Wow forgot about this...

Wonder if your pile on your desk will ever dwindle down to nothing. Chances are it never will, but for the luck few who make it to the bottom CONGRATS. I have been sitting at this desk for 3 hours now and have accomplished little. I did however apply for a State Sales tax number, yeah me. Now i'm going to watch leap year while throwing away garbage, come on inspiration, hit me.
xoxo
a

Madly in Love with Fellowship and Devotion

Oh man how do you sum up a spring break full of quiet time and time with a friend? I have learned so much about my self and the love of my life Peter, through being away.

First, I'd say I learned how lucky I am that Peter and I are in love with each other but more important we both are drawn to learning more about Jesus! How COOL!!! Thank you God for making a man that I can be challenged by and challenge. What a joy to share my faith with the man I want to marry.

Second, I learned how much I love my connection group. As hard as it is to get to know new people on an intimate level, I trust God put these people in my life to help and support me. I think Westwind Church is 110% the right place for myself and for Peter. We enjoy the fellowship and involvement we are experiencing, and it is really important to love God with people who do to!

Third, Family! I have an amazing family. Peter's family is the perfect other half to my life. I enjoy all my time with my new sis Emily, and little brother Michael. Momma Jo is Wise and Bruce's laugh just makes me loose it! My Mom is really starting to open up but nothing beats moms tired giggly laugh late at night! Dad wants to stay involved, he is best with no phone, in a hot tub, beer in hand, his advice is something I find in no other corner of my life. Sissy suz is off in her own world still but we will always have a deep sister connection that no one can beat. I have to mention my cousin Dianna, I have thoroughly enjoyed our phone calls! I like knowing what's going on in her life, she's always been the only big sister figure I've had and trusted! And my grandparents, both sets, are absolutely irreplaceable! So I am thankful that I am truly loved by both Arentson and Clausen sides, it makes my life so much less stressful.

Fourth, My dog. Dogs are a heck of a lot of work. I wouldn't have my life any other way. She brings a new element and dimension to our lives that is fun and outdoorsy.

Fifth, I have a job! I start cutting hair at Hairy's in Altoona on Monday March 22nd.
my hours will be as follows:

Monday11-8
Tuesday11-5
Wednesday off
Thursday11-8
Friday 9-5
Saturday9-3
Sunday Closed

So come and visit me and take a seat in my new chair! I'm excited to be closer to home.

I have to mention, I got home from a long time away from peter and he bought me Flowers! My biggest weakness. I am so prone to falling in love with a man with flowers in his hand. Especially when they smell amazing, he got me my favorite, Stargazer Lillies! How did I become so blessed in 9 months?

I have to admit, I have been trying to read a Proverb a day. I am not perfect at it, yet, but I have learned a lot and enjoyed that part of my quiet time!

Open up your Heart and Let Him in...

Sometimes I forget to think about the other person's feelings and/or opinion. This weekend was an amazing test of my Love for Peter. I got to meet his entire family, including Grandmas and Grandpas! I learned a lot about my self, and noticed how LUCKY we are. Peter and I have a love that is Irreplaceable. It's also iron clad! Peter shared his life struggles, lessons learned and dreams with me as we drive from home to home over the holidays. I am a part of those struggles, lessons, and dreams! I didn't know that as I learned to be an Honest, Committed, Faithful, I would become a woman instead of just a little girl. My mind is all over the map trying to learn new things everyday. I just hope I can strengthen Peter as much as he strengthens me. As we both learn how to grow in our relationship with God everyday, I hope that we don't forget to encourage each other in Faith.

Called to Be Holy 1 Peter: 13- 25

"13 Therefore, preparing your minds for action, [1] and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, 15 but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” 17 And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one's deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, 18 knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. 20 He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you 21 who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

22 Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, 23 since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; 24 for

“All flesh is like grass
and all its glory like the flower of grass.
The grass withers,
and the flower falls,
25 but the word of the Lord remains forever.”

And this word is the good news that was preached to you."

God wont forget the plans he's made for me.

"There is hope for me yet.
Because GOD won't forget.
All the plans he's made for me...
I have to wait and see.
He's not finished with me yet.
Still wondering why I'm here
Still wresteling with my fear.
Still wondering why I'm here.
I'm not here for nothing.
He's up to something.
I never slowed down that's what it seems.
All I have to do is hold on tight. "

"We make a living by what we get,
We make a life by what we give."

The Old Man is Snoring...

It's Raining...
It's Pouring....
The Old Man is Snoring....
He went to bed....
Bumped his head....
And He won't get up till the Morning!!!



'To get something you never had, you have to do something you never did.' When God takes something from your grasp, He's not punishing you, but merely opening your hands to receive something better. 'The will of God will never take you where the Grace of God will not protect you.'

I feel like there are so many days that I am upset about my past. Sometimes I miss things, but then I look at what I have now and it is so much more than I deserve or ever could've imagined.
I have heard and have not researched but I feel like that this Grace is like the rain...

What does the Bible say about rain...
It starts in Genesis 2:5

In the beginning of the bible God made it rain. He didn't make it rain after man was created until the time of Noah. From what I can gather.... So Even though it was probability terrifying to see it rain in the days of Noah, it was something they didn't know the ground needed. Although the rain also can bring flooding, also in the bible, it can bring joy and growth too.

God is teaching Peter and I a lot about each other through tests and trials in our lives. Peter has taught me so much about that concept of opening my hand, not necessarily to receive anything but to give something from my grasp. I forget that nothing I have is my own, it is all God's and he can take it all away and I would still be OKb. I had nothing when I was born and I still could breathe... God gives us the breaths we take, how come we forget that the most simple thing in out life, breathing, takes God's help. We have air inhibiting our bodies every second.... I want God to be more than just the air that inhibits me, I want him to be that important and not go that unnoticed.

On my bedroom wall I wrote in Permanent marker... " Not my will but yours be done!"

God rain in my life, and do your will, wreck my life so much that I have nothing but you left. Allow me to follow you to do things I've never done, be more important in my life than the air than inhibits me for a moment, Don't be that important and go that unnoticed anymore!

Salon Kitchen Madness...

Slacker. That would be the one word I would use to describe my self when it comes to blogging.

God has given me a passion for minisrty, I love having the ability to do hair for fun! I have had a wonderful opportunity over the last few weeks to catch up with friends and family in the comfort of my kitchen. My kitchen doubles as a salon when ever a friend needs their hair done. This week I have had the pleasure of doing clean up hair cuts and colors for people attending weddings this weekend. My favorite part about having a ministry like doing hair, is the fact that for once in my life, I can be a good listener. No one ever thinks of Amy as a listener but I do possess that quality.

Last weekend I traveled with a few good friends of mine, Mackenzie Scott, Mark Kline, Vincent, and Peter Arentson AKA my boyfriend, down to Kansas City to watch the Iowa State v. Kansas State football game. Now hopefully as you know Iowa State had a terrible last not-point. Great game, but none the less we still managed to loose. When I originally converted from being a Hawkeye to a Cyclone, mainly for Peter, I didn't think of the emotional stress that would come along with being a devotee. So for instance, this last weekend we went touch down for touchdown. Great game, until we threw like an interception or we just didn't score so then Kansas State got on top by a touchdown. During the last minute of the game Iowa state scored a touch down but somehow managed to not make the extra point kick. Point blank, it got blocked. On a sweet note, we did play at Arrowhead Stadium, "where the Kansas City Cheifs play."

Kansas City was neat but at the same time a worldly sinful life filled with sex, drugs, and booze, lacks authenticity and genuine enjoyment. Kansas City felt like a big city filled with lots of lost souls. On the way home from our journey to the south I was reading Proverbs 19 and decided to do a "simple break down" of what I was getting from each verse in the chapter, Enjoy...

"SIMPLE BREAK DOWN"

PROVERBS 19

1 Have Integrity, Cursing is for a Fool
2 Soul's Desire without Knowledge
3 Raging Heart leads to Ruin
4 Wealth v. Friendship
5 Lying & False Witness
6 Generosity v. Receiving
7 Hatred over Money
8 Continue to seek Understanding
9 Lying & False Witness
10 Luxury for the Wise
11 Don't sweat the small stuff
12 Power of Wrath & Grace Favors
13 Foolishness Ruins & Quarreling is Torture
14 Wealth is from Earth & Wives are from the Lord
15 Don't Idolize
16 Obey The Lord
17 Generosity is Fulfilling
18 Discipline leads to the Desire to Teach
19 A man of Great Wrath will pay the Penalty, Leave him alone
20 Listen & Gain Wisdom
21 Let God's will be and not your own
22 Man desires Loyal Love, a poor man is better than a liar
23 Fear the Lord & Rest Satisfied
24 Don't Idolize
25 Good Judgment strengthens your Knowledge
26 Obey your Mother and Father
27 Listen to the Lord
28 Worthless Witnesses are harmful to others and themselves
29 Condemnation will come to those who Judge Wrongly

I think it sounds similar to Exodus 20:1-19 .. let me know what you think.

Borders Books Bring God The Glory!

Proverbs 19
"Better is a poor person who walks in his integrity than one who is crooked in speech and is a fool. Desire without knowledge is not good, and whoever makes haste with his feet misses his way. When a man's folly brings his way to ruin, his heart rages against the LORD. Wealth brings many new friends, but a poor man is deserted by his friend. A false witness will no go unpunished, and he who breathes out lies will not escape. Many seek the favor of a generous man, and everyone is a friend to a man who gives gifts. All a poor man's brothers hate him; how much more do his friends go far from him! He pursues them with words, but does not have them. Whoever gets sense loves his own soul; he who keeps understanding will discover good. A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who breathes out lies will perish. It is not fitting for a fool to live in luxury, much less for a slave to rule over princes. Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense. A king's wrath is like the growling of a lion, but his favor is like dew on the grass. A foolish son is ruin to his father, and a wife's quarreling is a continual dripping of rain. House and wealth are inherited from fathers, but a prudent wife is from the LORD. Slothfulness casts into a deep sleep, and an idle person will suffer hunger. Whoever keeps the commandment keeps his life; he who despises his ways will die. Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the LORD and he will repay him for his deed. Discipline your son, for there is hope; do not set your heart on putting him to death. A man of great wrath will pay the penalty, for if you deliver him, you will only have to do it again. Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future. Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand. What is desired in a man is steadfast love, and a poor man is better than a liar. The fear of the LORD leads to life, and whoever has it rests satisfied; he will not be visited by harm. The sluggard buries his hand in the dish and will not even bring it back to his mouth. Strike a scoffer, and the simple will learn prudence; reprove a man of understanding, and he will gain knowledge. He who does violence to his father and chases away his mother is a son who brings shame and reproach. Cease to hear instruction, my son, and you will stray from the words of knowledge. A worthless witness mocks at justice, and the mouth of the wicked devours iniquity. Condemnation is ready for scoffers, and beating for the backs of fools."

I feel like today, I learned a valuable lesson. Maybe not one that deals with this verse. I woke up today and I learned about Prayer. God tells me in songs on the radio, phone calls from friends, Facebook statuses, the lack there of, and my bible readings that PRAYER is one of his most important gifts to us! If we don't pray for our weaknesses, we are not listening to God. If we do not pray for our strengths we are not noticing how God is using us and blessing us. He keeps pointing out how important or unimportant finances are in my life. He also keeps telling me that my future plans are a joke if he isn't included, simply if I don't pray and ask him to be apart of my life. He keeps informing me that he WILL take everything wonderful and fulfilling from this world away if my life is not fully supported by him. God will bless you in a wealth but he doesn't say that it is a currency. Meaning, God doesn't promise riches in a dollar value, I feel like he is already providing an abundance of wealth in my life. I need to remember the story's I heard today from the songs on the radio.
Sidewalk Prophets - The Words I Would Say
Or the story I heard from a close friend Steph, that if you listen to God when he is speaking to your soul, he will bless you. There are times in life where opportunities present themselves, sometimes it means to give up "money" to help someone with a marriage. Not only did Steph learn a valuable lesson about giving, God softened the heart of a man, he notice that she loved him without knowing him. Hopefully he noticed how much she truly loves God and does HIS WILL. By simply purchasing a book for this man, she showed that money was not an enamored object that was worth hording; she may have saved his marriage because she gave gracefully. I learned from Steph that growing in Christ doesn't always mean that we are the ones learning. Sometimes the things we allow ourselves to do for others makes such an impact that we can learn from watching their reaction. Or in my case I can learn from the situation as a whole. :)
I want to keep writing but I need to go.
My thoughts are random tonight and also a little distracted thank you Peter... he keeps reminding me that I need to do homework, so till tomorrow...
Oh, and yesterday I let slip past me so maybe if you're lucky, you'll get a double blog day!!! Just so you have things to look forward to, subjects of interest, Paul and Timothy, also Silas.
-ACE