Simply: Living the Life

MOVING!!!

2011-05-02T12:44:00.000-04:00

After much deliberation, I have decided that I will be transferring my blog to Wordpress. The primary reason behind this decision is the flexibility it offers me to maintain multiple pages as well as the option to create my website when I am ready to do so. I am grateful for the usage that I maintained on Blogger and hope you all will check out my new page. simplylivingthelife.wordpress.com

Just Out of Reach

2011-04-05T10:30:00.001-04:00

My daughter figured out how to roll over from her back to her stomach this past week. Now, every time I lay her down on her play-mat, she will flip over. The problem is, while she is physically able, she will rarely flip herself back from tummy to back. I find myself amazed watching her. My four month old will flip to her stomach and proceed to try and figure out a way to move (what will later result in scooting and subsequently, crawling). She grabs onto the mat; she legs try to find traction. Finally, frustrated and tired, she starts to cry because she can't quite figure it out. She wants to move, but her body does not have the coordination to make it happen, yet.
I find that we are like this a lot. We see something that we want and we flip over to ascertain it, only to become frustrated in the pursuit because we aren't quite ready for that venture. I think God planned it that way. Not that we would fail, but that while we were still spiritually immature, there would be certain things that we would not be able to reach on our own. We had to get to the point of crying out to God to help us. Sometimes, that means He will move that thing that we desire within our reach. But sometimes, it means that he will pick us up, comfort us, and lay us down to try again, knowing that the journey and the struggles help us to grow and mature.
As I picked up my crying little girl, she is now content to just sit on my lap. I know that when I lay her down, she will try to get the toy again, even though it is just out of her reach. But for now, she is content just to be with me. Do we give find that much peace in the arms of our Heavenly Father? Or are we so focused on what we want that we push him aside as he tries to comfort and reassure us?

Our Own Little Bubbles

2011-03-29T12:16:00.000-04:00

We live in a world of individual "comfort zones." In his book, Outlive Your Life, Max Lucado refers to these as our clamshells. We have our bubble that we walk gingerly within and pray that something doesn't come along and pop it.

We that God for the blessings he has provided and fell sad when we see a homeless man, dishuveled and unbathed, sleeping beneath the freeway. A single shopping cart holding all of his earthly belongings. "Oh," we say to ourselves. "I wish we could do more to help." Then we turn away, blow up our little bubble and don't dare to step closer to that man, at the possibility that our little world could be torn beyond mending.

We like the idea of sending a check, but if an opportunity to go in and get our hands dirty, our bubble is blown up around us. Because we maintain this comfort zone mentality, we shrink our potential to change the world.

A.W. Tozer once said that, "when we bring God down to our level we are left with a God that can't astonish us." We like God to fit inside our lives, our bubbles, rather than chasing after Him. God has gifted us all with such unique gifts that when we settle to live within our comfort zone, we are settling to live safe. Mark Batterson says it best. "Jesus didn't die to keep us dafe, he died to make us dangerous." (Chasing the Wild Goose)

If each of us to a single step outside of our own little safty bubbles, what would we be able to accomplish? I'm not even suggesting extreme change. I am proposing that we each take a step out. That a single step would open doors to a drastic change that we can't even imagine.

What was the final command Jesus left his disciples with before returning to heaven?
"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you." (Mat. 28:19)
Jesus' last command can be simplified into a single word--GO. A command, not a suggestion. It is a simple directive that leaves no room for question, complaint, or confusion. And yet, we (more often than not), respond with a resounding "no."

Who are we to do anything except obey and still we are audacious enough to cast this instruction aside as though it were merely another man's suggestion.
GO. Step out of your bubble and cast away the safety net. And be ready to be amazed at the Glory that God is sure to reveal to you in your obedience.

Faith of a Child

2011-03-25T18:11:00.000-04:00

I had a reality check this afternoon as I read my mail. Kyle and I have been supporting 2 boys through Compassion International since we were in college. The one that I began supporting on my own is now in 5th grade (he was 4 when I started my support). His name is Heisner and he lives in a small village in Guatemala. When he was little he loved cars and the stickers that I would include with my letters. As he grew, so did his love for soccer. I remember he once wrote and asked that I pray for him because some boys were making fun of him.
The letter I received today included thanks for his Christmas gift which purchased a pair of pants, a shirt for school, and a toy car. But it wasn't his thank you that put me in my place. It was another prayer request.

"I ask that you please pray for my family, for my mother who in a few says will be operated on her stomach." (direct translation from Spanish)

This family has nothing of physical value. They have limited food and clothing (much of it provided through support from organizations like Compassion International). With my own mom looking at potential surgery I can imagine the stress that comes along with a family member not feeling well and needing something as serious as surgery to make it better. I have to remind myself, with facing my own mom's procedure, that God is in control; that he has everything in the palm of his hand. And that is in the United States where I don't have to be concerned about the cleanliness of the hospital that may lead to further infection or trying to figure out how it is going to be paid for, facing the realities of choosing between food or medical care.
We worry about everything when, in reality, we have nothing to worry about. In the United States we focus on every little thing that could possibly go wrong. For this little boy, living in a third world country, receiving support to meet his daily needs, he writes to me and asks for prayer. How incredibly humbling. I am reminded again and again of simple faith. Pure and true and the way that God always intended it to be.

Philippians 4:6-7 "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and..." NIV - Online Bible Study

Matthew 6:25-30 (NIV)

Audience of One

2011-03-22T14:48:00.000-04:00

I remember beginning to think about what I wanted to be when I was in middle school. At the time I was really good at science and had found an organization where I could sponsor a gray wolf. You know the programs where they have people sponsor and animal (I've seen them for whales and certain endangered species). Essentially the organziations use the money raised to keep research prjects alive and to help keep these animals alive and healthy. This whole sponsorship thing that I was a part of made me want to work for them--a wolf biologist, working with this same pack in the Sawtooth Mountains just outside of Boise, Idaho. Makes me cold just thinking about it.
While I still consider wolves to be my favorite animals, I discovered pretty quickly that, while I was decent in biology, I did not have the gifiting to make that my field of study. I preferred words to formulas. I discovered that I had been given a distinct personality for a reason. Even as a child, I was always outspoken. This led to some rather intense arguments between me and my mom but it also led to me being very passionate about what I believe.
When I was younger and wanted to be a biologist, I had specific dreams of being out in the wild doing research on a particular wolf pack. As I grew older (and transitioned through about a dozen other job scenarios), my focus became more person--be a voice for those who can't (or won't) speak for themselves. While I still stand very close to that, it has shifted a little more...be a ready ear for those who need it and a sound voice of guidance.
You see, God is continuing to work on my heart but ultimately, as long as I am seeking His approval, I will find that I am successful in the end. Galatians 1:10 reads,

"Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ."

It's good to want to meet your own expectations. It is good to want your parent's approval. It is good to appease your suppervisor or teacher and it is good to want to be successful. What is not good is putting those approvals above the approval of God. We need to focus our dreams on God and what will happen is amazing. Our dreams will begin to come true! When our focus is God and our desire is to serve Him, we will succeed. When our dreams are given to us by God, we will achieve them to greater levels than we could even imagine on our own. When we perform for an audience of One, we will always receive a standing ovation and a job well done.

Revolve

2011-03-21T00:32:00.000-04:00

This weekend, through a series of events, I was able to go with 7 of our high school girls to a conference called The Revolve Tour. For anyone familiar with Women of Faith, it is from the same organization, just created especially for the quirkiness and wonderfulness that is a teenage girl.
Everything that this conference is doing is my heart's desire. I love seeing girls being themselves. To forget, even if just for a couple days, about the judgments that are passed by others. To praise God with all of their hearts and to see Him in a new light.
I praise God for each of the 4,000 teenagers that took part in the conference in Lakeland, FL. I am thankful for all of the leaders who brought those girls. I pray that, because of a weekend of dreaming, lives will be changed.
I have so much more on my heart but, amazingly, I am at a loss for words. So I will close (as it is already much too late for me to be up) with an encouragement. To any girls reading this--you are beautifully and wonderfully made. God loves you for who you are, not who other people tell you that you need to be. Learn to love you and your life will be brighter and happier and more amazing than you could begin to comprehend.
To any parents/adults--tell your daughters and the young ladies in your life how special they are. Let them know that you care, even when you feel the gray hairs pushing through. Let them hear you say that you love them, that you think they are amazing. I know that teenagers (girls especially) have a tendency to pretend to not care...it's a front. They want to know that you will always be there, even when they are at their very worst (and I am sure some of you parents think you've already experienced that first hand) :) Love them for who they are...Princesses to the God of the Universe!

Happy Birthday

2011-03-12T23:23:00.000-05:00

Birthdays are a topic of debate among many. Young children will count down the months, days, and hours before finally being able to celebrate whereas (mostly) older people do whatever they can to have their birthday forgotten, ignored, and brushed under the rug. I fall into the first category. I love birthdays. I attribute much of this to the love and adoration that my mom always put into "our special day."
You see, birthdays are unique in that we are celebrating the day that we came into the world. It is an oportune time to take an ordinary day and create a celebration. Because everyone has one, there is no chance of offending someone while celebrating. Because it is only once a year, we feel completely justified being selfish for 24 hours and making it "all about me."
Some birthdays just seem to carry more weight than others. For example, 10 is a very important years because you are now in the double digits (a very critical milestone for fourth graders everywhere). Likewise, 13 (teenager), 15 (drivers permit), 16 (sweet and drivers license), 18 (adult), 20 (no longer a teenager), 21 (obvious), 25 and subsequent 10 year increments (30, 40, 50, etc). I think it is planned to have the bulk of the "important" birthdays when you are still excited about celebrating and less when you are more inclined to lie about your age.
I have reached one of those milestones: 25. I remember thinking that 25 was so old when I was younger. I had a picture in my mind of what it would be like, what I would have accomplished, where I would be...Interestingly enough, most of those things that I invisioned are fullfilled. I have graduated from the University of Florida; I am married; and I have had my first child.
As I reflect on the time that God has given me thus far, I have to admit how abundantly I have been blessed. So on this day, as I celebrate 25 years of life, I thank God for each moment that He has given me. I have taken advantage of some and reached new potential in others. I thank Him for the life I have lived and the years that are still to come and I pray that I always take a moment to enjoy another year of life, no matter how old I am.

Sin without Shame

2011-02-20T23:46:00.000-05:00

I am starting to see more and more that we are a generation of sin without shame. Whereas less than 50 years ago, it was beyond rebellious, pretty much unheard of, to live with a boyfriend or girlfriend. Respect was not an option, whether it be toward parents or a teacher, or any adult period. The idea of having a child outside of wedlock was astronomically uncouth and bared the equivalency of a scarlet letter.

Today, I am beginning to wonder what environment my daughter will be subject to as she grows. Even more than that, how do you convey the Gospel to a generation that does not regard sin as just that, sin. How do you explain to someone who sees nothing wrong with sex outside the confines of marriage, that God created this beautiful and sacred gift that should only be shared between husband and wife? On that note, how do you explain to someone that marriage in and of itself is to be between a man and a women, when, to that individual, that "religious ideal" is degrading and segregationist? The Gospel is built around the fact found in Romans that "ALL have sinned and fallen short." So for those who don't see wrong in their lives, where is the need for a Savior?

I know that I have well surpassed any quota of sin that could possibly exist, and yet I have found grace at the foot of the cross. Because of this I know that I too must extend grace and mercy to those around me who are steeped in sin. I understand that I am to love the sinner but hate the sin. I know all of that. What I don't know is when that grace and mercy needs to be in tough love. When forgiveness is eternal and invariably available and should be offered unceasingly (especially from me-a sinner-to others), when do I switch from that shoulder to cry on when they have fallen to the man up approach?

I find it easy to sympathize with those who have fallen in the areas that I had struggled with (and thankfully, by God's grace, overcame). Where is the line and how do I lead in this Sin without Shame generation without becoming condescending and judgemental?

Lessons learned in 2 months

2011-01-31T14:07:00.001-05:00

It is hard to believe that my little girl is almost 2 months already. She is starting to hold her head up, look around at the voices talking to her and kick her legs like nobody's business. She loves to swing her arms and hit a rattle on her play-mat, to sleep on mommy or daddy's chest rather than her crib, and she is even starting to have wonderful "conversations"

Over these past couple months since she was born I've learned a couple things and I thought I would share them.

First, Sleep is relative. When the baby is crying at 4 AM and cried unless they were held the entire day prior, everything is a blur. You want to sleep and given a single second to lay your head on a moderately soft surface, you probably would, but right now, the baby is the priority.

There are very few things in this world that beat baby snuggles Especially in the mornings. I'm still blurry eyed (though that is pretty much all the time anymore), somewhat drowsy and even if I don't go back to sleep, I don't want to get out of bed. So I bring I lay my little girl on my chest and love every moment. She sleeps so soundly in the moments and hugs me with her little arms. I know that it won't last but those are some of my favorite times.

A single smile really can brighten your day The first time that I saw Samara smile I thought my heart would melt. I'm talking about those real smiles, not the ones that just kinda happen that usually accompany gas. The first time I was given this gift was early one morning. I went to pick her up out of her crib, talking to her, and saying good morning and I was rewarded handsomely. She turned her head toward me and smiled. It didn't matter how early it was or how late I had stayed up with her the night before. All was forgiven in one precious smile.

Patience is an option not a virtue I am not a patient person by nature. Sadly, when taking a spiritual gifts test, mercy receives the lowest score. When I was pregnant, I didn't know how I would handle the stress that accompanies a newborn, but for some reason, it hasn't been a problem. I know she is trying to tell me what is wrong even when it is conveyed by crying to the point of giving herself hiccups. There has been only one time that I lost my patience and told my husband I needed him to take care of her while I went to bed. In my own experience, that's a good percentage. My only mindset with my daughter is how can I make it better and I choose to have the patience that I don't normally harbor to find the solution.

you can do an amazingly large amount of things one handed I always kind of laughed to myself when people talked about what was an accomplishment after having a baby (remembering to eat, getting a shower and getting dressed, etc.) I couldn't imagine forgetting to eat. But when the baby is crying every time you lay them down, or they are hungry (again), they take priority and the other things take a back seat. The trick is to hold the baby in a way that they won't fall back since they can't support themselves yet, and make yourself a sandwich as quickly as possible. Or when walking the dog, make sure that the hand that is holding the leash is not the dominant hand supporting the baby. Who needs two hands? :)

from the second they come into the world, time flies I have looked at her pictures from the hospital and it is amazing how much my little girl has changed in a matter of 8 weeks. She's growing up and suddenly the days are blurring together. Where she was completely helpless, she can now sleep through the night and has learned that sucking on her hands can comfort her for a little bit where before only mom could fill that docket. I know that if I turn around for a single minute, she will be holding herself up in full confidence and getting ready to walk. The days seemed like years when I was a child, but now that I have a child of my own, they are mere moments flying past. I can only pray that I savor them each one by one.

Dance with the King

2011-01-11T00:02:00.000-05:00

This song by Beckah Shae is the epitome of my prayer for my daughter. Each night, as I rock her gently to try to help her sleep, I pray. I thank God for every little thing about her, from her tiny fingers and toes to the sweet little snores that she makes. But more than anything, I pray that she will know God. I pray that she will see who He is from a young age and seek after Him with all her heart for the rest of her life.

That is my prayer for my daughter. And how great is it that we have a promise like this for each and every one of us? The King of creation has prepared a place for each of us. He desires to wrap his arms around us and welcome us in, overwhelming us with his love. How great is Jesus that He died so we could have this dance. I'm just amazed and in awe of the love of my Savior.

Dance with the King by Beckah Shae

Come! Come In!
You’re invited into this room to dance.
The King has prepared all this for you.
He’s been waiting for you.
Won’t you come!!!

Can you feel His love around you?
His arms stretched out and reaching for you?
There’s only peace in this place.

Listen close, you’ll hear the sweet sounds,
Of heavens angels singing all around,
Welcoming you to this dance.

Halleluiah, You have ravished my heart.
Round and round we go,
to the sound of Oh,
Halleluiah!

Peace that’s surpassing all understanding,
Joy unspeakable, and Love Everlasting!
This is where you belong,
Right here close to His heart!

Can you feel His love surround you?
His arms held tight and wrapped around you?
There’s only Love in this place.

Beautiful and worthy are you,
To the Great I Am before you.
Come rest in His delight.

Matthew 22:1-14
2 Samuel 6:14
Revelation 22:17
Psalm 30:11
Zephaniah 3:17

Samara birth announcement :)

2010-12-23T13:45:00.001-05:00

Big Blocks Magenta Baby Announcements

Shutterfly has custom baby invitations and birth announcements.

View the entire collection of cards.

The Prayer Pin Reminder

2010-12-01T11:55:00.001-05:00

As I was putting on my sneakers this morning, I caught sight of something that I tend to ignore. Attached to one of my laces is a small, bright orange safety pin with several brightly colored beads on it. It was given to me as a "prayer pin." The idea of this simple pin is to act as a reminder; to catch my attention and call me to pray for the person that gave it to me, to lift up my friend in prayer. Interesting thing about this particular pin is that it was given to me several years ago by a girl who I came to love as my little sister, only to have her decide that she wanted nothing to do with me or my family who had also welcomed her as family. You see, there came a time when she wanted to make a choice in her life that none of us agreed with and we expressed our concerns to her as we felt a family that loves you should. It was not what she wanted to hear and with that, she stepped out of our lives completely.

Months after the fact I would wake up with her name so desperately on my heart that I would cry out to God in tears, not knowing why. I still don't know why. I heard that she had a baby recently; I heard back and forth that she may have gotten married…but I don't have any connection to her outside this single orange pin that is still attached to my right shoe.

I still pray for her as she crosses my mind, though I don't know any specifics to lift up for her. But something today prompted me to remember the dreams that she had when I first met her. Her heart was so big and she was as mature as she was immature due in part to her background. She had to grow up when her mother abandoned her and her brother and sister in Russia. She had to make adult decisions when no child should about how to best care for herself and her siblings. By God's amazing grace she was introduced to His love through a shoe box, distributed by Samaritan's Purse Operation Christmas Child. By His continued providence, she and both of her siblings were adopted into a family, together, and came to live in the United States. She wanted to go into missions, to help other orphaned children have hope and see the hope that God can bring, even in the darkest times…and now, she is still living in a small town in Florida with a very little baby and possibly a husband that has no understanding of what missions are or why someone would leave their comfort to fulfill them. But still I prayed for her heart. I prayed for her life, whatever it may be. And mostly I prayed that she wouldn't lose sight of the dreams that God placed on her heart.

How many of us do that? We are given a dream, a vision, which is clearly only from God. But we let it filter through the realities of our lives and what we're left with is nothing outside of the norm. It is no longer anything more than what we are already doing in our comfort zones. How often do we actually chase after those dreams, even when they don't make sense right away, and get the opportunity to see God work in ways that are so far beyond what we can comprehend? How many dreams have I let go because I was afraid or comfortable?

Priorities in Jesus

2010-11-03T11:38:00.001-04:00

John 21:15-19

After breakfast Jesus asked Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?"

"Yes, Lord," Peter replied, "you know I love you."

"Then feed my lambs," Jesus told him. Jesus repeated the question: "Simon son of John, do you love me?"

"Yes, Lord," Peter said, "you know I love you."

"Then take care of my sheep," Jesus said. A third time he asked him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?"

Peter was hurt that Jesus asked the question a third time. He said, "Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you."

Jesus said, "Then feed my sheep. I tell you the truth, when you were young, you were able to do as you liked; you dressed yourself and went wherever you wanted to go. But when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and others will dress you and take you where you don't want to go." Jesus said this to let him know by what kind of death he would glorify God. Then Jesus told him, "Follow me."

I was reading a commentary (also called the exegesis—from a word meaning the critical interpretation on a text, especially of the Bible), and it pointed out something I had always missed in this passage. Look back at the passage. What name does Jesus use when speaking to Peter?

If you remember in scripture, it was Jesus who changed his name from Simon to Peter (John 1:41-42). Cephas (in Aramaic) or Peter (in Greek) means 'rock', and Jesus had said that "on this rock I will build my church" (Matthew 16:18). No pressure there! But just as Jesus had said that Simon Peter was going to be fundamental in the founding of the church, He also knew that he would deny Him at His greatest time of need (Matthew 26:33-35) and Peter did just as it was foretold (Matthew 26:74-75).

So in the 21^st chapter of John, why would Jesus address Peter (the one He re-named) by his original name of Simon? One commentary likened it to "as if he had forfeited that of Peter though his denying him." Jesus knew that Peter needed to come clean to recommit himself to the work that lay ahead of him. Jesus began by asking "do you love me more than these?" Peter answered, truthfully, that you know I love you, but never claimed to love Jesus more than the others. Peter realized that Jesus knew the depth of his heart and soul and answered with truth and integrity. His love of his Savior was being tested and questioned, but not without reason. Jesus had great plans for Peter to "feed his sheep," to lead the lost to the truth that could only be found through the cross. Peter was being examined and proven that he was indeed the right one for this job.

What about you? If Jesus asked you right now, "Do you love me more than these?", what would be your honest answer?

What does God require of His disciples?

Read Luke 14:33, Luke 14:26-27, and Matthew 10:32-39

What is keeping you from giving everything you have to following Jesus?

How can you rid yourself of those things?

Like Jesus told Peter he would help to found the church, what do you feel God pressing on your heart to do?

--Keep in mind, this does not have to be monumental. It can be as simple as being a good example for your little brother or sister, or as big as what you want to major in for your college degree (and career). **Also remember that God will not always tell you the complete answer right away, He does love to teach you patience and trust in Him**

I am what I am

2010-10-12T14:03:00.000-04:00

Kyle and I finally watched The Express last night. I love sports movies. They have the same awesome predictability of romantic comedies (insert "chick flicks"), but with a tie into the sports world which means that guys will watch them without complaint. Without going into an entire review of the movie, which was great mind you, the basic plot is the story of Ernie Davis. If you are unfamiliar with his story... **1. this is a spoiler alert for the movie 2. really sad in an incredibly uplifting kind of way** Ernie Davis was a boy who grew up in the heat of segregation, was recruited to Syracuse University, helped lead them to their first national championship, and was the first black man to win the Heisman Trophy. He was drafted by the Browns but never played a single game because he was diagnosed with Leukemia and died at the age of 23.

At the beginning of the movie, there is a scene at the dinner table where Ernie's grandfather (affectionately called Pops) has Ernie (with a stutter) read from the Bible. The verse read is 1 Corinthians 15:10, "But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them--yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me."

The way that this single piece of scripture was played out in this young mans life caused me to stop and look at the way I live my own life. "by the grace of God I am what I am..."

For a long time, I wondered why God made me "strong willed" (this can also be read as stubborn, bull headed, and occasionally showed itself as defiant). I allowed myself to get emotionally involved in menial issues, worked into a tizzy, only to find that I was the one hurt or in trouble in the end. I wondered why I couldn't just keep my mouth shut and what good I could possibly do when I couldn't even control my own actions, let alone the words that came out of my mouth. I tried to skirt responsibility, but it always came back to bite me in the end.

I still wonder at times about why God made me "what I am." I don't know if that will ever go away, but I don't try to run from it anymore. Ernie Davis provided hope for people that were chastised and rejected. He showed them that no one could take away that which God had given him in the first place. And he did it with respect and honor for those around him.

The last line in the movie is, "Thing is, I don't know how much more is in front of me, and as you see from the number of pages if you've read this far, I did have a few things to say and I'm not sure how to end this, or even if I want to. It's funny. Most people think my life has been all about football. I've even thought that myself. But football is just a game. What matters is what you play for. Sometimes when the game is close and everything is on the line, that's when you forget the crowd and the noise. That's when it's just you against somebody else to see who is the better man. That's what I like about the game. Because at that moment, you are friends and you are enemies and you are brothers." (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0469903/quotes?qt1149240)

What are we playing for? We have been created uniquely and perfectly by the grace of God. He has a plan for each and every one of us, but what are we doing to live it out? You may not know what you have been created for. I am sure that Ernie Davis had no idea that he was going to be an inspiration decades after his death at 23, before he even had the opportunity to play pro ball. I don't know what my impact will be, but I do know that if I live each and every day with my heart set on serving God with the best of my abilities, that He will honor that. God sees the big picture where I see just a strand. We don't know how our lives will intertwine with others but maybe, just maybe, if we focus on God rather than what we see as our shortcomings, those things which we thought of as burdens or "mistakes" will become that which glorifies God the most.

Snoopy and Me...when Kyle is gone

2010-09-23T22:47:00.000-04:00

To serve as reminder to anyone not in my family who reads this, or anyone who happens upon the treasure trove of random thoughts, inspirations, and occasional nonsense, Snoopy is our 7 or 8 (we think) year old pointer/lab mutt that Kyle and I got from the humane society several weeks after we got married. He is ridiculously adorable and pathetic, frustrating and endearing, all in one slender 50 pound, black and white package. We started with an older dog to "break in" Kyle. I have always grown up with dogs around me. We had big dogs, my family had big dogs. No offense to those people who have small dogs, but they just do not qualify as "dogs" to me. I like ones that are larger than my cats (well, my mom's cats, but either way, both of whom are over 15 pounds). Kyle on the other hand, had a dog for a very brief segment of time and then none. Advantages of getting an older dog include that they are already trained on the basics: house trained, basic commands, etc. Older dogs also tend to be calmer so, in our case, it is a great advantage to those still in an apartment and don't have a backyard for the dog to take out all of his energy. It also helps with extending the duration of one's furniture. Puppies like to chew everything.

ANYWAY...
Snoopy got to stay with my parents while Kyle and I went on a trip to Colorado to see Kyle's family. Snoopy loves staying with my parents. I think this is two fold: 1. They live on a farm so he gets to run like a puppy free of any boundaries to the point that he limps around for the next week; and 2. my mom is a sucker with him (sorry momma...you know it's true!) We were in Colorado for 9 days and while we were out there, Kyle learns that he is going to have to turn right back around for a 2 week business trip. I come home, pick up Snoopy but at this point he hasn't seen Kyle in almost 3 weeks. It may sound odd to some, but he is all out of sorts when Kyle isn't home. He'll lie by the door waiting for him. He'll look at me like I'm forgetting something when I say we're going to bed before Kyle has shown up...He is just very out of sorts.

Most recently Snoopy has taken up a very needy persona. He'll be stuck to me and when I sit down to do some work, he'll sit right next to me and start to whine. It's very bizarre. It's similar to how he acts if we haven't taken him out for a walk and he really needs to go...but in this case, it's for absolutely no reason.

Needless to say, I am grateful that Kyle will be home as of tomorrow to put my dog at ease with the world.

grace

2010-09-18T23:27:00.000-04:00

The goodness of God’s grace is that it has absolutely nothing to do with us. We can’t make it, we can’t destroy it. Its existence is so far beyond us and yet…it is the one thing that God gives to us without question and without ceasing. We continually fall short; we mess up time and again, and still at the end of the rope when all else seems lost—grace, God’s amazing, implausible, unmatchable grace.

Romans tells us that “all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God” so we can all agree that everyone is a screw-up (I mean that in the best sense). But even once you grapple with that idea (that we all have royally messed up and God will still extend grace to us), it goes on to assure us that it’s not just this onetime deal. Instead, God continues to extend his grace to us so that “just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 5:21)

This is no excuse to continue in our sinful ways but rather to encourage us that God knew we would fall down. He did not send Jesus to die on the cross for the “well” but for the “sick.” Because, if we were all perfect, there would be no point in having a Savior; we wouldn’t need one. God loves his broken people. He adores and cherishes his blemished children. He longs to bring each of us into his embrace, to swathe us in his love and grace and give us so much of it that we can’t help but rub it on the people around us.

This is the one thing that most separates followers of Jesus from the rest of the world. We have received God’s grace. That doesn’t make us better, rather challenges us to a new level. We are tasked with sharing that grace with others, even when they don’t understand or comprehend it. We are given the challenge of explaining to a world that thrives on justice and revenge what grace can do in their lives. We have been sent as ambassadors on a mission of loving the unlovable, of caring for the deserted, and befriending the ones who only want to cut us down and tear us apart. We are tasked with this because it is grace. And that is God’s gift to the world.

Colossians 1

2010-08-31T16:57:00.000-04:00

I read Colossians 1 in my devotions last night. I re-read it again today. I desperately want to write about it but for some reason can't grasp the insight that I want to portray. So...I guess you'll have to wait to see what God reveals to me. Until then... :)

Jesus in the quiet rain

2010-08-27T16:25:00.000-04:00

I love falling asleep to the sound of rain. The pitter patter as it hits the buildings and falls to the sidewalk outside my window. Typically I find little to no correlation to rain and the Middle East, but for some reason, last night as I heard the rain pink against my window pane, I was reminded of a song. We are beginning to work on Christmas music at choir and one of the songs is called Winter Snow. No, snow is not the same as rain falling, though I find I have a similar emotional response to watching a gentle snow storm out the window. Part of the chorus reads, “You came like a winter snow, quiet and soft and slow.” Like those words, I found myself drawn into the serenity of the rain and found my mind in the Middle East, over 2000 years ago.

Jesus came in the middle of the night. He was born in an indiscreet town, in a barn with animals surrounding him. No one knew outside of his mother, Joseph, and the shepherds who got a heavenly invitation to come and find him. No one knew, and beyond a handful of people, no one cared. The King of the Universe had just been born as flesh into our world. The Savior of the World had made his entrance without fanfare or even recognition.

He was rejected by those he came to save.
For He grew up before Him like a tender shoot, And like a root out of parched ground ; He has no stately form or majesty That we should look upon Him, Nor appearance that we should be attracted to Him. He was despised and forsaken of men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and like one from whom men hide their face He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. (Isaiah 53:2-3)

When Isaiah said he was forsaken of men, he used the Hebrew word “chadel” (pronounced khaw-dale'). Quite literally, that he was rejected or deserted. Did you ever think about the word desert? We use it in the noun form as a desolate place, a place that is lacking something. In the verb form, it is to leave without intent of return. Jesus was left, with no one having the intent of returning to him and yet, he saved them…just as he saves us today.

I fully believe that we are living very close to the end times. What very close means, I don’t have any idea, but I see the impending return of the Christ who was deserted the last time he came. Oh, but this time will be different.

Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. (1 Corinthians 15:51-52)

Those who have put their faith in Jesus will be changed into eternal beings to live with Him forever. We will be changed and Jesus, who previously came unnoticed, will ride in victoriously in His royal right. Everyone will know who He is and will bow at his feet. All Glory be to God.

For thus says the LORD, who created the heavens (He is the God who formed the earth and made it, He established it and did not create it a waste place, but formed it to be inhabited), "I am the LORD, and there is none else.”I have not spoken in secret, in some dark land; I did not say to the offspring of Jacob, 'Seek Me in a waste place '; I, the LORD, speak righteousness, declaring things that are upright. "Gather yourselves and come; Draw near together, you fugitives of the nations; they have no knowledge, who carry about their wooden idol And pray to a god who cannot save.”Declare and set forth your case; Indeed, let them consult together. Who has announced this from of old? Who has long since declared it? Is it not I, the LORD? And there is no other God besides Me, a righteous God and a Savior; there is none except Me. "Turn to Me and be saved, all the ends of the earth; For I am God, and there is no other. "I have sworn by Myself, The word has gone forth from My mouth in righteousness And will not turn back, That to Me every knee will bow, every tongue will swear allegiance. "They will say of Me, 'Only in the LORD are righteousness and strength.' Men will come to Him, and all who were angry at Him will be put to shame. "In the LORD all the offspring of Israel will be justified and will glory." (Isaiah 45:18-25)

Hebrews 10

2010-08-03T16:02:00.001-04:00

Many believers are familiar with Hebrew 11. It has been dubbed the "Hall of Faith," recording the heroes of Christianity for their faithfulness. Hebrews 11:1 is a common memory verse for Sunday school classes,

Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see

But like many of the books in the New Testament, Hebrews is a letter. Reading that letter in full rather than split into later instated chapters, we find a wonderful cohesiveness and little nuggets of revelation. Hebrews 10 is full of so much information that I don't feel qualified to provide much of an exegesis. However, I would like to highlight some points that struck my interest.

Chapter 10 begins by telling the short comings of the Law, in and of itself. It clearly reveals that it is simply "a shadow of the good things that are coming" (v.1). We find the Gospel in verses 5-7.

"Therefore, when Christ came into the world, he said: "Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me; with burnt offerings and sin offerings you were not pleased. Then I said, 'Here I am--it is written about me in the scroll-- I have come to do your will, O God.' "

This is a direct quote from Psalm 40:6-8 (I recommend reading the entire chapter…it's a great cry to God and His faithfulness). I think my favorite word in this quote is, "then." Everything before that word is pointing toward our hopeless state. My husband owns a shirt that reads, "Religion is mans attempt to get to God. Christianity is God coming to us." These verses state the sad situation of the world; we cannot do enough to get into heaven and to get to God. But "then"…see why it is such a sweet word? Then Jesus came to do the will of God and to become the eternal sacrifice for our sins.

In Jewish tradition, the work of the priests is never done. In verse 11 you see this in the author's description,

Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins

They can't rest because there is always atonement to be made, but (another wonderful word in this passage) just wait for the next three verses (emphasis added below).

But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God. Since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool, because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy

The High Priest, Jesus, made a sacrifice through his blood on the cross, which paid for all sin, for all time! Because the job was done, we find scripture telling us that He is sitting at the right hand of God. The job is done, the debt has been paid. That is the Gospel.

It is because of these things that as we go into verse 19 we can have "confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus." It is because of these things that we can "hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful." (v. 23)

This is what precedes the "hall of faith" and is the reason why faith is then emphasized. Because the debt has been paid and we can come into the presence of the Living God without fear, how can we have anything but faith?

A Dump Truck of Blessings

2010-08-02T08:01:00.000-04:00

Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Psalm 68:19 KJV

I don't often read the King James Version, or even the New King James Version of the Bible. I know many people who believe that it is the most accurate translation and some who believe that it is the only accurate translation. Either way, that being said, there are some verses that strike a cord differently when read in a different version than you typically read.

Psalms is a good one to read in the King James. Not for any particular reason than it is nostalgic for me. I don't feel that Psalm 23 is quite the same or as poignant unless read in King James (blame Ms. Cobb, who was the middle school Sunday school teacher at the Methodist church I attended. She was in her 80's at that point and loved by everyone. However, she had us memorize our verses in the King James or NKJ). But even within the Psalms I am familiar with, God speaks. Don't you love it when you see a verse that isn't new, but that morning (or night) when you read it, something changes.

I am not a morning person (I can already hear my parents and husband both chiming in "amens" of agreement). But lately, I have discovered that if I get up early for something (in this case, dropping my husband off at the airport for an early morning flight), I am not able to fall back asleep like I used to. I could probably blame it on the pregnancy if I wanted, though I think my daughter has very little to do with it (now my not being able to sleep through the night, I will definitely blame on her...even more so after she is born). But even with feeling worn, eyes still squinted from fatigue, God utilizes these rare early mornings to speak to me in His Word. What a precious way to make a beautiful morning.

This morning is was a single verse. I am sure that I have read it thousands of times being that Psalms is a favorite of mine when I have anything that is stressing me, worrying me, or lingering in my mind. Still, this verse spoke all the volumes in the world.

Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Psalm 68:19 KJV

Did you ever think about the fact that God daily loads us down with benefits (think blessings here)? I love the wording in this. When I see words like load, I think of a dump truck. I do not like driving behind dump trucks. They are always loaded down with their cargo. With my little car behind them, I'm always worried that something will fly out of the overflowing back and hit me. Now switch that to God's blessings. Man, wouldn't it be great to be around someone who was so loaded down with blessings from God that one of them flew off of them and smacked you in the face?! That would be awesome! And that's where I see Christians taking this for granted. God has given us a bounty of blessings that we tend to hoard but what we miss is the second part of this verse...

even the God of our salvation.

wow. I mean, seriously...stop and read that again. God daily gives us this GIANT LOAD of blessings...even the God of our salvation. The greatest of all blessings is our Salvation through Jesus Christ and we are selfishly keeping it all to ourselves.
Romans 1:16 says,

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes

God has blessed us beyond what we deserve or could ever earn but the paramount gift that he gives us is our salvation. It is the very thing that will keep us from eternal separation and eternal damnation and we aren't on every rooftop shouting to the world about this fantastic gift that is for every living soul! Paul tells us that it is the power of God and still...we keep it to ourselves.

Maybe we need to be a little more like those dump trucks I'm so scared to drive behind. God has blessed us abundantly, let a few of those blessings fly out and smack some people in the face...and share with them the power of the God who gave them to you in the first place.

Some thoughts from my morning devotion

2010-07-27T07:49:00.000-04:00

Thoughts from Acts 3:

1. Focus on requests.
a. Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the ninth hour, the hour of prayer. 2 And a man who had been lame from his mother's womb was being carried along, whom they used to set down every day at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, in order to beg alms of those who were entering the temple. 3 When he saw Peter and John about to go into the temple, he began asking to receive alms. 4 But Peter, along with John, fixed his gaze on him and said, "Look at us!" 5 And he began to give them his attention, expecting to receive something from them (Acts 3:1-5)
b. The man saw them but it wasn’t until he gave his full attention to them could he receive anything.

2. Expect an answer.
a. And he began to give them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. 6 But Peter said, "I do not possess silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you: In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene -walk!" 7 And seizing him by the right hand, he raised him up; and immediately his feet and his ankles were strengthened. (Acts 3:5-7)
b. This man had been crippled from the day he was born. His only way of living was for others to move him to a place where he could beg from others. It says that he saw Peter and John and began asking for money, but it wasn’t until he gave them his full attention that he was able to receive the incredible gift that they were about to give him.

3. Praise God, regardless of the outcome.
a. With a leap he stood upright and began to walk; and he entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. 9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God; 10 and they were taking note of him as being the one who used to sit at the Beautiful Gate of the temple to beg alms, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him. (Acts 3: 8-10)
b. This man acknowledged where the gift came from and opened the door (in verses 11-26) for Peter to share the Gospel.

When I am not focused, God will not bless me the same way he would if I had given him my full attention. Not because he doesn’t want to, but because I am not allowing myself to be open to receive that gift.

How many times have we missed a blessing from God because we wouldn’t give Him our full attention?

The joys of a Mommy Brain :-)

2010-07-26T12:16:00.001-04:00

Ok, so I know I quite literally just finished talking about my black, white, and green visions but I stumbled upon the cutest bedding set that, if my baby is a girl, I may have to alter my vision (but just slightly) :-)

The bedding is by Glenna Jean (which I am quickly determining that I love) and is called Kirby. There are different textures with a mix of "avacado, rasberry, and ash" (green, a pinkish red, and silver in layman's terms) But oh my goodness! I love it!

Dreaming in Black and White (and Green!)

2010-07-26T11:34:00.000-04:00

Tomorrow we find out if my baby is a boy or girl. I am SOOO excited!!! Along with the excitement of the baby, I have jumped head first into ideas for the nursery. So far, I think I know at least the basics (furniture, color, basic design).

To start with, I really like this crib (in espresso)... It has a nice shape to it without appearing to look like a little prison (which some cribs do!) I'm leaning toward the espresso because the room has cream walls and carpet. Unfortunately that's one of the joys of living in an apartment. I am thinking about painting one wall BRIGHT green or pink (obviously dependent on boy or girl) and adding black circle wall appliques. Did I mention that this is not your typical nursery? :-)

I also really like the idea of having a dresser that I can use as a changing table as well. I don't really see the point of having a piece of furniture that I only use on occasion and then the baby out grows in a year. I would love to get an older dresser at a consignment and refurbish it with a new stain and drawer knobs.

Then, I was looking at bedding along these lines... Though the only thing missing with this set is that I would love to incorporate some polka-dots.
For example, this bedding uses the polka-dots but I think the way they have the damask may be too dark. But I love the use of stripes and polka-dots together.

Then just to make it even more challenging, there are bedding sets like this one that I love and would be adorable in a little girls room. Of course, this one is more expensive than I want to spend on bedding (though if someone got it for me as a present I wouldn't mind) haha?

All this to show that I love the "nesting" part of pregnancy. I adore looking up ideas and then implementing them in our little space that will be transformed from an incomplete office into an adorable and wonderfully inviting nursery for our little one. My husband makes fun of me because I am so eager to start working on the nursery and I am only 20 weeks along. I just remind him that the sooner I have it together, the sooner it is done. :-) Besides, who wants to put furniture together when they are 8 or 9 months along?! Oh, this is all so much fun. I can't wait to see how it turns out and what my final decisions will be!

Pursuing Our Creator Uninhibited

2010-07-20T14:54:00.001-04:00

I'm currently reading A.W. Tozer's Pursuit of God. When picking out something to read, I was looking for a piece that would challenge me. I wanted to read something that caused me to think beyond myself and push my understandings. Tozer is good for that. The entire premise of the book is to challenge the religiosity that we have accepted as "norm" and continue to seek after our Creator because, quite simply, that is what we were created to do.

I find it interesting when people who claim to be Christians (myself not excluded) take the gifts that we have been given by our Creator and they begin to take the place of our Creator. Like I said, I am as guilty as anyone on this front, especially with gifts like family and friends. Tozer puts it like this:

We are often hindered from giving up our treasures to the Lord out of fear for their safety; this is especially true when those treasures are loved relatives and friends. But we need have no such fears. Our Lord came not to destroy but to save. Everything is safe which we commit to Him, and nothing is really safe which is not so committed.

Christian teachings tell us that Jesus told his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.
24 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. 25 What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?" (Luke 9:23-25) We cling to ourselves. We grasp at those "things" that we claim make us who we are. But aren't we nothing without Christ? Without the God who created us and seeks a personal and intimate relationship with us, we are nothing, and more than that, we are eternally lost.

Tozer uses the story of Abraham as an example for this sacrifice. He proposes that (understandably) Abraham treated Isaac in such a way that he began to take God's place in Abraham's heart. Tozer believes that this is the reason that God calls Abraham to sacrifice his only son. While we know that this serves to represent what God would later do through Jesus, Tozer presents an interesting point. When we possess those gifts from God, how much room are we leaving for God to work through us, sometimes utilizing or even stripping us of those gifts? After completing the impossible task given to him, God provides Abraham with a sacrificial lamb to take the place of his son. Abraham was a wealthy man in worldly standards (in that time, a large flock, men to work the animals, ect.) but I love how Tozer puts it, "He had everything, but he possessed nothing."

Are we willing to let go of those gifts we hold so dear in order to pursue our Heavenly Father first and foremost? Are we willing to be like Abraham and sacrifice the very fulfillment of God's promise to be loyal and obedient to God? What gift am I putting before the King of Creation?

New CD recommendations

2010-07-20T11:18:00.000-04:00

Kyle and I were gifted a $50 card to Amazon (always wonderful in my estimation). So last night, Kyle was looking through and sampling different Christian hip hop, R&B, and reggae albums when I suggested he try to find them on Amazon (we did have a gift card after all) :-) So we ended up getting several new albums (direct MP3 downloads).

One was Anthony Evans. Anthony Evans has this wonderful way of taking your "standard" praise songs and inflecting just enough into them to make them new again. Because of that, we also got an older CD of his, The Bridge

We also got Bekah Shae's newest CD (which is amazingly sweet!) There are incredible beats that draw you in to her music, but what captures you are her lyrics. They are simple in their truth but beautifully put together. I have loved all of her albums thus far and this one is no different.

I know that a lot of people have different tastes in music styles and these are more R&B but they hold such beautiful truths from scripture. It is so refreshing to be able to listen music that is enjoyable to listen to and not feel like you have to shower and repent after listening to it. We are definitely blessed by this sector of our music industry.

For Better or Worse

2010-06-14T15:14:00.001-04:00

I had a heart troubling experience the other day. A friend shared that she had just learned that she has a disease that was contracted during her time of "rebellion." It has been some time since her life turned around and her heart turned back to God. She has hopes for a husband, and a family, and a ministry. But now, she feels like God is punishing her for her past. Now, she can't get her head around how any of her dreams are possible. Now, she feels like crawling into a hole and doing nothing. She is mad at God and is having a hard time grasping how He can be good when she now has to deal with this.

Isaiah 43 reads,

"1 But now, this is what the LORD says-- he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel:
"Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. 3 For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I give Egypt for your ransom, Cush and Seba in your stead. 4 Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you, I will give nations in exchange for you, and peoples in exchange for your life. 5
Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west. 6 I will say to the north, 'Give them up!' and to the south, 'Do not hold them back.' Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth-- 7 everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made."" (Emphasis added)

Israel knew what it was to be persecuted and to feel like they had been issued the raw end of the deal. But in this short passage God is reminding them that not only was he the author of life, but specifically created them as particular people unto Himself. The same way that we as believers are "created in Christ Jesus" (Ephesians 2:10)

God was giving them assurance that the troubles that they faced would not overwhelm them and that He was there with them. He was doing this because he loved them. My friend was asking for mercy, but God has already seen to that for her (see James 2:13). We are told in 1 John 4 that we have been given visual proof of God's love for us.

"This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins."

It was hard to see a friend in such pain. She didn't want to talk to God but when I asked if she still believed that He was all-sovereign, she said yes. She knows in her head that God is looking out for her, but right now, her heart is wondering how on earth God could allow this to happen. I believe that this is a struggle that everyone faces to some extent. Whether discovering that you now have a disease from poor choices previously made, or you have a family member that passed away at the prime of their life; maybe you didn't get into the school that you were positive that you should go to or a boyfriend broke your heart. It doesn't matter how severe the pain, we all face trials that cause us to question, "Why would God allow this?"

David is a prime example. Starting as a minuscule shepherd boy, he won favor with the king by defeating Goliath single handedly. However, he did not remain in the king's good graces because David had been anointed as the next king of Israel. Not only did he have to prove that he was worthy to serve the king (continually defeating more armies than anyone before him), but he then had to run to save his life as the king wanted him dead. Even after David becomes king, he struggles with adultery, murder, and deceitful children and wives. David's life was "unfair" in many ways, but he loved God and is remembered as a "man after God's own heart."

Psalm 66 says, "8 Praise our God, all peoples, let the sound of his praise be heard; 9 he has preserved our lives and kept our feet from slipping. 10 For you, God, tested us; you refined us like silver. 11 You brought us into prison and laid burdens on our backs. 12 You let people ride over our heads; we went through fire and water, but you brought us to a place of abundance….16 Come and hear, all you who fear God; let me tell you what he has done for me. 17 I cried out to him with my mouth; his praise was on my tongue. 18 If I had cherished sin in my heart, the LORD would not have listened; 19 but God has surely listened and has heard my prayer. 20 Praise be to God, who has not rejected my prayer or withheld his love from me!" (Emphasis added)

David knew trials. He knew hurt and pain and suffering. Yet, despite that, he praised God, who loved him. He recognized that while God took him through different difficulties, He brought him "to a place of abundance." God blessed David's devotion and used the suffering he endured to strengthen him and prepare him for the blessings that God gave him. Ultimately, the same way that a husband and wife pledge to love and support each other "for better or worse," God will be by your side, guiding you through the good times and bad.

Delve Deeper…

Read Romans 5:1-11, 16-20

How can believers in Christ have hope in times of trouble?
Why does God sometimes allow suffering in our life?
How do our sins compare to the sacrifice that God made?

Re-read Isaiah 43:1-5

What trials are you facing right now?
How is God with you in those trials and what assurance do you have in God's promises?

*Look for "promise scriptures." What verses can you find that tell of God's love for you and promise to be with you and help you through the hard times?*

(There are A LOT! Trouble getting started? Try looking in Psalms to start with…J)

In Times of Trials

2010-06-14T14:37:00.001-04:00

*This was previously written this past January, but only now posted.*

In times of trials, pain and tribulation, humans have a tendency to do one of two things:

Turn to God
Blame God

Those that turn to God can seek his peace and understanding. They are able to better grapple with the terror of what they have just endured. But those who blame God find bitterness and hate. They struggle with their inner desires to have everything fixed and to be able to have a definitive reason why this happened.

My heart is crying for Haiti today. The disaster that literally shook their foundations has left a needy country in even greater need. I am reminded how good Americans have it. Even in our dark hours, like after the hurricanes, we have resources that are within the country and (as a whole) a government that doesn't tuck tail and disappear.

When hurricane Katrina struck the bayous of the Southeast, people were killed, homes were lost, lives were forever changed. But now, five years later, the New Orleans Saints have a Super Bowl contention (which they won!),
people are living normal lives, buildings are re-built and life has continued forward, much due to the compassion of fellow countrymen coming alongside and lending a hand where they could. In Haiti, no one is seeking to serve, they are seeking to survive. Aid services are being warned of looters and possibly violent people who are just trying to meet their basic survival needs. The government officials are nowhere to be found, leaving the people on their own.

My quiet times currently have me reading Job. I've read it before, knowing that Job was chosen because of his love and dedication to God. Satan challenges that it is only because God has so greatly blessed Job that he serves him. To prove otherwise, Satan is allowed to wreck some havoc. Job loses his children, his livestock, even his own health. And yet, "in all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing." (Job 1:22, TNIV)

Job acknowledged that God had the right to allow these things to happen to him. Was he happy about it? No, of course not. Job was actually very vocal about how much he hated what he was going through, but he did not sin by cursing God because of it.

**Side note, I wanted to go ahead and post this, despite being almost 6 months after it was written, because the post I am currently writing ties in directly and can give a little more credence to trusting God in times of tribulation.**

Direction in Parenting

2010-05-17T18:40:00.003-04:00

I am currently 12 weeks pregnant. As much as I am ecstatic, I'm facing the pending responsibility that comes with parenting. Sure we know about "children obey your parents," or "honor your father and your mother" (this was even the first command that was given with a promise..."that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth" Exodus 20:12 referenced in Ephesians 6:1-3), however in Ephesians 6 it continues, "Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the LORD." (v4)

Parents are told to bring up their child in the "training and instruction of the LORD." It's interesting because I can say that I have every intention to do that very thing. Kyle and I will discuss how we will instruct, discipline, and reward our child. We intend to be a team and to not undermine one another in the raising of this baby. However, I have to laugh because the only thing running through my mind right now is the main lesson point from youth last night. Andy Stanley said it this way, "Your direction, not your intention, determines your destination."

We can have great intentions for our lives, for our children's lives, even for the lives of our ministries, but that will not point us in the direction of our destination. God gives us inspiration, He gives us dreams and desires. And all of this is for a reason: to point us in the direction of the destination He has planned for us.

While I am still slightly intimidated at the realities of parenting, I can rest assured that making strides to raise my child in a Godly manner and pointing my direction on the destination of becoming a parent that reflects the love of God, I can rest assured in faith that I serve a God who will honor that.

Forgotten God

2010-05-10T12:46:00.004-04:00

I'm currently reading Francis Chan's newest book, "Forgotten God." The challenge I am finding is that, while reading, I am purposely slowing down and reading in fragments the try and wrap my head around it all. It is not "difficult" information but I am still having a difficult time with it.
Holy Spirit has always been a mystery. In fact, we're told in Deuteronomy 29:29, "The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law." The truth is there will always be things that we can not understand no matter how hard we study, search, and seek. But in that same truth, that is a blessing! Who would want to waste time worshiping a God that you completely understood? There would be no reason to worship in the first place!
My challenge is not in accepting the fact that Holy Spirit is mysterious (it's hard not to be mysterious when you are as much an individual as a part of a complete Trinity). It's not even in understanding his purpose. Even when I was younger, I knew the Holy Spirit as the intercessor, petitioning to God on my behalf. I knew that Jesus told the disciples that it was better that he leave so that Holy Spirit could come. And when he came, he gave each person a gift to serve God, which he still does every time someone asks Jesus into their heart. I think what I am finding difficult is the conviction of my use of His gift.
Matthew 5:16 says, "In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven." (emphasis added) I believe that is natural (good) to want to receive recognition and edification from others. Receiving acknowledgment allows us to know that we are appreciated and that the works we are doing aren't null and void. HOWEVER, the gifts of the Spirit are for God's glory. If I am writing to a crowd, using the gift of prophesy, then I should not want people to look at me, but rather Christ. The purpose of the gifts of the Spirit are for the edification of the Church (1 Cor 14:12)
So my question to myself (and to you) is, are you seeking to point others to yourself or to the Cross of Jesus Christ? Are your actions bringing people into closer relationship with God or focusing them further on the things of this world? Do you see your purpose for the Church?
I'll leave you with a question from Francis Chan that struck me more than I thought it would. "Ask yourself, Do I believe the church needs me like a body needs a mouth?" (pp 91, Forgotten God).

Tired

2010-05-05T21:24:00.003-04:00

Tired. It has been a pretty relevant word in my life recently. With a 10 week old baby in my womb, growing away, I have been physically tired. With a new job, trying to learn all of the ins and outs, I have been mentally tired. Then, I realized today in a flood of hormone induced emotions that I am spiritually tired.

Because I work with youth, I often try to front when I am feeling spiritually tired. I want them to see Jesus through my life and hear Him in my words. I want them to see that being a Christian doesn't have to be boring or just their parent's religion, but their own personal relationship that will be as unique as they are. But that's where I miss the point.

It's ok for them to know that I am spiritually tired! In fact, it could be a good thing.

Jesus said, "Come to me all you who are weary and weak and I will give you rest." We're told to "do not worry about anything, but pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank Him for what He has done. If you do this, you will experience God's peace which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand." (Phil 4:6-7)

You see, I can't do it on my own. In my strongest times, I am not enough. I can not meet every need that I have. I can not fill in the gaps when I am utterly exhausted physically, mentally, and spiritually. Only Jesus can. He is the living water that meets all of my needs and He, alone, is enough.

Lord, thank you for this reminder tonight. It was what I needed to hear. For it is about your glory, not what I can do, but what you continue to do in and through me. Hallelujah, my heart commands my soul to sing. Hallelujah, I offer you everything. Hallelujah, Lord I give all that I am. Hallelujah, for the Alpha, Omega, the Great I AM.

Just blowing in the wind

2009-12-17T15:28:00.002-05:00

I had the unfortunate experience today of being told that the work that I thought I was doing well with, is not good enough. I was told that I am not consistent enough in my productivity and that I do not deserve to be paid the same amount that my position is worth. I was insulted by being required to put on training wheels for a bike I have ridden for 6 months now. To add further insult to injury, the people that I thought I could confide...I can't. Now everything I say is reported and everything I do is scrutinized. For the past three months I have tried to be patient and understanding. For the past three months I have allowed them to bobble me around like a volley ball, trying to decide where they were going to put me. I have been patiently waiting to hear that I was doing well. I will not hear that. Instead I get to remain underpaid, under appreciated, and over scrutinized.
What hurts the most is not about the salary, annoyed, but not hurt or mad. I am hurt that I spoke to people in confidence as friends and they betrayed my trust. I hurt that I now feel like I have look over my back to ensure that I don't have my feet cut out from under me.
God I'm tired. I am stressed out and don't know what else to do. I know your word. I know your promises. I just don't understand how people can treat each other like this, and then lie to my face. I don't understand how you can so concerned about yourself that you are willing to sacrifice your ethics and throw your "friend" under the bus. How can people just stand there and not stand up for each other? I am exasperated by my situation but it just brings to light those who are dealing with the same instances in greater travesty. My trials are minor, but it infuriates me that people are so apathetic to stand for each other. Galatians 6 tells us to not think better of ourselves than we are and to bear each other burdens. Why can't people get a little backbone and not just sway with wind as is blows one way to only change direction?
God give me discretion.

Nothing is Impossible

2009-10-22T16:47:00.002-04:00

Philippians 4:13 was one of the first scriptures I memorized as a kid. “I can do all things through Christ who is my strength.” Or “Nothing is impossible with God.” Both speak to amazing opportunities to trump the world’s idea of success. Essentially, we are able to break all the rules of nature because we serve a God who created that nature in the first place.

Impossibility is something that everyone faces. Sometimes it seems like everyone is against you and no matter what you do, it is simply impossible. Perhaps a family member has a fatal disease and the doctor has that “it’s just a matter of time now” face, do you believe that the God you serve can heal them? Now please understand me here. I know that there are some “pastors” who tell you that if you just believe enough it will happen and if it doesn’t, then, I guess you don’t have enough faith. That is not what I am trying to say. Your faith is a very key factor. “If you have the faith of a mustard seed nothing will be impossible for you.” (Matthew) The difference is that faith isn’t the only determinant. God’s will is what will determine whether or not a sickness is relieved. God’s will is what will determine what is impossible and what is simply a matter of stepping out and grabbing it.
The point I am trying to make is that the impossible and completely improbable situations are perfect opportunities for God to reveal himself and prove his glory and majesty. Those situations have nothing to do with our assumed abilities and everything to do with showing the world who God is.

Take Gideon versus the Midianites for example (found in Judges 6). The Israelites were outnumbered to begin with. Then to defy the odds further, God tells Gideon that there are too many men! Too many?! They were already the favored looser and still God instructed that all men who were afraid to leave. With only 1/3 of the men he started with, Gideon looks again to God. But still there are too many so the men go to drink from the river. All who lap it straight up like a dog are out, only those who cupped the water and drank from their hands remained. Gideon had just gone from an army of 32,000 to 300. In the scales of probability, this one is a no brainer. The Israelites were going to lose. But instead they win. God delivered them and they conquered their enemy so that God would receive the glory. “You have too many warriors with you. If I let all of you fight the Midianites, the Israelites will boast to me that they saved themselves by their own strength.” God depleted their resources so that it appeared completely impossible by their own strength, and it was. But with God, “nothing is impossible.”

There are times when it may appear that the stakes are set up against me, I am predestined to loose. But, what if, God allowed me to be weakened that He might receive the glory for my victory. What if I have nothing to do with it? That's what it comes down to in the end; in my own strength, I can do nothing, but with God, nothing is impossible.

The Big Picture unseen

2009-09-26T18:08:00.003-04:00

Change is inevitable. I know this and yet I believe that it is something that most people fight on some level. Of course there are those people who thrive in a changing environment, but even they enjoy a certain level of predictability in their lives. Either way, I always thought that I (as a whole) dealt with change pretty well. That was before this past week.

I have been working for Wycliffe Associates for the past 3 months. I was hired, to my surprise and joy, into a full time position as the Administrative Coordinator for the Recruiting Department. My first aspect of my job was to help the VP of recruiting with a number of different tasks. The second part was to meet the administrative needs of the division in a number of different ways (whether it meant being coordinator for a retreat or running background checks for our education volunteers). It has been a welcome challenge and I have enjoyed learning new tasks that I am capable of.

This past week the Recruiting Department received a shock that could have registered on the Richter scale. Our VP of Recruiting, the man who had hired every single staff member in the department, had been asked to step down. Needless to say, the remainder of the week was dealt with shock and disbelief. We didn't understand what was going on or what would be next.

The first verse I ever remember memorizing is Proverbs 3:5-6, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Lean not on your own understandings, but in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight." How relevant in times when we just don't see what is going on. Likewise, in a meeting on Thursday afternoon, one of the staff members worded it this way: If we knew what God knew we would pray that these things would happen.

The very clear reality is that we don't know what God's "big picture" is, but he does! Kind of like a scene from a movie that says you only see a piece of yarn at a time, God is looking at this great tapestry of his masterpiece. He knows how ear strand is woven together to become a work of art. The big picture that we can't see or comprehend.

It is a hard time for me at work right now. I admit that openly. But the truth is that I have a God and Savior who is worthy of my faith and trust. No, I do not know if I will have a job in the next 60-90 days, but God does. He is already preparing the way for me to either continue in my current position or to move on to the next step. Either way, I trust Him because my God is a God who keeps His promises.

How great is our God!

A Cup thought

2009-09-17T20:53:00.004-04:00

Half full or half empty? This phrasing is often used to determine whether a person is an optimist or a pessimist. In his book, In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day, Mark Batterson puts it this way, are we worshipers or complainers?

There is a very distinct reality that God is good. I have to laugh when I say that, not because I doubt it, but because there is a song I learned as a child that comes to mind whenever I hear it. It says, "God is good, all the time. He put a song of praise in this heart of mine. God is good, God is good, all the time." We are a blessed people. And often when we recognize that we are blessed, we welcome the idea to recognize that God is good.But the reality is the same, even when everything seems to be wrong and everything you had is taken away from you, God is still good. And because God is infinity good, he deserves to be worshiped.

Think about it this way, those who have faced the most adversity have often times been blessed with the best experiences to create a ministry.

I will end with a couple points from Mark Batterson (same book, highly recommend it BTW):
--Opportunity often looks like insurmountable obstacles
--Prayer is less about changing circumstances and more about changing our perspective.

Lightning from the Throne-Just a little thought

2009-09-01T09:38:00.001-04:00

I love the description of heaven's throne room found in Revelations 4. The grandeur and majesty spews from every word, every detailed description. It paints a detailed description into our minds of the awesome wonders we have to look forward to at the foot of our Lord God.

Last night, while Kyle and I were driving home, we had the distinct pleasure of our very own electric art show. A storm had passed over while we were at dinner but the lightning was still active and alive. There were flashed that lit up the sky, stretches the reached from cloud to cloud and several Zeus-like strikes that went straight from heaven to the ground of the earth (or whatever building happened to be in its path). While watching this symphony of light, Revelations 4 filled my mind and I was in awe. "From the throne came flashes of lightning and the rumble of thunder" (Rev 4:5)

In that moment, I was gifted with a small view of God. He has promised that we are able to know him, though we will never be able to understand or fully comprehend him. In that moment, I knew God a little deeper and my reverence grew because of it. If the sky like I saw last night originated from the throne of God…wow! How great and mighty is my God! I look forward to the next glimpse I am given, that I can grow even more.

Simply Ministries

2009-08-14T16:09:00.000-04:00

Galatians 6:14-16 (The Message)
14-16For my part, I am going to boast about nothing but the Cross of our Master, Jesus Christ. Because of that Cross, I have been crucified in relation to the world, set free from the stifling atmosphere of pleasing others and fitting into the little patterns that they dictate. Can't you see the central issue in all this? It is not what you and I do—submit to circumcision, reject circumcision. It is what God is doing, and he is creating something totally new, a free life! All who walk by this standard are the true Israel of God—his chosen people. Peace and mercy on them!

This is what Simply Ministries is about. We want to set teenage girls free from the pressures that the world has put on them to be better, to be perfect. It is about simplifying the noise and bringing forward the simple truth found in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In Him alone, we are a new creation. In Him alone, we are free to simply be who we have been created to be.
Simply Ministries is (soon to be) an organization to give hope to teenage girls nationwide through a website of encouragement, insight, and devotions. I am in the process of developing a format that will allow you to submit your thoughts, prayers, and questions and allow other Christian women/teenagers to offer their advice and experience in return. I am creating a link that will also provide daily devotions to offer you verity (truth) straight from the Word of God. My hope and prayer is that this will be a tool for both teenage girls and their parents to ultimately deepen their relationship with God.
Too often we try to complicate who God is. He is God and He is holy. He is the author and creator and in most ways, He is very complex (far beyond our understanding), but he doesn’t hide himself from us. When we ask, he has promised to show who he is to each and every one of us. We hear so much garbage and distraction in our world that we sometimes allow God to get mixed into the middle of all of it. But just as it says in Galatians, because we are set free by the blood that Jesus spilt on the cross, we don’t have to worry about pleasing the world or fitting into a tiny box of what we are supposed to do and become. The possibilities are endless, because our God is bigger than any expectation the world can throw at us.
As this ministry becomes a reality, I look forward to sharing it with you. I appreciate all the prayers and encouragement by my friends and family and I would appreciate each of your prayers as well. I ask for guidance as God directs my path (Proverbs 3:5,6) and takes me out of my comfort zone. This is His ministry and all I want is for it to give Him the honor and glory that He so rightfully deserves.

The Dash of No Regrets

2009-08-10T15:45:00.001-04:00

This morning's devotions were focused on "living in the dash." This phrasing is not new to me but reminded me of the importance of living for this day. Several years ago, my pastor gave a sermon on this exact topic. If you are unfamiliar with it, the "dash" is referring to the line between your birth and death on a tombstone. That single line represents your life. Every success, every failure, all the joy and all the pain; it is all contained in a single line upon your death. So what, right? What is the big deal? The point is how you live your life. America has become filled with a multitude of work-a-holics. Students are forced to fill every ounce of their time with school, sports, music, and other extracurricular activities in hopes of college acceptance. People are choosing to put work as their number one priority rather than family, friends, even God. But when the "dash" is over, and there is a date marking our closing chapter, are people going to remember your life for how you lived or are they going remember you just never having the time?

I have always said that God will be my number one, and family my number two. Work is somewhere else down the line, but not at the top, even despite loving my job. The reality is, if I am not there, the office will still move forward, business will still get done. If I am not there for my family and friends, I will miss some of the most precious moments that can never be recreated again. Even Jesus said, "Come to me all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28) God rested on the seventh day of creation (Genesis 2:1-3). And unlike the priests of the Old Testament whose work was never done, the New Testament shows Jesus sitting at the right hand of God indicating Him resting because the work is done (Luke 22:69, Ephesians 1:20, Colossians 3:1). We are created to live, glorifying God and enjoying all of His blessings. So many are too focused on reaching "financial stability" or the "next big promotion" or whatever else comes by. Too few are enjoying life, using their vacation time to experience the majesty of out Creator or the fellowship with one another. This is not to say that we should goof off, use all of our time not getting any work done. It is simply to cause you to think about your priorities and what point you want to be at the end of your dash. My prayer is that I can say that I lived to the greatest ability, I worked for the Kingdom, and I loved deeply—having no regrets as I move into eternity with my Father.

Live you dash to the fullest—with no regrets.

Faith even when it Hurts

2009-08-04T15:35:00.001-04:00

This past January, I went to the emergency room with severe stomach pain (accompanied with other not so pleasant symptoms). We were worried at the time that it was problems with my appendix and after lying around for 8 hours and accumulating a bill for (what it felt like) every person that walked by me, let alone did anything to me, I was told it was an infection. They wrote me a prescription and sent me home.

Well, since that time I have dealt with periodic pain in my stomach and this past month it has become frequent enough, and annoying enough, that I went in to see the doctor. She did blood work, urinalysis, ect. The office called me and said, it was an infection and they called in an antibiotic.

That brings us to this week. I still have pain (mild to severe stabbing pain) and this time when they check, I did not have an infection (hah!). My blood work was clean, nothing was showing up. So they wrote a referral to a specialist.

All of this is to say this: I admit that not knowing is always worse than having an answer. It scares me to know that something is not right, but the doctor can’t figure it out. But I read that when I fear and doubt, I am doubting God. When I worry, I am disobeying and demeaning God. Jesus said in Matthew, “So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32For the pagans run after all these things and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.” (Matthew 6 31-32) We are later told in Philippians “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (4:6-7)

We have an omnipotent God. He already knows what is going on and He is in complete control. I don’t know what the pain in my stomach is. I don’t like it, and God never said I have to, but he has told me to trust him with it. I trust that whatever the reason for me to endure this pain for over ½ a year will be to His glory alone and that is all that matters.

An American Psalm

2009-07-28T22:17:00.002-04:00

This is something I wrote about a month ago and wanted to share. I pray that it is a blessing.

~~My prayer is to be an encourager of truth. I have been given the gift of prophesy, so Lord, I ask that you give me the wisdom to be able to utilize it effectively for your Kingdom. I know that I have a tendency to come off as abrasive and abrupt. Soften my delivery Lord, that the truth is delivered but in encouragement and not in condemnation. Help me to know my strengths and use them. Help me to be aware of my weaknesses and lift them to you to strengthen me more. I pray for wisdom and guidance to be a light in the world. Help me to glow in the dark, leading those who are lost into the light of your forgiveness and grace.~~

Psalm of American Redemption

Satan wields his sword, cutting America off at her knees.
He laughs to himself and brews as he thinks,
How dare she claim to be a Christian nation in this hell driven world!
She once held power…
Prestige…
Now look are her in her pitiful mess.
She too will go to hell,
With the rest of this God-forsaken creation…
But still there are people who love you Lord, and we cry out,
Come again and save us from disaster.
Show mercy on us and hear the cries of your children who weep for you.
Do not allow us to fall into the hands of the evil one;
Spare us from his vengeance.
Save us from the fire the spreads to consume us all.
LORD, save us from the mouth of the lion and pit of darkness.
May we praise you for the work you have done, for the promises you keep. For you are the Lord of all.

God is the star!

2009-07-24T15:55:00.003-04:00

How often do you say I? Let's suppose 50, maybe 100 times a day? It's crazy to sit back and realize how "I" focused the world really is. People cut you off in traffic because they are in a hurry. People shoplift because they don't care what the law says and they want something...that second. Classmates cheat because they want a good grade whether or not it is deserved. We live in a society that fosters this "me complex" and rewards instant gratification. It's crazy because our life, our meager existance has nothing to do with us--it is all about God.

James 4:13-14 makes it very clear that our life is fleeting. We are but a vapor-here one moment and gone the next. So if we are here for a moment how can we even begin to argue with a valid point that anything we do is about us? The reality is that life is fragile. We are, by design, infinate creatures. But God, well He is outside of time. He was the one who created time in the first place! Baffling isn't it? But why would we want a God we could fully comprehend. Seems to me that would be a very small and insignificant god if I could wrap my head around all that he is. But that is the point! Our God, the God of creation and of the cross always was, always is and always will be. He is the point. He is the star of the show! 1 Corinthians 10:31 tells us that "whatever you do it all for the glory of God."

Everything in life was created for His pleasure, not our own. So today, reach out to God and let Him handle whatever comes your way--He already has the answer anyway.

Delve Deeper:
1. Read Psalm 67:1-2,
--How can we be assured that God is the main character in our story of life?
2. Read Philippians 4:4,6-8,
--Why would we be commanded to rejoice?
--What things in your life keep you from being joyful?
--How do you respond to stress and worry in your life?
3. Read Matthew 10:32-33, Ecclesiastes 7:2, and Revelation 3:1
--Even upon our death, who will it be about? Who has the final say in our eternity?
--What would people say about you?
--What would God say about you?

~The idea and inspiration of this post needs to be credited to "Crazy Love," by Francis Chan. Many of these ideas can be found in the 2nd chapter (highly recommend reading BTW!) :-) www.crazylovebook.com

2009-07-17T14:45:00.002-04:00

"Then Jesus entered a house, and again a crowd gathered, so that he and his disciples were not even able to eat. When his family heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, "He is out of his mind." Mark 3:20-21

Have you ever faced persecution from your own family? I know for me, I don't think about Jesus' family too often. We hear about his brother James and we of course hear about his mother Mary, but we know very little about his family life. I suppose that is why this verse stood out to me. Jesus waas facing persecution from the religious leaders and even some citizens of the towns he went through. We know about the persecution leading up to the crucifixion, but I don't believe that I noticed in my 15 years of being a Christ follower that there is a distinct verse that points out the persecution that Jesus was facing from home.
This is encouraging to me! Not because of any of my own trials, rather, for those who are scared to accept Jesus because they will be ridiculed by their friends and family. Jesus knows first hand about that pain, that disdain that must have decanted from them in the presence of the very people he was trying to influence and enlighten.
They just did not understand. They were so focused on what was kosher to the time (excuse the Jewish pun) and could not see past to what God was doing. How often do we allow ourselves to 'settle' because of the derision of those who surround us. We allow their contempt toward our calling from God to hinder our obedience. Sadly, some of those people are fellow Christians. Sometimes, we allow religion to take hold and suffocate the Spirit from being able to move throughout our lives and direct our paths to new and greater heights.
Delve Further:
---make a note as you read how often Jesus faces persecution throughout the Gospels.
---Go to BibleGateway.com (an on-line bible/resource)and search on the word, 'persecution'. What do you find?
---What are some of the trials you have faced where you had to choose to go with other people's expectations or go against them and follow the Holy Spirit?
---Pray today that God will give you the courage to 'swim upstream' and follow God, no matter what difficulty those around you may create. Pray for patience to deal with animosity and love to encourage them to chase after the Holy Spirit as well.

More than Friends, Koinonia.

2009-07-10T18:24:00.000-04:00

Question: Who would miss you if you died today?
Once you stop and actually think through that question, I am surprised to think of people in a certain order. I think of my family, of course, but then I begin to think about those people who I consider to be my friends. I know of several who would greatly miss me, but then there are others that I honestly do not know if they would notice. The reality is that friendship matters to God. Even in Ecclesiastes, Solomon, who is considered the wisest man in history, said, “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!” (4: 9-10, emphasis added).
But that seems like an elementary answer. Of course friendship matters to God…So what? ‘So what’ is most people have ignored what a Godly friendship entails. It is more than simply being there to answer the phone in the middle of the night. It is more than being an ear for them to vent to or a shoulder to rest on in the stresses of life. It is about being deeper than skin. It is about sharing your life with another person. In Greek the word is “koinonia,” which means to have a shared life, to have that emotional connection with another person. This is shown beautifully in Acts 2:42, “They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” “Christian fellowship is a key aspect of the Christian life. Believers in Christ are to come together in love, faith, and encouragement. That is the essence of koinonia.” (www.gotquestions.org/koinonia.html)
I find that there are those who understand the depth of koinonia. They are encouragers, sharing their experiences and their life. They share time and meals together, investing in one another with all of their time and resources. They love unconditionally, but do not withhold their Godly correction when the Spirit prompts them to speak out. This is a part that I see many shy away from. Ezekiel was appointed by God as the “watchman” of Israel. In a way, we are all called to be “watchmen” for those we love. In chapter 3 God warns him, “If I warn the wicked, saying, ‘You are under the penalty of death,’ but you fail to deliver the warning, they will die in their sins. And I will hold you responsible…” (v 18, NLT) I know that this appears to be extreme. Of course if their sins would lead to death then we would warn them, we are their friends after all! But that is precisely the point, sin is sin. There is no sin that is greater than another so whether it be keeping a friend from stealing, from cheating on their boyfriend/girlfriend/spouse, lying to get out of work for a day, sleeping with someone they are not married to,…the list goes on and on and on. It doesn’t matter what the sin is, if I know that it is wrong in the eyes of God, then it is my responsibility, as their friend, to say something. To speak out and remind them that what they are choosing to do is wrong. Of course God forgives, but he also has placed us in certain people’s lives (and certain people in our lives) to act as “watchmen” in discernment and love.
In line with that, we must keep in mind the environment we create. Am I showing the world that I am a follower of God and seeking Godly friendships? Or am I showing the world that I don’t care what God says, I am going to choose to do whatever I want by my own desires. We are living testimonies and very often, friends need to see that we are not just spouting out words, but living by God’s standards. We need to create an environment within ourselves that is welcoming to the movement of the Spirit. Because Jesus died, not only, so we could have a relationship with God, but that we could have a relationship with others through God. That too is a part of the miracle of the cross.
So, how good of a friend are you? How good are your friends? DO you have someone that you can confide in for Godly counsel when you need to hear it (even if you don’t want to hear it)? Do you have friends that love you enough to save you from making dire mistakes that could be prevented? I would suggest you take the time to consider it and thank Jesus for putting those people in your life. I know I have.

Outside of "I" and Thinking about "U"

2009-07-09T17:53:00.003-04:00

The office is getting more quiet as the week goes on. My boss leaves tomorrow for a trip through Asia, one of the recruiters is already in Nepal. In a couple months, the recruiters will be going on a trip to Peru. I can not explain in plain words how much I love this organization and being a part of what they are doing. Wycliffe is changing lives. They are doing what Jesus told us to do in what is labeled the "great Commission." We have missions here; we have translation projects around the globe; we have projects in the outer reaches of the areas outside of civilization.
The more I learn about missions, I find I am learning about myself. The reality is simple: It is not about me. Period. What I want, what I need...in the grand scheme of things, it is not about me.
We live in such a selfish culture. We abandon our friends and family when they disagree with us. We turn away from jobs when they aren't bending over backwards to meet all of our demands. We live in a day and age when "I" is the most popular vowel. But what about "u"? Corny, I know, but in all seriousness...what would happen if for 5 minutes out of the day, we took time to not think about ourselves. What if in those 5 minutes, we thought about someone else ("U"). Now, I know that there are millions (billions) of people who give their lives for others. Unfortunately, I also know that in that count, there are those who do it in selfishness. How can that be, you ask. Well, when someone gives money to look good in public...it's all about themselves. When someone goes on a mission trip to feel better about themselves...it is not about those people they are serving. It's hard. I know I struggle with it at times, usually without even realizing that I was doing it. But I want to think outside of "I" and start focusing on "U". I want to train myself to not only ask how people are doing, but to listen to their answer genuinely. I want to not act for my own desires, but take time and think about how those actions are going to affect everyone I am close to.
It is time to break the long running stroke of "I". It is time to wake up and realize how much this world needs Jesus, and let him be the center of attention.

Fasting for Real

2009-06-26T08:20:00.005-04:00

Part of my passion for the written word, it word study. I love to read older texts, discover their original language and unearth new found meaning in the specific words that are used in that passage. This is also one of my favorite ways to journal scripture. I will read a passage, re-read it in a number of different translations (NIV, NLT, NKJ, Amplified, even the Message) and look for phrasing among the verses. The other day I was doing this with Isaiah 58:1-14. The overall determination was that the act of fasting has very little, if anything to do with the actual action. In the day of the prophet Isaiah, the Israelites were very good at the religion and terrible at the relationship. Some of the adjetives that were used in this scripture (through the different versions listed above) include pious, rightous, pretending. The Amplified Bible even stated it in this way: "delight [externally] to know my ways in visible ways (verse 2)." Then the question that gets to the point is found in verse 5, "is true fasting merely mechanical?"
Fasting is a genuine way of denying yourself to know God in a deeper and greater way. That pleases him and God has promised to answer us at that time. But so many are "busy at worship" (Message) and give off the appearances of righ-living people and take that day of fasting to "show off their humility." The reality is we can do all of the actions, but if our heart and soul then He will never be pleased with our offering. In verses 9b-10 and 13-14 you find the analogies: if-->then. God tells us very plainly that if we seek to be more like him, feeding the hungry, freeing the oppressed, helping those who need it, then he will answer our prayers. he said, "Then you will call and the Lord will answer, you will cry for help and he will say, Here I am." I believe that we get so caught up in letting people know that we are Christ followers, that we forget to actually follow Christ. I can go to church on Sundays, but if I am cussing at people who cut me off in traffic, I am no better than the person who never steps foot in a church and pulls out a gun and shoots his brother in anger. In the same way, if we say we believe one thing (the Bible) and then live opposite of what it says (not forgiving one another, living with boyfriends or girlfriends before marriage, indulging in drunkeness, even the simple white lies) God will turn from us and not answer our prayers. We as a people of God need to rid ourselves of the slefishness of "whatever I want" and cling to the cross where Jesus said, "all for God." My prayer is that we look at fasting as not just another ritual to add, but take it as a time to let go of our selfishness and look to God and what He wants from us and how we can live to bring Him all of the glory He rightfully deserves.

Lifting up Prayer as I Have Been Called

2009-06-20T02:35:00.002-04:00

Have you ever had such a desire to pray for someone, to lift them up to God, that it caused a literal ache in your chest? It moved you to tears and kept you up until all hours of the night? I have heard phenomenal stories about people being prompted by the spirit to pray. It always resulted in a miracle. Whether missionaries saved from being robbed and killed in the jungle, or a long lost child giving their life to Christ in a life or death situation. It is something that I have always heard about but never truly experienced until today.

I have had a random name pop into my head and I try to always lift them up in prayer, but this time is different. It began with a dream that I remember even now. Then throughout the day this same person was on my heart and mind. I continued to pray. Then tonight, I have become overwhelmed with emotion, tears rolling down my face and a literal ache in my heart. I don't know whats going on, but my heart is crying out.

She is my friend...my little sister...my role model of devotion to the calling of God. She is a beautiful woman who challenges me because I find that she is so much like me in many ways. Her tenacity is something that I know God can use and gifted her with to glorify Him. But somewhere along the way, I did something to upset her. While I was trying to give Godly counsel, it was not wanted and so ill received. I honestly don't know if I was wrong in saying anything or not, and now it doesn't really matter. God has laid her on my heart and I don't know why. I worry for her, like I would worry about any of my family--blood relative or just a close friend. Whatever is going on in this moment, Lord, I lift her to you. You have guided her life through every turn. In every struggle, you were there. In the mountain tops of her life, you were there. In the future, you are there. Father God, I love her and I pray that she knows that and believes it. Jesus, she is yours and I pray that you guide her steps in the path that you designed just for her that she may see the full extent of your glory and blessing.
All glory to you, my God and Savior.
Amen.

Abunant blessings found in His Will

2009-06-10T18:37:00.002-04:00

As a follower of Jesus, the ultimate goal is to be in the center of God's will for you. At that point, you are serving with all that you have, using your gifts wisely, and seeing the bountiful blessings that pour forth. For the first time in a long time, I am see the blessings of being in the center of God's will.
This is not to say that I was ever out of God's reach or scope, simply that each step I take right now is to his glory. Each decision that Kyle and I make as a married couple is blessed by God for our persistence in seeking his will and what he desires for our lives. I know that I have written about this a lot lately but as I see my life abound with blessings and I look at some of those that I love who are choosing to turn away from where God is calling, I can not help but feel the urgency of speaking these thoughts.
For the past several years, I believe that I was walking on the line between what the world was telling me and what God was calling me. Because of that, I would periodically step across that line, outside of God's will and desire for my life. This lead to a number of consequences that all summed up in the simple fact: I had some learning to do and if I was going to continue to step outside of what God wanted for me, then it was going to be learned the hard way--by my own choice. I dealt with patience, I dealt with forgiveness, I even dealt with self-control. Each situation tested me and stretched me and because of that, I grew. I grew to not just know but to understand. I began to comprehend that God's plans are always going to be better than my own. I began to learn that each experience is another page. There are times I have to truly experience the situation to be able to move on to the next step in my life. I came to terms with the idea that instantaneous satisfaction is rarely worth it and if possible, deal with the longer wait to get the best result.
I now have a job that I am thoroughly enjoying, working for a company that believes the same things that I do and honors my priorities of God number one, my husband number 2 and work will always come after them. We are experiencing the peace of financial stability and able to invest in our futures. I love my church and the youth that I work with and am blessed to have the opportunity to see patches of their growth as they seek to discover God in a deeper way. I am seeing the blessings of honoring God in every aspect of my life and it is as wonderful as He always promised.

To Phos tou Kosmou-The light of the World

2009-05-29T17:24:00.004-04:00

Jesus said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but have the light of life." John 8:12 I am currently doing a study on the names of Jesus, and one that rings very true in my work life is "the light of the World." A pretty popular Psalm is 119:105, "your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path." It is a fairly easy concept to know and yet, completely ignore. I find that working for a partner of Wycliffe Bible translators, this is drilled home in a whole new way.

Most people in the US can not even comprehend not knowing what the Bible is or even who Jesus is. That may be one of the reasons why our court rooms are flooded with controversy over this prized piece of work (though if people really believe it to be fiction, then I don't see why they are so up in arms about people carrying it around...interesting thought I will have to ponder over another time...). But across the world, on an island called Papa New Guinea, there are over 800 individual languages and most of which do not have a Bible in their heart language. Amazing isn't it?

God knew that the simile of light made sense to the Jewish nation, and thus used it often. Jesus used the direct approach in identifying himself, saying simply that "I am the light of the world." (john 8:12) Likewise, he told his disciples, "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill that can not be hidden....In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." (Matthew 5:14-16). This made sense because their prophet had used this term of phrase before, "The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned...See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you." (Isaiah 9:2, 60:2) So too would they know the words of David as he wrote in the Psalm, "If I say, 'surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,' even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you." (Psalm 139:11-12) The usage of Light referring to God was not new, but something familiar, something they hung on to as a promise during their trials and tribulations. It was also know from the scriptures that light was associated with being in the presence of God (something that was only privy to the priests and rabbis of those days). "When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the Testimony in his hands, he was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the LORD." (Exodus 34:29) This amazing transformation was then revealed to three of the disciples; "After six days Jesus took up with him Peter, James, and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as light.(Matthew 17:1-2)
It changes the mental picture of being a "light for a world in darkness" doesn't it? I suppose my prayer is that I may draw so close to God that my face is found to be radiant because I have spoken with the Lord. I was told once that the light that shines the furthest, shines the brightest at home. So how can I claim to be a light if I am not shining the glory of God to my neighbors. Or the cashiers who check me out at Publix? Your radiance is not meant to be hid under a table during the day at work. It is meant to reach unto the ends of the earth with the promises of God and his glory. That is my challenge for all of you, as well as myself. Don't just talk about, Be the Light of the World.

Sovereign in the Pain

2009-05-08T15:05:00.003-04:00

*sigh* This has been the first time in about a week that I have allowed myself to de-stress and some-what relax. It is amazing how quickly you lose sight of things and again, how quickly it can come full circle to reality. I have talked about the busy-ness I have been feeling and I have talked about the mission stories that remind me why I am doing all that I am doing. Today is a little more personal. I grew up with a girl who was (is) my best friend. We went to school together, skipped PE together in middle school, and I even had the privileged of having her stand with me as my maid of honor on my wedding day. We have experienced 20 years of friendship, both close and long distance. Because of the duration of that friendship, her family became my family and vise-versa. I am blessed to say that my family is healthy both physically, emotionally, and spiritually. I am saddened to say that her family has been experiencing a series of what I call Job years lately. If you read the book of Job, you discover that despite his devotion to God, a series of bad things keeps happening to Job. That is kinda what is going on with them. The majority is too personal for me to publish to the world, but today my 2nd mom (so to speak) underwent surgery to remove cancer. She came out fine, and the surgery went very well, but as I talk to my best friend, it all hits home. This was the family that I took refuge in when I was being too rebellious for my own good. This was the friend that I shared my heart with into all hours of the night and usually well into the next morning. She is one of a handful of people that I feel completely free to be myself without any guards and it breaks my heart that I powerless to offer anything more than moral support. I can't fix it. And I can't make all of the hurt and fear go away. I heard the other day a phrase that I think speaks so well of hard times, God allows pain and hurt so that the world can know that we are still human. It gives us a testimony of His endurance and His strength. And it is usually that testimony that changes lives to glorify His kingdom. God doesn't cause the hurt and pain. God doesn't even want us to have to go through it. But, like in Job, He will allow it to bring testament to His Glory. And that is my prayer today. Lord, give me the strength to trust you in every situation. You have blessed us and in return we have blessed you. But in those times when I feel like cursing the world, Jesus, help me to turn back to you and bless you instead that you may be made greater in my weakness. I thank you for your mercy and sovereign grace, today, tomorrow, and always.

my shoes are bringin me home today

2009-05-08T15:04:00.001-04:00

ahh...I love shoes. I think they are the one thing that I could have an entire closet full and still want to buy more. Right now, I am wearing my brown sketcher 'boots'. I put them in parenthesis since they are "real" boots (though I have those too. These are the shoes I put on when I'm feeling a little more country but being that I am living in the city, walking around in my Ariats isn't...well kosher (at least to me). I always pair them with a good pair of jeans and a comfy shirt (today a army green tank). It is the "down home comfort" that reminds me of my roots and always makes me feel good.

God is bigger than the demons in life.

2009-05-07T08:12:00.003-04:00

I heard a great story while at Wycliffe USA yesterday. There was a missionary in Australia, striving to translate for a tribe of Aborigines. The first phrase he had told them was simply, God loves you. Because they were often laughed at by other tribes and Aussies, he thought that this would be a powerful statement. Instead, he got a very lukewarm response; like ok, so this God loves us so what?

One day he was working with one of the tribes men on the translation and they translated the verses in Matthew where Jesus cast out the demon from the man. The tribes man sat back, closed his eyes, and was silent. Then, out of no where he stood up and began to walk out of the camp. THe missionary was greatly confused and watched him as he began to walk toward a tree that sat outside the camp.

Now this tree, like many others in Australia, was hollow because of termites, but what made this specific tree differnt is that it was where all of the spirits lived. The only person allowed under the tree was the witch doctor and any one else that stood under it fell down dead (literally). THe missionary had also written home about the demonic presense he had seen in the villiage. Everything from arrows coming out of no where to spears dancing on end.

The tribesman that was currently walking to that tree was not the witch doctor and because of this, the other members of the tribe began to take notice. As he stepped under the tree of spirits, he looked up at it and began to speak. He said, "I know that you are powerful. We were told that God loves us and that's nice, but what good is love when it isn't more powerful than the thing that controls us. But I just learned that God is more powerful than you."

You see, he didn't drop dead, and nothing attacked him. This tribesman knew that not only did the God of the universe love him, but that he was more powerful than anything that controled their lives and that is where it made the difference.

People hear that God loves them and to some that is what they are looking for. Someone to love them unconditionally and for all eternity. But others need to know that this God, who loves them, is strong enough to deal with the demons in their life (both literal and metaphorical). And He is, and to this tribe, that made all the difference.

Busy-ness battling passion

2009-04-29T23:00:00.002-04:00

Busy-ness is an interesting distraction. I know that I am in God's will with the volunteer work I am doing and I also know that I am in God's will with the part time job I am working. So albeit, why am I so incredibly distracted by how busy my life has suddenly become?
I realized the other day as I was making phone calls for Wycliffe Associates, I had not written on my blog in weeks! Sure, much of what I write is meaningless ramblings of an ambling young adult, but it is important to me. I probe my own stance and my own opinions to dissect what I believe and to make me stronger. I Seek to work through my confusion on topics into clarity through the written word. I imagine myself entertaining even a few people as they stumble across this piece of my soul displayed for the world to read and choose to criticize or praise. In short...I miss writing.
So as it is already too late in contrast to my very early morning tomorrow, I must bid adieu (reminds me of Romeo and Juliet--haha) but with a touch of sadness in that I will have to reevaluate my priorities of time to fit in my love and passion of the written word. Until then, good night.

God's path in God's time

2009-04-14T14:22:00.003-04:00

It is no secret among those who know me that I have a history of wandering around God's will, fighting to be in control and do things the hard way. This, of course, lead to making things harder on myself and leading myself into difficult situations that could have easily avoided in the first place. With that said, I am finding the comfort and peace of finally being in God's will.

It was not the easiest decision to quit my job as the economy was quickly tanking. I was guaranteed my job, a steady salary, and even the possibility of promotion when many others were being laid off. I was also positive that I was not in the job God had called me to. My husband and I agreed for me to quit and (at that time) focus on our wedding and then get into volunteer work once I moved to Orlando.

I have now been here for 5 months, during which time I have been volunteering as well as looking for a part time position to supplement our savings. Within that time I have begun volunteering for our church, as well as Samaritan's Purse- Operation Christmas Child. Through this position I have met some people in Wycliffe (Bible translator missions) and I am in the process of getting signed up to volunteer with them as a Volunteer Advocate. Within the same week, I was introduced to someone with Wycliffe Associates who was looking for someone to fill a part time (paid) seasonal position, doing work very similar to the Volunteer position I was signing up for anyway. I am currently in the interview process, but whether I get it or not, it is all God. I wasn't looking for a paid position with them, I was just looking to help out and this was presented to me.

It is very clear that I do not know what God's timing is, but it is also very clear that I do not need to know. All I need to know is that God will come through, as he always does. I need to continue to trust him and know that while it may be a crazy ride, it will be the ride of a lifetime that I would never want to pass up.

Glory to God--for he is in control of my life and for that I praise Him!

Living in an adventure

2009-04-13T17:44:00.003-04:00

Life is an adventure. Whether you are simply living from one day to the next, or you happen to be traveling from one place to the next; it is all an adventure worth living. I suppose I am driven to this ideal because I am ready to venture out into the world again. I look through my pictures of my wedding, of my honeymoon, and even the dates my husband and I have gone on; and I think about each moment and treasure them. I think about how much fun we have, how much I enjoyed the next step of our lives. I love to travel on top of it all and I am ready for the next journey. Where should we go? Can we afford the trip? Right now, I am just ready to go and hopefully be able to have something new to write about as well! :-)

A hyenas vice will trip them up every time

2009-04-13T17:36:00.001-04:00

In a fight off between a gorilla and a pack of hyenas, it causes me to pause and consider each vice these animals face. You see, gorilla's are the black sheep of the family. You know, the monkeys are the clowns of the family and make everyone smile and laugh. Baboons get the rep of being the wise ones and are always on call for one reason or another. Even the chimpanzees have a better life since someone decided that the were the connection in the animal world to the dominant humans. Now the gorilla, well he doesn't quite fit in. He's too big, too hairy, and creates a mess wherever he goes. That would cause a lot of pent up anger.

Now as far as the hyenas, well their a pack of siblings and other family members. Sure they all get on each others nerves, but family is family, but this benefit will lead to their down fall in this match.

You see, the gorilla is jealous because of being the outcast and here are these annoyingly noisy family of hyenas that are out to cause some ruckus. The gorilla tries to walk around them but one of the mangy hyenas decides to mess with him. Well that causes some of the other hyenas to join in the fun and some others to try to fend off the annoyance. So now we have the hyenas divided with half in favor of harassing the gorilla and the other in favor of just leaving him be (mainly because he's big and already looks kind of ticked off). This causes the fight to shift from hyena and gorilla to hyena side one against hyena side 2. At this point the gorilla walks away, while the hyenas battle it out amongst themselves.

Gorilla: 1 Hyenas :0 at least for now.

3 loves to equal happily ever after

2009-04-10T12:48:00.002-04:00

Due to a conversation I had with my mom about a week ago, I have been stewing over how to verbally explain the difference between "love" and being "in love." Some would argue that the line is too faint and there is too much gray to be able to adequately distinguish the two, but I beg to differ, greatly.

I know that there are probably millions of definitions that someone could give, and to their credit, I believe them (or most of them) to be fairly accurate. The reason is that love expresses itself in many different manifestations along the path of one's lifetime. There is such thing as puppy love (think elementary kids who are starting to notice that there is a difference between boys and girls and thinking that it is a good thing). There are crushes (mostly in and out in the teen years, noticing a boy or girl in a new light and becoming infatuated with hanging out with them). I also know that there are times when love in its first part of development causes a person to think that they are in the relationship that will last forever only to find that they are irritated with that same person incessantly.) So what is the difference between loving someone and being in love with someone.

I love and am in love with my husband. That being said, I would say that there have been 2 others in my past that I have loved, but was never truly in love with them--making all of the difference in the world. Some would flip my definitions, but as it stands I consider being in love the key to a true and lasting love.

In the Greek, there are 3 words that describe love. Philio, Aeros, and Agape. Most people have heard of them and know their differences (in order, friendship, sexual, and sacrificial). That being said, I believe that having one of these expresses love. It is genuine, but it is everything. To be in love, to know that you are with the person that you should share the rest of your life with, you need all three. For example, my husband is my best friend. I love hanging out with him and developing that friendship through laughter and fun. But likewise, I am also incredibly sexually attracted to him. I find him appealing to all senses and I look forward to our time together in that light. But more than both of those (which are usually the 2 that you find people in when they say that they love someone), is agape. I love my husband. If there was a situation where I had to choose to save my life in turn for his, or loose my life so he would be saved, I wouldn't hesitate to sacrifice myself for him. How often does a teenager really mean it when they say they would rather die than live without their current interest (in my experience, not many and many who did say that are on to their next interest in a fairly short amount of time.)?

Most people will love someone in their lifetime...it would be very sad if they didn't. But how many are in love to the point of sacrificial understanding of that love. I think that it is very sad that most marriages are not built on this love, but rather aeros or even philio. People believe that because they have one part (or even two) that it is enough. It isn't. To have a successful marriage you have to understand sacrifice. And the ultimate example of that is found in the Bible through Jesus Christ. Without that, I have to take a pessimistic point of view and think the worst only because it has been proven true. But when Christ is the center and all three "loves" are included, the impossible becomes a reality and there really is such thing as "happily ever after."

Worried about the Words

2009-04-07T17:26:00.003-04:00

When I was in college I learned (the hard way of course) to not bother with worry because it does not do a single thing except stress me out more to the point of illness and drive everyone around me absolutely batty. Of course, it is a process so even within the past year I have driven more than one family member to the point of insanity and supreme frustration, but I have definitely improved.

I say all of this while I am trying to effectively process my emotions about a very dear friend of mine. I am currently at the point where I want to drop everything I am doing and discard all of my plans to go smack her upside her head and shake her as I try to figure out what on earth she could possibly be thinking. I realize that this would be less effective than the desired outcome and thus, trying to refocus in a realistic and loving way. I guess it frustrates me so much because it breaks my heart.

I am one of the most pig headed people I know and there were times that I made my decision based on what everyone told me not to do. (side note--whenever you do that, expect it to come back and kick you in the butt...it really is just not a good idea, in any stretch of the imagination). Because I made decisions that way, I fell on my face and either got hurt or made myself look very foolish (which is what I was when I did that). Likewise, because of my own experiences, when I see someone who I love and care about making similarly destructive and unwise choices I want to instinctively reach out and shake some sense into them. I suppose, along with the letting go of the worriness that will only drive me crazy (as well as everyone around me), I am praying for the words.

I want to be honest and I know that I will probably offend her, but I want her to hear what I am saying and acknowledge why I am taking the time to say them in the first place. It is because I love her and don't want to see her tripping herself. God gave us examples of where people messed up in the Bible so that we don't have to make the same mistakes. Lord, let her have ears to hear my heart and your word.

Someday I wanna be...a mom.

2009-04-06T14:22:00.001-04:00

Mom.
The maker of great meals and laughter. Teacher of knowledge and guider of spirit. Fully devoted and unfathomably loving.
See Proverbs 31 for greater explanation.
Call if any problems or hugs needed.
Available 24/7, 365 days a year. No appointment needed.

Priceless Treasure

2009-04-04T23:04:00.005-04:00

There are few things in life that are more precious or priceless than that of a great and endearing friendship. Whether shared with a spouse or just a particular individual who secures a special place in your heart for all eternity, a true friend is a rare commodity in this day and age.

When I moved to Orlando (and even prior while in Vero Beach for a year), I discovered a yearning in my heart for a couple of friends that I had grown up with. Despite the love and friendship that I share with my beloved husband, I missed my girlfriends. I missed talking meaninglessly until all hours of the night, ended only by the unavoidable weight that pressed down onto our eyelids at the wee hours of the morning. I missed the girlie movie nights where we cried at the drop of a hat, laughed until our sides ached, and shamelessly ate obscene amount of food--usually in the chocolate or ice cream variety. I missed being able to gush about my love life and hear about any prospects in theirs. I missed being a girl with other girls.

Every opportunity I get to spend with these girls is a gift and if they are reading, I want to say directly to you...thank you for being a rare treasure in my life.

A Little goes a Long Way

2009-03-27T12:25:00.002-04:00

It has been nearly 8 months since I quit my job last fall. The reasons were multifaceted and well founded, but none-the-less, I now do not have a job. My credentials are either over qualified (for most part time retail) or under qualified (for most office positions). While I have been looking for a part time position to supplement our income and boost our savings, I have discovered the true joy in volunteering. I am currently working with Operation Christmas Child (also known by some as the shoebox ministry) and will be starting with Wycliffe (Bible translators) as a Volunteer Advocate in the near future.
While talking with my mother-in-law yesterday, I realized my pure joy in the work I was doing. Literally, the work I did yesterday was some data organization and switching old pamphlets in information bags to new pamphlets. It isn't hard work or stimulating. It doesn't take my college degree or management experience. What it does take is heart and that is where I am finding satisfaction.
The bible tells us, no matter what we do, do it as if for the Lord. That means that no matter if you are an engineer or a missionary, both jobs are working for God. As a physical missionary or pastor it is easier to see the fruit of you labor, but that doesn't mean that it is any more important than the bankers and engineers and teachers and factory workers of the world. As Christ Followers we are called to live our life for God (not stay in the closet of our faith). We are told to tell the world and that means to also be a living and working example to our co-workers and neighbors. The entire world is a mission field and you don't have to go to Africa to affect the Kingdom of God.
I am finding true satisfaction doing very "menial" work (by the worlds standards), but I know that by getting the world out about OCC I am in turn helping children around the world and in some cases, saving their lives and their souls. Everything is related to other things (think about Lion King's circle of life...I have it playing in my mind right now). By handing out pamphlets or by interviewing volunteers, I am able to help down the line and in turn someone else is able to reach children and lost souls.
How are you affecting the Kingdom today?

A time for Change...again!

2009-03-24T16:08:00.004-04:00

People thought that there would be change. Considering that was the mantra that he ran under, I can understand why. Truthfully, I did not vote for President Obama. I felt that his stance on moral issues would be detrimental to the nation and its citizens. I also felt that in a day and age of extreme hatred of the American ideals, someone who thinks that you can schedule a meeting with extremest national leaders and terrorists to talk out your differences was incredibly naive. I am not saying that I like the war, but I do understand its necessity in certain circumstances (BTW, I am not even getting into the debate about the number of reasons we went in the first place, I am specifically talking about the defense of America and our freedoms) and I love my service men and women for offering the ultimate sacrifice that I can still claim those freedoms.
My issue as of this moment is the "stimulus program" that only puts America more in debt than we have ever been. Yes the stock market is crummy, yes the housing market is scary (except for first time home buyers, then its great), and yes, the loss of jobs is devastating for the individuals and for the economy. But making a deal with the devil never brought salvation. In other words, stealing from future generations and then out sourcing to China will not save this nation. Perhaps if all of those movie stars who seem to have so much to say about patriotism would cut their salaries in half to donate elsewhere, we might see a change in finances.
The reality, when I hear talk about a "one world currency," America loosing its longstanding status of the super power of the world; and see religion as a whole melting away into oblivion, the only thing I can think about is the impending Rapture that will occur.
As a Follower of Christ, I am not worried--only greatly anticipating the time when I will get to be with the Lord. But if you are not a Christian, or a lukewarm believer, beware. There is a reason that Jesus spoke about hell more than heaven. He came to heal the sick, and the world has an pandemic of a sickness of the soul. People are lackadaisical about their faith or the live solely for today, for this moment, without thought of the consequences or the future. The Bible tells us that God will spit the lukewarm out and they will be lost for all eternity.
I am worried about our nation. I think that it is ridiculous that people who have worked hard to finance themselves are going to be punished while those who are lazy and have made poor decisions are going to be rewarded. I think that it is ridiculous that we have a government that has decided that it would be in their best interest to become more socialist, when there is a reason that Canadians and Europeans come to America. I did not vote for these representatives but enough people did and now we all have to pay for poor choices and politicians who don't take the time to read through things before putting their name on it (aka. the stimulus package...3 days is not sufficient to read several hundred pages to know its entire extent of detriment it will bring to the nation). Sadly, we as a nation have brought this on ourselves and we can only blame ourselves. Sometimes, the exact opposite of what you do not like is not going to make you happy (as proof shown in the presidency). But we as Americans still live in a Democratic Republic and our officials have a duty to represent the cry of the people. We can not change who we just put into office, but we can efficiently affect how they vote and respond. Stand for what you believe in. Make calls, write letters, participate in peaceful rallies (for example, there is a National TEA Party Day in April to make clear that we are tired of the policies already and we as citizens have the right to be taxed fairly...sounding familiar to a high school history lesson? Hmm) We are living in difficult times, but that is no excuse for our government to take advantage of powers. There is a reason that it took so long for the Founding Fathers to agree on the Constitution. They did not want a repeat of England's domination. That is why States (technically) have more power than the national government. Fight to get back the country that we all love and get the national government out of our backyards!

Happy Birthday to my Daddy

2009-03-18T14:18:00.003-04:00

Today is my Daddy's 50th birthday. I am not sure he would be entirely thrilled that I have just announced that to the world, but I mean it as an accomplished milestone and achievement. That may sound ridiculous to some, I mean, really, who can't reach 50 by doing nothing? What I am referring to has nothing to do with his age and everything to do with his character.
He has a blog on here called Striving Toward Integrity and I think it is the perfect description of him. I am honored to have a dad whose greatest desire is to please God with his life. He does this through his love for his wife of nearly 30 years, adoration for his two girls who will always be "Daddy's Girls," and a general aspiration of missions and the work of God. He taught me a to live my life to honor Jesus in every aspect, to know right from wrong, to have family as a priority, and how a man is supposed to treat someone he loves and respects. He encouraged my independence but corrected me when I was out of line. He engages in political, philosophical, and theological discussions and provides insight I wouldn't otherwise have. He is one of my greatest heros and I can't imagine life without his influence.
I was blessed to have him at every lacrosse and cross country meet I ever had. He was active with my ridiculous band schedule. And he hung on while I changed my mind on my future about every day or so. He gave me a love of classic rock (70s), camping, and the Florida Gators. He is someone I am proud of and I love being his little girl.
So, this post is to honor him. My Daddy. Happy Birthday and I love you.

Kiss me, I'm Irish!

2009-03-17T14:38:00.002-04:00

St. Patrick's Day is one of the holidays that people have taken as a spring board into another reason for excessive drinking, but the history of this day makes it a good holiday in my estimation. A few years ago, I had the pleasure of spending my spring break in Ireland. It was a one week study abroad, gave me credit, and a justifiable trip across the pond. My grandmother is Irish and she and my aunt have both spent some time there. I had seen their pictures and knew the country side was extraordinary. I also knew the rudimentary history of the politics--which was the class that was conducting the study abroad trip.
We flew into Dublin and spent the first part of the week there. We toured the city, noting the parliament buildings-both original and new, the statues that littered the city of it's history and struggle and drank in the classic European architecture. Despite this incredible city, my favorite part was when we ventured to Northern Ireland. The war is still going on in Belfast. The city are divided and there are murals across the town to depict different opinions and triumphs. The tragedy is evident in the fencing that separates the city, in the billet holes that are embedded in the schools and walls across town. They are striving to be heard and understood, despite the gang like violence that still echos down each street.
We also traveled to Derry and toured the city known for the destruction of Bloody Sunday. It was a peaceful rally for freedom that turned into a literal blood bath. They have a museum that memorializes the events and the lives that were lost that others may gain their freedom.
It was a sobering trip that I treasure. The light of it all is that it concluded on St. Patrick's Day. Even as we traveled back to Dublin, we got to see parades all across the country, both small and large, celebrating this day. And yes, there was green beer. But more importantly, I got to see a piece of my heritage and for that, I am eternally grateful.
Happy St. Patrick's Day!

I offer my life

2009-03-16T11:52:00.001-04:00

Despite finishing my bachelor's degree from a very respected university, I have quit all my paying jobs to be a full time volunteer. I am currently volunteering for an organization called Operation Christmas Child. Some people refer to them as the "shoebox ministry." And that is a fair nickname. OCC is a part of Samaritan's Purse and, ultimately, is in the business of getting the gospel of Jesus out to the world. OCC specifically collects shoe boxes filled with small toys, basic clothing, school and hygiene items and sends them to kids around the world who have literally nothing. The Gospel is given to every child who receives a shoebox, but these gifts are not simply to save the souls. Simple items like a toothbrush can help limit the passing of AIDS in Africa from sharing one within a family. Providing school supplies makes it possible for these kids to go to school when the schools can not provide anything besides the teacher (no books, no pencils or paper...nothing). Children will sell themselves for a single piece of candy because they have nothing and this simple box provides them with all of these things. It offers hope and a future where there was none before. It tells some children who have only ever been told that they are worthless, that someone who doesn't even know them loves them simply because they are a child of God and a living being. It is light in the darkest places of the world and I can only pray that my involvement can help to change their lives for the better, even in the slightest bit.
My specific contribution (besides packing my own set of boxes which ANYONE of ANY AGE can do for very little cost) is a connection to the community. I get in touch with different franchises (such as Chick-fil-A) and organizations (like Boy Scout troops or Kiwanas) and ask them to get involved. I encourage them to host packing parties or be a drop off location so more people can pack more boxes with the greatest convenience. It is about reaching as many kids as possible and the more people I reach in my community, the more boxes we have to touch each child's life around the globe. I simply offer my life.

Rearranging furniture and the case of the missing left shoe

2009-03-14T12:00:00.001-04:00

When I was in college, my (now) husband and I happened to live in the same complex. We were all friends between roommates and felt the need to give each other a hard time. This, of course, included pranks.

Shownique (coffee table) ....... M&A furniture by Juan ValldeRuten.

The best prank actually was incurred from my roommates and I moving my (now) husband's car by putting it in neutral and rolling it around the corner. Of course, the figured there was a little redistribution to be had. So, he and 2 of his roommates broke into our apartment (through an open window in one of the rooms) and rearranged all of our furniture and dishes in the kitchen. They tackled each of the rooms, taking every left shoe from one roommate (she LOVES her shoes), cleaned my room (couldn't think of what to do since it was already a mess) and plastered a heart on my other roommates door because she was "saved" from this invasion. To top it off, they left a note (poem) on each of our computers. It was all love and they actually helped move things back, but when we walked into to the "change"...it was a classic! :-)

Birthday Blessings

2009-03-13T00:43:00.002-04:00

This week hasn't been filled with exciting news for me. One of my best friends whom I had grown up with called me saying that her grandfather had a heart attack and had to have a quadruple bypass and her mom was told that she had breast cancer. These are people that I grew up calling my second family. To increase the bad news, we received word on my grandfather's condition and they think that it may even be bone cancer in his rib.
Away from health, I was told yesterday that my other best friend wouldn't be joining me for my birthday. Instead she's picking up for her roommates not finding pet sitters, not telling them that she already had plans. Petty, I know, but still important to me.
Never-the-less, I am very blessed. Today I am turning 23 and I am most of all loved. I have a husband who is taking a half day at work tomorrow to hang out with me and take me to dinner. I have parents who are coming in Saturday night to have a "birthday lunch" with me on Sunday. And, truthfully, I do have friends who love me and would probably do anything for me if I ever needed them. I have a home and plenty of food (though a little too much Ben and Jerry's in one sitting tonight). I have a lovable puppy who just wants me to be happy. I have a church family who is appreciative for doing things that I enjoy doing. We aren't in need, we aren't even feeling major affects from the economic problems the country is facing. I am happy and healthy and all I can do is thank God for blessing me so abundantly.
There are things that I still desire, things that I want to get done. But, in retrospective on this day...I think Thank You is all I need to say. To my husband, my family, my friends, and most of all, the Author of all blessings, Jesus, my Savior. Thank you for allowing me to have 23 years in which to be thankful for.

"I am" Love

2009-03-03T14:21:00.005-05:00

Here we are. Sitting on earth and going from day to day. Most of you are probably thinking, "well yeah and?" but do we realize how extraordinary that really is? Let me put it in a way I heard while at a recent conference. Basically, we are sitting on a ball of fire, that is covered in water mind you, spinning round and round at, oh, a measly 1000 mph and if that's not enough, we also happen to be hurling around space at the precise distance from the sun so that we don't freeze or fry. Oh, did I mention that we were circling the sun at around 67000 mph? And we think that its NOTHING?!
The plain and simple truth is that we rarely take a moment and actually consider WHO God is. He told Moses, "I am who I am." Or in other words, in the beginning, God. At the end of all days, God. He is the alpha and omega, beginning and end. Creator and Father of all. Period. You can not say that God is whoever you want him to be...it does not work like that. God was defined before the day we came into existence. And that God of all is HOLY. He is beyond our definitions or comprehension. And what is amazing is the menial attempts we as humans make to make God like us.
Revelations is one of the few examples of where God shows himself to someone. In the Old Testament he tells the Israelite people that if anyone were to see his face, they would surely die. That is a high and holy God if you ask me. But John gets the chance by his spirit somehow making the journey (since his body can not and live to tell about it) and Revelations 4 describes the throne room of God.

After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, "Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this." ²At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it. ³And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian. A rainbow, resembling an emerald, encircled the throne. ⁴Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders. They were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads. ⁵From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. Before the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits^a]">[a] of God. ⁶Also before the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal. In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back. ⁷The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle. ⁸Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under his wings. Day and night they never stop saying: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come."
Rev 4:1-8

Here are these terrifying beings who not only have heads of all these animals, and 6 wings each, but they have eyes all over their bodies and all they can think of is crying out, "HOLY HOLY HOLY" to God! Have you ever stopped when you were praying to actually think about who you were talking to? We "pray" and we say that we live "holy lives" but if this God of the universe (whose train fills the temple, let alone himself) and whose very presence causes creatures, that would scare the living daylights out of us, to fall before him and worship. We may not always like the way things turn out, but it is very clear that this is God's universe. Jay Vernon McGee once said it like this: "This is God's universe and he does things his way. You may have a better way, but you don't have a universe." Profound and straight to the point. And this high and mighty God created us and despite it all, HE LOVES US. Romans 5:8 tells us that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. It is made clear that if God wanted to, he could easily destroy the universe and everything in it. But instead, he wants us to know HOW MUCH he loves each and every person he had created. We as humans understand the concept of being held accountable for our actions, hence why lawyers make so much money. But as we walk and breathe, we also sin. We say a bad word, we hit our siblings in anger, we steal time from work by cutting out early or by using down time as personal time. There are endless sins and we fall each and everyday. For God, someone had to be held accountable but He loves us so much that he sent His only son to pay for our sin. With each drop of blood that fell from Jesus' body, we were atoned. This almighty creature, who causes all beings in his presence to fall into worship wants to love us. Deuteronomy 6:5 tells us the same thing Jesus later said in Matthew, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength." 1 John 3:16 said that by this we know love. We know what love is because of the sacrifice that God made for us. We know that we, as Christians, are called to have full faith...not just halfway. And in the same way, by living this, the world will know love and who God is. May this be our prayer.

Growing Unconditional Love

2009-02-24T14:26:00.002-05:00

My daddy and I have been e-mailing back and forth a few times and he got me thinking (which isn't unusual for our conversations). I have a friend that I consider a sister that has a wayward relationship with her parents. I don't doubt that she loves them, in fact I know that she does very much. And truthfully, I don't really doubt that they really do love her...I believe that they just don't know what true unconditional love really is. It makes me wonder how many people have felt the impact of having unconditional love as an every day part of their lives. In this, I have been blessed beyond measure. I mentioned my daddy to begin with and my momma equally so. They loved me even when I was being unlovable (primarily middle school years, but we just call them the dark ages and try not to speak about them) ;-) I also am blessed with my big sister and brother-in-law who, despite busy schedules, would come to my side if I ever needed them to. I haven't even begun to mention my beloved husband because I don't think I could do him justice in how amazingly wonderful he is and how endearing his love is for me. I then have two friends in particular who have always stuck by me, no matter how stupid I was being and I am honored to say that I have been friends with these two lovely ladies for about 20 years...20 years!!! Now that's love. But more than anything I understand what it is like to want something so much that you make it out to be truth and something that you can somehow fix to make better. This is what my dad and I were discussing. The appearance of jumping into something before you are ready or making it out to be the solvent to all the problems is not uncommon and can often be linked to immaturity. But I don't think that is the only link. Immaturity is a definite catalyst but I think that sometimes it is the minor piece of the equation.
I have to wonder if it's not necessarily immaturity as much as just wanting it that much. When your heart yearns for something in such a way that you trick yourself into believing it despite knowing (deep deep down) that you can't fix it. That is a difficult and painful thing to have to learn, but sadly, especially young ladies seem to have to learn this through their own painful experience. That is what happened to me, but I can honestly say that I did learn. It wasn't something that I enjoyed but I grew from that single set of experiences than most anything else. It brought me to a point of helplessness and back to the foot of the cross. I came to the end of myself and it was at that point that I found Jesus waiting for me. He, above all, has unconditional love that "while I was yet a sinner, He died for me." (personalization added). I am astonished by the love that my family and friends have for me and I am even ore astonished that this doesn't even come close in comparison to the love that Jesus has for me. A wonderful book that expresses this love in a beautiful form is Romans. Every time I read it my heart tightens in the blunt realization that I didn't deserve him and yet he dies for me. That every time I fall short, Jesus is there outstretching his hand to pick me up, clean me off, and set me back on the "straight and narrow." That is unconditional love and I pray that I can take this beautiful example and love everyone around me in the same form.

Oddities in regards to friends and babies

2009-02-23T12:44:00.004-05:00

I find it interesting that so many of the people I know are having kids. I suppose it isn't that odd, especially since we are all in our 20's and this is "the time" to have kids. I guess the reason why its odd is because it puts me (mentally) at a weird place where I know I want kids before I'm in my 30's but definitely not now. You see, I am "mentally" ready for kids, but physically and emotionally and financially and lots of other "ly"s I am in no way anywhere near that point. I want to be at a point where I can put myself fully into that child and into the rearing of that child. I want to be at a point where I am not worried about needing to get back to work to make ends meet. I would prefer to have a house and the reality is that we will need a new car (sadly trading in my fun little sports car for something more...practical). Now understand me, none of these things are bad, just additional steps. To be able to afford a house and new cars, let alone a baby, we need to bulk up our savings a lot. I would like to be closer to other women in the area so I have a support group here as well as my family and well, just some ladies to share the struggles and excitement with. As you can see, it is all very confusing and a little baffling to me at this point (hence, the not ready emotionally part) but as I see friends entering this next step, I wish them well and when we get to that point in several (3-5) years...I will enjoy every minute of it. But for now, being married with a dog and no kids is pretty nice :-)

Letting the Seed fall where it may

2009-02-18T09:31:00.001-05:00

In my devotions today, I read the parable of the sower, throwing out his seed (Mark 4:1-20). In the process of my writing, I have begun to wonder who I could reach with my words and thoughts. As in the parable there will be times when the "seed"--or Truth, word of God--will fall on dry and barren land, quickly scorched away by the sun. In relation, the Truth will be heard by those who don't want to hear it and are spiritually dry. As soon as they come under fire (the sun), all hope that was given to them is burnt away and destroyed. As such, some will fall into the rocks, where people have constant struggles and trials and let those difficulties get in the way of their own salvation, in doing so, choke out the Truth before it has a chance to take root and grow them out of those rocky places. Or there are some who are sown into the thorns. These accept the Truth and even develop some depth (root) but the trials of the world and the desires to compete "with the Jone's" takes over and chokes out their growth. But sometimes, the seed is cast into good soil, rich and ready to receive, and that is where growth occurs. It is here that it can multiply and spread sometimes sixty or a hundred fold. As I write my own revelations, I try to keep this in mind and be prayerful about what I am writing that , "those who have ears, let them hear," Jesus loves everyone and wishes that everyone might be saved. But we are given the free will to choose to either bend our will to His glorious plan and promise or be willful against it and live our life how we want (you only live once, right?) Wrong. You will live for an eternity and what you choose in this life will determine where that eternity is spent. I suggest you choose wisely for this life is fleeting, but eternity is just that--forever.

Book recommendation.

2009-02-13T16:14:00.002-05:00

So I was doing some more background for my book and one of the books I'm reading for inspiration and research is "The Criminalization of Christianity" by Janet Folger. Good read...lots to think and pray on. I definitely recommend it to anyone who is wondering why on earth I would write a book on Living Radically in a Political Age.

Writing and Research spurring me on

2009-02-12T22:29:00.003-05:00

I have tried to pick up my "books" in the past few days. Well at least one of them. I call it 'Living Radically in a Political Age.' It is a Christian look at several easy ways we can live out our faith (that's the radical part) in this very political country and day in age. Since doing so, I have tried to further my research to support my steps of action. This has furthered my endeavors to be able to finish this and write it well. I want to inspire Jesus followers to not be the only group forced to remain "in closet" with their beliefs. It is heartbreaking; the more research I do, the more it is obvious that while many Christians have misused their belief as a title, many genuine believers who are simply trying to express their faith (NOT HATE SPEECH OR DISCRIMINATING OR INTENDING TO OFFEND ANYONE) but simply speaking the Bible (heaven forbid) and they are being punished through the legal systems whether in jail time or excessive fines. I strive to make these clear and known that other believers might be able to take action before all hell breaks loose (literally...it's called Armageddon. Don't believe me? Read Revelations in when all these people disappear and fire falls from the sky, I think you'll change your mind.) Let's hope I don't get arrested before I finish and (hopefully) manage to publish it :-)

2009-02-08T13:22:00.002-05:00

I have discovered a new found enjoyment in good TV shows. I emphasize good because goodness knows there are plenty of bad ones around. Granted what I think of as good and bad are obviously only speculative and built on my own personality. Regardless, for me these include NCIS (favorite), Bones (new found enjoyment), Friends (classic), and even ALIAS (no longer on but classic none the less). I also have found an unusual attachment to reality TV in the recent months, though these can never rival the good dramas. Of these I like to include, American Idon (yes, cliche, but I will only watch it if I have seen it from the beginning and have someone to root for that is worthy of a vote in the first place), Iron Chef (the American one because I actually know the ingredients), and So You Think You Can Dance (because they really can dance and its something that I always wished I was good at but never took more than 2 classes--granted the best classes I took in college). Amazingly, I do have a point to this seeminly aimless rambling. I fully agree with copyright and the legal statutes that go along with those. HOWEVER, I have yet to understand why I can't have access to TV shows that I enjoy without paying ridiulous amounts to buy or rent them (when people have already taped them either old school or via DVR and so have them for their personal use anyway). What I am trying to conseptualize is why I can't use the DVD (or TV show) how I want to use it as long as I am not illegally broadcasting it and making money off of a copyrighted item. For example, I would like to load a season of my favorite TV show on to my MP3 player so that I can enjoy them not only in my living room or even on my computer, but while I travel on the plane or what have you. See I can purchase the movie or DVD but unless I purchase it through Zune (my MP3 player)--or Itunes for all you IPod junkies--I can not fully enjoy my investment. Rambling frustration of not understanding the full concept.

Family Love

2009-02-06T21:33:00.003-05:00

I had the honor and pleasure of accompanying my mom this past week to lunch with my grandmother. When we got to town we stopped in to see my 101-year-old great grandmother, Momma Ruthie. She is a beautiful lady who used to spoil my sister and I (and everyone) to death. She would serve us ice cream for breakfast, much to my mom's dismay. Play the organ with us (yes, she had an organ in her house). She always had toys for us to play with--especially the Lincoln Logs. And more than anything else, she loved us to death.
I don't get to see her nearly often enough but I enjoy even the smallest time I am able to spend with her when I do make it over there. As I imagine is the case with anyone who has lived as long as she has, Momma Ruthie has good days and bad days. There are times that her care taker says that she can see pretty clearly and talks up a storm. Then there are days when she won't even open her eyes. This past Monday was not the best day. She kept her eyes closed and didn't respond to our talking. But at the end, I was reminded how blessed I am. My mom and I said I love you and she responded. After saying I love you, she said to Joanne, her care giver, "it's good to know you are loved." At 101, she knows above all else that she is loved. She has been a widow for over half of her life, had a son pass away well before her time, and seen many other friends and family come and go, but she knows that she is loved. And I know how blessed I really am.

Grace and animosity

2009-02-02T16:07:00.003-05:00

"O LORD, God of Israel, there is no God like you in heaven or on earth—you who keep your covenant of love with your servants who continue wholeheartedly in your way. 15 You have kept your promise to your servant David my father; with your mouth you have promised and with your hand you have fulfilled it—as it is today." 2 Chronicles 6:14-15

This is the prayer of Solomon at the dedication of the temple upon it's completion. As I was driving back from the airport today, I came across a sermon that was utilizing these verses (I strongly encourage you to read the remainder of the prayer as well. It is powerful.). The title of the sermon was "Grace in an Emergency," from the broadcast show, "Walk in the Word." This prayer is not only of thanksgiving but it is filled with adoration. Solomon begins by acknowledging the mighty nature of God and that he alone is God. Solomon also states that the Lord is a God who keeps the promises he makes, more so His covenants.
Solomon is genuinely crying out to God and as the chapter continues you hear him plea on many individual issues all concluding that when the children of Israel are in hardship and turn to God, when they cry out we are at the point where we know that we can not do it, Lord, hear our plea. Solomon is acknowledging that the people of Israel justly deserve the hardships that they inflict upon themselves, but asks for God's mercy when they themselves acknowledge their faults. And in the following chapter, God does in fact make a covenant to have his eyes on the temple, to hear the cries of the people, and to honor their faithfulness. Then the reality--BUT IF the people turn from God, he promised to remove himself from them and to cast a deaf ear on their cries.
For many years, Solomon was faithful and the people of Israel were faithful and they found great wealth because of it. But as time and time has shown, they strayed. People began worshiping idols. They began to become self serving and rebelled against God. And just as He said, God allowed the people of Israel to be scattered. This is still evident in today's society. Have you ever wondered WHY there is some much tension in the Middle East? Have you ever considered why the animosity seems to be completely focused on the destruction of Israel? It's Biblical and if you needed any more proof of Biblical truth--look at every headline in the news. God honors those who worship Him. America has seen it's fair share of comfort, I believe, because of it's roots being deep in scripture. The Founding Fathers did indeed want a freedom of religion but they never intended for religion to be stripped from the public place to appease animosity. We as a nation have become "tolerant" in the name of peace and that in itself is causing the ruckus. What is tolerance? If I am tolerant of a homosexual lifestyle that evidently means that I don't have the right to believe that it is not right for children to be raised with two mommy's or two daddy's. But in a backwards turnaround, no one has to be tolerant of me and my belief that I should not simply believe in God and the Bible but that I should live my life in a way that honors God and stand against the sins that I know are wrong.
We all need grace. But that grace will only come when we humble ourselves, acknowledge God for who He truly is, and confess our sins and weaknesses. I know that I fail, but I also know that God loves me enough to lift me to new heights. And in the end--His grace is all I need.

Recipe Friday--Chinese at Home!

2009-01-30T22:47:00.013-05:00

I am very excited to put down my first (of hopefully many) recipes! Because I am still working on my "grown-up french onion mac" I am going to refer to a recipe that I made the other night with a technique I had never done before. No it's not revolutionary but it is something I had heard done by several chefs but never tried myself. That is broiling my steaks. I have a fear of the broiler. The usual result is the fire alarm going off for about 5 minutes anytime I use it so I tend to steer clear if at all possible. But I was always intrigued by people who said the cook their steak with the broiler. And when this recipe called for it, I had to give it a try. The recipe is for teriyaki steak with rice noodles from Pillsbury's Fast and Healthy Cookbook (and older one...actually the first cookbook ever given to me--by mom of course). This is a fast and easy way to have Chinese at home in a way that you aren't regretting later.
Ingredients: 6 oz. Rice noodles (can be found in the Asian section of your local grocery store) 1/4 c soy sauce 2 Tablespoons (Tbsp) brown sugar 2 Tbsp rice vinegar (or cider vinegar--they have very similar flavors) 1/4 tsp dry mustard 2 garlic cloves, minced 3/4 lbs lean beef sirloin or eye of round steak 2 green onions, cut at an angle into 1 in pieces

Bring water in a pot to a boil for your rice noodles. Cook according to package. This was my first time using these, but I found that I had to cook them slightly longer than what the package told me (I measured done-ness by taste and texture). Meanwhile, combine the next 5 ingredients in a 1 gallon plastic bag (or dish that the steaks will fit in completely covered) and mix well. Add steaks and marinate for 10 minutes at room temperature, flipping them once to cover both sides. Preheat your broiler. Once marinated, place steaks in a pan and broil them about 6 minutes, flipping half way through or until desired done-ness. BUT WAIT!!! SAVE THE LEFTOVER MARINADE!!!! Pour the marinade into a small pot while the meat is cooking and heat through (a low simmer). Once heated through, pour over drained noodles. Cut meat into 1 in thick, small pieces. Plate over noodles and top with slices green onions. It is a light and hearty meal that fills you up! I served with a broccoli slaw mix, topped with crunchy lo mein pieces (also found in the Asian section of most grocery stores) and dressed with a Sesame Ginger dressing (we found a decently cheap one made by Kraft but there is a better tasting one that is usually in the produce section by the stir-fry mixes). Here is the finished product (and I am happy to say...we had NO leftovers!) I will definitely be making this again :-)Yum!

recipe experiments

2009-01-27T16:05:00.004-05:00

I love cooking.
It is a feeling of accomplishment when I place a home made meal in front of others and are able to receive feedback from them. It is a stress reliever and satisfying hobby. As such, I have decided to add to this blog a weekly "experiment." Some will be self created and a mixture of ingredients that happen to be in my kitchen (most of these will be smaller portions for the obvious reason of if it is not good, I don't want 4 more servings wasting away in my fridge). Other recipes will be adapted from already existing recipes (as such I will give credit where credit is due). I hope that this will be an opportunity for me to enjoy my hobby and for you to maybe enjoy some recipes. As of right now, this is, as titled, an experiment, but I hope it will become a fun part of both my week and yours.

~Becca

Retail Therapy Revised

2009-01-26T16:52:00.003-05:00

I continued job searching today. I am amazed at how little openings there really are. I suppose that sounds like I have been living under a rock, doesn't it? I mean, come on...we are in a declining economy. Person after person has been laid off. We have one of the highest levels of unemployment in history. I know, but I am pretty certain that none of the news headlines actually sink in until you hear for yourself "no...no...and not right now."

Now the reality is that I am still fairly low on my experience levels. I have had a job in retail management training for a period of 8 months (car rental and sales) and was able to put in for a promotion to assistant manager at the time that I quit. Yes, I quit. I wasn't laid off; I wasn't fired; I quit. I quit because I wanted to be able to be a wife for my husband in our first months of marriage. I wanted to have dinner ready for him and meet him at the door with a kiss as he came in from work. I wanted to be able to take care of our home and do those little touches that turn a boring empty space from a bachelor pad to a home of a married couple. Silly? Perhaps, but it was important to me..still is. But now, we are looking at wanting to set aside more for savings (so we have a retirement or college fund for kids or emergency fund that may be able to keep us out of extreme debt). Kyle also needs a new car. His has had the check engine light on for about 3 years now...it's becoming more of a need than a want at this point. SO, I have ventured out into the workplace again to try and land a position I won't be embarrassed to tell others about (how vain is that). More than the vanity aspect, both my husband and myself believe that it would be better if I had a job (even for something part time) that I actually enjoyed than came home miserable from and brought all of the baggage of the day with me. I think that is a reasonable goal.

So as of right now I have applications in at a number of retail locations throughout Orlando. From Altamont to Waterford Lake. From Barnes and Noble to Ann Taylor Loft to Adidas. General positions, but something I know that I am skilled and good at. I have 2 years of customer service experience and just under a year of management experience...that should be sufficient, right? Time will tell as I try to be patient and know that everything (even job searches) are on God's timing.

Ecc. 3:11 God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God's work from beginning to end.

Dinner-Southern style

2009-01-23T12:43:00.004-05:00

I am proud to say that I am a southern girl. Born and raised. This includes manners (yes ma'am and no sirs), family, and, one of my favorites, food. Think biscuits and gravy, collard greens, fried chicken, catfish...mm-mm. Good eats to say the least. Now in my rearing, I learned to cook from my momma (who is a darn good cook if I do say so myself). She taught me to bake delicious pound cakes, hearty meatloaf, and her specialty-potato salad. With that in mind, I made a true southern specialty for dinner last night. The menu consisted of Country fried steak with pan gravy, mashed potatoes, and collard greens. All served with a glass of milk to finish it off. Now, I know that southern cooking isn't what one would call healthy...but every once in a while I think it's necessary. In our home of just my husband and I, I have taken on all of the cooking (excluding his spaghetti which is his specialty). I love to cook so this isn't a complaint, merely a statement. Last night was no different. I had the steak fried and gravy made. I decided to cheat on the mashed potatoes (I am ashamed to say) because I don't have a mixer and mashing potatoes is a lot of work by hand. So I took a short cut and bought store ready mashed potatoes. Then all that was left was to wilt the collards and saute them up with some onions and bacon. At this point, I wanted to take advantage of most everything being done and run through the shower. So, I handed over the wilting and sauteing to my husband Kyle. Now, I say this as a precursor, Kyle is a good cook. He can handle himself in the kitchen and I am typically not worried about anything. Well, he decided last night to about cut off his finger while dicing the onion. I hear him yell something so I holler back if everything was OK. Next thing I know he's coming in asking if we have any band-aids. Oh me. Well, he got the bleeding stopped, luckily without getting anything on the food as well, and I finished the greens. I have to laugh only because it is just one of those things. But needless to say, we enjoyed our southern style dinner to the fullest and I look forward to cooking up some biscuits to serve with some of the left over gravy. Mm-mm.

Winter job search in Florida

2009-01-22T12:22:00.007-05:00

*sigh* it is FINALLY here! What you may ask? Winter, of course! Now, I know that anyone who has been bundled up in multiple layers and skyrocketing electric bills from the heat being cranked are shaking their heads in disgust, but for us Floridians, the change is almost worth the wait. We dealt with having the AC on throughout Christmas and over half of "the coldest month of the year." I am reserved to a point on my celebration however. This stems from my family being in the citrus business and I have experienced first hand the stress and heartbreak that a hard freeze can bring to farmers. It's a very complicated feeling mind you.

I LOVE the cold weather. I love being able to wear my favorite sweaters and come up with adorable layered pieces that the blistering heat put to bed for the majority of the year. I love the burn I get in my chest from the dry air and laugh as I see people walking around in sweatshirts, jackets, and pants while still wearing their staple flip-flops. I love not walking outside and already needing a shower from being coated in a layer of sweat from the mixture of beaming sun and thick humidity.

But today I sit at my computer in the ever lasting job search. My last job was solid. I made decent money, worked long hours, and gained a lot of management experience. I made the decision to quit versus the drivers who were laid off because of the economy. Now I made this decision knowing full well that it would be difficult to find another job, but it was something I needed to do. I was working 49 hours (scheduled) weeks and at the time I was also planning my wedding. The job was simply that to me, a job. It wasn't something I could do for the rest of my life but the experiences were worth the time I put into it. Now, I am wanting something to supplement the volunteer work that I am doing. Then we can save more, have a better savings, and maybe even afford to take some trips before we begin to talk about kids. That is what is hard. I know that I have qualifications for a lot of positions and even some management experience, but no one is hiring. I took an entire day a few weeks ago and went from store to store asking for applications. They gave them to me, but with the validation that they were actually getting ready to cut their seasonal staff and were not looking to hire anyone else. I suppose the other trial is that I have always worked in retail of some sort (whether Gator paraphernalia, clothes and shoes, or cars), but that is not my passion. I am good at it and have vastly improved with ultimate customer service (the customer is always right mentality). I just am not passionate about retail. I suppose most people are not passionate about their job, but that is my ultimate goal. I want to be passionate about my job and to change lives. Until then, however, I would be content to simply be hired at all and enjoy the ever fleeting chill that covers the outdoors in the brisk winter-ness of it all.

Inauguration

2009-01-20T14:50:00.000-05:00

Today is a special day. It is the day were we, as the people of these United States, get to see our democratic republic at work. I am not shy about my thoughts on our 44th president, but I refuse to succumb to the practices that I so sorely look down upon. I do not believe that the present government will act in the manner that I approve of, but there is a certain point between disagreement and disrespect.

Romans 13:1 states, "Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God." I believe the events that allowed President Obama to be elected were in fact established by God. I know that God can see beyond the short scope of my vision, into eternity. If we truly are in the coming days, as I believe, then a turn of events are going to take place that will ultimately bring hell on earth. Grim...but only if you do not know Truth.

I am passionate about speaking out for those without a voice, particularly children and families. But I will not allow myself to turn that advocacy into hatred and disrespect to the officials who have been elected into power. The reality is that those people have a greater responsibility in exercising that power and while I can disagree, I am determined to disagree without calling names, throwing insults, or any other form of disrespect.

It is hard for me to accept that we live in a country where morals are considered an infringement on our Constitutional rights, but I love my country. I am patriotic and proud of the opportunities my country allows me to strive toward. I will support my country, but not all of their actions. I support my military, whether or not I believe in the wars we fight. And I will support my president, whether or not he is the man of the hour or the turning point of destruction. I will support them because I trust my God. I trust that His hand is still in play and no matter what happens, He is in control. This isn't my permanent location and until I am taken home, either by death or by rapture, I will stand up for what I believe and support my leaders all the same.

An inauguration is in fact a formal beginning. I just pray that I am ready if it is indeed the beginning of the end.

Teaching Authenticity

2009-01-18T23:52:00.000-05:00

Tonight I began a new adventure in my life--youth. My husband and I are seeking to get involved at our new church and we both felt a nudge toward the youth ministry. Now I remember youth...I also remember being a teenager. Both images are interesting to say the least and I hope that I can become a positive example for these kids.

To start off in the deep-in, I was with the middle school girls tonight. I do admit I have forgotten how easily distracted girls get at this age. While discussing defending the validity of Jesus (what would you say if someone told you Jesus was a myth kind of thought line), I heard about being locked out by siblings, something about Big Foot, and the funeral of a dragonfly. They are amazing young ladies but I am going to need a little readjustment in my phrasing so they will be able to relate to me and vise versa.

More than anything else, I felt a tug on my heart when one of the girls said that saying God loves you to someone at school would just be cheesy (or dorky or something along those lines). She wasn't talking about denying her faith, just speaking out bluntly when someone says otherwise. I remember that age. You see, it is the age of popularity meets authenticity. In short, it is better to be popular and get through than to stand out and collect ridicule. It's beyond hard and I think why it struck me is because it is something that I am learning to do better each and every day.

When I was younger I was obnoxious about most everything and acted differently at school that I did at youth group. As I got older, I was still obnoxious at times but the differences began to shift slowly. It has taken getting through college to really be the same at church, in the classroom, on the street, and at home. True authenticity. I have finally reached a point where I don't want to "turn people off" from the Truth by being a Bible basher, but I do want to be true to Jesus no matter what the circumstances are. I won't yell in your face that you are going to hell, but if the subject is broached and it comes to that very definite point, I will not shy away from letting you know the penalty of sin is death and that without Jesus to bridge that gap-hell is the ultimate destination. But how do you express that to 11-14 year-olds?

I just pray God guides me on this trip.

Report of the Orange and Blue

2009-01-10T12:23:00.000-05:00

I can't believe it! The Florida Gators have won their 2nd National Championship in the past 3 years...and I was there to experience it! There is a definite benefit to living within driving distances of a bowl game. Especially since tickets were selling anywhere in the spectrum of $500-well over $2000 a seat.

The atmosphere was excited, nervous, even a little arrogant. People were EVERYWHERE and decked out in their finest. One of my favorites was a lady (probably around 50 or so), wearing bright blue tights with bright orange fish nets over top, a blue mixture of skirt and shirt, a boa, and a sun hat trimmed in feathers. She was a sight! But in reality, she was excited and wanted to support her team as much as she possibly could...it just turned out to be a very extravagant manner; and she wasn't the only one. There was another lady that had a blue umbrella trimmed in orange feathers, the gentlemen came out with their classic ticket hats stuffed to the brims (literally), even a few people I thought might be lost--like the Michigan State spartan guy completely painted from head to toe, with a giant Spartan flag attached to his bicycle. He just kept riding around and around the stadium. I never figured that one out.

But none-the-less, people were out in their full regalia ready to yell and scream and chant and cheer their teams to victory. My husband and I had seats in the 400 section (the third section) but we were able to see the field surprisingly well. Outside of referees who couldn't get it together, it was a nerve racking game. Florida held the Oklahoma offense only to not escalate off of the good field placement. But by the end of the first quarter, my Florida Gators managed to score first and hold the Oklahoma Sooners back in the red zone.

I managed to completely loose my voice, draw a couple stares, but mostly (as with most Gator games) make a couple of stand friends that we could celebrate with. That final drive had me in shock. We made the touchdown and sealed the win with minutes to spare. We intercept the ball on a crucial drive. Tebow gets penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct (good for him...we were beating the Heisman quarterback with our "4th rate quarterback"--little hint to any and all opponents of Tim Tebow, don't give him anything to fuel off of if you don't want him to ultimately show you his Superman qualities, which is what he did the 2nd half of the game). Percy Harvin came back from serious injury, had it exposed with a late tug on his ankle after a tackle *without it being penalized, the ignorant refs* and still managed to run all over the impenetrable OU defense! He was a game changing player Thursday night. But I am torn because I also loved the interception by Ahmad Black, who stole the ball from the Sooner receiver after he had caught it and Black was the one who went down and came up with the ball--Gator first down!!! (as we were reminded by our favorite referees when they stopped the next play to tell us...I think the Gator offense and Oklahoma defense on the field kind of let us know that already.

But what a game! After the fireworks and confetti was exploded and fans were cheering as loudly as they ever had, after Gainesville exploded with the entire town filling the streets and letting everyone in Oklahoma hear their cries of victory, after every Gator home (and Texas home for that matter) shaking the nation in domination (even if only by taking advantage of opportunities and turning them into points where the beloved Sam Bradford could not), I sat down in disbelief and pure and unfiltered pride surging through my veins. I have been a Gator for my entire life. It is my team. It is in my blood, and has been for generations, and I was there to experience it all. What a game!

Go Gators and congratulations on being #1 again!

Florida--The Sunshine State

2009-01-07T11:43:00.000-05:00

I love Florida. Well...it is kind of a love/hate relationship. I know we get hurricanes, rain showers at the most inopportune moments, and the most ridiculously hot summers with 100% humidity. But when you think about everything that is a part of this state, who could not love it? Lets see, from anywhere in the state, you can reach an ocean and beach for a wonderful retreat within in a few hours at most.

As far as the miserable weather we have all come to dread (also known as hurricane season), at least we get a forewarning. Think about the other natural disasters that infiltrate our homes: earthquakes in beautiful California--no (real) warnings, super huge tornadoes in the wild Midwest--no (real) warnings, even blizzards that overtake the pristine northeast and Midwest...well, anything north of Florida has a shot--no (definite) warnings. Sure you know if there is a storm that poses the possible conditions, but there isn't a chart that can give you multiple days warning. Now since, well, being alive and being a Floridian, I have to say there were probably a handful of bad seasons (as in the storms, no matter their rating-high or low, did enough damage that it hurt). Now we are talking about not even 1/4 of the time! Mostly, they will either miss us or graze us with some wind and rain. Summers, well, everywhere gets hot in the summer to a point. But to all you in the north, I know you are jealous that I am sitting around in shorts and a t-shirt this week, and considering turning on the AC.

Overall, Floridians are pretty blessed. I have to laugh though, because as a 5th generation Floridian, I know the difference in Floridians as a whole. For example: If you want to find the Southerners of the State, you need look no further than the panhandle. The majority of the north part of the state even (minus Jacksonville of course). This trend carries through the central portion of the state in counties including Alachua, some of Orange, but especially Polk. For the urbanites, you know, the city and glam and jazz, look to the south east (Broward through Dade counties). We're all unique but all Floridians (except Indian River, that is congested with close to a 60% transplant population...I can say that because that is where I grew up and where my parents and sister are living). The Sunshine state is, indeed, a piece of work. But , it's home. It is the only place I have ever lived and I appreciate the environment in which I grew up in. I learned to endure ridiculous heat as many have learned to endure the frigid cold.

All the same, home is home and I can't help but laugh when game shows give away vacations to come to Florida. All the same, I am proud to be counted as one of the few remaining true Floridians. Enjoy this list below, it has been one of the highest searches on my last blog.

You Know You’re a Floridian if…

You never use an umbrella because you know the rain
will be over in five minutes

A good parking place has nothing to do with distance
from the store, but everything to do with shade.

Your winter coat is made of denim

You can tell the difference between fire ant bites
and mosquito bites

You’re younger than thirty but some of your friends
are over 65

Anything under 70 is chilly.

You pass on the right and honk at the elderly.

You’ve driven through Yeehaw Junction.

You could swim before you could read

You have to drive north to get to The South

You know that no other grocery store can compare to
Publix.

Every other house had blue roofs in 2004-2005

Youve gotten out of school early on Halloween to
trick or treat before it got dark

You know that anything under a Category 3 just isn’t
worth waking up for.

You dread lovebug season.

You are on a first name basis with the Hurricane
list. They aren’t Hurricane Charley, Hurricane
Frances…but Charley , Frances , Ivan and Jeanne.

You know what a snowbird is and you hate them.

You know why flamingos are pink.

You think a six-foot alligator is actually pretty
average.

You were twelve before you ever saw snow or you still
haven’t.

“Down South” means Key West

“Panhandling” means going to Pensacola

.You think no-one over 70 should be allowed to drive.

.Flip-flops are everyday wear.

.Shoes are for business meetings and church.

.No, wait, flip flops are good for church too, unless
it’s Easter or Christmas.

.Sweet tea can be served at any meal.

.An alligator once walked through your neighborhood.

.You smirk (or roll your eyes) when a game show’s
“Grand Prize” is a trip or cruise to Florida .

.You measure distance in minutes.

.You have a drawer full of bathing suits, and one
sweatshirt.

.You get annoyed at the tourists who feed seagulls.

.All the local festivals are named after a fruit.

.A mountain is any hill 100 feet above sea level.

.You think everyone from a bigger city has a northern
accent.

.You know the four seasons really are: Almost summer,
Summer, Not summer but really hot, and Christmas.

It’s not soda, cola, or pop. it’s coke, regardless of
brand or flavor, “What kinda coke you want?”

Anything under 95 is just warm.

You’ve hosted a hurricane party.

You go to a theme park for an afternoon, and know when
to get on the best rides.

You understand the futility of exterminating
cockroaches.

You can pronounce Okeechobee, Kissimmee and
Withlacoochee .

You understand why it’s better to have a friend with a
boat, than have a boat yourself.

Bumper stickers on the pickup in front of you include:
various fish, NRA, Nascar, Go Gators, and a
confederate flag.

You were 5 before you realized they made houses
without pools.

You were 25 when you first met someone who couldn’t
swim.

You get angry when people say ” Florida isn’t really
part of the SOUTH”

You’ve worn shorts and used the A/C on Christmas.

You know what the “stingray shuffle” is, and why it’s
important!

You recognize Miami-Dade as ” Northern Cuba “

A simple, rambling introduction

2009-01-06T15:48:00.000-05:00

Welcome to my blog! I am excited to start a new and fresh compilation of ideas and stories and any random thing that happens to cross my mind while I am at the computer. This is my second blog that I have created but it was done to allow greater creativity in how I am presenting myself. You see, I write from my heart. Whether it is lighthearted or serious, it is straight from my heart. In doing so I wanted my readers to feel what I am writing not only in the words they are reading but in the colors and styles they are written in. Blogger allows me to do that.

If you have read my info then you know that I am a Christ Follower and not shy about it. My faith is not a religion, it is my life. I will not hide it or change what I say because it is seen as politically incorrect. I believe in freedom OF religion, NOT freedom FROM religion that many are trying to pass over the national government circuit. I have as much right to say what I believe as those who say that they believe in nothing (which is never true, even if it is the environment, it can be their "religion").

As you can also see, I am very opinionated. Sorry if you are offended but then again, I am offended by people every day and I usually just let it go because it is not worth the fight that would incur. None-the-less, I am "family friendly" so to speak so you never have to worry about any cursing or "adult material" ever crossing my page. In have in the past written on hot topics (sex, homosexuality, and, evidently, religion as well) but I try to keep everything tasteful and I don't mind if you don't agree with me on all of my opinions. I don't expect you too. But I do expect the same respect (in commenting) as you would ask for yourself. So please, whether in agreement or in disagreement, feel free to comment away. And mostly, please enjoy reading as I tell it how I see it and share those topics that are laid on my heart.

Thank you,
Rebecca--Living the Life--For Jesus.