Today I will celebrate an amazing friend Ashley Lutz. I met Ashley 2 years ago when we got into nursing school together at UNCC. I have been able to be encouraged by her love for the Lord and sweet spirit and will deeply miss that. 2 weeks ago, right before graduation, Ashley found out that she had liver cancer. The cancer must have been far along and the Lord called her home Friday night May 20th. We may not know why, and my heart is heavy but Ashley fought the good fight and finished the race. Today is her viewing and I will get to see her one last time before I meet her again on Glory's side. I would say that God must have needed a special nurse, but there will be no need for nurses because there will be no sickness or pain. Roman's 8:28 "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose." Ashley accomplished everything the Lord had called her to and was able to touch many lives along the way. Christ moved through her to touch many others, including mine. I was so encouraged by her life and know that I will see her again. I love you Ashley RN, BSN <3

The Lord is Soveriegn

Wow, I have never experienced the Lord so clearly in my life! As I near the end of my college career, the Lord has shown himself to me and for that I am so grateful and blessed. I have been challenged with many decisions as I start my career in nursing and sometimes fate is all that I can hang onto. About 3 months ago the Lord was really calling me to fulfill a position in leadership for 1822 (a college ministry at Christ Covenant Church in Matthews) for the summer. As my flesh tried to dampen my faith, I continued to worry if I needed to step into the "real world" of jobs right away! He continually tried to make me question whether the Lord would supply me a job and if I did follow this calling that with this economy, I wouldn't find a job. BUT because my God is so ultimate and greater than the devils schemes, he continually put it on my heart to step out in faith and trust that if I would delight myself in him first, he would give me the desires of my heart. And with that said, as a senior 2, we are assigned to a preceptor (nurse) to follow for the semester. Most likely wherever I would be assigned to, this is where I would be most likely be offered a job. I had already asked to be placed at CMC North East in Concord and assumed this is where the Lord would have me after school to work as a nurse. However while talking with a few, recognized that it would be awesome if the Lord worked it out for me to be placed at Presbyterian Matthews because of its location to the church and the ties that I could have because of the staff that attend Christ Covenant Church. With that in the back of my head, it still didn't come to my mind when the assignments were being handed out. As I anxiously waited for my assignment, I never expected the Lord to have his hand in my placement, when obviously I knew he did. As I saw my instructor writing each persons note card with their placement, I saw her write "Danielle Beadle, Presby M". I immediately wanted to jump up and down, cry, shout, tell everyone what just happened to me and what the Lord had just done in my life. I knew that the Lord was working, but it never really hit me, how this was where he wanted me to be. For the first time in my life I feel the joy of being in the center of God's will in my life, and he had to basically perform a mini miracle in my life to get me there. The Lord continues to bless my life even though I don't deserve his grace in my life, but I am forever grateful and want to glorify him wherever he leads me for the rest of my life here on this beautiful creation earth. Whenever you feel like you are not in the center of Gods will for your life, be patient, he will show you because he wants that for you more than we could ever!

Yesterday was a pretty good day! Drew my younger brother got his 100th win in wrestling! We were all so proud! Now 2 Beadles have 100 wins! I love when the family is all together sharing in the fun of cheering on a sport! I am very close to my family and don't know what I would do without them all! It reminds me of the family of believers that I am apart of. How awesome is it that we can gather together as brothers and sisters in Christ and share in fellowship that reflects Christ.

Boldness in Christ

As I met with the Lord this morning @ Jumpin Jacks coffee shop, God coninues to show me areas in my life where I don't lean on him for strength and boldness to fulfill his mission. In Acts 3 and 4, Paul and John show the extreme faith they had by walking past a cripple and seeing a need that only Christ can fix. Everyday I wonder about the people in my life when I didn't take time to realize the need of Christ in their life. As Matt Ballard said so vividly....I am withholding life from them and this is not what the Lord wants for my life. I am encouraged by Paul time and time again when he rejoices in his sufferings to the point of being stoned for his obediance to Christ and then picking up himself and doing it again. I pray that my life would be a image of this to those around me. I want people around me to know that they have been with Christ. Amen

Jesus Came into the World to Bear witness to the Truth

This Christmas season has really posed a few questions that I have been enjoying.

1. Why did Jesus Christ come?
2. What difference does it make in my life?

After a good study in God's word, I have come up with some answers with John Pipers help :)

• Jesus was born to testify to THE truth. Notice that there is a truth. It comes into the world from outside. In John 18 :33-38; it says that Jesus came to bear witness to the truth, everyone who hears his voice is of truth. For America in the new era of ignorance, similar to Pilate (King of the Roman world), truth comes from relativism. RELATIVISM=tolerance which is unbiblical!!
• Christ= Truth and it has been totally taken out of Christmas. This means truth has been taken out of reality! Instead people try to experience life to the full which in turn defines truth for them. We can not live this way! We must submit to the authority of Jesus Christ as absolute truth!
• How can we know the Truth of God's word is legitimate for living? It's simple! In all circumstances there are key witnesses. When Jesus Christ came to this earth the witnesses of the gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) all account for the life of Jesus Christ. God intended the word to be proof of the truth. The way you can credit a witness is by spending time listening long and hard to sense if he is a con or a man of truth. The Gospels are there to be studied and a re witnesses ready to be tested by your own standards TODAY!
• Don't be like Pilate and suspend judgement! Don't be satisfied with "not knowing" study the scriptures and hear the word of the Lord as truth.
• Do you in the areas of your life, where things matter most to you, do you suspend judgement and claim ignorance? Or do you form pretty solid judgments on what is right or wrong when your life is at steak?
• There are rights and wrongs that we can agree on. If someone is punched in the face out of the blue it is wrong. I think we can agree to that. Why then do we live in a society that thinks that by knowing the truth you are impinging on the rights of others. Do you then take the hit and say "If his morals are different than mine, I guess I'm going to be ok with it" NO. So why then when we are in danger do we all of a sudden know whats right from wrong?
• John 7:18 " If anyones's will is to do God's will, he will known whether the teaching is from God"
• Jesus was born not to keep secret the truth of God. He was born and came into the world to bear witness to the truth, the unchanging absolute truth of God. Realize how much is at stake. Take up the gospel and read. And you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.

I just love this time of year, when we celebrate the truth of God sending his son to the earth for all humanity to experience grace and love. I have very high expectations on the work my father will accomplish in this new year to come!

CHRIST-mas time!

I am so excited Christmas time is here! When I put up my Christmas tree it really puts me in the best mood ever! I love Christmas because
1. Christ was born to save the world
2. I get to hang out with family and friends
3. I love giving to others...I was given the best gift of all CHRIST
4. I love Christmas decorations
5. ABC's 25 days of Christmas is the BOMB
6. I absolutely love Christmas music
7. SHOPPING
8. wearing Christmas colors
9. wrapping presents
10. Cuddling up by the fire and sipping hot chocolate/coffee
11. SNOW maybe
12. having a break from school!

Matthew 1:21 "She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins"