Angelina's Life in Motion

God is so good. I have had such a great week! I met beautiful, real people this week in my internship. In case you don't know I have to meet 25 people a week and talk to them, with the intention of bringing the conversation around to God and more directly, Christ. It's just a blessing to talk with people. Seriously, you should try it. People want to share- they want to be known, just like in reality you do, even though some of us deny it and hide when people begin to get close to you. We were so created for relationships and I'm finding some. I'm so enjoying life right now. God is teaching me so many things about Himself and about myself. I really hope that you are enjoying God to the fullest because it's sweet stuff!

Will you take the time? Today someone could know that God exists. Today someone could see that Christians are real and that you care. Today someone could find out that there is a Savior. Will you take the time to converse with another person- one you find sitting at the park, or on a bench in the mall, or a child riding his bike down the street. Perhaps it's an older lady who needs help carrying something at the grocery store. Most people won't turn you away if you greet them with a smile and a genuine hello. Just start casual. Connect with them in some way. People are truly willing and ready to talk to you when they find someone eager to listen. You would be amazed at how quickly opportunities to offer hope or to talk about God come up. Are you gonna be the one that takes the time. 5 minutes, 10, 15? I urge you to live with an eternal perspective. The harvest is plenty and the workers are few. Choose to be among the few and see the amazing things God will do as you step out in boldness and faith.

Don't you just hate it when you can't fall asleep!! Ugghhhh, I do. Well, bedtime Take Two.

My fascade is that I'm studious, always serious and proper. So, instead of writing about something serious and trying to challenge your life in some way I'm going to tell you about some things I like.
I like....boys (if you'd ask me if there is anyone in particular I'd turn red.)
I like ice cream. My favorite Blizzard is Oreo Cookie.
I like walking on leaves in the fall just to hear them crunch. That's the coolest
sound in the world. (Well, almost.)
I really like Roller Coasters. The taller, the faster, the better, with the
exception of the Raptor at Cedar Point, which is my favorite.
I like being with people, especially friends.
I like to be a leader.
I like listening to music and secretly I like trying to dance, but only in front
of my younger siblings.
I like writing poems. When I get married, I hope to flatter my husband with one.
that is all about him.
I like just being in the same house as my family.
I like to be loved and hugged even though I don't come across that way.
I like the fact that you read this far in my blog.
I like being outside in the sunshine, which is why I will end this blog now. It's a beautiful day!

I want to suffer for Christ. I mean it. I've been reading in 1 Peter and really taking it in. Some verses just really hit me.
I Peter 3:14- But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you are blessed. I Peter 4:14- If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified.

I've never known really what it means to give up something- to truly sacrifice for the sake of my Savior. He gave His all and what do I know of sufferings? I know most would think I'm crazy, but I honestly pray that God would put me in a position where I have to suffer for Him, sacrifice for Him and have Him alone to cling to. Perhaps I will experience that one day on the mission field. Until then I dream of that day when I will know Him intimately through sharing in His sufferings. Does anyone else have that dream?

Have you ever learned a lesson from some squirrels? I have. In an attempt to fill countless hours of free time it has become more evident to me that NOTHING satisfies other than Christ. The Lord was just really teaching me yesterday as I spent time with Him. I first started thinking about this topic when I was on the golf course. There were a group of about 4 squirrels just prancing around, tackling each other, playing tag and of course eating. For a moment I thought, "What a carefree life they have. They just play all day and eat. That would be a nice life." My moment of dreaming was stopped short when the Lord brought to my mind that these creatures have no real life purpose and my life would be so empty, meaningless if it was like theirs.
I praise God that I am on this earth to do more than eat, drink and be merry. Because of not having a job right now I've had lots of spare time, in which I have discovered what it is like to be a nonbeliever. Most go through life just trying to fill their time. What do they turn to? Entertainment in various forms. Endless hours of tv and movies, video games, Internet and chat rooms. A few times while trying to decide what to do with my time I turned on the tv and saw that nothing I liked was on. I thought about watching something anyway just to kill time, but the Lord called me and said to spend time with Him and do you know what? It was great. He satisfies. Time spent with Him is not empty. Our time is so precious, not something to be killed, but savored as each moment counts for someone's eternity. Next time I need something to do, I will be about my Father's business, even going out to a park, in the neighborhood to find some lost soul who needs my Savior! Be willing to do the same. As the Lord says, "Redeem the time, for the days are evil."

Angelina Rose Marie Dotson- has a nice sound to it, doesn't it. No, I'm not engaged in case you think I'm being like a schoolgirl writing my name with the last name of the boy I "love." Today was the Dotson Family Reunion and I was reminded that although I bear my grandma's maiden name, Starkey, I am truly a Dotson at heart. So, what's important to a Dotson? Well, if you are from the branch of Dotsons from Continental, life consists of two loves: Harley Davidsons and Veteran Rallies. Interestingly enough, I did not inherit either of these two loves. However, it was cool to meet that side of the family and watch them. Apparently they have a 4-day reunion amongst themselves every year complete with games, prizes, matching T-shirts with the Dotson family seal printed on it, and nightly auctions. Wow, that is kind of crazy. Anyways, maybe sometime I'll find the Dotson inside of myself. Until then, the Starkey side prevails.
On a more serious note, I was thinking about how the name we have comes with a reputation. Think about it, as children of God we have some serious standards to live up to. Today, my cousin was wearing a cross necklace and I told him that if he wears the cross he needs to bear the cross because God doesn't want any false advertisement.(By the way- that is my personal motto when I see people with a cross emblem anywhere on them. I am very adamant about it.) We laughed at it, but really, we know we need to take that seriously. So, think about that. If you claim God's name, would people look at you and know you are related to Him? If not, then.......................