The Youth Pastor NOT the Mermaid

No Santa?!

2011-12-07T15:18:00.000-05:00

Do you remember how old you were when you found out there was not a Santa? Well I don't... apparently my cousin told me when I was about 3 or something, but what is amazing is that I NEVER felt like I was missing out on something. As a 3 year old my mom told me about St. Nicholas. She also told me how Christmas is the only time of year that adults get to play. If I wanted presents I could play too, but if I didn't want presents I could tell anyone I wanted! (Anyone who knows my mom KNOWS that I would not have gotten presents!) Anyway, what child DOESN'T want presents?! Seriously, my mom was a genius! There was no freakout like the above picture. My parents didn't have to keep up the charade. I did not know what I was getting for Christmas and it was all a HUGE surprise still! The cool thing is that my family was able to focus on JESUS! My parents and I had a Christmas decorating party every year and we talked about Jesus and our Nativities as well as our kneeling Santa. As I got older it became a game where I would look up online when Santa was suppose to have gotten to my house and then we would open all of our gifts on Christmas Eve, because we go to visit family on Christmas day.

I don't feel as though I was cheated, I feel like Christmas means so much more to me today than most because of not believing in Santa. I don't know if all kids would take it the way I did, but for me as an adult I'm glad I found out so young! As I am going back in my memories of Christmases, I've begun to realize how much of my family's over the top Christmas house with multiple trees and all has Santa stuff in it... just a few items!

I've heard so much about kids freaking out when they find out.... so, how did you find out?

Just a Story...

2011-12-05T11:13:00.000-05:00

In my 26 almost 27 years of life I have heard the "Christmas Story" more times than I can count and it became just that... a STORY! Do you ever feel like that? Well, today I took some ME time and read through all of the accounts in the different gospels. I saw this "story" in a whole new light... it was out of Luke 2:21-40 that I am seeing this differently. This is where Jesus is presented in the temple. We meet Simeon and Anna in these verses. God told Simeon that he would see the Christ child before he died. Simeon KNEW the Christ child just by looking at Him and when Simeon took Jesus into his arms he PRAISED GOD! Mary and Joseph were ASTONISHED at this!

click for image

Back to today, if Mary and Joseph were surprised at someone else knowing their child was the Christ can you imagine how the others in the Temple felt. Would we know Christ if He was presented today in our churches? Seriously, think about it would we? Are we so in God's word that we would know? Do we walk with God so closely that He tells us these secrets?

click for image

Back to the Bible we go! Anna is intorduced in verse 36. She was OLD! She had only been married for 7 years and was widowed for 84 years. She lived MOST of her life as a widow. She never left the temple... she fasted and prayed, fasted and prayed. She walked up to Mary and Joseph and told everyone around about the baby and how He was the redemption for all.
Okay, so, back to today! Anna was widowed for so long and instead of feeling sorry for herself and saying she couldn't do anything she went to the temple and fell at the feet of God EVERYDAY! She was priviledged to see Jesus! She thanked God FIRST and then spoke to the others around! When do we thank God first for things? Can you imagine going through your daily routine and something like this happen to you? God rewards us when we are faithful to Him... Anna and Simeon alike were faithful to God and were able to see Jesus. Are you as faithful as them or are you more like myself and make excuses about being too busy to just bask in the presence of God?

Not A Gator and Not a Bronco, BUT....

2011-11-30T10:18:00.000-05:00

As most of you know, I LOVE sports! I might be a girl, but I can talk sports with some of the best guys around especially football! It's in my blood, what can I say?! So, I'm definitely NOT a Florida Gator fan (let's go HOKIES!) I am NOT a Denver Bronco fan (49er faithful, baby!!) But I LOVE Jesus Christ with all that I am and so I AM a Tim Tebow fan. He is standing up for everything that I teach my students... and on national TV! We should talk about Jesus as much as we would if we were married. I know my mom talks about my dad constantly! I tend to talk about football or my dog constantly... hmmm maybe I needed this wake up call! He talks about how it is a relationship with Christ and not just a every now and then thing. I am in awe of the stand that Tebow is taking. He started getting national recognition in college and he has kept on the narrow path unlike so many! So, Enjoy and spread it!

Are YOU Thankful?

2011-11-02T12:57:00.000-04:00

So, I've decided that I am NOT thankful enough. I mean I say a genuine thank you for people who open doors or check me out at the grocery store. BUT there are so many things I COULD be thankful for if I just opened my eyes a little. God has blessed me in so many different ways! How has He blessed you?

Family - My family is so important to me, but I do not live near them... The closest lives 5 1/2 hours away. I am so thankful that God gave me such an amazing family! With my cousin serving our country in Afghanistan I have noticed a change in myself about how much I tell my cousin I love him. But what about my other family members? I have not upped it for them... and for that I am trying to get better! I do love them and Cherish all of them! I can't wait for the Holidays so that I can see them!

Friends - My college friends became my family and for them I am so Thankful! God has given our little "family" some new members in the last year and I can't wait to see how our "family" grows later on! From babies to spouses we are slowly growing! I have to show you a little girl that I am so blessed to have in my life!

Church - God has spoiled me with my church! I have a segregate family here in South Georgia. I can not tell you how blessed I am! They are so supportive! The older people are loving on the youth and the youth are loving on the older people. BUT the best thing is that God is being praised through it all! God is blessing us because we are dwelling with Him! We had a Trunk or Treat on Halloween night and we had between 6 and 7 HUNDRED people come to our church! Our church was filled with laughter and joy in a positive environment! It was all because of our loving church family!

Little Things - Oh the little things in life! Life, breath, food, $ to pay rent or even put gas in the car, gas, dogs, love and friendship....

So, what are you thankful for?

Boys that can Shave

2011-11-01T13:26:00.000-04:00

I've been thinking a lot lately about singleness and what that looks like... I will be the first one to tell you that I refuse to be a crazy cat lady or dog lady as it may be, but looking around I notice that I don't want a "man" in which we see them today.... Men are trapped in Adolescence.... living at home, playing video games, and working dead end part time jobs.... I know I'm worth more than that and it is hard to live a life of singleness while knowing that your heart wants more...

Mark Driscoll hits on this in a video done at Catalyst, take a look!

Labels

2011-09-13T13:17:00.000-04:00

Found Here

What makes YOU, you? Are you the kind of person who is labeled? What do your labels say about you? How can you change your labels?

My Labels:

Pastor's Daughter

Smart Kid

Cheerleader

Christian

Youth Intern

Youth Pastor

I started life with a Christian Label and have had one since college, but for middle school and high school that would not have been a label in which I would have wanted or been proud to hold. I cared more about my label and what that meant instead of who Jesus wanted me to become. Is your focus on your labels or on Christ? I hope to hold a few more labels in my life like wife and mother, but I never want to loose my label as Christian!

Do you need to change your label today?

Role Models

2011-09-01T10:03:00.002-04:00

Who was your role model as a teenager? If you are a teenager who is the person you look up too the most? What do you look for in a role model?

Photo Credit

The VMA's were on this week and as I sat watching I realized how skewed our world has become. I am thankful that their are still role models that I'm okay with my students looking up to, but then you have people like Tyler, The Creator who could not give a speech because of it being so bleeped out. Honestly, I'm not a huge Justin Bieber fan, BUT he did thank not only God but Jesus. As a Youth Pastor I look at all of these stars and realize that our number 1 role model should be Jesus... I know it sounds cliche.... BUT we should look to one who is perfect instead of the flawed. If you can't hear the speech or even the music because of the bleeps is it really worth putting in our brains for us to use later?

I can remember my friends and I learning Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera dances in my living room... Wanting so much to dance like them.... or even be them... I realize now that with role models like that no wonder I had trouble seeking God.

Truth?

2011-08-13T23:43:00.000-04:00

We've been studying 4 Lies that people tell us about the Bible for the last 2 weeks on Wednesday nights. This past week was "The truth shall set you free."

Jesus does say this in John 8:32, but He isn't talking about us telling the truth and that will set us free. Instead He is talking about Himself... believing that He is the Son of God is the TRUTH that sets us free! He is the only one who has absolute truth because His truth comes from God the Father.

When on the stand in a court room we are asked to tell the truth, but what are they really asking? They are asking us to tell our perception and our view of what we saw. So, can we really tell others the truth without telling them about Christ?

Hiding from the world?

2011-06-28T22:06:00.000-04:00

So, what are the things you hide from the world? Everyone has something... When I was in middle and high school I hid who I really was from the world. I tried to be cool, but I had turmoil in my soul because I was not the person on the outside that I was on the inside. In college I hid that I missed my past. I had not completely given up my sexual lifestyle. I still craved sex and until God broke me. I was living the life of Youth Pastor with that in the back of my brain. Seriously, I was hiding it from the world. So, what are you hiding? What are you struggling with that you don't want to tell anyone about?

Have you given everything to God? I found myself on my face in my living room after I realized that I hadn't given everything to God. So, is there something in your life like that?

Are you hiding from the world about something? Did something happen in your life that is making you hide or are you hiding because of what you have done?

Stop hiding and show all of yourself to God... Then... Come clean to the world.

Thank You Jesus for being Single!

2011-06-09T10:00:00.001-04:00

My Love, My Dear, My Jesus;
Thank You.... Thank You for the Love you have given me. You created me to care about people, to help people, to Love people. Jesus, You are truly indescribable. You have blessed me so much and I cannot explain how grateful I am. You are amazing. God, You give us what we need when we need it.... About once a year I write about how I want to be in a relationship... WoW, It's pretty predictable... EXCEPT for this year! I'm so content with where YOU have me and the life You have given me.

Thank You for not giving me a relationship years ago! Thank You for showing me that Your plans are so much greater than what I could ever DREAM of! Thank You for my singleness and what I am able to accomplish because I am single! Thank You for using me to show teenage girls that they do not need a boyfriend to know who they are.... but that You should be our everything! Forgive me for when I don't see this... Forgive me for when I take my eyes off of You. Forgive me for when I fail You... God, I am so broken over the sins I have committed against You... I fail You all the time and still You love me... Thank You for continuing to love me.
In Jesus Name I Pray,
AMEN

What would you give up?

2011-06-09T00:42:00.000-04:00

I've read Radical by David Platt and am now working on Weird by Craig Groeschel. God has convicted me about being in debt. I am not as in far in debt as I could be, but I am still in debt. I desire to be different... I desire to live a life free from financial burden. Free from credit cards, school loans, and car payments. I want to be WEIRD!

So, What would you be willing to giving up to become weird and debt free?

I am no longer going out to eat all the time with everyone at work everyday and I'm trying to stay within my budget... if it's not in my "fun" account then I don't buy it...

So, there you have it... Conviction... When was the last time you were convicted by the Spirit?

How Do I know?!

2011-05-20T15:37:00.000-04:00

I don't know what you are dealing with right now, but I know that a lot of people are searching with what to do in situations... They are STUCK trying to make decisions in their lives... It may not be what shoes to buy, but might be what job to take or what college to go to. Many people have been asking me lately how to know God's will for their lives... I can't be the one to tell you what God's will and plan is for your life, but I can tell you how to know when you have made the right decision. God has a specific plan for each of us. We just have to follow Him.

You know you have made the right decision when:

You have an overall peace about the situation

There is no doubt in the back of your mind that you have made the right decision.

When someone tells you that you are not in God's will you want to scream back YES I AM!

Even if it is to a person in which you would NEVER yell at!

The most important one is that you are NOT doing anything that goes against the Word.

So there you go... I know it doesn't feel that simple, but you know God is in it when there is a peace that comes about you! That peace is indescribable, you just know it's God!

America's Best Dance Crew

2011-05-20T10:00:00.001-04:00

I love ABDC... I've watched multiple seasons and truly love it! This year I have wished the teenie boppers would be kicked off, but that isn't what is blog is about... It's about the Christians that were kicked off tonight! They are unbelievable!

As I sit watching America's Best Dance Crew I am in awe of the crew Street Kingdom. They were given a song that they felt had questionable content. Instead of saying NO we aren't going to dance to this they danced, but made it known they normally choose not too... Talk about being in the world but not of the world! AWESOME! I have admired them from day one... they have NEVER shied away from sharing their faith on MTV! To me as a Youth Pastor I see this crew and think how much we should be like them! Tight Eyez created the form of dance "Crump." Then started to use it to worship his God and that is amazing! It is recognize throughout the dance community. It was shown from day one on ABDC as how they worshipped!

God was truly in that crew and it was fantastic to see them being able to talk about their faith on a popular MTV show!

So, what can you do for your God?!

Settling

2011-05-17T11:10:00.000-04:00

Why are we settling? Why as Christians are we not holding ourselves and other accountable? We are settling for 2nd best Christianity. Our churches are FULL of pew sitters who don't understand that God wants us to do more than just sit in the pew on Sunday.

We should be holding one another accountable.

in our walks with Christ

including

tithing
time
using our gifts
our relationships
our attitudes
our values

We should be reaching out to our communities.
We should be showing God's love to everyone, even the people not like us.
We should be acting like Jesus.

My Advice is to STOP SETTLING for cushy religion and get SOLD OUT for JESUS!

What's Your Vision?

2011-05-16T18:35:00.000-04:00

I've been focused a lot on Vision lately... So, What's your vision?! Not how strong your glasses are, but what you are to do for God.

Churches should have a vision... like reaching their communities for the Gospel. I have a vision of where I want our student ministry to be, but that is going to take a lot of work from my students... I want to see them become disciple makers. For our youth group to grow because my students are so sold out to Christ that they are reaching lost students for the gospel and they need a place to go.

My Vision for Eastside Church is that we not take our duty as a church lightly! That if shut our doors today that the community would be GREATLY influenced. I have a vision to reach the community for the Gospel like never before!

My personal vision is that I will never settle for less than the best spiritually... That I will take my walk with Christ so seriously that it shows to everyone I come in contact with. That I will lead people to walk daily with my Jesus.

SO, What's Your Vision?

Long Time Coming

2011-05-09T14:41:00.000-04:00

So, it's been a while since I've posted and for that I'm sorry! I have been running from one thing to the other and then I took a week for vacation!

The first weekend in May we had a Women's Retreat! The theme was "When Life Hands You Lemons..." We went through the book of Esther. Esther is a book that is near and dear to my heart. From the time I was in preschool I have been in LOVE with this book! I used to make my mom read the ENTIRE book to me every night before I went to bed.

I never saw this as a LOVE story... Seriously, it never dawned on my that it was a love story. As I talked to some of my single friends, they don't read it that way either! So I guess those people who are in love see it that way... IDK?! I see it as a strong woman who stepped out of her comfort zone... She was scared like many of us are when we are faced with crappy circumstances, but the difference is.... instead of letting her fear get ahold of her she "put on her big girl panties" and said "If I perish, I perish" and got the job done! It took Prayer and Fasting for her to be able to say that, but so many times we pray and then REFUSE to put on our big girl panties and JUST DO IT!

Needless to say the weekend was fantastic and everything was great! God really did a great work!

Media Fast

2011-04-26T10:00:00.000-04:00

About 2 weeks ago I was feeling completely lost spiritually... Seriously, I had awesome quiet times that week and was spending so much time in the word, but I felt LOST! Have you ever felt that lost?!

I decided I was going to fast from tv, movies, music, internet (except for work) and especially social media. So, when I got to church I started praying about it and well, I asked my students to do this fast with me... An amazing thing happened.... THEY DID IT! Not all of it, but most of them gave up facebook for a week and a half! Yeah, that's right... 6-12th graders gave up facebook! It was awesome to see it!

I gave up everything... it was so hard! I've watched tons of movies in the last 2 days... The time alone at home with just a book was time that I loved... I even left my computer at work! I think I'm going to do that at least once a week!

I feel so close to God now that I went through that!

I hope sometime in the future you are able to give up somethings to get closer to God in a new way!

VCU RAMS

2011-03-28T12:23:00.000-04:00

Growing up outside of Richmond and going to VCU games from the time I can remember.... Taking cheer lessons from VCU cheerleaders and their coaches... Practicing on the next mat over from them during the week.... Going to the VCU dorms to see friends... Praying over whether God wanted me to go there....

All of these memories are flooding through me as I see this:

I don't think Richmond will ever get out of my blood, so here's a mega fan in Southern Georgia! Let's Go Rams!!!!

D-Now 2011

2011-03-23T22:13:00.000-04:00

As I sit in my office on this Wednesday after D-Now I think of how GREAT our God is! I am physically exhausted and worn out, but seeing the transformation in our students lives was more than worth it! I can not tell you how blessed I am to have amazing friends! Our Theme for the weekend was from Romans 12:1-2. We focused on not conforming but being transformed by the gospel!

Jacob Johnson joined the Eastside crew this weekend with his guitar in hand! We did mostly hymns with a twist! This was not only good for our students to learn some old hymns but also for our church members who helped us out this weekend! I loved worshipping with all generations!

Jeremiah Verdin also came to be with us as our word slinger! He truly let God speak through him. I think that is the greatest compliment anyone can receive is to be known for allowing God to speak through you. He showed how we are separated from God and the only way to bring us back together with God is through the cross.

I knew our weekend was going to be awesome when we couldn't get any college students as leaders, Jeremiah's car broke down, and we had a student in the hospital. WHAT ELSE COULD GO WRONG?! No leaders, no speaker, and a teenager in the hospital?! Well, we have an AWESOME youth committee who led their own in home sessions! We sent Jeremiah's $$ early so that he had gas money to join us and get his car fixed! We took D-Now to my student in the Hospital. Jacob brought his guitar and sang and then Jeremiah shared about our weekend.

So, what did God do?! HE ROCKED OUR WORLDS!!! Romans 12:1-2 has impacted the lives of my students. They are becoming TRADERS! They are trading the things of this world for the gospel. The student of Eastside have embraced being Traders and my students are witnessing to nonbelievers in their schools through their lifestyles!! HECK YEAH!!! Other students are asking questions and wondering why my students are changing! GOD IS SO GOOD!!!

PRAY:
For my student praying about ministry
For my student who is sharing his faith with a Jehovah's Witness
For my students to continue to grow and embrace being a TRADER!

BE A TRADER

2011-03-02T22:16:00.001-05:00

After watching the video I want you to think about becoming a TRADER!!

Sometimes I think we forget how powerful the word of God really is... This week I've been struggling on what to speak on... I know that God has given us the book of Romans to study for the month. How was I suppose to start this series? What Scripture should I start on? What should I say? Do you see a trend? I - I - I..... Not what does God want? Well... welcome to my problem... thinking about me and not about God! God never gave me the words to say tonight... until I stood up to speak. I prayed all day and worried all day about what God wanted me to say tonight.... God wanted me to be that dependent on HIM tonight! How did this change the message? HE SPOKE THROUGH ME.... THROUGH HIS WORD... That's right tonights lesson was almost all scripture... reading out loud Romans 1-2. God spoke tonight through HIS Word! It was AWESOME!!!!!! Hearts were softened and lives were changed!!!

Click Here to read Romans 1 and 2, to get your face rocked off!!!

Romans 1:16 in the message says, "It’s news I’m most proud to proclaim, this extraordinary Message of God’s powerful plan to rescue everyone who trusts him, starting with Jews and then right on to everyone else!
The NIV says, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile."

So, This month I want to encourage you to read the book of Romans and become a TRADER!! Trading this world for a world driven by the Gospel!

Moral Boundaries: Be a godly girl

2011-02-24T12:30:00.000-05:00

Titus 2:3-5 Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled. (ASV)

We're only going to talk about certain chunks of this verse for space sake! So, here we go! When discussing WOMEN what comes to mind? For me it's their caddiness. Women and girls talk about people like crazy! Notice here in Titus that it says to NOT be slanderers... aka don't be a gossip! The only time someones name should be coming out of your mouth are for good things! We hate it when people talk about us but we will gladly tell all we know about someone else! Don't play, you know it's true!

Now, how about being self controlled and pure. The only way to truely be self controlled is through growing and being more and more like Jesus... Our fleshly or worldly side will try and change us from being self controlled. Jesus had a pure heart. His motives were all holy. When was the last time you thought your heart was totally pure? If our heart is pure our life becomes pure! Why? Because Jesus said in Matthew 15:18 "But the words that come out of your mouth come from your heart. And they are what make you unfit to worship God."(CEV) So those slanderous words from above are actually coming out of our hearts! Check yourself and your heart by your words... are they honoring God or the World?

1 Timothy 2:9-10 "And I want women to be modest in their appearance. They should wear decent and appropriate clothing and not draw attention to themselves by the way they fix their hair or by wearing gold or pearls or expensive clothes. For women who claim to be devoted to God should make themselves attractive by the good things they do."

MODESTY... Yup I said it! The word modesty has gotten away from our culture. My Music Minister here at Eastside said to me, "if you touch the sky touch your toes and nothing shows then you are good to go!" That is so true! These verses are saying that people shouldn't look at you for what you have on, but for what you do for Jesus. Maya Angelou said "A woman's heart should be so hidden in God that a man has to seek Him just to find her." If a girl is clothed in modesty and Jesus then guys would know to pursue her through a personal relationship with Jesus!

Through this Moral Boundaries series what I really want you to understand fully is that no matter what, God must be first! If God is first then your boundaries won't be crossed and God will be not only the center of your life, but the center of your relationships. I'm not saying things won't be hard... they will! Through Christ we know we are not alone, but we are able to get through more because of HIM!

Facebook and Negative Body Image

2011-02-18T09:49:00.000-05:00

This video is from a recent study which has linked facebook use to negative self image in teenage girls. The more time they spend on facebook the less they see themselves as beautiful. There is so much to beauty.... Beauty is so much more than just the way we look. Some of the most beautiful people I know are beautiful not for their looks, but for how they love Jesus and how they show His love to others. I'm not saying to stop going the extra mile to look nice because most girl know that when you look nice you just feel better... I don't know why, but you just do!

So, today check out how much time you are spending on facebook! By the way Jesus thinks you're perfect even if you don't look like someone else!

Moral Boundaries - BE A MAN!

2011-02-16T17:48:00.000-05:00

The Rules: Dating

Don’t Date Until You’re RIGHT WITH GOD
Once You Decide to Date SET BOUNDARIES
BE A MAN of God
Become a GODLY GIRL

So it's week 3 in our Moral Boundaries Study. This week is "BE A MAN of God" I know I'm not a man and so this week is a little tricky for me, but I do know what I look for in a Man of God.... So, that's what I'm teaching! haha!

1 Timothy 6:11 "But you, Timothy, are a man of God; so run from all these evil things. Pursue righteousness and a godly life, along with faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness. "(NLT)
Guys really don't know how to Pursue anymore so the first thing is... Learn to Pursue, God First then the ladies, Ya hear me?! Pursue God with everything that you have! Run after Him.... Chase after Him. Girls are totally attracted to godly men. But we know fake when we see it... and we know what it looks like to try too hard! Be yourself and pursue God for your own gain and not to gain a girl or a wife!

Titus 2:6-8
"Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled.In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us." This isn't just in teaching but to be a godly man you MUST show integrity! And seriously no girl wants a guy who talks crap all the time or who doesn't respect her with his language! If how you talk can be condemned then you need a reality check! C'mon guys it's not rocket science!

Let's look at Jesus now!
Most of the time people see Jesus as “Precious.” You know what I'm talking about the girly voice and just so peaceful that in today's world He would either have been called gay or a hippie. BUT Jesus was a Man’s Man!! Just look at how He healed the blind man. When He healed the blind man He use mud....From His SPIT!!! Do you know much spit it would take to create mud? A major loogie! Think about it! Okay, now... When He cleared the temple He wasn’t a Pansy about it! He wasn't nice about pushing the tables over... He was PISSED! Yeah, that's right, He was so mad that He was chucking stuff! So, Jesus was a Man's Man and you should be too! Don't be a Pansy be a MAN... a man of God!

My dear friend

2011-02-15T20:47:00.000-05:00

For the last couple of weeks I have been dealing with something very personal. My best friend is pregnant. She is SUCH an amazing person and is going to be an awesome mom! The reason I've been dealing with this is because she's gonna be a single mom. I know the pain I have gone though in my life from being sexually active early on, but I didn't have a baby so people couldn't judge me from the outside. I teach students to not have sex before marriage because of the pain it caused me emotionally and to know that my best friend is going to have to go through that, but with a child is heart breaking to me. I've been struggling because I'm so happy that God has given her a little girl! I hate the fact that because of sin is why she is having her little girl, but we all sin some of us just have more visible signs. I'm praying for people not to judge this amazing person, who has changed my life so much!

To my dear friend,
I love you so much! I have always looked up to you and how you did your quiet times even when I was so exhausted that I couldn't figure out how you were keeping your eyes open.... You called me out when I needed someone too. You were my rock during college. You always saw me as a equal when I saw you as more spiritual than me. You helped me to understand so many things that you will probably never know! You helped me to change my life around. You were the one who showed me it could be done and you never once judged me. You are so amazing! And this little girl is so lucky to have you as a mom! You are gonna be the best mom ever. I wish I could go to your baby shower, but I can't... I'm sorry! :( I miss you so much and am so happy for you! I want you to know that I am always here for you.... during the crappy times and during the great and happy times in life. If any judges you I will totally beat the snot out of them because you are one of the most amazing people I have ever met! I love you, best friend!

Love,
Me

Perfect by Pink

2011-02-10T21:45:00.000-05:00

PLEASE WATCH THE VIDEO!

When Pink first hit the scene she was a breath of fresh hair for girls like me. She didn't care what people said she did what she wanted. She ALWAYS had pink hair (not anymore!). Getting to the song. I'm so glad she made a clean version! It has been playing on my computer all day. This is probably one of the best music videos I've seen in a long time. I wish I could show it in Youth Group. I really do, but that's not gonna happen.... It deals with everything from not being popular to cutting. These are real issues in most teenage girls lives. Why are more people not talking about these things?

Now I know this song wasn't meant to be scriptural, but come on, it SOOOOoo could be! God sees us as perfect. No matter what, He sees us as PERFECT! Our society has made us look at ourselves and not like what we see in the mirror. Even the pretty girl wants to change things about herself. The skinny girl thinks she isn't skinny enough. The smart girl tries to be dumb so people won't make fun of her. We are who God made us! We may not think we are Perfect but He does! Our home lives might be crappy, but God is always there no matter what! He loves us just the way we are... If our hair isn't straight or our clothes don't fit just right.... He loves us and thinks we are Perfect!

Here are the Lyrics!

Made a wrong turn, once or twice
Dug my way out, blood and fire
Bad decisions, that's alright
Welcome to my silly life
Mistreated, misplaced, misunderstood
Miss 'No way, it's all good', it didn't slow me down
Mistaken, always second guessing, underestimated
Look, I'm still around

Pretty pretty please, don't you ever ever feel
Like you're less than less than perfect
Pretty pretty please, if you ever ever feel like you're nothing
You are perfect to me!

You're so mean, when you talk about yourself, you were wrong
Change the voices in your head, make them like you instead
So complicated, look how you'll make it!
Filled with so much hatred...such a tired game
It's enough! I've done all I can think of
Chased down all my demons, I've seen you do the same

Oh, pretty pretty please, don't you ever ever feel
Like you're less than less than perfect
Pretty pretty please, if you ever ever feel like you're nothing
You are perfect to me

The whole world's scared so I swallow the fear
The only thing I should be drinking is an ice cold beer
So cool in line, and we try try try, but we try too hard and it's a waste of my time
Done looking for the critics, cause they're everywhere
They dont like my jeans, they don't get my hair
Exchange ourselves, and we do it all the time
Why do we do that? Why do I do that?

Why do I do that..?

Yeah, oh, oh baby, pretty baby..!
Pretty pretty please, don't you ever ever feel
Like you're less than less than perfect
Pretty pretty please, if you ever ever feel
Like you're nothing, you are perfect to me
You're perfect, you're perfect!
Pretty pretty please, if you ever ever feel like you're nothing
You are perfect to me...

Moral Boundaries?!

2011-02-09T13:21:00.000-05:00

This month in our Student Ministry at Eastside Baptist Church we are studying Moral Boundaries... For some of you who know me you understand how strong I feel about Moral Boundaries. With in Moral Boundaries we are focusing on Dating and I've come up with some rules.

Don't Date UNTIL You are right with God.

You can't include someone in your messed up life until you are focused on God and God alone. We have so much crap in our lives and so does that other person. Life can only get better when BOTH are focused on God because if not the junk in our lives gets in the way.
Gen. 24 Abraham BELIEVED God would provide a wife for his son.

I know this sounds weird using a dad instead of the son, but in biblical times the parents did the picking (Thank You Jesus it's not like that today!), so it was important for Abraham to be focused on God for his sons sake!

1 Cor. 7:32-35 It's easier to be devoted to God when single.

I think we forget this.... We think it would be easier to dig into to God's word with someone.

Set Boundaries

This is something we try NOT to do in today's society. Boundaries are seen as something to break through not something to help us.
Where you choose to set your boundaries is up to you. Each person is different. Here is the thing when you start to do something and you feel guilty then what you are doing is wrong.

Every time you kiss someone a part of you is lost. I can name every guy I have ever kissed and that is a lengthy list... I once had a friend tell me that if he kissed a girl he might as well sleep with her because it's all the same. Even though I think that is a strange way to look at things because He didn't value sex. For me because I have been sexually active in the past I have a strict boundary line that is FAR from sex because once you have done

2 Tim 2:22 says, "Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart."

FLEE from it not get our toes on the line. So many times we live with our toes on the line instead of our backs to the line. When was the last time a rule was set and you didn't want to break it? What about the speed limit? Or not cheating on homework? Now, think about this... if we cheat on our homework it becomes easier to cheat on a test because we're used to cheating. The first time we cheat we are super worried... then it gets easier. The closer we get to our boundaries the easier it is to break them. If we have never cheated then it is hard to cheat on a test and we probably wouldn't do it.

BE A MAN of God

TUNE IN NEXT WEEK!

BE A Godly GIRL

TUNE IN IN 2 WEEKS!

Your Element

2011-01-26T17:42:00.000-05:00

My life has never been the same since I was a sophomore in college... God called me into student ministry. Whenever I'm not in student ministry I feel lost... I feel like I'm not doing what God has called me to do so what I am doing is pointless... Now, that I am back in the saddle I feel alive again! I am reminded everyday, even my days off, that I am where God wants me. When I sit at a wrestling meet and have a conversation about salvation with a 9th grader I am reminded that I am where God wants me... When I go to swim meets and sit there forever just to watch 2 events, and the kid is SO happy I drove the hour.... I am reminded that I am where God wants me... When I'm in my kitchen with teenage girls cooking... I am reminded that I am where God wants me.... In Student Ministry! I love my new job and know that I am still in the honeymoon stage. I love interacting with teenagers and how much they teach me about the Christian walk.

So, what's your element? Where do you feel the most at home? Where do you feel like God uses you the most? If you are not in that place WHY?! What's holding you back? Are you scared to get out of the boat?

If you haven't felt your element yet, what are you interested in? Ask God to show you where you belong where you can do the most for HIM! Ask God to show you where your gifts can be used to the best of their abilities!

Pieces

2011-01-21T11:26:00.000-05:00

For a while now, I have loved a song by Red. It is called Pieces... Every time I hear it I get lost in it. It's all about where we are... we are scattered and broken. We try to put ourselves together all the time. We think we can do it on our own... BUT GUESS WHAT?! We can't! As much as we try we can't be whole until we let God put us together! When we do that our lives might not get better, but we can get through it easier! So here are the lyrics!

I'm here again
A thousand miles away from you
A broken mess, just scattered pieces of who I am
I tried so hard
Thought I could do this on my own
I've lost so much along the way

Then I see your face
I know I'm finally yours
I find everything I thought I lost before
You call my name
I come to you in pieces
So you can make me whole

I've come undone
But you make sense of who I am
Like puzzle pieces in your hand,

Then I see your face
I know I'm finally yours
I find everything I thought I lost before
You call my name
I come to you in pieces
So you can make me whole!

I tried so hard! So hard!
I tried so hard!

Then I see your face
I know I'm finally yours
I find everything I thought I lost before
You call my name
I come to you in pieces
So you can make me whole
So you can make me whole

You know it's a good song when after you sing it at the youth someone turns around and says, "Wow, that song was good can I get it?!" How many times have you tried to put yourself back together and failed? For me all throughout my teenage years I tried.... I tried hard to live on my own without the help of God. Something else I have been thinking about lately is how God never said that following Him was going to be easy and for some of us when life gets hard we THINK God isn't there... The truth is He never left us.... In James 1:2-3 it say, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance." In the NLT perseverance is said endurance... I love thinking about it as endurance! We need endurance to run the race God has set out for us. So when we are being tested and we are broken into pieces remember that the only one who can put us back together is God!

How Innocent are YOU?!

2011-01-05T15:01:00.000-05:00

So, How innocent are you? A while back a FABULOUS former student of mine texted me and told me write a blog about the song Innocent by Taylor Swift. I told her since she though of it then it's on her! So, Today we have a guest blogger! Samantha Corker and Taylor Swift's Innocent!

Guess you really did it this time
Left yourself in your war path
Lost your balance on a tightrope
Lost your mind trying to get it back
Wasn't it easier in your lunchbox days
Always a bigger bed to crawl into
Wasn't it beautiful when you believed in everything
And everybody believed in you

It's alright just wait and see, your string of lights are still bright to me
Oh, who you are is not where you've been
You're still an innocent
Still an innocent

Did some things you can't speak of
But at night you live it all again
You wouldn't be shattered on the floor now
If only you had seen what you know now then
Wasn't it easier in your firefly catching days
When everything out of reach someone bigger brought down to you
Wasn't it beautiful running wild till you fell asleep
Before the monsters caught up to you

It's alright just wait and see, your string of lights are still bright to me
Oh who you are is not where you've been
You're still an innocent
It's okay, life is a tough crowd
32 and still growing up now
Who you are is not what you did
You're still an innocent

Time turns flames to embers
You'll have new Septembers
Every one of us has messed up too
Minds change like the weather
I hope you remember
Today is never too late to
Be brand new

It's alright just wait and see, your string of lights are still bright to me
Oh, who you are is not where you've been
You're still an innocent
It's okay, life is a tough crowd
32 and still growing up now
Who you are is not what you did
You're still an innocent
You're still an innocent

Lost your balance on the tight rope
It's never too late to get it back

As these lyrics echo through my iPod speakers, I’m left wondering about my past. I’m a human, I’m an 18 year old female, and I do have a past. No past is ever as beautiful as we would like it and it’s all because life was never supposed to be easy. I remember all the lessons my parents have instilled in me. I remember the do’s and don’ts of relationships. I also remember ever error I’ve ever committed and every time I have fallen short. I try everyday to not live with my mistakes but to learn from them and forgive myself for them.

It’s songs like Taylor Swift’s “Innocent” that reminds me I’m not the only one. “Today is never too late to be brand new.” There’s definitely truth in those lyrics. As a child of God, we are all forgiven. I’m reminded of that every day. I have bible verses taped, post- it- noted, and written all over my dorm room. I look at them for inspiration and reminders that my life is a gift and a lesson. One day I’ll enter the kingdom and even with my many mistakes, I’m still allowed to be innocent. Jesus was born, died, and rose again so that I (and you) could be innocent. All we have to do is admit our faults and realize that only through him, can we get there. I may only be 18… But as a child of God, I learn more about myself and God every day. That’s all that really matters. Not my past.

December 17, 2003

2010-12-17T11:39:00.000-05:00

Is a day I will never forget... December 17, 2003 is the day that one of my Heroes died. My Grandpa Moen was an amazing man! He was a true West Coast boy! Though he never verbalized his faith it was all over his actions. He adopted 2 children and later on in life opened his home to anyone who needed it including my parents and my grandma's nieces. He wanted his grandchildren to know him, so he offered to pay our plane tickets out to go see him and my grandma Anne. I was lucky enough to see them almost every other year for my entire life! He always loved to go and do... if you went to a restaurant you better believe he was going to flirt with the waitress and make her feel like a million dollars! He was a worker. He came from a home of a retired Naval officer, who worked in the Post office to working his way up in Chevron until he became a Vice President. He was sharp, in intelligence and dress. He loved his family more than anything and tried to provide for them the best way he could.

He loved sports! We had a bond because we both received Varsity Letters our Freshmen years of High School. He was an Athlete and until the day he died if football was on the TV he was was watching it! He played baseball, so when I was learning how to pitch for softball him and my dad took me out in his front yard. The first pitch I NAILED him in leg, he shook it off and in true Moen fashion said "c'mon Kid is that all you got?!" The next pitch was perfect so he hit it over my head across the drive and into the neighbors yard. He then began to run the pine trees for bases laughing as he went because there was NO WAY I was going to get to that ball before he rounded third. So, he rounded third.... I got to the ball... I CHUCKED it to my dad playing catcher.... The ball was about half way there when he tagged home and started heckling me and thanking me for letting him hit his first home run in years! And in true Moen fashion again he wanted to end on a good note and went inside! This is the same man who wanted to start me out right at 6 months old by sending me a 49er jacket in the mail! Well Grandpa, I still have it and all of the other sizes in between (along with some of yours)! He would watch as many games as he could on multiple TV's, man what he could have done with NFL Sunday Ticket and the RedZone! He would have LOVED it! He would have hated the 9er game last night though... I can hear him cussing at the TV now about how crappy the team is playing and how bad the refs are and why can't we make a pass!

I want to tell you what happened on December 17, 2003 from my perspective because God truly does have a plan! I was a freshmen in college at North Greenville University. I felt God leading me into the ministry and at this time I had no idea what He wanted me to do, so I was leading towards missions. When I was washing my hair one day I felt God telling me I needed to go to the North West. In Chapel THAT day a guy stood up and said they were taking a Missions Trip to Whistler, BC! I called my dad right away and told him that God wanted me to go on this Missions Trip. I raised most of the money and was able to go during Christmas break. A day or two into my trip, my dad called and said my Grandpa had taken a turn for the worse and his Alzheimer's was getting the best of him and Hospice was called in. I was only about 2 1//2 hours away from my Grandparents so I told my dad to call back once he was in the NW. My dad called me on Dec. 17, 2003 and told me that he thought I needed to be there and since we were flying out the next day that he could come get me at that moment or at the airport the next day. I told him the next day was fine and then I had my quiet time for the day. God told me I needed to leave, so I called my dad right back and he drove up. While we were in the Condo the Missionary I was working with told my dad he felt like we needed to pray and in my dad's preacher fashion he asked if we could at the end. We talked for a short time and then the Missionary said we need to pray and we need to pray NOW! So we did. The Missionary prayed... Dad prayed... and then I prayed. I prayed that God would take my Grandpa. That my Grandpa had suffered enough... We said AMEN. Dad said that if we wanted to stay for the nightly service he needed to call down to the states and see how things were going. RIGHT THEN his phone rang... it was my aunt... my grandpa had just passed... while we were in prayer! God answered our prayers RIGHT THEN! That event has changed my life forever... not only because my Grandpa is gone, but because we saw an answer to prayer at that moment! I was able to say goodbye to his body later on that day when we got to my Grandpa's house, all I could do was pray... I sat on floor by his bed... knelt down and prayed.

I miss him everyday... but I thank God that I am able to say that I am a grandchild of Richard "Dick" Bernard Moen.

Moving... What God has done!!

2010-12-16T12:40:00.000-05:00

I'm almost done with Finals! I have to finish one paper and then I am HOME FREE!!! I'm very excited for what is to come in my life.

As of Sunday, December 5th, I am the new Youth Director at Eastside Baptist Church in Cairo, GA. (Please note it is said K-A-ro) God was all over this situation. The search team had doors closed and I had doors closed so that HE could bring us together. I love that this situation is so full of Jesus that no one can take credit for it! God is SO good!

When I first stepped on the property of Eastside Baptist Church I felt at home. The place, the people, the food.... it all felt right! Everyone knows I'm a country girl at heart. I was raised in the middle of nowhere and then about an hour past nowhere! So, Cairo feels at home... It's even BIGGER than where I grew up, they have a Wal-Mart! haha! :) They are a town in love with football especially their high school team the Cairo Syrupmakers! Do I need to mention they also have a Zaxby's?! I mean God could not have made a town any better in my eyes!

Even though I'm SUPER excited I still have some anxiety. This will be the first move I have made without anyone I know living in the area. Growing up I always had my parents their when I moved and then when I moved to college I had my Aunt and Uncle. When I moved here to New Orleans I knew some people from college and then of course Jeremiah (best friend) and Erin (family friend since I was 3.) Going to Cairo is going to be very different. I'm pretty excited about stepping out on Faith and having God direct my path.

This semester I have had multiple verses on my walls that I am trying to memorize. One in particular has stuck out in my mind A LOT lately... Philippians 2:13 in the NLT it says,

I really cannot wait to see how God uses me in Cairo. I'm all giddy inside just waiting to see God move!

Now the month of December is CRAZY! Mom flies in on Monday. Monday night I have a Christmas party with the squad I help coach. I move from NOLA on Tuesday, drop some of my stuff in Cairo, then spend the night at my Aunt's. Wednesday we drive home to VA. Then drive back down to NC for Christmas, then back to VA to get all my furniture and THEN I move to Cairo on the 29th!!! That's right I'll be living in Cairo, GA before the new year! CRAZINESS!!

Pray:
- that I can finish this last paper... SOON!
- that I will be solely focused on God!
- that the students and church families hearts will be soften to the word of God.
- for Jazzy and the big move (that's right she's coming to Cairo)!

Jesus and Facebook?!

2010-12-16T12:16:00.000-05:00

If you have not seen this video yet, you NEED to check it out! I think it is one of the best Christmas clips out there.... How would it look if Jesus was born today?! WoW! I'm pretty much SUPER excited about this clip...

Pop Culture and Christianity

2010-12-06T10:00:00.000-05:00

Most of you know that I love Bianca Juarez Olthoff! Well, this past week she posted a Video Blog about Pop Culture and Christianity. Like Bianca, I am a super huge pop culture fan! I am a reality tv junkie and I love pop music. I know, I know, but it's true and I think it's amazing! So, Check out her video!

Christmas MUST be something MORE

2010-12-03T10:00:00.000-05:00

So, Taylor Swift has a Christmas album (only available at Target) and I think the best song is titled "Christmas Must be Something More." You know what a HUGE fan I am of Christmas and Christmas music, but this is one of my Year 'Round songs! I love Christmas because we can really focus on Christ. This past Sunday I had the privilege of sitting under my dad's preaching. He told a small story and I think it fits with this song! On black friday a lady was covered in packages, she was rushing and ran into an elevator packed with people. When she got situated she said, "Whoever invented this Holiday should be strung up and killed." A man from the back of the elevator said, "He already has been." Does that shock you liked it shocked me? Do we really forget or not know about the real Reason for the Season?!

Now to the song...

What if ribbons and bows didn't mean a thing
Would the song still survive without five golden rings
Would you still wanna kiss without misletoe
What would happen if God never let it snow
What would happen if Christmas carols told a lie
Tell me what would you find

You'd see that today holds something special
Something holy, not superficial
So here's to the birthday boy who saved our lives
It's something we all try to ignore
And put a wreath up on your door
So here's something you should know that is for sure
Christmas must be something more

What if angels did not pay attention to
All the things that we wished they would always do
What if happiness came in a cardboard box
Then I think there is something we all forgot
What would happen if presents all went away
Tell me what would you find

You'd see that today holds something special
Something holy, not superficial
So here's to the birthday boy who saved our lives
It's something we all try to ignore
And put a wreath up on your door
So here's something you should know that is for sure
Christmas must be something more

We get so caught up in all of it
Business and relationships
Hundred mile an hour lives
And it's this time of year
And everybody's here
It seems the last thing on your mind
Is that the day holds something special
Something holy, not superficial
So here's to Jesus Christ who saved our lives
It's something we all try to ignoreAnd put a wreath up on your door
But here's something you should know that is for sure
Christmas must be something
Christmas must be something
Christmas must be something more

There's gotta be more
There's gotta be more

Man, That song really speaks to what is true! Christmas is about much more than the craziness of shopping and Santa... it's about Jesus who was born to save us!

Black and White

2010-12-02T10:00:00.000-05:00

So, some of you know..... BUT I am addicted to Black and White! It's kinda strange, but I can't help it! Ever since I was able to pick out my own outfits I always chose a black one... Last Christmas I had a Christmas Tree in my Bathroom.... with just black ornaments! It was FABULOUS!!! Seriously! Look at the picture! AWESOME! Amber and I had a tree in the living room that I bought silver filler ornaments for, our tree looked a little bare the year before when all of my students took the ornaments I made them home. So, I went to Ikea and found some FABULOUS plastic silver ornaments! I think the best part of them is that Jazzy can knock them down and they won't bust!!

Well, this year since I have moved to NOLA I asked my mom if we could put up my tree! I bought some black and silver ribbon added the silver filler balls and the black ornaments from the black tree and a few others that I had and THIS is how it turned out! AHHH! It's awesome and SOOOooooo ME! :) all of my favorite things in one little spot! :) YaY! When my dad first heard I was putting up the black and silver tree he kinda groaned... yeah, that's right he didn't have faith that it was going to look spectacular! haha! He doesn't share my LOVE for black and white!

My awesome friend Tara showed me a Christmas ball wreath she made last year. Well, I thought it was amazing! So I made one with Christmas balls from the $1 spot in Target! Add a bow from the Christmas tree Ribbon and HELLOOOOOOO, Gorgeous! It was SO simple... here's the process.... buy Christmas balls, hot glue the toppers onto the balls, find a wire hanger, untwist and straighten hanger, string Christmas balls, connect hanger back together, add bow!
Now Let me show you the BEST Black and White thing from my time at home... Now, it's not complete, but it's gonna be FAAABULOUS thanks to my amazing MOMMA! Here's the story... When Nanny Died she left me her 8ft Blue Crushed Velvet Couch (let me repeat BLUE crushed VELVET, who does that?!) and the 2 chairs that go with it.... I LOVE the couch, but the color has GOT TO GO! So, My mom is covering the couch BLACK!! My mom is so talented! She really is!

The Fun part is that one side of every cushion is going to be ZEBRA!!

Family

2010-11-29T10:00:00.000-05:00

What is family? For some their family is their group of friends... for others it is their blood relation... and for even more people it is the people they see on holidays.

For me family is all of these things. I am SO thankful, grateful, and just plain FULL because of my immediate family. It's just the 3 of us; my parents and myself! I LOVE IT! My parents are the greatest people ever! I know most children say that, but seriously... they are! They keep me balanced and level headed as well as pushing me to be and do my best. They taught me to be creative, but to think logically! I am my momma's little girl and my daddy's little boy. I walked with a book on my head for good posture as well as threw a softball every afternoon as hard as I could so I wouldn't play like a girl!

I really can't say enough about my parents.. the most amazing thing about them is how they show Christ's love! In the New Testament Paul writes about how a husband should love his wife like Christ loved the church. My Dad really does love my mom like that! From the big things to the little things like not wanting to turn on the light when he gets up in the morning to let her sleep just a little longer!

My family is a mix of cultures. My mommas is from middle of nowhere NC and my dad is from San Francisco. Yup, I'm a mutt! We eat guacamole on everything from burritos to turkey sandwiches! We have Tea in the fridge at all times! We say Coke instead of Soda or Pop! We eat Oatmeal and normally not grits. It's pretty amazing how it all comes together!

My house has always been filled with love and laughter! I love it so much! From joking around to taking funny pictures or talking about what God is doing in our lives and our calendars... it's love and laughter!

Gotta love my crazy family! No matter what I know my parents are always there when I need a laugh, a hug, a shoulder to cry on, or a prayer!

FYI these pics are SOOOooo my parents! My mom is the proper one and my dad, well, you be the judge! :)

What do you want for Christmas?

2010-11-23T09:00:00.000-05:00

This year, especially this past week, I have had many conversations about Christmas gifts. Many of us buy what we want when we see it and don't even think about making a list. We have so much already... Please remember my earlier post about Gluttony! If you live in the US you are in the top 1% of the world economically. Basically, we are all rich.

So what do you want this Christmas?

I want to encourage you to ask others to give a gift to someone in need instead of giving a gift to you! My Grandma e-mailed my mom asking for us to get her a card this year. She gets it! We don't need anything! Let's help someone else this Christmas! Donate in the name of someone and give them the Thank You note! If they truly get what you are doing this will be the best and coolest present they get all year!

You can provide food, milk, water purification, and SOOOoo much more for people in need through out the world.

If this sounds like something you would be interested in below are some websites!

Gospel For Asia

Samaritans Purse

Heifer International

Compassion International

Where do we see the need to do this in Scripture? The 1st chapter of James! Especially verse 27!!

James 1:19-27 "My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.
Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."

So let's put the Word into practice and take care of the orphans and the widows!

Born to Die

2010-11-19T17:17:00.000-05:00

Last Friday I posted about listening to Christmas music year 'round. Well, this is one of those songs I listen to all year. Shane & Shane recorded this song last year on their Glory in the Highest Christmas Album. It is FANTASTIC! The song is title Born to Die. It really puts into prosepective how with out Christmas there could be no Easter... without Christ being born he could not have died for our sins. WoW! God had it all worked out from the beginning! He knew He was going to send His son to earth to die for us. Not just to live, but to die and then be raised so that we can be raised one day! John 3:16-17 says, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but for the world to be saved through Him." So today I want you to meditate on the words below, remembering how Christ laid His life down for YOU, WILLINGLY! Enjoy!

When the babe was born.
In a manger on the hay.
God saw a veil torn.
He saw Good Friday.
He was born to die.

Gold laid before the Christ.
Incense, His presence is sweet.
Myrrh to signify victory over death's sting.
He was born to die.

It came in a dream.
To Joseph late on night.
That Herod sought the King.
But could not take His life.
He was born to die.He said, "You won't take my life.
You won't take my life.
You won't take my life...
I lay it down."

We came here today
to celebrate His birth.
But let us not forget
why Jesus came to earth.
He was born to die.

DRAMA!!!

2010-11-18T11:19:00.001-05:00

How do you handle drama? What drama? You know the crazy junk in your life; when people are talking about you or someone is just treating you badly?!

So, how do you handle those things? Do you go off on the person talking about you? Do you put it on Facebook? What about talk about them behind their back? Have you ever thought that the Bible might have something to say about times like these?

Proverbs 15:1 says, "A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger." Are you diffusing a situation or are you making it worse? Are you giving a gentle answer or a harsh word?

If the way you act and treat that person doesn't change the situation THEN Matthew 18 has some things to say to you! It says,“If your brother or sister sins,go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over.But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector."

Basically, this means STOP gossiping and go to the person! STOP putting junk on Facebook and go directly to the person! STOP being mean and be gentle!

Just something to think and pray about throughout the day!

National UNfriend Day!

2010-11-17T12:47:00.001-05:00

So, Today is National UNFRIEND day for facebook! I'm friends with TONS of people on facebook that I would never delete them because I'm too nice... Basically if you wanna delete me then feel free! I've met so many people through my life and different churches along with all the schools I attended that I know who the people are but we weren't really friends. I think this video is hilarious and so true since I don't really know most of these people!! :) LOVE IT! If you choose to keep me as a friend know that I am praying for you and if you need anything feel free to contact me, even if it has been 20 years since we last talked! :)

God in Sweet Home Alabama?

2010-11-17T10:00:00.000-05:00

Sometimes I take movies like this that are all romantic and spin them a different way... I'm not always a super girlie girl, but I love a good chick flick. Every time I want to watch a chick flick and can't decide I always pick Sweet Home Alabama. I'm not sure why, but it is my "go to" movie. I think part of it is because no matter what Melanie did to Jake, he still loved her. It reminds me of as much as we slap God in the face He still loves us!

Sometimes all of my failures flash in front of my face. I remember all of those times I have failed God. As much as I try to hear his voice in my life sometimes I take over. Sometimes I don't listen to God and that really causes me to fail.

So, how do we hear God? We sit and ponder after some massive amounts of prayer. We talk to godly people in our lives and listen to what they have to say. The biggest thing we can do along with prayer is to read the Word. God will always lead us in the way HE would have us to go... We just need to let him!

So, How many times have you felt like you let God down? How many times has He brought you up? How many times can you go back to Him knowing He still loves you?

My life verse is Psalm 55:22 "Cast your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you. He will never let the righteous fall. " So, no matter what He is ALWAYS there!

Thankful for Family Roots

2010-11-15T14:44:00.000-05:00

So, Thanksgiving is coming up NEXT week! Crazy, eh?! A week from today I will be on a plane going to VA. I love the state in which I was born and raised. I could get to the mountains and the beach within 2 hours and be on the water in 30 minutes. I could go on and on about that amazing place, but instead I won't! ha!

Only HALF of the food!

Thanksgiving is a time where my Dad's family sits around the table with plates FULL and we all discuss what we are thankful for.... I know it sounds cheesy, but it's awesome! We are always so thankful for our families and our God! We eat and then sit around beside the fire drinking coffee, playing games, and enjoying the company that is family! (Side note: It is FALL in VA which means it's COLD out unlike in New Orleans where it is still 80!)

Thanksgiving '06

God has truly blessed me with an amazing family! My parents have always pushed me to be the best... in life, school, and in my walk with Jesus. I am so thankful for not only my parents, but all of my family. They push me to grow more everyday in my walk with Christ, for that I am thankful!

My Dad and his sister were not raised in a Christian household. They came to know Christ as teenagers, but they have instilled in us (their kids) how important a walk with Christ really is! I love sitting around the table discussing church and the bible studies we are having... it's pretty awesome! We are all so different, but have such a love for Jesus that the conversations are growth opportunities for all of us!

Spouses and a cousin are missing...

My Mom's family has a deep family bond/love where you know no matter what they will help you as best as possible. My great grandfather helped start a church and my grandfather was a music minister. As you can tell we have a deep Christian heritage! The house at Christmas is full of laughter, ball games, and food! The Gospel is talked about as easily as great grandma's pineapple cake! I have never felt a love like I do when my mom's family gets together! It's a love for Jesus and each other!

I cannot express to you how THANKFUL I am that my family tree is ROOTED in Christ!

Christmas Music?

2010-11-12T12:26:00.000-05:00

Some people have been debating on wether it is too early to be listening to Christmas music. I'm a year 'round Christmas music listener... Not everyday, but at least once a month. Why? I like to remember the birth of Christ and the joy it brings! I know that sounds cheesy, but it's true!

My Uncle says year 'round "Merry Christmas" whenever you get off the phone with him or if you are leaving his office... it's even his text signature! He wants to remind people of the birth of Christ and what that did for us! I used to think it was strange UNTIL I got it one day! I now understand to the point of stealing it every now and then!

The song that has been my ringtone on and off through out the years is Don't Save It All For Christmas. Celine Dion, Clay Aiken, Avalon all sing this song and it has made a huge impression on me. I feel like we get so busy we forget about the little joys in life and even how big of a deal the birth of Christ really is! So enjoy the Lyrics to Don't Save It All For Christmas!

Don't get so busy that you miss
Giving just a little kiss
To the ones you love

And don't even wait a little while

To give them a little smile

A little is enough

How many people are crying

Some people are dying...

How many people are askin’ for love

Don't save it all for Christmas Day

Find a way

To give a little love everyday

Don't save it all for Christmas Day

Find a way

Cause holidays have come and gone

But love lives on

If you give on

Love...

How could you wait another minute

A hug is warmer when you're in it

Oh Baby that's a fact

And saying "I love you's" always better

Seasons, reasons, they don't matter

So don't hold back

How many people in this world

So needful in this world

How many people are praying for love

Don't save it all for Christmas Day

Find a way

To give a little love everyday

Don't save it all for Christmas Day

Find a way

Cause holidays have come and gone

But love lives on

If you give on

Give love…..

Let all the children know

Everywhere that they go

Their whole life long

Let them know love

Where everybody knows your name!

2010-11-11T10:00:00.001-05:00

So, growing up my mom always said that CHEERS would make a great name for a church. The reason was that the theme song was the perfect church. The lyrics are below:

Making your way in the world today takes everything you've got.

Taking a break from all your worries, sure would help a lot.

Wouldn't you like to get away?

Sometimes you want to go

Where everybody knows your name,

and they're always glad you came.

You wanna be where you can see,

our troubles are all the same

You wanna be where everybody knows

Your name.

Isn't it true... We want to be where everyone knows our name and they are so happy to see us. Churches like bars should be the places we go when are lives feel like they are falling apart. We should feel like we aren't the only one who has problems at church.

Here's the question for today... How do you and your church rate on the Cheers scale? How are we at making people feel at church? Are we seriously glad that people came? Do we share our problems with others?

I'm the type of person that loves genuine people. For me, I think a genuine person is not always happy. There are times when everyone is down and we shouldn't put on a happy face, but we should show our emotions. As Christians we should show how God works in our lives! He takes us from the low points and brings us to our Mountain tops.

Golden Girls

2010-11-10T01:17:00.000-05:00

I just love watching the Golden Girls, every night! The reason I love this show so much is because I feel connected to the people I spent 3 years, My Brashier Girls! I know they watch it too and I feel close to them every night... even though we are miles away! I love the way these girls live together, fight with each other, but still love each other more at the end of the day. This show can be inappropriate with all of Blanche's talk about her escapades! BUT this show shows real friendship... at least girls friendships.

I've been examining my friendships lately... how much I keep in touch with people and how much I miss certain people in my life. Growing up I had a few friends that were close and girls, but I surrounded myself with guys... In the first grade I was told that if I wanted to play outside I needed to start playing with girls. In college I had class with all boys, but I lived with some awesome girls who became my family! Every friendship is different! I have certain friends that when I am going through something rough I always want to talk too... Some of my friends I talk to once a year and still feel like we are the best of friends. Some people I have grown away from and I miss like crazy!

The interesting thing about my friendships are the ones that have lasted the longest are the ones that were brought together with Christ. God has granted me the some of the greatest on the planet! I might be an only child who loves to have one on one time with my friends, but the friends I have understand that and love me anyway! They have become apart of my family!

This pic is a couple of years old, but it's all of us!

I just have to say....

Thank you for being a friend

Traveled down the road and back again

Well, your heart is true, you're a pal and a confidante.

And if you threw a party, invited everyone you knew,

You would see the biggest gift would be from me

...And the card attached would say "Thank you for being a friend"

Too Christian??

2010-11-09T10:00:00.076-05:00

I'm reading the book Too Christian Too Pagan for my Youth Culture class... yeah, it's late, but oh well at least I am getting it done and it will not be a 0 in the book.... ANYWAYS! The author is Dick Staub and so far I've been challenged. We are to live, play, and work in the world. Hang out in places you normally wouldn't. I love going to the grocery store here in ghetto because most seminary students don't shop there. What about going to sports bars? Go and become a regular (they have good food so you don't have to drink) but the regulars know each other and help each other out! What about a breakfast place that you know a lot of people hang out. Go to the park and ask to play on a team if they are short a person. Join a group of stay at home moms that don't meet at a church. TEENAGERS - join a club or try out for a sport, band, or play that you know doesn't have a lot of Christians. Ask people to hang out on the weekends that you know aren't the best people! BUT we aren't suppose to get too close to the world where we are influenced in a bad way. We are to take the Gospel of Jesus Christ to all the people around us and with whom we have contact. If we don't have any friends who aren't Christians are we really doing our jobs as Christians?

(pic from http://peaceineternity.blogspot.com/)

Now, think about the Christians in your life.... Do they hang out with people who don't go to church often? In the South we have a hard time getting out of our little group of church friends. We have our work friends and our "real friends." This is something that really grates at me.

So, is there really a way to be too Christian? YES! When we don't leave our "church" worlds to get out there and talk/ reach those who don't know Christ! I used to eat dinner every Tuesday night with girls who weren't leading their lives for Christ, but they let me come in and hang out! It was awesome! I have heard of people who use the same bank teller all the time so they can share Jesus with them. When my family went to Las Vegas I shared Jesus with a lady in the bathroom... Yeah, it's a strange place, but she was crying so we talked and I asked her if she would mind if I prayed for her, then I got to share Jesus! My best friend Kim is known as Jesus at her work because she is the only Christian! Her job is her mission field! So, get out in your community and be active, sharing Jesus as you go!

pic from http://donnamerrilltribe.com

Do you feel trapped yet? This is a double edged sword. We don't want to get so wrapped up in the world that we become no different from the world! We need to set ourselves apart, but not to the point that we have no friends in church or in the world. We should go and hang out with different people! I work in a Gymnastics, Cheer, and Acro Gym. Everyone comes from different backgrounds... not everyone are Christians, but we love our jobs! God has given me a job that I love and can share Jesus as I am coaching... I don't go overboard, but I might say, "God wants us to do everything to the best of our ability so get your bootie in the air and stick it!" haha true story! But the way I act as I am coaching or hanging out in the office reflects on Christ because everyone knows I go to seminary.

Prayer Request Gossip

2010-11-08T10:00:00.001-05:00

So there is a TV show coming out that is actually a spin off from a book called Good Christian (bad word for girls)... I read the book and the beginning is about how Gossip was started from a Women's Prayer group... Now, it's done by a comedian, a book, and a TV show. What does that say about our churches? Are we using church as a way to spread gossip or a way to help others? Is our church different? If you didn't go to church would you go after hearing all the gossip?

Let's be different and make our churches be SUPER different!

In my Community Group from Vintage Church we focus almost an hour of our time on prayer. We share prayer requests, pray for each other then during the week we have all set a time to pray for one another specifically! We use our time to grow together and pray! We had a guy in our Community Group who used to say More Prayer, More Power (in his Kenyan Accent). The more we pray the more power from God we receive! Let's pray for each other... not in a judgmental spirit, but of a spirit of love and acceptance. Again, Let's Be DIFFERENT!!!

Keep Yo Pants ON!

2010-11-05T10:00:00.006-04:00

If you haven't seen this video yet, you have GOT to watch it!

The beat is good and so is the message! Priscilla Schirer Tweeted this video Yesterday saying that her church made it! I'm basically in love with it! So Play it already and tell me what you think!

Yearning

2010-11-04T10:00:00.001-04:00

I love the word Yearn. It's a verb that means to have an intense feeling of loss or lack and longing for something. Do you yearn for anything? Shane and Shane have a song called Yearn. The Lyrics are below and underneath the lyrics are the scripture verses that inspired the song. So Check it!

holy design
this place in time
that i might seek and find my God
my God

Lord i want to yearn for You
i want to burn with passion
over You and only You
Lord i want to yearn

Your joy is mine
yet why am i fine
with all my singing and bringing grain
in light of Him

oh You give life and breath
through Him You give all things
in Him we live and move
that's why i sing

acts 17:25-28, hebrews 12:28-29

So What is the difference between today's song and yesterday's? This song is totally focused on God, where as yesterday it focused on a false teenage dream. The chorus of Yearn gets me every time...
Lord i want to yearn for You
i want to burn with passion
over You and only You
Lord i want to yearn

When was the last time we truly YEARNED for God? When was the last time you wanted to just dwell with Him in His presence? I was in a meeting with a bunch of pastor's not to long ago and they were confessing about not having that passion to just dwell with God OR they were too busy to do so... As a Youth Pastor I need to stay on my face before God, Yearning for Him!

So today I'm going to leave you with some encouragement... Get away for a few minutes and just dwell with God... Don't talk, just listen!

Yeah, SHUT UP and LISTEN to God!

Teenage Dream?

2010-11-03T02:03:00.000-04:00

As I rode down the rode to and from Cairo, Ga this past weekend I listened to the radio. Most of you know I love music! All types and beats! I don't know words like my old roomies Crystal and Kim, but I know what I like and what I don't.... I have heard Teenage Dream by Katy Perry for weeks now, but I became disgusted by it even more...

Let's go through the Lyrics Shall we?!

You think I'm pretty
Without any make-up on
You think I'm funny
When I tell the puch line wrong
I know you get me
So I'll let my walls come down, down
(I actually like this part... Seriously, what girl doesn't like a playful guy who likes her for who she is even without her make-up on?!)

Before you met me
I was a wreck
But things were kinda heavy
You brought me to life
Now every February
You'll be my valentine, valentine

Let's go all the way tonight
No regrets, just love
We can dance until we die
You and I
We'll be young forever
(Okay Seriously?!?! No regrets? C'mon Katy! You will have regrets! If and when you break up the regrets will become so hard that you just want to leave everything! I get it... you think it's just love... it won't be JUST love because it's probably NOT love! It is a strong emotion, but probably not love... at least not the love you will receive later on in life!)
You make me
Feel like
I'm living a Teenage Dream
The way you turn me on
I can't sleep
Let's runaway
And don't ever look back
Don't ever look back
(Oh to be living in a Teenage Dream again... where we just had each other are wanted to run away... but if you had run away then life would not have been how it is now and I would never had learned the amazing life and spiritual lessons! Running away is not the answer because it doesn't free us, but enslaves us by leaving us trapped when things go wrong!)
My heart stops
When you look at me
Just one touch
Now baby I believe
This is real
So take a chance
And don't ever look back
Don't ever look back
(I love this verse! The beginning of a relationship when the first touch gives you butterflies! The look that takes your breath away! OOooo to have that again!)
We drove to Cali
And got drunk on the beach
Got a motel and
Built a fort out of sheets
I finally found you
My missing puzzle piece
I'm complete
(I'm sorry, but when was the last time a teenager was allowed to drive to cali and rent a hotel room?! Hate to bust your bubble, but you aren't old enough to do so.... Basically this can't happen, but I thought this song was called Teenage Dream NOT 20 something dream?! Am I missing something? Nope, what is really going on is that with out you realizing it this song is making you think that this is what normal teenagers do when in actuality teens can't do this, it makes you think you are older than you really are.)
*Chorus*

I might get your heart racing
In my skin-tight jeans
Be your teenage dream tonight

Let you put your hands on me
In my skin-tight jeans
Be your teenage dream tonight
(Sex again Really?! Our teenage years are not about just having sex... We should be preparing for the rest of our lives... Spiritually, Mentally, and with our purity in mind. If we really cared about our purity would we listen to things like this?! That's right, I became UBER convicted listening to this because I wanted to just dance and sing at the top of my lungs about having underaged sex and how GREAT it is, but in reality it's awful and you feel guilty for the rest of your life....)

*Chorus*
So, how about it, let's listen to things that help us grow in Christ and keep our minds on pure and Holy things instead of those songs that make us long for the things of the world.... Meditate and Read this verse... BE TRANSFORMED TODAY!!

Romans 12:2 Do not conform 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.

What affects us?

2010-10-29T03:28:00.000-04:00

As I sat in my Youth Culture class on Thursday morning we were discussing Media and it's affects on us. Well, I got to thinking about everything that could and do affect us... The movies we watch, the tv shows we watch, the music we listen to. So here is a thought.... Do we let these things affect us or are we affected by them with out realizing it? My answer is BOTH! Sometimes we watch things and don't realize they are slowly breaking down our moral walls. Other times we know it's bad, but we watch it anyway.

Now let me ask you.... what TV shows do you watch weekly?

I watch:

College Football
NFL
Teen Mom
Jersey Shore
Golden Girls
The Nanny
Swamp People

Are all of these shows good for me? NO! I know they affect my thinking! After watching Jersey Shore I remember my life before I became a sold out Christian and how fun it, honestly, was... BUT I know God has a bigger plan for my life then to get drunk and screw around. I have to consciously make a decision to say that people really shouldn't act like that and to remember the guilt that comes with acting like that.

Please notice Say Yes to the Dress, the Bachelor or Bachelorette, or any other LOVE show is NOT on my list! Why? Because they make single girls desire things in life and make up fantasies in their heads that are WAY far from reality! I have had to make the decision to not watch these shows because I don't want to start thinking about that too early... you know before I have an awesome significant other who will set me straight!

So let's try a little harder to understand what is all around us and how is affects us!!!!

Confession

2010-10-27T13:12:00.000-04:00

"The confession of evil works is the first beginning of good works.” ~Saint Augustine

When was the last time we confessed our sins? I'm not talking about just saying, "and forgive me of my sins" but really thinking about all the times we sinned today.... True confession is going into detail. When we confess it helps us to not do those things again. For me actually verbalizing sins that run through everything in my life helps me to not do those things.

I taught in one of my classes today on confession. We took chalk pastels and colored our paper.. then we wrote our sins on top with another color.... If you know anything about using chalk you know it smears. So, after we wrote our sins we smeared them and blended them into our background color. Both colors were still visible, but our words were gone. Much like how the repercussions of our sins are still in our lives, but the sins are gone.

Found this on Google like most pics

Here's a list of sins... some I struggle with and commit, some I don't:

Lust

for people
for things
for love not from God (relationships and such)

Anger
Hate
Gossip
Slander
Greed
Stealing
Materialism
Not Honoring my Parents
Laziness
Murder
Being Judgmental
Pride
Over indulging

food
alcohol

Adultery
Lying
Not making God a priority in Life
Idolatry

If you have anything that you Love more than God that is Idolatry

Being Envious
Carrying a Grudge
Using Foul Language
Using the Lord's name in vein
Not giving to the Poor
Not praying for others

Have I hit anything on your list because I've hit a lot of mine! How much do we sit before God and ask him for things when we are unclean? How long would it take for us to remember all the sins we have committed this week?! Maybe we should start now confessing to God EVERY sin.... This could take a while! But afterwards we get to start ANEW!!!

Remember: Confession isn't a free pass to sin again instead we are suppose to be fleeing from sin!

Singleness... kinda!

2010-10-26T18:13:00.000-04:00

How cute is my PawPaw?!?!

As many of you know, I was home for fall break this past week which is why I didn't spend time online... I spent time with people and LOTS of people! I got to spend time with my family and by family I mean almost all of my close extended family! It was wonderful! I felt very blessed to be able to see so many people who mean so much to me! I even got to see my 49ers LIVE and they lost, but it's okay I was with family!

Fred and Myself

I lost my voice about half-way through my trip home... I'm allergic to leaf mold among other season changing things and so my voice was COMPLETELY gone for a couple of days! I am a VERY talkative person, but loved just watching my family interact even if Fred (a girl) told me she liked it better when I could talk because she loves our conversations!

So, onto singleness... I had decided I wasn't going to write on a relationship topic for a while, but today in my Women's Ministry class I was blindsided by what a fellow classmate said and I realized I could be the girl she was referring to, if I do not change how I am now. The girl mentioned a friend of hers who was all about being the best she could be and doesn't need a man to help her do anything! When a close guy friend of hers got married she BAWLED. Yeah, that's right she cried! She realized SHE LOVED HIM! This girl had been so busy not needing a man that she realized when it was too late that she was actually in love and wanted a man. I joke often about if I ever get married or how Fred is going to get married before me even though she is 16! God has put that desire in my heart, but I don't want to dwell on it just in case it never happens... So, here I sit after being up for 14 hours with 3 hours of sleep last night thinking about how far we should let ourselves go in thinking about marriage and guys.... So, what do you think? Where do we draw the line with being the best we can be at this single portion of our lives?!

God in the everyday!

2010-10-20T13:27:00.000-04:00

That's my miniature Schnauzer Jazzy! So, when I got to my parents house we opened the door and my dog came running and by running to me! I mean when she heard my voice she dropped to her stomach and army crawled peeing the whole way! She even had on a cute Virginia Tech bandanna! I felt like I was the most amazing person in the world by the way she acted! The awesome thing about having a dog is that they love you unconditionally... You might have to leave them for a season of time, but when you come back it's like you never left! When I think about Unconditional Love I think about Jesus! As much as we mess up in all aspects of our life God still loves us! We might leave Him for a while, but once we repent and really turn back to Him, He welcomes us with open arms! WE have to take that first step and turn back to Him!

Today, I want you to look around and see Jesus and His characteristics around you! It might be in your dog!

Time for Change

2010-10-18T16:15:00.000-04:00

Fall is my FAVORITE time of year! Fall is time for change. I'm in Virginia this week and fall is all around me! I had Brunswick Stew for lunch while sitting outside in a sweatshirt and sweatpants... The leaves are changing colors, acorns are dropping and so are the temperatures!
As I am taking time to relax and become rejuvenated before the next half of the semester I am reminded of the changes that happen in our lives. The biggest changes in our lives normally happen with school and relationships. Think about that for a minute and then continue to read. As a kid life changes when we go to school for the first time, then again at the beginning of middle school, then high school! Going to college or moving out for the first time is a huge change. What about getting married or having kids?! HUGE life changes! After you get married or have kids your life is never the same! There is one change in life that is a choice that trumps all the others... Choosing to have a relationship with Christ! Christ is the one change that can and should affect the rest of your changes. Here's the kicker... you have to LET Christ affect your life. Some people don't like letting go of their lives and letting God change it, but we need too!

At Winfree Memorial Church yesterday the pastor talked about failure and how everyone fails! That's right EVERYONE FAILS! In the past year I have felt like a huge failure, but this fall I have begun to see a change in my life. I don't feel like a failure anymore! The change of the season has shown me that my outlook can change. So, today I want you to remember that if you feel like a failure use that as a time to change. This time of change can become your favorite season!

Giving our Hearts away

2010-10-15T10:00:00.003-04:00

As I sit on my bed writing this I relive conversations in my head I have had this week with females (teenagers and adults.) As women we are emotional beings. We sit and talk to one another about our problems ALL THE TIME! God created us to be emotional beings! It can be AWESOME! Most of the time females get caught up in the wrong type of emotion. The emotions of giving our heart away without the other person realizing they have something so precious. Watch this short Video from the Vancouver Film School that I found a couple of years back...

Even though this video is of a guy giving his heart away I think, as girls, we give ours away too easily. The guy might not even like us as more than a friend and we become attached to him and when he starts dating someone else our whole world shatters. Most of the time the guy has no idea what happened. Proverbs 4:23 says, "Guard your heart above all else,for it determines the course of your life." Guarding your heart is so HARD! We, as girls, like a guy and because he texts us back we think he likes us. He's actually just a nice person. We let pieces of our hearts get taken and broken by guys who don't deserve us. We fret and ask God to help us get over that guy, but why did we give him our heart to start with?
So, most of my friends know that when you go to the movies to watch a chick flick with me I say out loud "OH MAN, that would NEVER happen in real life!" Especially, when the leading male character shoots the girls a line like, "You are the greatest thing that has ever happened to me, I can't believe you are mine!" Okay, PUKE! I totally made that line up, but it's so sappy I think I threw up a little in my mouth! But you get the picture. The media has made girls and guys believe that those lines are how amazing relationships start. In actuality those lines make girls think the guys are their Disney Princes. Side note: Disney has destroyed girls view points on guys. Guys are not that perfect, but heck, we aren't Cinderella!
On a personal note.... I have told my students for years that every time you kiss someone part of your heart leaves. I don't want my heart for my future husband to be a sliver of something that once was, that is where God comes into play! I found this next quote and I think it's awesome! I just wish I could find the Author, "God can heal a broken heart but He has to have all the pieces." Does God have all of your pieces or do you need to take some back? The only way to get pieces back is through prayer. Don't just give your heart away like the tin man in the video, but Guard it and don't let someone break it into pieces! Remember: Your relationship needs to be focused and built on God not your boyfriend! I leave you with One more scripture verse.

Philippians 4:6-7 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

Marriage

2010-10-14T14:40:00.001-04:00

As I was thinking about this post one thing kept running through my head...

The Impressive Clergyman: Mawage. Mawage is wot bwings us togeder tooday. Mawage, that bwessed awangment, that dweam wifin a dweam...
The Impressive Clergyman: And wuv, tru wuv, will fowow you foweva...
The Impressive Clergyman: So tweasure your wuv.
Prince Humperdinck: Skip to the end.
The Impressive Clergyman: Have you the wing?
The Impressive Clergyman: ...and do you,Pwincess Buwwercup...
Prince Humperdinck: Man and wife. Say man and wife.
The Impressive Clergyman: Man an' wife.

If you don't know what this quote is from the you NEED to watch "The Princess Bride." K? Great!

So, What is your take on Marriage (or should I say Mawage)?! Some people are so stinkin' obessed with getting married it almost sickens me... Seriously! I am a total girl though so some days I just want a man in my life that will care for me, take care of me, love me, support me, and put up with my crap... THEN I realize that means I would have to live with a boy and then I remember how good I have it! haha!

Marriage is more than living together, marriage is a life long commitment. Did you know that if you live together before getting married you are 50% more likely to get divorced than if you didn't live together before marriage?! We shouldn't try out something like marriage before we make that commitment! Do you try out car or health insurance before buying it? nope! As a youth pastor I've used cars for analogies about dating and marriage. Before you start dating it is like car shopping for your dream car! When you are first dating you are just looking at the outside of the car. Then when you get serious it's like you are in the driver's seat and it feels nice. If you get married it's like after you take the car off of the lot and YOU LOVE IT!! You drive and drive and drive! Some times you get dings and scratches, but that's your dream car and you fix those little problems like how you need to work on your marriage. Now, if you didn't buy your dream car, but you bought the first car to come along if something happens you want to trade it in instead of buffing out the scratches and maybe even getting a new paint job. That's what happens when you don't wait for the person God has for us. We still look around and we don't try and fix our relationship. We jump to the next relationship.

I want to encourage you to wait for the person God has for you! I look at my parents and see how they work on their relationship. They buff out the scratches... They know they married the person God had for them and so they work at it, everyday! They know that no matter what God prepared them for each other. They know that they have flaws and their spouse has flaws, but together they can glorify God through their marriage and that their marriage is an act of Worship.

The Apostle Paul is dogged on for his view on marriage. He says in 1 Corinthians 7:8-9 "So I say to those who aren’t married and to widows—it’s better to stay unmarried, just as I am. But if they can’t control themselves, they should go ahead and marry. It’s better to marry than to burn with lust." Yeah, He just said that it is better to stay unmarried! We live in a society that sees this as CRAZY and maybe it is.... But how many people have gotten married because they were suppose to instead of because they knew that God wanted them too...

I say stay single and don't shack up until God reveals to you the person whom you are to marry then GO FOR IT! Make that marriage an act of WORSHIP because Paul also says this in 1 Corinthians 7: 3-5 "The husband should fulfill his wife’s sexual needs, and the wife should fulfill her husband’s needs.The wife gives authority over her body to her husband, and the husband gives authority over his body to his wife. Do not deprive each other of sexual relations, unless you both agree to refrain from sexual intimacy for a limited time so you can give yourselves more completely to prayer. Afterward, you should come together again so that Satan won’t be able to tempt you because of your lack of self-control." HECK YEAH!!!!!

Dating Pt. 2 (the good stuff!)

2010-10-13T14:03:00.000-04:00

Dating is different for everyone. As a youth pastor the magic question by parents and teenagers alike is, "When is it okay to start dating?" The good rule of thumb is if you can see yourself married at this time then it's okay to date. (Hang out in a GROUP, so much more fun!! No pressure and WAY more laughter!!) We live in a culture that most of the generation before us met in grade school and started dating young and married right out of high school. Here's the kicker 51% of teen marriages end in divorce BEFORE the age of 24 (pg. 13 in Dateable). Here's another scenario for you from Dateable. "Out of 100 married people asked, 22 said they married their high school crush... Out of those 22 people, 17 got divorced." Do the math, that's 5 people left!
So, basically you and your "sweetheart" aren't gonna last! Got it?! I had my first boyfriend in the 4th grade, his name is Brett Stalnaker. I was SOOOOOooo in love with him. I would now call it puppy love, but the love is real to the puppy, at least at the time it was! Was I ready to get married? NO! Do I regret it? C'mon it was 4th grade, so no! What I do regret is kissing for the first time the day after 4th grade ended at Kenton's house at a little party. The reason I regret it is because I wanted to do something new with every boyfriend after him. We've tackled the when now there is the question of Why?! I like to ask people WHY? Why date?! What's the point? So, what do you think the point of dating is? My Momma would tell you, "We date to find a mate." So true! I was a serial dater and through that I found what I like in guys and what I don't like! Don't even think you stand a chance with me if you are a hairy person, gag! But seriously, We date to figure out what we can and can NOT live with through dating! I'm not against dating in that context, but I am against dating because it is cool or dating because I want to feel loved. If you really want to feel loved then PRAY because the only love that is going to help, right now, is that of the Father.

When, Why, now WHO?! Who should I date? You should date the boy who loves God more than you! Who won't talk to you till he falls asleep because he wants to do his quiet time. Don't date the bad boy! I know he's the hot one and the one we see as a challenge, but date the boy who will lead you closer to Christ not closer to his bed! Yeah, I said it! NOT CLOSER TO HIS BED! Don't even think about going to a bedroom! Some of you know, I'm so not playing! Date a guy who cares more about your walk with Christ than your relationship with each other! If you don't see that person around you, then don't date anyone! OOOOoooo She went there! Why, Yes I did! If that strong Christian male isn't around you then you shouldn't be dating! Wait for the person God has for you! It may take years, but WAIT! Waiting is something we are SO not good at, but how about we try! We pray and try to wait for what God has for us! I said try and wait because some of us get impatient and date whoever so that we aren't alone for a period of time. What we don't realize is in the end we get hurt because we didn't wait on God. So, wait on God and HE WILL PROVIDE!

Dating Pt. 1

2010-10-12T23:36:00.001-04:00

So this is a 2 part blog! The funny thing is that I have already written part 2! I know I'm crazy, but I came to the realization that some questions needed to be answered before I jumped into what some would call the good stuff! Get ready for the Journey of Christian Dating! So, Here we go! WEEEEeeeeeeeee! Okay, I was acting like we were going down a slide if you didn't catch that!
What is dating? Dating looks different for everyone! Seriously, it does. For some dating is seeing one person exclusively. The two of them hang out and live most aspects of their lives together. Other types of dating are when once person just goes on dates with different people each weekend and are not committing themselves to a significant other. In middle school you hold hands, write notes, and walk through the halls together. You get asked out by a note, through facebook, or a text. You will probably meet each other at birthday parties and try to stay close, most of the time you are not allowed to go places together. If you are *lucky* your parents will let them come over and watch a movie or take you to the mall.

In High School the dating game changes. Instead of not being able to actually go places together, every Friday night or Saturday you are hanging out. You might go to football games, the movies, concerts, bowling, dances, or out to eat. Normally, it's just dinner and a movie! Prom is always a huge deal for people who date in high school. For girls, you guys want a person you can spend the rest of your lives with. Guys, on the other hand, normally live in the moment and are not looking towards the future. Do you see a difference here between guys and girls in this stage?

In college dating changes again. Everyone is thinking about marriage. When dating in college there are new rules. No parents are around to make sure the dating is appropriate and good choices are made. The couple can spend every waking and sleeping moment together, if they choose.* I say that hanging out at the BCM and in the library studying plus some hang out time is great, but you should try HARD not to be alone together for too long.

So what's the big deal with dating? Dating should be a time when you can focus on learning to grow with another person. Here's the deal though, to have a good relationship no matter how old you are you need to keep God the focus of your relationship!

What the Bible says about dating? Well in times of the Bible they didn't have dating... Your parents would pick out your mate and you would marry them. We can glean from some verses though.

2 Timothy 2:22 says "Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart." 2 Corinthians 6:14-15 "Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?

** I disagree with this!

Let's Talk about SEX, baby!

2010-10-11T16:12:00.000-04:00

So yesterday, I blogged on love and what that really is... I didn't go into romantic love, but it's in my drafts and I've already downloaded the pics to put in the blog, but today I found this article over at Relevant Magazine - Redeeming Sexual Brokenness and I about cried! This article is awesome! Seriously, it's about one woman's struggle with sex, porn, and masturbation.... TONS of females struggle with this, especially if they "awakened sex" too early. Now, what does it mean to "awaken sex?" It's such a churchy term. It means that maybe you were raped at an early age, sexually misused or abused, or were a bit whorish, like myself, before marriage. The pic to the left is of "love's first kiss." For Snow White to be awakened she had to have love's first kiss... So, Prince (he doesn't have any other name other than Prince, lame I know!) gave that to her... I see this with us too... It's not like Snow White could go back into a deep sleep now that she has been awakened... Well, neither can we! Once our physical love has been awakened it cannot go back to being dormant. Sex is supposedly awesome during marriage and I can't wait, but it's hard to wait. I didn't wait and it has become harder to wait since then. The only way I get through is by prayer! I still struggle every day with lustful thoughts and it's hard not to act on those. I'm reminded of an old song by DC Talk, "I Don't Want It." Here's my favorite part!
Yo, s-e-x is a test when I'm pressed
So back off with less of that zest
Impress this brother with a life of virtue
The innocence that's spent is gonna hurt you
Safe is the way they say to play
But then again safe ain't safe at all today
So just wait for the mate that's straight from God

Don't give it up 'til you tie the knot

LOVE IT!! "Impress this brother with a life of Virtue!" Seriously, guys this is some good stuff! WHY?! Because we are called to be set apart! To be different! As Christians we aren't always like that. For Christians who are living a life for Christ it is always HOT when we see someone really living for Christ in every aspect of their lives! Even if you've messed up in the past it's really okay to start now and live a life of virtue, a life of freedom from sexual sin. A life that when you are asked you can say you don't do that stuff anymore! A life that glorifies God!

The innocence that's spent is gonna hurt you hits. There is a a lot of guilt that goes alongis such an important line. Sometimes we forget that we loose more than our virginity, but our innocence as well. Once that hits guilts with lust and sex. The guilt that one day the person God has created for you will be disappointed that you did not wait for them. The guilt of not being able to stop thinking or acting a certain way. The guilt of feeling as though you disappointed your family and more importantly your God. Even though we know God forgives us and so does out family, but that initial disappoint is still there (from our family). If you grew up in a Christian house hold like I did and your parents know then you know exactly what I am talking about. For me I have seen my parents show Christ in how they approached me. For a while I didn't want to tell my mom, like YEARS! I finally told her one day that I used to be sexually active and she still loves me! :) My dad helped me through tons of break ups and even more just by being there. My dad actually told me years after he found out (by reading my open journal) that I had been sexually active. Even though my parents support me now they were disappointed. They wanted me to stay pure... Heck, at one time I wanted to stay pure. Now, it's a battle to remain pure. I'm trying each day to stay pure after years of not being.

Love

2010-10-10T21:29:00.000-04:00

What is Love? We talk about it all the time... So what is it?! We LOVE pizza, football, Dr. Pepper, Chick-fil-a! But is that really love? Could you live without those things? Of course, but you really really like them!

So, What do we really love? Our parents, our kids (for those that have them), our significant other (for those that have one of these also), and if you are a believer then your Jesus. As I was talking to a friend the other night we were talking about truly loving one another and what that means.... Well what does that mean to you? It should mean that you are willing to lay your life down for a family member, a friend, and even an enemy!

One time in college my cousin, Ben, and I were hanging out with all of his friends in a parking lot. Well, one of the guys (we will name him Thomas) started talking trash to a guy he had never met on his phone. The guy on the phone shows up asking for Thomas. Here is the kicker as he was asking for Thomas he pulls a gun. I think the correct response was WHAT IS HE THINKING?! Well, my cousin stepped in front of me aka in between me and the gun. Ben just stood there and made sure nothing would happen to me... He even told me not to move and kept his hand on me behind him. Now that is love!

Jesus said in John 15:10-13, "When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends." So, will you follow our Father's commandments? Would you lay your life down for your friends? Now let's go tosomething else Jesus said... Matt 5: 43-48 “You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike. If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that. But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect."

Now, if you put these two verses together what do we have? Not only do we have to love everyone, but you have to be willing to lay your life down for them... When was the last time we laid our life down or went out of our way for, or even helped someone we don't like?!

As a teenager I had a really hard time with these verses. I was a bit of a snob. I say a bit because I had friends in all different circles, but if I didn't like you or if you didn't like me then NO, I would not have laid my life down for you. Now, I hope I would lay my life down for someone who I really didn't care for, I pray that I would!

Would you? Honestly? Think about it... are you willing to lay your life down? To get out and be uncomfortable with your life because you are helping others. That might be spending less money on yourself and more on the homeless or people in need in general. What about paying for your meal and the car behind you in the drive through. What about helping someone cut their grass or rake their leaves.... Some people like myself don't have $$ but we can use our time to help people...

At Vintage Church we have a saying that we try and live by "Live the Gospel, Love the City, Be the Church." That is what all of this is about, being the Church.

Glutton?! Hoarder?! Sinner?!

2010-10-10T03:54:00.001-04:00

So, what am I? A glutton, a hoarder, or just a plain sinner? I have been very VERY convicted of what I have and how much of what I have... Last week I did laundry for the first time in 2 or 3 months... I did 13 loads of just CLOTHES! Seriously, what kind of a person has this many?! When I was home for the summer I packed up 7 bags of clothes to go to goodwill and tonight i took two GIANT arm fulls to a clothes swap. I'm trying to give away all the clothes I don't wear or like. I'm tired of feeling like I have so much when so many people have so little. I still have a ways to go and would love to learn to live off of much less than I do so that one day I can give away most of what I earn.

I am about to be very transparent, but I believe a lot of my problem is when I get stressed I shop. I used to smoke when I was stressed, but when I stopped smoking I started shopping to help with the stress. So, now I have tons of clothes and one body to wear it all!

Tonight we had something fun! It was called a Clothes Swap. 10-15 girls brought clothes and it was separated into the makes like pants, shirts, accessories, etc. I am lucky because I had to be at church tonight so I couldn't stay during the swap time, I just dropped clothes off and left. I went back after the swap was over and got 2 pair of pants out of what was left. I love that most of the clothes, I liked, were gone so I couldn't bring more home!! All of the left over clothes and items are going to the Swap Shop here on campus since we know Seminary people are totally POOR!!! Some of the clothes I took to the swap still had tags on them and others I know I had never worn, but I took the tags off of them. How ridiculous is that?

I think I am with clothes how some people are with food... They eat and eat even when they aren't hungry or when they are stressed. It's a sin and it just so happens to be a sin that everyone can see when it comes to laundry WEEK or even when I don't wear the same thing twice in 3 months. In 2 Timothy 3:1-9 it gives sins and one of those is not having self control. As much as I believe I have self control, I love to shop. Do I really have self control if I have more clothes than I can wear in 3 months? I think NO! Which means one of my sins is very visible and one that I struggle with... So, now I'm on the war path to live a simpler life... If I buy new clothes I'm getting rid of the old or I might just continue to get rid of the old! :)

So what is your secret sin? What is the one you struggle with? Is it as visual as being a glutton for clothes?

Update on Contentment

2010-10-05T23:14:00.004-04:00

So, here I am during Midterm week. I had 2 projects due today for both Drs. Jackson! That's right I take both Mr. and Mrs. in the same day! I had a magazine type thing due for Youth Culture and I love how it turned out!! For Mrs. Judi, I had a group presentation. I was up till 4am this morning working on my magazine, thankfully my group presentation was finished on Sunday.

This weekend was a women's conference on the NOBTS campus. It was on contentment. Contentment is something that I have struggled with. But here it is, I'm actually content now! I love my life here in New Orleans. I love my job and my classes. I'm thriving here! I could always have more money or a boyfriend or whatever, but as for life it's pretty fabulous! The last speaker was Liz Stewart. She works here on campus and she really brought the word. The best part is that she said we can still desire things in our life, but be happy with where we are right now. Like wanting to one day be married, but being happy right now as a single! As much as I know if I were married to a Youth Pastor I would be able to speak and really work with my passion I also know that one day I will have to explain to girls and maybe to a single woman how hard it has been to really find contentment.

I really miss being a Youth Speaker... it's something that I had a lot of opportunities to do in VA even if I didn't take them all, it was still an opportunity. So, if you'll pray that I will find an outlet for this it would be AWESOME!

I also really hope to help plan the next Women's event... it needs a little Arielle Flair hahaha! Some of you totally know what that means! LOVE it!! :)

I have been spending a lot of time reading and listening to Bianca Juarez... Yeah, she's pretty fabulous! I have also realized that all the people I would love to be mentored by live in Cali... is that a sign I should move there one day?! hmmm....

Learning

2010-09-30T13:03:00.005-04:00

So, I'm learning....

Scripture (even though it's for class I'm still on a strict memorizing regimen)
that God is as Faithful as He says He is
that God PROVIDES (in big ways hence the CAPS)
that HE is healer
how to pray (I'm going through a prayer study)
what church should really look like
that I love being apart of a church plant!!
that working and going to school is TIRING and I don't even have a family (you know a husband and kids and all that jazz)
that cheerleading will always be apart of my life
how much I miss teaching and preaching when I'm not able to do so.
how much I miss pouring in to students lives (thank goodness Samantha lets me pry into hers still, lol)
how to truly LIVE THE GOSPEL, LOVE THE CITY, AND BE THE CHURCH!
how much I would love to meet Bianca Juarez (basically I just want to be mentored by her!)

Life Update

2010-07-23T03:35:00.005-04:00

So, I haven't blogged about this yet... I've been seeking God about leaving NOLA since the beginning of the summer. I'm still not sure if He is leading me away from this place yet. I feel at home here with my wonderful friends, but I feel like something is missing and that this is ministry. I know God has put a passion for teenagers and student ministry in my heart. There is a reason God put it here and it won't leave!! I'm thankful to know with out a doubt what God has gifted me for! As of right now I have no where to use these gifts... SO, I have applied at multiple churches for Student Ministry positions. I have interviewed with 2 churches and truthfully am waiting on a certain one of those to make a decision.... I know if I do not receive a ministry position that God wants me to stay in NOLA. Now, I'm just waiting... Pray for me... and the waiting process...

As of right now I'm hanging out with friends and trying to enjoy myself!

During a Swamp Tour!!!

These are my bestest friends here! Angela, April, and myself!

(btw I made the necklaces! Nicole will be so proud!)

Biblical Feminism

2010-07-01T16:47:00.003-04:00

As I sit writing for my Feminist Theology class, I realize I don't fit into the mold. I'm not a Complementarian nor am I an Egalitarian. I am a female called into ministry, but I do not want to be the head of my church or my household... I just don't fit... The Complementarians believe that women shouldn't teach over a man including youth. Some even believe that includes children, that a patriarchal society is biblical with females being "lower" than men. Most people know, I am SO for equality... I don't want to go so far as to say that I think women should be the head of households or the church. I understand many women pastors understand that Christ is the head of the church and not the pastors, so that could be a loop hole into Complementarianism. As I read the conservative Complementarian view of Christian Feminism I realize that none of us have God completely figured out! That excites me! I for one NEVER want to be the person who puts God in a box saying that He will NEVER do something or that He CAN'T do something.... I would rather believe people when they say they are called to ministry by God no matter male or female. My dear friend Nicole Marburger and I used to joke that we are as close to feminist as we can be and still be Christians. The interesting thing is that I totally still believe that except when we said Christian we meant conservative Christian because we would not have and still to this would not twist Scripture as Egalitarians do. So here I am sitting on the fence believing God can and will use women in and out of full time ministry; believing ALL of scripture including Deborah and Phoebe as well as the Pastoral passages in 1 Timothy and Titus...

As I have been studying Feminist Theology tons of things have popped up such as a blog by Carlos Whittaker and then I was asked to preach at the church I was born in. Pretty interesting stuff...

So, where do you stand?

Zac Smith

2010-05-16T20:53:00.003-04:00

The Story of Zac Smith from NewSpring Media on Vimeo.

So, Zac went home to be with Jesus today... This story has really touched me... Today, at lunch we were talking about the prosperity gospel. To us being prosperous is God taking care of us, in Zac's story he said God cannot give him a bad gift and that CANCER is the best gift God has given him... WoW! Zac also said God is God and God is GOOD no matter if he was healed or NOT! To me that is the biggest testimony a person can give. Clayton King tweeted earlier today that "3 weeks ago Zac said he wanted to be in the word more and now Zac is WITH the WORD!" Unbelievable!! That's an awesome way to look at it! What would it be like to be WITH the WORD!

Youth Culture

2010-05-13T15:57:00.002-04:00

WoW! So, this Video is perfect in showing Youth Culture! I really feel that it speaks the truth... The culture is moving so fast and we as youth workers and or people who love dealing with teenagers so we need to get in and move fast! Share the gospel and BE THE CHURCH because that is the only way to reach the relational generation!

Interesting

2010-05-11T15:04:00.002-04:00

"Sunday's Coming" Movie Trailer from North Point Media on Vimeo.

So I saw this Video on Whyismarko.com and cracked up laughing! here is the problem... We are always making fun of the stand up sit down traditional services, but this is great! Every church or "kind of" church has there own way of doing church that could be put in a three minute clip.

What does this say about the roll of the Holy Spirit in churches? Do we really allow for it or do we tell Him to come back when it fits into our schedule...

I've got a Test to study for, but....

2010-05-10T11:28:00.004-04:00

You've gotta check out this Article!

http://bit.ly/c1qPb4

It's on Emotional Pornography... Which runs wild in our society such

as in Love Stories, TV shows, and Movies! Females, I believe, are

much more susceptible to not only believing this stuff, but also trying

to live it out! In the article Cole NeSmith writes:

"Kids eventually understand that pumpkins don’t turn to glass

carriages and Fairy Godmothers don’t grant wishes, but many

girls never grow out of the idea that one day they will be

rescued from reality by some magic and a fictitious prince.

And little boys never live up to the fantasy of the mind or that

they’re supposed to be that prince and that their spouse is an

all-fulfilling princess."

Seriously, this is a HUGE problem! We as Christians, especially

Christian women need to stop believing this crap. Yes, I am the girl

that owns a shelf full of "girlie" movies! But seriously, what are these

movies doing to not only us as single adult women, but the the guys

who might just want to take things slow or the guys who don't fit into

the nice little package that hollywood has created for us?! Huh?! It's

emasculating them and making them feel like they are not worthy

enough to even be looked at in that way by a girl. We've got to change

some things... like not watching the Notebook, 27 Dresses, or Sweet

Home Alabama every time they are on television! I'm not saying you

can't watch these things, I mean Heck most of those are on my shelf!

What I am saying is that when you are down DON'T watch a love story

movie... Watch a Comedy or an action flick!!! You are harming yourself

more by watching these than you would be if you didn't!

And by the way... Give the Boy so NOT your type a second glance!

It could be worth it!

The Body

2010-05-02T15:28:00.005-04:00

I am overwhelmed and so filled with emotions right now. Today at Vintage we had a "Family Meeting" which is like a business meeting at any other church. Our Music Minister has resigned to focus on God and his family. It was a decision made by both the Vintage church council type thing and the former Music Minister. Here's the thing when Rob (our pastor) asked if we had any questions NO ONE asked for specific reasons... but one guy spoke up and asked if there was anything like a card or something that we (the church body) could do for them. THAT is being the CHURCH! Seriously, when was the last time we (the church in whole) cared more about the people than the gossip about the people.

Church at Vintage is how I see the Church needing to be... Full of Grace, Love, and Discipline.... WoW.... God is so good.

God is teaching me so much... I feel like He has put me in this city, school, job, and church for a reason... I'm not sure why yet, but it's HIS plan that's for sure! So, hopefully He will continue to reveal bits and pieces to me!

Worry

2010-04-18T19:43:00.003-04:00

So I'm sitting in my apt. suppose to be writing a paper. I'm so unfocused... I am writing a paper on South African Baptists. Should be easy right since my old roomie Amber (miss you!) was a missionary there. That part is, but actually writing the dang thing is killing me. Kim, i know you are laughing at me because I was like this all through college so it's nothing new!

God has been really pushing my buttons today. Rob preached (via video) this morning on the passage in Matt. 6 starting at verse 25 about being anxious. There is one situation in my life where I am always feeling anxious and I have FINALLY given that to God today. Not only did Rob preach on it, but every blog that I have found today of South African Missionaries has been talking about not worrying! One even quoted my favorite scripture Psalm 55:22... If that wasn't a slap in the face I don't know what is! So, as of TODAY it's all God's and I'm not worrying!! :)

Life is good and God is ROCKING my FLOPS today! Now, back to my paper (that I am SOOOooo NOT worrying about)!!! I could probably care less about this paper! But back to writing!

New Shoes!

2010-02-15T20:35:00.000-05:00

The Love of my life right now.....

I will update again VERY SOON!

WHO DAT?!

2010-02-08T18:35:00.003-05:00

So, this is probably the most amazing time in my life. After helping to rebuild a home outside the city this summer and now watching people drive into the city to celebrate last night was unbelievable! People were driving around honking and flashing their lights... Not to mention all of the Yelling of WHO DAT?! All the people standing on the side of random roads with their signs, grown adults doing chinese fire drills at stop lights, the fire dept. standing on their trucks with lights going just cheering!! Some of my friends and myself stood outside in a CrAzY LOOOOOooooong line to get our Super Bowl Champs shirts last night. The Pic is of my friend Tiffany and Myself waiting in line!

The feeling in the city is so amazing! Everyone is giddy! It's hard to explain... but if somehow this city was this excited about Jesus there would be NO stopping it and the whole NATION would be reached! I'm excited to be able to be here for this experience.

So let's reach this city, TODAY!!

WoW really?!

2010-02-05T20:15:00.005-05:00

OKay So I haven't blogged in months... Well, that's a lie. I have blogged just not posted them for your enjoyment!

Life has been so crazy, I resigned my church and now live in NOLA. I never would have thought I would live in Louisiana or even be going to Seminary right now... My life is pretty normal, Friends, Class, Studying... It should probably be in a different order, because I spend a lot of time in class and a lot studying! My roommate has moved out not because we didn't like living together, but because she found basically a free house to live in! So, now I live in a 4 bedroom apt by myself! I actually really like it!

One thing that is hard right now is finding a church... I've been to church with friends and haven't really felt like whole heartedly "this is the church for me." UGH! Why doesn't NewSpring have a New Orleans Campus?! haha! But Sunday is coming and it will be a new day and a new church!

I'm looking for a job and have interviewed twice with a Cheer gym for a coaches position! I am praying that if it's God's will that I get it! I love cheerleading and coaching and the fact that it is a Christian gym just adds icing to the cake! Man, I hope it happens and I get a chance to mix my passion for leading teenage girls to Christ and my passion for Cheerleading together!

I have been able to babysit a couple of times and it is just wonderful! I get to spend time with kids and play! Plus, I can be a blessing for parents here on campus that can't find a babysitter or one that their kids like! lol!

Funny kawinkadink, 2 of my best friends at home were Kristy and April... Well, here my 2 best friends are Christie and April! Ha! At least I didn't have to learn new names!

Where does Your devotion lie?

God has really been rocking my world with 1 Cor 7. Some of you know my obsession with 7:17 in the Message, but the whole chapter is full of Godly goodness! So what does it talk about, you ask?! Try staying single and being devoted to God, if you can that is! But seriously, 7: 35 says,

I say this for your own benefit, not to lay any restraint upon you, but to promote good order and to secure your undivided devotion to the Lord.

I have found while this month in Seminary that TOO many people are focusing on what I would consider the wrong things. (Some of you are going to laugh thinking that is coming from me, but God is really convicting me.) We are focusing on in a Christian realm would be a worldly thing! WTCrap are we thinking and doing?!

Marriage and finding the one (UGH! It's driving me NUTS!!! I've even stopped watching "Say Yes to the Dress" that's how much it's bothering me!)

Theology and NOT reaching people

Making yourself look good and NOT God

Their church

THE SAINTS (okay, I LOVE football and this is SUCH a big deal in NOLA, but we are tending to talk about them and NOT Jesus)

So those are just things I can think of right now, but seriously there are way more I know it! I guess it just kills me that people aren't trying to find a way to reach our city. Now, I am one who is super focused on my studies and very rarely leave campus because of it... Which is a big reason I'm hoping for this cheer job! But the Marriage complaint above is really getting to me... like so much! I hate people asking me "well, have you found anyone there yet?" Okay, really?! Why am I here?! I thought I was here to learn and to grow! hmmm apparently I'm here to find a mate?! Who knew! I wish God had sent me that memo! haha! Okay, so only certain people will get that, but it's true!

Hopefully I will Update again soon!

2009-09-18T14:58:00.002-04:00

I just wrote my October Newsletter article. REALLY?! October?! I have no idea where all this time went.

God has really been rocking my face off with Paul's letters to the Corinthians. Especially through 1 Cor 7:17. Eugene Peterson puts it this way

And don't be wishing you were someplace else or with someone else. Where you are right now is God's place for you. Live and obey and love and believe right there. God, not your marital status, defines your life. Don't think I'm being harder on you than on the others. I give this same counsel in all the churches.
(1Co 7:17 MSG)

WOW! Seriously, he killed me with this verse! God has put us all here for a reason... Maybe it's who you hang out with at work or school or even who you come in contact with at the grocery store... No matter who or where God has placed you there is a reason... Let's step up and step out to share the Love of Christ with everyone!

Now let's think about what defines you... (this isn't in the Greek, but it's something I sure needed at the time! ) As a single it can get lonely... In ministry as a single female it can be AWFUL! When the personnel team rips apart the entire ministry and then when you go home you still feel awful and there is no one to share it with or to help you to start to heal... I guess guys go through the same feeling, but I know how females feel when they just want to be held by the person that loves them the most... It's kinda hard to be loved and held by your dog! haha! But it starts to define you and take on a role in your life that can be hard for a single to handle. So many singles need to take a step back and realize that there is a space that can remain blank in our hearts for a season so that eventually a mate can fill it. As talking to many GROWING Christian singles still have a small space in their hearts that they feel is there even though Christ has filled them... I know for some of you you think I am speaking crazy because God should have our whole heart and Yes, I agree.... BUT I think God puts a desire in our hearts for a spouse if that is His will for us. I really think God would put a desire there and let us know that there is a spot there for that person... I know it sounds dumb, but those are my thoughts hahah!

Summer

2009-08-24T00:48:00.002-04:00

So school starts for most of my students tomorrow. That's right SUMMER'S OVER! How unbelievable is that?! This summer has been full of ups and downs and even more ups and even lower downs for our student ministry. I'm just going to focus on the Highs in a list...

Highs
Camp - Deeply Rooted
- Growth in the Students was truly remarkable... We laughed alot and grew as a family. I just love hearing our students say that they actually feel like a family!
- Side note - we had a new student this morning who was invited by another student and the new student walked away saying how much he sees why she says that she has a church family because he felt at home!! WoW! OH and she got to share Christ with him tonight!!!! AHHHHMAZZING what God can do through 14 year olds!!!

Mission Trip - Port Sulphur, LA
- When we got there our contractor was 3 weeks behind... when we left he was 3 days ahead and he got his first day off in months!! whoo hoo..
- Being able to hear my students yell at each other to "DO WORK" or even reminding each other how they would want their house painted or their floors to look so that is how we should do the work!
- Finding out which adults truly love students and their sense of humors!
- Watching a "29" year old woman who has been married 32 years start and finish a spitball war that lasted through 3 states!

Pranks -
- It just so happens that two adults that our students love SOOOoo very much had birthdays in the same week... and we might just have 50 pink flamingos and so toilet paper lol!

Needless to say our summer was incredible!! I just love my students!

Now on to pray over next year and what God wants us to do in and around our church!

Long Time coming...

2009-05-04T16:29:00.006-04:00

So I just realized that it has been since November that I have posted. WoW! What has been wrong with me?!

God has grown me so much since November... I am trying very hard to be completely focused on God and not on the silly girlie things that it is so easy to get caught up in.

I had a D-Now planned April 17-19... The theme was THE TRUTH: Guys, Girls, and Dating. "I" had all these plans for it... Well a week before the D-Now some things happened and I had to change all the plans around.. Truthfully the D-Now was NOTHING like I had planned... Instead I can say that God showed up and showed out and we are still seeing fruit and growth off of that weekend. Girls and guys alike were changed! I can't wait to see what God has planned for our Student Ministry next!! If you ever need a camp or retreat speaker I highly recommend Jeremiah Verdin! He was one of my friends from college and he was AMAZING!!

Camp is planned for June 22-26th @ the Lake we went to last year... I love that place... God really shows up every time I'm there, even if it's a weekend with the fam. The theme is "Deeply Rooted."

God has really been working in me lately and I have realized that "I" named our student ministry. Our church staff and church counsel have all gone through simple church and as a church our theme is Round Oak Church - Rooted and Grounded in Love... Well our student ministry is named CONNECT... Connecting with each other and God... I think Connect was a good theme for Last Year, but now I see as since we are one maybe we should just be ROSM - Round Oak Student Ministry - Rooted and Grounded in Love, idk... just something I've been thinking about lately...

I'm trying to think of what has gone on since November... Well I got a dog in Feb!!! She's precious!! Her name is Jasmine, but we call her Jazzy!

That's basically my life in a nutshell... God, student ministry and my dog! hahaha WoW I need to get out more, maybe not I really love my life! :-)

Christians after the election...

2008-11-05T00:10:00.001-05:00

I wish many of my Christian friends would be as excited about the gospel as they are their candidates. Now that would change the world! ~Mark Matlock

I'm really shocked how Christians are handling this election... God has everything under control and He is going to put into office who He wants and He wanted your vote! Yes, I voted and Yes, I voted conservative... But that is who I am! Do I have Christian friends and family members who voted Democratic, Yes. Do I think there is a problem with that, NO!

This blog is to no one specific but after reading status updates on facebook and myspace I just feel compelled to speak out! We sit in church and say we need to love and accept everyone, but when we leave the building we don't do that. Is judging people the right way to bring them to Christ? If bringing people to Christ is our biggest task then why are we worried about the election to the point where we are showing our rears and acting in ways that are not Christ-like. God has a plan and even though I might not want Obama as a President, God has a plan and I can't wait to see what God is going to do through this! Our God is BIG... Bigger than an election, Bigger than our churches, Bigger than our Judgments, Bigger than views and opinions... He is Big and awesome and is gonna rock our socks! I wish we could all see our actions and words from the outside and how others view us... I really want our Jesus to look good and I think that starts with us, the Christians...

STOP JUDGING and START LOVING!!

I'm so over the bickering and fighting... I wish everyone would just get along! Who cares who you voted for or even if someone makes you mad... the Christian thing to do is to forgive! How about we try that!

Cheating

2008-10-24T14:34:00.002-04:00

So two weeks ago on Wednesday night discussion ended up on cheating. Our student ministries staff and leaders realized via a poll that all but one of our students cheated on a monthly basis. When we started talking about the reasons why my heart broke. The biggest reason they cheat is so they can please there parents by the grades they get. Our students are feeling as though they are not good enough for their parents. So if they peek at someone else's paper to get an answer they do not know it's okay because they will not get yelled at at home for bringing home a bad grade. The students feel that they would rather cheat than be yelled at or feel as though they have disappointed their parents.

I never had this trouble because as long as I tried my best my parents were proud of me and I knew it. In college at one point I felt like a failure and called home scared of how my parents were going to react at the sound of my bad grades and I was so scared that my parents were going to fuss about the money they had taken out of retirement to pay for my semester. Instead my Dad was so loving and said "Oh well, what's one more semester!" I was in tears because I realized that my parents loved me supported me no matter what! So when I see my students craving this attention from their parents it breaks my heart to see the extremes they are going to just to please their parents.

Confession

2008-10-07T18:31:00.003-04:00

So I am having some major Spiritual Warfare. I am preaching Sunday Night and this happens every time I preach whether it be on a Sunday Night or to a larger youth group on a special occasion... I almost always feel as though I am not good enough --> In life in general. All of those little things that pop up every now and then that I'm not good at or are an insecurity all come together at once... Sometimes I feel like I'm not good enough and I put my worth in other people... so if something happens and the person or persons I talk to on a daily basis back out on me or stop talking to me I feel that it's my fault or that I did something wrong... or maybe I'm just not good enough for them. All of those insecurities pop up... I thank God all the time for my friends... those that I can call on at any time. God has given me the most amazing friends and family ever! I love the closeness that I have with so many of my friends! Amazing! But sometimes I feel like I forget that my best friend should truly be Jesus... Instead I turn to humans who HELLO are going to fail me... So that's the Confession... I need to turn to Him more than friends and family.... WoW! When I had this realization today I was in tears... I couldn't help but become overwhelmed at how much I depend on humans instead of God...

Renewed

2008-10-03T14:35:00.004-04:00

So I was really struggling Spiritually for about a month... I didn't tell anyone and really thought that no one could tell. The Ironic thing is that the person who could tell the most was my old roomie Kim. She called me out all the way from Asheville, NC! haha! Well, about 2 weeks ago maybe 3 I started the book Soul School by Jeanne Stevens. I can not tell you how much this book has truly blessed my life and has renewed me. I am preaching next Sunday night and this book has inspired much of what I am going to speak on. From Christians trying to hide their sins from each other to focusing on the past instead of the present. Jeanne put Isaiah 43:19 out of the message translation into a chapter. It says,

Forget about what's happened;
don't keep going over old history.
Be alert, be present. I'm about to do something brand-new.
It's bursting out! Don't you see it?

Man that is good stuff! How many of us focus on what we did in our pasts or even wanting to go back to a certain time in our life when we feel like things are getting tough. INSTEAD we need to be alert and present because God is gonna ROCK our faces off if we are just expectant about it! I see this in our churches. We want to go back to the hay days but we forget that our hay days were some of the toughest times in our lives. We just remember how we felt after God brought us through those things. In the book Pop Goes The Church, by Tim Stevens, a question is posed... What would your community look like if your church was gone? Would people notice? and by people the author is not talking about the church goers and their friends but the people who do not attend and drive by on a daily basis. I know for Round Oak that all we do feeding people and helping them get by in tough times and on Wednesdays nights when the van runs to the trailer park to pick up the kids that those people would notice... they would notice that that help is no longer there. I just hope that we are seen as a light in this community and not just a social club!
So yeah that's what God has been teaching me lately!

Another Subject entirely is how much I love Dorothy Thomas... She is a pillar in our church and is the oldest member at like 98 or something like that... Today while playing Secretary she called to see if tomorrow during homecoming work day if someone would clean a plaque that was placed in memory of her husband... she said that in 26 years no one has probably cleaned it, but she was just hoping that someone could get around to it... That makes me want to go clean it right now! She never wants to inconvenience someone but is so sweet and loves her Jesus so much people just want to help her!

Life and Ministry the Past Couple of weeks...

2008-09-10T10:10:00.002-04:00

Man... I feel like I need a Vacation... OH WAIT I DO! HA!

I went to VA beach with my mom a month ago now for a couple of days while she was at a conference... and from those 2 and 1/2 days I have not stopped. From Criticism to Crisis after Crisis... I feel bad saying this, but this past week has been awesome because I have actually gotten to dwell in the presence of God! It has been very refreshing!

REACTION 2 CRITICISM
- If you never go into a basement that the Youth have as a hang out then don't complain about the "paint job."
- If a youth pastor doesn't spend time outside of church with some students THEN get worried.
- The Youth are at church more than you... they should have some sort of say...
- The Youth know that they don't matter to the rest of the church... SAD TIMES

CRISIS
- Youth Parents Cheating
- Break-ups (though teenage still important to them)
- Sudden Death of a Praise Band Member
- Student Kicked Out for Fighting
- Student Mad at Youth Pastor -- met about this

I wish the different Crisis would wake up the Church to prove to them that all the Criticism isn't necessary! Let's put life int perspective!!! Who cares what the Basement looks like if Kids are growing closer to God and actually want to be there so that when their day comes we will be able to rejoice like we have with Brian's Family and not have to morn....

Vacation

2008-08-20T16:27:00.003-04:00

So I was on a very short vacation and got a call from a youth leader.... all you Youth Pastors know what's coming next! A family of a student/the student is mad at me!!! GASP! Then I find out that the personel team wanted me to be at their meeting on Monday night, but my "Supervisor" did not tell me... OH, He did tell the Personel team that he couldn't reach me... hmmmm.... I have no missed call from him and I was on my phone almost all day on Monday with college friends and such... I just don't understand why all things come in droves... WHY CAN I NOT JUST DO MINISTRY AND FORGET THE PETTY CRAP! I'm sorry I called your student out and made her mad... oh and I'm sorry that I didn't pick up my phone when it didn't ring...

WELCOME TO YOUTH MINISTRY!!!!! 6 months in and I already want to quit! hahaha that so won't happen!

Pet Peeves

2008-08-13T12:03:00.004-04:00

Kent Shaffer Blogs about Pet Peeves....

Top 10 Pet Peeves About Worship Leaders (with examples)

Asking the Congregation to do Something (21 responses)

Makes us shake hands with the people around us.
When a worship leader tells you to lift up your hands, it takes a meaningful personal action and turns it into a obligatory command.
Talks like they’re at a high school pep rally, “Let me hear ya!”
Asks how everyone is doing. We’re not at a concert, so we’re not going to scream.
Tells you what to do and how to worship… to the point where it makes you feel guilty if you don’t conform yourself to her/his understanding of what worship is.
I hate it when worship leaders script the worship too much by telling people what to do. I’ve had worship leaders completely distract me from God when they start telling me what to do.

Mini-Sermons & Talking (20 responses)

Talks between every song.
I am distracted when worship leaders start talking about anything that is not directions on what we are about to do.
When they repeat the same catch-phrases every week.
Breathy speaking between songs.
Sermonettes are annoying if too long or common
You can tell a mile away when a worship leader is “sharing” because he feels obligated to. It’s always a cheesy or over emotional blurb. When God’s really laid something on a worship leader’s heart, it’s cool. But even then, say it in less than 45 seconds! Don’t meander on for 3 minutes.

Not Focusing on God (17 responses)

Forget that the audience of worship is God and start making it a performance for those sitting in front of them.
When they perform rather than worship themselves.
Showing zero emotion, standing still, focusing too much on perfection.
Worship leaders who seem really wrapped up in being “cool.”
Sometimes you can tell they’re being fake and/or showy.
I hate it when the music guy/gal asks the crowd to praise God but soaks it up like they are Bono and the crowd is really praising them.
I hate it when worship leaders don’t lead people.

Unprofessional (14 responses)

Starts service late.
Typos on the screen.
Talks to the praise band while leading worship instead of using hand signals to tell them what to do.
When the leader changes the key of the song and does not tell the rest of the team.
Goes out of order or adds another song in the middle of the set
When the leader and/or band member turns away from the people to mess with their gear.
When the production team on stage are laughing, joking, and gesturing behind the worship leader to the soundboard guys in the transition between worship and the message.

Singing (11 responses)

Can’t sing very well.
Doesn’t know the lyrics.
When worship leaders run words together.
When they put their own little spin on simple, common words.
Repeating the same line in a song 3.6 million times. There’s the Spirit’s leading and then there’s just plain losing people.
Our old church’s leader would sing so high that no one could sing along. She provided no harmony for us to pick up. It was to showcase her own voice.

Appearance (9 responses)

Sing with their eyes closed.
When singers act like they are really bored up there.
Wears crotch hugging jeans.
Looks or sounds seductive.
One of our young worship leaders had a really big hicky on his neck a couple of weeks ago.

Prayer (8 responses)

Inauthentic prayer – too scripted or so random that it doesn’t make sense, or rushed/dragged out to make the prayer fit the interlude.
Prays the words of the songs.
When they can’t talk or pray appropriately between songs.

Bad Transitions (5 responses)

Transitions between songs take long time.
Allows uncomfortable dead time between songs.
When they pray essentially the same prayer at a transition moment.
Using the song name as an introduction/transition - “You know I was thinking about how much God has done for me…it really is ‘Amazing Grace’ isn’t it?”

Lifestyle (4 responses)

When he’s obviously ungodly during practice and throughout life, but turns into a saint on Sunday morning.
I hate to see a person who is suppose to be leading worship acting like a jerk before service and then getting up on stage acting like nothing ever happened.
As a Pastor, I hate it when the music guy/gal is lazy apart from their 30 minute set on Sundays.

Catering to the Congregation (4 responses)

When they hold back because they are obviously conscious of what the congregation and/or pastor will think.
I hate it when worship leaders/pastors play to people who think the worship somehow revolves around what they like and what makes them feel good when it has absolutely nothing to do with our preferences or likes.
Has to risk being a cheerleader because the people that claim to love God exhibit no sense of joy when singing about Him.

So I totally jacked this, but I thought it was interesting because of how much i cretique worship leading... IDK how i feel totally about this post but it was a fun read!

You know sometimes I don't understand people and how they think that because there kid is not "having fun" no kids are.... BLAH sometimes when I look at the church I get so frustrated especially when people try and run the church when i feel like they are just looking out for their own. Should church be about reaching as many people as possible and not just reaching our "church kids." As I look at my ministry and notice how I am constantly changing or trying to change with what my students are interested in and what not I am always trying to get new kids in the door... I wish we were all trying to reach those kids and not trying to please our church kids who don't care about Jesus in the first place they are forced to be there...