As the New Year is coming in here in the next few hours, I want to take the time to give a big shout out to the big man upstairs, God. Wow that sounded blasphemous. Looking back 2013 had to be one of the lowest years I have had in awhile. It was filled with a lot of God bringing me to my knees. As 2014 rings in; however, God is starting to do the very fatherly thing, HE's picking me up and brushing the dirt off my knees. So as I get ready to head into a year of improving myself with the help of HIM I want to say thank you to my LORD and Savior. He has consistently protected my heart over the past few weeks and He continues to bless me, so thank you.
Amanda
Monday, December 30, 2013
Happy Birthday Jordan
I figured a post this big didn’t deserve some rinky dink
facebook status or instagram post, no this post deserved a freaking blog post.
I don’t remember this day 13 years ago, but I do remember quite a lot of days
afterwards. On this day the colts would lose to the dolphins, Nebraska would
win the Alamo bowl over Northeastern, 22 were killed in the Rizal Day bombing
in the Philippines and it was a Saturday. More importantly this day was one of
the most exciting days for me, on this day Jordan Noel O’Leary came into the
world. If you aren’t aware Jordan is my best friend who just happens to be 13
and my cousin. If you haven’t had the privilege of meeting her let me tell you
a little bit about her.
Jordan turns 13 today. Her favorite color is Tiffany Blue and
she plays various sports like volleyball and softball. If it’s monogramed she
will generally love it and she is a real girly girl. She is an incredible
singer. She has been to the Dominican Republic for a mission trip. She is
incredibly kind, gentle, and giggles a lot. We spend lots of time just talking
and walking around her neighborhood. I share all my secrets with her.
We I was younger, Jordan is what I waited for especially
after I got my brother. I use to call my aunt and ask “Did you have my cousin
yet?” when that question started she wasn’t even married nor pregnant. Finally
though I got my wish. As she gets older, I get more and more proud to be cousin
and I cannot imagine the greatness God has planned for her.
My wish for her is that in her teen years she doesn’t forget
who holds her heart and life in His hands. I pray that she upholds her relationship
with CHRIST and her character above all. I pray that she follows the path God
has laid out for her rather than following the crowd. I hope she understands
that I am forever here for her no matter what. I pray that she has a glorious
13th birthday and passage into teenhood.
Happy Birthday
Love,
Amanda
Wednesday, December 25, 2013
Friendsolution
It amazes me how in such a short time someone can become such an important part of your life. In 2013 I realized the value of good friends and how hard they are to find. In 2014 I am excited to build upon the few friends that I have, those people I consider my best friends and build new relationships. In 2013, towards the end, I became best friends with Courtney Ashley'Marie Vitale. She is just a bundle of joy (Wow that really sounded like I was describing my child) anywho! Going into 2014 I want to build on our friendship so we decided that we would do New Year's Friendsolutions and here they are :
Well that's it for the resolutions on my part! Comment below, comment on the facebook status or tweet me your new year's resolutions! :) Hope y'all had a Merry Christmas and I wish you a Happy New Year! :)
Amanda :)
2014 New Year's Friendsolutions
1. One Hour a Week together without Technology
2. Watch a 5 Dollar Movie once A Month Together
3. Every two weeks go out for Starbucks and a walk
4. Keep a Friend journal every week
5. Workout daily together
Amanda :)
2014
MERRY CHRISTMAS!! Well I successfully survived another Christmas :) Now like most people I am heading into the jitters of a New Year. With the New Year comes the typical New Year's Resolutions. I have never been one to do this but for some reason I have an excitement about the year 2014 and my desire to make a list of things I want to accomplish is almost overpowering. Like I wrote in my blog Living Not Existing lately I have really been thinking about self improvement so that probably has something to do with my desire this year to set goals to accomplish in 2014. So without further ado
Amanda :)
p.s Look for Friendsolutions coming in just a few :)<3
2014's New Year's Resolutions
1. Continue to grow in God
2. Accomplish Weight Goal
3. Stay off Social Media for 3 months
4. Get activated in Market America
5. Run a 5k or 10k
6. Save my Money better
7. Start and/or finish writing a book
8. Read more
9. Bring up my GPA
10. Be Positive
11. Be a Mile deep friend instead of a mile wide
12. Be a better listener
13. Grow in Knowledge
14. Drink more Water
15. Drink more Hot Tea
16. Take at least 1 photo a day
17. Create a Thankful Jar
18. Watch Harry Potter
19. Try Yoga
20. Be Joyous
21. Be Kind
22. Say thank you more often
23. Write more Letters
24. Write more letters to my Future Hubby
25. Broaden my Horizons
p.s Look for Friendsolutions coming in just a few :)<3
Sunday, December 22, 2013
The Perfect Husband
I once, well quite a few times rather, have been told to sit down and create a list of the attributes I want in a a future husband and stick to them. Oddly enough in all of the relationship advice that I have taken over the years, this is one I have not done {Maybe that's why I don't have a boyfriend, but then again I live in Rocky Mount}. Mainly because I find it silly to {In my minute self} to sit down and try to figure out what I demand of my future husband. I'd hope that my husband would have only one requirement of me, as I do of him, that is; To love God with all my heart and to serve my God. Everything else to me seems frivolous to an extent. Sure, respecting me, loving me, caring for me, leading me etc. are great attributes to have, but if my husband is serving the Lord and following God's word, those things will come out through an extension of his love and submission to God. Nonetheless I thought I'd humor myself and possibly you in a little rendition of The 10 Things to Make The Perfect Husband.
1. Humor
This goes without saying, if I am going to be stuck with you for the next 50 some years, you better be making me laugh. Some of my favorite moments is when I am sitting at the table with my family just laughing till our guts hurt and our face are stained with tears.
2. Must love Kids.
My dad only requires one payment back for the 18 years of raising me, grandkids, so you probably should learn to like them now.
3. A beard
"Once you go bearded, you don't go back" Is the way I look at it.
4. A Job
Preferably a pastoral one, just saying. Also probably not one that requires the phrase "Are you ready to order?"
5. Patience
My chances of changing my mind are high. This will probably be often, so patience is probably a key virtue to possess.
6. Honesty
I'd prefer if you wouldn't let me go out of the house looking like I am the conductor of the Hot Mess Express. Just be honest, I'd rather hear it from you who loves me then that of a ghetto queen in her pjs at wal mart.
7. Your family
I'd appreciate it if your family finds at least some part of me enjoyable to be around seeing as how we'll probably be around them quite often.
8. Must like mexican and itailian food
More than likely tacos, burritos and pasta will be a staple in my home. If the saying goes as true "You are what you eat" then I am half Mexican and half Italian
9. My family
My mother is pretty easy going, don't let her face confuse you, she most likely has a deep admiration for you and your love towards her daughter. My father on the other hand, he is the type of man to make you fear him but eventually he will grow on you like a rash. My brother, well, you'll see. All in all we will be the people who entertain you with our strange humor and situations.
10. Criminal Tendancies
I would prefer that a majority of your criminal activity has ended by now. I am too pretty to go to jail.
Please understand that majority of these are meant to be slightly humorous and not all that true. I have a high standard when it comes those who I date and will eventually marry. I just don't have a check list of what I want. Most likely if I enjoy hanging out with you, you have a strong relationship with Christ, you demonstrate a love for me like no other and God ordains it, I am down for marriage.
Amanda :)
1. Humor
This goes without saying, if I am going to be stuck with you for the next 50 some years, you better be making me laugh. Some of my favorite moments is when I am sitting at the table with my family just laughing till our guts hurt and our face are stained with tears.
2. Must love Kids.
My dad only requires one payment back for the 18 years of raising me, grandkids, so you probably should learn to like them now.
3. A beard
"Once you go bearded, you don't go back" Is the way I look at it.
4. A Job
Preferably a pastoral one, just saying. Also probably not one that requires the phrase "Are you ready to order?"
5. Patience
My chances of changing my mind are high. This will probably be often, so patience is probably a key virtue to possess.
6. Honesty
I'd prefer if you wouldn't let me go out of the house looking like I am the conductor of the Hot Mess Express. Just be honest, I'd rather hear it from you who loves me then that of a ghetto queen in her pjs at wal mart.
7. Your family
I'd appreciate it if your family finds at least some part of me enjoyable to be around seeing as how we'll probably be around them quite often.
8. Must like mexican and itailian food
More than likely tacos, burritos and pasta will be a staple in my home. If the saying goes as true "You are what you eat" then I am half Mexican and half Italian
9. My family
My mother is pretty easy going, don't let her face confuse you, she most likely has a deep admiration for you and your love towards her daughter. My father on the other hand, he is the type of man to make you fear him but eventually he will grow on you like a rash. My brother, well, you'll see. All in all we will be the people who entertain you with our strange humor and situations.
10. Criminal Tendancies
I would prefer that a majority of your criminal activity has ended by now. I am too pretty to go to jail.
Please understand that majority of these are meant to be slightly humorous and not all that true. I have a high standard when it comes those who I date and will eventually marry. I just don't have a check list of what I want. Most likely if I enjoy hanging out with you, you have a strong relationship with Christ, you demonstrate a love for me like no other and God ordains it, I am down for marriage.
Amanda :)
Saturday, December 21, 2013
Social Media
Dear Friends and Followers,
For sometime now I have entertained Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. After a post of mine went viral about a year ago and I gained many friends, I felt it was a responsibility of mine to keep Facebook up and running. I however, need a break. I know you get it all the time the facebook statuses out of frustration stating "I am so done with facebook" and then you loose a friend. As much I genuinely enjoy getting new friends and getting to know them, I must check out for awhile. I need a mental break from all the negativity that I see throughout my wall. I have to get some things in check with myself without the looming distraction of social media. The same goes with Twitter and Instagram. So from January 1st- March 9th 2014, I will be taking a hiatus from Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. I will be spending this time developing more of my character, building better relationships and mixing various things that I need to fix. If you would still like to stay in contact with me over those three months, please send me a message on Facebook before January 1st and we can determine the best path. I am not deleting any of them just simply taking a break from them, so after March 9th I will still have the same Facebook. My blog will still be up and running so please subscribe :)
Thank you
Amanda :)
For sometime now I have entertained Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. After a post of mine went viral about a year ago and I gained many friends, I felt it was a responsibility of mine to keep Facebook up and running. I however, need a break. I know you get it all the time the facebook statuses out of frustration stating "I am so done with facebook" and then you loose a friend. As much I genuinely enjoy getting new friends and getting to know them, I must check out for awhile. I need a mental break from all the negativity that I see throughout my wall. I have to get some things in check with myself without the looming distraction of social media. The same goes with Twitter and Instagram. So from January 1st- March 9th 2014, I will be taking a hiatus from Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. I will be spending this time developing more of my character, building better relationships and mixing various things that I need to fix. If you would still like to stay in contact with me over those three months, please send me a message on Facebook before January 1st and we can determine the best path. I am not deleting any of them just simply taking a break from them, so after March 9th I will still have the same Facebook. My blog will still be up and running so please subscribe :)
Thank you
Amanda :)
Running in A Circle: Part 2
Last night's blog post on homosexuality wasn't the full truth or rather my full heart. My parents have a great understanding of what is truthfully my heart and what is some masqueraded version of it, truthfully last night's blog was simply a masqueraded version of my true heart. So I wanted to semi rewrite the blog and explain myself a little bit more. So here I go.
Homosexuality has nothing to do with politics. Sure the idea of homosexuality has been brought into the arena of politics. If you are a liberal you claim the conservatives are hateful, religious folk who are ruining "love". If you are conservative you claim that the homosexual agenda is destroying the home and needs to be squashed like an icky bug. They are both right and wrong. Homosexuality is a heart issue.
As I addressed in my last blog and will do in this one is majority of Christians. I am a Christian, I follow Christ to the best that my sinful, evil self can do. So please, understand I do not mean to bash Christians. My point in pointing out the collective wrong-doing by Christians is this: they are my brothers and sisters and what they do impacts the kingdom of God.
As I talked over my blog with my father today he kept bringing up the point that I saw many Christians were trying to make this week in light of the Phil Robertson scenerio. They claimed to be taking a stance against their faith. Don't get me wrong I understand taking a stand on your beliefs. What I see though is a lot more talky talky and a lot less listeny listeny. As Christians what we often do is this:
Step 1: An issue arises
For instance the Chick fil A owner claiming traditional beliefs, Phil Robertson's opinion on Gay etc.
Step 2: State our Opinion
This usually happens over Facebook with statuses like "I am appalled that the lost world does not see that homosexuality is a sin"
Step 3: We Get Into Arugements
Now don't get me wrong, I love a good arguement; however, some people just live to start drama
Step 4: We beat our stance down each others' throat.
Step 5: We deny ever being wrong
Specifically number 1 and 2 are not bad, it is 3-5 that is where we get it wrong majority of times. I observe people, especially those who claim to be Christians. Sadly those are the same people that go out looking for a fight. For an example a Christian I follow on social media seemingly searched for conversations where people found fault in everything Phil did, they then turned around and got into arguments with people they did not know. How is that Christ like? Step 4, I get you have a belief but for the love of all things good, would you want someone constantly bringing forth their opinion? Jamming their opinion down your throat? Y'all that's how you get blocked! Once you are block how are you going to share the gospel of social media then? Step 5, this is one of the biggest things I tried to convey to my father in our discussion this morning. After I got him to silence and listen, I stated that our need, as Christians, to be right in every argument out weighs our desire to share the gospel in a loving manner. As far as I am concerned Christ defended the bible, He laid His arms across a wooden cross and hung for our bible. My job isn't to belligerently defend the Word of God so much that I lose the true meaning of the Word. Not to mention many of times those who you are up against, those you are "defending your faith" to aren't Christians, they are lost. So guess what! They are going to act lost, they are going to take offense to the Word of God because the Word of God is offensive. It's meant to be, the Gospel displays us for who we truly are; lost, evil, sinful, ugly people who need a perfect, holy, sinless God. To a lost person they can't grasp the word of God in it's entirety without knowing the Author.
As a former Chick-fil-A worker, I worked Chick fil A appreciation day back in 2012. I was slightly jet lagged and honestly didn't understand until later that night what exactly had happened since I had been in Kenya the whole week before. As I stood there and time passed the mall restaurant where I worked got so crowded many people waited in line for over an hour for chicken. As I stood there shocked at the scenario I was witnessing the question arose, why are they here? See the Chick fil A where I worked was in a run down mall where people rarely came into. In fact that December the restaurant closed. If half of these people appreciated Chick fil A so much, where were they the rest of the year? As I served many of them I was appalled by their "Christian" nature. They said hateful things towards other humans. It occurred to me about 4 hours in that many of these people didn't appreciate Chick fil A they just didn't like gays. It is the same scenario as the Phil Robertson. I see many Christians jumping on this bandwagon not to stand up for what is right but to simply take the opportunity to bash gays. Sure they aren't outright going around using hateful speech but the sly underground attacks are there.
The thing to me is this if we place Jesus into today's culture. People would know where He stood. But they wouldn't know by Him changing is Facebook Picture, by Him starting debates or by Him going out and doing all the other things that I see happening this week on social media. We would know Him by the love that He demonstrates to the broken, lost and hurting. See my Jesus is compassionate. How compassionate are you? Are you using this time to lovingly share the gospel? Are using this time to identify the hurting? Or are you using this time to check off a box in your religious agenda? Do you you see this as an opportunity to gain new brothers and sisters? Or a time to wear you "I love Jesus Sign" loud and proud without fear of being attacked without those to back you up? Because guess what, next week around this time I can almost guarantee you that this whole situation will blow over. I can also guarantee that many of these bandwagon fans will return to the religious hole that they crept out of and you won't hear another word from them until the next big controversy. Those who are gay and lost will continue to be gay and lost and believing that God hates them. I for one don't want that. See I screwed up and here's how:
When i was growing up i had a best friend who was my best friend from basically 3 years old until the 4th grade. today i am still friends with her on facebook. i took her to awanas with me {A children bible study} and she was always there are church with me for the most part. somewhere along the lines she stopped going to church with me. we lost touch, i went my way and she went hers. almost every month once or twice i go onto her facebook just to see how things are going. nearly every time my heart is broken. see i had an oppertunity to share the gospel with her. needless to say i wasn't really a christian but a church goer when we were friends. however where i am attending college, am active in my church and am seen as a "goody two shoes" she is into drugs, has a girlfriend and various other things. i can almost feel the sense of lack of love and hurt she must feel. i feel like failed.
Many times whether Christian or not, we disregard the human in front of us. We rarely take the time to get to know them, we judge them based on a box that they fit into. You see though, Christ never did that. He had every right to judge everyone of us, to send us all to hell because we all fit into a major box marked as "Sinner" but He didn't. In fact He did the complete opposite He loved us. So I guess in closing my advice and my urge is simple. Love your neighbor whether he or she is gay, straight, white, black, what have you and share the gospel in a way that is loving and kind rather than hurtful. Also don't give me some load of bologna about how you don't understand how the gospel can be perceived as hateful. Just remember back to a time when you were blind and how harsh the glorious light of Christ pained you, then remember the love of God as He wrapped His arms around you, then do the same for the lost in your world. Because trust me, they are watching.
As for you who are Gays, please let me say this. I love you and so does my God. Please bare in mind that just like you, Christians are human. We sin and though we sin differently, our fate of hell is just like yours. Please forgive us where we fail to demonstrate love. Please understand when we say we don't accept your lifestyle that it doesn't mean we don't accept you.
Homosexuality has nothing to do with politics. Sure the idea of homosexuality has been brought into the arena of politics. If you are a liberal you claim the conservatives are hateful, religious folk who are ruining "love". If you are conservative you claim that the homosexual agenda is destroying the home and needs to be squashed like an icky bug. They are both right and wrong. Homosexuality is a heart issue.
As I addressed in my last blog and will do in this one is majority of Christians. I am a Christian, I follow Christ to the best that my sinful, evil self can do. So please, understand I do not mean to bash Christians. My point in pointing out the collective wrong-doing by Christians is this: they are my brothers and sisters and what they do impacts the kingdom of God.
As I talked over my blog with my father today he kept bringing up the point that I saw many Christians were trying to make this week in light of the Phil Robertson scenerio. They claimed to be taking a stance against their faith. Don't get me wrong I understand taking a stand on your beliefs. What I see though is a lot more talky talky and a lot less listeny listeny. As Christians what we often do is this:
Step 1: An issue arises
For instance the Chick fil A owner claiming traditional beliefs, Phil Robertson's opinion on Gay etc.
Step 2: State our Opinion
This usually happens over Facebook with statuses like "I am appalled that the lost world does not see that homosexuality is a sin"
Step 3: We Get Into Arugements
Now don't get me wrong, I love a good arguement; however, some people just live to start drama
Step 4: We beat our stance down each others' throat.
Step 5: We deny ever being wrong
Specifically number 1 and 2 are not bad, it is 3-5 that is where we get it wrong majority of times. I observe people, especially those who claim to be Christians. Sadly those are the same people that go out looking for a fight. For an example a Christian I follow on social media seemingly searched for conversations where people found fault in everything Phil did, they then turned around and got into arguments with people they did not know. How is that Christ like? Step 4, I get you have a belief but for the love of all things good, would you want someone constantly bringing forth their opinion? Jamming their opinion down your throat? Y'all that's how you get blocked! Once you are block how are you going to share the gospel of social media then? Step 5, this is one of the biggest things I tried to convey to my father in our discussion this morning. After I got him to silence and listen, I stated that our need, as Christians, to be right in every argument out weighs our desire to share the gospel in a loving manner. As far as I am concerned Christ defended the bible, He laid His arms across a wooden cross and hung for our bible. My job isn't to belligerently defend the Word of God so much that I lose the true meaning of the Word. Not to mention many of times those who you are up against, those you are "defending your faith" to aren't Christians, they are lost. So guess what! They are going to act lost, they are going to take offense to the Word of God because the Word of God is offensive. It's meant to be, the Gospel displays us for who we truly are; lost, evil, sinful, ugly people who need a perfect, holy, sinless God. To a lost person they can't grasp the word of God in it's entirety without knowing the Author.
As a former Chick-fil-A worker, I worked Chick fil A appreciation day back in 2012. I was slightly jet lagged and honestly didn't understand until later that night what exactly had happened since I had been in Kenya the whole week before. As I stood there and time passed the mall restaurant where I worked got so crowded many people waited in line for over an hour for chicken. As I stood there shocked at the scenario I was witnessing the question arose, why are they here? See the Chick fil A where I worked was in a run down mall where people rarely came into. In fact that December the restaurant closed. If half of these people appreciated Chick fil A so much, where were they the rest of the year? As I served many of them I was appalled by their "Christian" nature. They said hateful things towards other humans. It occurred to me about 4 hours in that many of these people didn't appreciate Chick fil A they just didn't like gays. It is the same scenario as the Phil Robertson. I see many Christians jumping on this bandwagon not to stand up for what is right but to simply take the opportunity to bash gays. Sure they aren't outright going around using hateful speech but the sly underground attacks are there.
The thing to me is this if we place Jesus into today's culture. People would know where He stood. But they wouldn't know by Him changing is Facebook Picture, by Him starting debates or by Him going out and doing all the other things that I see happening this week on social media. We would know Him by the love that He demonstrates to the broken, lost and hurting. See my Jesus is compassionate. How compassionate are you? Are you using this time to lovingly share the gospel? Are using this time to identify the hurting? Or are you using this time to check off a box in your religious agenda? Do you you see this as an opportunity to gain new brothers and sisters? Or a time to wear you "I love Jesus Sign" loud and proud without fear of being attacked without those to back you up? Because guess what, next week around this time I can almost guarantee you that this whole situation will blow over. I can also guarantee that many of these bandwagon fans will return to the religious hole that they crept out of and you won't hear another word from them until the next big controversy. Those who are gay and lost will continue to be gay and lost and believing that God hates them. I for one don't want that. See I screwed up and here's how:
When i was growing up i had a best friend who was my best friend from basically 3 years old until the 4th grade. today i am still friends with her on facebook. i took her to awanas with me {A children bible study} and she was always there are church with me for the most part. somewhere along the lines she stopped going to church with me. we lost touch, i went my way and she went hers. almost every month once or twice i go onto her facebook just to see how things are going. nearly every time my heart is broken. see i had an oppertunity to share the gospel with her. needless to say i wasn't really a christian but a church goer when we were friends. however where i am attending college, am active in my church and am seen as a "goody two shoes" she is into drugs, has a girlfriend and various other things. i can almost feel the sense of lack of love and hurt she must feel. i feel like failed.
Many times whether Christian or not, we disregard the human in front of us. We rarely take the time to get to know them, we judge them based on a box that they fit into. You see though, Christ never did that. He had every right to judge everyone of us, to send us all to hell because we all fit into a major box marked as "Sinner" but He didn't. In fact He did the complete opposite He loved us. So I guess in closing my advice and my urge is simple. Love your neighbor whether he or she is gay, straight, white, black, what have you and share the gospel in a way that is loving and kind rather than hurtful. Also don't give me some load of bologna about how you don't understand how the gospel can be perceived as hateful. Just remember back to a time when you were blind and how harsh the glorious light of Christ pained you, then remember the love of God as He wrapped His arms around you, then do the same for the lost in your world. Because trust me, they are watching.
As for you who are Gays, please let me say this. I love you and so does my God. Please bare in mind that just like you, Christians are human. We sin and though we sin differently, our fate of hell is just like yours. Please forgive us where we fail to demonstrate love. Please understand when we say we don't accept your lifestyle that it doesn't mean we don't accept you.
Have A Merry Christmas,
Amanda
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