IT'S CHRISTMAS!! :)

Happy Birthday JESUS!!! :) Thank you for the gift of Salvation! I love and appreciate your sacrificial, unconditional love in Jesus Name! :) Yesterday, I had a few thoughts which I wanted to share with you! :)

1. I am SOOO thankful Jesus gave His Gift ON the Cross and NOT under it! I appreciate our symbolic following to give one another gifts as Christ did. Reaching for a present to unwrap under the tree each year makes me appreciate the gift of Salvation that I had to reach up for just one time! "The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want" (Psalm 23:1).

2. I am also Very thankful that Jesus didn't just stay a baby in a lowly manger! He grew up to become a mighty, majestic King, the heir to His Heavenly Father's throne! Praise the Lord! :) God's Word says that WE are joint heirs with Christ; Praise the Lord that God has a BIG perfect plan for each of us just as He did for Christ Jesus, our PERSONAL Lord and Savior!

The Lord is definitely stretching and teaching me to be strong and confident in HIS Will for ME although others' live are changing and growing. I have to confident that His plans for me will come true as He has Promised! I love the Lord and Pray to walk in His Holy Spirit and Confident and Security today in Jesus Name! I pray blessings, mercy, grace, joy, peace, and the Love of Christ over you all! God Bless you all today on a National Holiday to Celebrate the Birth of our Lord Jesus Christ! Yay! Happy Birthday Jesus! I love you first and foremost! :)

Always a Sister in Christ,
Me :)+

Girls Day :)

Well, I had a great day at home and shopping with my mom. We went to Woodgrill for lunch (a really yummy buffet) then Walmart and a Christian bookstore. I was also able to visit some of the people from the previous Hotel that I worked at. Today was a good day, I was pretty tired by the time we got home this evening. I finally finished up my Christmas SHOPPING YAYAYAYAY!! :) Thank you Jesus! Once mom and I got home from shopping, we wrapped the rest of the gifts! :) We also took family pictures in front of the Christmas tree! :) I am thankful for family time this week and time with the Mertus family next week! :) Jesus Bless this Christmas Break!

Don't forget that this is a season to Honor and Celebrate Jesus' birth collectively as one body of Christ. I am SO thankful to have a Father in Heaven, Savior, and Holy Spirit to love me and guide me into His perfect will. Even when I don't always see or understand how things will work out, I trust in the Lord for His protection and peace in Jesus Name! May the Lord bless and keep you through this Christmas season! Love you All!! :) God Bless you :)

God Speaks

I love how the Lord just speaks to me in subtle ways each day! I love the Lord and His righteousness! I had written the references to two verses, each on a separate sticky note, so that I would remember to write out the full scripture. Those two sticky notes have been sitting on my desk for a while now and have been pushed around in the midst of other papers starting to clutter and pile up. This evening when I spent time with Jesus I decided to look up those passages and write them out onto the sticky notes so that they can be placed somewhere randomly for me to see each day. The first verse that I wrote out definitely was divine appointment from the Lord! God is really teaching me to serve and keep Him first while waiting for the promises He has designed. The verse is 2 Peter 3:8-9, "But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: with the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years is like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." OH PRAISE THE LORD! Thank you Father God for your magnificent, wonderful promises in Jesus Name! :) I am SO thankful that I can trust in YOU! Because you will NEVER leave or forsake me! I praise you! Thank you Father God! In Jesus Name! :)

I just want to encourage you to wait on God's promises! His perfect timing is EVERYTHING! He may give you a promise and fulfill it days, weeks, months, or even years later! Just trust in what you KNOW God has spoken to you! :) Pray for peace, confidence, and agreement with HIS perfect Will in Jesus Name! :) Love you all! God Bless you! :) Be encouraged!

Always a Sister in Christ,
ME :)

Christmas Ball Pictures from Founders :)

Here are some pictures that were taken with my phone. Juana, Stephen, Ryan, and I went to the Founders before Christmas Ball to take pictures! :) We also ate at the Swan Terrace which was Very Fancy Pants! I am so thankful that the four of us got to spend time together! I miss the four of us being as close! Jesus Thank you for fellowship and friendship! Thank you for providing different seasons of growth in our lives! Thank you for these marvelous pictures! and THANK YOU for allowing Ryan to come just for the weekend! I like him SOO much and an Very thankful for Your Mercy and Grace! Thank you for bringing us together! Thank you for true unconditional love! Thank you Father God, in Jesus Name I pray, Amen! :)

Juana and I infront of the Founders Inn Gingerbread House :)


Juana and I looking Cute :)


The Boy being Ninjas :)


More Ninja actions :P


Godly Hottie Studs :)


Studs in front of the tree ;)


Ryan and I with tree :)


Ryan and I ;) xoxoxo!


Together Forever Pwease Jesus :) xoxoxo!

AHHH CHRISTMAS!! :)

Hello Everyone! :)

There are other exciting blessings that I will be sharing in following blog posts but I wanted to wrtie a short blurb about my ROOM! :) I know it is not even Thanksgiving yet BUT my wonderful friends MICHELLE and JANA Helped me Decorate my ROOM FOR CHRISTMAS!!!! YAY JESUS! I am SOOOO psyched! We also listened to Christmas music!!!! Christmas is MY FAVORITE Season!! I Love Jesus and I am SOOO thankful that we can Celebrate His birth! Even if we do not know the actual date of His birth. What a blessing to come together and praise the Savior who sacrificed it all for us! Thank you Father God that you sent Jesus to die for us that we may be saved and have eternal life! (John 3:16, Ephesians 2:8). I have a Christmas Tree with PRETTY colored lights, a stocking, and a felt sign that says "Let It Snow" with a snow man on it! I also have a Nativity set under my Christmas Tree! Some people may not like to celebrate Christmas or put up decorations/a tree but the Bible does say that what Satan meant for evil God uses for Good! Therefore we should come together as a body of Believers and lift up our lives to the one who saved us all! I love having a Christmas and lights to provide a physical representation of the Christmas Season Spirit! :) I have a t-shirt that says, "Jesus did not place his gift under the tree but on it." I am so astounded by this realization! That is why I love having Christmas trees and lights! I want to symbolize Christ's sacrifice and the let His LIGHT shine just as He did 2000 years ago! Thank you Father God for your wonderful Grace and Mercy! Thank you Jesus that you Gave your life as the ultimate sacrifice! I love you and praise you! May I serve you well all the days of my life in Jesus Name! I appreciate your love and blessings that are poured out each day over me; thank you that I am able to pour out and overflow and abundance to your people! :) I praise you and give you all of the Honor and the Glory in Jesus Name, AMen!

Thanks everyone for reading my post!!! I appreciate you and love you! May God Continue to richly bless you for your efforts to reach His people! God Bless you! Yay Jesus!

P.S. Below is a picture of part of my room, including my TREE :) Yay Jesus! Thank you Father God for your mercy and grace in Jesus Name! :)

Signed,
A True Sister in our beloved Christ Jesus :)

1John4:19 ;)

1John4:19 ;)

Unconditional L.O.V.E.

"The feelings of love follow the actions of love." -unknown

What a marvelous statement. I heard this from the KLove online radio this evening. Most of us grow up understanding that "love" is an emotion in which "loving" actions will follow. However, this is only a small portion of true love. Yes, there are feelings of infatuation that help you stay attracted to someone, however, it is destructive to believe that true love is driven from emotions. Unconditional love is seen when it is most difficult to stay in your relationship. None of us are perfect; we certainly all fall short of God's glory. However, Praise the Lord for His word, "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" Romans 5:8. Thank you Jesus, not for my sin, but for your strong UNCONDITIONAL LOVE! I Praise you for Victory and wisdom to love You, Ryan, and others as you love and forgive them. Thank you for strength, grace, and mercy to grow in our relationship with you and one another despite our faults. If you take anything away from this short post, please seek God's understanding for how to better love HIS people! He chooses to love even (what we as humans consider) the worst sinners. P.S. I also have news that all of our sins are held accountable and we are no better or worse than anyone who commits murder or adultery. The Bible says that whoever has lustful thoughts commits adultery, and a man who hates in his heart commits murder (Matthew 5:28; 1 John 3:15). Therefore, PLEASE be careful and mindful to love your neighbor! Love one another as Christ loves them, as you would want to be loved in Jesus Name! True unconditional love comes from a choice. 1 John 4:19 says, "We love because He first loved us." Be encouraged to stand firm and love wholeheartedly! Trust in Jesus and know that HE will give you the strength and wisdom you need to truly love others! :) Yay Jesus! God Bless you! :)

"You Can Be the Wife of A Happy Husband"

Disclaimer: I am obviously not married, however, it has come to my attention that loving someone is really hard work! I wanted to save this book for engagement but my emotions have caused difficulty this week. Therefore, I have started reading this phenomenal book by Darien B Cooper. She is a great writer and puts relationship issues into perspective.

In the back of the book there are questions for each chapter. After reading a chapter you are supposed to answer the questions in a "journal" notebook and add a prayer. I have decided to blog through this experience in order to share God's wisdom and insight. I pray we are all blessed and encouraged through this season! May God Bless us forward into the next seasons at the right time in Jesus Name!

Chapter 1: "The Perfect Plan"
This chapter explains the importance of submission on both parts of the husband and wife. Although we are called to serve different roles, it is extremely necessary to love one another and submit to one another as God describes in Ephesians 5:21-33:
"²¹ Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.²² Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. ²³ For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. ²⁴ Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. ²⁵ Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her ²⁶ to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, ²⁷ and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. ²⁸ In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. ²⁹ After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church— ³⁰ for we are members of his body. ³¹ “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” ³² This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. ³³ However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband."

The question I would like to address tonight is...
"Share what the word submission has meant to you and how you formed your ideas. Does substituting the word responder give a different perspective. Read Ephesians 5:21. According to this verse, who is required to be subject to one another? Since your life is the only one you can change, where must your focus be?"

www.dictionary.com says,

sub·mit

verb (used with object)

1. to give over or yield to the power or authority of another (often used reflexively).

Just as we are called to submit to the Lord's will, wives are also created to be submissive their husbands through respect and reverence. The Bible says that husbands are also supposed to be submissive to their wives, through love as Christ loves the Church in Jesus Name! Growing up in church I have always known these concepts, however, now that I am growing and maturing in my own romantic relationship/courtship with Ryan (my Godly Hottie Boyfriend in Jesus Name!) it has become evident that my submissive attitude needs work. In order to fully submit to one another, both husband and wife must belief and have hope in their love for one another. John 13:35 says, "Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples." God has designed us male and female in order to compliment one another. Adding the word responder with submission really does give me new perspective. I need to be in constant prayer for Ryan and our relationship. I want to be the best "help-mate" that God has created me to be as his future wife (disclaimer: we are not yet engaged-waiting for God's perfect timing in Jesus Name!). Recently this past week God has shown me how selfish I am in regards to my relationship with and expectations for Ryan. The whole time I thought I was justified in telling him how hurt I was by our "lack" of communication, God revealed to me that I was more consumed with "my needs" and what I thought he should or should not be doing. What I am slowly learning is that prayer is vital in our relationship. Couples should be praying together and individually. Since Ryan is preparing to become a policeman, God is preparing me to be a true woman of prayer! I need to totally and confidently trust in what God is doing in my life. Although I have made terribly past mistakes, it is essential that I accept God's forgiveness through Jesus Christ on the Cross! Woman of God, Be Encouraged! God loves you! He has created you as a precious Princess in His Kingdom in Jesus Name! Please stay strong and Courageous through it all! God knows what He is doing. Even if we do not always see His plans clearly, please trust that he Loves you and wants to Bless you with the Best of His ability. His love, grace, and mercy are far greater than any gift we could ever imagine.

I know this was a rather long post! I appreciate your time and support in reading what God is doing in me through this devotional book to become the best Godly wife (in future tense :P). May God continue to bless and keep each one of you! Love you all dear family in Christ!

Always a Sister in Christ,
Sammi! :) Yay Jesus!

'you can be the wife of a happy husband'

"you can be the wife of a happy husband"

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CBN 50th Anniversary :)

Virginia symphony rehearsing in front of CBN Studio building :)

Friday evening, Rachel Orcutt and I went for a walk around campus. We came upon the Virginia Symphony practicing their instrumental songs for the following night. It was so nice and peaceful to sit down and relax as they played their lovely instruments. There was so much talent and creativity along the stage. The best part was that all of the seats around us were EMPTY so we got to have a personal FREE concert :P There we other people there, probably family members as well as those who were helping to prepare for the CBN Celebration that was to follow the next night! :)



 CBN Operation Blessing Bear :P

This bear was in the kids section but I could not help myself. He seemed so fun, therefore I had to take a picture with him!



HOT Air balloon! :)

The wind was to ferocious for anyone to ride in the hot airballoon that day. :( It was all good though because Juana, Stephen, and I still got to sit in the basket!! :)




Juana and Me - Stephen was ducking behind us :P

The CBN 50th Anniversary Celebration was amazing! I could put up a thousand pictures from the event! Things I did at the event:
-Got a "Tropical Smoothie" smoothie :)
-Ate Cotton Candy
-Raced Juana through a Jumpy Obstacle Course
-Listened to MercyMe live!
-Prayed with people
-Signed up for various raffles
   -Christian Cruise
   -NEW Dodge Charger
   -Trip to Israel/other prizes from CBN registration
-Got a face painting of my name on my right arm! :)
-Saw a bunch of card tricks (one trick included a bunch of lines being turned into my name on the card)
   -Also, saw a teenage boy juggle
Had a really great time serving Jesus All Day :)

Praise the Lord He provide in a MIGHTY abundance for those who are faithful to His calling! I pray that any wrong or disobedience I have done be wiped away so that I can start fresh each day and serve the Lord with a great discipline. I will strive to please the Lord in all areas of my life in Jesus Name! I pray each of you will focus on where God has you and the plans He intends to complete through you! You never know where God will take you and how BIG His plans are for you, until He reveals them! Stay obedient in the small things and God will show you the Larger Goals when He knows you are ready! :) Thank you Jesus! God Bless you all! Love you! :)

First Hall Event :)

I just wanted to post some pictures from the Friday Hall event :)

Little house on the prarie dress :) new style :P

Little house on the prarie dress :) new style :P

FIRST POST :)

Hello Everyone,

I am SOO excited to be posting my first BLOG ever! Thank you Jesus for allowing me to serve you through this technological medium. I appreciate each person that is reading my post! Thank you for taking the time and interest to review my life! lol :) I pray this blog will be fulfilling and a rich blessing to each person who stumbles upon this site.

One excited story that I would like to share begins with my FIRST hall event (yesterday). I held a breakfast for the girls on my hall then immediately following we went shopping for Christmas Ball dresses. To be quite honest, none of the girls bought a dress for the ball but we had a blast shopping at Greenbrier Mall and Lynnhaven Mall. I am SO thankful for the girls that showed up as well as I truly missed the other girls who were unable to make it. I know God was using them exactly where they were. :) After leaving the malls yesterday we decided to go eat at Olive Garden (MY FAVORITE-MMMMMM). :) Most of the girls got the soup, salad, and breadstick option, however there was some variety among us. Personally, I ordered the Chicken and Gnocchi [sp] soup (even though I took out the "dumplings") lol. The food was SOOO delicious and we also got those YUMMY afterdinner Andes mints. YAY! Before we left each girl signed their name on a napkin with a sweet message for our waitress to find with her tip. :)

    Background Info: Me and Juana usually write "God Bless you, Thank you for your hospitality and service" (or something to that effect) on our receipts before leaving a restaurant but we forgot to yesterday. Therefore we ended up leaving a large napkin with everyone's signature. :)   

After we left Olive Garden we went shopping at Walmart. Eventually we got back to Regent and put away our "goodies." Soon after, Rachel Orcutt and I went for a walk around campus to explore the setup for the CBN 50th Celebration (that is happening RIGHT NOW). :) First, we went to the CSB CBN building (not the studio) so that I could pick up my volunteer shirt. Immediately following we walked around to the SHB CBN building (studio) and got to hear the Virginia Symphony practice their songs for today. It was GORGEOUS. The sun was down, pretty colored lights were shining, and instrumental music was serenading us as we sat among hundreds of empty seats. Eventually we went back to the Commons and parted ways.

Overall the DAY was a BLAST! I am SO thankful for the special quality time I got to spend with my girls! I love each and EVERY one of them! I am excited to see how the Lord will continue to open doors and opportunities to love and serve them. Thank you Jesus! I love you all! Stay encouraged! :) God BLess you! :)

MyRegent verse of the Day: "And "don't sin by letting anger control you." Don't let the sun go down while you are still angry ..." - Ephesians 4:26

Signed,
Me :)