September 11

Here’s a post from Page. She’s a college freshman and felt moved to write this on friday. I’m a little late posting but hey, better late than never.

September 11, 2009

As I’m sure most of you know…. Today marks the 8^th anniversary off the Attacks on 911….

I woke up this morning and the first thing i did was to automatically grab my phone to see what time it was, check to see if I had any text messages and got on facebook. When I looked at my mini feed I saw everyone’s statuses about praying for the families that were affected by that tragic event that occurred when I was in the 5^th grade. I still can’t believe it’s been that long, but anyhow, I say a quick prayer asking Him to look over the families and to comfort them on this day. I get up, go through my daily morning schedule, read my bible and then I’m off to my first class. I’m sitting in class and the teacher is telling us that he wants us to go the chapel to see the memorials they have set up, I get there and I’m totally in awe by what I see.

Sitting on the floor are boots and shoes with labels.  As I go through the lines and look down to realize what the labels say, the boots have names of  soldiers from VA who died fighting for our country, and the shoes had labels of kids from Iraq who had been killed in this war….

One thing that amazed me was the age range, the youngest American soldier was of course 18 but the oldest that I saw was 75…..  as I looked at the boots and shoes , some new and shining, others so dirty you couldn’t even tell what color they were, I thought about how many pairs there would be if every person who had died from this war would have a pair of boots or shoes laying on that floor

I thought about how much I took for granted being able to live here in the U.S. the fact that I’m actually attending a great college, that I was able to wake up  and take out His word and read it openly, the fact I can wear a cross around my neck , just the little things that I take for granted everyday.  This is the longest  war in American history and it doesn’t feel like it’s going to end very soon, but how many times do we see things on the news about it, how many times do we as Christians actually send out prayer requests for not only our troops, but for the people we are fighting against?  Maybe you’re way better than me and do these things often but I know I forget to all the time.

The feeling of urgency has been so evident lately… the other day my family lost a cousin of a heart attack, found on his kitchen floor… and rumor has it that he stopped taking his medication so that he could have an easy way of leaving this world. Then I had a couple of close friends lose their mom from cancer. And after that I had someone I graduated with, lose her dad to a massive heart attack in his sleep shortly after laying down next to his wife, I bet you he had no idea he wasn’t going to wake up the next morning….

Anyway, what im getting to is, we need to do something. We as Christians were put here to shine His light and show people His face to further His Kingdom. And even though I know this and have been reminded of it time and time again…. I’m still getting wrapped up in earthly things, I’m still taking for granted the fact that I’ve been given everything I can ask for and more, while people are dying without knowing Him….  I don’t want to get to heaven and the Lord look down on me and say my child, you were suppose to bring ________ along with you, why didn’t you share my love with them so they could be standing next to you right now. I hate thinking about how narrow the path to heaven is, I hate knowing that people I love might not make it, I hate knowing that we as Christians decide to live lukewarm lives instead of on fire ones…..  where we as Christians do more harm than good?

I encourage you to think about what you’ve done this week for Him, whether it be sacrifice, giving praise, talking to someone who you would never think could be saved, or evening smiling at someone you don’t know…. Make Him your first response, not your last resort.

Its up to us to change the world, who wants to start?

Have you done any Kingdom work this week?

Get fired up!!!!!!

 

Newer but maybe rougher

I’m not sure what’s gotten into me but for some reason I’ve felt like I should share this song. So uncharacteristic.

anyhow, here’s the same song, a little different, feel free to comment.

NTH_3

 

Surprise

This will only be here briefly. It’s a very rough recording of a song i just wrote. This is extremely rare that I do this lol so I don’t know how long i’ll leave it up.

 

Are you a God stalker or God follower?

Post from Storm

James 1: 22 – 25
22Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror 24and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does.

Last night I was reading before going to bed and for some reason the term “God Stalker” popped into my head. A little odd, but I decided to give it some pause and then it dawned on me that that is exactly how I would describe the way most of us live the Christian life… Like God stalkers.

Stalkers, by nature, never really get to know the object of their pursuit… They only know a lot about them… They predict what they will do next, sometimes trying to work ahead of the object of their affection, but never achieve a healthy relationship with them. They are invested in the scholarship of the being, but getting to know the character might never have crossed their mind.

So, how exactly are we like this? Well, as followers, we gather lots of information about God, read books about Him, ask other people about him, and even go to places where we think He might show up… But what does our time spent doing that look like when we compare it to our time actually speaking to Him or living it out? It’s probably staggeringly one-sided eventhough the Bible is quite clear about how we should proceed.

Christian philosopher Soren Kierkigaard phrases it like this, “The matter is quite simple. The Bible is very easy to understand. But we Christians are a bunch of scheming swindlers. We pretend to be unable to understand because we know very well that the minute we understand we are obliged to act accordingly… My God, you will say, if I do that my whole life will be ruined. How would I get on in the world?”

Though the term “God Stalker” itself sounds a little sketchy, by definition it is also fairly safe. In order to really know God, to transition from stalker to true follower, we must be about the things God is about… Not residing in knowledge, but abiding in knowing Him thoroughly and better each day… Taking the Bible as an instruction manual for immediate and practical application… And not as suggested material. How offensive. It’s not alright to live as though we do not understand.

As mentioned at the beginning, when the term popped into my head, I thought it was a bit odd, but I took time to give it thought anyhow. And, as I closed that brevity of thought, I was prompted to ask myself the question: Do I personally know God better now than the day I first met Him? Not, do I know more facts about Him or what have I gleaned from what others have told me… But rather, which of the adjectives that people use to describe Him do I really know because I have experienced them first hand? It’s been an interesting question to answer… And I challenge you to try and do the same.

-Ashley

 

Trust and Change

I wrote this a while ago and posted it as a facebook note. I came across it today and found that it relates very well to where i am right now as I am experiencing a big change in moving and starting a new job so I thought I’d post it here. Sorry if you’ve already read it but hey, nothing wrong with reading things again

So for those of you who know me pretty well, you know that I easily rant and go off on tangents. So here’s me, sharing my heart a lil and going off on tangents. But hopefully you’re blessed by it.

If we believe God is great and above all things, why is it so hard for us to trust Him sometimes. We believe that He made us and loves us and even that He has a greater plan for our lives, but when it comes to trusting Him in the details of our lives, we forget that His relationship to us is in the very details.
David wrote in psalm 31:15, “My times are in Your hands.” And in psalm 139:13, 16; “For You created my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother’s womb…Your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in Your book before one of them came to be.”

I think of the countless times that I’ve trusted God for the big things in my life and have been at peace about what He’s wanted but I freaked out about the details and tried to take those details in my own hands. And of course it led to stress and frustration and even some disappointment. I can’t thank God enough for His patience. Even after I’ve tried to do things my own way and feel stupid for doing so, He gently guides back to the right path and reveals His plans in His timing. Which makes perfectly good sense because my times are in His hands and all of my days are already written in His book. Why is it so hard to display the patience that God repeatedly demonstrates for us?

I’m reminded of the story of Sarah and Abraham. I’m going to summarize but you can read through it in Genesis 15-21. God promised Abraham when he was almost 90 years old that his descendents would be as many as the stars.  Sarah had not been able to bear children so she figured she’d take things into her own hands and give Abraham her maid to bear him children which backfired for Sarah and caused more pain and grief. But of course God came through and fulfilled His promise to Abraham and Sarah and she had a son.  It may have been 10 more years until He did so, but He did, serving as another reminder that God doesn’t always act immediately or when things seem right to us. (“My times are in His hands.”)

And another point to take note is that even though Sarah was impatient at first and took matters into her own hands and had to wait longer than she wanted, she continued trusting God. Hebrews 11:11 says that Sarah, “judged Him faithful who had promised.” Therefore we have to start trusting that when God says He’s going to do something. His Word is true. God knows each of us better than anyone. He can love us and help us better than anyone. He’s more patient and merciful towards us than anyone. Putting our faith in Him for all situations is absolutely our best bet. Hebrews 10:23 says “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful.”

And yes, sometimes it’s hard to let go of stuff, to see God’s hand in stuff. The big thing for me is that I try to think through something or figure out how to handle a situation without taking it to the Lord first. Or think that my problems are insignificant and that God has more important things to handle. All of these are an example of faithlessness but our God being the all powerful, loving and merciful God that He is, wants to take care of it all. So my last verse that always humbles and uplifts is from 2 Timothy 2:13.
“if we are faithless, He will remain faithful, for He cannot disown Himself.”

It’s who He is. Call me a dork but I think that’s pretty cool ☺

 

Inside Out

“Do not conform any long to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is- his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:2

This is FCA’s theme verse this summer. This past week I was in Kutztown, PA for our sports camp there and God moved in mighty ways as He always does. Those who know me, know how much I love working FCA camp. I love meeting new people and ministering to campers and huddle leaders and seeing life change occur in just a week. I also get very sad when it ends and knowing that for most people who attend, camp is a safe place and they return to a lot of crap and temptations when they get home.

At camp we talk about accepting and living for Jesus. This is very easy to do at camp, but it becomes a very difficult thing to do when we return home. Luke 1:37 says, “For nothing is impossible with God.” I want to do all that I can to help keep people accountable to not conforming to the pattern of this world. To be bold, to reject and flee from the distractions that pull us away from Jesus. That is the goal of this blog… to help each other along on our journey’s with Christ, and to reflect Him to the world.

You all know that this is a huge need, so please help us all out by commenting on the blog and sending your prayer requests and praises. God desires to do so much with our lives for His Kingdom but we will never reach our potential without staying plugged in to Him, our Source. I hope that this site will be one of many ways for each of us to do that.

I’m sorry that it’s been so long since I’ve posted!! I have no idea how your summer’s have been. Sooooooo, what have you been up to? Vacations, camps, missions trips, sitting at home, praises, struggles… whatever’s going on in your life, let us know

I love you guys!!!

 

A new guest

yooooo, it’s been a long time since I’ve written anything. But i have something to share from my friend Hannah so read up and show some love by commenting

************************************************************************************************************************

So I just wanted to share something with you all…

Yesterday was really busy but made me realize how important it is to appreciate the time we all have on this earth.

My friend’s grandmother passed away, so the funeral was yesterday morning. She’d been suffering for a while and had been ready to go to Heaven. She was just waiting for His timing.
Then, I had to rush to a training meeting for my youth group and give a short devotion. I spoke about being passionate and prepared for Christ. I’ve known and grew up with these kids all my life. But I guess it kills me to see them be lukewarm about their faith.
Later, I went to Carina’s high school graduation, one of the other interns working with Mark. She gave a speech and did the whole shebang of getting a diploma and stuff.
I also found out my old youth pastor and his wife had a daughter that morning. So cool
Then, I went to watch my friends play basketball. I watched 4 basketball games (yes, 4 hours of my life). I watched kids who are in elementary school and then some in high school. But seeing the passion and happiness they all got from playing, it was awesome.
And then last but not least, I went to a Korean Karoake Bar. Yea, I felt awkward that it was a Korean place but I went with a couple cousins. We got a private room and just sang our hearts out (considering it was just us haha).

Seeing the different stages in life all in one day, it really made me realize how short our lives are. How much we spend time complaining and procrastinating. Wasting it on tv (or at least that may be just for me haha). I don’t know, it’s made me think about what kind of life I want to live and what kind of impact I want to leave on earth when I die.

So what about you? What kind of impact do you want to leave?

 

The Mountain

I have just returned from working the National FCA College Conference in Lookout Mountain, Ga.

If you couldn’t tell by the name of the city, it was held at a college on top of a mountain which is ironic because the conference was the epitome of a mountain top experience with God. The sad thing about mountain top experiences is that you eventually have to come down. Thankfully, that’s not a bad thing. Yes we would love to live on top all the time, but the valley is so necessary in life.

I will write more about it later, (still processing) but until then, share a mountain top experience that you’ve had. It doesn’t have to be recent, it can be years ago, or if you were at the conference and want to share about it, go for it.

 

Light

Here’s a post from Page. Page is a high school senior and you’ve probably seen some comments from her on previous posts. She’s going to share her heart. A little heads up, satan is mentioned in the first sentence lol. I know some people get a little nervous when people talk about the devil but I think it’s important that we do talk about him. I know it’s hard for most people to accept the reality of an evil force at work in the world. It’s a lot easier to believe in God and His goodness and that He allows bad things to happen but disregard the fact that there’s someone who causes bad. So let your guard down and be challenged.

——————————————————————————————————————————————————

So there has been a lot going on around me lately, that has had me thinking about Satan and the work he does in the world around us.

I live in a small town in a very farm like county.  Lol. There are cow fields for miles, and not very much happens around here… at least I thought.
About a month ago, I picked up the news paper and read that two guys had murdered a 62 year old man, who was found by his friend the next morning when he went into his house to pick him up for church in the little ole town I have called my home for over 17 years.  Then a week or so later, a boy from the other high school in my county committed suicide. Shortly after this happened, I heard another heart breaking story about a man who killed his wife, and then shot himself because of financial obstacles that they were facing (while their young children were in the house asleep).

I’ve been trying to understand what they enemy could have placed in their thoughts to make them think that taking a life is the only way out… that taking a life is better than living the beautiful gift of life here on earth that the Lord has blessed us with.
Then I consider myself, I consider how often I complain about things, simple things that are so not worth complaining about (weather, school, when my internet runs slow, there’s nothing on TV, my favorite shirt gets ruined in the washer… etc.) I am always complaining about little things that go wrong, when really I should be rejoicing over what is going right. But isn’t it so hard sometimes to think about the wonderful blessings in life instead of focusing on the bad things that could be better?
I sit here and try to consider the things that could have been going on in these lives that could have led them to the breaking point, the point that they decided their lives weren’t worth living… and I think of the time when I was in middle school. My parents were newly separated, my mom slept all the time, my dad was never around, and everyone in my family acted as if they could care less about what I did… and I thought about how these things made me feel. When I was a baby the doctors told my parents I wasn’t going to make it and that if I did, I would be mentally retarded and not able to do pretty much anything that the average person could. As I think about the place I was in middle school I remember asking why I made it through that, why did I survive when it seemed like I wasn’t needed here? It seemed like I had no one who cared if I was living or not.

Funny how low the enemy can make us feel, how he can take us when we are in the lowest low and make us feel like we have no purpose, that we’re not making a difference, feeling alone, feeling like life is so much better for others than it is for us. As I think of this I’m reminded of what His word says in psalm 13…

1 How long, O LORD ? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?
2 How long must I wrestle with my thoughts
and every day have sorrow in my heart?
How long will my enemy triumph over me?
3 Look on me and answer, O LORD my God.
Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death;
4 my enemy will say, “I have overcome him,”
and my foes will rejoice when I fall.
5 But I trust in your unfailing love;
my heart rejoices in your salvation.
6 I will sing to the LORD,
for he has been good to me.

I’m just reminded and encouraged of how present He is even when we don’t feel Him around, and even more importantly, I’m reminded of how many people out there don’t know Him or His word, how many people feel alone, how many people are thinking about taking their life because the enemy has stolen their joy that the Lord wants to place in them?

It is our job to His light shine through us so the darkness will flee. It is our job to not only encourage each other when we’re letting the enemy get to us, but more so, it’s up to us to humble ourselves and step out of our comfort zones and talk to that person we feel we could never influence.
I encourage you guys to have an encounter with someone you know that doesn’t know Him, treat them with kindness and forgiveness like He does with every one of us. Show them His love so that they may grow to know Him, and patiently sit back and enjoy the work He does in their lives even though they don’t even know it.

 

What I love most about summer….

warm nights and making s’mores over the fire pit

finish the sentence

Yes this requires your participation

ps that’s not the only thing i love most about summer. I will add to the list if you guys participate. so comment away

 

Welcome to theCORE

Hey hey, My name is Randi, I’m 24. I work for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. I love God, I love sports, and I love people. One of my greatest desires is for people who love sports, to love God more than they love sports. And that they won’t just settle for loving Him and making Jesus their homeboy, but will really know Him and live for Him.

This site is specifically geared towards females… I’m not a manhater but I want this to be a place to discuss what girls want to discuss and to encourage each other on our journey with our Savior. It’s not gonna be “girl talk” all the time. I’m not all about girls are better than boys or men rule everything and are holding us poor little women back. But let’s face it, some things just need to be talked about among girls.

TheCORE is something I’ve felt led to start up for several years now. My hope is that this will be one of a few ways where we can grow closer to God individually and together. For us all to be inspired, encouraged, challenged, and strengthened as we pursue God and live our lives for Him because we can’t and shouldn’t do it alone. And ultimately we will be better witnesses of His love and grace to those around us.

There will be blogs and devotionals posted by myself and from some other wonderful ladies. Feel free to comment, ask questions, leave prayer requests, leave suggestions on how to make this better or for things for us to write about. I’ll explain later about why this is called theCORE.

Also, tell your friends! Believers, non believers, those who love sports, those who don’t, those who are struggling with stuff, those who are searching for something, tell them to come here, maybe they’ll find what they’re looking for. Sorry that was cheesy but seriously, anyone can check this out

And lastly, I’m working on putting out a podcast that will be a devotional that you can listen to before games or whenever you want to listen Worrd!!

Enjoy Him!!

Randi

 

I can make satan say “crap?”

So I’ve been thinking about that bumper sticker and the fact that I could make satan say “crap” because when i’m awake I’m all about doing the Lord’s business, being a light, not letting satan bring me down… Then again I’ve been thinking about the times when I’m not all about the Lord’s business, when the light I’m giving off is pretty dim, and he’s sayin “woo hoo, she’s awake and she isn’t a threat.”

Pretty crazy to think that we can have that effect on satan. We seem so insignificant sometimes and we can be so unaware of the positive or negative effect our actions have on other people. The fact that what we choose to do or not do on a given day can significantly effect another person blows my mind. The fact that because of Christ’s power in lil old me, I can make satan nervous when I get up seems unfathomable and unattainable. Sadly i feel like he’s sayin woo hoo a lot more than he’s sayin crap but who am I to limit God. He said in Acts 1:8, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses…”

Just some jumbled thoughts…

Anyone hearin what I’m sayin?

 

Special Guest

Hey girls, As promised, I’m posting something written by someone else so you don’t get tired of me Be sure to read the comments. Also, check the about page for a little info on the one and only Katie Costello…

I am just like the stereotypical teenager. I don’t want to be a kid anymore. I want to figure things out on my own and maybe even make my own mistakes. The problem is we are called to have a childlike faith, however I feel that I do not always come to God as a child. Many times I don’t want to be a child, I want to be older. Often I come to him for my wants…my petty wants. Sometimes I will talk to him about my desires, my goals, and my future. Even less I talk to him about who he wants me to be. What CHORES he would like me to complete for the week, or the month, and if I am feeling ambitious…for the year. When I am humbled, in tears, or so completely in awe of who he is I cry out Daddy. When I am coming to him out of obligation I call him Lord. I spend time with him when it is convenient for me. I rarely sit down to actually talk about my day with him. He asks “How was your day my child?” and my reply is the typical “it was good”. I stray from my father when I want my own independence. I take two steps back when I feel I can handle the situation on my own. When I feel like I can’t handle a situation it is only then that I call upon him. I just don’t want to be a kid anymore

“Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you stood your ground in a great contest in the face of suffering.”
Hebrews 10:32

My talks with my Daddy have subsided to when time is convenient for me.  After all I can’t talk to him all the time can I?  I am growing up…the only problem is Daddy calls for me to be mature in him, not older.  I am called to trust him with childlike faith. I should always be in awe of him; he is my hero.  Why then does it feel like I am learning more about him and growing in him, yet I still put one foot in front of the other toward my own path.  I am just going through the motions of my faith, but thankfully, I do desire to joyfully experience my Daddy.  I do want time with him, and I want his attention.  I want to run to him at all times and cuddle up on his lap.  I desire to chat over dinner about my day, and get intellectual with him over coffee.  Coffee always brings out some deep conversations doesn’t it? I am realizing each day that my Daddy knows best.

“let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.”
Hebrews 10:22

I realize that my faith needs to be sincere, that I can’t just go through the motions of any relationship especially not the most important one I have. I need to be intentional and become a better listener.  I want to listen to Daddy’s night time stories as he puts me to bed.  I want him to put me into the stories and show me where to go.  I want to sit up in bed when he gets my attention in the middle of the book.  I want to listen to him tell me my bedtime tale of what he sees in me, who he sees me as, and what I can do because of his love for me.  I want him to kiss me on my forehead as I drift off to sleep, and I want him to fill my head with lovely pictures of what he holds in my future…if only I would listen.  I am a defiant child, but my Daddy is the best parent there is, so surely my behavior is bound to change.

So often we just go through the motions of our faith. As I personally grow in my faith I teeter totter between loving him like a child, and feeling as though I know more than I actually do.  We become teenagers wanting our own independence and feeling as though we know some, if not most of the answers.  Our Daddy wants us to come to him with our problems, with the happenings of our day, with just coffee talk! He desires for us to embrace the fact that he is a personal God.  He is more then a Lord, he is our Daddy.  Our perfect Daddy.  I encourage you to always feel that joy and fire you had the day you truly knew your Daddy loved you. I encourage you to seek out the desire you feel deep down in your heart for him. How beautiful a picture we would paint, to be of childlike faith and humility. How lovely a song we would sing when our mouths are closed and our ears are fully opened! Listening is my personal struggle.  I am a defiant child, but my Daddy is very clear for what he wants for me. I hear him.  It just takes me a while to listen because I am so busy talking.  I encourage you to sit at his feet and look up at him in awe of the story he is reading to you. Pay attention though because his stories are NEVER boring, and they are always victorious.

 

Some thoughts on Worship

I was just reading this article at www.relevantmagazine.com about Misty Edwards, a worship leader at the International House of Prayer (IHOP) the 24-hr prayer center in Kansas City and this part stuck out to me for a couple of reasons.

1. It’s amazing how we can grow and know God better through music, specifically music directed to God.

2. She’s talking about seeking God for direction in writing songs and I’m thinking wow, I need to be seeking Him this way daily for all things. I’m definitely humbled.

If you haven’t heard of Misty check out her CD, I really like her song called “Finally I Surrender”

You’ve been quoted as saying, “I have a great desire to see the knowledge of God flood this generation. I mean the real knowledge of God, not the distant Sunday-school version, but the true encounter with the Uncreated.” Can you elaborate on how you relate this through your songwriting?

“I first ask that the knowledge of God would flood my own heart so that I am not just throwing out a bunch of words and rhetoric that mean nothing to me. I try to write out of an honest heart, and if I am not growing in the knowledge of God, then my songs will reflect that. I write songs by looking right at Jesus from my heart and actually singing to a real person who is listening and moving at the sound of my voice. If I am reaching for “true encounter with the Uncreated” in the secret of my heart, then I end up writing songs with that same reach. To know Him is an endless journey of hunger and satisfaction, then more hunger and deeper satisfaction. “Deep calls out to deep” as the Psalmist says (Psalm 42:7, TNIV). It is our glory to search Him out and not think we have Him figured out just because we memorized the top 10 Sunday-school stories. There is so much more to God than that, and I want to uncover Him and discover Him through His Word under the leadership of the Holy Spirit. I pray that the songs I write would bring people not only into an intellectual understanding, but a true heart connect with the God who is bending over the balcony of heaven to listen to them sing words that move Him and impact Him. Even if they are simple songs, I pray that they at least impart hunger for a greater affection, a deeper understanding and a living encounter with this One called Love.”

Check out the rest of the article here: relevantmagazine.com/pc_article.php?id=7682

Thoughts?

 

More on Worship? lol

So this video has been going around and I think it’s hilarious so I thought I’d share it with those of you who may not have seen it lol

 

Another Special Guest

I’m mixing it up some more. Here’s a post from Mandee Madden. Check the About page for more info about her. Also, don’t forget to check out the prayer requests page. Feel free to pray for those requests and to leave your own

Seek Him today

Randi

<><><><><><>><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><

Who do you say that I am?

Identity is being yourself, a condition or character of who you are. Sounds simple enough right, be yourself, be who you are. I wrote in a journal entry not too long ago the passage below concerning identity and being “who I am”…

“I am challenged daily by the world and the standards that it sets for me. I constantly find myself seeking the approval of those who I deem more talented, more beautiful, and more like the women I “should” be. I compare myself to just about every other person I come in contact with in one way or another, and tend to beat myself up making lists of things that I need to change about my personality, my relationships, and my life. I am insecure at times in my own skin, and self-conscious because I am not living up to the standards I have decided others are holding me to. I am seeking to find out who that person is that I see every morning when I get up, but the closer I look it seems the more imperfections I find. I try to hide them and change them, to show the world what it wants to see, to be who it wants me to be. Still in the midst of it all I feel as though I am coming up short. I feel as though I am nowhere near the woman I should be, and so far from the One who created me.” – May 24, 2008

I am sharing this with you, because this was written on the day this past summer, when I realized I had no idea who I really was. For so long I had been searching for my identity, and continually I came up dry. I had heard over and over again people encouraging me to find my identity in the Lord, but to be honest I truly had no idea what they were talking about and how I would go about that even if I wanted to. It wasn’t until this summer that it really clicked. I had been searching to define myself through the world. I was making my identity about me, and who I wanted to be for my own selfish reasons. That was a hard reality to face, but it was true. When I looked in the mirror I desired to see myself, a perfect and pure reflection of who I wanted to be, when I should have desired to see the Lord. My problem was not that I was trying to find identity, the problem was I was seeking the identity of the wrong person.

“Instead speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Him, who is the Head, that is Christ.” Ephesians 4:15

I realized that I was being called to reflect the Lord but the challenge came when I took the time to recall what I knew about Him; of His character, His appearance, His demeanor. I started asking myself what does the Lord look like, how does He act and carry Himself, how does He show love and compassion? I began to understand that I knew very little about myself because I knew very little about the One who created me in His image. I had no idea what He thought about me, how intense His desire was to know me, or “who He says I am.” I understood that He loved me, but the dimensions of that love was, and sometimes still is unfathomable. (Ephesians 3:14-21)

As, I continue to uncover the mystery of my Creator, I am beginning to see more and more definition.  The reflection is not completely clear, and sometimes the steam over the mirror seems thicker than others. I look in the mirror and His unchangeable self is still newly revealed to me. And as I strive to learn more and more about who He is, I am simultaneously learning more and more about who I am. His daughter, His witness, His beloved, His joy (3 John 4), His servant, His friend, His life, and His love.

Every day is still a struggle, and at times I find myself allowing the world to tell me “Who it says I am”, but at those time the Lord has been making it abundantly clear what my reflection looks like and what it should look like. He reminds me that my purpose is above all to know him, as He draws me back to the mirror to take a closer look at who He is (Isaiah 43:10). The reflection I see comes from His Word, and through my personal relationship with Him. The challenge is to strive everyday to see that reflection a little more clearly, to eventually see every dimension of His face, and to desire more than anything to allow who my Father is be what others use to identify me.

 

Comments

Yo, check the comments from the last post and leave a comment if you feel the need. Check all the comments for that matter. You might find some interesting thoughts or read something else that relates to you or you might just want to leave a comment to encourage someone else. No pressure, just sayin

Word

 

We are So Small

This our Milky Way Galaxy. Home to the Solar System and good ole planet Earth. And us. Crazy to think that somewhere in that mass of color and light… we exist.

Click on the pics to see them a little bigger.

 

Identity pt 2

Here is Mandee’s question posed in her comment about what she wrote last time. I figured it would be easier to post it instead of sending you to the comments section. If you haven’t read her post or any of the comments following it click here

<><><><><><><><><><><<><><>><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><

What is/was/has always been the hardest thing for me to believe about what God says about me?

When I first got this question, I really had no idea what the answer was, and part of the reason was because I had no idea what God said about me. I knew what the Bible said to an extent what He said about His people, but I guess I had never really thought those things applied to me on a personal level. Before this summer, I never really read the Bible with a “personal” mind set. I thought of the Bible as a book of amazing letters from God to us but not necessarily God to me. Funny how God tends to get a hold of people. That same day that I got that question, the sermon and overflow time at the conference were about identity. Amy Marino an awesome speaker, works for FCA, spoke about her struggles believing what the Lord said about who she was, who she as a woman was in the Lord’s eyes. Her list was pretty long, and i realized I really didn’t believe many of the things that the Lord said about me, well maybe I believed them but not consistently. I didn’t believe I was beautiful truly beautiful, that I was able and capable, that I was worthy of His love, I was able to be a light. The list goes on for a bit, but anyways that’s just a litte background…let’s just say I was strugglin inside a little bit.

However, the hardest thing for me to believe was a truth that Amy shared that came from Ephesians 4:15 “Instead of speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Him, who is the Head, that is Christ.”
YOU CAN GROW INTO THE PERSON GOD WANTS YOU TO BE

I understood that the Lord had a plan for my life, I understood that the Lord loved me, and He would continue to challenge and grow me, that He would put the right people in my life at the right time. That was hard enough to really get for a while….then add in this verse and I got all messed up. To believe that the Lord wanted me, weak, incapable, unworthy, insignificant me to do His work was so far beyond my comprehension for so long, sometimes still is. To believe that I could truly look like the woman of God that my Daddy had in mind…yikes…I don’t know about ya’ll but meeting those standards is pretty overwhelming for me. Reading Pen’s response reminded me of thoughts that def. ran through my mind…I knew who I was, kind of knew who I wanted to be, but never really saw any immediate change. I kept thinking how can I be who the Lord wants me to be, I’m always going to have all these struggles (that’s when I pull out my list of things I need to work on…its pretty long). This is still something I think about, I still do the same things I have always done wrong, and have the same flaws, and I would get so frustrated.

I still have to remind myself daily…I am insignificant, weak and unworthy, and need to work on things, and improve, and strive to be more like Christ…but I also take time to remind myself that the Lord’s “power is made perfect in my weakness” 2 Cor. 12:9 and if I allow Him to do His work in my life, He will change me. It is not by my strength and deeds, but His love and grace.

“He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, He will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver. Then the Lord will have men who will bring offerings in righteousness.” Malachi 3:3

Hope that made some sense to ya’ll. Even if you don’t share I would still challenge you to seriously reflect on this question. Seek Him and who He says you are.

 

See You at the Pole

Just wanted to remind you guys that See You at the Pole is tomorrow morning. SYATP is a great call to pray and make a stand on your campus as many will pass by and see you praying. It is also happening across the nation so your brothers and sisters in Christ will all be lifting their voices to God tomorrow morning.

As you can see from the picture above the theme is Connect and the verse is 1 Samuel 3:10. Go and read 1 Samuel 3:1-11, it is the story of when God calls Samuel who was around 12 or 13, to be a prophet. In verse 10 Samuel responded to the Lord saying, “Speak, for your servant is listening.” I think it’s interesting that the theme verse for a day of prayer includes the word listening. In order to truely connect with God in prayer, you have to be willing to listen.

So remember tomorrow as you gather around or beside your school’s flagpole and offer up requests and thanks to God, to be open to what He may speak to you about plans for ministry on your school. He doesn’t just want to use you at church, or a fca meeting, or around the flagpole tomorrow, all of those things are great, but you spend more time in class, walking through your halls, hanging with your friends, at practice, etc.

Be a light at all times.

On the other hand, some of you aren’t ready and willing to listen to God and be that light yet. What’s keeping you from coming to that place? Fear, pride, stubborness?

And for those of you reading this who aren’t in high school or working at a high school, you college ladies can still pray at a flagpole, you have to have one somewhere, well a certain school that will go unnamed might not, regardless, gather some people to pray,  And if it’s too late for you to assemble, i challenge you to get up and pray around 7am. And everyone else can get up and pray too.

Also, I challenge you all to keep an attitude of prayer and listening throughout the day. And an extra bonus, tomorrow when you get home or check this site when you’re supposed to be working or learning, tell us about your school’s SYATP or anything you feel the Lord is speaking to you. It’ll be cool to hear what the Lord is doing across the country

One last thing, if you want more info about see you at the pole go to www.syatp.com

Randi

 

SYATP testimony

This was posted in the SYATP comment section by Page, she’s a high school senior in VA. Thought I’d post it for ya’ll..

Yo ladies… what’s new with everyone? hope all is well.

so, syatp, amazing. We had about 100 kids gather around my school’s flag pole, and we had to make a circle next to it, bc if we made a circle around it, then kids would be in the road, and we got in trouble for that last year.

Wed. morning when i first woke up, got ready, got to the end of my driveway, and realized i had forgoten my ipod… so upset. There was nothing i could do about it so i got on my bus and listened to the kids for a while. I love having my music bc I can tune them out… so as I was listening to the convos going on around me, I felt the need to pray… not only for the kids on my bus, but for syatp. So as i put my head down, closed my eyes and started to pray, i realized time passed faster than any day with my headphones and worship… by the time i was done praying we were at school… which is usually three or four songs worth of time.

As I went in the school, put my stuff down in my homeroom and then headed out to the flagpole, i looked up at the sunrise and thought, what a wonderful blessing to be brought together with these ppl, all for one reason, the greatest and ONLY reason. We opened up in prayer, and listened to a couple worship songs by a friend of mine that i convinced to play some guitar.. as we sang, i closed my eyes and let the chill of the morning take over… I felt Him all around me, felt Him looking down on us, and I was fully aware I wasn’t the only one He was talking to at that moment. When all these people from different “clicks, crews, groups, clubs, sports, etc..” all these kids, togehter… not for the person standing next to them, not for the person across from them… nothing but the Savior. I listened to not only the music, but the things around me, the cars, buses, teenagers… and all the sudden, it got silent… a chill took control of me from the wind of the cold morning air and i realized… That right there, is the best feeling EVER. the only high i could ever get that could ever satisfy me, change me, mold me, shape me, quiet me, love me, hold me, want me… the touch of the Lord… the one and only Lord. So many ppl that morning got together, whether they sang, prayed, talked, who cares… it was all to praise Our Lord, the only One that can unite everyone in peace, in love, in life. I saw ppl that I had invited, that i would have never known if they would come or not… and I hope every single person on 9-24-08 made a witness envious… made them want to know why we are different, why we were gathering, why we were holding hands… I know this day changed lives, and I know we need it more than once a year. Keep lifting the schools up guys, Prayers doesn’t just work, it conquers ALL. and I believe that whole heartedly… seriously guys, don’t let them take the schools away, the schools belong to Him.

 

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><

Awesome. Thanks for sharing Page. Don’t forget to check out the prayer requests page and leave some

looove

 

Get your face in the Book

New Post by Mandee

Books are powerful. They have the ability to shape thoughts, change opinions, eradicate truth, uncover mystery, and ignite new ideas and beliefs. They create new realities for some, and unmask hidden truths for others. They present opportunities for us to know and fall in love with characters, feel pain or joy through their circumstances, and instill in us a great sense of satisfaction as we turn the final page and can say we “finished” the story. Books are powerful.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

“Sometimes I just feel like I can’t hear Him, God I mean. I wish that, I wish that God would just write down everything that He wants me to know,” she said in a frustrated tone, “I wish He would just write me a book.” A few weeks ago in Bible study, one of our girls expressed her uncertainty with the Lord’s plans for her life very openly and honestly. I replied in a somewhat joking manner, smiling, and extending my opened Bible to her from across the room, with a “Here you go.” The girls all laughed a bit, probably at my somewhat un-sympathetic response to an honest plea for understanding. Understandable of course, but my gesture, although sarcastic was backed by total honesty and truth. God has written us a book, a book of everything He wants us to know, the Bible.

Not sure about you, but I am definitely not the best reader in the world. I don’t have lists of books that I can’t wait to read, or bookshelves filled of pages covered with meaningful, purposeful, passionate words from authors who are changing the world. I’ve never waited outside the bookstore to get the first copy of the new Harry Potter, or really have a favorite author. I would say, “books are not my forte”. Don’t get me wrong, when a good book is recommended to me I will read it, and almost always end up loving it, but I’m just not very good at getting motivated to read on my own, and yes I am even including the Bible.

“Get your face in the book,” was a key slogan for a morning talk from the Chaplain at a FCA Leadership Camp this summer. A challenge for each and every student, athlete, coach and staff member in the place to open up the Bible, and dive into the Truth the Lord has set before us, each and every day. This was not a new challenge for the summer. The importance of the Word seemed to weave it’s way into just about every message the entire summer, and rightfully so. However, the most important part of the message was not just to read the Word of God, but also to desire the Word of God, to crave the Word of God, to love the Word of God, because “the Word is God” (John 1:1).

I admit that I struggle with this. I admit that I do not always make daily seeking the Lord through His Word a priority. I admit that I am not perfect, and I do at times set other things, earthly things above reading my Bible. It is rare if I am unable to find time to work out, to eat, and spend time with people I love but when it comes to learning and seeking through the written Word of the Creator of the Universe, I fall short.

To Be continued…

Randi- I loved this phrase because it reminds me of our beloved Facebook. I waste so much time on facebook everyday and some days only scrape out a few minutes to read the bible. Now every time I get on FB I think of the phrase “Get your face in the Book.”

Do you guys like to read? What keeps you from reading the Word? Thoughts?

 

Get Your Face in the Book pt 2

“All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking,
correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be
thoroughly equipped for every good work.” – 2 Timothy 3:16

God has written us a book. The Bible, the Word, the message, whatever you
want to call it, is a personal and intimate letter from Him to us, and
although I do struggle at times to be consistent, every time that I do
“get my face in the book”, I fall more in love with my Father. He wrote me
a letter before anyone in the universe knew that I would ever exist.
Through His Word, He answered every question I could ever ask, and wrote
down every story I would need to hear. The Lord has given us every tool
that we need to live His love to the fullest, to teach, to challenge, to
train, all we have to do is be willing to “get our face in the book.”
Seems simple enough, but I realize there are challenges.

The Bible can be intimidating, overwhelming even. Trust me, I understand.
Knowing where to start, how much to read, where to go when things don’t
make sense, and what to do with the information we get; these are all
challenges that I face as I try to gain knowledge and direction through
the Bible, and maybe some of you face the same struggles. I encourage you
however, not to let these challenges hinder you from developing or pursing
a passion for the Word of God.

“…Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through
the Word of Christ.” Romans 10:17

As we grow together in the Lord, I pray that we challenge one another to
dive deeper. To “get our face in the book.” Not only for our own personal
relationship with the Lord to become more intimate but also to be able to
increase the faith of others through our sharing of the Word. This summer
while serving at a camp, I was challenged and stretched by the Lord to
lead some campers in some tough decisions and situations. On about the
second day of the week long camp, I started carrying my Bible with me
everywhere, and I’m not talking in my book bag, I’m saying having it in my
hand at all times, and to be honest I have never felt more equipped to do
the work of the Lord.

I challenge you to seek the Lord through His Word. To pray about starting
to read everyday with someone who can hold you accountable, or to deepen
your daily reading and studying by starting to memorize more scripture. No
matter how many times you read it, the God’s words, what He is speaking
always has a new twist. The Lord has something to show each one of us
individually through His message, His Word, if only we are willing to
listen. Read His Word; discover His truth, His purpose, His passion, and
love for you.

Right now, I’ll admit, I am struggling, I have found myself making ample
time for worldly things that my flesh desires (aka the extra 15 minutes of
sleep in the morning, or time with the girls), and not making enough time
to learn and grow through reading the Word. I pray that together we can
encourage and challenge one another to go deeper, to not only read the
Word of the Lord, but to apply it, and live out the faith and truth that
we are getting from His message. I would love to hear what the Lord has
been teaching you through your reading of the Bible if anyone would like
to share? ?

“May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s Love and Christ’s perseverance.”
- 2 Thessalonians 3:5

-Mandee

 

Wake Up

I just read this post on Vicky Beeching’s blog. Vicky Beeching is a very popular songwriter and worship leader from England. She has some great songs like, Captivated, Above All Else (one of my favs), Extravagant Worship, anyhow, the title of her entry is Wake Me Up, and it was definitely a wake up call for me. Check it out, post on here your thoughts. http://vickybeeching.com/wake-me-up/

So go to the link, read that, then come back and finish reading what I wrote, then post your thoughts if you’d like

**************************************************************************************************************

This was another challenge for me to cling to Christ rather than my comfort. To trust Him rather than everything that’s around me. The world changes, He doesn’t. Our circumstances change, He doesn’t. People change, but He doesn’t.

Deep down we know those things about God but so often we put our faith back in everything else yet get angry with God when those things fail us.

Clinging to Christ often leads me out of my comfort zone. And there are times that I hate it, but I’m always reassured that being with Him, is the safest place that I can be. So if i’m suffering for others, undergoing a change, etc. it’s always bearable and worth the heartache because its where He wants me and I know that He’ll use it in some way. It’s not easy to pray that God will break our hearts for what breaks His or to be taken to the uncomfortable and dangerous place where He stands…

But I think we’re too accustomed to what’s easy. Our expectation is that everything will be easy. I’m reminded of a line from a song by the Fray that says “Sometimes the right thing and the hardest thing are the same.” Not many people do the right thing anymore because they want the easy thing. As a result, a lot of people are suffering, a lot of people are hurting, a lot of people are lost. Ironic that easy and comfortable can have that result.

Just some thoughts…

clinging, Randi

 

Podcast

The first one is available to download to your computer on the podcast page. yikes!

 

The Answer

Lisa Call is in the house, showing some love and sharing what the Lord is doing on her heart. I’ll put some info about her on the About page. Word. -Randi

WHY DO I NOT TRUST HIM?

There are so many areas of my life that I lack trust (dating and getting married, finances, ministry…to name a few).  These have become areas of my life where I don’t let God in, other than when I pray about them and even then it is empty because I’m not really trusting Him for an answer.  Even in the midst of this stronghold in my life, God is reminding me over and over again how much He loves me and He’s doing it in very intimate and personal ways.

The theme for FCA this school year is Get Focused: Pursue the Prize.  It is based out of Philippians 3:13-14 and as we taught about this and learned about this at summer camps I was reminded that it is all about a RELATIONSHIP with Jesus.  The verses talk about the prize we are to pursue and so often we hear that the prize is to go to heaven when in fact the prize is an intimate relationship with Jesus.  What is this intimacy?  Isn’t it all about getting to know Him more, spending time with Him, and ultimately TRUSTING Him in everything?

Here are some examples of how the Lord is pursuing ME and reminding ME how much He loves me, cares for me and has a plan for my life:

I got pretty sick about a year ago with mono and it knocked me out for about 8 months and caused some other health problems.  Not a very fun experience and I have many regrets during that period of sickness including lack of prayer, fear, and doubt that God was going to take care of me.  At one point I was put on bedrest for a week.  After a week of feeling sorry for myself, upset that I had missed a week of work with FCA, and feeling pretty blah, I had a phone call with a pastor.  After talking with him for almost an hour about things going on with my role with FCA, he prayed for me.  At the end of our conversation, he told me he had some words for me from the Lord.  (I don’t know if this has ever happened to you before, but it never has to me, so you better believe I grabbed a piece of paper and wrote down every word!)  Here’s what he told me that the Lord wanted me to know:  “The Lord is pleased with you.  Do not be afraid of what lies ahead.  The Lord will provide.  The Lord desires more intimacy with you so that you can work out of the overflow.  He wants you to find balance – IN HIM.  Do not think of what you are doing as work to please Him.  He is already pleased.”

It doesn’t end there.  About 3 months later, I had the opportunity to serve at the FCA National College Conference.  I was still sick.  During one of our worship times, two ladies who are also on staff, came up to pray for me and pray for healing.  They knew that I had been sick, but they didn’t know exactly what was wrong.  I had been having pain in the side of my stomach.  As these two were praying for me, one reached down her hand and placed it exactly on the place where I had pain!

Fast forward two more months.  We had 8 young ladies from India come over and work with us at a FCA camp this summer.  A few weeks later, one of the girls sent me an email to tell me that she had been praying for me.  She said she was praying for my health.  Being the doubter that I am, I began to ask people that worked the camp with us if they told her that I had been sick.  No one had.  When I saw her, I asked her how she knew I was sick.  This is what she said: “I was praying for you one morning and your face came to my mind.  I could see in your eyes that you were in pain so I began to pray for your health.”

If that is not an example of how much the Lord cares for us, I don’t know what is.  Reflecting on all of these experiences, I believe my lack of trust comes from my own selfishness and wanting things my way in my time, instead of wanting what God wants, when God wants it.  The verse that has been echoing in my mind is John 3:30 “He must become greater, I must become less.”  When I become less, I am able to wholly pursue Jesus and then I am able to trust.  I have to daily die to self.

I will leave you with this song (don’t worry you don’t have to listen to me sing it!).  It is called The Answer by Shane and Shane:

Verse 1
I’ve tried more of me and I’ve come up dry
Trading You for things, things that go away
My happiness is found in less of me and more of You

Verse 2
I’m so satisfied at the thought of You
Growing up in me, covering everything
My happiness is found in less of me and more of You

Chorus
I have found the answer is to love You and be loved by You alone
You crucify me and the world to me
And I will only boast in You

If I know this is the answer, why don’t I do it?

-Lisa

 

New Podcast

New Gameday podcast on the podcast page Don’t forget to give me some feedback!

 

Times

Hey Ladies,

I thought I’d send out a little encouragement for the start of the week. I’ve been listening to this song by tenth avenue north non-stop. I’ve had their cd for a while and just started listening to it again. If you haven’t heard of them, they sing that song “love is here.” Anyhow, the song is about God’s love, faithfulness and presence in our lives even when we can’t “feel” Him. Here are some of the lyrics, the song is called Times, listen to the whole song here http://www.myspace.com/tenthavenuenorth

Times

I hear You say,
“My love is over. It’s underneath.
It’s inside. It’s in between.
The times you doubt Me, when you can’t feel.
The times that you question, ‘Is this for real?’
The times you’re broken.
The times that you mend.
The times that you hate Me, and the times that you bend.
Well, My love is over, it’s underneath.
It’s inside, it’s in between.
These times you’re healing, and when your heart breaks.
The times that you feel like you’re falling from grace.
The times you’re hurting.
The times that you heal.
The times you go hungry, and are tempted to steal.
The times of confusion, in chaos and pain.
I’m there in your sorrow, under the weight of your shame.
I’m there through your heartache.
I’m there in the storm.
My love I will keep you, by My pow’r alone.
I don’t care where you fall, where you have been.
I’ll never forsake you, My love never ends.
It never ends.”

Be Encouraged

-Randi

Oh, don’t forget, there’s a new podcast

 

Freedom

In our staff meeting yesterday my boss shared a devotional and used an illustration that I can’t stop thinking about for a few reasons. The illustration itself is sad but how it relates to so many people is even sadder and therefore i can’t stop thinking about it.

When elephants are raised up to live in captivity such as zoos, the trainers or whoever is in charge attach one end of a chain to a stake in the ground and the other end to the baby elephant’s leg. Obviously if you are bound to something you can only move so far and at first it’ll wrestle with the chain and try to get loose but eventually it realizes that it will not be able to get out and knows it’s limits with the chain.

After a period of time, they remove the chain from the elephant’s leg. Even though it is free, it stays in that area to which it learned it’s limitations while chained.

After hearing that a number of thoughts and examples ran through my mind. How in certain areas of my life I could relate to that. Examples of people I know who relate to that. One question that I’ve thought a lot about since the summer is, Why do people who are free in Christ and loved by God live and act like they’re still bound and unloved? Over the months I’ve come up with several answers but my purpose for asking that question is to have a solution.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on all of this. I’ll share more about it as people start commenting. But i want to also leave you with this verse that my boss shared from Romans 6:19-23. Here is the version from The Message.

“I’m using this freedom language because it’s easy to picture. You can readily recall, can’t you, how at one time the more you did just what you felt like doing—not caring about others, not caring about God—the worse your life became and the less freedom you had? And how much different is it now as you live in God’s freedom, your lives healed and expansive in holiness?

20-21As long as you did what you felt like doing, ignoring God, you didn’t have to bother with right thinking or right living, or right anything for that matter. But do you call that a free life? What did you get out of it? Nothing you’re proud of now. Where did it get you? A dead end.

22-23But now that you’ve found you don’t have to listen to sin tell you what to do, and have discovered the delight of listening to God telling you, what a surprise! A whole, healed, put-together life right now, with more and more of life on the way! Work hard for sin your whole life and your pension is death. But God’s gift is real life, eternal life, delivered by Jesus, our Master.

-Randi

 

A Sense of Urgency

The other night while at a FCA meeting, one of our coaches from school shared this story. I have heard it before but last night it really struck me and got me thinking: Do I have a sense of urgency for the Lord?

These aren’t his exact words, but I thought telling it story like was most productive ☺

“It was the last half of team camp three summers ago. In my eyes it had been a successful camp with 40 plus high school teams made up of 300 players, coaches, and staff members. On Sunday afternoon of the weekend camp, I was sitting in the middle of the gym, about to start tallying the triumphs of the weekend when a referee from court B ran over to me frantically saying, ‘You’ve got a kid dying over here.’ Shocked, I froze asking the young man to repeat himself to make sure I heard him right. I realized I had when he repeated, ‘You’ve got a kid dying over here’ and he pointed to the far end of court B. I saw a commotion on the court, every kid on the court and off the bench was surrounding someone who I later found out to be a high school junior from a local high school. I ran over and realized the kid was not breathing. He had turned completely blue, passed out on the floor. The only thing I could think was, ‘I have got to find the trainer, I have got to get the trainer to this kid as soon as possible. The only chance this kid has to live is to get the trainer to him as soon as I can.
With a partially pulled hamstring, I sprinted out of the far gym doors down the hall and into the training room screaming the trainer’s name at the top of my lungs. When I realized he wasn’t in the training room, I took off down the hall in the Commons still yelling the trainer’s name. As I approached the front of the building I realized there was another camp, the largest at our school that summer registering. Still I continued to belt out the trainer’s name. The entire staff and camp must have thought I was crazy screaming some man’s name they had never heard. I didn’t care, I knew I had to get the trainer to that kid, the only chance I had for that kid to live was to get the trainer to him in time. So I took off up the stairs, still sprinting around the indoor track searching for the trainer disregarding all dignity, know it was my only hope.
I couldn’t find him anywhere, I had done all I could and at that moment I came to the conclusion that I was going to have to accept the fact, that young man might die a real physical death, right then and there. I ran back down to the gym, still kidding myself that maybe I could do something, maybe CPR or something that I miraculously came up with would save his life.
Entering the gym again I saw the trainer kneeling next to the young man, and just as I came in I saw him barely sitting up, coughing and starting to regain his normal color. I later found out the trainer had been on the very court where the boy collapsed. As soon as the kid hit the floor he was moving to him, but through all the commotion and other people I failed to see him. I bolted out of the gym so fast, knowing the only hope there was to save his life was to get the trainer to him, and I was right if he had gone without air a few minutes longer, if the trainer had not been in the gym he probably would have died.
After things settled down a little bit I started thinking about what had happened that day. There on my court, on my watch I saw a kid almost die a physical death. I started thinking about the sense of urgency that I had when trying to get the only person who could save him to him. I ran out screaming at the top of my lungs, not worried what anyone thought, not thinking about my pulled hamstring, not concerned about anything that was happening, my goal was to save that boy. Nothing else matters.”

This story really got me thinking last night. Coach related the story to his spiritual life on so many levels, probably too many to talk about in one post, but I’ll share a few. What if we had this same sense of urgency to share Christ? Yes, in this sense the boy was going to physically die, but why should we not have the same sense of urgency when people we know and love are dying spiritually. Coach checked all dignity at the door when he realized the only person who could save that boy was the trainer and went searching, probably making a fool of himself in front of more people than he would normally feel comfortable, but he didn’t care. Getting the trainer to the kid was extremely important but how much more important is it for us to “get Christ” to the people in our lives who don’t know Him?

Mark 16:15
He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.”

-Mandee

 

Psalm 18 Podcast

Download it from the podcast page. Word

 

Freedom thoughts from Katie Cos

“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.”

2 Cor 3:17

Freedom in Christ, guard your heart, stand on grace…all of these are terms that we so often throw around as Christians. We use them in bible studies, camp huddles, blog posts. I find more and more that we know what these terms mean on paper, but are clueless as to how to live them out in real life. Understanding the Freedom that Christ offers didn’t really apply to my life until I was able to have a better understanding of grace. Grace…forgiveness…mercy…this is how we are able to feel the Freedom of Christ. For me being able to call God, Daddy is one way that I am able to live out the Freedom of Christ. Freedom in Christ looks differently in different people. It all depends on what you are being freed from. Since God is so creative on how he makes each and every one of us, our struggles and bondage are unique in some way to each of us. All of our hearts operate with different beats so naturally we will experience a since of freedom unique and catered to our own heart.

I think so often we forget how simple freedom is. Christ died to break our chains.  We only need to accept it. We are told that where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. If we have the Lord in our hearts, we have freedom. So often we don’t believe this truth. We hinder ourselves from believing that we are actually free. For some reason before we can be free we feel that we have to right a wrong, or that some one who wronged us needs to experience the same pain we have. Our freedom doesn’t come from creating it the way we think. We feel as though we need to add on to our beautiful pathway of freedom that has been made for us. Here’s a lil illustration.

We have a path paved for us with flowers on both sides. The colors of the flowers along the pathway change as we walk. The greens, pinks, yellows, and violets all blend perfectly to make a beautiful combination. However we feel we need to make our pathway better. We think a beautiful array of lilies and orchids would look better right in front of the pathway. So we begin to plant. The only problem is when we are finished making the pathway “better” then before, we have only hindered our way to get to the path. We are unable to walk on the path because of the “beautiful” work we believe we have created. It is so hard to just walk, and enjoy first. We would have seen all of the flowers we planted in the beginning along the walk, but we felt the need put in our own additions onto the path instead of basking in the freedom we have to first walk the path God has for us.

God doesn’t want my own additions from my own ideas. He wants to hear my thoughts, but to work out problems, he would much rather us figure them out together, as a team. He knows the answers, and wants me to be a part of surrendering myself to him and listening to his voice. When we can sit and listen to his solutions, to his heart, we are dancing in the Freedom he has given us. The freedom to come to him with our lives and to work out a solution together. The freedom to be a part of his plan. The freedom to help spread his kingdom. We delight in the Grace he shows us day in and day out. We see the sin we commit each day, and praise God that Mercy is new every morning. Freedom in Christ does not necessarily mean that you feel so free to you stand on the side of the road with a pulpit preaching to those who walk by. Its having the humility to see the true sinner, and the transformation our Daddy has made in our hearts to that we can live a life for him. Its understanding a different type of joy that we can’t grab hold of with everyday words or descriptions. Its being speechless when we are asked why we are brought to tears from a song, a sermon, an act of service. Its seeing the brokenness of this world and being a visual difference from it. Its remaining in the love of Christ, and constantly seeking to know more about him.

John 15: 4 “Remain in me and I will remain in you”

When we remain in Christ he remains in us. His spirit is in us, and therefore freedom is in us. Remain in his love.

 

New Guest Blogger :)

Check out the about sometime tomorrow page for info about my good old friend Ashley Storm.

**************************************************************************************************************

I’ve had this feeling for a while now that God is chasing me… I can’t figure out why, but I’m confident that He is nevertheless…

Randi requested that I put my testimony on paper to be inserted into
this blog.  And, as I sat down to finally type it out (yes, it’s in
writing, but not on the computer), I couldn’t help but write about
something entirely different.  Thus, I am going to write about what’s on
my heart in lieu of the assigned writing, which I do plan to get to at a
later date.

Last weekend, I traveled up to Pennsylvania to see the Art-Music-Justice
Tour featuring one of my favorites artists, Sara Groves. Last fall, a
former student that was very dear to me passed away suddenly. Naturally,
this was a heartbreaking event, but even more so because I’ve been
fortunate enough to not face a lot of death in my life.  On the Saturday
following the announcement of Katelynn’s death I was sitting on my bed,
trying to type an assignment for school, listening to Sara Groves.  As I
was at a standstill, there was the most beautiful song playing on my
iTunes.  The song, “Why It Matters” played melodiously through the
speakers as I sat on my bed and wept, mourning the death of someone I
had in my classroom just a short time ago. I am a firm believer that God
uses music as a tool to express things to us that we are just incapable
of understanding through written word or even casual conversation.  For
those not familiar with the song I have included the lyrics down below.
Although, I’ll be the first to contest that the words hardly do the
musical arrangement justice. Yes, that’s a blatant suggestion for you to
listen to the real thing. ☺

Sit with me and tell me once again
Of the story that’s been told us
Of the power that will hold us
Of the beauty, of the beauty
Why it matters

Speak to me until I understand
Why our thinking and creating
Why our efforts of narrating
About the beauty, of the beauty
And why it matters

Like the statue in the park
Of this war torn town
And it’s protest of the darkness
And the chaos all around
With its beauty, how it matters
How it matters

Show me the love that never fails
The compassion and attention
Midst confusion and dissention
Like small ramparts for the soul
How it matters

Like a single cup of water
How it matters

Ok, let’s fast forward to last weekend:  On our drive up to
Pennsylvania, I remarked to my roommate that I didn’t know what I would
do if Sara Groves played the aforementioned song. After all, it was
hardly one of her more popular tunes and; furthermore, it wasn’t even on
the most recent of albums.  It had been a while since I had attended a
Christian concert, not intentionally, but as we settled into our seats I
felt God nudging me back to the place that I had been when I had first
become a believer.  There was some organic God feeling, which is hard to
describe but real all the same.  If you’re a believer, you know exactly
what I’m talking about. So, as the concert began it became very clear to
me that God had something intended for me on this night… Like I said
before… God is chasing me.

The concert itself was done in association with Food for the Hungry and
International Justice Mission.  Many stories were told that night of
successes, triumphs, struggles, and injustices done throughout the world…
No story touched me more than one of a man that was freed from his
slavery of working for a tireless, heartless man as a brick-maker.
Though the story of his freedom would have been moving enough, the tale
of his coming to know the Lord, to justice being served in that
community, to him eventually opening his own, fair brick-making business
to support his family was absolutely incredible.  Individually, those
details were amazing, but the thing that touched me the most was what
Sara Groves said about this story… That each event of justice, kind nor selflessness are not events that occur singularly, but each event is one that enables the rescued to be encouraged and; therefore, spread the
fire of love that started with just a single candle. As she finished her
thoughts, the piano began to play… And, when her finger hit the first
key, I knew that she was about to play my very favorite song.  This
song, which often reminded me of a time of grief now symbolized a time
of rescue.  A reminder that our acts of love are not extinguished when
we walk away…

It’s funny because for those who have known me for many years, namely
Randi, might be surprised to find me writing about loving others and how
it is a fundamental part of our faith. It was someone’s love that
allowed me to have a saved and changed life. So, I challenge you to love
someone today…Their life might depend on it.

 

New Creation Video

I thought this was really cool. Very Creative. It was done at a church in Texas. Click “New Creation”

New Creation from FC Post on Vimeo.

 

New Free Music

Hey, if you want some new music and for free, check out Jenny and Tyler. If you go to their website and join their mailing list, they’ll email you a free EP of their CD “A Prelude” It’s 7 songs, I really like it. They also have samples of their songs and the lyrics on their website so if you’re skeptical about downloading free music you can check it out first

Jenny and Tyler

-Randi

 

Homecoming Story

I don’t know what’s gotten into me today. Getting a little post happy and all of them link to another page lol. I had to share this story though since it is homecoming season and all. Warning, it’s a little bit of a tear jerker.

Homecoming Queen

 

Unspoken Plea Video

This video was posted on my facebook. I think it relates well to Storm’s post about loving.

 

-Randi

 

I fixed the Homecoming story Link

My bad. It should work now.

 

Sorry

Sorry, I’m a slacker, I haven’t recorded a new podcast. I’ll hopefully have it up tomorrow!

 

Oversexed World

I had the priviledge of hanging out with some friends in PA/NJ this weekend. I happened to pick up a book from the shelf at my friends house titled Christian Courtship in an Oversexed World, opening up lots of discussion.

Here is an excerpt that has really left me thinking.

“One of the greatest religious problems in the twenty-first centruy is the confusion about moral issues. Many christians belive that moral norms are external constraints placed by God to see if we will obey Him. In other words, living immorally might bring us more happiness, but since God doesn’t approve, we shoud not do it. Nothing could be further from the truth. The moral law is the Creator’s (I prefer FATHER’s) operating instructions, the blueprint for our real happiness. It is tailored to our nature as persons, and ordered tour fulfillment as complex, rational, feeling persons.

Imagine, if you will, a world in which men and women really lived God’s moral code with regard to sexuality. There would be no illegitimate children, very little venereal disease, much less lying, women would have far more control of their own lives, men would begin to relate to women as persons rather than as sex objects. The entertainment media would have to portray women as person as well, not as playthings. What a decent world that would be.” Pg 73 of Christian Courtship in an Oversexed WOrld.

What are your thoughts on this? Agree, disagree? Think of anything else that would positively be affected if we lived God’s moral code with regard to sexuality?

peace,

Randi

 

Heaven’s Declare

The Podcast for the week is finally up. Sorry for the delay!!

-Randi

 

Slammed

The last few months the Lord has really been challenging me to look and live beyond myself. To be selfless, to stop wanting more stuff, to hurt for those who hurt, to give to those in need, to stop soaking up the American dream and the feeling of being entitled to everything that I want.

I have been failing miserably.

But the Lord is patient and continues to stir in my core. I’ve read several books and articles lately that have left me feeling slammed against a wall, but motivated. I’m sure the slamming will continue. It is necessary, I think if it stops then that will be a bad thing. I don’t want to be content with the way things are. To remain blind to what goes on in our country and around the world. To remain satisfied and comfortable with all that I have because that’s not what life is all about.

Here’s the most recent Slamming about the recent Bailout

 

What’s in your heart?

Happy monday. On my morning stroll, yes stroll… maybe someday I will work my way up to a run lol Anyhow this verse came to mind. “For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.” Luke 6:45

I’m not sure why this came to mind, probably because God is telling me something but I thought I’d share it with you guys. And offer a challenge to us all. What are you speaking? What’s in your heart

Psalm 26:2

Have a good day, podcast will be up later!

Randi

 

Consider the Lilies

I’m at a Youth Specialties National Conference in Pittsburgh and in addition to awesome speakers, worship, and workshops they have a sanctuary and prayer room set up all day. In the prayer room they have different stations set up for you to pray in different ways. Really cool.

Anyhow the picture above is of one of the stations. Above the lilies was a sign that read Consider the Lilies and another with this verse.

“Consider the lilies of the field and how they grow. They do not work or weave or sew and yet their garments are stunning. Even King Solomon, dressed in his most regal garb, was not as lovely as these lilies. And think about grassy fields-the grasses are here now but they will be dead by winter. And yet God adorns them so radiantly. How much more will He clothe you, you of little faith, you have no trust?” Matthew 6:28-30

-Randi

 

Stuck in a Glass Elevator

Post from Storm. She has finally made it to the About page

Last night I was at a dinner benefiting an organization called
Opportunity International, a faith-based non-profit that specializes in
micro-finance (Man, there were a lot of hyphens in that sentence,
right?).  Anyhow, the introductory speaker talked for a bit about our
role as financially secure Americans in the Banking On Africa campaign.
In her opening remarks, she reminded us of our role as people who have
been blessed… it’s sort of like riding an elevator, once you get to the
top you can’t forget to send the elevator back down so other people can
get on and ride up too.

There is a song that I love by The Myriad called Stuck In a Glass
Elevator.  I love the song because regardless of when I hear it, it
always takes on some new, profound meaning for me.  Not surprisingly,
when I heard it on my way home last night I started thinking… I started
thinking about this elevator I just heard of.

Do you ever feel like you’re stuck in a glass elevator?  Like life is
going up and down and you can see everyone around you and they can see
you and you want to reach out and touch their lives, but you seem to be
limited by your surroundings, your location, your age, your finances,
etc.?  It’s frustrating. Or, have you ever felt trapped by sin and
circumstance? It’s like you want to break free, but this sin keeps you
trapped in this lonely place.  You can look out and see what a life of
freedom looks like, but again, here you are on the elevator.

Now, do you remember the scene in the old Charlie and the Chocolate
Factory when they are in the elevator and they break through the glass?
When I think about death and crossing over from this world into
eternity, I sometimes think about breaking this glass and just the
relief that must be felt to finally get off the elevator.  To me, the
glass elevator is likened to only knowing in part the plan that God has
for us.  We experience part of the beauty, understand a small portion of
our struggle… And this glass elevator serves as both a restrictor and a
protector from everything that exists in this world.

As claustrophobic as I feel in this elevator, I think about what I might
feel if I were stuck on a normal elevator or a freight elevator… I mean,
consider it for a second… Not knowing Christ must be like one of these
elevators… You’re going up… You’re going down… No real idea of where
you’re headed… A life without Christ is truly like an empty elevator
with no view of the outside.

In his book The Purpose Driven Life, Rick Warren comments that our lives
here are on earth are just a temporary assignment… Which is why we will
sometimes feel so uncomfortable on earth… Because we know we are here
temporarily… Just like when we jump on an elevator. We all have heaven
as an end goal, which we secure when we give our lives to Christ getting
off the dark elevator and stepping onto the glass elevator. And, once we
get on the new elevator we take a step towards experiencing this world
as a temporary assignment and ride upward towards eternity. Each
experience is a stop at a floor on the ride up to the top. And often, we
pick people up and bring them along for the ride and sometimes we even
have to let people off before we reach the top.

Just a reminder once you get to the top, don’t forget to press the
button to send it back down so other people can get on…
-Ashley

 

YOU

 

How do I love?

I have been pondering a lot lately about the love of God.  The question that keeps popping up as I think of His love is this:  Is my life any different now that I know the great love of God?

I had the opportunity to attend a conference in Pittsburgh this past weekend with Randi and a few other FCA staff.  One of the speakers (Francis Chan, author of Crazy Love) asked a question that really caught my attention.  He asked, “When someone spends an hour with you, do they leave feeling like they just spent an hour with Jesus?”.  I left this weekend overwhelmingly challenged with the knowledge that there are areas of my life that do not reflect the heart of Christ and though they are often private matters that aren’t shown much on the outside, they inevitably effect how I act, how I speak, and how I love.

I quickly found the answer to my original question – my life in many ways is not different and it absolutely should be.  I need to wake daily with the knowledge of the love of God, despite all of life’s circumstances.  I need to praise Him daily, despite all of life’s circumstances.  What is going on with me, near me, around me, does not change how much God love’s me.  If I don’t praise Him, I am not reflecting Him, I am reflecting me.

Here are a couple of verses from Psalm 57 as the psalmist David realizes what his response to God’s love should be…praise among the people.

My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and make music.  Awake, my soul!  Awake, harp and lyre!  I will awaken the dawn.  I will praise you, O Lord, among the nations; I will sing of you among the peoples.  For great is your love, reaching to the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies.  Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth. Psalm 57:7-11

This song has been ringing in my ears all day.  Be reminded and encouraged today of the great, incredible, unending, never-failing, love of God.

The love of God is greater far
Than tongue or pen can ever tell
It goes beyond the highest star
And reaches to the lowest hell
The guilty pair, bowed down with care
God gave His Son to win
His erring child He reconciled
And pardoned from his sin Could we with ink the ocean fill
And were the skies of parchment made
Were every stalk on earth a quill
And every man a scribe by trade

To write the love of God above
Would drain the ocean dry
Nor could the scroll contain the whol
Though stretched from sky to sky

Hallelujah (3x)

O love of God, how rich and pure!
How measureless and strong!
It shall forevermore endure
The saints’ and angels’ song

(Mercy Me)

-Lisa

 

Back on time

Podcast is up on the podcast page so go and download  it

 

Organic

I hope you all have been having a good week! I’m reading a book called The Organic God by Margaret Feinberg. It’s really good, my first thought when reading the title is that it would be about God wanting us to be organic or eat organic foods or something lol. But it’s actually about how our understanding of God is pretty polluted and our need to strip away our preconceived notions and thoughts and seek the untainted God. To strip away all of the things that have polluted the images we may have of Him and approach Him with simplicity.

“Natural. Pure. Essential.”
For the most part it’s her sharing her experiences , so check it out if you’re looking for a book to read. Theres a chapter called Breathtakingly Beautiful and I underlined a part that I want to share with you guys.

“Our modern culture has watered down beauty to mean little more than prettiness, popularity, or likeability. We speak of the “beautiful people” as those who possess something we do not, and we cheapen beauty to a list of who’s hot and who’s not. Beauty is used to describe anything and everything we prefer. We’re even taught to select our produce by that which looks best- namely, large and shiny- and as a result, we often pass by the organic selection…”

I’m sure we can all relate to this in some way or another even when we know that true beauty is reflected by what’s inside. I think of the countless people who don’t feel beautiful because of those things and those who overlook beautiful people because of their lack of luster. Don’t fall into that trap. You are BEAUTIFUL!

Tell someone they’re beautiful today.

Love Randi

 

Podcast tomorrow

This week’s podcast will be posted tomorrow!

 

What’s Your Verse?

** This requires reader participation

Some call it a life verse, others call it their favorite. Of all of the wonderful verses in the bible, which one is your go to, your reminder of what you’re here for, your encouragement, time after time?

Mine is Matthew 5:16 “In the same way, let your light shine before men that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in Heaven.”

Doesn’t matter if people post the same verse, but i think it’ll be cool to see other people’s life verses. Feel free to share why it’s your favorite.

For me that verse helps keep me ground and keep in perspective what I’m here for. My hope is that when people see me they’ll see God. It also provides accountability and reminds me that life ain’t about me.

Don’t be shy. Share with us!!

love randi

 

I’m a Slacker

Sorry, no podcast again this week! We had a retreat over the weekend and I didn’t have time to do one. Hopefully I’ll have one next week.

Gonna try the audience participation thing again…even though only 4 of you commented on the last one Since it’s the week of thanksgiving….What are you thankful for? It can be serious and/or simple and silly for example

I am thankful for music. I am also thankful for God’s patience with me.

 

Thanks!

Finally! A new podcast. Check the podcast page, it’s called thanks

 

pray pray pray

I had a conversation this weekend that got me thinking…specifically this conversation got me thinking about prayer. I started thinking about the importance, about the purpose, just really about how awesome prayer is in general. Usually just thinking that through prayer we get to communicate with the Creator of the universe baffles me…but this weekend for some reason I just couldn’t seem to get it off my mind. Have you ever said to someone, “I really don’t know what to do, all I can do is pray.” I used to, still do say this in different situations. You know when your best friend comes to you and you just have no idea how to help, something so serious or trying has happened and your advice and encouragement just aren’t doing it. You try everything you can to help, and as a last attempt you think to yourself, “all I can do is pray.”

Sometimes though in tough situations I forget to pray. Which is crazy because prayer is our communication line with the Lord. For real this summer, I wrote “pray, pray, pray” on my hand so I wouldn’t forget. It’s such a powerful tool in deepening our relationship with Him, I mean think about it, an open line of communication with your Heavenly Father, that’s pretty amazing. Through prayer we not only get to talk to God about things going on in our lives, but we also get to talk to Him about stuff going on in the lives of the people around us. Personally I was very convicted this weekend about how passive I have been recently about asking the people closest to me what they need prayer for. I love the prayer request page on this site because it gives us all an opportunity to ask for prayer for ourselves or for others, but I think that some of us hate asking for prayer because we look weak, or we think people have to much other stuff to worry about, or because we don’t want to open up…but trust me, asking for prayer, that is showing your dependence on the Lord. Praying for other people is a privilege and a blessing to the other person, and to you. So here’s my question…what do you need prayer for? What have you been praying about that you would like the rest of us to join you in?

I’ll go first…break the ice a little…I personally have been praying about friendships, Godly friendships, true fellowship with the people around me, and for the people in my life. (For further details I did post this on the prayer requests page)

I know that there’s already a special page for prayer, but I def think it’s time for a front page appearance 

“Trust in Him at all times, O people, pour out your hearts to Him, for God is our refuge.” Psalm 62:8

“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” Hebrews 4:15-16

-Mandee

 

Cool Site

Check out this cool site www.iamsecond.com

It’s video testimonies from actors, athletes, musicians, and everyday people ranging from all different types of stories all sharing why they are second in life. Really powerful.

Amazing how regardless of who we are and what we’ve been through, we can be connected through One.

If any of the stories stand out or impact you, let us know here.

second,

Randi

 

Away in a Manger part 1

warning: this post may be a little sporadic  and random at times

It’s the most wonderful time of the year. Starbucks has the Christmas drinks and red Christmas cups, radio stations are playing our favorite Christmas songs, kids are getting excited about toys, I’m excited about Christmas tree smelling Candles

Tonight I came to a point where most of us get to every year and we ask,  “What’s the true meaning of Christmas?”

And we forget about santa and remember that the true meaning of Christmas is to celebrate the birth of Jesus… until christmas morning when we hastily unwrap our gifts. There’s a new song by Shane and Shane called “Born to Die.” Saw them in concert over the weekend with Bethany Dillon and Phil Wickham aaaand it was awesome. Anyhow, this song on their new Christmas album has quickly become a favorite.

Thinking about the song led me into thinking about the world’s Christmas and how it’s gotten to where it is. Started with a star, then a baby in a  manger. Let’s put up a nativity set… wise men are cool, they brought gifts, yay gifts, yay  santa and  reindeer! “Rudolph the red nose reindeer…reindeer” and christmas lists, and yes presents! What do I want this year, what am i going to get everyone, yada yada yada…

Then that question, “what’s the true meaning?” and then a song called “Born to die

Here’s a thought:

The meaning of Christmas is to celebrate the birth of Jesus (insert Kirk Franklin and the family singing, “Jesus is the reason-aa for the season yeeeaah”)…and Jesus was born to die. (remember the holiday with the easter bunny and eggs?)

Seriously now, Jesus was born to die.

What does that really mean to me?

To us?

To you?

 

Away in a Manger part 2

In the spirit of Christmas songs here’s an excerpt from an article at relevantmagazine.com on Sara Groves. She has a new Christmas album out as well. She’s talking about the song ‘O Holy Night’ my favorite version is sung by Celine Dion lol

Anyhow, she’s talking about a line that I’ve never thought much about and since I read this, I can’t stop thinking about it so here it is…

I love to [highlight] a line from a song like “O Holy Night,” the line that I literally meditated on for almost a year after I wrote this new arrangement. It says, “Long lay the world in sin and error pining / ‘Til He appeared and the soul felt its worth.” I’ve dwelled on that for a year, thinking, “This is what I want my walk to look like”—that when I’m in contact with a person, because of Jesus in me, they would feel their worth. And I thought, “As a believer, am I acting in such a way where as I interact with people, they walk away from me feeling the very Kingdom worth of their soul?”

Challenged,

Randi

 

Are You Growing

Sorry it’s been so long since I’ve posted! I hope you all had an awesome Christmas I’ve enjoyed by days off tremendously. Nothing like being able to lounge around and do whatever I want

Since it’s been so long I figured I’d write a short post. I  watched Prince Caspian last night, a movie and book that I love.  There’s a line from Aslan (the Lion) that stood out to me when I first read the book and when I saw it for the first time in the theater and again when I watched it last night.

After Lucy (the youngest, innocent, and most trusting in Aslan) sees him for the first time since returning to Narnia, She says something along the lines of “Aslan, you’ve gotten bigger.”

Sorry I have to provide my version because I don’t remember how it goes exactly lol

He responds by saying, “Every year that you grow, I grow.”

With 2009 creeping up on us, I thought of this line from a different perspective. At the end of the year and beginning of a new one is tradition to reflect on the year and make resolutions for the new one. Looking back and thinking about this quote I have to ask myself, “Self, does God seem bigger to me after this year?” “When were the times when He seemed small?”

There’s a quote I’m sure you’ve heard that says “The more I know I realize the little that I know.” I think the same applies to what Aslan is saying to Lucy. The more that we grow as individuals, the more we understand the world around us, the more we learn about God and the closer we grow to Him, i think we’ll realize that He’s so much bigger.

The more we depend on ourselves, do things our own way, shut others out, become self centered, the smaller our view of God becomes. I’ve found that the times when God didn’t seem very big, like He wasn’t listening… were the times when I trusted myself more than Him.

Kinda crazy how that all works out. Even in the times when He seems small, He uses it so we will learn and so that we will grow

How was your year? Any growing pains? Any evidence of God ‘changing’ in size?

Happy New Year

Randi

 

Happy New Year

First post of 09! I can’t believe it’s 09! Craziness. Sorry I haven’t posted in awhile or podcasted in a while. I’m hopefully going to be on the ball next week. Maybe I should make it one of my resolutions.

And you’re all thinking, “like you’ll keep up to it, no one keeps up with their resolutions” Heck, people hardly even make resolutions anymore! But I’ve come up with a few and hopefully by sharing them with you guys, you can help keep me accountable. So feel free to add yours in the comment section and we’ll all have a great time reminding each other to keep at them.

So here are my 3:

1. The most popular resolution known to man… to eat better and excercise regularly I really need to fire up on this one, I’m half way there by starting to eat right lol

2. At the end of last year I made two lists. One of the books that I had read in 2008 and one of the books that I started reading and didn’t finish. The second list had more books on it sooooo in 2009 I resolve to have the first list longer than the second. So far I have read one and am only reading one now. I think if I can stick to just reading one book at a time, I’ll be able to do that, but those of you who know me well, know that I like to read several at a time.

currently reading: Death by Love: Letters from the Cross by Mark Driscoll. It’s really good so far if you’re looking for a book to read.

3. To blog and podcast more consistently

So there ya go, what are yours? Also, any good books to recommend?

 

When’s the last time you did something for the FIRST time?

Yesterday!! A few weeks ago I was asked this question and I had a hard time coming up with something because I pretty much stick to doing the same old things lol. Since then, I’ve been able to answer that question with ease several times.

Crazy how that works. Like when someone gets a new car that you’ve never heard of and then suddenly you see that car EVERYWHERE…

Anyhow, yesterday, I hit a pothole that destroyed one of my tires and with the help of one of my roomies, we changed it. I have seen it done several times but never had I put in the effort to change one myself. I’m a little mad at myself for not documenting the experience but I was a little angry at the pothole for awhile and the fact that I got a flat tire less then 2 miles from my house and that it was cold and raining so I wasn’t thinking about snapping any photos…

So, when’s the last time you did something for the first time?

 

Workin on it

I am experiencing why most people no longer make new year’s resolutions.

I don’t have anything for the podcast. I know, i know… i’ve been saying for a month that I’m going to be better about it, but I haven’t been doing the best job managing my time to make sure I get them written and recorded. I’m really going to try to be better about that. Until then keep being patient

If you have any suggestions or ideas for a podcast topic, Let me know!!!

You guys are ggrrreeat

 

Sometimes We Need to be Reminded

You Are Worth It…

Stop Settling

Stop thinking you’ll never find the right one

Stop thinking you’re not good enough

Stop making excuses

You have what it takes

Choose joy over trying to just be happy

Be FREE

Be loved like you deserve

You deserve to be loved

Stop comparing yourself to everyone else

Stop believing lies

You are BEAUTIFUL

You are Worth it

You are LOVED…

 

Relentless

I saw this video a few days ago and I can’t get the song out of my head so I thought I’d share it with you along with a few thoughts. The original version is by Misty Edwards and it’s different from this version if you want to check her out.

I know that we all struggle at times with trusting God and wanting to live fully for Him and to give our all to Him and some days it’s a lot easier then others. As i repeat the words, “You won’t relent until you have it all, my heart is yours.” I think of the countless times I’ve prayed and said to God that he has my heart and all of the times I’ve felt far from Him and let Him down. And all of the times when I’ve kept parts of my heart to myself and/or given my heart to the wrong things or tried to fill it with worthless things.

Relent means to slacken, to soften in determination, to abandon. A word used more often to describe a determined person is relentless, steady and persisting.

Despite all of the times that I’ve come up short, God relentlessly pursues me. I’m sure there have been many times in your life that you’ve felt like God is getting your attention and most likely didn’t realize it was God… those times when you’ve felt a longing for something that nothing  has seemed to fill… when you found hope in a hopeless situation… when someone happened to be there for you at the perfect time… when you flipped to a page and the words you needed to see jumped out at you… when you got in the car and a song that you needed to hear struck you to your core… The List goes on.

He will not give up on us. Having just a piece of us isn’t enough for Him, He desires our whole hearts, not so He can control us, but because He knows that is what’s best for us.

Be Encouraged

 

MLK jr

“I still believe that standing up for the truth of God is the greatest thing in the world. This is the end of life. The end of life is not to be happy. The end of life is not to achieve pleasure and avoid pain. The end of life is to do the will of God, come what may.” -Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. From his speech titled: Paul’s Letter to American Christians, November, 4, 1956

Like most people, I have the tendency to celebrate our national holidays as a day off with little regard to the holiday’s significance. With that in mind, this morning I decided to read the infamous “I have a Dream” Speech. From there I came across the above speech that I’ve never heard of. I was struck by two things. 1. The relevance of the bible during Dr. King’s day. 2. The relevance of the bible and Dr. King’s speech to today, January 21, 2009 3. The fact that Dr. King’s conviction, determination, relentlessness, passion and hope in fighting for equality was rooted in his faith, love and commitment to God.

Dr. King first sowed obedience, faithfulness and trust in God which led him to being the most prominent Civil Rights Leader and today the whole world feasts on that fruit.

So, what have I learned from my holiday reflection… God knows what’s best. Trust Him.

Anyone else do any MLKJ Day/ Inauguration reflecting?

To read the speeches click here

 

Finally

I know some of you were doubting that I’d ever come back with a new podcast. But i did.. so bam! Check the podcast page.

Hope you guys had a good weekend!

 

Baggage

Hey I’m sure most of you have forgotten about Katie Cos. She decided to grace us with some wisdom this week

I am currently reading through 1 Samuel, and I am finding it to be more relatable then I have ever imagined. I have always felt a disconnect with the old testament. I wanted to understanding what was taking place, but my effort to comprehend was very small. Anyway this is one little passage that made me think a little.

In 1 Samuel 10 :9 Saul is about to be made king. Before Saul, no man had been king for that position was reserved for God. Disobediently the Israelite demanded Samuel, the Lord’s prophet and judge over Israel, to appoint a man as king.  The man that God chose for them was Saul. Now Saul does not feel qualified or adequate to take the kingdom. He doesn’t even tell his family that he will hold throne soon. How often are we ashamed or skeptical of what God wants us to do? I know when I don’t feel like I want to do what God wants me to do I hide it from those around me. I don’t tell them how I am feeling or what is going on with my heart because I think I am hoping that the Lord will change his mind. I am thinking surely he will see how awful I would be at this, or how hard this is going to be for me. Moving on…

Samuel decides to hold a ceremony to give Saul the kingship. This is somewhat of an inauguration for Saul. We are all pretty familiar with what that looks like right? J Samuel calls the people of Israel to present them with their new king. Samuel basically introduces Saul to present himself to the people, but Saul does not come out. The people ask ” Has the man come here yet?” and the Lord answers them with “Yes, he has hidden himself among the baggage.”

I so often find myself to be just like Saul. God calling me to be something I am very uncomfortable with, and then running and hiding. Even better Saul hides among the baggage. I too hide among my baggage. When I feel inadequate to work for the Lord many times it is because of my past. I hide among my baggage, instead of walking out on stage and being inducted to work more for his Kingdom. I picture what it must have looked like for Saul to be hiding in the baggage. I have to admit I picture him within luggage and duffel bags. Hiding and peeking around the larger suitcases hoping that no one will notice. Silly, yes, but I picture myself doing the same thing. If you could look into my life for just a moment you would see me hiding among bags that have my sins, fears, and inadequacies written across the front. I would be peeking around them seeing if my name was still being called.
Later in the passage Saul eventually has to get up and take responsibility. He needs to walk out from all the baggage to get the stage. I too need to walk out from behind all my baggage and go to where God needs me to. It would probably be much easier to go to where God needs me to if I didn’t have to trip over all those bags in the process but thank God that He still desires to use me despite it all.

What baggage do you need to step out from behind? And where are you being called to trust Him and stand confidently to be used for His purpose?

<>< Katie

 

Because basketball IS that Important

Reflections from A. Storm…

The Parable of the Talents
“Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more. So also, the one with the two talents gained two more. But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.
After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.’
“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’
The man with the two talents also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two talents; see, I have gained two more.’
His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’
“Then the man who had received the one talent came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’
His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.
‘Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ – Matthew 25:14-28

Like many, I was saddened by the news of NC State Basketball Coach Kay Yow’s passing after a two decades long battle with breast cancer.  I won’t get into statistics, but relative to other coaches in the basketball world, she was one of the best.  However, in the wake of her passing, I am more compelled by the legacy she left behind and what she meant to the game of basketball and to my life in general. She was, without a doubt, a great coach, but even more so a wonderful person and faithful follower of Jesus. Her contributions to the game of basketball can only be overlooked for her contributions into the lives of young women everywhere.

For those that engage me in casual conversation or meet me just briefly, I might not mention that I played basketball at any point in my life and, seeing as how I am hardly tall enough to ride carnival rides, it’s definitely not something you would naturally assume.  That being said, I have spent much of my adult life and teaching career neglecting the relevance of the game of basketball in my life.  When we grow older, new things become important and we feel called to turn away from those things of the past, but in light of Coach Yow’s death I feel so convicted to the calling that basketball had for me. Our God is mysterious in the ways he chooses to guide our path and, I understand that He could have chosen any number of mediums for me to excel, any particular friends to shape my life, and any profession for me to be a part of… BUT, He didn’t. He chose to give me basketball.  When I was eleven, I began to receive my first letters from colleges expressing interest in me playing basketball for them in the future.  One of the first letters I received was from Coach Yow and, I’m pretty sure if you went to my mom’s house today, then you would find the letter folded away with numerous other childhood memories.

Belief is a funny thing… Because the moment you think someone believes in you, you start to share that belief yourself and so it went for me and my basketball career. While there were many peaks and valleys through the years, I can’t deny the influence that basketball had on me in high school and also in college. Like I said before, God could have used any method of His pleasing to guide my path, but he chose to use basketball to take me to college in Florida, where I met my best friend, and was led to Christ. And, despite the fact that the day came for my playing career to be over was met with great relief and joy, I had no idea that He would continue to use this game to shape other parts of my life.  For several years after I came to know the Lord, I had a sense of regret that I was never able to glorify Him through one of my favorite things: basketball. But, as it turns out, He has actually used my past, with basketball and without me having a knowledge of Him. to serve me as an adult. For it is because of this very game that I was able to become a teacher… Turns out being a good basketball player in high school helps with finding a job. And, he used my old teammates (cough – Randi Jones – cough) to get me connected with FCA which is a ministry that helped me meet Christ and continues to help me grow and be renewed in Him, and help other athletes and students of mine do the same. Truly, this list goes on.

In the parable of the talents, the master gives talents to three men and each man uses his talents differently. Obviously, he is most pleased with the man who multiplied his talents and made the most of them. He was faithful with his lot and God entrusted him with more. So, I write this story not for any particular reason other than to say that it’s never to late to use your talents for God’s glory. I truly thought that I had been like the last man that took his talent and buried it for fear of losing it and; rightly so, had it taken away. But, that was not necessarily the case because God continues to use basketball in my life and helps me to know that this is a gift that can continue to be used, shared, and multiplied.

I started this story talking about a woman who used her talents to share and multiply with many. I continue to be grateful for her contributions to this game that means so much to my life. Thank you Coach Yow for your faithfulness to the gift that God granted you and for sharing that gift with so many of us. Rest in peace,

Coach Kay Yow: 1942 – 2009

 

this is what it’s all about

Storm and I are on the way back from Coach Yow’s funeral in NC.

I will write some reflection thoughts later but for now check out this article. .

Her funeral was an amazing testimony of a woman who’s greatest desire was to
Glorify God not only with her life but also in death. I’m in awe.
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/423/story/505993.html

 

Weekend

Here is a picture that i “borrowed” taken at NorthBay in maryland where we had FCA College Retreat this weekend. This is way better than the one i took on my phone lol. This picture pretty much describes the weekend.

Pictures are amazing! I’m sure I or someone else will right more about the retreat. The biggest thing that I took away was just being humbled by ALL that God is. Take this picture for example… This is just a small glimpse of God and it’s breath taking…  something so big to me is so small to Him yet He took the time to set it before us for our enjoyment.

So, regardless of where you were or what you did, how did God show himself to you this weekend? Don’t stress thinking you have to compete with the sunset lol, which reminds me, my new nephew Corbin was born last wednesday, I see God every time i look at my phone and see Corbin’s picture.

Don’t be shy, share…

randi

 

Psalm 139

Thought I’d kick off the week with some Amena Brown. I posted a video of one of her poems a few months ago called You. This is one of her reading Psalm 139.

Be encouraged.

randi

 

Think we have it bad?

I just came across this article. The pressing question for me after reading it is; “Where does your hope lie?”

If you’re tired of the words: bad, economy, and bailout, raise your hand lol

It’s becoming exhaustive but at the same time I can’t avoid the feeling that I should care more about it because things could get really bad.

So back to my question. We all are dealing (or not dealing) with our country’s issues and our own personal issues in our own way. Regardless of the economy and the article, that question applies to each of us individually in some way.

The answer to that for some of you may range from things such as: money, family, God, yourself, job, getting an education, President Obama etc etc..

What struck me most about the article is that in the midst of such difficulty, there is hope and joy.

If your hope is in temporary things, then our good ole friend “worry” will continually creep up. Your hope will let you down and joy will be fleeting.

Yesterday I read this passage…

“In the beginning you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment. Like clothing you will change them and they will be discarded.

But you remain the same, and your years will never end.” psalm 102:25-27

I’m reminded again, that having a bunch of stuff and being comfortable all of the time is not the source of my joy and contentment.

What do you tend to rely on the most? What material thing do you think you need but if it came down to it, you could live without?

rj

 

Say Goodbye to the World You Thought You Lived In…

Hey Ladies, I hope you all are doing well. We’re kicking off the week with a post from Storm.

Hope it challenges and encourages you!! <>< Randi

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

As is typically the case when I blog, I am going to recommend a song to
listen to before, during, or after your reading of this post. So, for
this one it’s Any Other World by Mika.

Recently, I was viewing a Nooma video and it was talking about things
changing… Specifically, it referenced the story of Jesus’ resurrection
and how when Mary went back to the burial site of Jesus and discovered
Jesus in the garden, how Mary must have assumed that Jesus was back and
that life would return to the way that it was. But, for those that know
the story, once Jesus was resurrected, nothing was ever the same.
Thankfully.

Yesterday, I returned home from a three-day trip into DC to work at a
homeless shelter. Going into the trip, my expectations were low. In
fact, I even second-guessed why I was going. On the ride in, as is the
case with many of the trips I have taken, I had the overwhelming sense
that after the weekend, just as above, nothing would ever be the same.
How could it be? How could you look into the eyes of a man or woman
with no home and go on living the way you have? How could you sit with a
girl your age who was a drug addict, alcoholic, and a dropout and not
feel called to compassion?

Frederick Buechner said, “Compassion is sometimes the fatal capacity for
feeling what it is like to live inside somebody’s skin. It is the
knowledge that there can never really be any peace and joy for me until
there is peace and joy finally for you too.”

Are you looking for opportunities to be compassionate? Do you think you
need to leave the area where you live to do so? Are you afraid of
seeing or acknowledging those in pain or in the midst of struggle and
strife?

Compassion happens wherever you are. Wherever there is a lack of peace
and joy, compassion can take place.

Habakkuk 1:5 says: “Look around at the nations; look and be amazed! For
I am doing something in your own day, something you wouldn’t believe
even if someone told you about it!”

This verse is the Lord’s response to the prophet Habakkuk after he cried
out about violence and destruction among his people. People that loved
to argue and fight in a land where there was no justice… where the
wicked outnumbered the righteous. Sound familiar?

And yet, despite this truth, the Lord speaks and declares that in the
midst of a situation that seems so desperate that there will be
restoration, retribution, and redemption. Despite everything, nothing
will ever be the same. Thankfully.

Ask God to open your heart to those in your world that need your
compassion. Ask Him that He would allow your eyes to open to those
needing your help. That you would not assume, as Habakkuk did, that the
destruction and wickedness around you is too great for Him to work in
the situation. For He is already working on a new thing… A new thing
you would not believe even if He told you about it.

-Ash

 

Being the Best

Here’s a video from the iamsecond website. This was shared at a school’s FCA meeting yesterday morning and I liked it so I want to share it with you. Click the link below and leave some comments

Iamsecond

 

Snow Day

Most of you reading this are at home for a snow day. sooo I’m gonna go with a post that requires audience participation

Share your childhood snow day best memories!

I used to love it when the plow came and pushed the snow into big piles. All the kids in our neighborhood would then use the mounds to make forts equipped with tunnels and all. Oooh to be a kid again.

Enjoy the snow!!

 

Rocks

Recently while  scanning for something to watch on TV i landed on one of my favorite movies…Forrest Gump.

Seriously, every time I watch it I say to myself, “this is such a great movie.” Yes, it is very random and highly unlikely for so many great things to happen to a “below average” (as the school principal deems him) person, but that’s one of the things that makes the movie so great. The other thing… the many quotable lines

One caught my attention that I’d never noticed before. Remember the scene where older Forrest and Jenny are walking after she comes back to Alabama and they come across her childhood home? We all remember how much Jenny hated being at her house because of father… “Pray with me Forrest, Dear God, make me a bird, so I can fly far… far, far away from here.”

Jenny stops…walks up to the house… and in anger,  starts throwing all the rocks that she can find at the house. She eventually falls down in the dirt and cries.

The narrative line by Forrest: “Sometimes there just aren’t enough rocks.”

Our below average friend Forrest is DEEP! Sometimes the simplest realizations are the most helpful. Simmer on that.

any favorite movie lines that hit home for you?

 

The Bridge

This video was posted on my facebook wall.

thoughts?

 

Foundation

It’s been a while since I’ve unleashed my heart on here so here we go.

This morning two songs came to mind, well three, but two of them fit together really nicely in relation to what I’m about to write. When songs come to mind I like to sing and play them on the guitar because it helps me reflect on them better. After taking some time to do that this question came to mind. Have you ever had the thought and/or put into action that “If I appear to be fine on the outside, then I will be”?

If you think that you haven’t I know that you’re lying and if you really haven’t, identify yourself because I want to give you props lol.

It’s amazing that we can have such control over ourselves to maintain a facade on the outside to at least give an appearance that we’re doing just fine. And those of us who have tried to keep it going with the hopes that the outside really will transform us internally, knows that it doesn’t work, and we usually end up feeling worse. You’re wondering what the songs are and some of you may have guessed at least one. drum roll…. The first is From the Inside Out by Hillsong United, a song that I never get tired of listening to.

The first verse says, “A thousand times I’ve failed, still Your mercy remains, and should I stumble again I’m caught in your grace, Everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades…”

I’m reminded of roots or a foundation.  Our hearts act as a foundation and we all know that without a solid foundation, whatever is built upon it will fall. So if we try to use the outward appearance as a foundation there is no stability, transformation starts internally. And if Christ is the foundation in our hearts, the above verse comes to life and allows us to see so clearly the reality that when we fail, when things aren’t the way we want, when darkness surrounds, when everything fades… that He is an everlasting light that shines forth and really making us okay.

To put it simply, there’s a verse in Matthew 12:34 that says “For out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks.”

Full circle now, appearing ok when you’re really not ok, isn’t going to make you ok. Ok? lol. You have to go to the root, the foundation in order to find stability. So the next song is Love Is Here by Tenth Avenue North. These lines stand out “Come to the Treasure you who search and you’ll search no more. Come to the Lover, you who want and you’ll want no more… and all you who labor in vain, and to the broken and shamed…Love is here.”

I think the two fit well because I think we spend a lot of time wanting to be ok and searching for things that only satisfy outwardly and temporarily,  instead of going to the core… and i know that there are many reasons that keep us from digging deeper, it seems too hard, you don’t know how, you don’t know where to turn, it hurts…

but it’s worth it. How stable is your foundation?

 

Foundation cont…

I decided to sing lol

 

Error

Soooo, i typed up this nice encouraging post and submitted it and it didn’t work. Unfortunately I don’t have time to rewrite it so I’m just going to give you the gist.

You are loved more than you know by the Creator of the Universe.

Believe it, live like it and love on someone else today with that love that has been so graciously given to each of us even when you don’t feel like you deserve it.

i love you guys

 

How was your easter?

I had a cool opportunity to spend easter differently than what I usually do. This past weekend I was able to lead worship at 2 easter services at a National High School volleyball tournament in Baltimore. I’ve never sung in front of more than 100 people before and was forced out of my comfort zone to lead worship for about 600 people between the two services. Pretty crazy for me but so awesome to be able to help out and serve the athletes and their families who were away from home on easter sunday.

The other cool thing was I got to meet Jenny Johnson Jordan (pro beach vball player and olympian) and her husband Kevin who serves as Chaplain for the Steelers. Jenny shared her testimony and Kevin shared an easter message.

Growing up I was and still am a huge admirer of pro and collegiate female athletes, especially those who live for Christ. Sadly, we all know that most of the world doesn’t share this same admiration so hearing about female christian athletes is very rare. Being the little researcher that I am, I was always on the look out. Jenny Jordan was one of the few who were outspoken about her faith so I’ve had a great amount of admiration and respect for her for a pretty long time.

I had to dig in my archives to find a quote from her that I used to refer to quite often back in the day as a reminder of what life and competition is all about.

“There’s a tendency to separate God and try to squeeze God into our sport, when really it should be the other way around. My relationship with God is first and foremost. I use my relationship with Him and my faith in Him to help me relive anxiety or fear or just to help me stay humble. I realize that whatever gifts and talents I have, I have because He’s given them to me.”

Good reminder, especially coming off of the sunday in which we celebrated the greatest victory won by Jesus for all of humanity.

How was your easter?

 

Appreciate What You Have

I just saw this on the iheart blog. Makes you think…

thoughts…

 

Bloom

I love the seasons. I really do appreciate the change that takes place every few months and how in perfect timing, things die, things grow, things freeze.

And at some time during every season we complain about the weather (rain, too cold, to hot etc) but we wouldn’t appreciate the good without the bad.

For example, the last few weeks we’ve had to endure rain. But today as I see the colors in all things blossoming I’m reminded of lyrics from a song. Not sure which one or who sings it but it says “every flower needs some rain to grow.”

Another thing I love about the seasons is how they are so comparable to our lives. So whether you’re being currently being rained on or experiencing growth from some recent storms. Know that it’s working out strength, character and beauty.

Best song ever about seasons- “every season” by Nichole Nordeman. Check it out!

 

Perga

Hello hello, I meant to post this from Mandee last week!!! My bad, but better late than never

So for those of you who dont know i am on my cross cultural for

graduation, a 3 week trip with about 20 other college age people and 3

leaders traveling in Turkey and Greece by land and by sea (literally)to

different places that Paul traveled during his missionary journeys.

It has been quite an experience to say the least…but it has def

given me a totally new perspective on the book of Acts and Paul and the

rest of the early missionaries of Pauls time.

I feel like for once i have a ton that i want to share but im just going

to share a reflection from one stop today. Perga. I know that many of you

probably dont remember Perga from Acts…its only mentioned once but being

there we took some time to really look at its significance.

Perga was a major city in the Roamn Empire…we only saw the ruins of

course…but it was HUGE…Roman baths cities paved in marble chariot ruts

in the roads columns and huge fountains that would flow water from the top

of the mountain downt o the baths at the front of the city basically a

masterpiece for all of you history lovers…it was beautiful.

We read Acts 13 verse 13 which says- From Paphos Paul and his

companions (John and Barnabas) sailed to Perga in Pamphylia where John left them to

return to Jerusalem.

This verse never stood out to me before but digging into it we learned

quite a bit about the type of people John Paul and Barnabas were. John was

less experienced young probably intimdated by the city in all its

glory…thinking to himslef there is no way us three guys can impact this

place for christ…he left. Paul and Barnabas on the other

hand…stayed…and if you read the rest of the chapter you can see Paul

and Barnabas changed that place because they were willing to go…to go

way out of their comfort zone and preach the word of the Lord.

Personal reflection- How many times have i been like John running from

uncomfortable or situations that are too quote big for me. Thinking of the

amazing things Paul and Barnabas as two men in a totally miraculous and

pagan city were able to do i am challenged to think of what i can be doing

just in the little things…with family…friends…others on this trip

with me. Im sure Paul was scared intimidated and out of his comfort

zone…but He didnt let that stop him PTL…whats stopping me…whats

stopping you…

dont worry for those of you who dont know John gets back on track and him

and Paul even reconcile…forgiveness is great eh lol