Excitement for the Future

I cannot believe how fast this last month has gone.

Many things have changed in the last month, some for the better, and others not. This has been, not only a hard month, but a very hard semester to accomplish. I might be premature in saying this, but I feel like I did good this semester even with everything that has been going wrong. (I still have final papers to finish and final exams to take), but I feel a sense of accomplishment nontheless.

And though all of this, God was with me. He gave me strength when I didn't think I had anything left to give.

Through all the struggles this semester, there were some times of great peace and enjoyment.


God is so amazing in everything that He does. I do not understand His timing, His humor, or His big picture, but I just love that I am apart of something bigger and that God can and does use me for his purposes.

Last month I gave my testimony to my church about everything that God has been doing through me.
Last weekend God shared with me a more narrow path besides Deaf Ministry: to become a Pastor, leading Deaf people to Christ. :) I told myself, Pastoring isn't my thing. I am not very graceful in front of people and I don't think I do a good job at speeches or anything.

I could lead small Bible studies, but leading a whole congregation, that is a calling I am still getting used to, but the more I think about it, the more peace I get about it. So I know this is what God calls me.

And that is not all. This afternoon I was worried about finding and having an internship over the summer, well, God provided for that too. My church has been in need of a secretary for some time, and the person who was going to do it no longer could, so it was offered to me for summer. :)

Some people find that office stuff (organization, Microsoft Word, answering phones, emails, etc.) is boring. I <3 it. And I cannot wait to start.


Let me give everyone reading a bit of encouragement. When you are faced with tough things in your life, keep close to God, even if that is only through prayer. Because believe it or not, God is especially close to you in your times of struggles and needs. Feel Him with you. God will not EVER leave you to defend for youself.

Many Blessings upon you from the Creater of the Universe!
Cody Marie

Disctinction Between Easter and Resurrection

Something I am continuing to notice is that each year the two terms Easter, and Resurrection are getting used interchangably.

Now, I am not exactly sure why this bothers me. Maybe because of the Easter bunny, but I think there should be a distinction between Easter and Resurrection. I am guilty of this too, even today as I was wishing people on Facebook a "Blessed" or "Happy" Easter.

When I think of Easter, I think of the Easter bunny, bright colored eggs and Easter Egg Hunts. And although those aren't inherantly a bad thing, I think those cloud what today REALLY means.

I think there needs to be a disctinction in the Christian and Jewish communities (who celebrate the Resurrection of the Risen King). I am not bashing the egg hunts, or the Easter bunny, but I really think that they overpower the true meaning of today.

So I encourage all of us (including me) when we are wishing our Christian brothers and sisters, and our family a Happy Holiday, I encourage all of us to say,"Happy Resurrection Day" to help us all remember the true meaning behind today and what a great honor it is for all of us who's sins were paid for by the death of the Messiah.

Many blessings today. Happy Resurrection Day! :)
Cody Marie

Holy Week

This week has been and always is a sad week.
Holy Week, the last week of Jesus' life before the resurrection.
It is just amazing to me how his own community went from Palm Sunday, where everyone was worshipping Him, to crucifying Him by Friday. Definately not your typical week.

This year I got to finally see the production of No Greater Love that is performed every year by Nampa First Church of the Nazarene. (In Nampa, Idaho).

This play makes the last week of Jesus' life so real and reminded me the importance of what had to be done for all of us to share in eternal life with Jesus and God. And without Jesus' death, resurrection and ascention, the Holy Spirit could have never come.

The reason why I am blogging about No Greater Love is that this actually ties in with Deaf Ministry. No Greater Love is a story within a story. The outer story about a Roman official and his wife who are looking for her Deaf sister and her interpreter, who made it to the crowds that were lead by Paul and Peter and James. And through this encounter, the Disciples explain to the Roman and his wife about Jesus and His life. :)
(And I really loved it because I know who played the Deaf Maiden (the deaf sister)) :)

Tomorrow is Easter, or to separate the difference between the bunny and Jesus, Resurrection Day. When Jesus arose from the dead and walked the earth for 40 days before rising to heaven to be seated at the right hand of God.

Many blessings this Resurrection day.
Cody Marie