...the long awaited africa posts will be arriving during this next week. keep looking!! i will be putting up some pics and giving some insights into the life in niger. be intrigued;o)
keep checking in!!!
Wednesday, July 05, 2006
Thursday, June 15, 2006
back from the bush...still in niger...
thank you for your prayers...God has been good. i will write a lot more later, but i just wanted to let you all know that we're all healthy and God has been teaching us and hopefully used us to glorify Himself among the Zarma people. i'll fly out of the capital (Niamey) tomorrow night and be back in the states on Saturday night. keep praying for safe travels and easy adjustment back to the american culture! i love you all. see you soon!!!
Saturday, June 03, 2006
off to africa...
...in just a few minutes, i'm hopping into the parents' expedition and going to the airport. after hours on airplanes, and different connections, and a stopover for a couple of days in paris!, i'll arrive in Niamey, Niger, West Africa. i'm so excited that God has given me the opportunity to minister to the Zerma people for two weeks with my best friend, Valerie.
thank you to all my friends and family who have made this opportunity possible through provisions. please keep us in your hearts and prayers over the next two weeks. i'll try to write a blog or two, so keep checking (but we won't have the internet out in the bush!).
i look forward to writing about all the Lord is doing in Niger! stay tuned...
thank you to all my friends and family who have made this opportunity possible through provisions. please keep us in your hearts and prayers over the next two weeks. i'll try to write a blog or two, so keep checking (but we won't have the internet out in the bush!).
i look forward to writing about all the Lord is doing in Niger! stay tuned...
Saturday, May 13, 2006
finger cramps...
...just a warning, some of you are not going to believe how ridiculous this one is...so only read if you are willing to realize how dumb i can be sometimes...or at least lazy without logic.
so, my new amazing apt is fully furnished. its kind of weird b/c somethings are new and so nice (pretty much everything in my bedroom and so much more) and other things are oddly old and disfunctional...just keep reading.
first, the washer and dryer (pretty ghetto....but still oh so grateful!). also, well, there's really only one also.
the tv.
an old philips, with maybe 10 channels (3 at somewhat visible quality and sound without too much adjustment of the cable in the back)...with channels being 2, 5, 8, 11, 68 (tbs), 85 (spanish..thank goodness i have that one!), 87 (WB), 102 (CBS), and 125 (upn...again, thank goodness!)...and the best part, no remote. yep, that's right...no clicker, no changer, no whatever other name there is for it out there (you're welcome to add to the list via comments).
so, this hasn't been a huge issue yet b/c i usually pick one show to watch a night and just stick to that channel...that is, until last Tuesday night!
two huge shows! Gilmore Girls season finale and American Idol (only 4 left!...now 3). so...i was so excited i had just discovered the WB channel a few days earlier...but only to figure out that it was channel 87...and the other desired channel...channel 5. yep...that means they are 82 button pushes away from eachother. so, i did the only sensible thing.
...well, it seemed sensible at the time.
i determined to watch both. so, on GG commercials i flipped to 5...oh wait...i mean i got up off the couch...and began pressing the down arrow...for like 1.2 mins...at least...it really seemed like 10 as i waited in suspense hoping to catch as much of both shows as possible.
now, you probably think that would maybe last one or two commercial breaks...well, if you know anything about me, you know that when i am determined to do something, and its a challenge, and i see how ridiculous it is, my pride kicks in and i just keep doing it out of a desire to prove it to myself that i can. and i did. the whole hour. every commercial break...i got up and pressed the arrow button 82 times. over and over again.
i wonder how much of the shows i actually caught...in mins. oh, if only i had a changer, clicker, remote, whatever!
so, my new amazing apt is fully furnished. its kind of weird b/c somethings are new and so nice (pretty much everything in my bedroom and so much more) and other things are oddly old and disfunctional...just keep reading.
first, the washer and dryer (pretty ghetto....but still oh so grateful!). also, well, there's really only one also.
the tv.
an old philips, with maybe 10 channels (3 at somewhat visible quality and sound without too much adjustment of the cable in the back)...with channels being 2, 5, 8, 11, 68 (tbs), 85 (spanish..thank goodness i have that one!), 87 (WB), 102 (CBS), and 125 (upn...again, thank goodness!)...and the best part, no remote. yep, that's right...no clicker, no changer, no whatever other name there is for it out there (you're welcome to add to the list via comments).
so, this hasn't been a huge issue yet b/c i usually pick one show to watch a night and just stick to that channel...that is, until last Tuesday night!
two huge shows! Gilmore Girls season finale and American Idol (only 4 left!...now 3). so...i was so excited i had just discovered the WB channel a few days earlier...but only to figure out that it was channel 87...and the other desired channel...channel 5. yep...that means they are 82 button pushes away from eachother. so, i did the only sensible thing.
...well, it seemed sensible at the time.
i determined to watch both. so, on GG commercials i flipped to 5...oh wait...i mean i got up off the couch...and began pressing the down arrow...for like 1.2 mins...at least...it really seemed like 10 as i waited in suspense hoping to catch as much of both shows as possible.
now, you probably think that would maybe last one or two commercial breaks...well, if you know anything about me, you know that when i am determined to do something, and its a challenge, and i see how ridiculous it is, my pride kicks in and i just keep doing it out of a desire to prove it to myself that i can. and i did. the whole hour. every commercial break...i got up and pressed the arrow button 82 times. over and over again.
i wonder how much of the shows i actually caught...in mins. oh, if only i had a changer, clicker, remote, whatever!
Sunday, May 07, 2006
a good speaker...
...What makes a good speaker:
After going to a leadership conference and hearing about 10 professionals speak for an average of 30-45 mins a piece, I realized that its definitely easy to pick out who is really good...i mean, really really good.
Each of these speakers are well-known and definitely experienced, but let's just say that experience ain't everything...you gotta have talent. Anyways...I'm straying. I think I'll try to sum up what I think makes a really impacting speaker and you share back!
*As many references to current top 10 television shows (i.e. American Idol, 24, Lost, etc)
*Focus on the topic is a nice idea
*Jokes that keep my attention, but are still relevant
*Leaving me with one idea that is stuck in my head that I think about over and over
*Realness
What do you think?
After going to a leadership conference and hearing about 10 professionals speak for an average of 30-45 mins a piece, I realized that its definitely easy to pick out who is really good...i mean, really really good.
Each of these speakers are well-known and definitely experienced, but let's just say that experience ain't everything...you gotta have talent. Anyways...I'm straying. I think I'll try to sum up what I think makes a really impacting speaker and you share back!
*As many references to current top 10 television shows (i.e. American Idol, 24, Lost, etc)
*Focus on the topic is a nice idea
*Jokes that keep my attention, but are still relevant
*Leaving me with one idea that is stuck in my head that I think about over and over
*Realness
What do you think?
Saturday, April 22, 2006
after one month...
....things i've learned after working in the "real world" with a "real job" for one month:
~being a night person by nature is not in my favor anymore...those days are long gone...congrats morning people!
~weekends are not for play, relaxing, etc...that was a short-term tease...they are for doing laundry, cleaning the apt, catching up on email (for those of us that don't do it at work;o), and still not catching up on sleep.
~pay days are still fun
~you don't see a true office until friday
~offices and people are bi-polar...just compare monday mornings to friday afternoons
~all the sweets that parents have attempted to stop giving their children end up at offices...i thought this was a good thing at first, but its like my first month in Paris with the pastries...gotta learn to just keep walking...don't stop in the breakroom
~email/outlook is uncontrollable...don't set the alert button for new emails...its just distracting b/c they never end!
~seeing the same amazing people every day , 5 days a week is AWESOME...i miss them on the weekends...you'll have to meet them, then you will see
~similar to middle school, the coolest person in the office is the one who comes up with the best joke/game/free entertainment/etc...and you find out who very quickly...esp with the help of email
~pride only leads to pain...admitting mistakes is the best way to go
~never settle for a job...i've got the perfect match and i hope all of you do too...if not, seek it out...its out there!
~being a night person by nature is not in my favor anymore...those days are long gone...congrats morning people!
~weekends are not for play, relaxing, etc...that was a short-term tease...they are for doing laundry, cleaning the apt, catching up on email (for those of us that don't do it at work;o), and still not catching up on sleep.
~pay days are still fun
~you don't see a true office until friday
~offices and people are bi-polar...just compare monday mornings to friday afternoons
~all the sweets that parents have attempted to stop giving their children end up at offices...i thought this was a good thing at first, but its like my first month in Paris with the pastries...gotta learn to just keep walking...don't stop in the breakroom
~email/outlook is uncontrollable...don't set the alert button for new emails...its just distracting b/c they never end!
~seeing the same amazing people every day , 5 days a week is AWESOME...i miss them on the weekends...you'll have to meet them, then you will see
~similar to middle school, the coolest person in the office is the one who comes up with the best joke/game/free entertainment/etc...and you find out who very quickly...esp with the help of email
~pride only leads to pain...admitting mistakes is the best way to go
~never settle for a job...i've got the perfect match and i hope all of you do too...if not, seek it out...its out there!
Friday, March 31, 2006
all in a days work...
...So, I'm writing this with the risk of increasing the already held opinion that I'm living off of free food at work...this is only a half-truth.
This morning (Fridays are bring breakfast for the office day...everyone signs up for a Friday...and as I tried to sign up today, I realized what a high honor this list creates, as there are no openings until May!). Today, we were provided with wonderful pastries. But the real attraction to the break room was when someone brought in a huge bag of chick-fil-a biscuits that were donated to us from the office across the hall...I mean, there must have been 50 of them in this bag!
The bag had a variety of 3 kinds...chicken being in the highest demand of course. Although watching everyone attack this bag was entertaining in itself...the real entertainment came when our President strolled in, ripped open the bag and went fishing. The first he pulled out was sausage...and the second...and the third....this went on for many more times. There was even a moment of false hope as he was convinced one was thicker than the rest, so it must be chicken (the foil wrappers, which normally serve the role of labeling, had forgotten their true purpose in life...they should look up that book).
Then one employee offered him her chicken biscuit...but he refused. I'm sure there was some leadership principle in this action. Then, two more reacahes in, and alas--He got one! And I've never seen him walk away in such a victorious manner before.
All for the magnificent Chick-fil-A Chicken Biscuit. And I think he would say that it was totally worth it!
This morning (Fridays are bring breakfast for the office day...everyone signs up for a Friday...and as I tried to sign up today, I realized what a high honor this list creates, as there are no openings until May!). Today, we were provided with wonderful pastries. But the real attraction to the break room was when someone brought in a huge bag of chick-fil-a biscuits that were donated to us from the office across the hall...I mean, there must have been 50 of them in this bag!
The bag had a variety of 3 kinds...chicken being in the highest demand of course. Although watching everyone attack this bag was entertaining in itself...the real entertainment came when our President strolled in, ripped open the bag and went fishing. The first he pulled out was sausage...and the second...and the third....this went on for many more times. There was even a moment of false hope as he was convinced one was thicker than the rest, so it must be chicken (the foil wrappers, which normally serve the role of labeling, had forgotten their true purpose in life...they should look up that book).
Then one employee offered him her chicken biscuit...but he refused. I'm sure there was some leadership principle in this action. Then, two more reacahes in, and alas--He got one! And I've never seen him walk away in such a victorious manner before.
All for the magnificent Chick-fil-A Chicken Biscuit. And I think he would say that it was totally worth it!
Wednesday, March 08, 2006
the word is alive...
...and kickin'! i have been so not motivated to read the Bible lately...so complacent, reading only out of obedience...no desire, no delight. well, God answers wake-up call prayers (after initiating them Himself!) very quickly. i prayed one of those about this very problem on monday morning and low and behold, this morning, just a mere 24 hours later, God decided to knock my socks off.
i walked into my living room, sat down, opened my Bible, and prayed that God would begin preparing me for all of the changes that will be happening in my life in the next few weeks. i prayed that i would be ok with living in an apt by myself, that i would not fear, and that i would be okay with the recent realization that i am moving on to my next phase in life and its not marriage...am i okay with that? i pray that i am okay with that.
next...i look to my handy scripture reading calendar i made for my small group, breaking up Isaiah into chewable bites, and saw that Is 54:1-6 was todays. umm...did you look at it? come on, look at it!!! its stinkin' aaaammmmmaaaaazzzzzzinnnngggg! immediately i noticed verses 2 & 3 about enlarging my tent (moving on to bigger pastures where the Lord wants to use me). next, verse 4 about not being afraid....next, verse 1 about God blessing a barren woman with MORE offspring (a bit incomprehensible until you think about Sarah...and think of it in spiritual children terms and discipleship and ministry...pretty sweet!)....next, verses 5 & 6....my Husband is my Master and He's the Lord of the Universe! pretty sweet credentials! i'll take it!
so...answered prayer...God is good...change is good...scripture is gooooooooood!
how's God speaking to you through His Word today?
i walked into my living room, sat down, opened my Bible, and prayed that God would begin preparing me for all of the changes that will be happening in my life in the next few weeks. i prayed that i would be ok with living in an apt by myself, that i would not fear, and that i would be okay with the recent realization that i am moving on to my next phase in life and its not marriage...am i okay with that? i pray that i am okay with that.
next...i look to my handy scripture reading calendar i made for my small group, breaking up Isaiah into chewable bites, and saw that Is 54:1-6 was todays. umm...did you look at it? come on, look at it!!! its stinkin' aaaammmmmaaaaazzzzzzinnnngggg! immediately i noticed verses 2 & 3 about enlarging my tent (moving on to bigger pastures where the Lord wants to use me). next, verse 4 about not being afraid....next, verse 1 about God blessing a barren woman with MORE offspring (a bit incomprehensible until you think about Sarah...and think of it in spiritual children terms and discipleship and ministry...pretty sweet!)....next, verses 5 & 6....my Husband is my Master and He's the Lord of the Universe! pretty sweet credentials! i'll take it!
so...answered prayer...God is good...change is good...scripture is gooooooooood!
how's God speaking to you through His Word today?
Thursday, March 02, 2006
unofficially official...
...i just got the call yesterday that the ministry i interviewed with is willing to pay me the minimum that i asked for!! whoohoo! so, of course i said the official "yes" and am now unofficially officially employed! can you call an internship employment? i'm going to anyways...its closer than anythign else i've been doing. hey...it comes with the possibility of leading to a full-time salary w/benefits position...that's pretty sweet...we'll see what God has in store.
i just have to give a big shout out to my Lord because He made all of this incredibly possible. after waiting, praying, waiting, obeying, praying, and waiting some more...He led me to this incredible ministry called EQUIP (check us out www.iequip.org) that combines my two passions of training leaders and the world! and of course all of the details (although there were many to be worked out) fell into place.
so...i start in just about a week and a half. i'll be living in the apt they are providing in duluth, ga half of the time and in athens (mostly on the weekends;o) the other half...can't leave my roomies yet! thanks for all of the prayers!!!
i just have to give a big shout out to my Lord because He made all of this incredibly possible. after waiting, praying, waiting, obeying, praying, and waiting some more...He led me to this incredible ministry called EQUIP (check us out www.iequip.org) that combines my two passions of training leaders and the world! and of course all of the details (although there were many to be worked out) fell into place.
so...i start in just about a week and a half. i'll be living in the apt they are providing in duluth, ga half of the time and in athens (mostly on the weekends;o) the other half...can't leave my roomies yet! thanks for all of the prayers!!!
Monday, February 27, 2006
thoughts from a survivor...
of course, i use that word loosely...but it did feel a bit like war with the 7, 4, 1 year olds by the fifth day of taking care of them 24 hours a day. props to moms who deal with that for years and years...and props to teachers who give the moms (and babysitters) a break during the day (home schooling moms are nuts!)
so...here's so random things i took away from the experience.
DAY 1: 7 year olds can be very sure of themselves. Within 10 minutes of my arrival, I was getting told by this lovely 2nd grade girl that she was going to be in charge of us (her 2 brothers and me) and it was going to be hard for her to take care of all of us. I tried to reassure her that I would attempt to be as little trouble as possible;o)
DAY 2: I think I finally got the final push I needed to ausition for American Idol the next time it rolls near the ATL..teh recommendation from the same expert 7 year old...I think my rendition of "twinkle, twinkle" will knock Simon's socks off!
DAY 3: 7 year old playmate flirting is not much different from 20something's party flirting...first, there's the recognition of who they are: "Hey, I know you, you go to my school." Then...a little sarcastic confirming response "I know who you are." Next...girl exposing need of recognition "Do you see that garden (mound of basball field dirt with dug-up weeds stuck in it) I made over there?" And...boy exposing need of being affirmed that he's capable "Wait...oh, I see it, I found it, there it is." And of course...it all led to a game of hide-and-seek (I won't even bother explaining that obvious metaphor!)
DAY 4: "If I be popular, I tell all kids they are great like me." ~the 4 year old. Oh, how sweet they are at this age! Anyways...what a lesson I learned from this. Although there's a little pride stuck in there...there is goodness at heart and a simplistic caring for others. I want to tell all the kids they are great!
DAY 5: Unending whiney crying is the worst kind...I feel sorry for God's ears after listening to me for years! Oh...what I would have done if the 1 year old would have just come up to me and touched my knee to get me to pick him up instead of whining...Lord, I'll try to give you a tap next time instead of driving you nuts with the whining;o)
Man...parent's must learn something new constantly...I know I did!
so...here's so random things i took away from the experience.
DAY 1: 7 year olds can be very sure of themselves. Within 10 minutes of my arrival, I was getting told by this lovely 2nd grade girl that she was going to be in charge of us (her 2 brothers and me) and it was going to be hard for her to take care of all of us. I tried to reassure her that I would attempt to be as little trouble as possible;o)
DAY 2: I think I finally got the final push I needed to ausition for American Idol the next time it rolls near the ATL..teh recommendation from the same expert 7 year old...I think my rendition of "twinkle, twinkle" will knock Simon's socks off!
DAY 3: 7 year old playmate flirting is not much different from 20something's party flirting...first, there's the recognition of who they are: "Hey, I know you, you go to my school." Then...a little sarcastic confirming response "I know who you are." Next...girl exposing need of recognition "Do you see that garden (mound of basball field dirt with dug-up weeds stuck in it) I made over there?" And...boy exposing need of being affirmed that he's capable "Wait...oh, I see it, I found it, there it is." And of course...it all led to a game of hide-and-seek (I won't even bother explaining that obvious metaphor!)
DAY 4: "If I be popular, I tell all kids they are great like me." ~the 4 year old. Oh, how sweet they are at this age! Anyways...what a lesson I learned from this. Although there's a little pride stuck in there...there is goodness at heart and a simplistic caring for others. I want to tell all the kids they are great!
DAY 5: Unending whiney crying is the worst kind...I feel sorry for God's ears after listening to me for years! Oh...what I would have done if the 1 year old would have just come up to me and touched my knee to get me to pick him up instead of whining...Lord, I'll try to give you a tap next time instead of driving you nuts with the whining;o)
Man...parent's must learn something new constantly...I know I did!
Sunday, February 19, 2006
some great friends...
my life might be moving to duluth...but i'm so glad i already have a life there awaiting me.
i had so much fun hanging out with my amazing HC friends today...and moving stuff and organizing was a bonus;o) you guys are HILarious!!! woookkk, woookkk! i love you all soooo much. hope you henderson's are enjoying your new pad. can't wait to come clean your windows!!
i had so much fun hanging out with my amazing HC friends today...and moving stuff and organizing was a bonus;o) you guys are HILarious!!! woookkk, woookkk! i love you all soooo much. hope you henderson's are enjoying your new pad. can't wait to come clean your windows!!
does it fit...
"We must know how a course of action fits into the overall plan God has for our lives if it is to thrill our soulds with a sense of desting." (Master Plan, Robert e. Coleman)
This sentence makes me stop in my tracks. I have felt like a wandering nomad for the past six months--feeling aimless and confused. Maybe its because I haven't stopped to look at what I am putting my time into and recognized how this fits into God's big plan. So...that's what I'm going to do. How do your everyday activities, those that you put the most time into, fit into enternity??
This sentence makes me stop in my tracks. I have felt like a wandering nomad for the past six months--feeling aimless and confused. Maybe its because I haven't stopped to look at what I am putting my time into and recognized how this fits into God's big plan. So...that's what I'm going to do. How do your everyday activities, those that you put the most time into, fit into enternity??
love...
Thank you my True Love for giving me all three of these, especially appreciative! May I seek to love you with all three as well.
"Need-love cries to God from our poverty; Gift-love longs to serve, or even to suufer for, God; Appreciative-love says: 'We give thanks to Thee for Thy great glory.' Need-love says of a woman, 'I cannot live without her'; Gift-love longs to give her happiness, comfort, protection-if possible, wealth; Appreciative-love gazes and holds its breath and is silent, rejoices that such a wonder should exist even if not for him, will not be wholly dejected by losing her, would rather have it so than never to have seen her at all." (C.S. Lewis, The Four Loves)
"Need-love cries to God from our poverty; Gift-love longs to serve, or even to suufer for, God; Appreciative-love says: 'We give thanks to Thee for Thy great glory.' Need-love says of a woman, 'I cannot live without her'; Gift-love longs to give her happiness, comfort, protection-if possible, wealth; Appreciative-love gazes and holds its breath and is silent, rejoices that such a wonder should exist even if not for him, will not be wholly dejected by losing her, would rather have it so than never to have seen her at all." (C.S. Lewis, The Four Loves)
Tuesday, January 17, 2006
a new view on passion...
...my long awaited post;o) passion 06 was amazing. my first volunteer experience and i walked away a little more like Christ...thank you Lord. summarized version: hard hard work, bad attitude, kneeled before Christ, changed attitude, hard hard work with smiles and view of eternal impact, beth moore challenged me (more to come on that), exhaustion, breakfast at Noshville;o), a new view on passion (passion for what the Lord has called me to do, passion the organization (more respect than ever), and passion the conference truly minstered to college students!). God is good and faithful.
...can't wait to serve next year here in atlanta...anyone joining me?? (that is, if i'm still around here;o).
...can't wait to serve next year here in atlanta...anyone joining me?? (that is, if i'm still around here;o).
Sunday, January 08, 2006
Saturday, December 31, 2005
off to music city...
....Happy New Year everyone!!! I'm going to hit up the ATL tonight and bring in the new year with 2,000 college students and Steve Fee. I'm pumped!
And then tomorrow I'll be heading off to Nashville, TN...the city of music. I love Nashville. But I have a feeling I won't be seeing much of the city. I will be manning my post in the GO Center of the PASSION 06 conference...and I'm so excited. I will be hosting those in the mobilization (missions) area...I don't know exactly what that means...but I figure I'll get to hang out with, talk, and pick the brain of missionaries and heads of missions from all over the states and the world...how cool is that?? (I might even get some kind of open door and arrow pointing to a path for next year...who knows.)
So..please be praying for the 16,000 students and ministry staff that will be there. Pray for the speakers and worship leaders and volunteers. It will be all next week...so pray, pray, pray!!
I hope to report back some great stuff afterwards....until then....everyone stay safe tonight and give thanks for all that the Lord has done for you, blessed you with, and brought you through in the year 2005...and praise Him for what He is preparing for 2006!!!
And then tomorrow I'll be heading off to Nashville, TN...the city of music. I love Nashville. But I have a feeling I won't be seeing much of the city. I will be manning my post in the GO Center of the PASSION 06 conference...and I'm so excited. I will be hosting those in the mobilization (missions) area...I don't know exactly what that means...but I figure I'll get to hang out with, talk, and pick the brain of missionaries and heads of missions from all over the states and the world...how cool is that?? (I might even get some kind of open door and arrow pointing to a path for next year...who knows.)
So..please be praying for the 16,000 students and ministry staff that will be there. Pray for the speakers and worship leaders and volunteers. It will be all next week...so pray, pray, pray!!
I hope to report back some great stuff afterwards....until then....everyone stay safe tonight and give thanks for all that the Lord has done for you, blessed you with, and brought you through in the year 2005...and praise Him for what He is preparing for 2006!!!
Monday, December 26, 2005
freak out day...
...how did Christmas turn into freak-out day for me? everything was going well. time with the family was great. we spent the morning at my sister's house watching my nephews playing with their new gifts from santa...and opening a few of our own. then we enjoyed a relaxing day sitting on the couch, cuddling with my nephew while watching the Polar Express, and napping a bit in between games. i did get a bit of exercise playing a new game with my nephews called "frog ride" (it developed out of the traditional piggy-back and horsey rides...you can imagine what it is)...it involves a lot of jumping and some extra weight on my back...whew...talk about burning thighs...what was i thinking??
we had fun at my parents' house watching sad football games and coercing my dad into finally playing a game with us (he hates games because he almost always loses;o). we played my sister's new game, Scene It, that involves watching movie clips and answering movie trivia questions...it was so fun that we played in different teams like 4 times!
but some time inbetween those, i was trying to figure out how to install my new operating system and realized that i have big problems...i might have to spend a lot of time backing a lot of stuff up and maybe some extra money trying to reinstall some software...technology and me...its never an easy combination...its always filled with frustration!
and also some time inbetween...i began looking at my bank account and credit card statement and that is when the freaking out began. i've been fortunate enough to be at peace with my money situation for a few months now. God is so faithful to provide me with everything i need. but every once in a while, i get a little attack from out of nowhere that sends me into a worrying frenzy. and it was not easy to get out of.
...waking up this morning, i felt like crap. i have a sinus infection that i'm battling (which is enough in itself) but that wasn't why i was feeling so awful. how did the day that is devoted to worshiping Christ and His Gift of salvation turn into a day of worry for me?? that's why i felt bad. so...God was good and pulled me into Himself and made me spend time with Him first thing this morning...winging praises to Him, humbling myself before Him (knowing that I'm not worthy of His grace and mercy!), and reading His promises in the book of Isaiah in the Bible. and now i can write this and truly say that i'm coming out of the frenzy and entering back into the peace of Christ which surpasses all understanding!
"I am the Lord, I have called you in righteousness, I will also hold you by the hand and watch over you, and I will appoint you as a covenant to the people, as a light to the nations, to open blind eyes, to bring out prisoners from the dungeon, and those who dwell in darkness from the prison." (The Lord, Isaiah 42:6-7)
we had fun at my parents' house watching sad football games and coercing my dad into finally playing a game with us (he hates games because he almost always loses;o). we played my sister's new game, Scene It, that involves watching movie clips and answering movie trivia questions...it was so fun that we played in different teams like 4 times!
but some time inbetween those, i was trying to figure out how to install my new operating system and realized that i have big problems...i might have to spend a lot of time backing a lot of stuff up and maybe some extra money trying to reinstall some software...technology and me...its never an easy combination...its always filled with frustration!
and also some time inbetween...i began looking at my bank account and credit card statement and that is when the freaking out began. i've been fortunate enough to be at peace with my money situation for a few months now. God is so faithful to provide me with everything i need. but every once in a while, i get a little attack from out of nowhere that sends me into a worrying frenzy. and it was not easy to get out of.
...waking up this morning, i felt like crap. i have a sinus infection that i'm battling (which is enough in itself) but that wasn't why i was feeling so awful. how did the day that is devoted to worshiping Christ and His Gift of salvation turn into a day of worry for me?? that's why i felt bad. so...God was good and pulled me into Himself and made me spend time with Him first thing this morning...winging praises to Him, humbling myself before Him (knowing that I'm not worthy of His grace and mercy!), and reading His promises in the book of Isaiah in the Bible. and now i can write this and truly say that i'm coming out of the frenzy and entering back into the peace of Christ which surpasses all understanding!
"I am the Lord, I have called you in righteousness, I will also hold you by the hand and watch over you, and I will appoint you as a covenant to the people, as a light to the nations, to open blind eyes, to bring out prisoners from the dungeon, and those who dwell in darkness from the prison." (The Lord, Isaiah 42:6-7)
Monday, December 19, 2005
encouraging words for singles...
...i've been reading a book called "Fine China is for Single Women too" and this lady is hitting it right on the money. my favorite part about reading a book is seeing someone put things into words that God has already been teaching me in my life...its like a nice little summary of my times with the Lord...very convenient:o) so here are some quotes from the book that i've really enjoyed.
"...life doesn't begin when you get married. This is you life. You will never find contentment in living for what you hope tomorrow may hold. Contentment is for today." (everyone can take this one!)
"the important thing to do is get beneath all the speculation about why we are single and acknowledge the fact that each and every one of us is alone because, for today at least, God has ordained it." (and rejoice in it!)
"the other cause...is a lack of understanding about God's sovereignty. She sees her marital status as under her control." (ughh...that one was convicting)
"When we come to trust that God rules the details of our lives, that nothing we or others do can untimately determine our course, we find ourselves experiencing the benefits of such trust...We are free to be ourselves!" (thanks for another confirmation of Ben's advice)
...and i'm sure there will be more to come...i've only begun reading the book. oh, speaking of books, i just finished Captivating and recommend it for EVERY woman out there!!! read it!! you might even figure yourself out a bit;o)
"...life doesn't begin when you get married. This is you life. You will never find contentment in living for what you hope tomorrow may hold. Contentment is for today." (everyone can take this one!)
"the important thing to do is get beneath all the speculation about why we are single and acknowledge the fact that each and every one of us is alone because, for today at least, God has ordained it." (and rejoice in it!)
"the other cause...is a lack of understanding about God's sovereignty. She sees her marital status as under her control." (ughh...that one was convicting)
"When we come to trust that God rules the details of our lives, that nothing we or others do can untimately determine our course, we find ourselves experiencing the benefits of such trust...We are free to be ourselves!" (thanks for another confirmation of Ben's advice)
...and i'm sure there will be more to come...i've only begun reading the book. oh, speaking of books, i just finished Captivating and recommend it for EVERY woman out there!!! read it!! you might even figure yourself out a bit;o)
the best birthday present ever...
...last thursday i turned the big 24. and luckily i don't feel old (except for the other day when i was hanging out with a bunch of 20 year olds and they found out my age and went on and on about how old that was for like 5 mins...i was dying to call my friend, marisa, to just feel the same age as someone else;o). but really...i feel like i've barely even scratched the surface of life. man, the Lord has really blessed me beyond belief and i have so many memories involving tons of people, places, and things...but its given me so many little tastes that leave me wanting more and knowing so much more is out there.
one new thing the Lord has blessed me with (that also seems to be just scratching the surface) is my new spiritual family...what up y'all??? i'm sure you are reading this because you keep bugging me about not blogging enough;o) they have become such an important part of my life...this is what Christ (and Paul) meant by "fellowship with the saints".
i was lucky enough that this years birthday fell on the same night as our bible study together...way lucky. although we spent time exchanging presents (both birthday and christmas) and i loved each one (thank you again!!)...the best present EVER was to follow.
for what seemed like hours, God met with us! i mean...he really met with us....really. i've had times when the Holy Spirit has been in my presence and man was that unbelievable...but usually those times were so fleeting. it would be liek 30 seconds and then i would kind of freak and "lose it". its like i couldn't handle it (i've had many conversations about this with my sister). but thursday night i didn't freak...none of us did. we were there...truly with eachother, ministering to God with eachother...and ministering to eachother through God!! i was unreal. we've been meeting for about 2 months now and this was by far the "best" time. actually...they just keep getting better and better. but i think we really hit it on the money....and it wasn't in any of our control....it was because we focused solely on Christ! the entire time (way to minimize the bunny trails;o).
THANK YOU GOD for the best birthday present!!! and thank you my spiritual family;o) you don't know what you mean to me...and i know that's only going to grow. i love you all so much!!! and i pray that all of you out there that don't have a clue about any of the things i've been describing with experience it first hand...just ask God...He'll meet you wherever you are...don't be afraid....its amazing!!!!!!!
one new thing the Lord has blessed me with (that also seems to be just scratching the surface) is my new spiritual family...what up y'all??? i'm sure you are reading this because you keep bugging me about not blogging enough;o) they have become such an important part of my life...this is what Christ (and Paul) meant by "fellowship with the saints".
i was lucky enough that this years birthday fell on the same night as our bible study together...way lucky. although we spent time exchanging presents (both birthday and christmas) and i loved each one (thank you again!!)...the best present EVER was to follow.
for what seemed like hours, God met with us! i mean...he really met with us....really. i've had times when the Holy Spirit has been in my presence and man was that unbelievable...but usually those times were so fleeting. it would be liek 30 seconds and then i would kind of freak and "lose it". its like i couldn't handle it (i've had many conversations about this with my sister). but thursday night i didn't freak...none of us did. we were there...truly with eachother, ministering to God with eachother...and ministering to eachother through God!! i was unreal. we've been meeting for about 2 months now and this was by far the "best" time. actually...they just keep getting better and better. but i think we really hit it on the money....and it wasn't in any of our control....it was because we focused solely on Christ! the entire time (way to minimize the bunny trails;o).
THANK YOU GOD for the best birthday present!!! and thank you my spiritual family;o) you don't know what you mean to me...and i know that's only going to grow. i love you all so much!!! and i pray that all of you out there that don't have a clue about any of the things i've been describing with experience it first hand...just ask God...He'll meet you wherever you are...don't be afraid....its amazing!!!!!!!
Saturday, December 17, 2005
a pile of scrap...
...I think it's amazing that God chose the career of a carpenter for His walk on earth, Jesus' trade. A carpenter is an expert on building, creating, and also reconstruction. A carpenter can take a pile of scrapwood and create something that is both useful and beautiful.
My dad is a builder. He began as a teenager and learned how to build a house from top to bottom...everything but plumbing. But he also is a packrat. And every year, at least once, my mom is faced with cleaning out my dad's garage...the haven for all left-overs...from nails and screws to saws that don't work and huge rolls of wire. As I helped my mom this last time, we spent days sorting through what we through of as a bunch of junk. I spent an hour just moving piles of scrapwood outside to the driveway. Although I was ready to chunk it all, my mom knew better. She knew that my dad valued that wood.
You see, out of all of that stuff, my dad has a thing for wood. Sure, I love the smell of wood (esp. sawdust...it reminds me of my dad)...but I don't think that's why my dad loves wood. I think that when my dad looks at a pile of scrapwood, he doesn't see pieces that never made it onto a house...he sees pieces ready to become a part of a project. He sees the potential.
Its so amazing to think of how our Heavenly Dad looks at all of the "scrapwood" of our lives and sees how He's going to make it into something both useful and beautiful!
My dad is a builder. He began as a teenager and learned how to build a house from top to bottom...everything but plumbing. But he also is a packrat. And every year, at least once, my mom is faced with cleaning out my dad's garage...the haven for all left-overs...from nails and screws to saws that don't work and huge rolls of wire. As I helped my mom this last time, we spent days sorting through what we through of as a bunch of junk. I spent an hour just moving piles of scrapwood outside to the driveway. Although I was ready to chunk it all, my mom knew better. She knew that my dad valued that wood.
You see, out of all of that stuff, my dad has a thing for wood. Sure, I love the smell of wood (esp. sawdust...it reminds me of my dad)...but I don't think that's why my dad loves wood. I think that when my dad looks at a pile of scrapwood, he doesn't see pieces that never made it onto a house...he sees pieces ready to become a part of a project. He sees the potential.
Its so amazing to think of how our Heavenly Dad looks at all of the "scrapwood" of our lives and sees how He's going to make it into something both useful and beautiful!
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