Bears vs. Panthers: A Dream Come True

I love sports...more specifically I love football.  There's something about it that just gets my blood flowing and makes me excited.  It could be the love I have for tailgating too.  The atmosphere is electric....the anticipation to kick off is exhilarating.  Then, combine football 2nd row tickets, your favorite team playing, and one going with one of your favorite people in life...well that's a dream come true in my book.  That's exactly what just happened.   This past weekend, I flew to Charlotte, NC to go to the Bears vs. Panthers game with my twin brother.  I surprised him and bought 2nd row tickets on the 40 yard line of the Bears sideline.  The weather was absolutely perfect.  Not a cloud in the sky and 69 degrees.  Despite the flight delays both ways, the trip turned out to be such a dream of mine.  This video highlights this special day for me:


Bears vs. Panthers Football Game

FOOTBALL SEASON IS BACK!

FOOTBALL SEASON
IS BACK!
GUESS WHO'S
EXCITED!

Paul or Demas?

“Do your best to come to me quickly, for Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica. “     
 2 Timothy 4:9

Why would someone spend a large majority of their life serving and then all of a sudden desert the mission they had been on? 

Upon reading this verse I began to think about this question.  Why did Demas desert Paul in his final days?  Was it  for money, popularity, public opinions, or fear of life?  Overtime, Jesus had no place in Demas's life.  Compare Paul's life at this moment...he's in his final days and serving the kingdom still.  Demas, though, he has decided to chase after the pleasures of this world instead.  Paul mentions Demas in his finals days because he know the work isn't done.  He knows that someone has given up and that there is more kingdom work to be done.  So, I began to think about my own life.

In reading this, my practical application for my life was:  What am I (we) running away from?  Or what am I (we) running to in life? 

Paul and Demas had choices on how they chose to live their life.  We all have choices on how we are to spend our days.  I love how when you read on in Paul's remarks he says this in 2 Timothy 4:16-17:

"At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me.  But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed..."


Man, how awesome is that?!?!  I may have gone through hard things in the past and still will go through hard things now and in my future....BUT I'm reminded in this verse to NEVER desert Christ or walk out.  Christ has never left my side.  He has given me strength everyday to proclaim truth and goodness to this world. 


So in reading this passage I think to myself...how do I want to live my life....do I want to chose to love this world and all that the world tells me I need to do or love?  OR do I chose to be like Paul and choose Christ who (vs. 18) "will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom?"


It's my prayer that in my life I choose to love less of the world and more of Christ. 

2014 Summer Adventures

This summer I had a great time just traveling and visiting people.  I was able to really find rest and invest in people.  This video sums up all of my adventures! :)


http://animoto.com/play/I4z0T0f2xV54rs84rKdX6A

Perfect Peace

It's 9:30pm and I'm sitting at my desk at school.  It's dark, borderline creepy, and not a single teacher is at the school this time of night.  I didn't come here to work, I came here to pray.  Tomorrow, 23 boys and girls will enter into my classroom.  These empty seats will not only hold students tomorrow, but they will hold stories.  Each student comes with a past.  It will be my job this year to learn their stories and build upon those stories.  There will be good days and bad days.  Days where I question why I do what I do.  Days when I want to quit.  But Lord, during those days, will you please shower me with your love so that I can in return have the energy to love these kiddos in return.  Tonight, I pray for each child by name.  I pray that I can not only teach them, but that I can love them with all I have. 


But, Lord, I don't just pray for them tonight.  I pray for myself.  I pray that I can know how to balance my professional and personal life.  I desire to meet new people and develop relationships, but sometimes, I just put too much time into school because it's something that I have to invest into.  If it's your desire for me to meet someone or something this year, I pray that I can commit to it with a full heart.  Please take care of me Lord when I feel inadequate in my job.  I pray Lord that my job doesn't become my identify.  That when I look at other teacher's classroom and become jealous of all their cute stuff, or when I am evaluated, or when I look at my classroom's test scores, that I don't allow those things to define me.  I'm more than that Lord.  I know it, but sometimes, I just forget.  I forget that you died for me for more than those things.  Allow me to trust you....trust that you are working things out for good.   Those things in my life that I may not have answer to now, remind me that you have gone before me and have fought my battles already. I don't pray that you take the storms away, but I do ask that you give me peace within the storms. 


This classroom has a sense of peace about it right now.....that peace is perfect.  As I shut the lights out on this place tonight Lord, it's my prayer that I learn the stories of these students, provide them with what they need, guide my heart to not seek my identify in the things of this word, and that Lord, when I need it.....provide my heart with this peace I have now. 


I trust your goodness.....for you alone are faithful.....you alone provide me with perfect peace. 


My Song of Peace For This Year

My Prayer for this Year

This article sums up exactly how I feel.  Click on the link below to read it. I've always believed that public schools need Christian teachers who are willing to bring the love of Jesus into their classroom.  These students may never go to church, but they will see the love they were given because of the precious gift that God has enabled me to give them.  Love....it really does conquer all....

Jesus Love in the Classroom

Zip Lining in a Cave

 

So to keep up with my adventurous nature, I decided to go zip lining in a cave with a bunch of the USTA judges.  What a neat experience!

Summer Break

Here it is…the day that ever teacher loves.  The start of summer break.  The feeling of relief in knowing that for the next 2 months I won’t have to go into work on a weekend, I won’t have to grade another paper, I can sleep in (yeah right!) or stay up late, and I can travel anytime.  In many ways, I do LOVE this day.  For without the two months off, I would never be able to survive being a teacher.  I need that rest that comes with a break. 

But tonight, that feeling of relief is not there.  Tonight, I know that Satan is trying to start a battle in my heart and he’s wanting to attack early into my break.  Maybe that’s why I’ve sat down to type this out.  I know his plan and want to be on guard. 

You see, with the routine of teaching comes a predictability.  A sense that you have a purpose to accomplish each day.   My prayer for this summer is that each day would continue to feel purposeful.  To use my time wisely this summer.  I want to relax and feel rested, but to dig deeper into God’s word and take it all inward but to live it outwardly with the same purpose and passion I would in my classroom.

Forsaken

So lately, I've been thinking about the word "forsake".  The definition of forsake is to forget or give up or leave someone or something entirely.  There are a lot of things in my life that I need to forsake.  There are a lot of things that I never want to forsake.  The word forsake can be related to the word surrender.  Lately, I've felt God's calling in my life to surrender those things that are holding me back in life, so that I can become more Christ like. So, part of my journey in life is identifying what I need to forsake and actually leaving them.  In order to do that, I have to have full confidence in a God who's strength will be my power to accomplish this task.  Sometimes I feel like God is a thousand miles away from me....but I always turn and realize the truth....  that He never for a moment has forsaken me.  After all, He is ONLY good. I think this song sums it up best:


Meredith Andrews- Not For A Moment


 

Unconditional

                         Listen to Micah's Story

       It was Easter Sunday and I was celebrating my 30^th birthday in the sunny Florida on vacation.  MY friend who I had traveled with did not want to go to church as she is not a Christian.  So I was left to find a church to attend on my own.  I Googled nondenominational churches and came across the church called Bayside Community Church.  I decided that was where I was going to go for Easter service.  So Sunday morning, I got in my car and drove there.  I got there early knowing it was Easter Sunday and sat in my car for awhile.  As the clock got closer to churches starting time, I became increasingly fearful about walking in to the church.  You see, ever since my accident, I become fearful of walking into new places alone.  What am I afraid of?  I’m afraid of being judged or looked at differently because of my condition.  Sure, standing still I look like anyone else and like nothing is wrong, but as soon as I start to walk, people take notice.  My walking gate pattern is not like everyone else’s.  My right leg doesn’t bend well and thus I walk with a slight, but noticeable limp.  So here I was alone on Easter, sitting in my car, letting Satan talk me out of getting out of the car.  Finally, I opened the Bible next to me and read from Joshua where it says “Be Strong and courageous, do not be afraid, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”  With that as my promise, I got out of the car and started walking in with all the other people.  I made it to the sanctuary and slipped into one of the back rows.  Again, I was overcome with a sense of loneliness sitting by myself at Easter and a sense of fear that someone might ask me what’s wrong.  I get it often….people are naturally curious and often times don’t mean any harm when they ask.  But to me, it’s like an arrow that pierces the heart and seems to always say “Look, people notice that something’s wrong with you.”  Most times, my mind can move past it, but other times, when my confidence is low I take the words to heart and hear Satan attacking me reminding me that I am broken and will not be whole or “normal” like before again.   The service started and I began to feel more at ease knowing that I had accomplished the hardest part….I had stepped out of the car.  While my fear had subsided, I continued to feel disconnect as I was surrounded by like minded Christians who had no idea of my condition or story….but yet, I felt comfortable in the pure presence of worshiping Jesus. 

AND then it happened. 

    I thought the sermon was going to start but they played a video.  On the video was this 19 year old kid who starts talking about his adventure on a motorcycle to Alaska.  The whole time he’s telling the story and all you really see is a head shot of him telling the story.  He talks about he left Alaska on his motorcycle and then the video cuts to a heartbeat sound.  At this point you realize that he’s been in an accident.  Again we are directed back to Micah’s face but this time the camera starts to zoom out while Micah says these words:

“Nothing really hits you until you wake up in a hospital bed and something has changed…you now have a condition….and everything has changed. “

It’s then that we see that Micah is now in a wheelchair. 

That’s when I lost it.  You see, here I am, this random visitor to this church sitting in the back row crying to myself because I AM Micah.  I have Micah’s story.   I was a 19 year old girl who took one flip and I woke up in a hospital bed and something had changed….I now had a condition….and everything changed.  I, like Micah, had a spinal cord injury and was paralyzed from the waist down.   I’ve lived in a wheelchair.  I’ve been to a spinal cord rehab institute.

     And so there I was….crying, but trying not to let the people around me see.  At the end of the sermon, Micah’s video continues.  His story didn’t just end at the accident.  It went on.  I sat in the back row watching this video of someone who is broken and yet has the fearless drive to continue his life’s adventures knowing and aware of his condition.  He knows what his condition is….we all have them.  The message Micah said that day spoke directly to me.  When his words came out of his mouth, I knew that God was speaking to me.  I am a broken person who sometimes lets fear take hold of my life.

     Yet in my brokenness I stepped out of the car and walked into church to find the one thing I needed to hear……that the God I love with my entire heart  is unconditional.  Micah refused to find his identity in his condition.  He has chosen to go on with joy despite his condition.  Jesus Christ, was broken in the most horrific way because he loved me so much despite ANY condition I have.  My condition doesn’t define me.  May my love for you Lord and others be what defines my life. 

      When the video was done (I was the biggest mess possible), Micah was on the stage with a guitar in his hand singing a hymn.  I lost it.  LOST IT.  And the truth is, I didn’t care what people around me thought.  I understood what Micah had been through, because I had been there.  But more, I sobbed because I saw someone who didn’t let fear of his condition hold him back from worshiping Jesus Christ.  His strength to tell his story encouraged my heart that day more than anything.

    I knew that God had placed me here at this church for a reason.  Micah’s story was meant for me to hear that day.  To encourage me and remind me that my condition does not define me.  It does not tell me what I can and cannot do.  I was but seconds away from driving out of the parking lot out of fear of walking in and letting my condition define me.  Yet God, in his almighty grace and mercy, took me to scripture to remind me that fear has no place when He’s in charge.  His grace, brought me to the back of that church to listen to a testimony that was so similar to mine.  Dare I not say, is God not sovereign?  I am a girl on vacation from Normal, IL, but God brought me to this place.  He used other people’s story to encourage my heart and remind me who I am.  I had to come to God with my full broken condition in order to receive his full mercy and love. 

     I left church that Sunday knowing that other people didn’t know my condition, but that I can go on with joy, despite my condition because I know who I am as God’s child.

     No matter what we go through in life, our thoughts are powerful. They shape how we see the world. And here is a truth that we should meditate on, we have the love of Jesus. God sent him to demonstrate his unconditional love. And this love should always give us joy, always give us hope, and always give us love.

 

A BIG Celebration Birthday!

 

 

For my our birthdays, my friend Marcy and I decided to take a trip to Florida.  The weather was less than wonderful but we made the most of it by enjoying our nice beach view and visiting a manatee named Snooty that we fell in love with!  Great memories with a great friend!

 

Reminders of What Marriages Should Look Like

So Valentine's Day.  As I've gotten older, I've thought about this holiday more and how it really should be no different than any other day.  Shouldn't everyday be a day to remind your spouse of how loved they are.  Now, I don't pretend to know much about marriage.  I'm nearly 30 and still single.  On top of that, I have parents who divorced when I was younger. But, I think my parents divorce did what nothing else probably could have.  It instilled within me a desire to never settle.  To wait for God's perfect timing for that life partner.  I may not know or have all the right answers or even the formula for dating and marriage, but I do know that in the process of waiting, I want to learn as much as I possibly can.  I want to listen to married couples and seek out their wisdom.  I want to read books on how to become a life giver to someone.  But I also know that these things will not translate into a beautiful marriage alone.  I now that it's going to require action.  I'm excited for the time when I will get to venture with some on this journey called life and help propel my life partner into all that God has called him to be.  I look forward to that oneness the bible talks about and how two people come together to serve each other and the world around them.  Listening to talk with Dr. James tonight reminded me of the beauty that marriage holds.  It reminds me that waiting is all part of the process.  It's not easy, but it is the most important decision (after accepting Christ) in one's life.  I'm not going to get this one wrong.  I trust Christ knows what's better for me than I do.  His time is perfect, his plan is perfect....my job is to prepare myself.  To make my character and thoughts more like Christ so that when the time comes and Mr. Wonderful comes my way, I can offer the best of me because I've been sculpted, molded, and formed into Christ's likeness.

This video and article remind me so dearly what marriage should be and what I will someday strive towards!

Marriage Advice by Dr. James

What Promise You Can't Keep in Marriage

Shelter

Today is my 6th snow day in less than 3 weeks.  The weather here has been crazy!  It's been so cold and the wind has been fierce everyday.  For someone who doesn't do so well in the cold, it's been somewhat of a blessing to have this time.  I feel rested.  I wish I could bottle up all this extra time and rest and save it for the times I need it.  Sometimes I think the weather is a lot of like our life.  I woke up in the middle of the night thinking my bay window was going to cave in because the wind was so strong.  It reminded me of an old song that I have become fond of.  It's a song about the shelter we have in Jesus Christ when real storms and life storms come our way.  I'm thankful today that I have a home to protect me from the shelter, but that I have a shelter in the arms of Christ everyday.  There is no trial deeper than His love.  As I sit here and listen to the wind tonight I am reminded of these lyrics.  They seem so perfect for todays weather and for everyday of life:

"I have a shelter in the storm
When constant winds would break me;
For in my weakness, I have learned
Your strength will not forsake me."