Anyone Want to Break Free?

Sunday I went to McKay's bookstore and found yet another book (or five) that I really wanted to buy. These books were used! They were cheap! So, I gave myself a break. I chose to buy only two books and the second season of the O.C.! (YES, I am actually watching it as I blog).

So anyways, I started one of my new books yesterday, Breaking Free by Beth Moore.

I have to tell you that I am so excited about it! I read 30 pages last night (yes, it was Friday night, and I did stay in to read and study; it was rainy!) and thoroughly enjoyed each and every page.

The entire theme of the book is to "Discover the Victory of Total Surrender." Beth Moore says that she has never written anything that means more to her than the message of this book. I am so excited about it because I don't think that I have ever experienced total surrender. But, oh how amazing that would be! To be completely and utterly free!

'A Christian is held captive by anything that hinders the abundant and effective Spirit-filled life God planned for him or her.'

A way to see if we are being held captive is to see if we are enjoying five benefits that God wants His children to experience which are:

1. To know God and believe Him

2. To glorify God

3. To find satisfaction in God

4. To experience God's peace

5. To enjoy God's presence

Beth Moore reminds me that God intends for each of us to be able to enjoy these things every single day. He wants us to have these. He doesn't want it to just be during a period of our lives or just some days, maybe once a week? No, every single day we can believe God, glorify God, find satisfaction in Him, have peace, and enjoy His presence! These things aren't just a prize for a few elite believers. He wants us to be set free more than we even want it, because we can't even conceive what it's like, and He loves us that much!

He wants me and you to live and breathe each of these blessings!

I hope that you know how much Jesus Christ loves you and wants the best for you.

My prayer recently is that I would be able to understand that I don't do a thing to earn or take away from the love that Jesus Christ has for me; that I haven't done a thing for the righteousness that has been laid upon me through the sacrifice of God's Son; and that understanding these things would set me free that I might live an abundant life, a Spirit-filled life here on earth!

How awesome would that be!?

Want to Break Free with me? I'm not too far along in the book yet so if you want to pick up the book and read along with me, I'd love that! Let me know if you do! We can talk/e-mail/facebook chat about it.

Now, Where does Phil Live???

I don't know where the heck Phil was yesterday, but it sure wasn't Tennessee.

We had a rainy Groundhog Day, and I'm pretty sure I didn't see even a peep of the sun all day. And I definitely didn't see a shadow!

Oh, but Phil the groundhog-- well, since he's so official, and he saw his shadow, and that means 6 more weeks of winter. This was ever so upsetting to me yesterday.

Then it dawned on me that in all actuality, Phil is just a groundhog and a shadow really means nothing. Why would I trust this groundhog? Well, he can text, tweet and get on facebook, but still, he's a groundhog. Groundhogs aren't the most reputable animal; I'm not sure that I've ever heard anyone mention a groundhog without mentioning Groundhog's Day. So why entrust our hopes and desires of an early Spring in this one fat, virtually unknown animal? Beats me!

So don't be discouraged! There is still hope beyond Phil, because he's just a groundhog!

How to get into a Long-Term Relationship

In light of February beginning tomorrow, I wanted to share with you some advice.

Most of you, if you know me at all, know that I am a pro on the topic of relationships, especially long-term ones. On this cold slushy Sunday afternoon, I have decided that I'd give you a few pointers so that you can have that special Valentine in just two weeks.

So for those of you who have a hard time finding that one guy and sticking with him, here are a few tips:

1. Flirting and playing it cool doesn't really work. If you see a guy that you like, just be straight up. The conversation should go like this:
You: "Hi, I'm Desperate Deborah."
Him: "Hey, I'm Hot Harold."
You: "Well, I was just staring at your bottom as you were walking by, and I was wondering if you'd like to take me on a date."
Him: "YESSS!!!"
This allows your relationship to start off on an open, honest note. It will move quickly from there.

2. It doesn't matter at what point in the relationship you are (the first date is always a good time), tell him that God wants you to marry him and ask him to pray about that. It'll hook him.

3. If you realize, after going on a date with him, that you can do better than him... Don't worry! Just stay with him. Force yourself to like him. If you're too good for a guy, that probably means he'll like you more because you're out of his league, and he'll be less likely to break up with you. Perfect platform for beginning that long-term relationship.

4. Wait until the 2nd or 3rd date, and suggest going to the mall. As you walk by the jewelry store, walk in, look at engagement rings and tell him what you want. This will hint that you're in it for the long run. And he's going to love it!

5. It's always good to choose an unattractive (ugly is best) guy because he'll be more likely not to cheat on you and this will truly be a long-term relationship. I mean, if you pick a smokin' hot one, other girls will hit on him and he could give in. An ugly guy will have less girls hitting on him and less attractive girls hitting on him. So, women, choose wisely! When you're 78 years old and blind, it won't matter if he's hot or not, it'll just matter that he's still with you and not some other woman.

So obviously, I have followed these rules rigorously. I haven't actually ever had a long-term boyfriend, but only because I haven't wanted one and so I purposely slipped up on the rules.

To all my single ladies: See you at Valentine's Day (the movie) with your new boys!

Look-A-Like Week

This is the week to make your profile picture someone who is famous who you look like. I haven't changed mine picture yet, but I'm thinking Ginnifer Goodwin. I hear from people after they watch He's Just Not That Into You, that I look like her. I'm not sure if it's looks or mannerisms or what... But I don't really see the resemblance. It's always hard to tell who you yourself look like, but I looked at pictures of her and pictures of me... I'm not seeing it.

See for yourself:

And me:

Wonder Woman

I was thinking a few weeks back that it would be really fun to write a blog as someone else. Like, make up a person and have really awesome stories in this girl's life.

The problem sometimes with blogging for me is that I don't always have stuff to write about, but if I could make someone up, like a mom with 5 kids who loves to exercise, eats everything organic, cooks all the time, is strong in her faith, has a sweet tooth, and loves adventures.

Of course, I can't really make up this wonder woman because it would be lying. But maybe, just maybe, I could make her up and let people know that she's made up, kind of like a book.

Would anyone actually want to read this? I could just do it for my own enjoyment, but I have a feeling I'd want to blog about wonder woman more than about my own slightly boring life.

Well, those are just my thoughts for the morning. Happy almost weekend! I'm hoping a blizzard blows in in the next 10 minutes before I have to leave for class.

Workout Fail

Today is Monday; that means it is the day for my second workout.

This morning I prepared by waking up at 6:45, dressing in my workout clothes, and putting my hair up in a pony tail. I went to my classes, then headed to workout.

As soon as I got there I realized that I did not have my wallet which had my student id so that I could get into the workout center. Mars was already inside so I called her and she came out. We looked for my student id in my book bag and didn't see it, so we decided to just leave and go on a walk or something. Walking outside into a strong gust of wind quickly changed our minds and we chose to go shopping for workout clothes.

Hey, that's kind of like working out, isn't it? Workout clothes will entice us to work out! But I was disappointed because I didn't have my wallet to buy anything.

Anyways, right as we were getting into the car, I looked down to see my wallet in my purse. I had searched my book bag. My student id was there after all. We had already gotten excited about shopping, so we couldn't decide: walk back to work out or drive to shop?

Well, we decided to shop: Fail.

I think I subconsciously did that... I subconsciously just imagined my student id being gone so that I didn't have to workout.

Sad, I know.

To Rhonda, Linda, Nancy and Helga.

I would like to dedicate this post to....

Rhonda:

Helga:

Linda:

Nancy:

And just to be fair, Dawn:

And just for laughs, I had to include these because I found them as I was looking at my old pictures: