Friday, November 18, 2011

Farewell Stress

Recently I have had many conversations with my friends about the stresses they are facing in university. The countless lab reports, assignments and midterms. Ironically I find myself in a place of stress for the complete opposite reason. I'm sitting at home wishing my professors would come back so I could hand in assignments and write midterms. This weird scenario I find myself in, got me thinking...

Why is it so easy to find someone who is stressed, and so hard to find someone content and happy living in the moment? Why is it that we can find every possible reason to get worked up, upset and stressed, yet if you ask someone to think about their blessings they have difficulty coming up with one? 

The more I thought about this, the more determined I became to NOT let stress rule my life and to make every effort to find beauty in the broken. I think I've spent enough time stressing in my life, so here's to hoping that with God's grace I can remove stress from my day and fill that time wasted with joy unending. 

Here it goes... A list of things that have brought me a lot of joy recently:

The smell of freshly baked cookies
& making muffins at 1 am

The look of a newly painted (and clean) room

Challenging & Inspiring Books

Watching the Winnipeg Jets 

Good conversations with friends


Watching snowflakes fall to the ground 

& Music of the guitar, piano, singing and flute variety 


I'm going to challenge you along with myself, to remove stress from your life, and fill that time with more love and more joy. 












Monday, October 31, 2011

They say there is a young lady...


"They say there is a young lady in New Haven who is beloved of that Great Being who made and rules the world. They say that He fills her mind with exceeding sweet delight, and that she hardly cares for anything except to meditate on Him. If you present all the world to her, with the richest of its treasures, she disregards it. She is unmindful of any pain or affliction. She has a singular purity in her affections. You could not persuade her to compromise her true Love even if you would give her all the world. She possesses a wonderful sweetness, calmness and kindness to those around her. She will sometimes go about from place to place, singing sweetly. She seems to be always full of joy and pleasure, and no one knows exactly why. She loves to be alone, walking in the fields and groves and seems to have someone invisible always conversing with her."

Written about Sara Edwards by Jonathan Edwards, her future husband.

Just recently I came across this quote and I have to admit it is one of the most beautiful things I have ever read. It is evident that this woman's very presence pointed other people to the sweet and wonderful love of God. Her entire being was full of love and gentle kindness. She didn't just speak about living her life for Christ, she simply lived it and with every sweet and kind action she pointed others to God. 

My first thoughts after reading this description of Sara Edwards were "If someone were to write a description of me, what would it say?" Would it speak of... an unending love for my Savior? A sweet delight that fills my very being? A heart that desires only Gods will? A passion for my faith so rich and deep that no one could persuade me otherwise? A wonderful sweetness, calmness and kindness?

I'd like to say it would, but reality is that my presence and actions do not always point to my Savior and my attitude is not always sweet, calm and kind. This quote has encouraged and challenged me to seek a life fully lived for my God. It inspires me to be set apart and different from "worldly standards" and pursue the sweetness that comes from the Maker and Creator of our world. I know I will fail many times in my life and I won't always portray Christ-like beauty, but despite my failures I will continue to try, every day, to be a set apart young lady like that described above. 

If someone were to write a description about YOU, what would it say?




Tuesday, August 23, 2011

He Knows You and Loves You.

As I was cleaning up my room today I stumbled upon a letter I wrote three years ago... it goes like this:

"Lord,

You know my heart. You know everything about me. You know my thoughts, you know my pains. Every tear you wipe away. Every smile, you rejoice. You know every desire that burns in my heart. You know my faults and flaws. You know my gifts and talents. And you oh Lord made me exactly the way you wanted. You wouldn't have me any other way. Help me find value and meaning in your words of life. Remind me that you love me with an everlasting love and that you have an amazing plan for me. You know the hurt and pain of all the broken people in this world. Yet you long to be near us. You long to be near the broken and the hurting, the outcasts and the homeless. Lord, pour out your love on me, so that I can pour it out on the people around me. Give me compassion and understanding. Open my ears to listen, my mind to understand, my heart to love and my eyes to see."

I pray that this encourages you and reminds you that God is the complete expression of love.  He will wipe the tears from your eyes and carry you close to his heart through life's journeys. He knows you and loves you.



(I wrote the above prayer/letter while on SOAR Heartland in 2008. I feel so blessed to have had the opportunity to participate in that amazing program with the incredible team I was with. Each and every person on that team has inspired and encouraged me in so many ways. If any of you are reading this.. Thank You!)





Sunday, May 8, 2011

Love, Joy & Peace

Every day for the past two weeks and for the upcoming three weeks I make a lovely 40 minute early morning drive all the way from East St. Paul to Charleswood. At first this trip was brutal, because to put it plainly, I am NOT a morning person. Ironically I now look forward to this drive because it is the perfect quiet time for God and I. As I drive I pray, I talk to God, I listen, I praise Him with song and some hand drumming on my steering wheel and I celebrate another beautiful day of life.

The other day as I was driving and singing my heart out I lifted up a prayer to God asking that He would fill me with unending love, joy that radiates from my very being and peace beyond understanding. Just as I had finished my prayer I arrived at school. My day turned out to be incredibly chaotic and a little bit out of control. The students had SO much energy and I felt like I was running around all day. To be honest I completely forgot about my prayer as the chaos of life took hold of my day. By the end of the day I was exhausted and ready for the weekend.

As I started the trek back home in rush hour I found myself sitting in my car with a huge smile on my face (I probably looked ridiculous). It was a busy day, but hidden within the day were countless things that made me smile, things that brought me joy. My heart was rejoicing and there was no stopping it. I truly believe that this joy was from God alone. At first I was amazed at how quickly God had answered my prayer, but then I thought to myself, why WOULDN'T He answer that prayer. God loves to see His people filled with love, joy and peace. Take some time each morning to seek those things and you'll be surprised and how quickly a smile will creep on to your face !

One more way that God shows us His Love, Joy and Peace is through our Mothers. As it is Mothers Day I'd like to say that I am so grateful for my mom. She is a woman of faith, a mother of grace, and a best friend. She has always been there for me through good times and bad times. She has dried countless tears and encouraged much laughter. Gods love comes in many ways and I have felt His love through my mom many times in my 19 years of life. It is a beautiful day to celebrate our mothers and the amazing God who has blessed us with them.






Love you so much mom! 

Friday, April 29, 2011

Life as Miss Bittner

As of today I have successfully completed my first week of student teaching at Charleswood Junior High and what a week it has been! Its funny to think that only a few years ago the thought of going into Music Education hadn't even crossed my mind, and now I am finished two years of my degree and loving it more and more with each passing day. I am encouraged and uplifted to think that even though I had not planned on doing this with my life, God led me to a place He knew I would love. I am so filled with joy to know that God will guide me along the best pathway for my life. As it says in Psalm 32, "I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you." (verse 8) If you're ever uncertain and worried about the future, remind yourself of this beautiful promise! Gods dreams and plans are often a million times better than our own! Try to trust him! 

I'm really excited with how my first week of student teaching went, so I thought it might be nice to  share some of my favorite moments so far:
  • A couple students telling me that no one has been able to get them to be THAT quiet since the beginning of September and that they were amazed by my teaching! 
  • Being greeted as Miss Bittner 
  • Figuring out the students master plan of making up fake names (they were so disappointed that I knew what they were going to do!)
  • Teaching a full day of classes on my fourth day of student teaching! Crazy but such a fun time. 
  • Having the students laugh at my jokes!!! ( best thing ever!) 
  • Two girls coming up to me saying, " You're such a great teacher! Seriously, you're sooo good!"
Hope your week was amazing too!! And here is a little challenge for your weekend: 



Monday, April 11, 2011

This is Life

Today marks the last day of classes in my second year of university. I still remember being nervous as can be on my first day in Brandon but it didn't take very long before the university became my home and my new friends became my family. Throughout these past couple of years I've had many moments when all I wanted was for time to go by faster. "If only this aural skills studio would be done" ... or " I wish it was Friday already so I could go home" ... or "I can't wait till university is done and it's summer!" I've heard people wish every monday that the week would go by fast and be over soon. And although I understand that it's never fun to go through stressful times, I refuse to live my life just hoping that the day will be over. 

God has blessed us with an amazing life to live. It is our choice to embrace this beautiful thing we call life. We can't allow ourselves to get stuck in the routine of everyday and ordinary. This world is far from ordinary. God has given us wonder, amazement and beauty. Incredible things are taking place all over the world at this very moment. 

When I was the valedictorian I quoted Albert Einstein in my speech: 

"There are two ways to live: 
You can live as if nothing is a miracle, 
or you can live as if everything is a miracle."

I want to challenge you, as well as myself to not just live life, but LOVE life. Each day is a miracle and a gift from a God who loves us. It is now up to us. Will you live a beautiful, adventurous, passionate, faithful, wonderful life or will you fade away amidst wishful thinking for the day to be done? 



Here are a few pictures to document my first two years out here in Brandon: 











Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Unchanging

I've been thinking about the people in my life lately.  My friends, my family, my professors, my church. People who've been in my life since I was a baby and new friends that I've just met this week. I've been thinking about people who I continue to grow closer to and people who grow more distant with each day. Sometimes I wonder how friends can so quickly lose touch? How is it that one second you can know everything about a person and the next have no idea how they are? 

Whether you've lost loved ones as a result of circumstance, or distance, or a simple growing apart, we've all lost someone. Sad to say I've lost more than I would have liked this past year. I don't really think anyone can replace those friends but I can confidently say that through the hurt I've experienced God has challenged and forced me to grow in my faith. I know that my life will continue to be filled with hurt and loss. People will come into my life, and people will leave my life. Amidst these uncertainties I can find peace and joy in Christ because He will always be there. Others may leave, but God will remain. 


"Every good and perfect gift is from above, 
coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, 
who does not change like shifting shadows." 
James 1: 17


For all the people who have ever been a part of my life... Thank you.
You have inspired and encouraged me to grow into the person I am today.
I feel blessed to have you in my life and thank God daily for who you are.
If we ever grow apart (which I hope we don't) I pray that the Lord will bless 
you in all that you do. Thank you for changing my life. 

Thursday, March 10, 2011

Individuals

Today was one of those days when I tried to get things accomplished, but every time I went to do my homework or study for my upcoming test I was distracted...

I went to tutor a course but no one showed up so I sat there and spent the next hour just talking with a friend. After an hour of laughing and ranting we went our separate ways to go tackle our homework. 5 minutes after I settled into my new location ready to do some studying I found myself talking to another friend... she left, I read one sentence of my 19th Century History notes and someone else came walking up... after talking with him for a while I started to study again, but then another friend joined me.

Instead of doing my mountain of homework this afternoon I spent it talking with people I love.

My first thought when I got home this evening, was that I wasted my day and got nothing accomplished. I couldn't be more wrong. Spending time with the people I love, talking to them, seeing how they are, is just as important as my study time.

The people we know, are in our lives for a reason.  I believe that God calls us to care for and love these individuals. Every day we are given the assignment to show them Gods love. How am I doing at that? How can I show someone Gods love if I'm studying all the time? How can I care for others when all I am thinking about are my own problems and my own to-do list.

God tells us clearly in His word to "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind... Love your neighbor as yourself" (Matthew 22: 37-39)

When I ask myself at the end of the day "What did I accomplish?" I want to be able to say that I made every effort possible to show Gods love to the individuals He has so graciously placed in my life.

Friday, February 11, 2011

Miracles Happen

It is in our moments of weakness that God shows us His strength.
It is in our darkest hour that God reveals to us His light.
It is in our heartache that God comforts us with His love.
And it is in our suffering that God reminds us of the miracles in this world.

Eleven years ago my dad was diagnosed
 with cancer. The doctors told him that the chances
of him living to be 40 were only 10%.
This February my dad is turning 50.
I can honestly tell you that miracles DO happen.

As I look back I realize that it was in the most difficult times
that God showed us His strength, His love and His hope.
I truly believe it is only by the grace of God
that my dad, my hero, is still with us today.

Each day is filled with many beautiful
miracles from a God who loves us.
Remember this the next time life gets hard
and the suffering is all that you can see.

" Therefore we do not lose heart.
Though outwardly we are wasting away,
yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.
For our light and momentary troubles are achieving
 for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.
So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what
is unseen. For what is seen is temporary,
but what is unseen is eternal."
2 Corinthians 4:16-18