19 girls in my group tonight, and at least two were missing. I love them. They are so diverse. So goofy and talkative and loving as God is so at work in them.
It is so humbling to be before them weekly, pointing them to The Lord, helping shape them into the women God wants them to be. I pray I am an encouragement to them, that they always know I care. I pray they will be followers, and not just fans.
I pray that they are each the ONE who stays in church after graduating from highschool.
Who knew these dramatic, antsy, silly, emotional teenage girls would change my life so much?!
3.27.2013
3.26.2013
Conference.
I was asked to speak at a Women on Mission Conference in April, about how missions goes on.
I am praying the Lord gives me direction on what to speak, that I will point the women to Him, not to myself, that He will increase and I will decrease. I am praying that He will be exalted higher and higher in my life and in the lives of the attendees.
I'm not nervous. I don't often get nervous before speaking in front of people. But I want to share what He commands.
What if that means spilling my J-Man story to everyone? Missions goes on, even if it doesn't look the way you anticipate.
Will you join me in praying?
I am praying the Lord gives me direction on what to speak, that I will point the women to Him, not to myself, that He will increase and I will decrease. I am praying that He will be exalted higher and higher in my life and in the lives of the attendees.
I'm not nervous. I don't often get nervous before speaking in front of people. But I want to share what He commands.
What if that means spilling my J-Man story to everyone? Missions goes on, even if it doesn't look the way you anticipate.
Will you join me in praying?
3.24.2013
His Voice.
Breathe.
Between working full time, grad school, leading my girls at church, maintaining friendships, and seeing family, it seems that life has slipped away.
But I've made it a point to be in God's word more, to be dilligent: I want to read through the Bible this year and though I got off track at times, I think I'm back on.
His word is breath and life.
Psalm 29:4-9
"The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is majestic. The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars; the LORD breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon. He makes Lebanon skip like a calf, Sirion like a young wild ox. The voice of the LORD strikes with flashes of lightening. The voice of the LORD shakes the desert; the Lord shakes the Desert of Kadesh. The voice of the LORD twists the oaks and strips the forest bare. And in his temple, all cry 'HOLY!'"
Stoping long enough to hear His voice, to recognize and understand His words, is challenging at times. But there is nothing more I want to do.
Between working full time, grad school, leading my girls at church, maintaining friendships, and seeing family, it seems that life has slipped away.
But I've made it a point to be in God's word more, to be dilligent: I want to read through the Bible this year and though I got off track at times, I think I'm back on.
His word is breath and life.
Psalm 29:4-9
"The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is majestic. The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars; the LORD breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon. He makes Lebanon skip like a calf, Sirion like a young wild ox. The voice of the LORD strikes with flashes of lightening. The voice of the LORD shakes the desert; the Lord shakes the Desert of Kadesh. The voice of the LORD twists the oaks and strips the forest bare. And in his temple, all cry 'HOLY!'"
Stoping long enough to hear His voice, to recognize and understand His words, is challenging at times. But there is nothing more I want to do.
3.18.2013
So Good.
My heart is so full and I feel so humbled.
I want to point others to the One who is worthy, the Most High, rather than to myself.
The Lord is so good.
I want to point others to the One who is worthy, the Most High, rather than to myself.
The Lord is so good.
JHU, Semester Two.
Registered for my next set of classes. Summer 2013.
Changing Behavior through Communication
Branding and Advertising
Both are online, and they'll start mid-May. I'm a little nervous about taking two classes, working full time, and serving at church. But the Lord is faithful. I've learned a lot this month about balancing things, time management, and the importance of being in His word.
Here's to the rest of this semester and the start of the next one!
Changing Behavior through Communication
Branding and Advertising
Both are online, and they'll start mid-May. I'm a little nervous about taking two classes, working full time, and serving at church. But the Lord is faithful. I've learned a lot this month about balancing things, time management, and the importance of being in His word.
Here's to the rest of this semester and the start of the next one!
3.15.2013
Satisfy.
Some people are really really great at remembering the names of bands and the songs they sing. I mean, they are like pros.
Me? Not so much.
However, one band I love and have been listening to a lot lately is Tenth Avenue North.
Satisfy me, Lord.
Me? Not so much.
However, one band I love and have been listening to a lot lately is Tenth Avenue North.
Satisfy me, Lord.
First Fruits.
Some big financials decisions to be made:
- Where to live (back at home, saving $500 a month, at least until September. Then we'll see.)
- How many classes to take (Goal: complete Grad School without new student loans.)
- How much I can afford to put into my Roth IRA (try to meet the yearly maximum?)
- How quickly I can pay off my car (by the time I'm 27? That's just over 3 years.)
- Can I afford to buy a house? (Oh my lanta, who even knows?!)
Last night, I was reading through the various laws in Deuteronomy. And I came to the part where Moses commands the Israelites to give their first fruits to the Lord. The first of their crops and animals.
The first.
Before they knew if there would be more coming.
Before they paid bills and took their goods to the market to sell.
Before they checked how much was in their savings account.
Their first fruits.
The reason? So that we may "rejoice in all the good things the Lord your God has given to you and your household" (Deuteronomy 26:11).
I love that. I was convicted.
I tithe regularly, but it had always been on the last Sunday of the month. That way, I knew how much I would make, what my "10%" would be, and that my bills all paid with no problem. But what if I gave my tithe on the first Sunday of the month? Before those bills are taken out? Before my car payment, my credit card bill, my cell phone, my insurance, my, my, my.... How would that change my dependence on the Lord? How would I grow in my faith and trust? How would I see "all the good things the Lord [my] God has give to [me] and [my] household"?
That seems a little radical. Counter-culture. To give first rather than saving or spending first. But I'm excited. Last night, I fell more in love with the Word of God than I have been in a while. And I was reading in Deuteronomy. No one expects that. I am excited to take the Lord at His word. To give Him my first fruits.
- Where to live (back at home, saving $500 a month, at least until September. Then we'll see.)
- How many classes to take (Goal: complete Grad School without new student loans.)
- How much I can afford to put into my Roth IRA (try to meet the yearly maximum?)
- How quickly I can pay off my car (by the time I'm 27? That's just over 3 years.)
- Can I afford to buy a house? (Oh my lanta, who even knows?!)
Last night, I was reading through the various laws in Deuteronomy. And I came to the part where Moses commands the Israelites to give their first fruits to the Lord. The first of their crops and animals.
The first.
Before they knew if there would be more coming.
Before they paid bills and took their goods to the market to sell.
Before they checked how much was in their savings account.
Their first fruits.
The reason? So that we may "rejoice in all the good things the Lord your God has given to you and your household" (Deuteronomy 26:11).
I love that. I was convicted.
I tithe regularly, but it had always been on the last Sunday of the month. That way, I knew how much I would make, what my "10%" would be, and that my bills all paid with no problem. But what if I gave my tithe on the first Sunday of the month? Before those bills are taken out? Before my car payment, my credit card bill, my cell phone, my insurance, my, my, my.... How would that change my dependence on the Lord? How would I grow in my faith and trust? How would I see "all the good things the Lord [my] God has give to [me] and [my] household"?
That seems a little radical. Counter-culture. To give first rather than saving or spending first. But I'm excited. Last night, I fell more in love with the Word of God than I have been in a while. And I was reading in Deuteronomy. No one expects that. I am excited to take the Lord at His word. To give Him my first fruits.
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