Sometimes I Write

I’ve been thinking about trying out some new templates for awhile now. This is one of my favorites so far. Clean. Bright. A little too white for my taste, but I’ll see what I can do about that. It’s a lot harder to manipulate the template on WordPress, but I still like it better than Blogger. Fewer glitches. Anyway, bear with me while I try a few new looks on.

You are very intuitive and wise. You understand the world better than most people.
You also have a very active imagination. You often get carried away with your thoughts.
You are prone to a little paranoia and jealousy. You sometimes go overboard in interpreting signals.

You tend to be pretty tightly wound. It’s easy to get you excited… which can be a good or bad thing.
You have a lot of enthusiasm, but it fades rather quickly. You don’t stick with any one thing for very long.
You have the drive to accomplish a lot in a short amount of time. Your biggest problem is making sure you finish the projects you start.

You are a seeker of knowledge, and you have learned many things in your life.
You are also a keeper of knowledge – meaning you don’t spill secrets or spread gossip.
People sometimes think you’re snobby or aloof, but you’re just too deep in thought to pay attention to them.

You are usually the best at everything … you strive for perfection.
You are confident, authoritative, and aggressive.
You have the classic “Type A” personality.

You are relaxed, chill, and very likely to go with the flow.
You are light hearted and accepting. You don’t get worked up easily.
Well adjusted and incredibly happy, many people wonder what your secret to life is.

You are the total package – suave, sexy, smart, and strong.
You have the whole world under your spell, and you can influence almost everyone you know.
You don’t always resist your urges to crush the weak. Just remember, they don’t have as much going for them as you do.

My friend had this on her blog and I’m such a sucker for this stuff. A lot of this is pretty accurate. I’d rather do these than meme’s. Here’s the link if you’d like to try it yourself.

http://www.blogthings.com/whatsyournameshiddenmeaningquiz/

The weekend was great. I was so nervous and really it was for nothing. Was I perfect? No. Did I forget to say some things I was so sure were important? Yes. Did God use me anyway? You bet. I had the opportunity to share the messages he’s been giving me to share for the last month while I planned my talk. I loved on hurting teens and laughed with new friends and old. I looked into the eyes of a few of my favorite guys and told them, “You are God’s man and he loves you so very much. You are His beloved”. My heart swells just thinking about it. I learned a few things too. God spoke to me about possible ministry opportunities I’ll have in the future, but I’m saving that story for another day.

Every time I’m given the chance to live out the community example of the church in Acts 2, I cry. I feel so “one” with the friends God has placed in my life. This is strongest when we’re bound together by a common love and purpose, serving alongside each other, laughing, crying,and cheering one another on through the growing phases we all go through. It just makes my heart happy. So went the weekend seeing Trevor, Chris, and Allen. I was reminded of how much we are loved and how deeply we love our friends and their families.

We stretched some people way beyond their comfort zones, but my hope is that we planted some seeds that will grow into deep faith and belief in the power and love of the God we serve. I’m done putting restrictions on the Creator and letting others put their restrictions of belief on me. NOT that most of our friends try to do that, but a few do. I love them anyway. 🙂 I didn’t feel that happened this weekend, but I have to admit that it was a fear in the back of my mind. Silly me. I’m going to keep seeking God’s face and whatever He chooses to give me and show me regardless of who it stretches. It’s part of who I am. May I always pass along my experiences in love and without judgment.

There was one boy in particular that I spent some time with this weekend. He was hurting over a lost relationship with his father and he was feeling worthless and that he was a mistake. As we talked, a song we sing at our church came to mind, so I sang it for him.

Lord it was you who created the heavens.

Lord it was your hands that put the stars in their place.

Lord it is your voice that commands the morning.

Even oceans and their waves bow at your feet.

Lord, who am I compared to your glory?

Lord, who am I compared to your majesty?

I am your beloved, your creation, and you love me as I am.

You have called me chosen for your kingdom, unashamed to call me your own.

I am your beloved.

Lord it was you who came to save as a baby.

Lord it was your voice that raised the dead from the grave.

Lord it was your hands that took the nails in my place.

Even oceans and their waves bow at your feet.

Lord, who am I compared to your glory?

Lord, who am I compared to your majesty?

I am your beloved, your creation, and you love me as I am.

You have called me chosen for your kingdom, unashamed to call me your own.

I am your beloved. I am your beloved.

I am…and so are you. 🙂

Lord, I praise you and thank you from this place of joy and fullness.  You are amazing the way you orchestrate the revealing of your wisdom and power.  I thank you for loving so completely and pouring your grace on your children.  Father, I thank you for making me a seed planter and I ask that you water and grow those seeds into the beautiful gifts and purposes you have planned in each of the people you’ve given us to share our lives with.  Sprinkle them with courage, strength, healing, beauty, and knowledge of the truth.  Make the seeds of faith, compassion, love, and mercy blossom bigger than I can even imagine Lord. Keep growing us and using us as you see fit.  I love you Lord.  Thank you for calling me your beloved.  In Jesus Name, Amen.

It’s 1:28 a.m. on Friday morning and I’m a dork.  I have to get up in about 5 hours to get ready for Friday school.  Then we’re leaving on our trip.  Benny and I will be in Oklahoma all weekend speaking at a youth retreat.  So why am I still up?  I’m polishing my lesson that I’m giving on Saturday.  I’ve written, rearranged, looked up verses, tweaked the order, pulled together pictures for my power point, edited some more, and I think I’m finally happy with my presentation.  I hate that whole ability to work well under pressure.  Crunch time was named after me.  When it gets down to the wire and I’m putting on the finishing touches for whatever I’m doing, I need something crunchy.  Food for the weary.  yikes.  I won’t even go there right now.  This completely defies not eating after 8 p.m.  🙂

I’m passionate about my topic, I know what I’m talking about, and God has given me the ability to share it.  So why am I nervous?  Why am I ALWAYS nervous standing in front of a bunch of people?  I do it every Sunday and still there are little butterflies creating a frantic flight pattern in my stomach right now.  It took me a year and a half to watch the DVD of myself speaking at the ladies retreat from back in September of 2006.  I didn’t want to see my nerves on video.  When I finally watched it, I was surprised how calm I looked.  Oh my friends, looks can be deceiving. lol

Do you suppose this is God’s way of keeping me humble and reminding me that it’s not about me, but the message that He gave me to share?  Yes?  Well, I can accept that.

The Nowell kiddos are staying with my wonderful Captivating friends Wendy and Kristi for the weekend.  Zoe is so excited about spending time with Wendy’s girls.  Being without sisters herself, Zoe adores them and craves the girly time.  I’m glad the boys will be together for the weekend.  Kristi’s son Levi is one of Max’s good friends, so they’ll all have quite the adventure I’m sure.  The neighbors are watching the house for us which is nice.  Paula is driving us to and from the airport so we don’t have to pay for parking (which is ridiculously high in Denver).  Yeah Paula! Everything is taken care of, so Benny and I can enjoy our time away and the time we’ll have with new friends and old at the retreat.

We would appreciate your prayers for safety and good health for us all this weekend.   Thank you!

P.S.  All three times I’ve been invited to speak in recent years, it’s been in Oklahoma.  What does that mean?  Hmmm…I have to think about that one…and try not to get a complex from all the other states.   😉

Have you visited my Sex, Love, and Marriage blog lately?

I have a series of posts I’ve been working on regarding the debate over the One Less Campaign.  There are currently 26 states looking at the possibility of mandating the HPV vaccine for schoolgirls ages 9 and up.  Texas was the first and their governor has come under some pretty heavy fire.  It’s a lot of information but it’s worth your time to take a look at it.

Guess which camp I’m firmly planted in?   😉