So much going on!

Wow everyone, so I'm extremely sorry about not updating more but things have been kind of crazy. I'm going to try and go over everything happening in my life, though not going into ALL of it...yet :).

First things first, the snow has been off and on so the "off" time has given me a chance to spend more time with the Faithbridge youth at my church. I found out I have common friends with a couple of them and I am getting along great with all of them from what I can tell. I finally was able to make it to a Sunday youth meeting last week, and it was great. We chatted over lasagna and then worked on Kyle's series about "working out." Had some great acoustic worship and I just see God wanting to do amazing things in the lives of these kids.

PJ and I have also joined a blended families small group through Faithbridge. It's hard being that kind of family, with me having children from a previous marriage. We missed the first meeting due to other circumstances, but today is the second meeting and so I can't wait to try and dig a car out of the snow and head over :). We're reading a book about step-families. It's going to be nice to be around people who can understand your situation. I've been in churches where if you were divorced, no matter what the reason (physical or emotional abuse, adultery, etc) you were treated like the scum of the earth. So glad my church is amazing and doesn't treat people that way!! Living as a blended family has it's own unique challenges and I'm happy to see a group addressing those challenges with full force.

PJ and I are also taking the Connecting with Faithbridge class, which is a 6 week class. It ends with us being able to decide to become official members. Well of course we already planned on doing that, so this is just a chance for fellowship and to learn more about our church. It's great seeing the different walks of life that people are coming from and being led to this church. I love it!!

Whew so last thing, on the job front. My friend had me turn in an application yesterday to work full-time at his convenience store. Not the most cushy job in the world, but when you need work you take what you can get! He hasn't called me yet about what hours I'll be having, so I'm still waiting on that. If by some chance he doesn't call...which would be odd...I have other options right now. I have an application in at a factory in Mountain City and that seems promising even though they won't be calling me back for at least another week or so according to the woman I spoke to.

The job I am really praying over, and everyone pray for me about it, is the job I applied for at Samaritan's Purse. It's basically similar to secretarial work and I want this job really bad. It could open doors for me to work more with Christian based services and better job positions.

Well everyone that's it for now, hope everyone is doing well :)

Everyone worships differently.

After talking with a friend yesterday I've been thinking a lot about worship. It's amazing how everyone worships differently and how each way is so amazing! Whether you choose to sit during worship and pray, raise your hands in the air in praise, dance, paint, sing OR not sing...it's amazing. We all lift up our talents and love to God and it's so beautiful. I'm learning more and more everyday to really value each person for what they bring to the proverbial "table" whether it be good or bad, because God has a plan for everyone and everyone is in your life for a reason. Your past molds your future. And with this respect for different ways of worship, I've thought more about those who aren't tolerant of other people's way of worshiping. In some churches you would be looked at with a glare if you were to stand and raise your hands to God and praise him, or heaven forbid you danced! At other places you're made to feel awkward if you DON'T do those things.

Everyone should be respected and loved for their individuality and bracing that individuality!

Touching Base

I have a lot of things I want to post blogs about, but I'm about to go to bed. I realized I haven't posted in almost a week, so I wanted to at least make a post to touch base and say I'M STILL HERE :D.

I had never seen the official music video of the song "The Lost Get Found" by Britt Nicole and just saw it on YouTube. I encourage everyone to watch this video. It really makes you think even more about the lyrics and makes you want to get out and do something!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GO2prEoATH8

Day One...Again

Okay well today marks day one of my three days of silence...again. I've been praying about this like crazy for the past few days and I have all confidence in myself and God that I can do this. I've been reading my book again, unchristian by David Kinnaman. I was reading it intermittently, but I hadn't been making a point in my life to finish it. Now it's time for devotionals! Wish me luck everyone :)

Champions Centre Notes 1/9/2011

I want to thank my friend Demetria for sending me a copy of her notes from today's sermon. I accidentally closed the window and lost all of mine :(

___________________________________________________
If you have struggles: Read Romans 8:31
"If God is for [it] nothing will be against [it]."

Early Church: Act 2:46-47
God keeps adding to the church. Thank him for the favors.

**Help CC in 2011**
1. Be a bringer.
2. Reach out to people using social networking.
3. Inform people through our media.
4. Giving- partner with us in giving financially.

No matter what we do, finances are a tool of trade.

Forces That Form Your Future Part 2
My future is not something that happens to me, but it is something that happens through me.
Galatians 4:8-9, 18-19

Which thoughts, actions, etc keep me in God's plan/path?
Don't go back to old ways; find new ways to live your life.

Everyone is sowing something today that will show up in the form of a harvest tomorrow-- Galatians 6:7
--Teach your kids how to learn God.
--We can make our life better.
--Everything you need for a better future is in your life today, waiting for you to recognize it.

2 Kings 4:1-2
--We always have something we can use to create more.
--We have something in our life that God has given us to make our future better. We all have a seed to sow.

The Force of a Belief
--We all have opinions. We all have a Belief System (BS).
--No amount of good in your heart can make up for bad in your head.
--Ask God for a Belief System based around what God says is good and what God says is right.

Become what you believe-- Matthew 9:29

Different beliefs don't cause people to see different things; they cause
people to see the same things differently.
--Every losing team can be champions. (ex . football team)
--You will never overcome if you say you can't.
--Beliefs form and shape your future

:( Day Two :(

Day two of silence has been going...non-existent. I'm learning that not talking while living with a house full of people, looking for work, and having PJ's parents coming tomorrow just isn't working. But does anyone remember what I said in my blog entry about new years resolutions? Just because you don't follow your resolution for a day or two is no reason to completely give up, and I will not give up.

"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."

I haven't been going about this silence thing in the way I originally planned. I wanted to use it as a time of spiritual growth and instead treated it as something I punished myself to do. I'm going to give myself the rest of the weekend to get my head on straight with this and try again. I want to do this and I feel God pressing it deeply into my heart, so starting Monday it's attempt number two. I CAN DO THIS.

Day One

It has begun :)
I woke up late and woke to the arrival of our new roommate. His mom was here with him so I didn't want to be rude and not speak to them when I saw them. So I talked to them for a few minutes, talked to PJ for a bit, and now it has begun...silence. Not that everything around me is quiet, but I'm working on getting my mind that way. I'm listening to some praise and worship music along with some amazing celtic music (I am so in love with Celtic Woman) and I'm getting the ball rolling.

It's going to be a long three days (^_^)

Silent Time

Well everyone, it's 3:30am and once I go to bed and wake up it's my silent time. I talked to PJ and decided that not talking to him at all isn't an option I think is going to benefit this. So the final say in this is that I'll talk to him when I wake up for no certain designated amount of time, but just to have our normal morning talk (I love you, Good morning, How did you sleep? What did you dream about?) and then at night when we do that normal talk (I love you, goodnight, sleep well, have good dreams). And if I want to tell him that I love him in the middle of the day, well that's okay too as long as it doesn't turn into a big conversation where I get distracted from my goal. I also prayed about it and have felt God tell me that getting rid of the internet completely isn't necessary that it's about getting away from the distracting parts...like Facebook. So I'm going to use the computer, but for the purpose of blogging, reading things about religion, and listening to sermons and whatnot online. Not for Facebook, not for WoW (yes, I've been playing World of Warcraft...), nope none of that!

This is going to be tough.

But I think having quiet time with oneself is really essential. I also think it's going to give me some time to connect more with God and really get my spirit aligned with where it needs to be.

So here we go, I'm off to sleepyland here in about five minutes :)

This shouldn't happen.

I was on the phone with my dad today (YAY!!!!) and I was so disheartened by what he told me. We were talking about my whole goal of youth ministry and we started talking about experiences in churches. He told me that he used to go to this one church near my uncle's house (I went there with him once) and that one day he went in and was in a sweater and khakis. Now I have to tell you, I don't see an issue here. Apparently the pastor DID. Before the service even started, the pastor took him outside and informed him that he wasn't in proper attire for church.

ARE YOU KIDDING ME?
God sees me dancing around in my underwear singing praise and worship music, so I think he's completely ok with me sitting in church in jeans. Heck, my dad wasn't even in jeans...he was in a nice sweater and khakis.

You never know the reason someone is in church. Maybe they're having a really awful situation and they need to have fellowship and spend some time with God. Maybe that day is the day that could lead to their salvation. You don't know someone else's life circumstances unless they tell you. So why push people away?

It's because too many churches are worried about appearances and not focused on being Christ-like. They want to be "proper." I find nothing proper about forcing someone into a situation that makes them uncomfortable just so that they can fit into your own mold of what a Christian "should" be. We hear it preached that God knows our hearts, and the "judge not lest you be judged" yet there are still people out there that believe it to be their duty to tell others how they can and cannot worship and find a relationship with God.

I'm not saying you shouldn't dress up for church. If that's what you feel most comfortable being there in, then do it! But don't judge another just because s/he comes in wearing jeans.

Notes on Champions Centre's "Forces that form your future" message 1/2/2011

I posted on Facebook and Twitter that I would be listening to the live stream broadcast of the Champion Centre today because I missed church. I asked people to watch with me if they wanted to. If anyone did, or didn't, I'm posting the notes that I took on the message. It's an amazing message and I'll be watching again next week and encourage everyone else to as well!


----------------------------------------------
January 2, 2011- Champions Centre
Title of series : Forces that form your future


Jeremiah 29:11-14 (opening video for service)
*missing title of first song, but it was a Hillsong United song*
Chris Tomlin - Everlasting God


Life isn't somethin that happens *to* you.
Life is something that happens *through* you.


We use information as a novelty instead of mastering it as life-changing information. We google search, find out what we need to know, and move on. Instead we should take the things that could change our lives, and commit it to our memory and use it to better our lives. If you commit that to memory it can change your life. It becomes second-nature, you can do it in your sleep instead of having to consciously think about it each time.


Galations 4:8-9, 18-19
The forces that shaped your life until now, and the forces that can shape your future. Becoming a Christian, being Christ-like, isn't born in a moment. It's developed. Christ-likeness is formed and developed. Day by day, habit by habit, word by word, thought by thought. Hopefully you're more Christ-like today than you were 5 years ago, and 5 years from now you'll be more so than you are today.


1. God has a great plan for our lives.
~ Jeremiah 29:11 "'I know the plan I have for you,' declares the Lord. Plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
~ Is this your reality? Do you feel hope for your future? Or do you feel hopelessness?
~ Story about man going to banquet, was happy to get an invitation. When he arrived there was a sword suspended from a thing string hanging over his head. He was worried it would fall on him. The man feared the future so much that he wasn't able to enjoy the presence.
~ I'm here! Apprehention, negative forcasts, speculation about the future, things we see in the headlines or hear about on the news...we decide right now to not allow the "what if this happens" kind of stuff to rob us of the joy of being at the banquet table of life. I believe it and I receive it, God has a plan for me to prosper. I'm going to reject every other idea and fear that comes my way. He has good things in mind for me, my life, and my future.


2. If we are going to live the will of God, we have to partner with God everyday.
~ Deuteronomy 29:29
~ Secret things are the things that are unexpected. The circumstances you don't plan for. The unplanned things of our lives. The "lightening bolts" of life.
~ Revealed things are things in books, things you can hear being taught, an experience you've gained. Things you have gained knowledge and experience in,
~ Imagine God saying "I'll handle this" about the "secret things". You ask God why it's happening, and God doesn't respond. "What did I do wrong?" and he says, "Don't worry. Trust me. This is not for you. Give it up. Let it GO." No God TELL ME, "No." Why? "Because I said so." Because it's a secret thing.
~ Now imagine things that are revealed things. Things that could have been different. Imagine God pushing those things across the table to you. What do you mean, what am I supposed to do? God will you put some money in my bank? God why not bless me? and God says, "I gave you a brain, I brought information and education your directions. I gave you hands. What're you doing on the couch?" God, do something! "You do something."
~ We're not helpless, we are NOT powerless.
~ This is your life, live it.
~ What we often do is someone asks us a legitimate question like "what is your plan for 2011?" I don't know...whatever God wants. The monkey's not on MY back, it's whatever God wants. What are you doing to make a difference, to be a salt and light of the Earth? What are you doing to make your life matter? Umm...waiting on the Lord. You act powerless.
~ I am not powerless. My monkey. The monkey should be on your own back. Accept that monkey (haha!!)
~ Become accountable for your life, become accountable to people in your life.
(personal note: Find an accountability partner, or three.)
~ No more blaming.


3. The nature and quality of my life comes within me.
~ Proverbs 4:23
"Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it."
~ Matthew 12:35
"A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him..."
~ Get better things in your heart to have a better life.
~ Your future is not in a horoscope or the stars. The future is in your HEART. You determine your future by the content of your HEART. It comes from the nature and quality of our life.
~ Philippians 2:13
"It is god who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose."
~ Maybe you had a fight with your husband and went off on him and you walked away and God said..."How's that working for you. Is that getting you where you want to go? You've learned differently from that." You have to drop the attitude, it's not going to work for you.
~ This message creates ownership. But it's the truth, and the truth shall set you free. (quote from pastor)
~ He works IN you. In the moments of quietness. While you're driving down the road. While you're walking around after you said something you regret. Don't be one of those people looking for someone to pray for you and over you, he works IN you. Why does he work in you? To will and act according to his good purpose. He's moving and directing you.
~ God why am I here again, it's the 34th time? Same spot, 34 other times. What are you going to do about it God? You gotta do something God. "All 34 times I spoke to you and said it's time to make a change and here we are again. It's not because I want you here, it's because you chose to continue to think like you've been thinking and talk like you've been talking...doing what you've been doing. I've talked to you and said get up there's another way. A higher way. Embrace it, receive it. It's my way and my will and all 34 times you said you would just be different...NEXT TIME."
~ One ship sails east and another west. While the same breezes blow. It's the set of the sail and not the wind that determines where it will go. So it is with our lives. It's the set of the sail of our hearts that determines where we will go. No matter how the wind blows, if you get this if you embrace this you will stay the course! No matter what wind blows in your life! You will stay on course with god's will and good plan. You'll go from victory to victory. No weapon will prosper!! The quality and nature of the life doesn't depend on the wind and where it blows, but from within yourself.


NEXT WEEK: The 9 forces.
Ask yourself, "How different would my life be..."
if my seeds were sown different?
if my beliefs had been different?
if my relationships had been different?
if my habits had been different?
if my dreams had been different?
if my thoughts had been different?
if my feelings had been different?
if my personal values had been different?
if my words had been different?

How are you starting off your new spiritual year?

There are many ways that you can start off your year to try and get back on track spiritually or to just start this year on a positive foot. I started mine by listening/watching online sermons and I'm going to be having a few days of silence.

I've thought a lot about how to go about this whole silence-vow thing and I've prayed about it every night and I'm happy to say that I've come to a final decision. I will be starting my silence on Wednesday. I plan to stay silent Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. This may carry on to Saturday, but I'm not making that choice right now, we'll see what God has to say on Friday about it haha. I decided to stop trying to be so strict on myself with "I will talk to PJ for one hour in the morning and once at night," as I had previously talked about. Instead, I'm just remaining silent. I won't be getting online, I won't be answering my phone unless it seems like something extremely important (like a number I don't know, which could be about a job). I *will* be checking my texts, but I won't be responding to them unless they're an emergency. I *will* be checking my voicemails, but I won't be responding unless it's an emergency. I'll respond to all of them after my silent time, but not during or before.

Now, this is just the way I want to start my year. I don't think this is necessarily what is best for everyone else's spiritual journeys. Other options are out there. One that I really suggest for anyone who is up for it is a Daniel Fast. The diet you eat during a Daniel Fast is very similar to veganism with adding in no sugars and no processed things like white flour and white rice. They typically last for 21 days, though you can do one for any amount of time you feel is being put on your heart. The blogged I linked on the "Daniel Fast" text outlines everything that it entails, and if you have the money and want to I highly suggest her book "The Daniel Fast." I own it, and it's great.

So maybe fasting isn't for you.
There are even more options. You could begin doing devotionals, decide to do a "read the bible in a year" program, start regularly attending a church, etc etc.

And you may choose not to do anything new! It's all about personal choice because faith is an extremely personal thing and no one can tell what is best for your life. But I just find something empowering about starting the new year off doing something to "mark the occasion."

Hope you all are still having a wonderful new year, and a wonderful Sunday!
Off to watch today's live broadcast (in 20 minutes) of the sermon at Champions Centre because I missed church this morning (long story).

Pastor Chris from The Rock Church (Asheville)

I spent my New Years morning watching some sermons online. I'll post about some of them later, but I wanted to share the ones I especially loved. As I've said in past posts, I used to go to a church in Asheville called The Rock. It's an amazing church and I miss going there. The youth pastor there is named Chris Stapleton, but to us he was Pastopher. I'm not saying I don't like the head pastor at The Rock, because I do...pastor Kirk Bowman is a great man and I really have enjoyed his sermons. But I've always been extra partial to Pastopher's because of his ability to seamlessly mix comedy into his message. He would make an extremely good comedian, there have been times I laughed myself to tears listening to his message...all while getting some great information and feeling the passion for God.

Today I watched a few of his messages that I could find on YouTube, so I wanted to share them with everyone. Not all of them are religious messages, but they're all amazing anyways. I encourage anyone to check them out, even if you don't usually enjoy listening/watching sermons (^_^).

* Reclaiming the word "Love"
* Jesus and the Kool-Aid Man
* Sca[r]y Movies


I also enjoy the music at The Rock. As I've said a bazillion times at this point, I really feel God speak to me through music. It was the warm welcoming at The Rock paired with the music and the message from Pastor Kirk that got me hooked. I decided to watch a few videos of their music while I was on YouTube. I wish there were more to really give you the feel of the atmosphere there, but still...check these out!

* Livin' On A Prayer
* Airplanes


Well folks, I know this page is mostly just links...but they're all worth checking out :). Hope everyone had a good New Year's Day!