Disclaimer: No Guarentee

Day 1: do the things.
Day 2: keep doing the things...
Day 183: still doing the things?
Day 365: try new things?

Let me warn you. This post might not make you feel good. In fact I hope it makes you uncomfortable. Don't get me wrong. My goal for this blog is to encourage, speak gently, spread love. But something is on my heart that must be said.

The numbers on your calendar have no power. 2016 didn't take anything goes from you. 2017 won't give you anything. Just because it is a new year doesn't inherently make it any different than last year. You want different? Check your power source.

In the note for the study of the book of John that I'm doing (with Bible Study Fellowship. Yes, please ask me more about that!) I read this passage and felt the weight of its truth heavily on my heart.

"Jesus' reply [in John] 8:34-38: 'very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.' Jesus spoke of a slavery different than the ownership of one human by another. Even today, people may falsely believe they will eventually release their bitterness, gradually eliminate their tendency to deceive or even curtail their habit of  criticism. They may promise themselves they will stop their sexual sin. They may believe that as they get older they will become less self indulgent and more generous and disciplined. However, good intentions are no match for the presence and power of sin in people's lives. Sin enslaved and even extends it's control. Every person is driven to obey the impulses that come from our nature. [...] BUT membership in God's family comes through new birth through the Holy Spirit and faith in God's Son. In that relationship is freedom, from nothing God's judgement and sings control."

So before you make plans for the New Year, check your power supply. In whom are you trusting to make changes?

The Blog Awakens

(Haha star wars reference.) 

Just a heads up. After 3 and a half years of neglect, my poor little blog is finally getting some TLC. I'm not sure how often I will post or what I will post, but come along and join me for a blogging adventure in 2017.

Happy New Years Eve, friends. :)

Ministry update june 19

I know I am very late on this today. But here goes.

I'm not going to lie to you. I'm pretty discouraged right now. It seems to be impossible to get in touch with people. I make a thousand calls, leave a thousand voice mails, and the few times that I get people on the phone they either say no or call me back at a better time. When I do call them back they don't answer that time. I know it sounds like I'm complaining and on some level I am. Just need to vent every once in awhile. Right now I am sitting down praying and searching scripture for something to help lift me up and get me through the next few calls I need to make.

The biggest obstacle right now is figuring the best time to sit  down and call people. I know people are busy. I have no hard feelings about that. I'm busy with too. I blame no one but chance. Luckily for me there is no chance for me. Only Gods Providence.

But I will continue to diligently do what God has called me to do.  I Will make the calls and I will do it with a right attitude. Only God can bring the partners to me, and only God can bring in the support.

As far as prayer request go, they are pretty much the same as last week. Pray that appointments will be scheduled and partnerships will be made. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers.

"Create in me a clean heart, Oh God, and renew a right Spirit in me." Psalm 51

Happy Birthday to my Super Hero

It's a husband! It's a dad! It's... my best friend. :)

And today is his birthday. Man, am I glad he was born. :P

In the last few years, I have been through an aweful whole lot. An Peden has helped carry me through it all. He is sweet, thoughtful, compassionate, gentle.

He loves our daughter so much he might actually explode. I could not think of anyone i would rather have as a daddy to my sweet baby girl. 

I love him so much. I don't know what I would do without and there really is no way to accurately portray just how much I appreciate him. 

Ecclesiastes 4:11-12 "Furthermore, if two lie down together they keep warm, but how can one be warm alone? And if one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart."

 

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 "Love is patient, love is kind, and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away."

AND NOW! for pictures. :) 

 

August 6 2011

February 9 2013

LITL: The hardest post I've ever written.

"Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; [...] For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." (Isaiah 55:6, 8-9)

"And the Lord said to Job, 'Shall a faultfinder contend with the Almighty? He who argues with God let him answer it.' Then Job answered the Lord and said, 'Behold I am of small account; what shall I answer you? I lay my hand on my mouth. I have spoken once, and I will not answer; twice but I will proceed no further.'" (Job 40:1-5)

Last night I had a Job moment. I was angry and bitter towards God. I was demanding he give me an answer. How proud and foolish I am. Who do I think I am to demand something from God?

Brief back story. One of our Mixtecan families had their 2 month old daughter rushed to Children's Hospital in Birmingham. She is having seizures, which are getting longer and more intense over the last few days. The doctors she may not survive much longer, and if she does, she will most likely never go home. She will need to stay in a home for disabled children, because half of her brain is underdeveloped. Above: Her tiny hand clings to my friend's finger as she watches over her after one of these seizures. 

My church and friends have been praying so intently for healing, comfort, wisdom, the whole package. Last night I reached my wits end. I was angry with God. I wanted him to just hurry up and heal her or take her. The uncertainty was killing me. My answer from Him came much like that to Job.

I realized God didn't owe me anything. He doesn't owe me an explanation. He doesn't owe me an answer. He doesn't owe this baby girl anything. He doesn't owe the mother her child. He doesn't owe the child her health. 

He doesn't owe me my own child or her health. 

I was way out of my place to demand anything from God because He is the creator. He gives and takes away, as we sang in church Sunday. He has a reason for what he does, and for no reason do I need to know what it is. 

My job is not to heal or to judge or to decide or to understand. My job is to pray and to trust and to love on this sweet family and the friends that are ministering to them.  

"Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." (Matthew 11:29-30)

Ministry Update: Follow the Leader

"As they were traveling on the road someone said to Him, “I will follow You wherever You go!” Jesus told him, “Foxes have dens, and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay His head.” Then He said to another, “Follow Me.” “Lord,” he said, “first let me go bury my father.” But He told him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and spread the news of the kingdom of God.” Another also said, “I will follow You, Lord, but first let me go and say good-bye to those at my house.” But Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”" (Luke 9:57-62)

I have been very encouraged as the summer ministry has taken off with Christian Youth in Action. Although I am not directly involved this year, due to my call to partnership ministry at the present, I am still able to ... nudge, if you will. 

I saw a couple of our teens off to training in the last few days. I have also had the privelege of hearing a young girl, friend of a friend, who has been called to ministry recently. She is 12. That is just awesome, especially in the opinion of someone who was also called to ministry at a young age. Jesus does not fool us into thinking his ministry is easy. But those He calls, he also equips. He also rewards them in so many ways.

I have been rewarded lately with being able to spend time and speak with some people who are so instrumental in God's work here in Montgomery. between school teachers, committee members, supporters, and Good News Club teachers, the company I have had over the last week have been great. :)

I have had two meeting since my last update. Both went well, and resulted in some strong prayer partnerships. I am blessed to have God keeping me in these peoples' minds. I made a whole bunch of calls yesterday and so far have scheduled one more appointment. 

PLEASE PRAY for God to have his sovereighn hand ofver communication, that he will place people in the right place and attitude to receive my calls. 

Pray for the meeting Thursday afternoon, as well as a few tentative meetings that have not been nailed down yet. 

Pray for this young girl and her mother as I meet with them tonight. If CEF is where God is leading her, she is very interested in helping this summer.

What Direction?

"And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. And when they had come to Mysia, they attempted to go into Bythinia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them. So passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas. And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; a man of Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying 'Come over to Macedonia and help us.' And when Paul had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the Gospel." (Acts 16:6-10)

I am intrigued by this passage that we studied in Sunday School yesterday. Peden and I have recently started praying over direction in our life. And from I have experienced, god very seldom hides it from you when you ask, "where to, God?" 

So this could get interesting. 

That is all. :P

Ministry update june 4th

I spend a lot of time at Starbucks these days. Sometimes in order to get work done you just need a change of scenery. But work is going well.

I have had two ministry presentations which have resulted in new partners, and I have two more scheduled so far. I also have two follow up calls within the next week and a couple pushed off in the next month s. I have a pretty good number of referrals to start with, and the list is still growing.

I finally got up with my KCt coach. That was fun. She was very encouraging.

I think the hardest thing so far is voicemails. I have left so many voicemails. It can be kind of discouraging when people don't answer the phone.

My coach says this is normal and that it will work itself out. In fact God even says it will work itself out.

Jeremiah 29:11 "for I know the plans I have for you”  — ⌊this is⌋ the Lord ’s declaration — “plans for ⌊your⌋ welfare, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope."

I know that God is already preparing people who will partner with the ministry. He is already expanding the ministry in miraculous ways. He has called me, and he has equipped me.

Jeremiah goes on to say this: "You will call to Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.   You will seek Me  and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. I will be found by you” — ⌊this is⌋ the Lord ’s declaration — “and I will restore your fortunes   and gather you from all the nations and places where I banished you” — ⌊this is⌋ the Lord ’s declaration. “I will restore you to the place I deported you from.” (verses 12-24)

I must remember to constantly seek Him daily. I must go to him to refill me when I have poured Spirit out on others. I must not be afraid or discouraged.

PLEASE PRAY that I will not be discouraged. Pray that I will continue to be encouraged by the progress God is making.

Pray that I will be able to connect with people at the right time and in the right attitude.

Also prayerfully consider how you can also be a part of the ministry. Or if you know anyone who might be interested in part feel free to contact me.

Believe it or not, it's true. I. cut. my. hair.

Proof that it takes about ten years for me to recover from a traumatic experience.Let me take you down memory lane. 

2001 I am seven years old. My sister is graduating from high school. The whole family is gathered at some restaurant for breakfast. I'm devouring eggs and toast and hashbrowns, etc. Breakfast has always been my favorite meal. Not much later, my stomach is not happy and I run to the bathroom. Yep. Threw it all up. 

2011. My then boyfriend (now husband) and I frequent waffle house quite a lot. After months of coaxing, he finally convinces me to try the hashbrowns.  Now, they're one of my favorites once again.

circa 2000. After a couple of battles with head lice, my mom takes my beautiful long red hair and chops it to my shoulders. Over the next couple of years it got shorter and shorter.

LITL: Paradise Today and Tomorrow

"Therefore, while the promise to enter His rest remains, let us fear that none of you should miss it." Hebrews 4:1

 The other day, I turned my bible app on and began listening to (what I thought was) a random passage. But God had something to teach me. As He always does.  :P

A little history lesson. Just for a second. When Moses led the Israelites out of captivity in Egypt, under the guidance of God, we all know it was a bumpy ride. There were attacks, long waits, and the constant murmuring. Just the way I hear that word in my head makes it sound annoying. :P I don't know how Moses did it. As punishment for their unbelief and complaining, God declared that that generation would not see the promise land. They would know what it was to rest in the rewards of their long journey. 

This is the background to this passage in Hebrews. In contrast to the punishment of those Israelites, we can know what it is to rest in God. We can have peace if we have belief. "A Sabbath rest remains for God’s people." (hebrews 4:9) We can rest in God like he rested after he created the earth. How many times do I let myself get so wound up and stressed out, when it is so easy just to stop. rest. "Be still and know that I am God." (Psalm 46:10) But instead i run around like a chicken with my head cut off and become all too aware that I am human. 

This passage in Hebrews 4 reminded of two things. 

LITL: Joyful noises... lots. of joyful. noises.

This is my sweet, wise little girl. At the time this was taken, she was telling me very important things that I could not understand. Partly because I don't speak baby and partly because she was speaking in a pitch I almost couldn't hear. 

Yes my baby girl has found her voice. And it's a big one. I guess that shouldn't surprise me. :P

But other than making me wish I had earplugs, her ... lovely... voice :P reminds me of something. It reminds me of how beautiful of a creation we are. Yes rotten with sin, but beautiful created. "Wonderfully made." (Psalm 139:14)

Bekah is discovering the way her lungs, windpipe, vocal cords, diaphragm, lips, and tongue work together to make range of noises that she can make. Although she is still working on understanding how to make or understand the noises we do, and she is years away from understanding the why of any of it. 

Then I wonder why myself. Why did God invest such time and ingenuity into such a flawed creature? Biology always blows my mind. Getting down to the tiny little details. the way God perfectly knit all of our piece together to function just the way they do. The way he created our bodies to make sounds and our minds to make language. Our bodies to find rhythm (some not as well as others :P) and our hearts to detect the music all around us. 

God is so good. :)

We are all familiar with the verse, "Oh come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation." (Psalm 95:1) I pray that I will find joy in my Savior every day. I pray that my daughter would know joy. 

I am also constantly begging God to bless me with his wisdom. I pray that my daughter also would find wisdom in the word of God. "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God." (Colossians 3:16)

So "sing to the Lord." (Psalm 96:1) Find joy in his wonders, one of those wonders being you. And seek wisdom in his word. Praise him. :)

Revival Song (Ministry update)

ministry update for week of 5/23

"You start where I belong: on my knees." I am definitely doing a lot of praying these days. God has blessed me so much just through daily prayer. I know what you're probably thinking. "Duh! Aren't you a missionary? Shouldn't you know all about prayer?" Yes well this may come as a shock to you, but missionaries are humans. :P I have been especially blessed through praying for people. I have a list of all my contacts, family, friends, partners, and prospects. I pray through them about ten people at a time. On various occasions, I have prayed for an individual who later in the day I find out is going through something or in need of encouragement. It does my heart good to be able to say "Hey. I prayed for you today." :)

Mom in a hurry #2

Breakfast on the stove, dishwater running, cat whining for breakfast, washing machine unbalanced, and baby crying for her crinkly toy. Can't find it so I let her play with a cereal bag. (Don't worry. It was clean.)
Happy baby, happy momma.
Baby toy improvisation for the win. :p

Savy Shopping: Couponing if you have 5, 30, or 120 minutes.

I'll be honest. The Krazy Coupon Lady does almost all my work for me. GASP! I know. I'm a fraud. You caught me. :P But really, if someone has enough time to keep up with extreme couponing for over a dozen stores, let her. I surely don't. And you probably don't either.

If couponing seems daunting, here are some easy tips that i think anyone (with as much or as little time as you have) can do:

IF you have 5 minutes
If you are going out to buy a certain something that you need, go to her list of online printable coupons. Skip right to the section that brand (or the couple of brands you might be willing to buy) might be. If there is one, click on it and print. (You may need to sign up for a newsletter or install a coupon printing program on your computer. This take five minutes, tops, and you can just send the emails to your spam folder if you wont read them.I never do. :P)
For example, the other day I needed trash bags. I scanned the list for Glad and Hefty coupons. I found:
          $1/1 Hefty Trash Bags at target.com

Savy Shopping: I love Publix...

yes I do. I love Publix. How 'bout you?

It's nice to know that I still got it. Yes, after a four or five month hiatus, I finally caught up on my couponing. Lucky for me, the first weekend I did so, there were three inserts in the paper.

I made a few stops this week but by far, my most profitable ones were to publix and (shocker) walmart. Publix is almost always a good trip but walmart is sort of finnicky on the their coupon policies. But this week, the favor was on my side. :P

I got everything pictured here for little over... drum roll... the suspense is killing you... $4!

True story. Here is the break down: