i still have trouble wrapping my mind around all that i experienced all 7 days of last week...let's just say that i endured every emotion out there. i started the week joyfully serving my epic church friends and worshiping the Risen Christ alongside them and over 200 other san franciscans. the middle of the week brought anxiety, nerves, & uncertainty with a day full of severe tornadoes coming right through tuscaloosa & birmingham. the end of the week brought overflowing devastation, heart break, and compassion as i watched and viewed all the videos, pictures, and footage from the wreckage in tuscaloosa, a town that will forever hold a special place in my heart. i was able to take some donations down to ttown with some friends saturday morning before coming back for work...let's just say that words cannot describe what that tornado did but i can say it did not destroy the ability of that place to rebuild, bounce back, and recover.
if you want to help the state of alabama in any way, please visit: http://alabamapossible.org/2011/04/tornado-relief-how-you-can-help/ or http://www.birminghamsalvationarmy.org/
or let me know if you want to come down and help volunteer or send donations.
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
san fran part deux
this afternoon about 20 of my friends from church are headed out to san francisco to serve our Epic Church friends again. they have us close to 100,000 postcards/granola bars to hand out and are having 2 services on Sunday to celebrate the Lord's Resurrection. since their launch to weekly services in february, they've seen around 100 folks each week. the Lord is definitely up to something great in the city!
i'm absolutely pumped about what the Lord has in store for us as a group and me personally (and selfishly excited for a vacation...we're even celebrating my friend kristen's bday friday night at the braves vs. giants game). i can't wait to share with the blog world all about our trip when i return next tuesday morning.
please be in prayer for our time in san fran: for the folks we meet, those who've been invited already, those debating on whether to attend one of the services or not, the Epic Church staff, and those who attend an Easter service on Sunday, that the Lord will be glorified throughout our entire trip.
i'm absolutely pumped about what the Lord has in store for us as a group and me personally (and selfishly excited for a vacation...we're even celebrating my friend kristen's bday friday night at the braves vs. giants game). i can't wait to share with the blog world all about our trip when i return next tuesday morning.
please be in prayer for our time in san fran: for the folks we meet, those who've been invited already, those debating on whether to attend one of the services or not, the Epic Church staff, and those who attend an Easter service on Sunday, that the Lord will be glorified throughout our entire trip.
Monday, April 4, 2011
necessary reminders
the past few weeks some circumstances and events have reminded me of some truths that i've lately taken for granted:
1) the gravity of sin, its consequences to not only an individual but a community, & how small sins and temptations can grow into something larger & heartbreaking. that a lack of relationship and intimacy with the Lord provides satan and sin the small opening it needs to penetrate our hearts and minds & create that barrier preventing us from truly seeking the Lord
2) the vital need for authentic community...this definitely relates to the first point for sure...if we're not taking advantage of the friends and community the Lord's provided & using them for the accountability we need to reign over our sin then yes, we are going to stumble. also, if i'm not taking advantage of the accountability even in being transparent about my lack of relationship/desire to enjoy time with the Lord then sins and temptations are going to trickle in
3) confession and repentance are a must no matter how much my pride might get in the way
i could go on and on but the theme of it all is the Gospel and our process of sanctification...we're never going to get over our temptations with sin and our pride but praise the Lord for His grace, forgiveness, and redemption on the cross!
1) the gravity of sin, its consequences to not only an individual but a community, & how small sins and temptations can grow into something larger & heartbreaking. that a lack of relationship and intimacy with the Lord provides satan and sin the small opening it needs to penetrate our hearts and minds & create that barrier preventing us from truly seeking the Lord
2) the vital need for authentic community...this definitely relates to the first point for sure...if we're not taking advantage of the friends and community the Lord's provided & using them for the accountability we need to reign over our sin then yes, we are going to stumble. also, if i'm not taking advantage of the accountability even in being transparent about my lack of relationship/desire to enjoy time with the Lord then sins and temptations are going to trickle in
3) confession and repentance are a must no matter how much my pride might get in the way
i could go on and on but the theme of it all is the Gospel and our process of sanctification...we're never going to get over our temptations with sin and our pride but praise the Lord for His grace, forgiveness, and redemption on the cross!
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
oh march, you're such a treat
march is definitely one, if not the one, of my favorite months of the year.
1) march madness: it's not a secret that basketball is my favorite sport so it's obvious that once the calendar rolls in month 3 i get super excited. i can absolutely sit and watch any game even if the tide or tigers aren't playing. yes, i was bummed that the tide got left out of the big dance but my excitement over the program coach grant's building is definitely overshadowing my disappointment. i fill out a bracket(or 2) every year but this year i was very hesitant due to no one team or teams really dominating/standing out. i did cave and filled 2 out & much to my dismay they are both in the bottom of the pool. oh well, i'm still enjoying all the madness.
i found this article/dear abby letter yesterday to which i said to myself that this girl could be my friend. check her out: http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/relationships/blog/
2) spring: i'm a fan of experiencing all the seasons but spring a fall provide us great visibility of God's creation & His creating more than just humans the ability to change & transform. the beauty of new life that comes with springtime is such a delight and a gentle reminder of the new life provided in the Easter season that just so happens to occur in spring. (yes, i give the allergies that came w/ the new blooms a pass despite the itchy eyes) daylight savings is rather nice despite having to "lose" an hour of sleep. there's just something refreshing to leaving work at 5pm & still seeing the sun. plus, springtime brings the start of farmer's markets! my last one: warmer temps in spring mean not having to wear 8 layers of clothes when running outside.
3) birthdays: i'm not gonna lie, i totally enjoy celebrating birthdays so the fact that mine & my brothers fall in this month is no mistake. this year, outside of the 2 different nights of celebrating w/ my sweet friends, my parents came down & we enjoyed a beautiful day in birmingham followed by a night in tuscaloosa watching alabama hoops play in the nit. and then to my brother's treat the tide played again on his birthday as well.
4) 31 days: we get 31 days of enjoying madness & beautiful spring time blooming & weather. who wouldn't want that?!!
1) march madness: it's not a secret that basketball is my favorite sport so it's obvious that once the calendar rolls in month 3 i get super excited. i can absolutely sit and watch any game even if the tide or tigers aren't playing. yes, i was bummed that the tide got left out of the big dance but my excitement over the program coach grant's building is definitely overshadowing my disappointment. i fill out a bracket(or 2) every year but this year i was very hesitant due to no one team or teams really dominating/standing out. i did cave and filled 2 out & much to my dismay they are both in the bottom of the pool. oh well, i'm still enjoying all the madness.
i found this article/dear abby letter yesterday to which i said to myself that this girl could be my friend. check her out: http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/relationships/blog/
2) spring: i'm a fan of experiencing all the seasons but spring a fall provide us great visibility of God's creation & His creating more than just humans the ability to change & transform. the beauty of new life that comes with springtime is such a delight and a gentle reminder of the new life provided in the Easter season that just so happens to occur in spring. (yes, i give the allergies that came w/ the new blooms a pass despite the itchy eyes) daylight savings is rather nice despite having to "lose" an hour of sleep. there's just something refreshing to leaving work at 5pm & still seeing the sun. plus, springtime brings the start of farmer's markets! my last one: warmer temps in spring mean not having to wear 8 layers of clothes when running outside.
3) birthdays: i'm not gonna lie, i totally enjoy celebrating birthdays so the fact that mine & my brothers fall in this month is no mistake. this year, outside of the 2 different nights of celebrating w/ my sweet friends, my parents came down & we enjoyed a beautiful day in birmingham followed by a night in tuscaloosa watching alabama hoops play in the nit. and then to my brother's treat the tide played again on his birthday as well.
4) 31 days: we get 31 days of enjoying madness & beautiful spring time blooming & weather. who wouldn't want that?!!
terrible blogger
i must apologize on my lack of posts especially since the calendar has turned to 2011. i promise i'm not as boring as my lack of boring exhibits...i've just done a fantastic job of neglecting.
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