Wow, I can't believe its already time for football to begin. Its my favorite time of year and I am beyond excited. The football started last Thursday night with ACU playing Northwest Mossouri and ended in an absolute scorcher between Abilene High and Ft. Worth Dunbar. I am seriously telling you, I don't think I've EVER been that hot. As soon as I put sunscreen on, I'd sweat it off. It was only 90 degrees but it felt like 120. I felt horrible for the players, coaches, and trainers down on the field. There was a man who actually had a heatstroke on the sidelines. It was that hot. I'm not talking be hot and then get in some shade and be cool, it was absolute direct sunlight at all times. At 2:00 when it was finally time to stand up and leave, and once the school song had been played and sung, it got breezy and very cool. Go figure. God is so funny.
I also got to celebrate my sister Christin's 21st birthday on Saturday night which was tons of fun. I'm so thankful to have her in my inner circle. She is a constant blessing and encouragement to me. All in all, it was a wonderful beginning to fall and it made me happy that a change in the seasons is on its way.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Girl Time Meets Heaven...
I was blessed beyond meaure last night as I partook in some much-needed girl time with an amazing new friend the Lord has brought to me. It was so refreshing to be real, authentic, broken, and restored. I don't have all the answers to the storms of life, but I know the One who does, and I will continue to walk in His love, sovriegnty, and control. He is the ultimate Author and Perfector of my faith. I only answer to Him in the end of this time called life. I was absolutely in awe last night of the ways He works. I had an opportunity to just listen, be there, and pray for my precious friend. It felt so good. It makes my spirit feel alive when someone in need calls, texts, or writes to me and says, "I could really use a friend. Are you available at so and so a time?"
We met at Mezamiz and from the moment we sat down, I felt like I was entering holy, and sacred ground so I made myself comfortable and was in it for the long haul. As our conversations played themselves out, we found out that we both shared so many commonlities and similar testimonies. It was freeing, magical, and so sweet. It truly was like we were in the coffee shop by ourselves as God's Presence showed up and Holy Spirit allowed us to go beyond the veils of heaven to reveal such life-giving thoughts, ideas, scriptures, and recent treasures gleaned from recent seasons with the Lord. The night ended with me giving my precious friend some really good teachings to listen to and to soak into her spirit.
"God, thank you so much for allowing me to see you doing what you do best. You tell us all the time that you are not through with us yet, you are constantly delighting in us, pursuing us, and loving us exactly where we are. It doesn't matter if we're at a place of beginning or full maturity. You love all the seasons of the soul, and I have to say, so do I. It's just amazing being your creation, your daughter, and your masterpiece. Thanks for giving me a front row seat to take in your redemptive and restorative power at its best. I love you."
We met at Mezamiz and from the moment we sat down, I felt like I was entering holy, and sacred ground so I made myself comfortable and was in it for the long haul. As our conversations played themselves out, we found out that we both shared so many commonlities and similar testimonies. It was freeing, magical, and so sweet. It truly was like we were in the coffee shop by ourselves as God's Presence showed up and Holy Spirit allowed us to go beyond the veils of heaven to reveal such life-giving thoughts, ideas, scriptures, and recent treasures gleaned from recent seasons with the Lord. The night ended with me giving my precious friend some really good teachings to listen to and to soak into her spirit.
"God, thank you so much for allowing me to see you doing what you do best. You tell us all the time that you are not through with us yet, you are constantly delighting in us, pursuing us, and loving us exactly where we are. It doesn't matter if we're at a place of beginning or full maturity. You love all the seasons of the soul, and I have to say, so do I. It's just amazing being your creation, your daughter, and your masterpiece. Thanks for giving me a front row seat to take in your redemptive and restorative power at its best. I love you."
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Exercise, It Does A Body Good...
In the last three days, I've done something wonderful. This certain action has become foreign to me in many ways. It is the issue of exercise. For the last 3 days, I've reacquainted myself with the notion that exercise will quicken my journey to a healthier way of living. I've walked around my parent's subdivision, around the perimeter of my church on Sayles, and it has been total bliss. Like many of my friends, I've relearned that I actually like the burn that resistance brings to my physique. In other words, the burn feels really good.
In January, like every other year for the past five years, I asked the Lod for a word, and He kept bringing discipline to my spirit. Well, this went on for several days and I finally figured out that 'discipline' would be my mantra for 2009. The Lord has been stressing the point in my life in recent months that if I intend on following through with the purposes and ordinances He has placed to become my kingdom identity, I must learn to retrain my spirit, my body, and my mind to allow the Holy Spirit to have room to govern and athorize the yearnings and actions of my being. Believe me, it has NOT been easy, but it has proven to be very timely and incredibly beneficial. And, I am so not all the way to a full maturity in these areas yet. That's the beauty of Christian discipleship, its gradual upgrading process. One that I've come to embrace and enjoy.
Walking a little everyday has shown me that a little effort and commitment goes a really long way. If I show God how seriously devoted I am, He will have no choice but to assist in my development of spiritual toning and muscle for the hard things every season brings. Back to that 'discipline'. I wasn't sure on New Year's Day when I received it, that I was supposed to keep it and dwell on it for twelve months, and I didn't know what shape and form discipline would take in my journey, but I liked the feeling of not being mediocre or comfortable with the word discipline. So I took the baton from the Lord and I hopefully have done Him proud with entrusting me with all that the word discipline encompasses and entails. One of my best friends is getting married later this year and I want to be smokin' for his wedding. In fact, I get to see him and his precious fiancee this weekend and I am beyond excited!
God, please bless me and all those who you are challenging this year to be disciplined and proven worthy of Your name, Your calling, and Your destiny in their lives. Give us supernatural courage to forge new paths in your grace and peace and walk with us as we try with every fiber of our beings to make You famous with the offerings of our lives."
In January, like every other year for the past five years, I asked the Lod for a word, and He kept bringing discipline to my spirit. Well, this went on for several days and I finally figured out that 'discipline' would be my mantra for 2009. The Lord has been stressing the point in my life in recent months that if I intend on following through with the purposes and ordinances He has placed to become my kingdom identity, I must learn to retrain my spirit, my body, and my mind to allow the Holy Spirit to have room to govern and athorize the yearnings and actions of my being. Believe me, it has NOT been easy, but it has proven to be very timely and incredibly beneficial. And, I am so not all the way to a full maturity in these areas yet. That's the beauty of Christian discipleship, its gradual upgrading process. One that I've come to embrace and enjoy.
Walking a little everyday has shown me that a little effort and commitment goes a really long way. If I show God how seriously devoted I am, He will have no choice but to assist in my development of spiritual toning and muscle for the hard things every season brings. Back to that 'discipline'. I wasn't sure on New Year's Day when I received it, that I was supposed to keep it and dwell on it for twelve months, and I didn't know what shape and form discipline would take in my journey, but I liked the feeling of not being mediocre or comfortable with the word discipline. So I took the baton from the Lord and I hopefully have done Him proud with entrusting me with all that the word discipline encompasses and entails. One of my best friends is getting married later this year and I want to be smokin' for his wedding. In fact, I get to see him and his precious fiancee this weekend and I am beyond excited!
God, please bless me and all those who you are challenging this year to be disciplined and proven worthy of Your name, Your calling, and Your destiny in their lives. Give us supernatural courage to forge new paths in your grace and peace and walk with us as we try with every fiber of our beings to make You famous with the offerings of our lives."
Monday, August 17, 2009
For The Love of The Game...
One of my favorite things to partake in is a good board game or any other sort of game that does not require athleticism. I am not athletic in the least, but I do thoroughly enjoy cheering on my favorite sports teams. Anyway, I think playing board games is great fun, especially with a great group of friends. Two of my favorite board games are Monopoly and Sorry. My favorite game of them all is Chickenfoot, though. In recent years my family plus our best family friends have set aside Friday or Saturday nights in the summer to play Chickenfoot together. It is tons of fun. We tend to get pretty loud and I absolutely adore partaking in this time. I also think playing games together builds community. That, in my book, is always a good thing.
Now, you may be asking yourselves, "Why do they primarily play Chickenfoot on Friday nights in the summer?" The answer to that question is because Friday nights in the fall are solely dedicated to great meals and Abilene High football. If you know me or my family at all you know that we bleed black and gold. High school football is my daddy's passion. He seriously is like a kid in a candy store when August rolls around. I love watching his anticipation every fall. Every year when Abilene High football begins, I know cooler weather and fall traditions are not too far behind and that always puts a huge smile on my face and in my spirit.
Now, you may be asking yourselves, "Why do they primarily play Chickenfoot on Friday nights in the summer?" The answer to that question is because Friday nights in the fall are solely dedicated to great meals and Abilene High football. If you know me or my family at all you know that we bleed black and gold. High school football is my daddy's passion. He seriously is like a kid in a candy store when August rolls around. I love watching his anticipation every fall. Every year when Abilene High football begins, I know cooler weather and fall traditions are not too far behind and that always puts a huge smile on my face and in my spirit.
Sunday, August 09, 2009
Things I Love...
There are many things I love in my life. Here is a list of some of them.
*my God
*my family
*the power of prayer
*patterns; my favorites include polka dots, toile, houndstooth, damask, and paisley
*pictures
*color
*my community of friends
*my church
*soaking
*music
*fellowship
*candles
*scripture
*encouragement
*worship
*the elderly
*dogs
*quality time getting to know someone
*books
*writing
*monograms
These are just a few of the things that put a smile on my face immediately. I hope you have things in your life that brings a smile to your face on a daily basis. It just makes life fun.
*my God
*my family
*the power of prayer
*patterns; my favorites include polka dots, toile, houndstooth, damask, and paisley
*pictures
*color
*my community of friends
*my church
*soaking
*music
*fellowship
*candles
*scripture
*encouragement
*worship
*the elderly
*dogs
*quality time getting to know someone
*books
*writing
*monograms
These are just a few of the things that put a smile on my face immediately. I hope you have things in your life that brings a smile to your face on a daily basis. It just makes life fun.
Tuesday, August 04, 2009
New Possiblities...
God has been equipping me for something big for a while now. I haven't known what the big new adventure would be, but I've been ecstatically exctied about new things on the Lord's horizon for me! The Lover of my Soul has been so intensely sweet to me as He has had me in His divine School of Equipping. I've absolutely adored walking beside Him as He has pointed out things that have needed to be pruned in me and as He has created intensely personal messages just for me and my spirit's encouragement. I know beyond the shadow of a doubt that I am being led by the Holy Spirit in the season of life I'm in the midst of living right now. That feels unspeakably good. God is just plain FUN. He has such a beautiful way of weaving His purposes, ordinances, and plans in a life that is given over to His governance, authority, and control.
God has placed some absolutely Heaven-sent people into my circle that have allowed me to be authentic and to be completely me. There is such a sense of peace and belonging in that. It brings a demision of security to my life before God and before men. I've learned that I'm enrolled in God's School of Mastery for a lifetime and that when I don't promptly pass a test He brings, I get second chances to retake the courses and exams over material we have covered together. I just love being a Child of His. I have learned that I am one hundred percent His. He just makes life so worthwhile and full of excitement and surprises every single day if I constantly look around for His Presence and activity.
Speaking of surprises, He floored me recently. A prominant Abilene photographer and Highland member seeked me out to propose an idea for collaboration with her in a project. If you read this blog, you know that I have a passion to write, but my number one passion is becoming all that God has desired me to become in Him. She approached me and asked if I might be interested in giving words to some of her images. I immediately became very excited in my spirit because it seemed that the Holy Spirit was screaming at me and that does not happen to me very often. I believe that the Lord has equipped me for this new adventure. Now, here's where you come in. If you read this blog, I would like to ask for your prayers in this new opportunity. My number one prayer request is that I will become the Holy Spirit's scribe and to allow Him to dictate every word that I write down. My second prayer request would be that I DO NOT become puffed up and full of ungodly pride. I want to be a set apart glory-bearer and an authentically devoted and fully equipped conduit of His glory. I don't want one ounce of the glory in this. I want to give it all to the One who created these giftings within me. This new adventure combines two of my favorite things: writing and pictures. I'm very excited and I leave it all in God's hands.
God has placed some absolutely Heaven-sent people into my circle that have allowed me to be authentic and to be completely me. There is such a sense of peace and belonging in that. It brings a demision of security to my life before God and before men. I've learned that I'm enrolled in God's School of Mastery for a lifetime and that when I don't promptly pass a test He brings, I get second chances to retake the courses and exams over material we have covered together. I just love being a Child of His. I have learned that I am one hundred percent His. He just makes life so worthwhile and full of excitement and surprises every single day if I constantly look around for His Presence and activity.
Speaking of surprises, He floored me recently. A prominant Abilene photographer and Highland member seeked me out to propose an idea for collaboration with her in a project. If you read this blog, you know that I have a passion to write, but my number one passion is becoming all that God has desired me to become in Him. She approached me and asked if I might be interested in giving words to some of her images. I immediately became very excited in my spirit because it seemed that the Holy Spirit was screaming at me and that does not happen to me very often. I believe that the Lord has equipped me for this new adventure. Now, here's where you come in. If you read this blog, I would like to ask for your prayers in this new opportunity. My number one prayer request is that I will become the Holy Spirit's scribe and to allow Him to dictate every word that I write down. My second prayer request would be that I DO NOT become puffed up and full of ungodly pride. I want to be a set apart glory-bearer and an authentically devoted and fully equipped conduit of His glory. I don't want one ounce of the glory in this. I want to give it all to the One who created these giftings within me. This new adventure combines two of my favorite things: writing and pictures. I'm very excited and I leave it all in God's hands.
Monday, August 03, 2009
Surrender And More...
This past week was so so good. I got to spend some time at my parents house from Tuesday-Sunday because my Mama was in Lubbock helping my sister-in-law, Laura, with house stuff. She came home on Thursday by noon and we just spent some great time together and as a family. I get the privilege of going to my parents house every Friday afternoon and staying the weekend, so that was not different. Our family has a youth intern staying the summer at our house and we adore her. This summer will make three years my parents have had an intern in thier home. Tandi is wonderful. She is a Harding junior who is studying Secondary Education and hopes to teach when she is finished. She has done absolutely amazing things with our Highland kids and they absolutely love her to pieces. There are also two other male youth interns serving the Highland Youth Ministry this summer. They are awesome as well.
Sunday at Highland was so good and it really was centered around hard questions, questions like, "Who and what is your life surrendered to?" or "What do you need to lay at the feet of Christ and, through the power of the Holy Spirit, not try to pick up again?" I loved it. God quickly gave me something to surrender and I was more than ecstatic to surrender it. Now, that doesn't always happen in my life. There are times when He has to absolutely pry things out of my control and my way of doing things. I welcome that as well, but, while gritting my teeth and holding on for dear life. My mom and dad shared some thoughts before the congregation about what surrender has looked like in their lives and I was so honored to hear their hearts. It made me cry out to God in thanksgiving for the privilege it is to be theirs for a time and His for an eternity. I was crying, as if anyone who reads this is surprised at that. To top the weekend off, we had Small Group and then my family went out to Clyde to bless and pray over a wonderful, Christ-shaped young woman along with about 15 other people she is close to and her family as she prepares to go to Ghana to work alongside Pam Cope. It was a great few days
Sunday at Highland was so good and it really was centered around hard questions, questions like, "Who and what is your life surrendered to?" or "What do you need to lay at the feet of Christ and, through the power of the Holy Spirit, not try to pick up again?" I loved it. God quickly gave me something to surrender and I was more than ecstatic to surrender it. Now, that doesn't always happen in my life. There are times when He has to absolutely pry things out of my control and my way of doing things. I welcome that as well, but, while gritting my teeth and holding on for dear life. My mom and dad shared some thoughts before the congregation about what surrender has looked like in their lives and I was so honored to hear their hearts. It made me cry out to God in thanksgiving for the privilege it is to be theirs for a time and His for an eternity. I was crying, as if anyone who reads this is surprised at that. To top the weekend off, we had Small Group and then my family went out to Clyde to bless and pray over a wonderful, Christ-shaped young woman along with about 15 other people she is close to and her family as she prepares to go to Ghana to work alongside Pam Cope. It was a great few days
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