Fishlike.

I was reading the word. Not knowing where to start, I remembered a chapter Daddy told me to read a few weeks ago. I had already started on it a while ago, but nothing special. It suddenly blossomed into this jumble of thoughts that I'm not even sure I can follow. Nevertheless...

In Isaiah 49, if I'm not mistaken, Israel is basically talking about God having a plan for the land even greater than "he" can imagine. He starts off talking about how God called him even before he was born. This astounds me!
You see, we may have been cursed with the sinful nature of man for the rest of our lives as human beings, but we are also called to be a child of God.

Even though we were born in sin, we were also born with a promise.

We can choose to live by the sinful nature, but there is an alternative to fulfill God's plan for us. We can choose to seek him. We can decide to forget about the curse that was placed on us and live to what we were really meant to be. We may be born with burdens from family crises and such, but that doesn't mean we have to live by it. We can choose to forget the sinful nature, and live by as Damon Thompson would say, the "fish nature."

But that's not all. The word said God called him before we were born. Before the sin was the purpose. We must know that God is stronger than any impurities, fleshly desires, or really just our human nature. We have a tendency to be destructive to ourselves, It's just how we are. But we also have a nature to search for something bigger than this world. I don't think this quality is in us just by accident.

I think God put it in us so we would seek him. In all of the curiosities we experience day to day, we would surely one day decide to search for the great mystery of the Holy one. And through this, we become more like a fish.

The beauty of seeking the Lord is that not only are we affected, but we are affecting others around us. As we become more and more intimate with Him, it starts so show (or shine, if you will). We become a light for the nations. People will start to notice the change. They will see how His word is breaking the sinful nature of man, and creating the spiritual nature of His own.

God, I thank you for this fresh word you have revealed to me. I could go more in depth, but I'm running out of room. Help us abandon the nature of man and seek to find the spiritual nature of you. Change us into what you want us to be. And through this, make us a light for the nations. Use us for your glory. Thank you.

Leslie Alexander.

A Dangerous Mishap.

I was on my way home last night with my horse and a friend who needed a ride back also. We were doing great, making good time, when it happened.
I hit a huge bump in the road that I could not avoid. The trailer jostled violently, made a loud booming noise, and before I knew it there were sparks flying between the truck and trailer. I got off at the nearest exit and parked.
I got out of the truck carefully, and found my trailer off of the ball on the truck, with the hitching part underneath the truck. Also, the wheel that our trailer parks on was grinded down to 3/4ths of a wheel.
My friend Taylor had this happen to her before, so I felt a little better about it. We decided to try and hitch up the trailer again. We found rocks to put behind the wheels. I was not under any circumstance going to unhook the safety chains from the truck.
After many short and slow forwards and backwards, we finally got it hitchable. By that time the police had arrived (Taylor's mom called). We hitched it on, and discovered the problem. The coupler lock was loose and missing a piece. This caused the coupler to easily pop off of the ball.
With the policemen's help, we basically tied down the lock to where it wouldn't come loose. However, we did not trust it. We decided to make our way up the road in search of a wire coat hanger to use.
We wired it shut, and found out that all but our trailer's brake lights were not working. Something must have been pulled loose. Awesome. At this point, I was ready to just go with it.
Finally getting home, we parked it and unloaded Cabella. By the way, she was doing awesome through all of this. I couldn't ask for better.
In spite of all this, I am glad that we were all okay, and we made it home. God really did take care of me through all of this. I give him praise.
Leslie Alexander

30 things you might not know...

1. I really like to read. However, whether I have time or not is the real issue.
2. Dark nail polish colors are the only kind you will find on my nails. Although I do enjoy the occasional red.
3. I would rather watch movies than TV any day. I hate having to wait a week for a story to end.
4. I hate talking on the phone and texting. It is just the only convenient way to communicate.
5. Curly hair is my favorite. My hair disagrees.
6. Routines are not my thing. I like change.
7. My way of being organized is using a marker board and to-do lists.
8. Secretly I want gauges.
9. I love taking risks.
10. Some of the best times of my life are the unplanned long hilarious talks in parking lots.
11. I wish I still danced.
12. I tend to get along with guys more than girls.
13. I love to write, but I can't stand English class.
14. I love fashion, I'm just not great at it.
15. Chick flicks are a necessity.
16. I spend more money on food than anything.
17. I tend to forget to wear deodorant constantly.
18. Card games are awesome.
19. My music selection is everything.
20. I am working on wearing more jewelry.
21. My celebrity crushes are David Beckham and Robert Pattinson.
22. I don't like facial hair.
23. I never match socks. I don't think anyone does.
24. I love to nap.
25. Bad habits: popping my fingers, not showering daily, and laughing when people choke.
26. I wish I could play guitar.
27. Family is the most important thing in my life. (behind jesus)
28. I am a cat person.
29. I want tattoos.
30. I should pray and read my bible more than I do.

Little Missy

About 6 or 7 years ago, my mother on the very rare occasion let me adopt pet. I got a kitten named Little Missy. Little did I know she would become an interesting character.

My cat's daily routine begins with an early start. Having stayed in my room at night, my daddy lets her out while I  still sleep. She immediately starts scolding everyone with her raspy meow that sounds like an old woman. Little Missy loves attention and will work for it. My dad is not one to relate to animals, so he takes her need for attention as bothersome. Everywhere you walk, she will be there. With my dad's heavy step, it also startles her if he gets close. This causes her to scramble to get a footing to run away. She actually runs in place before she goes anywhere, just like a cartoon. I have no idea why she likes to get under your feet if it scares her so. The only theory I have is being where everything happens.

When everyone leaves, she then goes to one of her three resting spots: My parents' bed, My mother's couch spot, or at the top of our beige sitting chair. Nap time takes place. This lasts until someone comes home.

After we get home, she is there to greet us, still as vocal as ever. After dinner, my mother always goes to her spot on the couch and gets on her computer. I believe this is Little Missy's favorite time of the day. She then goes and lays down beside her. I know the reason is because my mommy is hot all the time. I think it's cozy for her to lay beside the warmth. She will then nap some more if no commotion occurs until it is time for me to go to bed, where she will return to my room to complete the day.

I find that she is the most intersting beings to watch. She is extremely vocal, and will warm up to anyone who has a gentle quality. This is the best kind of cat, I believe, because she is good company for everyone. She has a simple life and finds the good side of everything. I should learn how to be more like her.

Home.

If you know me, you know that family is the most important thing in my life (behind Jesus). This morning I got the sudden homesick feeling as it was getting closer to be able to see my family. I had planned on coming home Wednesday morning with my new friend Taylor. However, the opportunity arose for us to be able to drive home tonight. I took it immediately. By 6:30, we hit the road, and the excitement was taking over.

We headed out, and time couldn't go faster. We stopped only twice. Usually I start winding down at about 10 or so, but tonight I was wide awake (as you can see by the hour this blog is being written). We started approaching east Tennessee where I was greeted by mountains, street lights, and fancy strip malls. These things are very rare in west Tennessee. 

As we approached the barn, the roads were so familiar I was practically gliding. I parked the trailer, after a semi-crisis with wet grass and 2-wheel-drive, and unloaded the horse. I walked in the barn, and the sweet smells relaxed me at once. Little things laying around such as old boots, jackets and dusty saddles made me feel right at home. 

I tucked Cabella in, and drove to Loudon. The moment I walked in my house, my cat greeted me with a raspy meow. I was home. My mom's purse was where it always is. The remote controls were even where they should be. Little Debbie cakes were waiting for me. It was like I had never left. 

I just love how little things like throws on the couch, laundry in a basket and even coffee mugs in the sink can make you so happy to be home.

Leslie Alexander

Winter Things

Just a few phrases that make me think of winter.


Long sleeves.
Cabins
Static electricity.
Wool.
Ice on the windshield.
Scarths (Scarves).
Mountains.
Pickles (the christmas pickle).
The Holiday.
Coffee.
Dry.
Ice.
Sweatpants.
Bare Trees.
Family.
Leggings.
Imogen Heap.
Sweaters.
Heated Cars.
Wind.
Cozy.
Breath that you can see.
Books.
Gloves.
Lasagna.


Ahh Winter.
-Leslie Alexander.

First.

This is my very first blog post. I made this page because I though I should do something productive instead of scrolling through random profiles on facebook. I am not asking anyone to read this, I am simply putting my thoughts on paper(or screen, if you will).

You may not know this about me, but I enjoy learning. If my attention span was bigger, I would read all the time. I love how the Lord gave us a mind to learn, analyze, solve, etc. I believe one of our duties as Christians is to use it. Just like he gave us a voice to sing, hands to make, a body to dance, our mind can be used as a form of worship also. And I find peace within it. Sometimes stress comes too, but altogether it brings me joy.

I am starting to discover this is part of my calling. God sent me here not just to make a career, but to find so much more within it. My friend Chelsea brought this to my attention when she was explaining how she was probably going to go back home next semester, due to financial issues. That same week, she woke up one morning and the only thing she wanted to do was stay at Martin. If she stayed, she would have to basically pay her way through college. Stressed out over how she was going to be able to do it, she got an email from Financial Aid giving her a random scholarship. Hello confirmation!

I think everyone is fit for an education. Everyone has the potential to learn. It just depends on how much you want to. If you have to take a class that pertains to nothing of your degree, find the positive in it. I will never use what I learn in Chemistry when I become a vet. It's just a bump in the road to go over. However, I love to learn about it because it's all about the logistics of His creation. What an honor to be able to learn about his creation. In a way, I am learning about God himself. I encourage everyone to get an education. Just like how we are called to practice all of the spiritual gifts in some way, the Lord calls us all to learn about him and the discoveries of his people.