fan badge…. what??? December 18, 2009

so i’ve finally gotten a fan page on facebook… i know, where have i been.. .i’ll tell you where i’ve been… EVERYWHERE but ANYWHERE with enough time to make a fan page…  i mean really. so i’ve discovered this excitement that is a ‘fan badge’, so i’m testing it out right here: ok, i tried it… it didnt work… i’m also discovering in all of this how much i really dont know about all this facebook jazz…

for those of you that know me, you know that i was like the last person on earth who wouldve ever gotten a fb page, but due to massive social pressure at one winter weekend with a floridian church that will remain nameless, i went against everything i am, and i got a page… it was addicting at first, it’s annoying at times, but now this love/hate relationship is much better…. i’m learning…

all this to say, hop on over to fb and laugh at how i have no idea what i’m doing- then become a  fan …. dont worry, brad npr… twitter is next. beware www.

Liberty @ 615 May 10, 2009

so hanging out with the students a Liberty@615  days ago- lets just say these students are ready to go. i met a significant number of stuents who were just visiting, just joined or had become a part of the ministry there in the last few years. just this simple fact was so refreshing- seeing a ministry that is continually growing. they have an amazing place to meet- an entire floor that’s all theirs. i got there late (shocker) and walked in, they were waiting and ready to go! the best part about this was that they knew where all the right ‘buttons’ were on the board… this doesnt happen everywhere… or most places for that matter. the students were ready to hear my story and what God’s allowed me to walk through and were encouraging when it was all over in the sense that they were applying it to their own particular stories… that may have been my favorite part.

thanks guys for letting me hang out and minister with yall! have a great summer!

b

winter weekend- whoa… fbc-npr February 27, 2009

so where is westfield, nc, you ask? who knows.. i still dont. trent went with me on this trip and it took us over three hours to find it from the greensboro airport… it shouldve taken about an hour… it was all my fault, and i take sole responsibility- except for that one time trent told me to go straight b/c it looked like a town was up ahead, and 10 miles later, we were still waiting for that town to magically appear. we survived and got there just in time for dinner- which, btw, best camp food- EVER. i’d get lost again for one of those salads!

about the weekend- we hung out with the peeps from FBC new port richey, fl- shout out! speaker: john r. evans- a man of many talents, one of which was to challenge everyone to serve… by doing it- serving. i have to be honest, i dont remember a lot about the talks, but i do remember serving- and how that’s our first act of being a believer- that’s what jesus came to do: ‘to serve, not to be served…’ i know that’s somewhere in matthew . 

in the mts, of western north carolina, i dont think i was prepared for the scene i’d get to meet the Lord in every day.. our meeting place was on top of ‘mountain’ which overlooked lots of mountains… if any of you wanna post pics of this please do- i dont have any! it was so amazing, we worshiped sunday morning facing the mountains.. it snowed just a touch during breakfast, and we got to see the sun stream in while we were singing… ‘your mercy is falling like rain, and i know i will never be the same” .. God was moving, and i wasnt ready to leave, really.. just to pray and thank him that ‘morning by morning his mercies are new’ (lamentations 3) – speaking out loud, so i could hear it for myself, that He is new every morning.. it was a definite time of refreshing. 

best part of the weekend: the sweet friend we were praying for got saved! how faithful God is!!! we knew it would happen… the Lord gave me peace that it would- it’s why we were there! amazing… or, john, i think this would qualify as awesome. so.. awesome!

most random event of the weekend: an accident! while on our way to the oasis that is taco bell, a girl pulled out on top of me and … drama. we were all ok… but i have to wonder, of all the times to be driving by, how in the world did we come by right as she was pulling out?.. in the pic where i’m on the phone, there’s an old man who’s back is to the photo- his name was tommy something or other, i’m not sure… anyways, he became my buddy as only i could make a friend— it’s always the ’special’ ones, we’ll call it… he was a character all within himself- let me know that he knew Jesus ‘most of the time’ and that we were ‘25 miles north of winston-salem; i done told you one time!’… wow. just to let you know in case you were worried, we made it to taco bell.. and i had my crunch wrap supreme and soft taco with a large MtnDew, as they are writing it now on the snazzy new bottles.  

 

 

 

the wreck was a bit surreal- we were all shaken up. trent, john r. and the youth pastor, brad, was with me… i was driving so of course that prefaced tons of ‘women cant drive’ jokes… i just found it amazing that God would choose to allow us to ‘run into’ (literally) these people…

 

there are so many stories from this  weekend, these are just highlights… the greatest thing is that Becca is now a sister! rock on, girl!  

 

this is not becca, it’s steve.. in all pink.. it was worth posting.. and yes, i ripped the pics from brad’s facebook- which i was socially pressured into joining, but am somehow now getting sucked into… help… 

 

 

thanks NPR! it was a blast and hopefully we can all hang out again soon! send pics!

the vibe February 4, 2009

so monday night, andy, isaiah, our friend jesse, and i traveled down to centreville, al, to hang out at a new thing they have going on called ‘the vibe’. it was over at four points baptist church- and all i have to say is, it was rockin. they had a band that played music for a while and then we were invited for me to play some music and andy to talk a little while. i played a few songs from roots run deep and andy spoke for a while about the urgency to tell other people about what God has done for you. 

i thought about that point the entire time.. i’m sure he said other things, but that’s all i can remember. i started to think about how if we believe that God has really done what we say he’s done in our hearts, why dont we show it? why do we shy away from just telling what we know- what God has done for us. i think this is where we make being a christian so much harder than it really is. if we accept the Lord, it was b/c he called us, and his words (in the bible) drew us to him, right? so how hard is it to tell people about that… or maybe ‘why’ is it so hard? anyways.. just a thought…:) 

we had a worship time at the end, and so many people came for prayer about this, some gave their hearts to the Lord and others prayed for miracles… it was refreshing to see people you dont even know have an outward response. … thanks centreville! it was a blast!

here are some pics sent over to me from stephanie terry:  www. focus1photography. net 

LIVE IT- valley view dnow February 2, 2009

holy cow… what a night! i cant say enough about the folks at valley view bc and what’s going on down there. lets just start from the beginning:

so the youth guy there-his name is hank-gave us a call and we headed down for the dnow weekend- LIVE IT. i gotta be honest, i had no idea what to expect. i got my friends together, and we headed over. when i got out of the truck, all i could say to them was, ‘well, here we go!’ dont get me wrong, i didnt think something crazy would happen, but it seems like every one has become a little numb to these things- i was wrong, completely wrong. 

worship was great, my husband, andy, talked for the night about what else- LIVE IT. being real about our being believers in christ and encouraging them where they were. we had an altar time just for them to respond to what they’d heard, pray, talk to their friends about it, get their ‘jazz’ in order before they went on with the weekend. this is the part that God began to show off . andy stopped the invitation, and gave a call again, to those who were’t getting (as i like to say) their jazz in order… then it happend: one lone guy from the back.. i have no idea what grade, but he made his way down and talked a minute to hank, and then prayed… then ALL of his pals came… then more GUYS came… now i know this doesnt sound like much, but it is when GUYS start responding.  we girls kinda go overboard with crying and talking to our friends in these settings; but it was all guys at the altar… and then we worshiped

it was a time of rejoicing for me. i pray over these things every time i walk into the room. i pray that God moves, that people are changed, that everyone walks out ready to be honest about who they are in Christ; and this night i felt so encouraged that they got it. even if it was just for a moment, they got it… 

yall pray for the youth down there at valley view— they are blowin up!!!

thanks guys! it was rockin!

722pensacola December 2, 2008

so last tuesday night i got to hang out at 722pensacola- www.myspace.com/722pensacola- and it was great! it’s funny how you can do this for a long time and forget how relaxed it CAN be… translation- it’s just fun to be in place where people have their junk together . anyways, my family and i had gone down that way for thanksgiving week and i got the opportunity to be a part of this particular night… and God blessed in a way that was so refeshing to my soul(without being too corny). i sometimes get annoyed with myself at my amazement that God would ordain a time and place for me.. i’m sure i’m the only one that feels that way- haha. there was a woman i got to meet tuesday night, and she was incredible. we had stories that ran along the same lines- a few things that were different; but they both ended in a loss. her story began this past year and the hard part came this summer… and she was like steel as she talked about it. i remember that time- being like steel, i mean. making sure no one knew my heart was hardening everytime i had to explain what was going on.. and always leaving out details b/c i didnt want the world to know my business… just the ‘high points’. this woman seemed to do the same- if you’re reading this, i’ve been praying for you:)… it’s crazy how God pieced everything for me to be at 722 that very night, and for her to be there as well… why am i amazed?? b/c i think it’s incredible that no matter where you are in life, how far you’ve come from a certain part of your life’s story, God will ALWAYS use it. period. it’s always a part of you. His grace that got you thru is the same grace that allows you to share what you’re all about- and whether you like it or not, you are part of your story. … i hate to cut this short, but isaiah is yelling that it’s time to eat.. shocker!:)  be encouraged! God is using you!

no pressure November 6, 2008

‘for as the sail makes the sprout come up and a garden causes seeds to grow, so the Sovereign Lord will make righteousness and praise spring up before all nations.’ isaiah 61:11

 

so this really caught my eye today… the fact that the Lord will make praise spring up before all nations. i know that when i’m leading worship or in a crowd of corporate worship, i get aggrivated at those that seem so passive about what’s going on around them. my entire thought process is then thrown off by my thinking about my surroundings.. what’s going on around instead of what i’m there to do. 

i feel like this verse really took the pressure off of me that i had created for myself: He’ll do it. i can only do what He’s called me to do: worship, and He’ll do the rest. whether or not i’m the only one in the room giving it everything as if it were my last time to praise, He’ll bring glory to Himself- and doesn’t need my help doing it. that takes a load off .

Starkville 4/19 April 23, 2008

so we headed over to starkville, ms, on saturday night- me, and i took trent (keys) and shaun (guitar)- and it was a blast! my friend, katie, lined everything up for a night called ‘common ground’ where all of the campus ministries got together and had a night of worship.. we got to share the platform with a local band and a great speaker by the name of kennon vaughn. kennon is the director of downline ministries (http://www.downlineministries.com)- check it out if you get some time. he challenged everyone from the “parable of the minas”- you can find it in Luke 19:12-27… the big point was ‘what are you gonna do with what God has given you?’. it was a great talk about stepping up and being faithful and wise with God has given you- it was great. we had about 100 or so students filtering in and out all night and it’s exciting to see what God has placed on the hearts of the student leaders there at Mississippi State! Pray that He moves and blesses their efforts to really chase after Him while they have an impact there at the university!

treasure- not to be confused with the song :) March 26, 2008

“for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” matthew6:21 (from the Bible, New Testament)so this morning i was really thinking about this verse- and obviously i still am , andi keep asking the question where is my treasure? i know that’s the point of it, but for some reason, i think it has to be more than that. more than, is our treasure in things, or a person or a group — but maybe our treasure is all we long to be… of course, i’d love to say that every day, my treasure is in Jesus- but i know that some days that isnt true- or i’d pray more, read my bible more, dwell on his word more…. more than i normally do, more than is sufficient enough for me to not ‘feel bad’ any more… i know you can relate to this. we as believers turn things in to such a legalistic mess most of the time- what i mean by that is giving ourselves a bunch of guidelines and then once they’re met, we close up shop for the day. i know this is a bit transparent and i feel even a little uncomfortable writing it, but it’s truth. we do so many things that we dont face or dont want to talk about b/c it’s easier that way; and i’m certain that’s not the way we are supposed to be. paul didnt proclaim the gospel at all costs just so he could meet his guidelines for the day. Jesus certainly didnt, so i feel like i’m to go to that standard… i know i wont ever make it to Jesus’ way, but the Bible calls me to try. i want my heart to be found in Him- resting.— then my treasure will be there… maybe it make more sense the other way- where ever your heart is, that’s where your treasure lies.  

waiting March 22, 2008

it’s raining outside today, so it seemed like a good day to write- what about.. maybe there are a few things. i’ve had opportunities to share my story throughout central florida over the past few weeks, and there seems to be one thing that stands out in all of the places. people are either desperate for God, or they just dont care. i talked with a kid the other night who was trying to start a prayer group in his school- they’d been meeting for over a year now, and still nothing- God is teaching them something amazing- His timing is perfect. i heard a story of a man who had been praying for five years for God to send him some kind of bold christian leader to stand up with him. he walked through the door last monday. i spoke with a girl my age about her breast cancer- she’s still fighting- and what it’s meant in her walk with the Lord… she had such a brave heart, but i know what it feels like to be tired of fighting- tired of waiting for good news.  so i guess my thought is, along with waiting for the Lord, the Bible says we also have to rest in him while we wait (ps 37:7).  those that rest and wait will inherit the land (vs 11)…  now i’m not really sure what that means for others, but i know what it meant for me: that God is who He says He is, and there will come a day when the faithful ones will see the fruit of their perseverance. what a blessing it is to meet people seeking the Lord right where they are. they arent holding on to someone else’s thoughts or callings; they are living right where they are in the middle of their own!  may all of our hearts be sensitive in the coming days to pray for those we meet who are in the midst of waiting. i pray that they rest.