God WILL Get You Where You Need to Be!

Well, my sweet family and friends, I have a praise report that I just must share today! :) As you know I started college classes last week, and you may or may not know this, but I am taking my first college math class since going back to school.  I have been warned by many about how challenging this course is, but last week I LOVED it!  It is a class where the professor breaks down math problems procedurally and shows many different ways to arrive at the correct answer.  I sat in fascination on Thursday listening to him explain the many different ways to derive answers to somewhat complex story problems.  Some in our class may have been bored or confused, but I was thoroughly engrossed! :) He also had me come up to the board twice to explain how I had arrived at the answer I had (which was correct), and it reminded me of how much I love explaining math to people!

Anyway, this really got me to thinking about my elementary education area of emphasis.  It seemed like a no-brainer to do the dual credit option (12 hours towards my bachelor’s degree that also counts towards my master’s degree), but the problem with that is there are only 3 options:  administration (no way!), special education (also, not my strong suit, though it would be beneficial), or reading literacy.  Out of those three I picked reading literacy and have been working that direction.  Interestingly enough, I was unable to get into any of my dual credit reading classes this semester because of a “mistake” my advisor made (and let me tell you, I was pretty aggravated about it at the time!), so as of right now I have not taken even one class towards my area of emphasis.

Well, I should rephrase that…I THOUGHT I had not taken one class towards my area of emphasis. :) Let me explain what I mean:  I checked in with my adviser this morning about the possibility of changing my area of emphasis from reading literacy to mathematics.  After this whole day of she and I corresponding back and forth with each other, I have learned that I ALREADY have 2 of my math requirements towards a math area of emphasis from my 2 math education classes that I took way back at Emporia State University!  What does this mean, you ask?  This means that I only have to take 6 hours instead of 12 (because I already have the other 6) and this will save me 2 classes!  And, I get to have my area of emphasis in an area that I am really passionate about, and most importantly, the direction I feel the Lord is leading me!

This makes me think about how good God is.  I was heading the wrong direction, going towards the wrong area of emphasis and the wrong masters program.  All of last year, I was pretty set on this direction.  All summer, I was pretty set on this direction.  However, I must say, something about it never really seemed right.  Sometimes I would think to myself, "I just wish they had a dual credit program in math." or "If only they offered this program in math."  Hmm, was God trying to tell me something or what?  

I was never really settled, even though I wanted to be because dual credit pretty much always sounds nice, doesn't it?  Saving time and money pretty much always sounds like a great idea, right?  Well, not if it is saving time and money on something that is NOT what you want to be doing (as my sweet and wise husband has pointed out to me many times, saying, "maybe you should do math, even though it is not dual credit" and things of this nature).  Yes, sometimes we are the last one to figure out what we really want to do, even when it is clear to everyone else.  And then, today, to find out that really this is going to save me six course hours...well, that is just over-the-top exciting!  God truly is helping me, and YOU, MORE than we even realize or know!  He truly is!  Trust that He is leading you today, because, guess what?  He is!!! :)

Hope your Monday is going as well as mine!

Love and Blessings,

Nikki :)

PS~This means that I will not be doing the dual credit program, but I know that God has that all worked out as well.  I am feeling confident at this point that reading literacy is not the direction He is leading me! :) Ha! Ha!

2013-Deep Thoughts from Nikki

It is January 3, 2013!  Wow!  A new year!  I just read the last post I wrote back in the middle of September!  Um, yeah!  Can you tell that I am a full-time wife, mom AND college student?  I am enjoying every minute of it!  Well, maybe not having to take that c-base test, but the rest of it! :) First semester done, next semester begins January 14th.  God is good!  God is faithful!  I love Him so much!

My heart is full.  My mind is full.  I have so many thoughts, so many things I want to say.  And, then I wonder if what I have to say is better left unsaid.  Ha!  Last year was quite a year for our family!  So many good things, so many challenging things, so many THINGS!  Some of them have left me with a sad heart, but you know what?  God is the healer of a sad heart, and He loves me!  He has me in the palm of His hand, and I know He will never let me go!

Here's one thing I learned in 2012.  People, churches, situations, circumstances.  They just might fail you.  They just might let you down.  But, God NEVER will!  Not ever.  This morning I was thinking about something that the Lord spoke to my heart years ago.  I mean, this was so many years ago that we only had two kids then! :)

You all probably know how crazy I am about my husband and how awesome I think he is.  I mean, he is awesome, so what can I say?  But, one day years ago something happened.  I can't remember what, which shows you just how important it was, but something happened and I was kind of upset at Jeremy.  Like I said, I can't remember what happened or why I was upset.  But, I was talking to the Lord about it (Side note here:  No matter what is happening in your life, it is always a perfect idea to talk with the Lord about it.  He already knows about it, and He always wants to HELP you.  That's just the way He is.  It is His very nature!  Man, He truly is my hero and the One I want to be more like!  OK, side note finished!) and this is what that small, still voice spoke to my spirit.  Not out loud, but inside.  "He's just a man."

Wow!  Now, trust me when I say I am positive the Lord did not mean any disrespect towards Jeremy.  I know the Lord thinks the world of my husband, but I definitely understood His point.  Jeremy IS just a man.  He is not perfect, and nor should I expect him to be!  You know, that is the case with EVERYONE that you and I know.  Our spouse, our kids, our mom, our dad, our best friend, our family, our church, our pastor...they're "just a man."  They can mess up.  They can make a bad choice.  They can do or say the wrong thing, intentionally or unintentionally.  And, that's OK, because they're "just a man."

Here's where the problem comes in, and I'm pretty sure I'm right about this.  The problem comes in if you or I elevate ANYONE or ANYTHING higher in our life than they really should be.  Yeah, there's only ONE God sitting on that throne, and it is definitely not anyone or anything besides HIM!  I'm pretty sure the Bible calls that kind of thing an idol.

You may be thinking, "Everyone knows that!", and I would have said the same thing.  But, the thing is, when you're actually in that kind of a situation, you don't realize it, because if you did, you would get out of it, right?  Yeah, I think that very problem arose in my life over the last few years.  Something got elevated higher than it should have.  And, no one sits in that spot in my life except for my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!  My eyes are on Him.  He is the One I am following.  Him and only Him, my friends!  Him and only Him!

So, these are my deep and personal thoughts as the new year begins.  Why do I share them with you?  Only one reason...because it may help someone.  Take inventory.  Did you read those last two words?  In case you missed them, I'll say them again.  Take inventory.  If there is anyone or anything in your life that you think is perfect and cannot make a mistake, let me give you heads up.  They're not and they can!  There you go...that could save you years of counseling!  (You're welcome!)

Well, my friends!  I wish you all the best and most wonderful 2013!  I believe it IS going to be a great year, full of love, joy, and peace.  There will also probably be hardships, sadness, and loss.  "Well, that's kind of a downer, Nikki!"  I guess it could be, but it is probably the truth!  You know what is so great?  We serve a God who has promised us that we can overcome any and everything that tries to come against us!  If God is for us, who can be against us?  That really is the truth!  No weapon formed against us will prosper!  When God wants you to do something, and you step out to do it, nothing can keep it from happening!  No devil in hell and no person on earth!  And that's the truth!  If you're on God's team, the good news is, your team WINS!  Always!  So, 2013, bring it on!  Because of HIM...we got this!