Blog Review

I was looking at my previous blogs....and I forgot about one important thing....my updates on my jogging.

I forgot to update for the simple reason because I forgot to jog.....life got in the way of my better health......

My health seems to be the first to go when life gets busy...and that shouldn't happen...without my health I cannot to ANYTHING that God has called me to do.

During my month break from school, I am going to try to get more exercise (like walking and just getting up and moving) and eating better and WAY less fast food and restaurant stuff.

And I'm praying that I can keep this......and this should be so simple......but I have hard habits to break.....I come from a family that LOVES food.

So, sorry for letting you down, those who have been reading this.....in fact I'm gonna go check my weight right now...

Current weight: 230...


GOD I AM DESPERATE MOTIVATE MY BIG BUTT TO GET BACK IN SHAPE. IN JESUS NAME AMEN!!!!

The True Christmas

What does the Bible REALLY say about Christmas?

During the last Intervarsity Bible Study meeting of the semester, our leader asked us a few random questions about what we've heard from the Bible about Christmas and what was passed down.

Shockingly, some facts about Jesus' birth are different than what are sung in songs and commonly taught in some churches.

According to song and common retelling of Jesus' birth, the magi, came just after Jesus was born. But scripture doesn't way that. Check out Matthew Chapter 2: (copied from http://www.biblegateway.com) [Bold and italicized added for emphasis]

Matthew 2

The Visit of the Magi

¹Now after Jesus was ^A)">(A)born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of ^B)">(B)Herod the king, ^a]">[a]magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying,

²"Where is He who has been born ^C)">(C)King of the Jews? For we saw ^D)">(D)His star in the east and have come to worship Him."

³When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.

⁴Gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born.

⁵They said to him, "^E)">(E)In Bethlehem of Judea; for this is what has been written by the prophet:
⁶'^F)">(F)AND YOU, BETHLEHEM, LAND OF JUDAH,
ARE BY NO MEANS LEAST AMONG THE LEADERS OF JUDAH;
FOR OUT OF YOU SHALL COME FORTH A RULER

WHO WILL ^G)">(G)SHEPHERD MY PEOPLE ISRAEL.'"

⁷Then Herod secretly called the magi and determined from them the exact time ^H)">(H)the star appeared.

⁸And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and search carefully for the Child; and when you have found Him, report to me, so that I too may come and worship Him."

⁹After hearing the king, they went their way; and the star, which they had seen in the east, went on before them until it came and stood

over the place where the Child was.

¹⁰When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.

¹¹After coming into the house they saw the Child with ^I)">(I)Mary His mother; and they fell to the ground and ^J)">(J)worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

¹²And having been ^K)">(K)warned by God ^L)">(L)in a dream not to return to Herod, the magi left for their own country by another way.

The Flight to Egypt

¹³Now when they had gone, behold, an ^M)">(M)angel of the Lord ^N)">(N)appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, "Get up! Take the Child and His mother and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is going to search for the Child to destroy Him."

¹⁴So Joseph got up and took the Child and His mother while it was still night, and left for Egypt.

¹⁵He remained there until the death of Herod. This was

to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: "^O)">(O)OUT OF EGYPT I CALLED ^P)">(P)MY SON."

Herod Slaughters Babies

¹⁶Then when Herod saw that he had been tricked by ^Q)">(Q)the magi, he became very enraged, and sent and ^R)">(R)slew all the male children who were in Bethlehem and all its vicinity, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determine d from the magi.

¹⁷Then what had been spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled:
¹⁸"^S)">(S)A VOICE WAS HEARD IN RAMAH,
WEEPING AND GREAT MOURNING,
RACHEL WEEPING FOR HER CHILDREN;
AND SHE REFUSED TO BE COMFORTED,
BECAUSE THEY WERE NO MORE."

¹⁹But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord ^T)">(T)app

eared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, and said,

²⁰"Get up, take the Child and His mother, and go into the land of Israel; for those who sought the Child's life are dead."

²¹So Joseph got up, took the Child and His mother, and came into the land of Israel.

²²But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Then after being ^U)">(U)warned by Go

d in a dream, he left for the regions of Galilee,

²³and came and lived in a city called ^V)">(V)Nazareth This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophets: "He shall be called a ^W)">(W)Nazarene."

Footnotes:

1. Matthew 2:1 A caste of wise men specializing in astronomy, astrology, and natural science

Cross references:

1. Matthew 2:1 : Mic 5:2; Luke 2:4-7
2. Matthew 2:1 : Luke 1:5
3. Matthew 2:2 : Jer 23:5; 30:9; Zech 9:9; Matt 27:11; Luke 19:38; 23:38; John 1:49
4. Matthew 2:2 : Num 24:17
5. Matthew 2:5 : John 7:42
6. Matthew 2:6 : Mic 5:2; John 7:42
7. Matthew 2:6 : John 21:16
8. Matthew 2:7 : Num 24:17
9. Matthew 2:11 : Matt 1:18; 12:46
10. Matthew 2:11 : Matt 14:33
11. Matthew 2:12 : Matt 2:13, 19, 22; Luke 2:26; A cts 10:22; Heb 8:5; 11:7
12. Matthew 2:12 : Job 33:15, 16; Matt 1:20
13. Matthew 2:13 : Acts 5:19; 10:7; 12:7-11
14. Matthew 2:13 : Matt 2:12, 19
15. Matthew 2:15 : Hos 11:1; Num 24:8
16. Matthew 2:15 : Ex 4:22
17. Matthew 2:16 : Matt 2:1
18. Matthew 2:16 : Is 59:7
19. Matthew 2:18 : Jer 31:15
20. Matthew 2:19 : Matt 1:20; 2:12, 13, 22
21. Matthew 2:22 : Matt 2:12, 13, 19
22. Matthew 2:23 : Luke 1:26; 2:39; John 1:45, 46
23. Matthew 2:23 : Mark 1:24; John 18:5, 7; 19:19

Nothing in that passage says "baby". it keeps referring to Jesus as "Child" with a capital C. So by the time the magi came, Jesus wasn't an infant anymore.



How many magi presented gifts to Jesus?







If you said 3, reread the italicized portions again. No actual number was written.

??

What's goin' on here? Christians are assuming....


I was taught something about assuming...
When you assume, you make an ass out of you and me. "ass-u-me" This is one reason why non-Christians don't believe that the Bible is true. All the Christmas songs and stories say that Jesus was a baby when the magi came to see him. But He wasn't a baby....he was a Child.

And there weren't 3 magi.....they brought 3 gifts, but in all probability there were more than just 3.

BUT WAIT, there's more! (See below: Luke 2):

Luke 2

Jesus' Birth in Bethlehem

¹Now in those days a decree went out from ^A)">(A)Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of ^B)">(B)all ^a]">[a]the inhabited earth.

²This was the first census taken while ^b]">[b]Quirinius was governor of ^C)">(C)Syria.

³And everyone was on his way to register for the census, each to his own city.

⁴Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because ^D)">(D)he was of the house and family of David,

⁵in order to register along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child.

⁶While they were there, the days were comp

leted for her to give birth.

⁷And she ^E)">(E)gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

⁸In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night.

⁹And ^F)">(F)an angel of the Lord suddenly ^G)">(G)stood before the

m, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened.

¹⁰But the angel said to them, "^H)">(H)Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people;

¹¹for today in the city of David there has been born for you a ^I)">(I)Savior, who is ^c]">[c]^J)">(J)Christ ^K)">(K)the Lord.

¹²"^L)">(L)This will be a sign for you: you will find

a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

¹³And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
¹⁴"^M)">(M)Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace among men ^d]">[d]^N)">(N)with whom He is pleased."

¹⁵When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, "Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thi

ng that has happened which the Lord has made known to us."

¹⁶So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger.

¹⁷When they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child.

¹⁸And all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds.

¹⁹But Mary ^O)">(O)treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart.

²⁰The shepherds went back, ^P)">(P)glorifying and praising God f

or all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them.

Jesus Presented at the Temple

²¹And when ^Q)">(Q)eight days had passed, before His circumcision, ^R)">(R)His name was then called Jesus, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb.

²²^S)">(S)And when the days for their purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord

²³(as it is written in the Law of the Lord, "^T)">(T)EVERY firstborn MALE THAT OPENS THE WOMB SHALL BE CALLED HOLY TO THE LORD"),

²⁴and to offer a sacrifice according to what was said in the Law of the Lord, "^U)">(U)A PAIR OF TURTLEDOVES OR TWO YOUNG PIGEONS."

²⁵And there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; and this man was ^V)">(V)righteous and devout, ^W)">(W)looking for the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Spirit was upon him.

²⁶And ^X)">(X)it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not ^Y)">(Y)see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ.

²⁷And he came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, ^Z)">(Z)to carry out for Him the custom of the Law,

²⁸then he took Him into his arms, and blessed God, and said,
²⁹"Now Lord, You are releasing Your bond-servant to depart in peace,
^AA)">(AA)According to Your word;
³⁰For my eyes have ^AB)">(AB)seen Your salvation,
³¹Which You have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
³²^AC)">(AC)A LIGHT OF REVELATION TO THE GENTILES,
And the glory of Your people Israel."

³³And His father and ^AD)">(AD)mother were amazed at the thin

gs which were being said about Him.

³⁴And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary ^AE)">(AE)His mother, "Behold, this Child is appointed for ^AF)">(AF)the fall and rise of many in Israel, and for a sign to be opposed--

³⁵and a sword will pierce even your own soul--to the end that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed."

³⁶And there was a ^AG)">(AG)prophetess, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of ^AH)">(AH)the tribe of Asher She was advanced in years ^AI)">(AI)and had lived with her husba

nd seven years after her marriage,

³⁷and then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple, serving night and day with ^AJ)">(AJ)fastings and prayers.

³⁸At that very moment she came up and began giving thanks to God, and continued to speak of Him to all those who were ^AK)">(AK)looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.

Return to Nazareth

³⁹When they had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to ^AL)">(AL)their own city of Nazareth.

⁴⁰^AM)">(AM)The Child continued to grow and become strong, increasing in wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him.

Visit to Jerusalem

⁴¹Now His parents went to Jerusalem every year at ^AN)">(AN)the Feast of the Passover.

⁴²And when He became twelve, they went up there according to the custom of the Feast;

⁴³and as they were returning, after spending the ^AO)">(AO)

full number of days, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. But His parents were unaware of it,

⁴⁴but supposed Him to be in the caravan, and went a day's journey; and they began looking for Him among their relatives and acquaintances.

⁴⁵When they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem looking for Him.

⁴⁶Then, after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions.

⁴⁷And all who heard Him ^AP)">(AP)were amazed at His understanding and His answers.

⁴⁸When they saw Him, they were astonished; and ^AQ)">(AQ)His mother said to Him, "Son, why have You treated us this way? Behold, ^AR)">(AR)Your father and I have been anxiously looking for You."

⁴⁹And He said to them, "Why is it that you were looking for Me? Did you not know that ^AS)">(AS)I had to be in My Father's house?"

⁵⁰But ^AT)">(AT)they did not understand the statement which He had made to them.

⁵¹And He went down with them and came to ^AU)">(AU)Nazareth, and He continued in subjection to them; and ^AV)">(AV)His mother ^AW)">(AW)treasured all these things in her h

eart.

⁵²And Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in ^AX)">(AX)favor with God and men.

Footnotes:

1. Luke 2:1 I.e. the Roman empire
2. Luke 2:2 Gr Kyrenios
3. Luke 2:11 I e Messiah
4. Luke 2:14 Lit of good pleasure; or of good will

Cross references:

1. Luke 2:1 : Matt 22:17; Luke 3:1
2. Luke 2:1 : Matt 24:14
3. Luke 2:2 : Matt 4:24
4. Luke 2:4 : Luke 1:27
5. Luke 2:7 : Matt 1:25
6. Luke 2:9 : Luke 1:11; Acts 5:19
7. Luke 2:9 : Luke 24:4; Acts 12:7
8. Luke 2:10 : Matt 14:27
9. Luke 2:11 : Matt 1:21; John 4:42; Acts 5:31
10. Luke 2:11 : Matt 1:16; 16:16, 20; John 11:27
11. Luke 2:11 : Luke 1:43; Acts 2:36; 10:36
12. Luke 2:12 : 1 Sam 2:34; 2 Kin 19:29; 20:8; Is 7:11, 14
13. Luke 2:14 : Matt 21:9; Luke 19:38
14. Luke 2:14 : Luke 3:22; Eph 1:9; Phil 2:13
15. Luke 2:19 : Luke 2:51
16. Luke 2:20 : Matt 9:8
17. Luke 2:21 : Gen 17:12; Lev 12:3; Luke 1:59
18. Luke 2:21 : Matt 1:21, 25; Luke 1:31
19. Luke 2:22 : Lev 12:6-8
20. Luke 2:23 : Ex 13:2, 12; Num 3:13; 8:17
21. Luke 2:24 : Lev 5:11; 12:8
22. Luke 2:25 : Luke 1:6
23. Luke 2:25 : Mark 15:43; Luke 2:38; 23:51
24. Luke 2:26 : Matt 2:12
25. Luke 2:26 : Ps 89:48; John 8:51; Heb 11:5
26. Luke 2:27 : Luke 2:22
27. Luke 2:29 : Luke 2:26
28. Luke 2:30 : Ps 119:166, 174; Is 52:10; Luke 3:6
29. Luke 2:32 : Is 9:2; 42:6; 49:6, 9; 51:4; 60:1-3; Matt 4:16; Acts 13:47; 26:23
30. Luke 2:33 : Matt 12:46
31. Luke 2:34 : Matt 12:46
32. Luke 2:34 : Matt 21:44; 1 Cor 1:23; 2 Cor 2:16; 1 Pet 2:8
33. Luke 2:36 : Luke 2:38; Acts 21:9
34. Luke 2:36 : Josh 19:24
35. Luke 2:36 : 1 Tim 5:9
36. Luke 2:37 : Luke 5:33; Acts 13:3; 14:23; 1 Tim 5:5
37. Luke 2:38 : Luke 1:68; 2:25
38. Luke 2:39 : Matt 2:23; Luke 1:26; 2:51; 4:16
39. Luke 2:40 : Luke 1:80; 2:52
40. Luke 2:41 : Ex 12:11; 23:15; Deut 16:1-6
41. Luke 2:43 : Ex 12:15
42. Luke 2:47 : Matt 7:28; 13:54; 22:33; Mark 1:22; 6:2; 11:18; Luke 4:32; John 7:15
43. Luke 2:48 : Matt 12:46
44. Luke 2:48 : Luke 2:49; 3:23; 4:22
45. Luke 2:49 : John 4:34; 5:36
46. Luke 2:50 : Mark 9:32; Luke 9:45; 18:34
47. Luke 2:51 : Luke 2:39
48. Luke 2:51 : Matt 12:46
49. Luke 2:51 : Luke 2:19
50. Luke 2:52 : Luke 2:40

From reference of Jesus from "baby" to "Child", the story of Jesus WAS NOT WRITTEN IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER.

But enough about that.

What is a manger?

The story that I was told growing up was that it was somewhat like a barn, and that Jesus was clean, even though he was out with the animals.

What covers a baby when he/she is born? Blood...is that part of the story too? No. And a manger isn't like what we think a manger is.....back in the days of Jesus' time, to protect the animals, which was most people's sources of income, they kept them shelters in the mountain sides. But that still isn't specific enough. Do you know actually what a manger is? It's the food trough that the animals ATE out of. So while Mary was giving birth to Jesus....back in those days people didn't live as long as most people do now. Women starting having children soon after puberty started, meaning that Mary was a teenager when she gave birth to Jesus. Think about it:

a teenage Mary, giving birth to Jesus while animals were snacking on the food around them. Gross isn't it.

BUT THAT'S WHAT CHRIST DID FOR US. CHRIST DIDN'T COME DOWN IN THE ROALTY LINE OF JUDAH, LIKE THAT THOSE PEOPLE THOUGHT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN. INSTEAD HE CAME DOWN AS A BABY, BORN IN FILTH, SO WE COULD HAVE A CHANCE IN HEAVEN.

WHAT KIND OF A KING WOULD DO THAT FOR US? THE KING OF ENGLAND? KING OF SCOTLAND? WHAT ABOUT THE PRESIDENT OF THE USA? NORTH KOREA? DEFINATELY NOT.

CHRIST CAME DOWN INTO FILTH....DIED IN FILTH....

WHAT ARE YOU THANKFUL FOR THIS CHRISTMAS? ARE YOU THANKFUL THAT YOU ARE GOING TO GET WHAT YOU WANT FOR CHRISTMAS? OR ARE YOU THANKFUL THAT CHRIST CAME TO EARTH TO GIVE US THE GREATEST GIFT HUMANITY WILL EVER SEE?

TAKE THE GIFTS OUT OF CHRISTMAS. INSTEAD OF GIVING GIFTS TO EACH OTHER, WHY DON'T YOU GIVE GIFTS TO THOSE WHO HAVE NOTHING. IF GOD CAN BECOME A LOWLY HUMAN...WHAT'S THE POINT OF THE GIFT GIVING TO OURSELVES? SELF-CENTERED DON'T YOU THINK?

How many of you actually ask Christ into your Christmas celebration? When everyone shows up, do you take the time to pray and sing Happy Birthday to Christ? Did you bake him a birthday cake like you baked your parents or siblings?

Why not? Jesus is a part of your family too. Show it this Christmas.

BAKE JESUS A CAKE. SING HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO JESUS. GIVE GIFTS TO THOSE WHO HAVE NOTHING...INSTEAD OF YOURSELVES.

LETS MAKE CHRISTMAS PERSONAL AGAIN...TAKE THE RETAIL OUT OF IT.

Merry Christmas!
May God bless you during this time of celebration!!
Yay for Advent!

Many blessings to you!
Cody Marie Bolton

Reflection on the Fall 2009 Semester

CALIFORNIA STATE FAIR 2009

So many interesting and challenging this happened this semester that I'm not sure where to start.

This is me at a beach in San Francisco somewhat near the Zoo.



Random pic of the sunset at 3rd and highway 65 in my hometown.

This semester has definitely been a very interesting one.

I had signed up for 7 classes. (What was I thinking?) And I'm still passing all of them and this is the last week until Christmas break.

I was so glad that I could spend part the semester with my parents and my sister because in July I'll be opening a new chapter in my life and moving to a suburb of Boise, Idaho to attend Northwest Nazarene University.

The State Fair is always incredible :)
The trip to San Francisco was very interesting to say the least....we got a really good deal on the motel room...9th and mission...that area broke my heart. Homeless people sleeping on the sidewalk...I had to step over one guy who's legs were sticking out almost to the street. :'(

Yet, there's something about San Francisco, something that draws me there. Maybe it's the ocean that you can see from Pier 39 and Fisherman's Wharf. Maybe because I've been going there with my family since I was young.

My parents at the Eagle Cafe

Whatever it is....San Francisco is an awesomely broken place.

And may God be there for the people to reside, work and visit there. O;)




Life is one of those fragile things. Life mends, life heals.

Looking back on my crazy semester I can't help but think more about my relationships with my family and God rather than the interactions I've had this semester....although I do have a good friend now because of my Journalism class. :)

This semester I finished my Associate of Arts Degree for Deaf Studies...this week I'm finishing up my last required class Creative Sign and there are going to be some really good people I won't see anymore because our common goal is finishing.

I'm just glad that all these people that I'm come to befriend and trust are going out into the Deaf communities across America to help bridge the cap between the hearing and Deaf worlds.

Below is my favorite video from my semesters learning sign language. Enjoy! (It's a young woman preforming the theme song to "Fresh Prince of Bel Air" in ASL!)

GOD IS AWESOME!

Most of you know me pretty well, and for the last couple of years you have heard me talking about going to Idaho and going to Northwest Nazarene University to help better prepare myself for ministry in the Deaf community.

Friday, November 5th, I officially got accepted into Northwest Nazarene University!!!!!!!!! :) :) :) :) :) :) :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D

Bad Habits

Habits are part of everyday life....some are in the from of traditions and others ones that you've picked up along the way in life.

Some don't harm in anyway...like twirling pencils when you are bored, or popping your neck or knuckles.

Some, however are harmful like smoking or pulling out your eyelashes and eyebrows.

Now, you wouldn't think that pulling out your hair around your eyes is such a big deal.
However, the reason why the hair is there in the first place is because it protects the eyes from little particles or other things that can irritate your eyes. (As I am sitting typing this, I am popping my knuckles...)

Anyway, I have been pulling out my eyelashes and eyebrows since I was 10 years old. (So half my life)
10 was when I was diagnosed with asthma. When I started gaining a lot more weight that I should have been and when my mom's side of the family stopped talking to me and my mom and my dad and my sister, because of something that I thought was my fault. (My aunt blamed me. Why? I don't know)

I started doing that as a stress-er...not intentionally as a stress-er, but that's what it turned into.

When I pulled out a little chunk of eyelashes, it was like the stress was leaking through the little holes where the hair roots were, and I felt better.

Now, I only pull out my lashes and eyebrows when I am stressed. And I have been stressed for a long time, over different things, because my eyelashes and eyebrows have never fully grown back. On a couple of occasions, in the summer for instance, I was able to buy mascara for the first time and use it...but then I pulled out my eyelashes and I have this mascara that I WANT to use but can't.

I'm not sure why I am always stressed. Different things, built up over the years, which caused my depression for the month of September. (Boy am I glad that's OVER)

I'm not even sure why I'm blogging about this...the Holy Spirit wanted me to blog about this.......
Wow



blogging about this is releasing some of my burden...hm...

(THANK YOU GOD!!!!)
Anyway, God bless all of you and thanks for all the prayers!
Cody Marie

Jogging Update...

Last week I failed to jog.


Part of the reason is that I'm scared. Why?
Because of my asthma.
When I was a child, I would wake up in the middle of the night, not breathing.
I have never been rushed to the hospital because of my asthma, but I'm afraid that I will.

I know exercise is VERY important for a healthy body and mind. However, I am not sure how to achieve it without sending me to the emergency room.

Any ideas? I'd love to know. Post them on here, Facebook, wherever you can catch me.


Maybe I just need to walk.
Maybe I just need to ride my bicycle.
Maybe I just need to do stretching and yoga.


What I do know for sure is that God wants me to cut ALL soda.
He gave me the BIGGEST hint this morning before I started blogging.
Yahoo! Health was one of the news stories that popped up on the page.
Here's the link...

http://health.yahoo.com/experts/drmao/20270/what-soft-drinks-are-doing-to-your-body/

(Just copy and paste)

Anyway, God bless you for reading this and please keep praying for me. Giving up soda is going to be MUCH harder than trying to stop pulling out my eyelashes and eyebrows. (That will be my next blog)


Peace and blessing for the month of November!
Cody Marie

Well, I told you that I'd keep you updated on my "jogging" progress.

My goal last week was to run Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.

What I actually did: Wednesday and Sunday.

My jog Wednesday was rough; no denyin' it. Although my block is around 1/3 of a mile, it felt like I jogged a marathon. I went jogging before school at about 7:50 and I returned home about 8am. My asthma was acting up really bad, I had to take my emergency inhaler two times on my jog alone and another time when I got back. I was wheezing from the time I got back home until about 5pm, I couldn't stop coughing and it was a hard day for me.

Sunday, when I had the house to myself in the afternoon, I moved the coffee table so I could do stretching. But, being nervous and cautious I didn't run around my block again...instead I clicked on iTunes on my computer and I started playing a Skillet CD that I have and I jogged in place in my house to 3 songs (about 12 minutes)...I still got a major workout, but I did it in the safety of my own home and had a place to sit in case I had a "charlie horse" which I usually get when I overexert my calf muscles.

I checked the scale this morning, just to see if I had lost any weight and

Starting Weight: (10/19) 226
Today's Weight: (10/26) 221

I was really encouraged by that 5 pounds, so I made my lunch and brought it to school today. :)

Anyway, God bless and thanks for reading and praying.

Cody Marie

Jogging

Sigh...

Now that I have taken care of just about everything else God wants me to take care of, something else Go wants me to work on now.

My weight.

I am the biggest I have ever been in my entire life.

Part of me is comfortable in my body; the other is ashamed.

I know what works for me and what doesn't; I just have given the excuse that my asthma was keeping me from doin' it:

Jogging.

(Sorry Nate) I HATE jogging. I've had asthma since I was 10 years old (which means I've had it for 10 years) and in that time I have never liked jogging for fun.

Now, it seems my only choice.

So, tomorrow, before school I am going to start jogging around the block where I live. (It will probably be a jog, walk, pant, jog, walk, pant, etc.)

So, please keep me in your prayers as I start this and I will track how much I will lose and let you know. My goal is 20 pounds by Christmas. (Jogging 3 timesa week: Monday, Wednesday and Saturdays.)

God Bless you!
Cody Mare

Reflection on the Month of September

The month of September was really hard for me. Depression really took me and dragged me under. The other day (10/08/09) I decided to reflect about what was goin' on inside me during that time and I wrote this poem and I wanted to share it with you.


September 2009
Cody Marie
10/08/09

School, eat, sleep.
School, eat, work, sleep.
Eat, homework, chores, sleep.
Homework, eat; homework, sleep.
When will it ever end?

No free-time, no privacy--
No one who understands...
No one understands.

School, eat, sleep.
School, eat, work, sleep.
Eat, homework, chores, sleep.
Homework, eat; homework, sleep.
When will it ever end?

Slowly losing, slowly dying.
Each day: busy, busy, busy.
No time for me,
No time for God,
No time for fun,
No time for nothin'.

Slowly sucking, slowly dying--
Overwhelming--over-killing.

Happy days--happy times
Slowly getting out of reach.

Sadness + madness= overwhelming(ness)

What do I do? What do I do?
"Remember, it's not all about you."
Who said that? Who is there?
"Turn around and look up here."
Turning around and looking where?
"Look up child, what do you see?
How about me and my outstretched arms?

Run into them--
Run as hard as you can.
I am here, and I understand."



I am SO grateful that I am not in the depression right now, and I am so glad that God reminded me that He is there and that He is holding his outstretched arms for us to run into.
God Bless you guys!

Cody Marie

Spiritual Gifts

Occasionally I retake a Spiritual Gifts test that I have been taking since 7th grade, when changes have happened in my life and when I feel like God has been changing me.

Today, I retook the test, which you can find at:
http://www.kodachrome.org

This test consists of 140 questions about different spiritual gifts listed in the Bible.
The highest score is 25 and it says that 20+ is your spiritual gifts. (I use 19+ because I find that I use score 19 a lot also.

I encourage you all to take this test. This test takes anywhere from 20 minutes to 45 minutes, depending on how fast you read. (When I first took this test it took me an hour)

My primary results are:
Music: 25
Discernment: 23
Craftsmanship: 23
Faith: 21
Prophecy: 21
Healing: 21
(Voluntary) Poverty: 21
Giving: 21
Pastoring: 19
Missionary: 19
Mercy: 19

My secondary gifts are:
Hospitality: 17
Encouragement: 17
Writing: 17
Evangelism: 17

I'm not sure why God has entrusted me with so many spiritual gifts. (I really don't deserve 'em)
I just hope that I can use all of them to better His kingdom.

Please check for yourself...it may surprise you which spiritual gift(s) you have!!
Be blessed and have a great week!
Cody Marie

James 1

New Living Translation

http://www.newlivingtranslation.com

(I used bold on the verses)

Greetings from James
1 This letter is from James, a slave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ.
I am writing to the "twelve tribes"—Jewish believers scattered abroad.
Greetings!

Faith and Endurance
2 Dear brothers and sisters,* when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.
5 If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.6 But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind.7 Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.8 Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do.

9 Believers who are* poor have something to boast about, for God has honored them.10 And those who are rich should boast that God has humbled them. They will fade away like a little flower in the field.11 The hot sun rises and the grass withers; the little flower droops and falls, and its beauty fades away. In the same way, the rich will fade away with all of their achievements.
12 God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.13 And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, "God is tempting me." God is never tempted to do wrong,* and he never tempts anyone else.14 Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away.15 These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.
16 So don't be misled, my dear brothers and sisters.17 Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens.* He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.*18 He chose to give birth to us by giving us his true word. And we, out of all creation, became his prized possession.*

Listening and Doing
19 Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.20 Human anger* does not produce the righteousness* God desires.21 So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls.
22 But don't just listen to God's word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.23 For if you listen to the word and don't obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror.24 You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like.25 But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don't forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.
26 If you claim to be religious but don't control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless.27 Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.

Footnotes:
1:2 Greek brothers; also in 1:16, 19.
1:9 Greek The brother who is.
1:13 Or God should not be put to a test by evil people.
1:17a Greek from above, from the Father of lights. 1:17b Some manuscripts read He never changes, as a shifting shadow does.
1:18 Greek we became a kind of firstfruit of his creatures.
1:20a Greek A man's anger. 1:20b Or the justice.

There is nothing I can really add here. James does such a great job explaining, I'm just gonna tell what The Holy Spirit has placed on my heart:

James 1:2-8: Life is hard; don't let it get to you. (Haha, look who's talking)
Anyway, life can be so great in the midst of all the junk we get thrown at us. Take the time to talk to God, ask Him to show you all the beauty that has been hidden in all that junk. And even though it feels like God isn't there, HE IS. Our own doubt drives us away, whether intentional or unintentional. God is just as close when you experience the best times of your life as He is when you are in the BIGGEST funk in your life. Just remember these verses and James' words of encouragement and wisdom. That's why they are in the Bible. :)

James 1: 9-18: Don't get me wrong, these are great verses too, but the Holy Spirit wanted me to focus on the first and last part of the chapter.

James 1:19-27:
Verse 19: this is SO OPPOSITE of American Culture---we are BUSY, BUSY, BUSY. We are slow to listen, fast to speak and fast to get angry. What can you do in order to do what James advises? We need to take advice from other cultures around the world, who apply this better than we do.
Verses 20 and 21: James states this SO plainly, but yet it is so hard to accomplish. 1 recommendation: Take time to focus when you are getting angry. What caused you to be angry? When you start to feel angry, pray to God to take it away from you. If you really want it taken away, God will cast it away from you. And if you keep finding that you are angry and certain activities: stop the activity. If it's a person, talk to that person, take them aside, when you aren't angry and talk to them to help them understand what makes you angry: they probably don't even know they are making you angry.
Verses 22 through 26: Have you taken a good look at Christianity and churches lately. This is EXACTLY what's happening. You have Pastors/Ministers preaching to thin air. They don't even practice what they teach. No wonder non-Christians wonder what we are REALLY doing. We (Christians) are the biggest HYPOCRITES in the world. How can we expect to gain people for Jesus? How can we expect to do ANYTHING if we DON'T DO ANYTHING? If this message is convicting you, GREAT!!! (It's convicting me too!) What are you doing to do to remember to "practice what you preach" or practice what was preached to you? How are you going to remind yourself that you are the biggest hypocrite and that you need to pray to God to help you help others for His sake?

Father God, we pray that you SHOW us what we are doing wrong or not doing at all. Father we ask you that you REMIND that You WANT us to do things for you. Father, we ask that you FORGIVE us for not doing what you have commanded of us through our pastors and others You have used to try to get our attention. Father, we ask that You be with us every step of the way. We will fall, please forgive us for that and help us to do what You want us to do. In Jesus' name. Amen!!

Verse 27: Do you know who is doing this the best? The Mormons!! "And they aren't even My Children!!" (Holy Spirit direct quote....question it all you want. I'm just the messenger here.)




Now go and DO SOMETHING for Christ!!

ADHD and Depression

Well, that's what's wrong with me.

As I'm lookin' at it...I've always been this way and I will always be this way...maybe with the medicine that I agreed to take it will help me to focus on tests and the important things in life...
Oooh! A shiny penny......lol

Thanks for the encouragement and prayers!
And keep praying that I don't fall back into depression!

Cody Marie

Deaf-Blind Ministry

Ever since I started taking ASL classes at Sierra College I have wanted to go with a couple of missionaries to Southern California to help Deaf-blind people.

Friday, my Creative Sign professor, Dr. Bill Vicars, taught us all how to communicate with Deaf-blind people and he taught us by an awesome evercise.

He wanted us to break up into pairs, one person closing their eyes and the other "fingerspelling" into the other's hand. (Fingerspelling is signing each letter of the alphabet)

Honestly, it was a LOT harder than I thought.

Some letters were easier, like "L", "Z", "A" and "S"

The harder letters were "T", "N' and "M"

The hardest letter was "C" because of it's odd shape in the hand.

But, it occured to me how awesome it would be to go to SoCal and help the Deaf-blind before I move to Idaho.

Pray that my friends and I get the opportunity to go. (The last opportunity fell through)

God Bless you!
Cody Marie

Baptism Mentor

Since my calling to go to Emmaus Community Church in my hometown, I have been involved, something I wasn't really doing at my other church because of a split.

First, I was setting up for the church services as much as I could, then I became involved in the children's ministry, when a new children's pastor was hired. And ever since then, I've been helping the young people of the church to grow in God and in community.

And then I met a family: Lori, Pete, Stone and Hunter. An awesome Christ-centered family. Lori also helped in the children's ministry, so I often aided her as she taught. And I was able to get to know her and her boys and just have fun and hang out and share life.

When Stone, her oldest, wanted to get baptised, I was very excited to see that. (I was baptised at the same age). And I was floored when Stone asked me to be his mentor this last Spring!! It was awesome! I helped him prepare spiritually, mentally, and every other way. I attended baptism classes with him and I helped him read the Bible and what God expected of people who got baptised and what it meant to be baptised. This was a very unique role for me....as I did not have a mentor of my own when I was baptised and I didn't fully understand what was happening in an indepth description. Going through that class, almost 14 years later helped connect everything together in a way that I hadn't quite connected.


Being his mentor has blessed my life in more ways than I thought. Investing my time in a young person, to help prepare them for a life of Christian living has been something I didn't think was possible for me....yes, I am called to be a missionary, but to do this here, before I move to Idaho, it's great that I can make a difference here, while I am working--while I am going to school, while I am preparing for a bigger picture that I cannot see.

Right now, Stone is that big picture. He's just such a gentleman and yet, still a kid, so sweet and child-like and just such a joy to bring around.

And I am SO BLESSED that God has chosen me to be Stone's mentor, and that Stone and Lori listened to God!!

Father, I THANK YOU for all the joy you have given me and for some reason, during my month of depression, I forgot. I had forgotten the simple, joyous things in life and Father, I ask that you please help me to keep these blessed things in my mind when the devil is trying to take everything away from me. I ask that you please keep reminding me that you are there and please show me all the little things in life that are so precious and so wonderful and I just want to say Father, I love you. And thank you for blessing my life in all the ways that You have and will do. In Jesus' name. Amen.

God Bless you guys for praying and encouraging!

Cody Marie Bolton

"Un-be-freakin'-lievable!!"

My perspective has been so positive lately that I cannot believe it for a second. Sure, I'm living it and I am really excited that I am in a happy time in my life after the month of depression, but I am just SO happy, it's unreal....rather unbelievable....hense the title. :P


Anyway, I had the most amazing day in a long time. I mean a LONG time. Right now I cannot even remember when I was this happy---so it was probably when I was a little girl.

Today was my traffic court date; I got lost and had a "Oh my gosh!" moment with my mom in the car (if it wasn't for her I would have never found the court!!) Anyway, so I wait in this really long line--btw, the only place where you get the feeling of being in an airport and a DMV at the same time is in a county courthouse...lol

Seriously, when I got to the window I had two options, pay the fine, sign up for traffic school and be on my way or try to petition the ticket and wait for HOURS to see a judge to plede my case. Honestly, I was speeding, so I paid it, signed up for traffic school and went on with my life...
What's so great about that? You might ask...I didn't have to stand in front of a judge like my dad told me I had to! I was SO nervous, it was a relief that all I had to do was pay and then leave! (And, yes I learned my lesson---NO SPEEDING!)

But that wasn't the best part of my day.

This was:

I recieved a notice on my Facebook page that a friend, who I will keep anonimous because I didn't get his permission to blog about him. I had been going to school with him for a long time, and although I never saw him much on campus, I would try and talk with him, he was very much misunderstood, and someone who repelled Christianity.

Today I found out and had an hour long or so conversation with him about Christianity. After high school I had lost contact with him, and during that time he became a Christian, he turned away from drugs and his anger problem was gone because of Jesus!! And now, even after only being a Christian 2 1/2 years, hes going to school to become a Pastor!!! I was smiling so much with my conversations with him; IT WAS "UN-BE-FREAKIN'-LIEVABLE!!!!"

I've got to admit, it was a bit weird talking Christianity with him, but that just made my day. Absolutely made my day--made my week, most likely made my month, that's how excited I am to hear about him and what's been goin' on with him. He even emailed me his full testimony! So amazing, his story is. Absolutely crazy! And at only 2 1/2 years of being a Christian embrasing persecution for believing in Christ!! (I've been a Christian for my entire life, relapsing once, and I am NOW JUST starting to embrace persecution for Jesus' sake.)

Anyway, I just wanted to share my AWESOME day today and I am wishing that all of you are havin' a great day in Christ Jesus!

God Bless you all!!

Cody Marie

Update on January Post

There were a couple of things that I had mentioned in my January blog that have changed and I wanted to share them with all of you as well.

I am going to transfer to Northwest Nazarene University (that hasn't changed) and major in Communications to get my BA degree, then head into four areas for Masters degrees. (I might be crazy here, but this is where I feel God is leading me--who knows, it might change, like some of it has already.) After my BA in Communications, I am going to start "Spiritual Formation". I am REALLY excited about doing that; but I have to take things one step at a time and I cannot be so focused on the future, which I am most of the time. After that is "Pastoral Leadership", I am still not sure why God is leading me in this direction, but I am excited to find out. Next is, "Missional Leadership" (I think that's the official name, but I could be wrong--this is focused on missions. Last is "Christian Education" which will be a great deal of fun too. And after that I am going to start that ministry which I blogged about in January. (If you want to read it, you've got to scroll ALL the way down to the bottom of the page)

God Bless all of you and thanks for the encouraging messages you have left me on Facebook!

Cody Marie