Part-time Blogger February 27, 2008

 Ok guys….I’m back to blogging…well at least, part-time.  I am extremely overwhelmed with the load at school combined with work and other priorities but God is getting me through it.  I have had blessing upon blessing since I chose to transfer schools and found out today that I received another grant for almost $1700 which gave me a credit for almost $500 and I still have another scholarship that I might be eligible for.  God is AMAZING.  I would have never thought that I could have transferred to a private school and receive almost all my tuition and fees in scholarships and grants.  Although it’s overwhelming, God is giving me the perserverance to finish this race called COLLEGE….yes, it feels like I’ve been running 30 miles and still have 100 to go…but praise God I haven’t passed out in these first 30. 

I know this is a short post, but it’s better than nothing, right?! 

 I’ve posted this song by Sara Groves.  It’s lyrics are absolutely what I feel right now.  I hope it touches you as much as it has me.

 When the Saints

Lord I have a heavy burden of all I’ve seen and know
It’s more than I can handle
But your word is burning like a fire shut up in my bones
and I cannot let it go

And when I’m weary and overwrought
with so many battles left unfought

I think of Paul and Silas in the prison yard
I hear their song of freedom rising to the stars
And when the Saints go marching in
I want to be one of them

Lord it’s all that I can’t carry and cannot leave behind
but your word has compelled me
when I think of all who’ve gone before me and lived the faithful life

And when I’m weary and overwrought
with so many battles left unfought

I think of Paul and Silas in the prison yard
I hear their song of freedom rising to the stars

I see the shepherd Moses in the Pharohs court
I hear his call of freedom for the people of the Lord

And when the Saints go marching in
I want to be one of them
And when the Saints go marching in
I want to be one of them

I see the long quiet walk along the Underground Railroad
I see the slave awakening to the value of her soul

I see the young missionary and the end of the spear
I see his family returning with no trace of fear

I see the long hard shadows of Calcutta nights
I see the sisters standing by the lepers side

I see the young girl huddled on the brothel floor
I see the man with a passion come and kicking down the door

I see the man of sorrows and his long troubled road
I see the world on his shoulders and my easy load
-Sara Groves (from the Album: Tell Me What You Know)

Hives November 29, 2007

Ok…I know it’s been a while since I’ve blogged…but hey, I’m not a college kid who has a lot of time on her hands…

So a month or two ago I got a major breakout of hives..which is weird because I’ve never had them.  I ended up with them for over a week…the last day I was completely swollen, red and itchy all over.  Anyways, I went to the doctor and the referred me to an allergy specialist whose first open appointment was December 28th (glad I wasn’t dying).

I decided to wait and see if they ever came back before I cancelled my appointment.  Well…They’re back!!! All over my face.  I took Benedryl last night (it was the best sleep I’ve had in a while :)  ).  They went away but came back this morning. 

So apparently I’m allergic to something. Hopefully it’s not anything I enjoy like potatoes, chocolate, bread, or fruit.  I guess I will keep the appointment and pray I don’t die before them of some unknown allergy.

Well, that was completely random, but my brain levels are at an all time low.  I guess that’s what 19 hours of school, 40+ hours of work, and all the little “filler” activities do.

Praise God that a break is coming soon.  I don’t know what I would do if I didn’t have Him to carry me through these stressful times.

God Bless and have a hiveless day!

Another Random Question… September 15, 2007

If you could invent anything…what would it be…and for what purpose would it fulfill?

Hmmmmm…… August 31, 2007

If you could have any job for one day….what would it be and why?

Masquerade August 11, 2007

¹⁷These men are springs without water and mists driven by a storm. Blackest darkness is reserved for them. ¹⁸For they mouth empty, boastful words and, by appealing to the lustful desires of sinful human nature, they entice people who are just escaping from those who live in error. ¹⁹They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity—for a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him. ²⁰If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning. ²¹It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them. ²²Of them the proverbs are true: “A dog returns to its vomit,”and “A sow that is washed goes back to her wallowing in the mud.” -2 Peter 2: 17-22

Alright, another step into the UnComfort Zone…..

It is so sad to me that our churches today are full of people who pretend.  They pretend they’re Christians….They pretend that they’re happy….They pretend that they don’t have any problems…They pretend that they’re not sinning…etc.

Isn’t church supposed to be a place where you can come to lay down your burdens at the altar and depend on fellow Christians to support and advise you on your daily trials and tribulations?  Why is it that we come to church, pretend to sing to God, pretend to listen to the sermon and leave….and still feel so much hurt or fear inside?

I personally have had a lot of burdens lately about where God wants me in the ministry.  It wasn’t until I got flat down in front of God that I realized that God’s plan will be revealed to me in little pieces in its own time.  Why is it that I went so long, putting on my mask and heading to church, pretending like my life was great and that I was happy?  Church is a place where we as Christians can lift each other up, give advice and pray for each other.  It’s not always going to be a happy place, because everyone has problems or struggles that they are dealing with…but it should be a place of worship and encouragement.

 The following song is from Casting Crowns (I posted a blog a while back with this song in it, but it has meant a lot to me lately) and I think its lyrics are enough to close out this post:

Stained Glass Masquerade

Is there anyone that fails,

Is there anyone that falls,

Am I the only one in church today feelin’ so small

Cause when I take a look around

Everybody seems so strong

I know they’ll soon discover

That I don’t belong

So I tuck it all away, like everything’s okay

If I make them all believe it, Maybe I’ll believe it too

So with a painted grin, I play the part again

So everyone will see me, the way that I see them

Chorus:

Are we happy plastic people

under shiny painted steeples

with walls around our weakness

and smiles to hide our pain.

But if the invitation’s open

to every heart that has been broken

Maybe then we close the curtain, on our stained glass masquerade.

 

Is there anyone who’s been there?

Are there any hands to raise?

Am I the only one who’s traded

in the altar for a stage?

The performance is convincing

and we know every line by heart

Only when no one is watching

Can we really fall apart

But would it set me free

if I dared to let you see

the truth behind the person

That you imagine me to be

Would your arms be open?

Or would you walk away?

Would the love of Jesus

be enough to make you stay?

Chorus 2x

But if the invitation’s open

to every heart that has been broken

Maybe then we close the curtain, on our stained glass masquerade

Is there anyone that fails?

Is there anyone that falls?

Am I the only one in church today feelin’ so small?

 

Take off your mask and lay it before the throne….God knows our troubles, our struggles, and our fears….there’s no need to hide.

Prayer Request August 5, 2007

I know…this is outrageous….3 blogs in a week!!  I know you’re proud of me Dale.

Seriously though….I want to ask you guys (and girls) to be praying for me.  A year or so ago, I surrendered into “the ministry.”  It was a true calling from God and I know that somewhere down the line, He wants me to work for Him full-time.  I don’t, however, know exactly where God wants me to be right now.  I have a huge heart for children…and especially those that live without a family…or without a loving family…such as, orphans/foster children. 

I have struggled with what and where God wants me for over a year now.  Please pray that He will open a door wide enough for my human eyes to see.  I am trying to stay on God’s timeline…but it’s difficult when you’re an American who has to have things now.  And I tend to like things in my life planned out…lol…like my mom ;).  It’s very frustrating to feel like I’m not doing exactly what God wants me too…but at the same time, not know for sure where He wants me.  I am at the point in my life where I am willing to move wherever God wants me and do whatever He wants me to do….I’m just waiting on the door.

That was probably a bunch of babbling….but please be in prayer that God will show me the door soon.

My Little Sister :) August 2, 2007

Here are a few things I’ve learned over the years from my little sister:

1. Girl’s can play with Hot Wheels…..even until their 12.

2. Don’t talk back to mom….it gets ya more spankin’s.

3.  Don’t be serious ALL the time.

4. Just because you’re mad….don’t take it out on everyone else.

5. Give your best effort towards the gifts God has given you.

As most of you know…My sister will be heading off to college tomorrow.  I’ve seen her grow up from a tom boy….to a beautiful lady.  Our fights over the years have changed from barbies….to clothes and hair straighteners. 

Her senior year in high school, she debated on playing soccer or track.  I was so angry..lol.  She is very talented in the area of athletics and God has blessed her tremendously.  So, with a great deal of coaxing….she decided she’d play.  In the end, she went to the regional track meet and “ran her best time” (wink - for Pam).   I am so proud of her and everything she has accomplished.  I know that God has great plans for her and that she will excel greatly as a Wayland Baptist University Pioneer soccer and track team member.

Pam - this is to you.

We’ve been through everything over the past 18 years.  We’ve fought, we’ve played, we’ve imagined, we’ve worked…..we’ve done many a chore…lol.  But through it all, we’ve actually become very close.  I will miss you while you’re gone, but God has amazing things in store for your life.  Don’t take anything for granted.  Every game you win….every race you finish….give all the glory to God.   After all, not everyone is blessed enough to play sports in college….and get paid for it.  I wish you the best and don’t forget to call me…lol.

God Bless and God Speed..lol.

Kenya

Summer 2007 July 28, 2007

I felt it fitting to write my first blog about the most incredible summer I have EVER experienced.

As many of you know, I took a position as a Summer Missionary through our association.  This fits perfectly with my blog name because…well…June 2nd…the day of our oriention….I was waaaayyy out of my comfort zone..

So I figured…Christ didn’t intend on our life to be comfortable…so off I went to be uncomfortable for the rest of the summer.  I went to the orientation and soon learned the ridiculous looking moves to the Game Day music and was assigned a schedule.  I went home repeating to myself…”What was I thinking?”  And so….my summer began.

Here’s a few stats from the summer:

2 months

7 missionaries

17 churches

7 weeks

260 hours of VBS

6 songs sung……

6,000,000 times (ok it just felt that way)

3560.1 miles (just mine…not counting the other missionaries)

2 flat tires (on my vehicle of course)

1 blown transmission (not my vehicle, shew!)

umpteen hundred gallons of gas

35 days of rain

7 meetings in Jacksonville

22 trips to Walmart

1 trip to Chuck-E-Cheese’s

0 hours of sleep

8 days that I was home

1050 kids

….and 52 salvations!!!
I praise God for every kid that came to know Him.  I praise God that He gave me the strength to overcome my shyness and become friends with 6 of the best people in the world.  I praise God that I was able to spend an ENTIRE summer sharing the gospel with kids all over East Texas…and most of all I praise God for Jesus….for sending His Son to die for me….an awful, sinful person…and giving me the gift of salvation and the opportunity to tell others about that gift.  I could not have been blessed any more than I was this summer.

(This is a long blog…I know…but I have to get it out somehow :)  )

One of the most inspiring weeks was the week that we were at Purtis Creek Baptist Church….my parent’s church.

The children from Oak Street Outreach attended the VBS and were amazing.  Their smiles and laughter would light up the room immediately.  I am so blessed to know them.  By the time the end of the week came, I felt led to buy Bibles for each of the 7 children from Oak Street.  I prayed that God would use the Bibles to be a light and a sword for the children as they grow and as they deal with some of the tough battles that they are dealing with right now.  So Friday afternoon, along with two of the other missionaries, I headed to Lifeway to purchase Bibles.  Upon arriving at the store, with a list of the kid’s favorite colors, I headed to the Bible section.  This Lifeway didn’t have very many Bibles in my budget, but I managed to find 7 that I thought the kid’s would like.  On my way home from Tyler, I stopped by Oak Street and dropped off the Bibles.  When I walked in the door, one of the children saw me holding the gift bags and smiled and said, “Oh my goodness, is there more in the car?!”  I told him (while laughing)  that there weren’t any more in the car, but that I had one for him.  He said, “Hey, that’s ok, but can I have mine now?!”  I passed out the Bibles and the kids were ecstatic.  I left the praying that the children would use those Bibles and that God would answer all of their questions and heal all of their pains that they were dealing with.

A week later, I when with my parents to Oak Street for a Sunday night service.  Dee, the owner of the outreach, told my parents that he had gone out to the trampoline to check on the kids, and the kids told him to go away…they were having a Bible Study!!! Praise God!!

Apparently, the kids have been having Bible studies and have been reading them the whole week.  We wrote a message in each Bible to the kids and one of them, Dillion, highlighted every word we had written.  He was so excited that we had taken the time to write a message just to him.

Those kids are truely a blessing and God has used them to open my eyes tremendously.  Who would’ve thought that writing a note and giving a Bible to a kid would make such a huge impact in their life?

So, in conclusion, I can honestly say, that God is incredible…and without Him…this summer would’ve been a wreck….

All credit is due to Him for the salvations, the fellowship, the safety, the fun, the rain, and every other event that occured this summer….

To Him be the glory….

The Pre-Blog July 27, 2007

While preparing for my blog….which I will post tomorrow…I thought I would leave you (Dale) with a few words from the book of Psalms.

Psalm 45:1

My heart overflows with a good theme;

I address my verses to the King;

My tongue is the pen of a ready writer.

**I’m back to blogging!!  I know all of you have been in such disarray since Easter….well, be dismayed no longer…lol.**

Bi-Polar Weather II April 9, 2007

Ok…so I’m sure everyone’s heard about the recent Texas weather….

 So, in honor of the tornados, floods, snow, humidity, 20 degree weather and 80 degree weather…all in one week….I wrote a Post-Easter song!!!

(Here’s some meat for ya Jacki!!)

Peter CottonRope

(inspired by my mom)

**to the tune of “Peter Cottontail**

Here comes Peter CottonRope

Skiing down the Bunny Slope

Slippity Sloppity Easter’s on its way.

 

We don’t get snow at Christmas time,

April seems like a better time

Slippity Sloppity Easter’s white with snow!! (and tornados)

 

Hope you have a Merry Spring!!!

 

**I promise…..more meat is on it’s way!!**