So I think that God makes good things happen when it snows. I already posted once today about how awesome I think snow is and how much I love it, but I just had an experience that will add to the wonderfulness of snow and is something that God definitely orchestrated himself. It got to be about 1 this morning and there was a good inch an a half of snow covering Winthrop. I really wanted to go out but was really tired so I just hoped it would be there when I woke up. I grabbed my towel and my get-ready bag and walked down the hall to the bathroom. When I got there I looked in the mirror and knew I had a decision to make. If I got ready then I knew that was it.... I would not be going out to play until the morning and by then it won't be nearly as awesome. So I decided to just go to sleep like I was and I would maybe wake up in an hour or two and go back.
I walked back in my room and walked over to my bed. I looked out the window and saw a group of guys walking by. One of them looked up and waved and then he kept walking. Thinking nothing of it I continued to glare at the snow covered trees in front of me. Suddenly he left the group ran back over to my window and started waving again. Then he started motioning for me to come out side. I didn't know what to think. The guy looked vaguely familiar so I tried figuring out who he was. The thought that it was a particular guy from my past came into my mine. Thoughts of "No, there's no way. That couldn't be him. Why would he be here? No... well maybe" flooded my head. I was intrigued. So being the crazy spontaneous irrational person that I sometimes am I told Kelly about it and convinced her to come out side and "play for a few minutes." We got ready and ran down the stairs. When we got down there we were approached by a group of guys. The came looking like they were going to all pummel us with snow balls. Kelly protested and one of the guys put the snowball he had in his hand on a stick and presented it to her as a "snow flower." He then proceeded to make one for me as well. We thanked them and casually walked away. We walked to the fountain and took some pictures then walked back to our dorm. When we got there the guys were still there. Apparently they were waiting for some friends who live in our hall to come out. We joked around a little and the girls they were waiting for finally came out. When we went to say good bye one of the guys told us they were walking around campus and invited us to come with them. Kelly asked me what I wanted to do. Of coarse I said walk. So here the journey begins.
We went sledding on lunch trays at 2 in the morning where I discovered more about this group. They are all arts related majors and also Christians. They have this Christian Arts majors support group/project that they run on campus. They invited me to come to there meetings on Friday mornings. This is totally a God thing. When they first asked me my major and I told them theatre I then explained to them about what I do at Elevation. One of the guys said "Wow there really arn't a lot of Christians in your field of study." Which is so true and something that has been really hard for me this past year. However somehow this semester God put two Christian's with me in one of my acting classes and then he had me meet this awesome group. I am so excited to get to know there group of arts students and hear more about the projects they do.
After sledding we walked around for a while and decided to go back to the guys house to have hot chocolate. So we all trecked down the street to this quaint little part of a house apartment. It was a very narrow entrance/kitchen with a very oddly carpeted staircase that took up half the width of the room. We all piled our coats on the stair case and bicycles in the hall and walked through a door under the stairs. Inside was a larger open room. It was very invited and had couches and chairs lining the walls. We all sat, talked, sipped hot chocolate and mostly laughed for the next few hours. They are all such unique interesting people and I have a lot in common with them. I am so thankful that God brought that group together tonight. I never would have though that He would have brought on campus supports to me like that. Which makes me think of another topic. However it is early so that will have to wait until another post.
SNOW IS WONDERFUL/AMAZING/PHENOMENAL AND SO IS GOD!!!!
Thursday, January 17, 2008
SNOW!!!!!
It's snowing! I don't know what it is about snow but it just makes me flat out happy! Not just the regular happy but giddy little girl happy. I'm looking out my window right now and I see this delightful image of large flakes of snow floating down from the sky and coating the dull earth below. I see white all around and I LOVE it! I have always loved fall and winter. They are my favorite seasons. There is just something about waking up on a cold morning and looking out to find a winter wonderland to play in. Bundling up in more clothing than you can imagine and running down the stairs in a fit of excitement only to burst open the door and experience that glorious first crunch of the snow under your feet! I really hope it continues snowing all night because:
1. I want to play in it
2. I want classes to be canceled
Not that I enjoy not having school. It's just that I feel like I've been playing a gigantic game of catch up this whole week. My life was hectic enough before hand and then I got really sick last week and now I feel like I'm really behind in a lot of things. Especially with school starting up and trying to move in. However for the first time in a while I feel like God is really moving in me. I finally hear him telling me an answer to something I have been trying to figure out for a while. I also feel Him calling me out and calling me to step up in my position right now. I love what I do at Elevation but I feel like I have been doing a lukewarm job lately. I feel like I had almost hit a stalling point. Dare I say it, a point of being contempt. However it seems that suddenly God has made me aware of all if my faults as a leader and He has put this passion in me more than ever to figure out how to fix those weaknesses and become a truly great leader. I'm so excited for this semester. It is going to push, challenge me and hopefully guide me of the path God wants me to be on.
As I was walking to my dorm tonight the snow was pouring down. Right before I hit my door I stepped up one of the brick steps, turned around and looked up. I was awe struck at just how magnificent snow truly is and the beauty of nature that our amazing Creator made.
1. I want to play in it
2. I want classes to be canceled
Not that I enjoy not having school. It's just that I feel like I've been playing a gigantic game of catch up this whole week. My life was hectic enough before hand and then I got really sick last week and now I feel like I'm really behind in a lot of things. Especially with school starting up and trying to move in. However for the first time in a while I feel like God is really moving in me. I finally hear him telling me an answer to something I have been trying to figure out for a while. I also feel Him calling me out and calling me to step up in my position right now. I love what I do at Elevation but I feel like I have been doing a lukewarm job lately. I feel like I had almost hit a stalling point. Dare I say it, a point of being contempt. However it seems that suddenly God has made me aware of all if my faults as a leader and He has put this passion in me more than ever to figure out how to fix those weaknesses and become a truly great leader. I'm so excited for this semester. It is going to push, challenge me and hopefully guide me of the path God wants me to be on.
As I was walking to my dorm tonight the snow was pouring down. Right before I hit my door I stepped up one of the brick steps, turned around and looked up. I was awe struck at just how magnificent snow truly is and the beauty of nature that our amazing Creator made.
Monday, December 24, 2007
ahhhhhhhhh!!!!!
I have been kinda on a blogging hiatus for the past month. Things have been so busy and hectic that I have barely had anytime to myself let alone time to blog. My body and mind is exhausted but my spirit is so alive. I wish I could explain it. I am so humbled and in awe of God right now. I am amazed at what he has let me be a part of.
Yesterday was the big Christmas at Cricket event. Elevation Church combined with New Birth Church in Charlotte to pack out the Cricket Arena for a phenomenal Christmas service that blew everyone away. The children were next door in the Ovens Auditorium to watch a full length production of Christmas in Sarsaparilla City. I had the honor of being able to be a part of that amazing event. I spent these past few months writing, re-writing, editing, re-writing, casting, directing, producing, stage managing and acting. I basically have been living in "Sarsaparilla City" for the past two months.
The week leading up to it was pretty hectic, but luckily God put some pretty amazing people in my life to help and encourage me. After the long day on Saturday without getting through a full run through or having a completely dressed set and once again not getting through a full run through on Sunday I was honestly kind of nervous. However the actual production went pretty well. There were a ton of kids who all seemed to enjoy themselves and have a great time. 15 kids responded to the salvation message and gave their lives to Christ. Praise God because we certainly didn't do that. The big people service at Cricket went off extremely well. I herd it was phenomenal and something that the people there would never forget.
Yesterday night and all of today I had this extreme sense of humility and awe for what God is doing. I am so thankful for what he is letting me be apart of. Elevation Church is on the move and is well on its way to Dominate the city of Charlotte with Christ's love. Yesterday was a big example of what we are capable of. I can't wait to see what's next.
I have always loved theatre and everything about it. It has been one of my biggest passions ever since I set foot on a stage in 9th grade. When I became a Christian last year I started struggling with how that passion was going to fit in with God's plan for my life. Within the first two months of my walk I felt God calling me into ministry. I felt like He wanted it to be with kids so I tried to engage myself with EKIDZ as much as I possibly could. Slowly that became my passion. I was a 3rd grade small group leader every week and absolutely loved it. Months later I figured that God wanted me to end up working with a children's ministry and that I should put my dreams of theatre on the back burner.
Then somehow I ended up getting an internship in EKIDZ this summer. I worked at learning more about how things were run in EKIDZ on Sundays and helping Heather and Rachel out however I could. Then Summer Blast happened. We had to help Rachel plan Elevation's first vacation bible school. However since this was Elevation there was no way it could be like any other VBS. It had to be "VBS on steroids" (I think Larry Brey coined that phrase). I had no earthly idea what VBS was when we first started planning so it was kind of weird for me. Long story short when I was helping plan the production side of it the woman who was suppose to direct suddenly pulled out and somehow I had to step up (totally a God thing!). It was hard, but I loved every moment of it. Somehow once again God pulled it off and it was a big success.
Shortly after I was asked to turn Sunday mornings into that same experience for the Motion kids. Slowly God started showing me that this passion for theatre and my passion for children and EKIDZ that He put inside of me can go hand in hand. Now I can't wait for what's to come. I have a feeling that this Sunday was just the beginning.
I am so humbled that God allowed me to be a part of this Sunday. I am so incredibly thankful that he allows me to be a part of this incredible movement he has started in the city of Charlotte. I am also so thankful for the people he has put in my life to help me through all of this. I am so grateful for Jessi, Heather and especially Phillip, all of my amazing actors and production guys, all of the volunteers, and my phenomenal entourage that helped keep me sane through all of this.
Yesterday was the big Christmas at Cricket event. Elevation Church combined with New Birth Church in Charlotte to pack out the Cricket Arena for a phenomenal Christmas service that blew everyone away. The children were next door in the Ovens Auditorium to watch a full length production of Christmas in Sarsaparilla City. I had the honor of being able to be a part of that amazing event. I spent these past few months writing, re-writing, editing, re-writing, casting, directing, producing, stage managing and acting. I basically have been living in "Sarsaparilla City" for the past two months.
The week leading up to it was pretty hectic, but luckily God put some pretty amazing people in my life to help and encourage me. After the long day on Saturday without getting through a full run through or having a completely dressed set and once again not getting through a full run through on Sunday I was honestly kind of nervous. However the actual production went pretty well. There were a ton of kids who all seemed to enjoy themselves and have a great time. 15 kids responded to the salvation message and gave their lives to Christ. Praise God because we certainly didn't do that. The big people service at Cricket went off extremely well. I herd it was phenomenal and something that the people there would never forget.
Yesterday night and all of today I had this extreme sense of humility and awe for what God is doing. I am so thankful for what he is letting me be apart of. Elevation Church is on the move and is well on its way to Dominate the city of Charlotte with Christ's love. Yesterday was a big example of what we are capable of. I can't wait to see what's next.
I have always loved theatre and everything about it. It has been one of my biggest passions ever since I set foot on a stage in 9th grade. When I became a Christian last year I started struggling with how that passion was going to fit in with God's plan for my life. Within the first two months of my walk I felt God calling me into ministry. I felt like He wanted it to be with kids so I tried to engage myself with EKIDZ as much as I possibly could. Slowly that became my passion. I was a 3rd grade small group leader every week and absolutely loved it. Months later I figured that God wanted me to end up working with a children's ministry and that I should put my dreams of theatre on the back burner.
Then somehow I ended up getting an internship in EKIDZ this summer. I worked at learning more about how things were run in EKIDZ on Sundays and helping Heather and Rachel out however I could. Then Summer Blast happened. We had to help Rachel plan Elevation's first vacation bible school. However since this was Elevation there was no way it could be like any other VBS. It had to be "VBS on steroids" (I think Larry Brey coined that phrase). I had no earthly idea what VBS was when we first started planning so it was kind of weird for me. Long story short when I was helping plan the production side of it the woman who was suppose to direct suddenly pulled out and somehow I had to step up (totally a God thing!). It was hard, but I loved every moment of it. Somehow once again God pulled it off and it was a big success.
Shortly after I was asked to turn Sunday mornings into that same experience for the Motion kids. Slowly God started showing me that this passion for theatre and my passion for children and EKIDZ that He put inside of me can go hand in hand. Now I can't wait for what's to come. I have a feeling that this Sunday was just the beginning.
I am so humbled that God allowed me to be a part of this Sunday. I am so incredibly thankful that he allows me to be a part of this incredible movement he has started in the city of Charlotte. I am also so thankful for the people he has put in my life to help me through all of this. I am so grateful for Jessi, Heather and especially Phillip, all of my amazing actors and production guys, all of the volunteers, and my phenomenal entourage that helped keep me sane through all of this.
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
God Rocks!
I just love how God completely blows my mind all the time. Some times more than others. When I'm lonely He reminds me of His presence. When I'm scared or hurting he comforts me and brings me near. It's extraordinary to think about. It's even more phenomenal to experience it.
I have been recently been struggling with the issue of being alone. I have been alone most of my life. First of all let me explain to you what I mean by alone. I mean not necessarily physically alone, but I haven't had many close relationships or friendships with anyone. He has put a few amazing people in my life but more often than not I push them away or don't trust them completely.
Recently God has been showing me that He doesn't want me to live this way or with this mentality. He didn't intend for us to live life alone. He puts people in our life for a reason and since all of us are a reflection of Him, each person is kind of like God revealing a part of himself to us. What he wants to pour into our lives, He a lot of times does through others. God wants us to have friends and relationships where we feel loved so He can give us an earthly representation of his love for us. Even though his real love for us is millions of times bigger than that.
Thankfully God blessed me this year with a roommate. I had spent the second half of my freshman year living by myself. I hated it. I needed the accountability that having a roommate can provide. Then this year I started out once again alone. Then this little awesome freshman came along and moved in. I really liked having a roommate again. It was working out great. A few weeks ago I learned that next semester she will be moving upstairs to live with one of her friends. Once again second semester and I am all alone.
I have been praying that God would put bring along some awesome girl who wants to live with me but right now that doesn't look very hopeful. However I think that God has strengthened me greatly from last year and I think that if I do end up by myself I will be ok.
God has put some pretty amazing people in my life lately. I have slowly been realizing how much I do need people in my life. He has allowed me to start to open up to more people. He has allowed me to start building more relationships. It's a pretty cool thing. Even if I'm feeling lonely God is there. He knows my heart, my thoughts and my desires. He is in the people around me and the world around me. He blows my freaking mind.
Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in my, and lead me in the way everlasting.
-Psalm 139:23-24
Read all of Psalm 139. It is pretty good stuff.
*I know a lot of this may seem like it doesn't go together. I'm sorry but deal with it <3*
I have been recently been struggling with the issue of being alone. I have been alone most of my life. First of all let me explain to you what I mean by alone. I mean not necessarily physically alone, but I haven't had many close relationships or friendships with anyone. He has put a few amazing people in my life but more often than not I push them away or don't trust them completely.
Recently God has been showing me that He doesn't want me to live this way or with this mentality. He didn't intend for us to live life alone. He puts people in our life for a reason and since all of us are a reflection of Him, each person is kind of like God revealing a part of himself to us. What he wants to pour into our lives, He a lot of times does through others. God wants us to have friends and relationships where we feel loved so He can give us an earthly representation of his love for us. Even though his real love for us is millions of times bigger than that.
Thankfully God blessed me this year with a roommate. I had spent the second half of my freshman year living by myself. I hated it. I needed the accountability that having a roommate can provide. Then this year I started out once again alone. Then this little awesome freshman came along and moved in. I really liked having a roommate again. It was working out great. A few weeks ago I learned that next semester she will be moving upstairs to live with one of her friends. Once again second semester and I am all alone.
I have been praying that God would put bring along some awesome girl who wants to live with me but right now that doesn't look very hopeful. However I think that God has strengthened me greatly from last year and I think that if I do end up by myself I will be ok.
God has put some pretty amazing people in my life lately. I have slowly been realizing how much I do need people in my life. He has allowed me to start to open up to more people. He has allowed me to start building more relationships. It's a pretty cool thing. Even if I'm feeling lonely God is there. He knows my heart, my thoughts and my desires. He is in the people around me and the world around me. He blows my freaking mind.
Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in my, and lead me in the way everlasting.
-Psalm 139:23-24
Read all of Psalm 139. It is pretty good stuff.
*I know a lot of this may seem like it doesn't go together. I'm sorry but deal with it <3*
Monday, November 12, 2007
Sometimes I wonder how I can be so stupid
I'm a pretty independent person. I've been like that my whole life. For a majority of my life I never depended on anyone but myself. Then Christ entered the picture and my whole concept of what I was capable of doing was turned upside down.
In the year I have been a Christian God has given me so many amazing opportunities and I've done things that I never though I would every be able to do before. He has given me some pretty great responsibilities that can sometimes get overwhelming.
Yesterday was Dominate Sunday at Elevation. The grownups were all in one huge tent and the kids were spread out over Providence High School. The Motion kids (1st-5th) were in the auditorium where the main service usually is. It was the closest thing we had to Summer Blast quality yet. It was challenging adapting from the small area we're used to to the massive area we had yesterday but when it was all set up and done I was amazed (even though I probably didn't look it). When worship started and I took a step back and watched, I caught a glimpse of what Motion could possibly be some day. Ideas flooded my head. I am so excited about the possibilities.
After that incredible service a group of Elevators ventured up to New Spring Church. Our friend Rob hooked us up with a tour of the children's ministry there. It was pretty cool to see that again and see how they have changed since the last time I went there. I really just love seeing the way other churches deal with children's ministry. I will nit pick it until the end but they give me so many awesome ideas (which I still need to share). On the way back home I was pretty tired and not very responsive but one of the conversations in the car brought out all of my frustrations with my position. I think at one point I said something along the lines of I have such a heavy burden to carry and I just can't do it. I kind of just brushed it off and fell asleep.
This morning as I was walking to class that phrase popped into my head. Yes I do carry a heavy burden at times and there really is no way I can carry it myself, but God didn't give me these responsibilities for me to carry them alone. God doesn't just give you tasks that you can easily tackle by yourself. He gives you things that you can't do alone, things that you can only do through Him. That way when you do accomplish those things you can give Him the glory.
It seems that lately I am always overwhelmed. I'm tired, burnt out and frustrated with myself. I stress out, freak out and try to come up with a million possible solutions for any problem I have. I need to trust God. I need to rely on Him to get me through. I need to rely on Him for strength and comfort. I need to put Him into everything I do.
Somehow it seems that in the past month I had forgotten this. I went back to trying to do everything on my own. Something I just can't do. Sometimes I wonder how I can be so stupid. Haha.
God is so great and so sovereign and so wonderful!
In the year I have been a Christian God has given me so many amazing opportunities and I've done things that I never though I would every be able to do before. He has given me some pretty great responsibilities that can sometimes get overwhelming.
Yesterday was Dominate Sunday at Elevation. The grownups were all in one huge tent and the kids were spread out over Providence High School. The Motion kids (1st-5th) were in the auditorium where the main service usually is. It was the closest thing we had to Summer Blast quality yet. It was challenging adapting from the small area we're used to to the massive area we had yesterday but when it was all set up and done I was amazed (even though I probably didn't look it). When worship started and I took a step back and watched, I caught a glimpse of what Motion could possibly be some day. Ideas flooded my head. I am so excited about the possibilities.
After that incredible service a group of Elevators ventured up to New Spring Church. Our friend Rob hooked us up with a tour of the children's ministry there. It was pretty cool to see that again and see how they have changed since the last time I went there. I really just love seeing the way other churches deal with children's ministry. I will nit pick it until the end but they give me so many awesome ideas (which I still need to share). On the way back home I was pretty tired and not very responsive but one of the conversations in the car brought out all of my frustrations with my position. I think at one point I said something along the lines of I have such a heavy burden to carry and I just can't do it. I kind of just brushed it off and fell asleep.
This morning as I was walking to class that phrase popped into my head. Yes I do carry a heavy burden at times and there really is no way I can carry it myself, but God didn't give me these responsibilities for me to carry them alone. God doesn't just give you tasks that you can easily tackle by yourself. He gives you things that you can't do alone, things that you can only do through Him. That way when you do accomplish those things you can give Him the glory.
It seems that lately I am always overwhelmed. I'm tired, burnt out and frustrated with myself. I stress out, freak out and try to come up with a million possible solutions for any problem I have. I need to trust God. I need to rely on Him to get me through. I need to rely on Him for strength and comfort. I need to put Him into everything I do.
Somehow it seems that in the past month I had forgotten this. I went back to trying to do everything on my own. Something I just can't do. Sometimes I wonder how I can be so stupid. Haha.
God is so great and so sovereign and so wonderful!
Friday, October 12, 2007
It's almost that time....
I just love this weather. The cool breezy fall days always make me happy. These are the moments indicating that winter is on it's way. Hooray! Fall and winter are by far my favorite seasons. I detest the heat and humidity of the summer months. I am so glad that they are finally over and it is almost that time for cool weather, crunchy leaves, sweaters, jackets, scarves, hats, and maybe even snow!
Today was such an awesome day. God was doing some definite showing off. I love seeing Him in nature. He has created such an spectacular world for us to live in. I am so thankful that He gives us days like this!
Today was such an awesome day. God was doing some definite showing off. I love seeing Him in nature. He has created such an spectacular world for us to live in. I am so thankful that He gives us days like this!
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Patience
Ephesians 4:1-3 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
I just love this verse. I was reading over it today and I realized that I so often get caught up in life and forget this basic thing that Christ wants us to do. He wants us to be ever patient with each other and just show love. I know for me a lot of the time I get so caught up in how busy I am that I can be impatient and easily angered by others.
Christ calls us to love one another and be patient. To truly love each other. Not to hold any secret grudges or bad feelings against one another. In order to do that, we need to be patient and forgive others. That was actually one of the main points in Motion a few weeks ago. I WILL FORGIVE OTHERS! Now lets all stand up, do the motions and say this together....(just kidding).
I love being constantly reminded of these things. My favorite place that this happens is in Motion on Sundays. I have learned just as much, if not more than the kids by working in there. It's really funny how for a few weeks this series, what ever the main point was, the adults in the room struggled with that week. My favorite was the week when the main point was I WILL HAVE A GOOD ATTITUDE NO MATTER WHAT! This was the week that we were all so frustrated with each other that we could barely get through that Sunday. If only I would have remembered Ephesians 4 that day.
I just need to continue to ask myself am I truly loving those around me? Am I being as patient as I can? Am I acting in a humble and gentle way? Am I free of holding any negative feelings or anger against anyone? If not I need to pray about it and remember what Christ called us to do.
I just love this verse. I was reading over it today and I realized that I so often get caught up in life and forget this basic thing that Christ wants us to do. He wants us to be ever patient with each other and just show love. I know for me a lot of the time I get so caught up in how busy I am that I can be impatient and easily angered by others.
Christ calls us to love one another and be patient. To truly love each other. Not to hold any secret grudges or bad feelings against one another. In order to do that, we need to be patient and forgive others. That was actually one of the main points in Motion a few weeks ago. I WILL FORGIVE OTHERS! Now lets all stand up, do the motions and say this together....(just kidding).
I love being constantly reminded of these things. My favorite place that this happens is in Motion on Sundays. I have learned just as much, if not more than the kids by working in there. It's really funny how for a few weeks this series, what ever the main point was, the adults in the room struggled with that week. My favorite was the week when the main point was I WILL HAVE A GOOD ATTITUDE NO MATTER WHAT! This was the week that we were all so frustrated with each other that we could barely get through that Sunday. If only I would have remembered Ephesians 4 that day.
I just need to continue to ask myself am I truly loving those around me? Am I being as patient as I can? Am I acting in a humble and gentle way? Am I free of holding any negative feelings or anger against anyone? If not I need to pray about it and remember what Christ called us to do.
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