Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
Those are easy words to say. They're easy to quote. Easy memorize. Easy to pray.
Dear God,
Thank you so much for all you've given me! You have blessed me so much, and I don't deserve it. Lord, what if I don't ________? Please help me through this. Please let me be able to_____________ and to one day ___________.
Please continue to work in my life and in the lives of those around me.
In Your name,
Amen.
That's usually how it works, isn't it? You say a prayer like that. Occasionally. If you remember. That's how it works for me.
If only it were really easy. As easy as saying it's easy is. If only it were really easy to either not worry or ask God for help. Sometimes, I have to almost force the words out. Sometimes I can't.
What is worry, anyway? I think it's fear. Fear of what will happen. Fear of won't happen. But most of all, I think it's fear that what you want might not be what God has planned for you're life. What if you pray as hard as you possibly can, but God says, "I'm sorry, this isn't what I want for you."
Sure, what God wants is always better. I know. But sometimes you want something so bad you can taste it. You can feel it. You can't imagine what would happen if it didn't happen.
And you know what bothers me even more? I have no right to ask God for that, too!! I ask God for help and guidance for a lot, and he answers EVERY time, so why, if I have everything I need and am fairly successful so far, should I ask for more?
What is it about human nature? Why can't I be happy with what I have and what God has blessed me with? Why must I continually say, "God I know you've done a lot--I mean really put in overtime for me--but could you please do this too? Great. Thanks. I'll have it in about 4 weeks, right?"
Why? Why? Why?
So, God, I'm sorry. I'm sorry I can't just be OK with not having it. I'm sorry I can't just be thankful for what you've given me. I'm sorry I can't let go of it. I'm just sorry.
I would want so bad to say, "God, I turn my life completely over to you. If you want to never _______________ or ____________, then I know my life will be even better. What ever you will is, I want."
I want to say that. I want to offer my self up to God. I say I do a lot, but every time my selfish human desires get in the way.
So, instead, this is what I think I need to pray:
God,
I love you. You are amazing and way beyond what I deserve. I'm so sorry I'm weak. You know my heart, Lord. You know my needs. My wants. And I know whatever you have planned will work out just right. It'll be even better than I can imagine it. Lord, please help me to understand everything has it's own time. Help me to know you're blessing other areas in my life right now. And the truth is, I get far more rewards from those things than I would from the things you know my heart is longing for.
Please, Lord, take this burden from me. Help me live my life for you and you only. Help me follow you to the very best of my abilities. Take my life, Lord. Take it and use it. Take control before I get in the way again.
I love you,
In Your name,
Amen.
That's what I should pray. The hard part is tomorrow...
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Amazing.
Note: I've changed my mind….no more links to stories, just blogging
How can I keep from singing Your praise
How can I ever say enough
How amazing is Your love
How can I keep from shouting Your name
I know I am loved by the King
And it makes my heart want to sing ….
Some time this week, between the Alligator, the Herald, and work, I realized something. I mean, I've always known it, but it really hit me this week.
I am amazingly and undeniably blessed.
I have a job--two actually.
I am getting experience as a journalist--with both The Alligator and The Herald
I am getting experience as an editor--at work
I am doing pretty decent at the previous two things.
I have a family that loves me.
I have a wonderful church where I can worship God.
I get to be around kids.
And I have a wonderful, amazing, loving God that I can turn to and ask for help, and whether I deserve it or not, he will.
It's funny how you can keep waiting for God to answer something and just keep getting frustrated, without ever feeling like He's listening. And then one day…..everything works out. I don't mean there's an easy fix--that never happens--I just mean, things fall in to place. I get the answers to my questions.
But after all of the things God does for me, there's still nothing I can do for him that would thank Him enough. Because despite how much I love God and how much I want to be like Him, I still sin all the time.
So, I try to do the only thing I know to do…..
"Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living an holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of Worship," Romans 12:1.
The only thing I figure I can do is to pray hard and try to follow God's word the best of my abilities.
Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence, O Lord--Psalm 89: 15
Blessed are all who fear the Lord, who walk in his ways--Psalm 128:1
Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway--Proverbs 8:34
How can I keep from singing Your praise
How can I ever say enough
How amazing is Your love
How can I keep from shouting Your name
I know I am loved by the King
And it makes my heart want to sing ….
Some time this week, between the Alligator, the Herald, and work, I realized something. I mean, I've always known it, but it really hit me this week.
I am amazingly and undeniably blessed.
I have a job--two actually.
I am getting experience as a journalist--with both The Alligator and The Herald
I am getting experience as an editor--at work
I am doing pretty decent at the previous two things.
I have a family that loves me.
I have a wonderful church where I can worship God.
I get to be around kids.
And I have a wonderful, amazing, loving God that I can turn to and ask for help, and whether I deserve it or not, he will.
It's funny how you can keep waiting for God to answer something and just keep getting frustrated, without ever feeling like He's listening. And then one day…..everything works out. I don't mean there's an easy fix--that never happens--I just mean, things fall in to place. I get the answers to my questions.
But after all of the things God does for me, there's still nothing I can do for him that would thank Him enough. Because despite how much I love God and how much I want to be like Him, I still sin all the time.
So, I try to do the only thing I know to do…..
"Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living an holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of Worship," Romans 12:1.
The only thing I figure I can do is to pray hard and try to follow God's word the best of my abilities.
Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence, O Lord--Psalm 89: 15
Blessed are all who fear the Lord, who walk in his ways--Psalm 128:1
Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway--Proverbs 8:34
Friday, July 10, 2009
July 4th/Habitat for Humanity/magazine award
On holiday weekend, thousands flock to area springs to cool off
By Jessica Chapman
For The Herald
Thursday, July 9, 2009
As High Springs, Fort White and other surrounding areas clamored to find fireworks to celebrate American Independence, thousands of people flocked to the local springs.
But on average, the thousands of people filling the parks almost to capacity was a typical Saturday for some springs.
But Blue Springs and Ichetucknee Springs experienced larger crowds than normal.
Ichetucknee Springs Assistant Manager Patty Martin said unlike on 3-day weekends when the middle day is the busiest, Friday was the park’s busiest day, maxing out at the north entrance by 9:30 a.m. and drawing around 4,000 people throughout the day.
Saturday drew about 3,500 people, she said.
“We’ve never seen anything like it,” Martin said. “It’s usually the middle day (that’s the busiest).”
While people usually think the July 4 weekend will be the busiest weekend at the springs, Martin said the following weekend usually draws the most crowds because everyone waits to come, attempting to avoid the large crowds.
Blue Springs drew close to 1,400 people on July 4, about 450 up from the previous Saturday, General Manager and Owner Kim Davis said.
For full story visit: http://www.highspringsherald.com/articles/2009/07/09/news/news07.txt
Habitat for Humanity to change lives, built three homes in area
By Jessica Chapman
For The Herald
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Ripping her letter open three years ago, Brenda Wesley began to cry, not knowing whether to cry or laugh.
Soon, she would get her first home.
Wesley and two other families will get homes in High Springs, thanks to Habitat for Humanity.
Alachua Habitat for Humanity will build three homes in High Springs in the Douglas Village area and tentatively plans to start building in the fall, said Peg Iwata, resource development coordinator for the Alachua Habitat for Humanity.
Habitat for Humanity, which builds homes for those living in inadequate housing, aims to eliminate poverty housing and homelessness. The organization will build houses through all of Alachua County.
High Springs was chosen when Habitat found available land in the area.
Habitat will begin building homes as soon as it has raised the money needed for the first home to be built, Wesley’s future home. The house will cost about $75,000.
Habitat doesn’t begin building a home until the money needed is raised to ensure that the family will get a home.
“We don’t want to build half a home and then have to stop because we don’t have the funds,” Iwata said. “We don’t want to get their (the family moving into the house) hopes up and then not be able to finish.”
Iwata said Habitat is asking local churches to help raise half of the money needed, about $35,000. They will be relying on local High Springs businesses to help provide the remainder of the funds.
“This is something fun for the people (in High Springs) to do,” Iwata said. “The community in High Springs is fun anyway, but this is an opportunity where we all can use ours gifts or talent. It’s a way to strengthen the community and each other.”
For full story visit: http://www.highspringsherald.com/articles/2009/07/09/news/news11.txt
The Fine Print earns top award
By Jessica Chapman, Alligator Writer
Thursday, July 9, 2009
The Fine Print, a progressive magazine designed for UF students, was deemed Best New Publication of the Year by Campus Progress Wednesday at a conference in Washington, D.C.
Speakers included former president Bill Clinton, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, “The Daily Show” writer and correspondent John Oliver and White House green jobs adviser Van Jones.
“This award is just complete validation for what we’ve been doing,” said Jessica Newman, co-editor of the magazine and UF journalism senior. “It’s quite a shock. It’s been really inspirational.”
Along with co-editor Lydia Fiser, Newman decided to start The Fine Print to use as a sounding board for students to express their thoughts and “build a unified force,” she said.
The magazine covers politics, art, music and topics relevant to UF and the Gainesville community, Newman said.
“They always struggled to connect the two spheres,” she said, referring to the magazines goals to connect the Gainesville and UF communities. “Gainesville has so much to offer.”
For full story visit: http://www.alligator.org/articles/2009/07/09/news/local/090709_award.txt
By Jessica Chapman
For The Herald
Thursday, July 9, 2009
As High Springs, Fort White and other surrounding areas clamored to find fireworks to celebrate American Independence, thousands of people flocked to the local springs.
But on average, the thousands of people filling the parks almost to capacity was a typical Saturday for some springs.
But Blue Springs and Ichetucknee Springs experienced larger crowds than normal.
Ichetucknee Springs Assistant Manager Patty Martin said unlike on 3-day weekends when the middle day is the busiest, Friday was the park’s busiest day, maxing out at the north entrance by 9:30 a.m. and drawing around 4,000 people throughout the day.
Saturday drew about 3,500 people, she said.
“We’ve never seen anything like it,” Martin said. “It’s usually the middle day (that’s the busiest).”
While people usually think the July 4 weekend will be the busiest weekend at the springs, Martin said the following weekend usually draws the most crowds because everyone waits to come, attempting to avoid the large crowds.
Blue Springs drew close to 1,400 people on July 4, about 450 up from the previous Saturday, General Manager and Owner Kim Davis said.
For full story visit: http://www.highspringsherald.com/articles/2009/07/09/news/news07.txt
Habitat for Humanity to change lives, built three homes in area
By Jessica Chapman
For The Herald
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Ripping her letter open three years ago, Brenda Wesley began to cry, not knowing whether to cry or laugh.
Soon, she would get her first home.
Wesley and two other families will get homes in High Springs, thanks to Habitat for Humanity.
Alachua Habitat for Humanity will build three homes in High Springs in the Douglas Village area and tentatively plans to start building in the fall, said Peg Iwata, resource development coordinator for the Alachua Habitat for Humanity.
Habitat for Humanity, which builds homes for those living in inadequate housing, aims to eliminate poverty housing and homelessness. The organization will build houses through all of Alachua County.
High Springs was chosen when Habitat found available land in the area.
Habitat will begin building homes as soon as it has raised the money needed for the first home to be built, Wesley’s future home. The house will cost about $75,000.
Habitat doesn’t begin building a home until the money needed is raised to ensure that the family will get a home.
“We don’t want to build half a home and then have to stop because we don’t have the funds,” Iwata said. “We don’t want to get their (the family moving into the house) hopes up and then not be able to finish.”
Iwata said Habitat is asking local churches to help raise half of the money needed, about $35,000. They will be relying on local High Springs businesses to help provide the remainder of the funds.
“This is something fun for the people (in High Springs) to do,” Iwata said. “The community in High Springs is fun anyway, but this is an opportunity where we all can use ours gifts or talent. It’s a way to strengthen the community and each other.”
For full story visit: http://www.highspringsherald.com/articles/2009/07/09/news/news11.txt
The Fine Print earns top award
By Jessica Chapman, Alligator Writer
Thursday, July 9, 2009
The Fine Print, a progressive magazine designed for UF students, was deemed Best New Publication of the Year by Campus Progress Wednesday at a conference in Washington, D.C.
Speakers included former president Bill Clinton, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, “The Daily Show” writer and correspondent John Oliver and White House green jobs adviser Van Jones.
“This award is just complete validation for what we’ve been doing,” said Jessica Newman, co-editor of the magazine and UF journalism senior. “It’s quite a shock. It’s been really inspirational.”
Along with co-editor Lydia Fiser, Newman decided to start The Fine Print to use as a sounding board for students to express their thoughts and “build a unified force,” she said.
The magazine covers politics, art, music and topics relevant to UF and the Gainesville community, Newman said.
“They always struggled to connect the two spheres,” she said, referring to the magazines goals to connect the Gainesville and UF communities. “Gainesville has so much to offer.”
For full story visit: http://www.alligator.org/articles/2009/07/09/news/local/090709_award.txt
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Mosquitoes/UF College of Medicine/SFC
Note: After considerable thought to how I use this blog, I thought it would be a good resource to use for professional development--as in, post my published articles here at the end of every week.
Buzz. Slap. Ouch. Itch. Mosquitoes are back in area
By Jessica Chapman
For The North Florida Herald, Thursday July 2, 2009
It’s that time of year again. Mosquitoes are here.And as the summer lingers on, the pesky mosquitoes latching onto arms and legs will only get worse.
Until about October, the 80 different species of mosquitoes will continue to be a problem, with numbers increasing as the rain does.
The recent rains have unleashed flood water mosquitoes, a species of mosquitoes that breed in places like moist soil and wait to hatch until the rainy season, such as the summer, comes along.
Permanent water mosquitoes are a continuing problem, too. These mosquitoes, which can be found near standing water such as ponds and swamp marshes, die if the water dries up, similar to a plant thriving on water.
But while the number of mosquitoes increases, only about three or four species of mosquitoes carry the three most common diseases in Florida -- West Nile virus, eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) and St. Louis encephalitis, said Roxanne Connelly, professor and Extension Office medical entomology specialist for the University of Florida.
Usually the West Nile virus and St. Louis encephalitis do not become a problem until late August, while EEE, which has a human fatality rate of 35 percent and an 80 percent fatality rate in horses, affects mostly horses and rarely humans, Connelly said.
“EEE isn’t something you want to mess with,” she said, referring to the fact that humans can contract the disease. “It’s usually fatal, and if you survive, you’ll have neurological damage.”
The West Nile virus results in severe illness for one in 150 people infected, and one in five people infected will show no symptoms at all, according to a mosquito-borne virus presentation provided by Bradford County Extension Agent Jim DeValerio.
St. Louis encephalitis has a 3-percent to 30-percent fatality rate.
To view entire article, click here.
College of Medicine's F removed from scorecard
By JESSICA CHAPMAN, Alligator Contributing Writer, Tuesday, June 30, 2009
The failing grade UF’s College of Medicine received on a recent American Medical Student Association PharmFree Scorecard is being changed to “in progress.”
The 2009 Scorecard, conducted by the American Medical Student Association, along with The Pew Prescription Project, based the industry and school relationship grades on how well students and faculty are shielded from free samples, money and educational incentives offered by pharmaceutical companies.
The college failed for not providing information to the 2009 AMSA PharmFree Scorecard and declining to participate in the 2008 Scorecard, while both Florida State University and the University of Miami received Bs.
But Timothy Flynn, senior associate dean of clinical affairs for the College of Medicine, said he was never informed about the request for the college’s conflict of interest policy.
“Had they told us, we would have been happy to send it in,” Flynn said. “We have nothing to hide.”
Flynn said the college recently revised its original Industry Conflicts of Interest Policy, which was created in 1995, customizing it more to UF.
“[AMSA] is the least knowledgeable [in conflicts of interest policies],” Flynn said, referring to the fact that AMSA is an organization made up of medical students. “[No offense to them, but] they’re not even in the profession yet. We’re doing this because we feel it’s the right thing to do, not because of them.”
To view the entire article, click here
SFC student wins $5k to study Chinese
By JESSICA CHAPMAN, Alligator Contributing Writer, Thursday, July 2, 2009
Danielle Rossi doesn’t find Chinese as difficult as she thought she would, partly because she loves China.
Rossi, an international economics major at Santa Fe College, is the first Santa Fe student to receive the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship, which was designed for students wanting to study abroad in a non-European country and learn a non-traditional language.
She will use the $5, 000 she was awarded to study Chinese at Jilin University in Changchun in northeastern China from Sept. 1 through April 15.
“I’ve always dreamed of studying internationally,” Rossi said. “(The Gilman scholarship) really gives community college students a chance to compete. They’re great for that.”
Rossi, who plans to go into international law or the U.S. Foreign Service, said after taking economics classes and realizing China’s importance in world affairs, learning Chinese seemed like good preparation for the future.
“We are such strong partners,” she said. “Economically, we are linked at the hip.”
Rossi said although she is excited, she’s worried about communicating and adjusting to life in China.
“It will really be the Chinese culture,” she said. “It’s not Americanized.”
Buzz. Slap. Ouch. Itch. Mosquitoes are back in area
By Jessica Chapman
For The North Florida Herald, Thursday July 2, 2009
It’s that time of year again. Mosquitoes are here.And as the summer lingers on, the pesky mosquitoes latching onto arms and legs will only get worse.
Until about October, the 80 different species of mosquitoes will continue to be a problem, with numbers increasing as the rain does.
The recent rains have unleashed flood water mosquitoes, a species of mosquitoes that breed in places like moist soil and wait to hatch until the rainy season, such as the summer, comes along.
Permanent water mosquitoes are a continuing problem, too. These mosquitoes, which can be found near standing water such as ponds and swamp marshes, die if the water dries up, similar to a plant thriving on water.
But while the number of mosquitoes increases, only about three or four species of mosquitoes carry the three most common diseases in Florida -- West Nile virus, eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) and St. Louis encephalitis, said Roxanne Connelly, professor and Extension Office medical entomology specialist for the University of Florida.
Usually the West Nile virus and St. Louis encephalitis do not become a problem until late August, while EEE, which has a human fatality rate of 35 percent and an 80 percent fatality rate in horses, affects mostly horses and rarely humans, Connelly said.
“EEE isn’t something you want to mess with,” she said, referring to the fact that humans can contract the disease. “It’s usually fatal, and if you survive, you’ll have neurological damage.”
The West Nile virus results in severe illness for one in 150 people infected, and one in five people infected will show no symptoms at all, according to a mosquito-borne virus presentation provided by Bradford County Extension Agent Jim DeValerio.
St. Louis encephalitis has a 3-percent to 30-percent fatality rate.
To view entire article, click here.
College of Medicine's F removed from scorecard
By JESSICA CHAPMAN, Alligator Contributing Writer, Tuesday, June 30, 2009
The failing grade UF’s College of Medicine received on a recent American Medical Student Association PharmFree Scorecard is being changed to “in progress.”
The 2009 Scorecard, conducted by the American Medical Student Association, along with The Pew Prescription Project, based the industry and school relationship grades on how well students and faculty are shielded from free samples, money and educational incentives offered by pharmaceutical companies.
The college failed for not providing information to the 2009 AMSA PharmFree Scorecard and declining to participate in the 2008 Scorecard, while both Florida State University and the University of Miami received Bs.
But Timothy Flynn, senior associate dean of clinical affairs for the College of Medicine, said he was never informed about the request for the college’s conflict of interest policy.
“Had they told us, we would have been happy to send it in,” Flynn said. “We have nothing to hide.”
Flynn said the college recently revised its original Industry Conflicts of Interest Policy, which was created in 1995, customizing it more to UF.
“[AMSA] is the least knowledgeable [in conflicts of interest policies],” Flynn said, referring to the fact that AMSA is an organization made up of medical students. “[No offense to them, but] they’re not even in the profession yet. We’re doing this because we feel it’s the right thing to do, not because of them.”
To view the entire article, click here
SFC student wins $5k to study Chinese
By JESSICA CHAPMAN, Alligator Contributing Writer, Thursday, July 2, 2009
Danielle Rossi doesn’t find Chinese as difficult as she thought she would, partly because she loves China.
Rossi, an international economics major at Santa Fe College, is the first Santa Fe student to receive the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship, which was designed for students wanting to study abroad in a non-European country and learn a non-traditional language.
She will use the $5, 000 she was awarded to study Chinese at Jilin University in Changchun in northeastern China from Sept. 1 through April 15.
“I’ve always dreamed of studying internationally,” Rossi said. “(The Gilman scholarship) really gives community college students a chance to compete. They’re great for that.”
Rossi, who plans to go into international law or the U.S. Foreign Service, said after taking economics classes and realizing China’s importance in world affairs, learning Chinese seemed like good preparation for the future.
“We are such strong partners,” she said. “Economically, we are linked at the hip.”
Rossi said although she is excited, she’s worried about communicating and adjusting to life in China.
“It will really be the Chinese culture,” she said. “It’s not Americanized.”
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
