Hope Now February 1, 2009

I hear this song by Addison Road on the radio about once a day and I love it.   The first two lines are my favorite.  So profound.  If everything really does come down to love, then what are we waiting for?  Why do we hesitate and hide when we know the ONE who is LOVE?  1 John 4: 7-8 tells us what love is…7Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.  8Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God IS love.  

Here are the lyrics to the song and the video below. Check out  www.myspace.com/addisonroad

If everything comes down to love
Then just what am I afraid of
When I call out Your name
Something inside awakes in my soul
How quickly I forget I’m Yours

I’m not my own
I’ve been carried by You
All my life

Everything rides on hope now
Everything rides on faith somehow
When the world has broken me down
Your love sets me free

When my life is like a storm
Rising waters all I want is the shore
You say I’ll be ok and
Make it through the rain
You are my shelter from the storm

Everything rides on hope now
Everything rides on faith somehow
When the world has broken me down
Your love sets me free

I am not my own
I’ve been carried by you all my life

Everything rides on hope now
Everything rides on faith somehow
When the world has broken me down
Your love sets me free

You’ve become my hearts desire
I will sing Your praises higher
Cause Your love sets me free
Your love sets me free
Your love sets me free

Ignite January 17, 2009

I’m in Lubbock for the Ignite student conference. I’ve been in the Will Call window since 6pm and i’m pretty sure I’ve got frostbite . Whose brilliant idea was it to not bring my coat. Despite the chill in the air, it is so cool to see the excitement on these students faces. I can hear them as they are being led in worship by the Jeff Johnson Band. It’s a warmth that a coat just doesn’t provide. In a little while, the speaker will begin and they will have the opportunity to hear the gospel. Pray for their ears to be opened to what God has for them. I’ll update more tomorrow. God is good and His mercy endures forever!

How long can I go between posts? January 16, 2009

My friend Rob reminded me tonight that I haven’t posted in almost a year!  Yikes!  I’m horrible at this thing.  There’s been so much to blog about over the last few months and I just can’t seem to get it all written down.  This weekend I’ll be going to Lubbock for the Ignite student conference.  I’m looking forward to seeing friends and hearing some good preaching and music.  I’ll do my best over the next few weeks to get up to speed with where I am in life.  Suffice it to say that God is working and I’m looking forward to what He has in store for 2009.

 

My friend Sarah and me with friends we met in Tokyo

Thirty something March 28, 2008

Those are words I never would have used to describe myself.  But alas, it is true.  Today the Thirty something dial clicks one more time.  I must say that I don’t feel thirty-two.  I’m not sure what it’s supposed to feel like, but I’m fairly certain I haven’t fully grasped it.  There are days I still feel like a teenager and others I feel like a middle aged lady.  So what does life look like for someone in their third decade?  For me it’s a new chapter, a new journey and the resolve to follow God as hard as I can.  I desire to be used for His kingdom purpose and to make His name famous wherever I am.  This past year has been one for the record books.  I   still can’t quite believe all that has transpired in the last 6 months.  New town, new friends and new adventures have marked the trail so far.  I’m so excited about what this thirty second year of my life has in store.  I can only hope that God will allow me to continue to be part of His amazing plan.  To all my friends and family who have poured into me this last year, words can’t even begin to express how grateful I am.  Here’s to all that is to come!  

Time flies… February 7, 2008

My my, how the time has flown by since my last post.  I don’t even know where to start to get up-to-date. 
I guess I’ll start with the Christmas holidays.  I got to spend lots of time with my family, which made me very happy.  On Christmas Eve we went to my mom’s parents and sang Christmas carols around their retirement complex.  We didn’t see a whole lot of folks, but those we did see really seemed to enjoy the music.   The rest of the holiday was filled with traveling to Dallas to visit my dad’s folks and the rest of our cousins there.  New Year’s day was spent at my Uncle Marion and Aunt Judy’s house.  It’s a tradition  
January seemed to go by so fast.  I’m in the thick of preparation for YEC.  I think it’s going to be a great one!  We’re going to be at a new venue, the Special Events Center in Garland.  I’m absolutely loving it here in Leander.  I am subbing in the school district and have enjoyed getting back in the classroom.  I also love, love, my Upward basketball teams.  I coach 2 teams.  k-2nd and 3rd-5th.  They’re so much fun to watch!
Things at the church are going really well.  The Upward basketball program has been very successful for our first year.  We get to see lots of parents and other family members of the players every Thursday and Saturday.  One Saturday there were about 200 fans there!  The  youth group is going well.  We have about 5 that come on a regular basis.  Pray for boldness in our students as they share their faith with their friends at school.  I’ll be starting a girls Bible study next week.  I’m very excited about that! 
After the first of the year, a group of ladies at our church decided it was time to get in shape.  We are using the Weight Watchers model and meet every Sunday to encourage one another.  It’s been really fun so far.  I’m determined and know that the Lord will give us all the strength to stick with it. 
I just got back to Leander after a long weekend in Dallas.  It was my cousin Brock’s 1st birthday party.  He sure is growing so fast!  I got to see friends and family and watch the Giants win the Super Bowl.  Doesn’t get much better than that!
 Alright, now that I’ve rambled on, I’ll wrap it up.  I have a few prayer requests this time.  1. Pray that I’ll be able to find a full time teaching position.  2. Pray for my great Aunt Nan.  She has some health issues and will be going in for surgery soon.  3.  Pray for FBC Leander and the surrounding community.  That we will be a light in the darkness.Thank you for your support and encouragement.  I love hearing from ya’ll.  Let me know how I can be praying for you!
Blessings! 

Upward December 14, 2007

This week has been a great one here in Leander. I attended a training session for substitute teaching. I’m really looking forward to getting back in the classroom. On Wednesday night we took the youth on a “Destination Unknown” outing. We took them to the local mall to pick out an angel from the angel tree. They chose a boy and a girl and we spent the next hour picking out gifts for them. It really was a good lesson in helping “the least of these” as Jesus says.

Our church is having an Upward Youth basketball league this winter. It’s the first time they’ve done it. I am coaching 2 teams. My first team, The Bears, are 3rd -5th graders. My second team, The Flyers are K-2nd graders. It’s so much fun. It’s a bit hard to keep their attention though and to explain how to dribble and run at the same time. I love spending time teaching kids though. Watching them figure things out and feel like they’ve done something amazing never gets old.

The church is also having a Christmas musical on Sunday night and I’m really looking forward to it. It’s so nice to be part of something like that again. My sisters will be coming down to sing with me and my parents will be here also. I’m so excited for them to see what’s going on here. God has been so good to me. I’m living with wonderful friends who encourage me and worshipping in a church full of people who love the Lord. I can’t ask for more than that. He has taken care of my every need so far and I have no doubt that He will continue to do so.

My prayer during these days prior to Christmas is that we will all take inventory of God’s faithfulness. Take a look back and see the needs He’s met, the ways He’s made. How amazing is the God of our Salvation! Enjoy the fullness of His love this season!

A little piece of pie… November 30, 2007

I had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday.  I got to spend some time with my parents and my sisters.  We had a great time.  We played some Guitar Hero, which is a blast.  My grandparents think that I’m taking a video guitar course . Our grandparents had 2 of their friends with them.  Ms. Lou and Ms. Millie.  It’s always nice to share the holidays with new friends.

 Friday we went to Christian Care center in Mesquite.  My great-grandmother was a resident there many years ago and we started a tradition of singing to the residents the day after Thanksgiving.  After the singing we had our annual gift exchange, which got a little feisty with all the stealing and swaping of gifts.  The highlight of the night was the bowling tournament on the wii gaming system.  Congrats to cousin David who was the Champ! As one who didn’t grow up playing video games, I have now become enamored with these new games.  Oh well, I guess there could be worse things.

I officially arrived in Leander  on Saturday.  I have spent the week finding my way around town and having a couple of job interviews.  We had a really good night at church on Wednesday night.  We call our mid week youth gathering The Well. (John 4:13) We had a game night and had 6 students.  It was a great opportunity to get to know the students.  I’m looking forward to more of that!  We’re praying that God will continue to bring students who need to know Him.  Pray for us that we will be able to reach the students of Leander, Cedar Park and the surrounding area.

I’ll close with this statement  I heard at church.  –When we tell our brothers and sisters in Christ that we can’t forgive a wrong they’ve done us, we’re telling them that His sacrifice on the cross wasn’t enough for them. –  That one still has me thinking. 

These Days November 14, 2007

For my first blog, I’ll keep it short.  There will be much to share in later days.I’m sitting here at my desk, packing boxes and preparing for my last day at work.  I am moving to Leander, TX which is about 20 minutes north of Austin.  I’ve got about a thousand different emotions running through me.  I am taking a big leap of faith and moving at the Lord’s guidance.  I know without a shadow of a doubt that He will provide all that I could ever need.  My challenge now is to keep myself out of the way and let Him lead.  My heart is quickened with thoughts of new ministry and a new people group to join.  I can only imagine what lies ahead.  I will be updating this blog as often as possible to keep folks up to date on the happeneings in my life.  God has a great story planned and I can’t wait to see it unfold.  I covet your prayers and encouragement during this new chapter of my life. For His Glory and Renown -