On Your Mark, Get Set....

I'm so often distracted by the things of this world, that all I want to do is draw away by myself - just get alone with God. I've been there multiple times in my life. Nothing else will do. Though I'm not there yet, I'm sensing the desire coming. Sadly, I'm so busy over the coming months that it will be difficult to literally "draw away" from all others. I'm hoping the end of this week will help - though I'll be surrounded by plenty of others.

If you'll recall from two years ago, I went on a trip. A very spontanious trip. A trip that we literally planned the week before leaving. A trip that left me utterly speechless at the Presence of Holy God, taking pleasure in mankind. Speechless that He would love a filthy sinner such as I. Speechless that not only does He love me, He wants an intimate relationship with me.

I don't know that I ever fully recovered from that trip. I praise Him for His Presence and His conviction that fell so heavily in that former Sam's Club Warehouse turned Sanctuary of God. I praise Him for the much needed change that took place in this sinners heart and life.

And now, today, I countdown. 48 hours and 47 minutes until I leave to go to the same conference. I'm excited. I'm nervous. While I've been there before, I'm not sure what to expect (as you see, it's all fresh and new - messages, classes, etc.).

This I do know - I go expecting.

You see if I go expecting to worship, expecting to lay it all down, expecting to hear from Him, then I'm going anticipating it. Looking for it. Waiting on it. And I don't want to miss it.

The group of 4 from two years ago has turned in to a group of 19 this year. Just from our church. There's anticipation in the air. There's longing in the hearts. There's a journey ahead.

So as I prepare to go, I'm hoping to spend a couple of days in thanksgiving and gratitude, in confession and in prayer. Today's list is just a hint of that which is going on.

321. For the diamond that I've worn the past few days that reminds me of granny and the legacy she left.
322. For the self-less few.
323. Hearing "It Is Well" and remembering.
324. Healing through Worship.
325. The Gospel being grasped by young hearts.
326. The promise of the rainbow. The promise of God.
327. The excitement of something new.
328. The anticipation of going.
239. Worship Expo 2011
340. Terry - who tirelessly and selflessly plans Expo, amidst his other ministering to the churches across Florida.

301...

Somehow I missed Monday. It could have been that I was fairly busy. I mean, it took me almost 2 hours (definitely interrupted) to eat my lunch and then I didn't eat dinner until 8:30. So with that I'll start my list:


301. I was able to eat yesterday. Breakfast, Lunch and dinner.
302. The meaning of "I love you" between friends. Not a shortened, un-emphasized "love you." There's emphasis on the "I"!
303. Lots of new faces in Children's Ministry.
304. Slumber parties.
305. A 5 year old who holds my hand as she falls asleep and a 3 year old who does her best to cling to my neck so I won't leave.
306. The promise to return to her.
307. The promise of Christ's return to His own!
308. "Well loved" little girls for a couple of days.
309. Shopping with mom.
310. Fresh seafood.
311. Still standing after feeling the attack of the enemy all day Sunday. I may walk with a limp or hunch over from weariness, but I won't give up and let him win. He's not worth it.
312. Nursery workers. Sunday School teachers. Children's workers. It's often a thankless job  for them. I challenge you to thank the ones (as many as you can) at your church this week!
313. Friends who understand where I'm coming from when I unload on them.
314. Godly counsel.
315. Anticipation of meeting up with a friend I met last year at the Women's Leadership Forum! We're gonna be roomies!
316. Anticipation of the Women's Leadership Forum! Mrs. Esther will be there again!
317. The fact that even if I miss a day out of a devotional book to allow more time in the Word, when I get back to the devotional book, there's a message for that day, if not for that moment. It might not have meant the same if I had got to it the day before.
318. Bible Study with the ladies!
319. Wedding invitations in the mail! :) (Not mine...but a friends.)
320. Sweet dreams.

Real Pit BBQ, Real Deal Friends!

Real Pit BBQ

with Real Deal friends!

Over a month ago now (I know, a little slow on keeping you up to date) I had to make a quick trip to Tallahassee. As did a few friends. 

It presented the perfect opportunity to kidnap another friend from her workplace bagged lunch for a trusted lunch for all!

Meet Michael (Mikey), Mindy and sweet Emma. 

I met Mindy in the Spring semester of 2004 and have loved her ever since! We often shared laughs, deep talks and breakfast in room 807 of Napier Hall! Memories like that don't just happen - they're made! I wish we were able to make new memories a little more often, but I've already seen her more in the past couple of months than I have in the last 4 years! They've recently moved a little closer by - to which I must say I am very happy about! God is using them in the local church! I know He is honored and glorified through them and the student ministry that they are involved with!

Michael, of course, is her husband - another friend from College.

Then there's Miss Emma - cute as she can be! I'm convinced if she saw me a little more often we'd be best of friends!

She's got the "cheese" down to perfection!

Then there's Brandi. Beautiful Brandi. I love this girl so much! There's much depth in there once you know her. I love having discussions with her. I usually leave with a fresh perspective! She's married to Josh, who may have hooked a sister up with a Fried Pickle recipe. I may be forever indebted to him. But something tells me he'd never accept my payment - it's just how he is. These two were made for each other and I can't wait to see and hear about all that God does through them!

It's days like these that make me miss the old days. The days when our greatest concern was making it to class, turning in the paper on time, hanging out, doing a little studying, eating and hanging out. Did I mention hanging out?

Thanks friends! You know how to cheer up a friend!

286-300

Thankful that it's Monday - and I get to polish off a list of Thankfulness. Sometimes it takes reflecting on Thanksgiving to put me in a better mood!

286. Three day work weeks - I could get used to them. Probably shouldn't though.
287. Rainy and relaxing weekends.
288. Friends for dinner. (Eating with them, not eating them.)
289. Four generations of family gathered together.
290. Bad days - yes, I'm even thankful for them. It could always be so much worse.
291. Those who look for ways to help others in need.
292. Hot Crab Dip.
293. The back of my car piled full of supplies for church events, several times a year.
294. When I tell God that I'm going to show up expecting a Word from Him, He delivers.
295. My momma's Chicken Salad. It just doesn't get much better.
296. Seeing and hearing about others falling deeply in love with an intimate God.
297. Change and Growth within this heart.
298. Those who stick around to clean up - they are a blessing!
299. Adam and Eve's clothing - the sacrifice that was made to cover their nakedness. Such a reflection of the sacrifice made to cover our shame.
300. An unexpected kiss.

We Will Remember

I can tell you exactly where I was when I heard the news. I couldn't believe what I was told. It was my freshman year of college at GCCC and I had just come out of ENC 1102. I had made the walk down the sidewalk and was enjoying the beautiful morning - like so many other college students. I had a class in just a few minutes and wanted to enjoy the outdoors before being sent back in for another hour.

I noticed a friend from Vernon quickly approaching me. "Sarah, have you heard?" When I answered "no" she went on to tell me that a plane had just flown in to the first tower. I immediately thought that it sounded strange, but I guess it could happen. Planes do crash from time to time. We then went inside our class and she began to tell others in the class all that she had heard on the radio on her way to school that morning. 

The professor came in, quietly. Unusual for her. She went straight to the computer, turned on the projector that was normally used for PowerPoint Presentations about General Psychology during that hour. There was nothing general about the psychological effects that were started that day. She immediately pulled up a live feed and we watched in horror as the 2nd plane hit the 2nd tower. We watched in horror as lives were taken, as buildings collapsed. 

School was eventually cancelled for the rest of the day. A high school friend and I had carpooled over that morning, and carpooled home in shock and disbelief. We took the long way home - the Air Force Base that we normally drove through was locked up tight. It's usually a long way home, but when all you can think of is being home with loved ones, the road gets longer.

I think 9/11/01 was God telling America to "Wake up!" People turned and returned to God. They sought answers from Christians. In desperation they cried out.

For two months. I heard it stated even today that within two months after 9/11, church attendance/participation was back to the number it had been before the attack. Two months.

Meanwhile, God is still saying "Wake up!" to our nation and to the world. Earthquakes, Tsunamis, Famines, Hurricanes (9 of the costliest hurricanes in history have happened since 9/11), Drought, Fire, and Flood - and these are just the Natural Disasters! We could go on and on about all that's going on in our Economy and our Culture to add to that list!

God says "Wake up!" because so many have fallen back asleep. So many do not see it. So many do not hear His plea to repent and return to Him! He's shaking us to try to get us to wake up and rekindle our first love - Him! Yet so many of them sleep. They've been asleep for 9 years and 10 months. They started drifting back to sleep within two months of the attacks!

 And the convicting part for me? I'm letting some of them sleep. Jesus Christ IS coming back, and time is running short. And I'm letting some of them sleep. 

Oh God, You have convicted my heart tonight. You have reminded me that You not only have a great love for these people, You desire them to turn to You before it's too late. You are seeking them just as You sought me. You have commanded Your children to GO and MAKE disciples, yet so often we sit by waiting to catch a nap ourselves. I ought to be busy working for the time is short! Help me to be bold with Your Word and Your Truth - may I boldly proclaim it to those I come in contact with. May I be one who helps others wake up, repent and run back to the King of kings and Lord of lords!

Hang on!

I often times find myself amazed by the deep love of God for His people. God, who is seated on His throne in Heaven, loved (and loves us still) so much that He sent Christ to earth, sinful and wicked earth, to save those who would choose to accept. Christ, though highly exalted, came from Heaven to tread this earth and die for us. 


I'm here to tell you, I am not worth it - even by my own standards. Yet He did not ask my opinion or permission. God sent Christ, Christ obeyed - even to the point of death. For me. For you.


These past couple of months, for various reasons, have been somewhat difficult for me personally. I'm not much of a transparent person by any means. Reaching out to others when I'm in need is strange to me. Be there for someone when they're in need - sure! But I find it difficult to be the opposite. Few people know that (until now when I just shared it for the world to see). However, over these past few months, I have been reassured once again of the LOVE that God has for me. He has for all man-kind. And two things stick out that I have recognized/re-learned in recent weeks: 1) We cannot be over-comers if we have nothing to overcome 2) We have to examine closely what we "hang-on" to when the road gets bumpy. I could have held on to all that the world had to offer, but I intentionally chose to seek God, to hang on to Him as my first love. To hang onto something tightly means hanging on with both hands. We must make a choice as to what we hold on to.


And LOVE compelled me to hang on to Him. And that has made all the difference.

271-285

271. Brokenness between friends.
272. Freshly bathed kiddos in their jammies.
273. New smiles at church.
274. Common bonds.
275. Adaptation to change.
276. The ones who go out of their way to meet a need.
277. Daddy & Daughter dates.
278. "Aunt Sarah, I'm 5!"
279. Special Birthday trips
280. Quiet Weekends.
281. Smoked Ribs - to perfection.
282. Family laughter.
283. God's ability to start with nothing and create it in to something.
284. Long naps on rainy days.
285. Peace.