.
And how he knows that I need to set my mind straight in the morning.

 Psalm 56
 "When I am afraid, I will trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid.
What can mortal man do to me?"

Matthew 6:20-21
 "But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.
 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."


The more intentional I become with trusting the Lord, the more I will cling to that in times of trouble.

Everyone is returning back to school this week.
 Everyone but ME!
Its not that I am fearful in the scared, terrifying way but I am just nervous about going back to school,starting new classes, and being away from loved ones.
And the fact that I will be in JC for a whole 2 more weeks all alone haha!

I am ready to go back and to start pursuing relationships with high school girls.
I am ready to build relationships with my college friends.
I am ready to go back and listen to David Platt.
I am ready for Hayden to come see Samford for formal :)
I feel like I just pressed pause in my life and came home. I am ready to press play and get started again!!!


With Love From My Father,
Diane Elizabeth

Romans 15:13

Romans 15:13

May the God of hope 

fill you with all JOY and PEACE

as you trust in him,

so that you may OVERFLOW

with hope by the Power of the Holy Spirit.

Let My Life Song Sing to YOU

May the words I say
And the things I do
Make my life song sing
Bring a smile to You

This is my ultimate goal in the life I live on Earth. May the words from my mouth and the actions I do sing to the Lord.

This all is a part of our Radical Abandonment to Jesus Christ [inthewordsofDavidPlatt]. Its all about dying to ourselves each day that we wake up. And letting our lives sing to the Lord. It makes me sad to think that when someone talks to me they do not see the Lord through me or they may not know I am a Christian.

Actually I take that back. I am not the biggest fan of calling myself just a Christian. The World has twisted that word along with the word religion. Its more than just calling yourself something. Its more than a title its a way of living. "More Like Falling in Love than Pledging My Allegiance." I would rather be call a Follower of Christ, or a Servant to the Lord.

 

I am still loving the book Radical. However, it is not an easy read. Its hard and difficult to hear what the Lord demands of us, because it makes me see that I am living the comfortable, easy life. Not giving up everything to the Lord.

David Platt writes in his book about Luke 9 verses 57-62. Three men approach Jesus, eager to follow him. In a very surprising way Jesus tries to talk them out of doing it.

The first man says, "I will follow you wherever you go."

Jesus replies, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head."

In other words he tells the man to expect homelessness.

We, as Followers of Christ, are NOT guaranteed our basic needs of shelter to be met.
This kind of shocks me. I just want to say "Excuse me, Jesus but I like my big comfy bed and my nice house. I can go talk to people during the day just let me have my home at night." But no he wants all of us.

The second man says, "Lord, first let me go bury my father."
Jesus replies, "Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God."
Wow, I grieve after I lose a boyfriend or get upset after I lose my favorite shirt. But I could not imagine losing my own father and not even going to the funeral because there is something more important to be done.
This just shows me How Important the work of the Lord is.

The Third man says, "I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family."
Jesus replies, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit to service the kingdom of God."

This all makes me think of Katie Davis from Brentwood, TN. I don't know her at all but I love love love reading her blog. She lives in Uganda and has adopted 14 little girls. She gave up her home, and her family to move across the world to serve the kingdom of God. INCREDIBLE.

I want to live all for my King. Such a struggle. I ask to be tested then the second something happens I am panicking thinking, "I take it back. I can't do this. Why me?"
One of the best tips of how to cling to the Lord in a time of struggle was given to me by my preacher at my home church in JC, Tim Wallingford. He says...
1. Do not give into fear
2. Acknowledge God's control
3. Pray for God to Act
4. Respond in a Godly Courageous Way

The trick is actually calming down and using these instead of acting on impulse, but I'm trying. :)

Please remember I am not trying to tell people what they are doing wrong. Just showing what the Lord is teaching me in my life.

With Love from My Father,
Diane Elizabeth