Forgive & you will be Forgiven

I've been thinking a lot about forgiveness and being forgiven lately, so I decided to search a bit to see what I could find that might help me to understand the importance of forgiveness in my life. I don't know about you- but when someone does me wrong, it's the hardest thing for me to just let it go. I think about it all the time, and ponder it, and minute by minute I can feel more and more steam rising off of me:) Why do I do this to myself?? I am only hurting me; it's not like my thoughts are going to walk out and take revenge on what I'm so worked up about, so why not just turn to God first and let him take control of my emotions first and foremost?? I found this quote by Anton Bosch in a reading that I had and it really hit home for me:

When we live with bitterness and unforgiveness in our hearts, our whole outlook, spirit and attitude is contaminated by that bitterness. When we live with a grudge, we struggle to enter into healthy relationships with others and it also affects our relationship with the Lord.

Forgiving is not easy for me, never has been, and never will be. I don't know if it's just a lot of stubbornness coming out of me or what, but I do know that I want to learn to be a better forgiver:) I just might need a few nudges along the way!!

Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Luke 6:37

Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?" Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy times seven." Matthew 18: 21-22

~JM~

My relaxing weekend...

This weekend was a very relaxing weekend at home with the girls- one that I definitely needed!! Friday night was spent being lazy and reading books together:), and Saturday, Baleigh was in a volleyball tourney in Jasper- we had to leave wayyy to early for my liking! At the volleyball tourney, there was a yard-sale going on downstairs, so in between games I decided to venture down there to see what all they had. I came back in with a whole bag full of children's books that I thought were awesome- plus I got them at a really good price; needless to say I got some laughs along the way! What can I say- they aren't going to be teachers:)
Here are some pictures of us over the weekend:

Briona, Sarah, and me, on our way to the volleyball games at 7 a.m.!!!

Briona, line-judging, talking with the ref:)!
My awesome volleyball player:)

Bay & Court- best buddies!!

Last weekend was the annual Turkey Trot festival in Montgomery! Both nights featured awesome bands that I loved:), and on Saturday I played my 3rd year of mud volleyball. Our team was named the Jim Miller MudSlingers!! We had a huge spot to fill, considering he was our team mvp every year:)



My friends, Shay, spraying me off!! haha!

The nastiest feeling ever!! I found mud for days haha :)
Playing in the mud! I love the feel :)

High school sweeties ;)

For tough girls- they were a little hesitant of the mud!!


I love this picture- this is us on a daily basis :)

My Uncle Jim Gingerich- I think he looks sooo much like my dad, and they aren't even related by blood!!


Stuck, as usual!

Ugghh!!

My dad played many, many years of mud vball! We had won the tourney the last 2 years!

Presentation of Award.



It was very hard for me to play without my tough daddy... He introduced me to the sport.

As long as I am able, I will be playing for him and remembering the wonderful memories we made together...

Malachi 3:3

I received this story in an email the other day and I found it very cool, so I thought I would share it:


Malachi 3:3 says: 'He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver.'
This verse puzzled some women in a Bible study and they wondered what this statement meant about the character and nature of God .
One of the women offered to find out the process of refining silver and get back to the group at their next Bible Study.
That week, the woman called a silversmith and made an appointment to watch him at work. She didn't mention anything about the reason for her interest beyond her curiosity about the process of refining Silver.
As she watched the silversmith, he held a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up. He explained that in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest as to burn away all the impurities.
The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot; then she thought again about the verse that says: ' He sits as a refiner and purifier of silver.'
She asked the silversmith if it was true that he had to sit there in front of the fire the whole time.
The man answered that yes, he not only had to sit there holding the silver, but he had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it was in the fire. If the silver was left a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed.
The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked the silversmith, 'How do you know when the silver is fully refined?'
He smiled at her and answered, ' Oh, that's easy -- when I see my image in it.'



~JM~

Prayer!

Last night as I was driving back to school, I got a phone call from a friend with some devastating news.. her cousin's dad had had a massive heart attack/stroke that left him very near to death. The doctors decided to put him into an induced coma, so right now he is unresponsive and with a family that is very distraught. They are not sure of the damage that this has done to his body and mind, so right now all the family can do is wait.... wait for a death, or wait and prepare for a lifestyle that will most likely have complications for the rest of time. They are hanging on a single word that could make or break a family... THis news did not settle well within my heart because without even closing my eyes, I could see myself walking through those double doors and hearing the news that took me to the floor like it was yesterday. I could hear the cries of pain and anguish.. and my heart hurt all over again because -at that exact moment- I knew in my heart that I would remember those cries for as long as I continued to draw breath, just as this family will remember this painful time in their lives. It's so easy to live off of the question, "Why?" And my answer, just as this family's answer, is unknown, just as it will be 50 years from now.

Please remember to keep this family in your prayers as they struggle through this rough time... I'm sure they will have many dark days ahead...

~JM~

Another year begins...

Well, another year of school has begun! How time flies:)... The first week was great; I have some very good professors and a wonderful roommate, so i'm sure this year will bring me many adventures!! It always takes a week or two for me to adjust to the different living arrangements.. I hate not being home and helping the girls with their homework, going to their volleyball games, and tucking them into bed each night, but I do get to spend several minutes talking to them each night before bed and listening to their dramatic events each day- oh the life of a teenager:)!

I'm short on time today, but I plan on giving a better update and maybe some pics of the apartment when I get the chance!!

Hope everyone has a great Labor day weekend!!!
~JM~

We reap what we sow...

"We sow an action; we reap a habit.

We sow a habit; we reap a character.

We sow a character; we reap a destiny."

Robert E. Armes

*Best Summer Memories*

1. Kenny Chesney concert

2. Moving into a new apartment with a wonderful friend

3. Billy Currington concert

4. Swimming & water-gun fights at the Boat club

5. Swimming, laying out, and relaxing in the hottub!!

6. Long Sunday dinners at grandma's...

7. Jim Miller Classic

8. Camping at Miller Lake

9. George Strait concert!

10. Jason Aldean concert/weekend trip!

11. Rhino rides

12. Learning to be a better sister, friend, teacher, & role-model...

This was after Bri's impacted teeth surgery- she's probably gonna kill me :) haha!

I start my 3rd year of school on the 31st! Where has the summer gone?! As you can see, I've had a wonderful summer with lots of good memories to last me another year:) I'm so excited to finally be able to see the light at the end of the tunnel in school!! I'll be way past ready to graduate in '11.

Hopefully I'm completely healed by the time I head back. This past Thursday I had my wisdom teeth pulled out and that night I felt fine... but Friday, Sat., & Sunday I formed this huge knot on my left cheek that wouldn't go down... so I went in for a check-up on Monday and it turns out that I got hematoma. That means that while they were working on my teeth they busted some blood vessels in my cheek!! The knot is slowly draining and the swelling is finally almost done; hopefully i'll be problem-free for the rest of the process:)!

Hope everyone had a wonderful summer!!

~JM~