"to advance the gospel"

Philippians 1:12 says, "I want you to know brothers that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel."  Paul was beaten, run out of town, shipwrecked and imprisoned...he endured hunger, homelessness, nakedness, sleeplessness, physical fatigue, and emotional strain...he was hated by many and his heart hurt by those whom he loved.  Yet in spite of this, Paul does not get angry or complain or quit; rather than try to gain pity, he points back to the gospel.  He does not allow his circumstances to overtake or oppress him but sees them as opportunities to advance the gospel.  How convicting is that?

I wish I could say that my life has been like that, that I have the same perspective as Paul, but I can't.  I have horribly butchered so many opportunities to show Christ to those around me - praise the Lord that no one's salvation depends upon my obedience...I'm so thankful to serve a sovereign God who is full of grace and mercy!

All in a name...

Choosing a name is a hard thing to do, at least for someone as indecisive as me.  They apparently expect you to just come up with a name the instant you decide to start a blog...at least with a child you have a good 9 months to think it over.  I wanted to have a reason for choosing a name, I wanted it to have meaning...so here it goes:
I've been on a cupcake-making kick, trying different things every week...peaches and cream praline cupcakes, pumpkin cupcakes with maple cream cheese frosting, and others that are too hard to name (once again, too indecisive).  One of my roommates said I should start blogging about it, and I consider cupcakes "just a taste" - it's not like you're eating a whole cake.  However, I don't want to just share about whatever I happen to be baking...as much as I love it, it does not define me.  I want whatever I write to point to and glorify Christ, because that is why I'm here.  All that to say, I'm also going to give you a taste of what's going on in my life and what the Lord's teaching me