Where Has The Time Gone?

*counts on fingers* Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday...Well, I am 4 days away from Finals Week here at UConn. Wow, it does not feel like Thanksgiving break was just two weeks ago! Did y'all have  a good Thanksgiving? :) I baked an applie pie this year as I did last year. However, this year was the first time making my very own crust from scratch. Yay!

Well, after Finals comes one of my most favorite times of the year! On December 16th at 6:30pm the choir of First Baptist Church of Enfield will perform the Christmas Cantata "Season Of Joy." This is definitely one of my most favorite nights of the entire year! We get so many visitors on that night which means opportunities to spread the good news of the gospel! The choir and children's choir has been hard at work and we are excited to share our joy in this season with everyone!

So, if there's a Christmas cantata being performed...that means it's Christmas time! What's so special about this time of year? I know, I know, kids will answer "PRESENTS!" And, to be honest, I think everyone, including me, can admit that we do enjoy receiving presents from our loved  ones. However, Santa, presents, pretty lights, christmas carols...none of these are the true REAL reason for the season. So, what is? Here's one of my favorite passages in the Bible:

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

“Glory to God in the highest,

    and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. - Luke 2:1-16

I don't think that I need to explain what, or really WHO, the real reason for the season is...the above tells it all. Remember the real reason for the season! 

God Bless,

Lyss

Halfway Through Semester!

So, you know that you're halfway through the semester when about half of the people in the reading room are taking naps instead of doing schoolwork. And I'm thinking that I might just join the napping crowd today. ;)

This reminds me of how we have no strength on our own. I think of the verse 2 Corinthians 12:9 - "But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me." Without God's strength I have nothing. He's the One Who holds me up and strengthens me in life when I feel like I have no strength left in me. He's always there to catch me. :) Keep this in mind as you live day to day. God is right there with His perfect strength. 

Time Flies

So, throw a clock out a window and watch time fly, kay? That's how I feel about this year haha.

Summer is almost over and it feels like it just began. I worked at camp again this summer as a counselor. I loved it (as usual)! :) One thing that I really like is doing devotions for my cabin each night. Even when you're the one teaching, you're still learning. And I love listening to the input from the girls afterwards. They always had amazing point of views on the subjects. Here's an important lesson that people need to learn and that I'm still learning. You can learn from ANYONE. It doesn't matter if that person is older or younger than you. God puts people in your life for a reason. 

Another thing that I've been learning is that MY plan is NOT GOD'S plan. Who else likes to plan their own future? I'm one of those people who likes to have everything planned out ahead of time. But, God has been teaching and showing me that my plan is not His plan. And the best thing about that? HIS plan is the perfect plan for my life. I need to trust Him and WAIT on His timing. I know so many people who have a life verse. Well, I have a life chapter haha. It's Ecclesiastes 3. Ecclesiastes 3 tells how there is a time for EVERYTHING. God makes everything beautiful in HIS time (not my time). 

School starts up again next Monday. Please be praying that I can be a shining light, showing God's mercy and grace, to my friends and coworkers this semester. 

Remember that God is always there! He won't ever leave His children! 

Love, 
Alyssa 

Should we be sad that roses have thorns? Or glad because thorns have roses?

Spring semester ended about 2 1/2 weeks ago. My family and I went on vacation and just returned last friday. It was amazing! You see, we have a view about vacation that many people don't really take. We go where we know no one. Yes, that's right, no one. This way, there are no obligations to do anything. We can live it minute by minute, day by day. And the best thing? We have time to be a family and spend time together relaxing. I love my family. The Lord has blessed me so much!

Roses have thorns or thorns have roses? Which is the view to take? I don't know. I think I like looking at it as I'm glad that thorns have roses (a silver lining to every cloud). The Lord sends "roses" into our lives to outweigh the "thorns." I know, you're thinking, "but aren't there alot more thorns than roses on a bush?" Yes, there certainly are. But, have you noticed how much larger the roses are than the thorns? That's how I view blessings over trials. There are many trials that we all go through in life, but the blessings always outweigh the trials. :)

Did I ever tell you guys that I fell off a horse and broke my collarbone and shoulder blade? Yeah, I did that about 3 months ago. I've been out of the sling and brace for a couple weeks now. It feels so good to be free! Lots of physical therapy ahead of me. I had a session yesterday...oh my gosh, I'm so sore. But along with the broken bones, I also damaged a nerve and compressed another. And on top of it all, I'm right handed...so, guess which arm all of this happened to? Uh-huh, my right arm--talk about alot of thorns. But, you know what? The Lord used this just to show me how blessed I am. My family and friends helped me so much. And not having the use of my right arm reminded me to be thankful that this was only temporary. I have the use of all my limbs, among other things--sight, smell, hearing. There are so many who don't have this. For instance, those who fight for our country many times end up sacrificing these and, sometimes, even their lives. Remember to pray for those who are protecting our country--protecting us. Remember to thank the Lord for everything you have. <3

Hope y'all are doing well!
~Lyss


Here are some pictures I took during vacation. :)

He Is Alive

Can you believe that it is already Easter? Where has the time flown?

But, hey, time is not the reason for this post. :)

"But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. ² And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, ³ but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. ⁴ While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. ⁵ And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? ⁶ He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, ⁷ that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.” ⁸ And they remembered his words, ⁹ and returning from the tomb they told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest." Luke 24:1-9 


What do I want to focus on? 


1. The question "Why do you seek the living among the dead?" 

• This just screams "power" in my mind. Death was defeated at the resurrection! How amazing is that?! "He is not here, but has risen." How much we should rejoice! Our Savior is alive!

2. "And they remembered his words, and returning from the tomb they told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest." 

• Are we doing this? Are we spreading the word that Jesus is alive? That He was not defeated by death but death was defeated by Him.

Just something to think about. :)


I hope y'all had an amazing Resurrection Sunday! God Bless!
~ Lyss

Lessons Learned

Hey y'all! Wow, it's been awhile since I last posted...oops. Anyways, I never did get to show Celebration. She developed eye ulcers before the show. So, instead, I got to use an Andalusian horse named Andy (go figure). He was a brat...but cute...'till 10 minutes before the show when he proceeded to step on my foot and dislocate my pinky toe. We placed 9th...haha oh well. 


So, this semester is definitely, by far, my favorite semester so far! 


Well, now to write what I really want to say. Last night, Pastor Heiland said something that really caught my attention. "What God calls us to do, He'll enable us to do." Isn't that just such a cool realization? (at least, it was to me) For example, I reallyyy want to start a Christian Therapeutic Riding barn. My desire is for it to become a mission field for people and their families. (oh, and update: we're hoping to locate near a military hospital so that we can also be a service to veterans.) This past Saturday, I went to High Hopes Therapeutic Riding Center in Old Lyme, CT. It was absolutely amazing! Seeing all of it in action made me want to reach my dream even more! But...what else did I see? $$$$$$ <--a bunch of those in my head. However, that is not the only obstacle to overcome. What I know and believe is that if my dream is the Lord's will for my life, HE will provide everything that is needed to get there and do it. And, who knows? He may have something completely different planned for me that I haven't even considered (though, I reallyyy hope it's the barn). Either way, I know He has a plan for my life and I'm wicked exicted to see where He leads me! 

"And I am sure of this, that He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ."- Philippians 1:6


Also, girls? I know I'm not the only one who feels this way. But, I realized something else last night too (it was the night for realizations in my life...). I've always been so incredibly critical of myself. We always wonder: "Am I smart enough?" "Am I pretty enough for my crush to like me?" "Do I have what it takes?" And so many more things. But, you know what? The Lord made me, you, and everyone else exactly the way He wanted us to be. He created them for their own special purpose. Whenever you start to have doubts, think about the Lord. What does He look at? The outside? No. He looks at the inside, at our attitudes--our hearts. 


"But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”- 1 Samuel 16:7


"but the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him,
    in those who hope in his steadfast love." - Psalm 147:11


"He has told you, O man, what is good;
and what does the Lord require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness,
and to walk humbly with your God?" - Micah 6:8


"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might."-Deuteronomy 6:5 

Here's my baby girl! She is a 7yr old Morgan mare and is a liver chestnut color. I absolutely adore her!!!! :)