Carrie and Corey are MARRIED!!!! May 28, 2012

I had planned on blogging some time last week, but there was never a chance. It has been such a GREAT weekend! Before I get to all those fun details, I will catch up on what’s happened the past like 10 days that I haven’t posted:

-Carrie’s bridal shower: we went to dinner at Daniel’s and then went to Brookes for gifts and desserts. Such a sweet time of fellowship and catching up with friends while anticipating Carrie’s upcoming wedding!

-Did laundry for the first time in my new home!! Yay milestone! Haha

-Last Saturday, went to Sarah and Wills wedding. It was a gorgeous day and such a sweet wedding! So happy for the two of them and excited for how the Lord will use them as a married couple.

-Put curtains up!

my bedroom

great room

kitchen valance

-Went to Chili’s with friends to get us all together one last time before our two friends got married!

-Went to Ashley’s dance performance at her school. It was so much fun to see her up on stage enjoying herself and to see improvement from last year when she took dance class! So proud of her!

Ok, now to this weekend. I took off work on Thursday and Friday, so it was a nice short work-week. On Thursday, the bridesmaids and bride went to get nails done together.

Me and Morgan waiting to get our nails done

Chelsey and the Bride (Carrie) getting pedicures

Then on Friday, we headed to Oriental, NC for wedding prep, bike riding , rehearsal, and rehearsal dinner! We all had a blast…this was such a special time for all of us because we have all been friends for so long. The bridal party could not have been more fun to spend time with!

decorating the cupcake stand

folding napkins

setting up chairs?? haha

taking a break for a bike ride

at the rehearsal dinner (bride with the bridesmaids and registry attendant)

I think we yelled out “Carrie’s getting married!” about 100 times over the weekend because we were so excited!

Saturday was wedding day!!!! I have pictures from pre-wedding and post-wedding, but not from the ceremony or reception since I was involved in those, but hope to post a few pictures from other people if I get a chance to! It was seriously the perfect weekend. Carrie was so calm and got to enjoy the whole thing. She was the most beautiful bride and Corey is one lucky guy. Carrie is also one lucky girl as I have seen how much Corey adores her. They are a beautiful picture of Christ’s love and I can’t wait to see how the Lord uses them together! I am so honored to have been a part of their special day and I couldn’t be happier for them!The wedding was breathtaking and gospel saturated! The reception was one BIG party with dancing, corn hole, laughing, and fellowshipping! SO MUCH FUN!

Brooke and I laughing as she did my hair…thank you so much for doing my hair friend!!! You did such a great job and I am so thankful that you would take time to do that!!!

the results

the bride getting her hair done

Me and Carrie!

Before heading home yesterday, a few of us decided to have a beach day. It was great and I got to experience my first time on a ferryboat!!!

the girls on the ferryboat

and the guys…

Well it’s just about time for me to wrap this up; my family was in VA this weekend for Memorial Day, so I haven’t seen them and they will be home soon! Before I go, I will share just a few things I have been learning:

• When we are not feeling the angst to grow in the Word, we aren’t doing anything with it. When we are doing something with God’s Word, we need to refuel and rejuvenate ourselves with His Word and knowledge of Him.
• As I realize that I will have more financial stressers than I used to, I easily become anxious. I am remembering that God is the provider, not me. I am to be faithful and diligent with what I have and trust God to provide what He sees necessary. I am to be generous in my giving and rest in Christ.
• The amount of your strength is equal to the quality of your rest…rest must be found in CHRIST. Christ is the ultimate rest (Sabbath): He is my righteousness, He is my identity, He is my security, He is my priority. When I apply those things rightly to my life, I find REST because it is solely found in Him.
• God’s will for my life is to be saved, to be filled with the Spirit, to be pure, to submit to authority, and to even suffer to do good works (Ephesians 5). He wills for me to be sanctified…to be like Him, to be with Him. Am I doing things that line up with His will? I must examine carefully my actions, thoughts, choices, and decisions to make sure they are aligned with His will for my life.

One last plug…two of my dear brothers and sisters in Christ (Nik and Stacy Lingle) are planning to adopt a child from Ethiopia. If you have a little time, please check out their website as they explain how they feel God’s plan for them is to adopt and find out how you can help! Please consider buying a t-shirt and helping support this family in bringing their sweet child home from Ethiopia! –>(http://joyfilledhearts.wordpress.com/join-us/)

The Nook May 16, 2012

So I spent an hour for this post typing it up and getting pictures on it, and somehow it got deleted…HATE IT!! I had so many thoughts and so many updates, now to start over and I know it’s not going to be the way I wanted it, I am going to have to shorten everything (just got home from setting stuff up for a bridal shower for Carrie tomorrow at Brooke’s and it’s too late with having to wake up early). I have been MIA this week as it’s been quite the busy move! I am excited to be in my own place and still settling in. I am making lots of progress, but there are so many little projects to do. The move took literally ALL DAY Saturday as I ended up having to pack up the rest of my room that morning because the week took an interesting turn on Thursday. It’s funny how the Lord continues to show me that my plans are not always His plans and I can move forward with His with joy. After work on Thursday I ended up spending 5 hours at the hospital with Amy and her family (a coworker and good friend) as their middle son got LOTS of stitches and staples; then her other 2 children stayed with me at my parent’s house and went to school with me on Friday. Then Friday I went to the Lecrae and Matt Papa concert at Summit. It was so great! Such a gospel-saturated, Christ-centered, and God-glorifying concert. So thankful for men who use their God-given talents to glorify Him.

I finally feel like I am moving forward with my life. Not totally because of the move, but it is helpful with this transition I feel that I am in. I feel free. I am no longer holding on to control (that I really didn’t have), no enslaved to my own distractions, and feel refreshed in my focus on the Lord! I am excited for what He has ahead of me and trust that His plan is better!

On Sunday, we went as to Summit to be together as a family. JD continued our study in Hebrews in chapter 2, where we are given 4 points about Jesus…religion changes by command, the Gospel changes by sight, the sight of Jesus. When we see Jesus in the right way, we are completely changed. We need to see Jesus:

1. He is a King who got involved- He was the Creator, knew the problem, and chose to be the solution. He really was the only solution! He knew it would be messy and still got involved. What’s amazing is not that “good” people suffer, but that “bad” people have a God who pursues them and tasted death for them, for me!
2. He is a Champion who saves- Our Champion took on the greatest fear (death in ALL of it’s sting) all alone and defeated it! Because of this, the sting has been taken away from death if we are in Christ and we can spend an eternity with Him!
3. He is a Brother who is not ashamed of us- We are the family member who He should have been ashamed of, but He CLAIMS us and identifies with us.
4. He is a Priest who can help- We don’t need any other priest! He engages us without judgement, with understanding, and with assured victory.

After church, we had a picnic for Mother’s Day (3rd annual Mother’s Day picnic- it’s all our mom ever asks for now). Then last night we made a belated Mother’s Day dinner at my place and gave her a gift (pictures hopefully to come). I hope my mom knows how special she is to each of us and felt very loved and celebrated!

So my sisters both stayed with me the first night in the house (which was Sunday night ) which was so fun to have them there for that! I’m am so grateful to be so close with my family and to have them near by while I still have my independence as well! I love being able to see them so often even while I am starting out on my own! Before I go, here are a few pictures of the progress so far:

great room from the stairs

great room from the kitchen

kitchen from the dining area

dining area…found a free baker’s rack that I am going to stain and put against that empty wall!!

1/2 bath downstairs

roommate bathroom upstairs

my bedroom (part of it…can’t get all of it in the picture from one angle)

my bathroom

Well folks, that’s all for now! Can’t wait to put up curtains and decorate when I get some time!!!

Unresolved May 8, 2012

Worked today from 7-10:30am and got home to go to Duke with my parents. I felt unsettled all morning, mind in a mess, and stomach all in knots. I haven’t felt this way in a while. It seems as though I am struggling more to keep my mind focused on Truth; instead it is being overwhelmed with others things…health, home, social, work, etc. I cried this morning as I was getting ready just from emotional exhaustion. I debated whether or not to share that, but just being honest and transparent. Struggle is REAL and it is HARD. Being a follower of Christ does not disqualify me from suffering, trial, and struggle, it in fact ensures it; now to what degree is unpredictable for me. Just trying to learn to deal with those things in a manner worthy of my calling, which is not easy and I definitely fail at it often. Anyways, those are just things from the morning…

So now to my mom’s appointment. We got there and I hadn’t been in the new cancer center; seriously looks like a nice hotel lobby, which makes the wait a little easier I guess until you get called back to the doctor’s office. One doctor came in and felt the lump on her neck and then our regular doctor came in to feel it. They also did their usual exam to check the lymphnode that she has been having monitored. The doctor felt no change to the previous lymphnode and was actually surprised my mom found the ones in her neck. My mom pointed out where the lumps on each side of her neck were (she found another one on the other side that was a little smaller) and the doctors could definitely feel them, but said they were very small and would expect golfball sized lymphnodes if cancer is growing. The doctor did not seem too concerned by the lumps in her neck at this point…he said it would be more dangerous to go in now and try to search for the small lymphnode and remove it than to leave it in and check it again in a month. He wants the cancer to present itself (grow) if that is what this is for a few reasons: 1. to make the lump larger so it is easier to remove 2. the removal may be unnecessary if it is not cancer. This cancer is not really a surgical disease…if it has spread, the surgery to remove the lymphnode is really just to diagnose it and chemo would be the most likely option for treating it. Basically, we are in the same place we were before of waiting and seeing; now my mom will just have 2 places checked each appointment and she will be more aware of any signs of growth. If at any time she does feel a change, the doctor told us not to hesitate to call him and he will see her. The doctor is not confident to say this new lymphnode is cancer, but he also cannot confirm right now that it is not. I am thankful for this news. While it is not this grand news of “oh, that’s definitely nothing” it is also not “the cancer has spread and we need to figure out a new plan quick.” I am reminded that God’s answer of “wait” is still precious. I am reminded in this waiting, that I am really awaiting and longing for home. I am longing for a place where there is no cancer, there is no struggle, there is no pain, there is no heartache, there is no frustration, and there is perfect fellowship with our Father. That’s honestly what I want…I want to be with Him. My desires for this world have grown very dim and I am finding myself more and more to just want to be Home. I am reminded once again today of the goodness of God in allowing my family to feel the weight of this awful disease, to entrust us with such a trial to glorify Him through, to love and care for us through the whole thing, to be faithful to us, and to help us to be faithful in the waiting in every sense of the term. I do struggle with letting go of the “unresolved.” I don’t like to leave things undone. I like things to be resolved and there are a lot of things in life right now that I feel are left without closure, but I am trusting that God has a purpose in that. God is training me and disciplining me in the faith. God is teaching me that I am not in control, nor should I try to be. I am learning that my plans are always just ideas and should not be held on to. God is still God and He is still good. He has saved me and He is soveregn over all things. He is reigning on His throne now and will continue to. That is where I find my hope is found, in Christ alone.

Things to pray for:

• Pray my mom does not mess with the lump on her neck too much as it can cause inflammation (which is not good in itself, but also will make it seem like it’s growing)
• Pray that our family would cling to the cross of Christ and that we would find our everything in Him.
• Pray that my heart would heal. It feels lonely right now. I feel sad, discontented, frustrated, confused, and uncertain. I want to be filled with joy; not because of circumstance, but because I am pursued by a Holy God, because I am His child, because He is joy and life itself. I want to let go of everything else. I need to surrender areas of my life to Him and move forward in the direction I feel He is leading me…that’s just hard to do sometimes.
• Pray that Christ would be the center of every thought. I am overwhelmed with distraction and I want to be on my knees under the cross. I want to be consumed with His glory; nothing else really matters! All things are put into the right place and perspective when He is first.

I shared this a long while back, but I kept thinking about it today so I will share it again:

Desperately, helplessly, longingly, I cried;
Quietly, patiently, lovingly, God replied.
I pled and I wept for a clue to my fate . . .
And the Master so gently said, “Wait.”

“Wait? you say wait?” my indignant reply.
“Lord, I need answers, I need to know why!
Is your hand shortened? Or have you not heard?
By faith I have asked, and I’m claiming your Word.

“My future and all to which I relate
Hangs in the balance, and you tell me to wait?
I’m needing a ‘yes’, a go-ahead sign,
Or even a ‘no’ to which I can resign.

“You promised, dear Lord, that if we believe,
We need but to ask, and we shall receive.
And Lord I’ve been asking, and this is my cry:
I’m weary of asking! I need a reply.”

Then quietly, softly, I learned of my fate,
As my Master replied again, “Wait.”
So I slumped in my chair, defeated and taut,
And grumbled to God, “So, I’m waiting for what?”

He seemed then to kneel, and His eyes met with mine . . .
and He tenderly said, “I could give you a sign.
I could shake the heavens and darken the sun.
I could raise the dead and cause mountains to run.

“I could give all you seek and pleased you would be.
You’d have what you want, but you wouldn’t know Me.
You’d not know the depth of my love for each saint.
You’d not know the power that I give to the faint.

“You’d not learn to see through clouds of despair;
You’d not learn to trust just by knowing I’m there.
You’d not know the joy of resting in Me
When darkness and silence are all you can see.

“You’d never experience the fullness of love
When the peace of My spirit descends like a dove.
You would know that I give, and I save, for a start,
But you’d not know the depth of the beat of My heart.

“The glow of my comfort late into the night,
The faith that I give when you walk without sight.
The depth that’s beyond getting just what you ask
From an infinite God who makes what you have last.

“You’d never know, should your pain quickly flee,
What it means that My grace is sufficient for thee.
Yes, your dearest dreams overnight would come true,
But, oh, the loss, if you missed what I’m doing in you.

“So, be silent, my child, and in time you will see
That the greatest of gifts is to truly know Me.
And though oft My answers seem terribly late,
My most precious answer of all is still . . . Wait.”

Jesus is the Better and Truer… May 6, 2012

Thank you everyone who has been praying for my mom/our family and please continue to do so as her appointment is nearing. I am hoping to get out of work in time to go with her to Duke. Thankful for our unswerving hope that we have in Christ.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.”

(1 Peter 1:3-9)

This weekend, Lauren came to surprise the family (I knew she was coming, but no one else had any idea). It was so sweet of her and I know my mom was thrilled she was here. Lauren just has one more week till she’s home for a little bit then headed back to Boone for 5 weeks for summer classes. It was really nice to have a bit of distraction this weekend. We spent all of Saturday running errands and hanging out at my town home…Lauren has named it “the nook.” It’s empty right now while it’s being painted and awaiting my furniture delivery next week.

In exciting news, MORGAN IS BACK!!! I am so excited she is home from China! I went with a group of dear friends last night to greet her at the airport upon arrival (with a Gigi’s cupcake of course ) and then today we all had a wonderful time at her welcome home party. I loved getting to hear stories and just be with her!

Saturday night, we went to Summit and JD started his new series on Hebrews. Today, Pastor Davey was back in the pulpit!! It was so great to have him preaching again; we continued in Titus. Pastor Aaron continued in the book of John this morning. I am learning that Chris is the best of all of His blessings; the greatest possession, the greatest treasure is Him. That brings me great comfort and joy because Jesus truly is better and He is enough. I get discouraged by “what ifs” for the future and by “regrets” in the past and even moments in the present that I struggle deeply; but I am so very thankful for the never-changing faithfulness, goodness, love, sovereignty, and character of God that was a perfect and exact imprint or His nature. Before I go, I am just going to give this one quote about the greatness, supremacy, superiority of Christ and how the Bible is really all about Him:

Jesus is the true and better Adam who passed the test in the garden and whose obedience is imputed to us.

Jesus is the true and better Abel who, though innocently slain, has blood now that cries out, not for our condemnation, but for acquittal.

Jesus is the true and better Abraham who answered the call of God to leave all the comfortable and familiar and go out into the void not knowing wither he went to create a new people of God.

Jesus is the true and better Isaac who was not just offered up by his father on the mount but was truly sacrificed for us. And when God said to Abraham, “Now I know you love me because you did not withhold your son, your only son whom you love from me,” now we can look at God taking his son up the mountain and sacrificing him and say, “Now we know that you love us because you did not withhold your son, your only son, whom you love from us.”

Jesus is the true and better Jacob who wrestled and took the blow of justice we deserved, so we, like Jacob, only receive the wounds of grace to wake us up and discipline us.

Jesus is the true and better Joseph who, at the right hand of the king, forgives those who betrayed and sold him and uses his new power to save them.

Jesus is the true and better Moses who stands in the gap between the people and the Lord and who mediates a new covenant.

Jesus is the true and better Rock of Moses who, struck with the rod of God’s justice, now gives us water in the desert.

Jesus is the true and better Job, the truly innocent sufferer, who then intercedes for and saves his stupid friends.

Jesus is the true and better David whose victory becomes his people’s victory, though they never lifted a stone to accomplish it themselves.

Jesus is the true and better Esther who didn’t just risk leaving an earthly palace but lost the ultimate and heavenly one, who didn’t just risk his life, but gave his life to save his people.

Jesus is the true and better Jonah who was cast out into the storm so that we could be brought in.

Jesus is the real Rock of Moses, the real Passover Lamb, innocent, perfect, helpless, slain so the angel of death will pass over us. He’s the true temple, the true prophet, the true priest, the true king, the true sacrifice, the true lamb, the true light, the true bread.

The Bible’s really not about you – it’s about him.

From Out of Nowhere May 2, 2012

It seems as though life takes me by surprise at times when I am just settling in. That’s not really a bad thing as it reminds me to keep focused on Christ, but I feel unsettled this afternoon. I don’t want to post very much right now, but I feel as though I need to write this out. My mom found a lump on her neck this morning that concerned her and she went in to see her doctor about it. The doctor didn’t know what it was and decided to call an oncologist to possibly get a biopsy. Before deciding to go through with a biopsy, she decided to call our oncologist at Duke…she will go in for an appointment next Tuesday with him so he can check it out. They will determine if we should take the lympnode out and test it or monitor it. That alone is enough to make our minds go wild with thoughts that must be kept captive, but as my mom and I were finishing the conversation, she mentioned the doctor saying there wouldn’t be much they could do if the cancer has spread…I’m not sure how to react to this. I don’t want to think about it. I don’t want to let my mind go to that dark place. I don’t know why the doctor would say that before confirming anything at all; I am sincerely hoping it was said by mistake, or misunderstood, or miscommunicated, or misheard. Please be praying for our family. It sounds so trivial to me to say we just don’t want to go into the gruesome battle once again, but we don’t. Even more, we don’t want to find out that the battle will not be won (in terms of the cancer). I fear I have become complacent in this “semi-healthy” stage my mom has been in and feel this can serve as a wake-up call; a wake-up call that is most dreaded. Pray for the cancer to not have spread and whatever is in my mom’s neck to be harmless; that is what we want. Pray that if that is not the case, that God would lavish His grace and strength upon us to honor Him in our response and our lives, no matter what the path will look like. Pray that it won’t take possibilities like these to keep me near the cross, that I would remain there. I am humbled at God’s immense power to give and take away cancer, to place a lump inside a person’s body (whether it be dangerous or not) at any point in time. I am comforted that He has been in control of this thing since before time began and will continue to be in control. I am thankful that He allows us to feel the angst of pain and the heaviness and brevity of life even as it hurts; and I plead with my Father now to bring peace, hope, comfort, and trust as we don’t even know that there is something to worry about, but that itself brings anxiety as we wonder what this lump could be. Ok, I am on the verge of tears and have been holding it back through this whole post, so I am going to go before I actually start crying. Thank you in advance for lifting us up to the Father’s throne…so grateful that He hears us and answers our prayers!

Be still my soul and rest in the almighty hands of the Father…

Closing Day April 29, 2012

It’s been a crazy busy week. Work has been hectic and I have been taking pictures all week for our graduate slideshow and what will hopefully be a fundraiser for our school. Also had a festival yesterday that I took pictures for! On top of all that, I was super sick starting Wednesday night (which led to me only getting 2 hours of sleep that night as I tossed and turned) until Friday…still getting over this silly cold virus. It hit me so hard. I HATE calling out of work and I know they need me there, so I went on Wednesday and my directors had to send me home by 1pm because they said I just looked so awful that they couldn’t look at me anymore! haha thankfully, after getting some rest, I felt much better the next day and I am still feeling a bunch better today!

Tomorrow I get the keys to my new town home CRAZY! I had a walk thru today. So excited to get things painted and moved in! So excited to see how God will use this new blessing for His glory. I am thrilled as I think of all the ministry that can go on in this new place as I open up my home to others. There is no other reason other than God’s glory that I want to use this house for…in any way that I can serve others with it and provide a place for people to come and fellowship, I truly want to take advantage of. That being said, I desire to have an “open door policy.” I want people to call me and ask if they can stop by because they are in the neighborhood or come by when they have a little time to fill in between things. Obviously there will be times that may not be good for me or my roommates and I will have to let them know that another time would be better; but I think people should have the opportunity to stop by at any time it’s possible and they can be understandably respectful when it doesn’t work out and take no offense to it.

Now for a prayer request: I NEED roommates. It was so cool to me today as I had been praying, “God, You know that I cannot afford this place on my own each month, so something has to happen…either destroy these plans I have and make it abundantly clear that this move is not in Your will for me right now, provide roommates (that basically need to drop out of the sky since I have run out of ideas for people to ask), or do whatever You desire and prepare me for it. Lord, show me that You can provide and You have this in Your capable hands” that just 2 days after I began to pray this, God dropped a roommate possibility right in front of me from out of nowhere! Now, I still don’t know if this roommate will work out or not, but what a kind God who constantly answers prayer and shows me that He is faithful, good, in control, and never taken by surprise no matter what. Oh what little faith and trust I have sometimes in moments with lack of understanding on how God will work. God is able to do abundantly more than I could ever ask or imagine and I need to remember that I will not always understand His ways or how He can work, but that does not limit Him in any way!

Also, please be praying for a sweet sister in Christ and her family as they ushered their dear mother down the isle into God’s Kingdom a few nights ago. I am so grateful to have met Kristen and I am so challenged and encouraged by Christ in her. Pray that she would be filled with peace and hope as God is good in all He does and all things are summed up in Him. Pray that as she grieves, others would bear this burden with her and she would know greater the depth of the love of God; that she would grow in her knowledge and love for Him in return. Pray that God would heal her and her family and position them right under His cross to receive grace. Pray that the gospel would become even sweeter to them as they relate back to the Man of Sorrows as He cries every tear with them now. Pray that the Body of Christ would surround her with care and love. I am filled with love for this sweet little sister in the faith and desire to walk alongside her and love her well!

This is just something I have been praying that I want to remember to pray more often: “Lord make your beauty shine more brilliantly, Your face seen more clearly, Your love realized more deeply, Your grace considered more completely, and Your name magnified more magnificently in my life and the lives of others.”

Very Stressed! April 24, 2012

I am not going to take too long on this post because I have so much other stuff I need to be doing. The closing date on my house is nearing quickly…should be by the end of this week or the beginning of next week if it stays on schedule! I am so excited, but feel very stressed. On top of getting ready for the move, it’s quite a busy week at work! I am running a photo booth each day this week for The Week of the Young Child that we have going on (a celebration of children’s learning). I wish I could show you some of the pictures; the kids are so funny and so precious and so excited to have their photos taken with silly props! Since I will be taking so many pictures this week, I backed up my computer and had to remove a whole lot of pictures from my computer…this was long overdue as I had about 12,500 pictures on iphoto and brought it down to about 8,400 (I was a little scared my computer would crash if I kept adding more haha). If work and a new home are not enough to keep me busy, I very much so need to fit in my schedule to go to the dentist, the orthodontist, and the doctor soon!! AHHH!! It’s funny how I am not in school this semester, but around the same time as all my college friends are in crunch time, I feel as though I am too! The next few months will remain busy as well with work, settling into my new home, and weddings

Over the weekend, my parents were out of town and Saturday I ran errands, headed to work to help build a cardboard castle that the children can play in (which will be used at the Spring Fling event that I will be shooting pictures for this coming Saturday), and then went to the Junior’s progressive dinner!

my sweet junior girls! LOVE THEM!

all the juniors that came...haha I thought it would be better to choose the awkward family photo they took for posting purposes!

Sunday I went to church, made meals, and then went to a bridal shower for my friend Sarah! It was such a sweet time to fellowship with wonderful ladies and celebrate this sweet soon to be bride!

ladies at the shower

For the sake of time, I am not posting all my sermon notes, but during the high school service Pastor Aaron did a Q&A with Rob Stansberry on the summer camp theme this year, which is going to be surrender. Rob has spoken at our last 2 summer camps and I am thrilled that he is coming back this year! What a struggle surrender is. I recognize all too often that I make my life about something/someone other than Christ. I am made for God and I am to live for Him no matter what that means (because He IS LIFE ITSELF)…that’s surrender– it’s keeping focus on the ONE thing loving God and loving people. Surrender is pressing in toward Christ with no turning back. I know the mission, the point, but am I surrendering to it? My life is to be hidden in Christ, so when He speaks, I am to do what He says. I am to obey God because of my relationship to Him. I am to love Him and know Him and lean in to hear Him and surrender in obedience. Surrender takes being more interested in God than me. The very nature of me is Him, the gospel is not the pitch for salvation but the life itself. I am not choosing to obey God in this and that, but merely surrendering to the very way I am to live which is with God; He is my life and my being.

The Explicit Gospel April 19, 2012

The week has been busy, but really good! Lots of work and running errands. My parents are out of town till the end of the weekend, so I came home and cooked dinner tonight (chicken parmesan ). Last night was great! I got to go to dinner with Ashley at Noodles and Company, then grab a cupcake at Gigi’s before heading to The Explicit Gospel Tour at Summit with Shane and Shane and Matt Chandler.

YUMMMMMM!

Last night was a wonderful time of worship and focus on gospel centeredness! The gospel is not just for the unbeliever, but should be daily preached to self by the believer. We remind ourselves of our position in Christ. The gospel is the power to live life to the fullest and have victory over sin. Power over sin is when Christ becomes more lovely to us than sin; we must get our eyes on Christ first, that’s how we get to conquering sin. Fullness of life is found in Christ, so we need to be serious about aligning our lives up with Him. Christ rescues us from the domain of darkness, from our sin; it pleased God to fill Jesus with this rescue plan even though we were so undeserving and the sinless Savior died bearing the FULL wrath for our sins. We were alienated from God because He is the standard and none of us can meet that standard. All the more amazing that Christ delights in us; He did not save us begrudgingly! What a sweet truth. One day, all things will be reconciled to Himself.  Oh, how I cannot wait for this glorious day! Even the things we see now that we think are beautiful are fallen, tainted by sin, but one day they will be even more lovely!

Change of Plans April 15, 2012

I feel like this weekend had many options for things to do, but my original plan got changed at the last minute. On Tuesday night, I got to watch Oceans 11 with some friends and had a fun time there. On Thursday night, I got to have dinner with Shelton and Amanda. They were so sweet to make me dinner and invite me over to spend time with them. I really enjoyed getting to eat and talk with them! So blessed! I was supposed to have a dgroup sleepover on Friday night which I was really excited about, but Lauren had a rough week and I got a call from her on Thursday night which made me decide that instead, Ashley and I would drive to Boone and surprise her for the night. I had to be there for my little sister…she has ALWAYS been there for me and since she couldn’t be home with her family, I brought some family to her (and maybe a little junk food and movies as well )

I think her and Kirsten are set on sweets for the rest of the semester haha

We had a wonderful time! We fit four of us into a tiny dorm room, ate junk food, watched a movie together, woke up to see the sunrise on Saturday, went and took pictures in Blowing Rock, went to eat at a cute little restaurant called Proper, and took a nap before leaving for home. So thankful for God’s timing in allowing me and Ashley to be free this weekend to go up and spend some much needed time with Lauren!

I think her and Kirsten are set on sweets for the rest of the semester haha

hammock time! haha I made it half the night like that, but my side was pressed against the desk leg and I had to get into the bed with Lauren

Love these girls! What a wonderful Creator who was so brilliant and creative with His creation...love sunrises and sunsets

it's just too gorgeous...how can anyone not believe when they see the beauty of God's creation?

at the park in Blowing Rock

love my little sisters

I took a few pictures like this of Lauren, Kirsten, and Ashley; then Kirsten took this one of us!

As I am typing this, I got side tracked with house stuff and talking with my parents; now that I am a bit more pressed for time, I am going to shorten today’s sermon notes a lot and then share a few things that have been weighing on me this week.

Pastor Aaron spoke on John 18:1-11. Here we see Jesus not as a victim, but in complete control. What power, love, and humility Jesus on the way to the garden and the events as the mob shows up to arrest Him. No one would take Jesus’ life; He laid it down. No one would go with Jesus to His death; He was the ONLY one who could do it. He protected His disciples, knowing they would need the Holy Spirit that was to come to secure their salvation. He was in complete control…every moment was according to His perfect plan.

In college class, Ben spoke on Ephesians 4:7-16. It is vital for us to be ministering to the body of Christ:

1. to build up the church
2. to be unified in faith and knowledge
3. to attain a corporate personality that is like Christ
4. to no longer be spiritual infants

This week I struggled to dwell on the cross. I feel like business has taken over and my mind has not been focused on the one reason that I live. How does life get in the way if Christ is my life? The answer is that it doesn’t. When I am really living for the Lord, every moment is surrendered to Him and all that I do is for the purposes of His Kingdom and His great name; so this week I failed at that. My heart, mind, words, actions were not overflowing with grace and truth as they were not filled with grace and truth. I found myself sitting randomly during the week (multiple times) wondering how I didn’t relate this certain thing or that certain thing back to Christ, why can I not make my mind turn off to these silly questions, why am I so distracted, why do I feel so discouraged? Why are there so many times that I do not use my gifts to minister to and serve others? Why are there so many times that I don’t look for opportunities to be a blessing to others? Why are there so many times that I am frustrated or sad? I have every reason to be joyful because I have all I need to be satisfied…I have CHRIST! To some that may sound cheesy and childish, but I have found that when I take my eyes off Him for even just a second, I am selfish and sinful and unhappy; but when I STAND in the gospel and preach it to myself, I am filled with His Spirit and overflowing with His love and grace, I am able to choose joy and able to live for His glory. I have been struggling with the question of what I need to be doing that I am not already for Him; not because I need to earn favor with Him, but because I love Him and desire to love Him with my whole being. I seriously LONG to be with Him and I understand what it means for my body to GROAN after Him. I desire to be Home; but I am here waiting for that day, not in a morbid way like I want to die…but in a way that causes me to want to live life to the fullest, for something greater than myself, for SOMEONE who is worthy of honor and glory and praise. There are areas of my life that I need to surrender to the Lord. There are things that I continue to hold on to for control instead of trusting Him. There things that I want in this life that God does not have for me right now and struggle with the thought that He may never have them for me. But, oh how He blesses me beyond belief with what I really need and don’t deserve! So, what if I don’t live a comfortable life or have a husband or at least see myself headed in that direction? I need to see God’s grace in all of that! God is indeed God and He is indeed perfectly good; but I am wretched and I am unfaithful…Lord help me to be faithful, help me to trust in Your plan for my life (NO MATTER WHAT THAT PLAN IS), help me to battle my thoughts better to keep them focused on Truth. Lord, help me to really make my life about You and forget about myself. Help me to let go of all that is holding me back from holiness and a life that is lived loving, savoring in, and serving You well; give me all that I need for holiness as I know that You will and equip me for ministry!

The Sneak Peek Before The Big Reveal April 10, 2012

Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend! Happy Easter a few days later…Christ is still risen and reigning! He is indeed ALIVE! What GREAT NEWS! I had a very very busy weekend, but a very good one filled with time with my family. Similar to Friday, I spent most of the day on Saturday shopping for home goodies. Success! I purchased a bedroom set, mattress set, and a dinette set with 6 chairs for a great deal YAY! I got all the big stuff that I need for furnishing the home, now it’s on to all the little stuff that adds up! These are pictures from online of the sets:

bedroom set

dinette set

Saturday night, I went to Summit with my parents and the girls. At the end of the service, they allowed for people who are believers to be baptized if they hadn’t ever taken that step of obedience; while I was baptized in high school, my sisters had not been baptized…both Lauren and Ashley went up to be baptized that night!!! I was THRILLED! Brought tears to my eyes to see them take that step of faith and outwardly express their position in Christ that they have had for so many years!

JD’s message was wonderful to hear as it focused my mind on the gospel. I feel like I have been distracted lately; kind of down and the days have been dragging because of that. I haven’t had my mind and heart fixed on my Savior and there hasn’t been joy and happiness as a result. God was so kind to redirect me to Himself this weekend and still as the week has just begun, it’s been a struggle to beat my mind into submission. Praying that I can dwell in His grace and savor in His love this week as sadness and frustration seems to be coming easier for some reason. JD spoke on 1 Corinthians 15 and how Christ dying for our sins and rising again is of 1st importance. Something absolutely DID happen thousands of years ago that changed lives radically and it continues to now; that something is Christ’s death and resurrection. Why is it of 1st importance?

1. because of the resurrection, my sins can be forgiven- we desperately need God’s grace, not just in our bad days, but in our good days. His grace is abundant to absorb the wrath and pour out love; the resurrection causes God to see us as righteous because Jesus’ substitutional sacrifice was accepted by Him in our place.
2. my present can be transformed- people absolutely can completely change by His grace. He gives us a new heart that loves what is good and what is of Himself and hates what displeases Him; He gives us the power to choose good. God’s acceptance is what liberates us from living in sin, it is not the reward for not sinning; Christ’s death and resurrection is what grants us God’s acceptance and that gives our soul ALL it craves for and needs–leaving no need for sinful desires to be fulfilled.
3. my future is secure- the evidence for this hope of a secure future is the resurrection. Because He conquered death, the promise of eternal life is real and true.

On Sunday morning, Ashley and I went at 8am to help with children for the Easter services at Colonial and then we went to meet the rest of the family at Summit (Chris was going there and we wanted to be together for Easter). After service, we all went to eat some wings before I headed back to Colonial to make meals with the high schoolers. When I got home, we made homemade pizza, salad, and banana’s foster.

pepperoni and mushroom pizza

Margarita pizza

I won't even try to explain everything on here...but it was good!

Quick prayer request: I mentioned recently that Ashley had to go to the doctor for a head injury…well she had to go back and get cleared by a doctor to play lacrosse, but she still hasn’t been feeling well (headaches, dizziness, tired); the doctor didn’t clear her, so she has to go tomorrow for another CT Scan to check for a subdural hematoma (slow brain bleed) then go to physical therapy on Thursday for what the doctor thinks is whip lash to her cervical spine. Poor thing…please pray for good results with both of those appointments and for her to feel better! Pray most importantly for God’s glory in the whole situation as Ashley has to endure more appointments and physical pain.

Finally before I go, it’s time for the sneak peek of my soon to be home!! Lauren got to go yesterday to my future home while it was being inspected to snap lots of pictures! I will only share a few with you…I can’t wait to get in there to paint and move in my new things!!

front of the town home

picture from online to get the whole flow of the downstairs

dining area

kitchen

great room from the stairs...love how open and big it is for entertaining!

back yard! I also have a great side yard!!

Ok, that’s all for now…obviously there is more, like bedrooms and bathrooms, but I am going to wait to show those for when I actually move in! I can’t wait for the big reveal once it’s painted and my things are in there. I also look forward to documenting and sharing the progress of the decorating Hope you liked the sneak peak!