A New Beginning

I am going to try to do a better job of updating my blog while I am away over the next few months. It may be difficult for me to do it regularly and get in the habit of blogging. However, I promise to give it a go and see where it takes me. Hopefully into your homes and into your hearts.

If you do not already know I will be leaving in October to spend some time doing mission work in Alabama. I am really excited about the opportunity to go and know that this is the plan that God has had for me long before I knew exactly what it was. I have felt God's call to full-time ministry for a while now; however, I was unsure of what that call was or what that meant for me. My biggest desire is to follow after God, wherever He leads me I will follow. In the book of Matthew the disciple is talking about wanting to follow after him but needing to go and bury his father and Jesus says "come and follow me, let the dead bury the dead". This scripture speaks mountains to me and dropping my analytical and worldly desires to follow obediently to his call; not later but now. I know that it is where I meet Christ in that Obedience that he will take care of my every move.

Over the past couple of years God has completely transformed me and in essence has refined me. This has been the word that God has been speaking to me the past couple of days; this thought of refining. God has done a great work in me and He is not yet finished refining me. The picture of this refining though is beautiful to me and my hope is that it makes him smile too. I want to live my life in step with the Spirit everyday and this next step is trusting in his Spirit to guide my every move and my every desire.

Isaiah 48:9-11

New International Version (NIV)


9 For my own name’s sake I delay my wrath;
for the sake of my praise I hold it back from you,
so as not to destroy you completely.
10 See, I have refined you, though not as silver;
I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.
11 For my own sake, for my own sake, I do this.
How can I let myself be defamed?
I will not yield my glory to another.


God, continue to refine me and bring me closer to you!

Catching up

I just sat down with this blank page and I simply wonder what I need to put here. What do I need to write to compensate for the lost blogs that I haven't been writing. What is it that my friends near and far need to know about what is going on in my life? Is there anything that you don't know, need to know or would care to know?

The lost time that has not been blogged has been the life that I love. I am so excited about how I have really redefined so much of my life and what it is to live for a God that loves me. Essentially I have not redefined myself but rather I have allowed God to redefine me. I can't imagine a life outside of living in obedience to God's call in my life. I have traveled to Africa, changed jobs, continued with Friends Campus Ministry, spent time volunteering, took on a summer position in Alabama and just got back from Mexico all because I want to live my life in complete surrender and obedience to God's call.

I am still pursuing my LPC so I can do some private practice work in the future. I was just asked if I would like to write a piece for a publication in a School Counseling book. Parts of me wonder when I would have time to do that but other parts of me think it would be a really good opportunity.

I am so completely excited about where God is taking me and I know that I will be in ministry for a long time to come:)

The "Perfect" House

I'm in the process of trying to find the perfect house. This is not an easy task and somedays it seems fun and exciting and other days a bit overwhelming. It's as if I have this perfect vision of what my house should look like, how big it should be, what colors it should be, how the backyard should look and what features are a must. The one thing through this whole process that I found out is that I'm a kitchen person; I want a good kitchen. What constitues the perfect kitchen? Lots of space, newer appliances, good flooring, good lighting, lots of counter space etc. Who would have thought that my idea of the perfect house would include the perfect kitchen!! And of course I have to look for the perfect price:)

I want to live in the perfect neighborhood with, perfect neighbors, in the perfect house. In all this I want to be perfect but not for outward appearance but because I want to invest in the place where I feel the Lord has led me, in the place where my house will not be a house but a home with an open door and a warm atmosphere. I want a place where God can do work through me in a place where His ministry is above my well-being or my perfect kitchen. I want to walk into the home and know that this is where the Lord led me with purpose.

I will welcome any prayers in finding the perfect home; as this is a new and challenging endeavor.

Back "Home"

This week I had the awesome opportunity to go back to Quaker Lake...the one place in the world that can calm any of my fears and pull me into a place where I feel the most myself. It's crazy to think of how the Lord can transform me in a simple relocation. It doesn't at all discount myself at home but it does speak to what a wonderfully amazing place camp is and how it can grow and transform those that enter. I have loved this place over and over, from camper to staff and now to volunteer. The presence of God is in that place and the power of Christ that I felt while there soothes my soul and gives me hope for the future and in what the Lord has for me.

I couldn't express fully in any words the amazing things that happened at camp and I can't account for lives saved or hearts healed for that is the Father's place. Yet, I can account for what was transforming for me and how I felt the presence of Christ as I stood up before campers and professed the love of Christ. I couldn't recount the exact words or stories I told yet I can tell you that the Lord used me to speak into lives and I have never before felt like God was using me as such a vessel. Yes, I have spoken words of Christ before yet this experience topped the cake. Am I normally quiet, reserved and shy...yes but there I am more outgoing, loving and talkative...I really transformed into the "pastor" that the Lord called me to be or as one of the campers put it "Miss Preacher Lady"...Continually I give credit to the Lord for his Almighty hand in each and every word I spoke and lesson I translated...for those were his children, his kingdom and his words that he wanted to speak to them.

Now my prayer becomes that Christ would stretch those words to comfort them when they are at home and that they would seek out the "Word" in love. For me I pray that Christ continues his great work in my life and continually transforms me into the person he wants me to be, if that is speaking before people or simply walking in obedience and truth each day then I pray that would be a solid foundation in my life.

Uncertain

In the pit of my stomach is something I don't like to feel; upset, angry, anxious and unworthy yet You say that I am none of these things. There is restoration in Your name not in the words of others but in You alone. I can't bear to think of this all over yet you redeem me once again. Lord where I am weak today make me strong in your presence, make me capable and worthy. Amen

7 things

There are 6 things that the Lord hates and 7 that are detestable to him:

1) Haughty Eyes

(Dictionary.com Haughty -disdainfully proud; snobbish; scornfully
arrogant; supercilious)

2) Lying Tongue

(Dictionary.com Lying -telling or containing lies; deliberately
untruthful; mendacious; false)

3) Hands that shed innocent blood

4) Heart that devises wicked schemes

5) Feet that are quick to rush into evil

6) A False Witness who pours out lies

7) A man who stirs up dissension among brothers

(Dictionary.com Dissension -strong disagreement; a contention or quarrel;
DISCORD)

And I'm Back

So, I guess it's obvious that I have been busy since I haven't found time to blog. Well, the time has come and I know that you are soooo excited to know about my life and hear all my profound words of wisdom and encouragement. I was also reminded I haven't blogged in a while...

Here goes nothing!

In less than two days I will sit in my last class and NCSU for my Master's in Counselor Education. I didn't realize how dog gone excited I was until I got my cap and gown and HOOD. I think I may just pee in my pants I am so excited. Oh and they give you directions on how to put it on like a Master's student couldn't figure out how to wear their hood. Well I will have you know that those directions make no sense but I will find a way to wear that thing if I use it as a belt or wear it in my hair:) I will wear that with pride!

I graduate on the 9th which is a little less than three weeks but still sooo close I can smell it:)

I will also wrap up my first year as a counselor in a little over a month or at least the school year as I will still be working and preparing before next year. Let's just say though a month off....what shall I do. Vacation Glorious Vacation...too bad my spring break ends in about eight hours. BOOOOOO...living for the summer though can't wait!