Powerful moments.

Today after the sermon, during the response time, I witness an extremely precious and powerful moment that was literally almost bringing me to tears.

Pastor Brian had just finished his second part in his current series about the Holy Spirit, which is so amazing. I'll have to post my notes so far on it at some point because I know I'm learning a lot through it, and hopefully I can share what I've learned and maybe teach others something as well. Anyways...so it was during the response time when people are invited to come up to the stairs at the front and pray if they need to and the following scenario was played out....

A few weeks ago a member of our college group lost his father, and obviously is going through some rough times right now, as is his whole family. He went up to the front and knelt down at the altar to pray. Then seconds later two of his great friends (also great men in our college ministry) knelt down beside him, laid hands on him, and they all prayed together. It was SUCH a precious, yet crazy powerful moment. Through everything going on in all 3 of their lives...it all stopped right there. The world just froze, and they were all united there through prayer.

I don't really know how to adequately describe the feeling I got from watching that. But y'all, prayer is powerful. God is powerful. He can come through ANY situation, anything going on in life, get 3 young guys in different situations and bring them together in an incredible moment of prayer and fellowship with Him.

It was a moment I won't soon forget. And I think sometimes we so often (we meaning me included FOR SURE) get so caught up in the day-to-day business and that prayer is a part of it and it just becomes too common. We forget that we are talking to GOD! We get to talk directly to the Creator of the entire universe!!! It is such a powerful thing and is life changing, and that is something we should never take for granted.

Technlogy.

So, not many of you know this unless you've been in my car, but for about the past year or so I've had a pedal extension on my accelerator. It makes it so much easier for me to drive because I don't have to extend my leg as far, and I can basically use it while keeping my foot on the floor so I don't keep muscles flexed for long periods. It has become increasingly apparent in the last few months that I'm having a lot of trouble using the brake, which was just like any other car. Sitting at long red lights was becoming a painful problem, and it seems that the time has come to get an extension on my brake.

I tried to hold off as long as I could, because to me getting something like this done is just another thing on the list of "normal" things I can't do. But with technology these days and all the amazing stuff that's out there now, I can do "normal" things...just a little differently! So yesterday my dad and I went to get my extension on, and it is HEAVENLY!! This is going to allow me to drive for who knows how much longer now! Using the pedals are SO much easier now, and it doesn't hurt anymore! Always good. Posted below is a picture of it for you visual people.

Anyway, just thought I'd update about that. It's pretty cool all the crazy things they can do now to accommodate for things like this.

Craft Day!

Anyone who knows me well knows that I definitely do NOT consider myself a crafty or creative person. I'm super left-brained and overanalyze everything way too much to find creative things a stress relief...in fact, they actually tend to stress me out throughout the process, but after it's finished I love it! Haha

All this to say, today my mom and I had a craft day! For Christmas this past year, my roommate at the time gave me the first picture below. It is SO cute and I absolutely love it!! We were going to hang it above my bed at home, but it's too small on its own. So my mom had the great idea to make two more and hang all three of them! So we made the last two! All in all it was a really fun day. Despite my craziness of needing everything to match and be perfect, we had a great time and I wanted to share with you our amazing (in my opinion) project!!

(**Excuse the not super awesome picture quality, they were taken with my phone**)

Dating.

Long time no...blog? Read? Write? Whatever the case, it's nice to blog again. The past month or so since my last post has just been a whirlwind of finals, packing, goodbyes, and insanity.


This morning I took my GRE, and beasted it!!! SUCH a load of. I realize I'm not going to grad school for another 1.5-2 years, but taking it now was my best option and was definitely worth it. So I now can relish in the next 2 weeks of my "summer" before summer school starts and will last until about 2 weeks before the fall semester begins. I'm terrified/exciting/anxious/intrigued by my summer school classes (Anatomy I & II). I have heard HORROR stories about how hard it is and what a GPA killer it can be (which I totally can't afford), thus I am taking it this summer when it's all I have to worry about.

Health wise there isn't really much to say. I got my brace a couple weeks ago that I'm supposed to be wearing most of the time, or really whenever I feel like I need it. It's really helpful, and makes walking slightly easier in a way (and harder at the same time) and makes the pain less....I just have to suck it up now that summer is here and people can see it when I wear shorts.

What really has been on my heart lately is dating. Please don't tune me out just yet! I know many people might be thinking "Ugh, typical girl...wants to talk about dating and boys." I promise this will be worth while...well, at least I hope so. It was for me at least. Obviously dating is on everyone's mind at some point, and to some degree. I feel like recently it's been on mine more than usual, whether it's in reference to my life or others talking to me about their relationships. Two Sundays ago my pastor started a new series that is going from Mother's Day to Father's Day called The Game of Life...each Sunday talking about an important issue. In fact, the last few months of last year he allowed us to text/email/call/write in things that we wanted to be talked about, and this series is a mash up and compilation of many of those issues - which is pretty legit if you ask me.

I bet you've guessed it by now, but this past Sunday he talked about dating. Questions about dating to be more specific. It was a really great message, and I know that several of my friends have asked me about it so I'm posting my notes and a few of my personal insights on here - here's hoping it helps someone else like it did me.

Q: Is dating biblical?
A: The biblical model is courtship.
                                      Song of Solomon 1:7

          Standards were extremely high
          Families were involved
          Access was conditional
                                      Song 2:15

Q: What should I look for in a husband/wife?
A: Someone who loves AND fears the Lord
                                      Isaiah 11:2
Being a girl, I wrote down what he said specifically about guys. He said there are 3 extremely important things to look for when asking yourself if a certain guy is "the one."

• How does he spend his money? (Note: it's not HOW much money he has, but how he spends what he does have)
• What entertains him?? (Are they dirty jokes and crude movies or off-color humor)
• Watch him lose. Watching how a guy loses is extremely relevant in his behavior with the rest of life. If he punches things and gets really angry when he loses - what's to say you won't be behind his fist one day?                   

For a girl the things he mentioned were:

• How does she dress? There's a way to look beautiful without accentuating certain parts or being immodest.
• How does she talk about other people? Does she gossip incessantly and always put others down, or does she always speak encouragingly about others?
• How does she act when she doesn't get her way?

Q: How can I make the most of being single?
A: Accept your circumstances
                                                Phil 4:11
A: Adopt God's standards
                                                1 Thes 4:3
           - A really interesting insight into this verse that I never knew before - the word "holy" in this verse is translated from the word literally meaning fine china. When is fine china used?? For special occasions. God's will is for us to be holy. To be fine china. YOU are made SPECIAL. Not for everyday use. You're what is brought out for special events and big celebrations.

A: Utilize your freedom
                                                1 Cor 7:32-34 

 This was a really great message on dating. Our society casts a negative light on being single sometimes, which is so not the case. Marriage is an incredible, Christ breathed thing and is meant to be enjoyed and that's how God planned it. But don't throw away opportunities and chances to grow and really live for Christ while you're single. When you're single all you have to worry about is serving Christ and growing your relationship with Him. Once you're married, as the last verse reference states you have someone else to worry about as well. Don't let single life slip by. That was one thing I was definitely convicted about. Yes, at times there may be a guy I like and yes, there will be times when it will drive me nuts wondering if he likes me and if we'll end up together and all those questions that come along with it. But I would HATE to not have utilized my freedom, and missed out on being all I can be when it comes to my walk.

A reason for everything.

No doubt at some point in your life you've been told, or have told someone else "everything happens for a reason." I secretly have always hated that phrase, but as cliché as it sounds, it's true.

I know several times in my life, heck - within the past couple of years - I've wondered why certain events have happened. Why certain friendships didn't/weren't panning out like I had planned, why a job didn't work out, why what seems like the most incredible opportunity just falls through. And of course, I wanted answers....all anyone could tell me was that it was happening for a reason. During these times in my life that was the LAST thing I wanted to hear.

Sunday was a really hard day for me. It was the 2 year anniversary of my grandmother's passing. I d on't understand why she was taken when she was, or why her life ended the way it did. I'll never get to share Baylor with her. She and I are the only Baylor bears in the family, and it would have been so special to share that with her. She won't be at my wedding. It was just a hard, sad day. But I've learned it's okay to have those down days - as long as you get back up again.

And thinking about it today, in the past couple years I've also gotten some answers as well. Definitely not all the answers, and I never will have some answers...but some situations just make sense now. I can see that I'm better off for those situations not working out how I originally wanted, and in retrospect I'm thankful for it.

The table can go the other way too. I can't tell you why I was blessed with INCREDIBLE parents who have my back no matter what, when other people don't. I can't tell you how I got into my dream college and am getting an incredible education, when others aren't.

All this to say, I don't know why things happen - good or bad. Some things I'm learning to accept that I will never know. But one thing I do know - I have a God who has ordained it all. I have a God who is going to stand by me in the good times, and carry me in the hard times. He knows the reasons for everything, and His plan is PERFECT.

As cliché as it sounds, there is a reason for everything. And as each new day passes, I'm learning to accept that, and just how true it really is.

What's Under Your Dresser?

Yesterday at church we had college Sunday. The college ministry was in charge of leading the whole service, and my college pastor gave a message...one that really convicted me. Cliff note version of the sermon: When Jeff (my pastor) was younger, one particular night at bed time he was paralyzed with the gripping fear that whatever was under his dresser was going to decapitate him or come out guns/swords/blades flinging the moment his eyes shut to go to sleep. After much deliberation about his options on getting out alive, he managed to get his parents to come in to stop the villain. Turns out his terrifying assassin under his dresser was a pair of jeans he had worn the previous day.

He used this as an illustration as a parallel to our lives, and how sometime so small can be terrifying, and that gripping fear can stop us from pursuing God wholeheartedly, or stop us from following the path He has prepared for us. So, naturally the question was raised "What fear is keeping you away?" And then several college students brought a physical item that was representative of their fears, and they were scattered across the alter so that people could respond to God through prayer, near the items that were representative of their fears.

There were several different fears, ranging from public speaking to disappointing loved ones, and future uncertainty to exhaustion. That got me thinking....if I were asked to bring a physical item representing what stops me from being all that God has for me, what would it be?


A brace.

Having MD is hard. There are no easy days. I have to work twice as hard just to keep up with people on their slow days. A lot of the time I wonder how God is using me to glorify Him. How can I, ME, do anything to further His great, pleasing, and perfect plan? I'm just a broken person who has a disability. I don't feel worthy enough to be included in something so amazing. But regardless of my imperfections, Christ is shown through them and shows His strength in an even bigger way. I don't know what God's plan for me is. I don't know how He is going to use me for His kingdom.....but I do know that He will.

So the question is....what is under your dresser, that's holding you back?

How Thick is the Ice?

This verse and story were the basis of my devotion this morning, and it really made me think...hopefully it speaks to you as well!

Philippians 1:12-14 (The Message) "I want to report to you, friends, that my imprisonment here has had the opposite of its intended effect. Instead of being squelched, the Message has actually prospered. All the soldiers here, and everyone else, too, found out that I'm in jail because of this Messiah. That piqued their curiosity, and now they've learned all about him. Not only that, but most of the followers of Jesus here have become far more sure of themselves in the faith than ever, speaking out fearlessly about God, about the Messiah."

Their cabin was on the river across from the general store. The only crossing was a full day's journey down stream in the best of weather, but with this early winter snowstorm the trip would be totally impossible. The pioneer life was new to them and they had fared pretty well until the sickness sweeping through their little community touched his beloved wife, Lillian. Time was short and he knew he had only two options: he could stay by her side until the grim reaper gathered her into his arms, or he could risk crossing the river on the ice to the store to get the medication needed to save her. But he knew nothing about ice. Would it hold his weight? Could he make it to the other side and back in time? What to do? Better to give his life trying to save her than to see her suffer so terribly until death. He kissed her tenderly, stoked the fire, and softly closed the door as he left the cabin.

He stretched himself out on the ice, thinking that distributing his weight evenly would be the best way to assure himself that he could crawl across. Even tiny creaks terrified him. He just knew the ice was breaking! When he was only a few yards out there was this horrible noise! The ice! It's cracking! I can't make it! It's all over for me! God take Lillian quickly, please. Don't let her suffer.

The noise came closer and he held his breath waiting to be crushed and thrust into the icy waters. But when he looked up, there was this wagon full of wood pulled by two stout horses galloping across the ice! He jumped up and down, shouting for joy and ran across the river...and they lived happily ever after.

Why was he jubilant? Why this sudden burst of confidence? What changed his fears to joy? Seeing someone else cross the ice before him, with a lot more weight than his.

God knows us intimately. He knows every hurt, every joy. He lets us see others facing circumstances like ours or even more stressful, and how they overcome. He lets a wagon full of wood pulled by 2 huge horses gallop by and we say "They did it! They made it! It's safe! Praise God!" And we jump for joy! Why? We still have to cross the river on the scary ice, but someone has gone before us and proven to us just how thick the ice is.

He gives us encouragement. He gives us strength. He says "You have seen Me bring them safely through their crisis. Trust Me. I will do it all for you."

Those words, though easy sounding and perhaps cliche, carry a lot of weight. Something I've been struggling with a lot - letting Him do. He will do it ALL for me. And you. Not part of it, or give you a push in the right direction...He will do it ALL. He already has and continues to on a daily basis. We are standing on ice so thick that nothing can break it, and someone (you may never know who) is jumping for joy as they see you thundering across the frozen river. Not only is this illustration encouraging and comforting because I am yet again reminded that nothing can separate me from God, and that no crappy thing I go through will be the end of me because I have Him. But it's also convicting. When I'm going through situations that are hard, and require me to be forged in the fire, do I lay down hoping to slowly crawl across - or do I trust in the unbelievable power of my God? When others see my life and the situations I go through, are they jumping for joy that I am running freely across the river, or are they terrified as I try to do it alone and crawl slowly? Do people see Christ in my life? Do they see me overcoming my situations through His strength?

Think about that today.