Oh-K-Booth

Just a Few Quotes from J-Ed

2010-02-28T15:24:00.000-08:00

These are merely a few of my favorite quotes from Jonathan Edwards' dissertation "The End For Which God Created The World" found in the second half of John Pipers book "God's Passion for His Glory." If you are reading this post, you should go get the book and atleast read the dissertation. It is hard to read, but push through it! Trust me...

"It is reasonable to suppose that God had respect for himself, as his last and highest end, in this work; because he is worthy in himself to be so, being infinitely the greatest and best of beings. All things else, with regard to worthiness, importance, and excellence, are perfectly as nothing in comparison of him....And therefore it must cheifly consist in giving due respect to that Being to whom most is due; for God is infinitely the worthy of regard. The worthiness of others is as nothing to his..."

"A sufficiency for any work is no further valuable than the work itself is valuable...The end of wisdom is design; the end of power is action; the end of goodness is doing good. To suppose these perfections not to be exerted would be to represent them as insignificant. Of what use would God's wisdom be, if it had nothing to design or direct? To what purpose his almightiness, if it never brought any thing to pass? And of what avail his goodness, if it never did any good?"

"The happiness of the creature consists in rejoicing in God, by which also God is magnified and exalted."

"This delight which God has in his creature's happiness cannot properly be said to be what God receives from the creature. For it is only the effect of his own work in and communications to the creature, in making it and admitting it to a participation of his fullness, as the sun receives nothing from the jewel that receives its light and shines only by a participation of its brightness."

"God's esteeming himself supremely is not contrary to his esteeming human happiness, since he is that happiness. In created beings, a regard to self-interest may properly be set in opposition to the public warfare, because the private interest of one person may be inconsistent with the public good; at least it may be so in the apprehension [i.e., perception] of that person. That which this person looks upon as his interest, may interfere with or oppose the general good. Hence his private interest may be regarded and pursued in opposition to the public. But this cannot be with respect to the Supreme Being, the author and head of the whole system, on whom all absolutely depend, who is the fountain of being and good to the whole. It is more absurd to suppose that his interest should be opposite the interest of the universal system, than that the welfare of the head, heart, and vitals of the natural body, should be opposite to the welfare of the body. And it is impossible that God, who is omniscient, should apprehend his interest as being inconsistent with the good and interest of the whole."

"And in communicating his fullness for them, he does it for himself, because their good, which he seeks, is so much in union and communion with himself. God is their good. Thier excellency and happiness is nothing but the emination and expression of God's glory."

"A main difference between the intelligent and moral parts, and the rest of the world, lies in this, that the former are capable of knowing their Creator and the for which he made them, and capapble of actively complying with his design in their creation, and promoting it, while other creatures cannot promote the design of their creation, except passively and eventually."

"Here it cannot be pretended that though Christians are indeed required to make God's glory their end; yet it is but as a subordinate end, as subservient to their own happiness; for then, in acting chiefly and ultimately for their own selves, they would use themselves more as their own than as God's; which is directly contrary to the design of the apostle's exhortation and the argument he is upon; which is, that we should give ourselves as it were away from ourselves to God, and use ourselves as his, and not our own, acting for his sake, and not our own sakes."

"When the church says, 'Not unto us, not unto us, O Jehovah, but to thy name give glory' [Ps. 115:1], it would be absurd to say that she only desires that God may have glory, as a necessary or convenient means of her own advancement and felicity."

Love excites God to create.

Chapel Sermon

2010-02-25T18:59:00.000-08:00

Please take the time to watch this life shattering sermon. I know I needed to hear it. You can see it here.

Photo Op: Blake, Alicia & Josiah (in the Baby Bump)

2010-02-18T17:44:00.000-08:00

Here are a few pictures of a quick photo shoot of the Whites. This was my first opportunity to take maternity pictures. I have nice friends that let me experiment on them. Let me know what you think, and if you are one of my friends that have your own photography business...I need tips! (eh-hem- Matchless Photography and Rachel Russo Photography)...

Memory Verses

2010-01-19T10:34:00.000-08:00

If anyone is interested in joining me...I have to memorize 4o Scripture Passages by March 26th for my Personal Evangelism Class. Here they are if you want a challenge as a motivator. OR...If anyone wants to put them to music for me to help me memorize that would be sweet! haha. Hope you all have a great week!

40 KEY VERSES FOR EVANGELISM

GOD
Psalms 19:1
Revelation 4:11
Matthew 22:37-38
Leviticus 19:2

REBELLION
Isaiah 59:2
Isaiah 53:6
Romans 3:23
Romans 6:23
Hebrews 9:27
Matthew 10:28

ATONEMENT
John 3:16
Luke 19:10
Romans 5:8
1 Peter 2:24
Isaiah 53:5
1 Peter 3:18
2 Corinthians 5:21
John 3:36

CONVERSION
John 3:3
John 1:12
Acts 16:31
Romans 10:9
Romans 10:13
Matthew 11:28
John 14:6
Acts 4:12
Luke 13:3
Isaiah 55:7
1 John 1:9
Isaiah 1:18
2 Corinthians 6:2
Revelation 3:20
Ephesians 2:8-9

ETERNAL LIFE
John 10:10
John 6:37
1 John 5:12-13
Romans 8:16
John 5:24
2 Corinthians 5:17
2 Timothy 1:12

A New Year and a New Me...(well parts of me atleast)

2010-01-15T13:31:00.001-08:00

(The picture is from my visit home with cousins on New Years Day...we are kind of goof-balls! But we sure love eachother)
So far 2010 is turning out to be an adventure and an expense. For my Christmas present, my folks paid for an eye exam since I had not been to the eye doctor in about 5 years. I had no idea that my eyes had changed and I am now seeing a new world through new glasses (an expense but a good investment).

The day after my optical investment was purchased, I was eating some homemade tortilla soup (yummy by the way) and as I ate a tortilla chip a tooth in the upper back part of my mouth broke. So...maintenance issue #2 = a trip to the dentist. I hadn't been in 6 years since I have not had dental insurance. I found a great dentist in Louisville though named Mitch Luckett! He was all the kings horses and all the kings men that put me back together again. Another good investment and my other teeth look fine!

So, here I am, at the beginning of the semester trusting that the Lord provides and thankful for the great care that is available for me when these issues come up. This is obviously a year of maintenance for me thus far. Haha.

My fourth semester at Southern starts on January 25th with a full load of classes awaiting me. So far I have made A's and B's in previous classes. This semester I will be taking New Testament, Personal Evangelism and Theological/Biblical Foundations for Biblical Counseling. The rubber met the road a week ago as I was able to apply some of the things I have learned in my counseling classes through a counseling appointment with a gal in crisis. I count it all grace for the opportunity to study here at Southern and the opportunity to counsel His people.

Please pray for me this semester as I learn to love the Lord more and more, continue to minister in my church, work diligently through the final stages of my degree program, and attempt to be faithful in the scriptural mandates. I will be memorizing alot of Scripture in the classes that I am taking this semester. This is not my strong point and although I definitely look forward to the memorization of God's word and knowing it better, I ask that you pray for my retention of His word. I also ask that you pray for a steadfast trust in the Lord's provision. I can't wait to see what this new year has in store...Love you all!!!

By the way...I would really like to know how I can also be praying for my beloved readers...PLEASE (if you would like) send a brief message with a prayer request that you may have that I can write down...thanks!

I'll Be Home for Christmas

2009-12-21T06:54:00.000-08:00

Well, it's true...I am homeward bound tomorrow morning. My flight leaves at 7:00 am and I arrive in Dallas at 10:00 am. As always I am sure it will be grand to be on Texas soil again. I find it so interesting to see how much I like my comfort. I received a phone call yesterday that ruined my dream world of a "perfect" holiday. Family, Christmas trees, lights strung, holiday food, laughter, children playing, presents, Mexican and BBQ, curling up by the fire, hot chocolate, caroling, coffee with friends, a trip to San Antonio to see more loved ones and then back to my home in Louisville. This was my perception of what my Christmas break in Texas should look like before the phone call yesterday.

The things in the list above are certainly gifts that most get to enjoy during Christmas. But I have to realize that they are gifts and I cannot expect to receive them. When I do receive them the glory should be given to the Giver of all things (good and bad). The phone call yesterday was from my mother who explained to me that my grandmother is dying. Since October she has lost 40 pounds, and in the last week her eyes have sunken in and she is not responding. Her breath is shallow and her body is quickly decaying to an unrecognizable state. This will be my third grandparent to die this year if she dies before the new year. My heart aches because I love my Nanny and it will be a great loss with her death. (Please pray for my family during this time). Certainly not my idea of Christmas fun...but isn't this part of what Christmas is about?

Reality: We live in a sin stricken world. Due to the fall in the Garden of Eden the earth and all in it was cursed with death and decay. We see the effects of sin in every day life: from the common cold to burying loved ones. It was not originally supposed to be this way and since that garden incident God has had a plan of redemption. This plan is woven throughout the tapestries of the Scriptures. The entire Old Testament testifies of a Deliverer who was to come. Poetry, Prophesies, and the History of the nation of Israel spoke of God's plan to save his people. Rotten with sin you see the desperate need of a Savior. Because of sin life is far from perfect but then came the One who was perfect.

Immanuel (God with us) was his name. He was the second person of the Trinity: God who took on flesh. Born of a virgin and conceived by the Holy Spirit he was absolutely sinless. Deity in flesh. One would expect the King of the earth to be born in a palace perhaps in Jerusalem with a great birth announcement to all who were "important." Instead, Mary and Joseph made a 70+ mile journey on a donkey at nine months of pregnancy. She went into labor in the town of Bethlehem and could not find a place to stay. A stable, which was most likely a cave where visitors at the Inn kept their animals, was the place that this Deity in flesh would be born. One might think that Mary would have perks since she was giving birth to the Son of God, but there she was in a stable covered in blood wrapping Jesus in swaddling clothes and laying him in a manger. And the birth announcement...it wasn't to the most "important" people, yet it was made to the outcast lowly shepherds who were watching their flocks. This infant lying in a manger was the hope of the world from the sin that brought death and decay. He came to take on the sins of the world. During his life there was still no place to lay his head. He continued to live a humble life. Christ came as a servant unlike most kings who are served daily. Mary, his mother, still had no perks, yet lived a life of hardship and was surrounded by people who refused to believe her. This Deity in flesh commanded illnesses to flee from people and practiced dominion over the waves that rebelled against sinful human rulers. Most importantly He was the only one who could withstand the wrath of God being God himself. He took on that wrath and took on death as he was cursed on the cross. The Gospel Primer puts it this way...

"Apart from Christ, I am also utterly deserving of and destined for eternal punishment in the Lake of Fire, completely unable to save myself or even to make one iota of a contribution to my own salvation. However, what I could not do, God did- and in doing it, He did it all, sending His own Son into the world to die on the cross for my sin, thereby showing me unfathomable love. God loved me so much that He was willing to suffer the loss of His Son, and even more amazingly, He was willing to allow His Son to suffer the loss of Him at the cross. Jesus loved me so much that He was willing to lay down His life for me. No one could ever love me more or better than Jesus. On the third day after Jesus' death, God raised Him from the dead, thereby announcing that his death was completely sufficient to atone for my every sin that I have or will commit throughout my lifetime. God then exalted Christ to His own right hand, where Christ now reigns from on high, granting salvation and forgiveness to all who call on Him by faith."

Christmas is not about the list I previously stated, though those are gifts from the Giver that can be enjoyed. Christmas is about the greatest gift of redemption that began with a humble birth in Bethlehem. We live in a world of death and decay, yet there is now a great hope and salvation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Through repentance and faith, those who are in Christ must remember why we have reason to celebrate this Christmas no matter what circumastance we find ourselves in. The Giver of all good things (including trials and hardships) demands our allegiance and reverence. All praise, glory and honor be to the God of our salvation.

A Joyful Christmas to you and yours!

Abisror Christmas Family Photo Shoot

2009-12-18T13:20:00.000-08:00

Yet another photo shoot. This time I used my bosses camera. They turned out alright, but I would have liked to have had some Camera Operation 101. :)

Make a Smilebox slideshow

The Valley of Vision

2009-12-05T10:06:00.000-08:00

Lord, high and holy, meek and lowly,
Though hast brought me to the valley of vision,
where I live in the depths but see thee in the heights;
hemmed in by mountains of sin I behold thy glory.

Let me learn by paradox
that the way down is the way up,
that to be low is to be high,
that the broken heart is the healed heart,
that the contrite spirit is the rejoicing spirit,
that the repentant soul is the victorious soul,
that to have nothing is to possess all,
that to bear the cross is to wear the crown,
that to give is to receive,
that the valley is the place of vision.

Lord, in the daytime stars can be seen from deepest wells,
and the deeper the wells the brighter thy stars shine;
Let me find thy light in my darkness,
thy life in my death,
thy joy in my sorrow,
thy grace in my sin,
thy riches in my poverty
thy glory in my valley.

Another Fun Photo Shoot!

2009-11-15T20:11:00.000-08:00

I have found that photogrophy is a great stress release as I near the end of the semester. One more week of class, two more papers and three finals to go. Here is my recent photo shoot with some close Louisville friends! Fun Fun Fun!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Recent Photo Shoot with the Garcias

2009-11-10T12:37:00.000-08:00

I know it has been forever and a day since my last post. I do intend to continue my 3G series, but in the meantime here is a photo shoot with my great friends the Garcias. I really enjoy doing photography, but I was particularly nervous about this shoot due to the ages of the kiddos. As you recall in my earlier post, Ronnie and Amanda played a huge part in my testamony. They are starting a church in Puerto Rico and I was so blessed to be able to spend a weekend with them in Alabama. They have 4 kiddos under the age of 4. The twins were adopted and their story has been a huge testamony to me in regards to my adoption through Christ. I LOVE THIS FAMILY and you can partly see why...

Make a Smilebox slideshow

3G: Juvenile Probation and God's Justice

2009-07-28T21:26:00.000-07:00

...It was the August that I returned from Washington State. I was now a jobless college grad that had joined a band that practiced in what was an old garage at Colin and Andre'a's new house. The months passed by as did the job applications stamped: rejected. Thankfully Paul Ann Baptist Church brought me on staff and made me a part-time secretary until I could find a full time job.

This was a rough season for me spiritually. I was still processing what all I had learned that summer and was trying to discern what would be the best direction to take ahead of me. While focusing on my temporal circumstances, I had neglected focusing on eternal things and my worries and anxiety proved my distrust and unbelief in my good, sovereign, providing God. I praise Him that He is faithful even when we aren't and strong when we are ever so weak. Perhaps it is during the times that He seems so distant that He is growing our faith in Him. Again, He was preparing me for a great task ahead.

In March 2004 I found a full-time job and was hired as a Tom Green County Juvenile Probation Officer. It's true...I had the badge, cuff keys and caged cars. I took kids to court and had office, school, detention center and home visits with the juveniles on probation. The thing I learned most about God while working in the court system was God's justice.

Like the juveniles I worked with, I too had charges against me. My sin nature was an offense to God's law and "the wages of sin is death (Rom 6:23)." Someone would have to die to pay my penalty. Now obviously the sentences that were brought before the Tom Green County Courthouse were not as harsh. Most would get off on probation, some were placed in correctional facilities, and some were put on deferred adjudication, but there would have to be retribution that fit the crime. There were times that I felt little grace toward these kids that acted so foolishly and yet I was constantly reminded that "God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8)." I tried to picture myself raising my right hand on the stand before the judge at the TGC Courthouse and then proclaim that I would take on all the charges and consequences of the charges of the defendant. This is exactly what Christ did on our behalf. Scripture says, "What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died--more than that, who was raised--who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us (Rom 8:31-34)." Romans 3 explains how no human can be justified by the law. The law shows us our sin nature before a Holy and Perfect God. We are all law breakers, "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God and [yet] are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus." God's wrath towards us was poured out on His Perfect Son that we might be free from the sentence of death. GRACE...it always seems magnificent in light of His justice.

It was around my third month that I received news that one of my church youth group students had taken his life. This brought about a time of great questioning and mourning. My on-call week at the Juvenile Probation Center soon followed. To be "on-call" meant that the police called me if they picked up a kid at any hour and I had to decide on the phone whether or not they should release the kid or detain him/her. If detained I was responsible for contacting the judge within 24 hours. It was an unusual week of extreme cases: aggravated sexual assault, assault with a deadly weapon, and there was one evening that I became the first Probation Officer to ride in an ambulance. In the back of our building was the detention center and one of the girls had tried to hang herself. She gasped for air through the oxygen mask as we rushed off to the hospital. After being in the ER for a few hours the nurses and doctors began to run frantically about the hospital, grabbing supplies from other rooms. I could tell that the girl I was with was frightened. I started singing a hymn to her in hopes to bring peace to the chaos around us. Half way through the song the heart beat of the one everyone had scurried about trying to save had flat lined. She looked at me with tears in her eyes as she heard the sound of death. There was a part of me that had been angry that she too had attempted to take her life as my student did, yet I could do nothing at that point than speak words of hope to this girl who saw hopelessness.

A great amount of my caseload had kids who were physically, emotionally and sexually abused and were also neglected. My eyes had been opened to an angry and wicked world. I was told that I couldn't take work home with me if I wanted to survive in this line of work, yet my heart had too much compassion and I ended up with much grief and tears most nights. I wanted to share the hope there is in Jesus Christ, yet was confined by the "separtion of church and state." Not long after my on-call week I was confronted by Lee Floyd, Director of the Baptist Student Ministries, to consider taking the Campus Missionary position at the BSM. It was a hard decision to leave the mission field of Juvenile Probation, but now I would be able to proclaim the truth of the gospel with no limitations...To Be Continued...

3G: Oh Worship the King: Washington and Beyond...

2009-07-28T19:13:00.000-07:00

...My arrival home had me entering a season of searching. As you recall, before I headed to Washington State I was a college graduate and I had no idea as to what I would do come August. That May, inbetween orientation and Washington, there was a team of us that were held in Dallas to serve for five days at a church. My first task approached me when the lead singer of the youth worship team was sick and unable to come. The three years prior to this night I had purposely stayed in the pew and off of the stage to grow in my focus and understanding of the One in Whom I worshiped. This night (above picture) would be the first of many chances to lead God's people in worshiping Him. I can remember standing behind that mic trembling at first and then the music began to play. It was as if I were in the pew yet with a mic in my hand. Nothing at that moment could distract me from worshiping my Lord.

While I was in Washington I had a few opportunities to lead worship again and then received a phone call from my friend Chance Nichols. He was putting together a band that would lead worship for the college students every Monday night at Angelo State's BSM. At that point I had no job and no other plans and gladly joined. Chance, Kasey and I lead worship for two years together along with several bass guitarists and drummers. We traveled quite often for a season and though loading the trailor was not our favorite thing to do, leading people in worship with the music we loved was our passion. We were at a Disciple Now in Robert Lee (I think) and were nameless. A kid named Brody took it upon himself to help us out and suggested that we call ourselves Shepherd's Flock since we were leading The Shepherd's flock in worship. The name stuck for as long as we were together. Those two years would hold great trials and opportunities for me as you will see in the next few posts. The band was one of the Lord's provision for me that constantly anchored me in and pointed me to Christ despite the distractions that I faced. I am so thankful for the accountability and encouragement that I received during those times. I continue to grow to love the art of music and the beauty of bringing together different instruments to produce such a unifying sound.

It makes me think that when the body of Christ works in the way a band or orchestra does there is a God glorifying sound that is beautiful to those who hear it. Each member must play their part in order to produce this sound. Scriptures give us a list of "One Anothers" as notes on a piece of sheet music. Love one another (John 13:34), exhort one another (Heb 3:13), encourage one another (1 Thess 5:11), outdo one another in showing honor (Rom 12:10), live in harmony with one another (Rom 12:16), etc... In doing so we show the world the God we serve. Christ's prayer was, "The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one...." We are also encouraged in 1 Peter 4:10-11, "As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: ...in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen." He has gifted us individually, the question is whether or not we are using those gifts for His glory and in unity with the body. May our unity proclaim the One Who brought redemption rather than defaming His name by our disunity and selfishness. May our noise be a joyful one rather than a noisy gong and a clanging cymbol.

I always loved the words to Ross King's song "Clear the Stage" which goes well with the topic of worship. Please read and consider these lyrics...To Be Continued...

Clear the stage and set the sound and lights ablaze

If that's the measure that it takes to crush the idols.

Chuck the pews and all the decorations too

Until the congregations few then have revival.

Tell your friends that this is where the party ends

Until you're broken for your sins you can't be social.

Then seek the Lord and wait for what he has in store

And know that great is your reward and just be hopeful

CHORUS

Cause you can sing all you want to.

Yes you can sing all you want to

You can sing all you want to

And don't get me wrong,

Worship is more than a song.

Take a break from all the plans that you made

And sit at home alone and wait for God to whisper.

Beg Him please to open up his mouth and speak

And pray for real upon your knees until they blister.

Shine the light on every corner of your life

Until the pride and lust and lies are in the open.

Then read the word and put to test the things you've heard

Until your heart and soul are stirred and rocked and broken.

BRIDGE

Anything I put before my God is an idol.

Anything I want with all my heart is an idol.

Anything I can't stop thinking of is an idol.

Anything that I give all my love is an idol.

We must not worship something that's not even worth it.

Clear the stage and make some space for the one who deserves it.

Cause I can sing all I want to.

Yes I can sing all I want to

I can sing all I want to

And still get it wrong,

Worship is more than a song.

3G : Missions in Washington State

2009-07-07T19:35:00.000-07:00

...So, there I was. I had entered a season of unknown territory. I was now living for Christ, yet all I had known in daily routine my entire life was school. In May 2004, I graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Sociology/Psychology. I sought the Lord for direction and the only thing that continued to pop up was missions. In some ways I scoffed like Sarah did when she heard that she would bear a child at her age. Me...missions?!?! The truth was that I began to doubt the Lord's provision for me to quit my job and leave for a whole summer. I am sure if I truly listened I could hear my Lord say, "Oh ye of little faith." With hesitation, I completed my application and was sure that I was supposed to go to Canada. Instead, I received my assignment to Sedro-Woolley, Washington. Sedro-Woolley is a lumber-jack town 40 miles south of Canada and 40 miles east of the coast at the base of the North Cascade mountains. The one stipulation was that I would be going alone. There would be no team there to greet me upon my arrival. I accepted the mission to work with a very small church.

I was honored to stay with a family in Mt. Washington (about 20 minutes from S-W). The wife of this family was in charge of placing foreign exchange students in homes. Because of this, I was able to meet various people who stayed with us in our home from Belgium, Italy, France and Russia. I was so blessed that although I was not leaving the US of A, the nations were coming to me and I was able to share the gospel with each person from their vaious locations. Two doors down from us lived two of the "Lost Boys of Sudan." Their names were Gatgoy and Dak and I was touched by their zeal for the gospel. They had heard a missionary was in town and almost daily came by to learn more about their God. In Sudan they had been introduced to the gospel alone, so they were intrigued to hear about the Old Testament and encouraged by the letters in the New Testament. All they knew was the gospel of Jesus Christ and that alone impelled them to want to go back to Sudan and preach the good news regardless of the persecution that they would face.

These two were such an encouragement to me in a land that seemed so desolate of Christians. The stats given to us at orientation was that the Northwest was 10% "churched." The word "churched" included Hindu, Buddhist, Mormon, etc...so, only about 1% were involved in Christian churches. Not all who are involved in Christian churches are saved. So, needless to say, I was truly alone and yet thankful for the few that I came in contact with that summer who loved the Lord. I will say that one thing that I appreciate about the Northwest is that you will find few "luke warm" Christians. People generally will tell you that they love God or find it all foolish. This was refreshing coming from the bible belt where everyone claims to be Christian and yet show the fruit of this world rather than the Spirit.

The trials I would persevere through were many. In the middle of my trip the church ended up splitting and asking the one faithful person proclaiming the Word, Pastor Steve, to step down and put in his resignation. Toward the end of my trip I wrote this:

"I can tell you that I have learned a lot from this experience. God has used me to give biblical counsel to 50 year old women to youth age. I have taught at Vacation Bible Schools, a Disciple Now, a Lock-in, a Youth Camping Trip and numerous bible studies (including the adorable 65+ young ladies class). The Lord used me as a vessel to plant seeds and share the gospel to exchange students and others. I have been so blessed in working for the Lord here in Washington. The lord has taught me compassion and love. He has taught me to be content in the midst of trials and to lay down my burdens at His throne that I may even take another's load. The lessons learned here are many, but I can tell you that I have gained an appreciation for the body of Christ. It has been hard doing ministry alone up here, but it has made me depend on Him more and more."

Though this was a very trying season it proved to be a season of great growth and dependence. We were created for community being fashioned after a God who is the Trinity (a loving community within Himself). Believers are not meant to walk alone. Isolation brews sin and goes against what the Scriptures have laid out as a model of "One Anothering." I pray this finds you all in a biblical church body and for those of you on the mission field feeling alone, I pray that you are encouraged and cared for by those at home who support you. Leaving Washington was hard knowing the mission field behind me and the lack of direction ahead...To Be Continued...

3G : Papa's Porch

2009-06-26T21:05:00.000-07:00

...The Lord was growing me in truth, my life was being flipped and my Papa began to question what was going on. To take a few leaps back, my Papa was the youngest of 13 brothers and sisters. My great-grandparents beheld the beautiful infant in their arms and named him Munsin Columbus Humphrey. I still cannot figure out how someone can look at a sweet little baby and come up with that name, but I could not be more delighted to have been his granddaughter. Papa was a hard working, loyal, faithful, loving, caring, tenderhearted, strong and steadfast man.

I recall sitting down and asking him how he met my grandmother (Nanny). They were both invited to a friends house and (quote)"there she was...she was standing by a gate and I asked my buddy in the car who she was." Nanny stated that when she saw him she thought.."hubba hubba." (this was pretty cute spoken from her 85 year old lips at the time) On their first date they rode in a rumble seat together (for those of you who have never been to a car show, this means they were sitting pretty close) all the way to Christoval (which was a long trip then). That night they danced the night away to big band music and continued to dance through their lives together.

One afternoon, Papa and I were sitting on his front porch swing, which was not unusual for us to do. Noticing a change in my life he asked me, "Kris, do you think I am saved?" Here was an 89 year old man, whom if anyone could call someone a "good person" it would be M.C. Humphrey, asking me if he was saved. I am thankful for the wise response the Lord gave me that afternoon. My response was somewhere along the lines of, "Papa, I cannot know your heart, nor can I truly know your relationship with the Lord. I can tell you what the Bible says about the One who saves, how a person is saved and what the fruit of salvation in a persons life looks like." We continued the conversation for a couple of hours about how one cannot merit salvation, rather it is a free gift and that no one can ever be good enough. We worked through the gospel forwards and backwards. Out of all the moments I had experienced on Papa's Porch, this was my fondest.

A couple of months later, after his 90th birthday, Papa began to have health complications that continued to weaken his frail body. I went to the hospital for my daily visit and the moment I walked in the room there was an urgency in his voice. He was desperate to tell me of a dream that he had had about the Lord. I looked into the understanding eyes of a 90 year old man who knew he was a sinner in desperate need of a Savior. He continued to tell me over and over again about his experience with the Lord that evening. Alas, he knew assurance. The truth of the Scriptures finally came alive to this dying 90 year old man. He went from being what people call "a good man" to being a righteous man.

He continued to love his wife more than ever. I recall my grandmother in her wheelchair sitting by his bedside. I asked them if they had a song and without hesitation she leaned over and grabbed his hand and they began singing as they gazed into each other's eyes... "Let me call you sweetheart, I'm in love with you. Let me hear you whisper that you love me too..."

His time from thence forth on this earth was short, yet eternity was ever before him. My friend Chance and I would go to the hospital with a guitar in hand and we would have times of worship in his small hospital room. There came a point that a family member had to be with him 24/7 due to seizures every 45 minutes. I took a night shift and was so thankful for the body of believers that surrounded us during that time. I was never left alone that entire night. We sought every bit of wisdom that we could from Papa until 4:00 in the morning when he no longer made sense after a big seizure.

Writing this story makes me realize that I need more "Papa's Porch" moments in my life. It is a moving reality that this life, whether you live to be 90, 100 or 20, is short compared to the eternity that we are all guaranteed. I pray that those of you who read this would find yourselves asking the same question that Papa asked, "Am I saved?" I pray that the same desperation that my Papa had to share his experience with the Lord would be prevalent in my life also. Out of compassion and love, may the Lord drive me to share the gospel of truth with those I come into contact with.

Rom 1:16 states, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes..." "Indeed God’s power IS seen in erupting volcanoes, in the unimaginably hot boil of our massive sun, and in the lightning speed of a recently discovered star seen streaking through the heavens at 1.5 million miles per hour. Yet in Scripture such wonders are never labeled “the power of God.” How powerful, then, must the gospel be that it would merit such a title! And how great is the salvation it could accomplish in your life, if you would only embrace it by faith and give it a central place in your thoughts each day(A Gospel Primer)!"

The hope I have through the gospel message is what lead me to share with Papa on his porch and is also what lead me to quit my job and pack my bags for summer missions in Washington state...(To Be Continued)...

3G: Mentors and Accountability

2009-06-09T16:38:00.000-07:00

...When the last Lieutenant had left Amanda and I remained hungry for the Word. I can remember rising early in the morning and driving to Amanda's apartment to do our respective quiet times, get ready for class, grab a burrito on Knickerbocker and faithfully show up late to class (oops). In the evenings we were going to STAND on Mondays, Intermission on Thursdays, Glen Meadows and Paul Ann on Sunday mornings and Sunday night bible study at the Lindahl's. Once a week I rose at 6:30 to cook breakfast for a bible study we started. The two of us were growing leaps and bounds and soon the two of us would become the few of us.

Amanda met Mara Garza, a gal I knew from Angelo Aquatics and the Central Swim Team. The three of us began bonding over coffee and Christ. We began praying about starting a bible study and asked that the Lord would provide solid leaders. These prayers lingered for a few months until the night that we met Bonnie Huckabee and Cindi Dauphin. Little did we know that they too were praying about starting a bible study. We started meeting together and sought the Lord for his direction. The next few years were precious. The group consisted of about 50% college students and 50% women of wisdom. They took us to great depths and challenged us immensely.

The fourth member of our party was Lt. Laura Terry who also was converted by God's grace with Ronnie's investment in her life and proclamation of the gospel at the Air Force Academy. There were few nights that passed that the four of us: Amanda, Mara, Laura and myself, weren't drinking coffee together as we questioned the Holy Book before us. Some of my fondest memories and times with my Savior are found in this chapter with these girls. Hebrews 3:13 encourages, "exhort one another every day, as long as it is called "today," that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin." There is a sweetness that comes when you actually do as this Scripture calls you to do. We "reproved, rebuked, and exhorted, with complete patience and teaching" as 2 Timothy 4:2 teaches.

As the picture testifies from the previous post, I was a big girl. The Lord really began to break my heart and my habits by the catalyst event of reading and weeping over the Scriptures that spoke in regards to gluttony. That night remains vividly in my mind as does the accountability that came to follow. These exhorters and encouragers came alongside me with all of my complaints and struggles. I could barely run a block without my heart leaping out of my chest and my lungs collapsing. They bore with me and my fighting frustration of the years of damage I had done to my body. I lost almost 70 lbs as they held up my arms in the midst of the battle (Exodus 17:8-16).

Bonnie Huckabee continued to faithfully mentor us. As time passed these friends too moved on. Amanda married Ronnie and moved to Little Rock, Laura received her next assignment in the Air Force and Mara met a friend, Bethany and moved to California to pursue a Masters in Biblical Counseling (my current degree plan). I continued to meet with Bonnie and reaped such wisdom and insight. As a campus missionary I found myself quoting this woman often. I have recently thought that all of the biblical womanhood books are written about Bonnie. She would immediately rebuke me with this statement, but in summary...I am so incredibly thankful for the Lord's provision of bringing each of these women in my life...to be continued...

(Pic 1: Laura, myself, Amanda and Mara being silly + our friend Joy)

(Pic 2: Cindi and Kirt Dauphin, both great mentors in my life)

(Pic 3: Todd and Bonnie Huckabee with me before I left San Angelo)

3G: My Salvation Experience

2009-06-04T13:12:00.000-07:00

... I had the mindset entering college at Angelo State University that I would no longer be 'the wall flower.' I had lived in a recluse mentality far too long and did as my friends encouraged me to do. I went out. Drinking and clubbing gave me a confidence, yet I was spiraling downward fast. Because I lacked the weight of sin I had no problem going to church on Sundays with a hangover. I still lacked satisfaction after all my efforts.

During the fall of 2000, the Lord brought a group of Air Force folk in my life. Though the initial motive for them coming to our Sunday Night Bible Study was to see what Ronnie thought about my best friend Amanda, the Lord opened their eyes to our misunderstanding of the gospel and directed their hearts in compassion towards us. During a weekend retreat they fasted and prayed for us and sought the Lord about how to minister. I praise the Lord constantly that they invested time and showed a godly love towards us. I was challenge as Ronnie asked me, "What do you believe and why do you believe it?" The fact of the matter was that my beliefs had little to know foundation and certainly did not stand against the Word of God. I had made a god that was comfortable to me, rather than seek the Scriptures that spoke clearly about who God truly is. They presented the truth graciously with love. Their truths were solid and based on Scripture, where mine were swiftly sinking as if in quicksand (Matt 7:24-29). The Lord was gradually giving me ears to hear his voice (John 10:25-30).

Amanda started walking with the Lord and at this point in the story she was walking hand in hand with Ronnie who had become her boyfriend. The Sunday night bible study was still in action and this particular Sunday evening I went to embark again in the drinking frenzy that lead to me dry heaving over a toilet bowl. With my head over this porcelain friend the Lord broke me and opened my eyes to my sin before Him who is Holy (Rom 3:23, Eph 2:1-3). Amanda came into the bathroom and held back my hair. I looked up at her with alligator sized tears and assured her that I did not want Ronnie to see me. Ronnie exhibited the spirit of Christ and reflected the one true and holy God. Ronnie thankfully disrespected my request and came into the bedroom and looked me in the eye and said, "There is nothing you can do that can take my love away from you." By this statement God showed his grace towards me.

Romans 5:7-8 states, "For one will scarcely die for a righteous person--though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die--but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." I had always proclaimed God to be gracious and loving, yet I never understood the magnitude of his grace and love until I saw myself as a wretched sinner in need of a Savior. I was desperate for his grace and love and my response was a repentant heart. "Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost, but now am found, was blind but now I see." These words were never so beautiful to me than this moment.

The Lord continue to use this Air Force group as Joy discipled Amanda and Steph discipled me. "Discernment comes with time" was often what I heard as I struggled to understand the bible. The time grew near that each of these Lieutenants received their assignments from Korea to Alaska. Though parting was hard, the Lord had laid a strong foundation and was preparing me for what was next...to be continued...

The Crew + Vidal (Sorry it is not the best picture)

Yep, you guessed it...Amanda and Ronnie got married and are now church planters in Puerto Rico with their 4 children!

3G: Life BC

2009-05-26T18:54:00.000-07:00

I was born on August 4th, 1981 in San Angelo, Texas into a loving family. That is me on the right in the picture. Ok, so maybe we won't go that far back, yet in order for you to have a picture of my background I should start with family. My mother, Jane Elizabeth Booth, was the all star mom. She stayed at home and proved to be a wonderful cook and showed great hospitality with family and friends that entered our home often. My mom had a gift of coordinating things well. My father was faithful in providing for the family financially and was full of talent. I can remember going to various theatrical plays and sitting on the couch in my PJ's as he and his barbershop quartet called Texas Pride practiced around me with their pitch pipe. I remember the pride of having Gary Booth as my dad. My sister is five years older than me and had to put up with having a "tag along." I always looked up to her through admiring eyes. In the Spring of my 8th grade year, news that my parents were getting a divorce sprang forth like an ugly weed. Those were rough times, but the Lord has used every bit of that experience as a part of my testamony and a common ground with others. My dad remarried and through that marriage the Lord blessed me with more family to love on and now more neices and nephews than I had ever imagined.

I was raised in a church that the Lord used to set important foundations in my life and I am thankful for the supportive church family he gave me that taught me to have a servant heart. The following testamony does not necessarily reflect the way I was raised, rather it was the condition of my heart. Church was what I did and in many ways it was a cultural thing for me. I sang "Amazing Grace" for years and yet never really realized how amazing God's grace truly is (Rom 5). I would have told you with great confidence that I was a "good person" and that was enough to merit salvation (Luke 18:19, Eph 2:3, Rom 3:23-24). I remember my cousin's girlfriend sitting on the couch and preaching the gospel to me as I rolled my eyes. My beliefs proved universal as I debated passionately that all religions were basically worshiping the same god (1 Corinthians 8:4-7). I argued that Fundamental Evangelicals (Baptist in particular) were judgemental, close minded, bible-thumping fools (John 14:6, in context Luke 6:37-49). The bible was a buffet line and I took what I wanted and the rest was irrelevant because it was written for the people of that time period and no longer applied to us today (2 Tim 3:14-17).

At this point in the story I was a 245 lb gal that was passionate and yet hurting in the world I lived in. I remember thoughts of suicide and searching for significance in all the wrong places. The Lord's common grace in my life blessed me with a supportive family, friends that I dearly loved and many adventures and yet the sin stricken world and my revolt against a holy God left me dissatisfied to say the least. And then college happened...To Be Continued...

Please read all Scripture references for further understanding of the aboves opposing view.

The Beginning of a Blog Series

2009-05-26T18:25:00.000-07:00

This entry begins a series of journal entries that I call 3G (Give God the Glory). My old self was graciously interrupted, put to death and through Christ I have a new life. In Christ I still wage war with my flesh, the world and the Enemy. My naturally revolting flesh has tendencies to leave me discouraged, anxious and stagnant at times. I find myself in these moments relating with the Israelites. The Scriptures present numerous occasions when the Israelites "forgot his works and the wonders that he had shown them (Ps 78:11)." When I neglect to preach the gospel to myself and remind myself of God's work in my life are the occasions that I find myself "fainting in the day of adversity, [and my] strength is small." These journals of reflection remind me of where my hope and strength lies. As I write, I pray that you do not see a glorified Kristin, but rather the glorified God that I submit to and serve. It gladdens my heart to also remember that the Lord provided the relationships I have had and have with each of you during their respective seasons. I have been blessed beyond what I deserve and because of this I GIVE my Sovereign GOD the GLORY...To Be Continued...

School's Out for Summer

2009-05-24T14:36:00.000-07:00

The boys (I nanny for) are out for the summer and needless to say the plans are many. I see alot of water in my future. The Zoo, Waterfront park and Cherokee park all have splash parks. The Science Center has a water table that is a big hit. And then, low and behold...we are members at Lakeside Swim Club. So, with sunscreen, towels and lunches in hand, we (Charlie, August and I) will attempt to live as the fish do. I know, I know, I have a rough job!

The Pool Section of the 2 and 1/2 acre Lakeside Swim Club

The Lake Portion of Lakeside.

Daytona

2009-05-17T19:56:00.000-07:00

Here are some pictures from Florida:

Make a Smilebox slideshow

And this is a list of some of the highlights that we did and saw in Daytona:

- Slingshot

- Sailboat Races

- Boogie Boarded

- Shuttle Launch

- Shooting star

- Devotionals

- Picnics by the pool/ocean

- Ice Cream on the Boardwalk

- Cooking

- Karaoke

- Lighthouse

- Running on the Beach

- Dancing

- Swimming

- Sunburns

- Delighting in the Glory of God

- ETC...

What a year!

2009-04-30T06:42:00.000-07:00

I am sitting in this great coffee shop called Quills (on the list of favorite places in Louisville) and I am realizing that in one week I will be completing my first year at Southern Seminary and I cannot believe how quickly time has past. I have been through some rough times, and wonderful times. I have learned great things and small in comparison to what all I still have to learn. I have had times of plenty and want. And in summary I am completely and utterly blessed. The summer approaches and I plan on taking the materials from this semester and meditate on the truths that I have learned. I also am in process of joining Baxter Avenue Baptist Church. It has been a long journey finding the church that I will commune with and serve, so I am thrilled. I have three finals next week and then on Saturday I am leaving for a week long trip to Florida. You can click on this link to see where I will be. There are 5 of us girls who are headed to a time share in Daytona. The costs are minimal and the plan is to have great fun and be refreshed by the Word and fellowship.

It is derby season here in Louisville and I am experiencing a whole new culture. For some reason my camera will not upload pictures or else I would have included some. There is plenty to do around here during derby including the nations largest annual firework display (the one thing I have done), parades, parties, hats everywhere, celebrity sightings, balloon races, boat races and of course horse races...oh my...who could be bored?

I was interviewed twice last week and have been thinking about the testimony that the Lord has given me thus far. I really want to be able to blog more about the work that God has done and is doing in my life and I am wanting to do a series on here in giving the Lord the glory for what experiences he has given me and the journeys he has taken me on. I at least have good intentions. I am not sure many really read my blog anymore, but it might be good to remember or reflect where I have come from. For now, though, I must study in attempts to finish the semester strong. Grace and Peace until next time.

In Loving Memory

2009-04-20T18:27:00.000-07:00

I found out today that my sweet grandmother died. So this post is in loving memory of Raymond Albert Booth and Donna Mae Booth.

The Lord was gracious in knowing that it is not good for man to be alone. Only four months after my Peepa's death, the time had come for my grandmother to leave this earth. She had gone blind about 4 years ago

and yet she never lost sight of her hope of

salvation through Christ Jesus.
"If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples,
and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."- John 8

Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life.

Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live,
and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die.

Do you believe this?"-John 11

You were loved and you will truly be missed!

Photo Shoot

2009-03-23T17:18:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the lack of posts. I am writing papers and reading like crazy right now. I love the paper I am working on now over mortification of sin. Until I can write a real blog here are some engagement pictures that I took this weekend for some friends. I am pretty excited about how they turned out!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Vessel of Mercy, Compelled by Compassion

2009-03-05T21:16:00.000-08:00

It has been my ultimate prayer recently that the Lord would find me as a faithful servant. In seeking my heart and finding areas where I am sluggard I have been pleading with the Lord to sanctify me with His grace and use me for his mercy. I have found myself praying for opportunities to minister to the lost and bring a message of hope to the hopeless. Daily the Lord has presented opportunities that have broken my heart for the afflicted in each circumstance. The situations that have taken place these past few months have brought me to an utter dependence on the One True God who is sovereign and compassionate. There are many dear to me who are hurting. It is my prayer that in whatever trial that we find ourselves in that we would seek the God who knows us intimately, who created, who is just, who is righteous, who redeems our life from the pit and through Christ's death and resurrection He has conquered the death that sin brought and gives hope beyond this life. This life is a mere mist, like the grass that withers in the winter's cold. I have seen a lot of withering lately. I have also seen a lot of fighting for life...I guess I wonder though, do I fight more for this life that proves to be temporal or for the Life in Christ that is true to be eternal? I pray that God would continue to give me a broken and contrite heart compelled to die to myself and live to glorify the Creator/Redeemer/Savior/Prince of Peace/Sustainer, etc...There is hope beyond the pain of this world. May I be a vessel of God's mercy and compelled with compassion for those who do not know this hope.
Please pray for:
-My grandmother- her brain is no longer bleeding, but the seizures have taken a toll on her. It's been rough on the fam since my grandfather just died and had similar problems.
-My dad- He leaves today for California. He just had heart surgery last week and is doing well.
-A dear family members mother who has lymphoma.
-Tyler and Melissa who miscarried after 22 weeks of pregnancy.
-A very close friend who just received news that she has cancer on her thyroid.
-And for the family of Doris (sweet old lady that I became fond of who died yesterday)

Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow
Praise Him, all creatures here below
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

Prayer Requests

2009-03-02T19:35:00.000-08:00

This blog is short and I do apologize, but I need to get some reading done...in the mean time please pray:
I found out today that a very good friend is having a biopsy tomorrow. They found some masses on her thyroid and are concerned it is cancerous. Please pray for her (not sure if she would want her name disclosed yet). Then this evening my dad called and my grandmother (the one in Cali who's husband just died during the Christmas break) fell and the assisted living people found her by her bed. They are not sure how long she had been there. Her brain is bleeding and also her abdomen. She is in ICU and is pretty weak. I will update when I know more. Thanks in advance.

Car blah

2009-02-19T21:54:00.000-08:00

A few weeks ago my car was acting up and the Lord was gracious to provide a trustworthy mechanic to do a tune up and change my spark plugs for a very reasonable price. Soon after my car started having problems again, so once again I took my car and this time the news was a little bit harder to swallow. He initially thought it was the fuel pump and replaced it, yet he never thought to look at the engine since I merely have 95,000 miles on my car. He found oil in the vacuum of the engine where this is not supposed to be any oil. The conclusion...my engine is entering a slow death. It seems the only way to fix this problem is to eventually rebuild the engine or...dundundun, get a new/used car. He felt like it will run for quite a while, but just not well. So, I am not opposed to prayer. More importantly...I ask that you pray for my cousin's mother-in-law who just found out that she has lymphoma and for the health of my dad. I rejoice in serving a good and gracious God. May I continue to trust in His good and faithful will.

My Little Valentines

2009-02-14T17:04:00.000-08:00

I had quite the surprise when the boys I am a Nanny for came over to give me tulips and a card they had made for me. Valentines Day isn't too bad afterall when you have these little guys around. Thank you August and Charlie (My Little Valentines).

Semester Two

2009-02-06T13:49:00.001-08:00

As most of you know our first week of classes at Southern were cancelled due to an ice storm. I was so thankful that our electricity was stable throughout the storm. Classes started this week and boy do I have my work cut out for me....And I thought last semester's books stacked high.

I consider myself blessed and the Lord has lavished His grace on me to provide for my schooling and to have me in this institution. The work ahead of me is plentiful, yet I pray that it will make me more useful and fruitful in this lifetime.

One book that I read this week was "The Enemy Within" by Kris Lundgaard. I really appreciated this book and the self-examination that was encouraged as I read. I recommend that you all read it and suggest that it could be a great bible study. Mere suggestions.

Grace and Peace be with you all!

You Must Suffer- Sermon by John Piper

2009-01-30T12:54:00.000-08:00

Bonnie Huckabee sent this video to me on Facebook and in her words I truly agree that "this sermon is powerful!" It is well worth your ten minutes. You Must Suffer- click link

It's a Beautiful Mornin'

2009-01-28T14:16:00.000-08:00

Last night I received news that Ryan and Sarah Bebee were heading to the hospital because her contractions were getting stronger. At 6:00 this morning I received a picture text of a beautiful baby girl named Brooklynn Grace Bebee. The labor and delivery went unexpectedly fast and due to the treacherous weather conditions we were a bit delayed in getting to the hospital. Thanks to Michael and his fantastic truck we were able to rejoice with the Bebees in person and see the new bundle. Here are pics from the beautiful snow and beautiful Brooklynn Bebee. Congrats again Ryan and Sarah! We do love you guys.

Texas D-Now, California funerals...Gee it's good to be home in Kentucky!

2009-01-24T21:26:00.001-08:00

On Thursday January 15th, I along with 9 other folks from Kentucky loaded on a plane and headed to Eldorado, Texas. Our mission was to teach the good news of Jesus Christ and the theme of the weekend was Spiritual Warfare. We knew going into the weekend that we were putting ourselves on the frontline of the battle ground with the theme that was chosen. What i didn't expect was a phone call on Friday night before the basketball games that informed me that my grandfather Raymond A. Booth had died. I had my moment, yet I also felt an urgency like none other to share the gospel with these kids. What Satan may have wanted to use to distract me was used for God's glory. Along with the news that my grandfather had died was the new that my cousin Priscilla Sanders had also died due to a battle with cancer. You can go here to see the tribute her husband made for her and the honorable and inspirational life she lead.

The Scripture that hit me at the game on Friday night was Luke 9:59-60:

To another he said, "Follow me."

But he said, "Lord, let me first go and bury my father."

And Jesus said to him, "Leave the dead to bury their own dead.

But as for you, GO and PROCLAIM

THE KINGDOM OF GOD."

Through prayer and grace the Lord gave everyone one of us the strength to go and proclaim the kingdom of God. Each one of the preachers (Jason, Eron, Dustin and Blake) that weekend gave a word that was powerful. I am so thankful that the Lord has given us eachother to build one another up, to pray for one another, to exhort and encourage one another in the truth that through one heart, one mind and one Spirit we can go forth in boldness and love and proclaim the truth of the gospel to the town of Eldorado. Please continue to pray for these youth and for Shea and Sylas (the youth minister and his wife).

Sunday we boarded the planes once again and I received news that my grandmother had passed out and was in the hospital. This prompted me to find tickets to California and rush by my families side. We arrived Sunday night in Louisville and by 2:00 Monday afternoon I was back in the airports once again. Monday was Priscilla's funeral, and the days to follow were filled with funeral plans in loving memory of my grandfather. Due to the fact that my grandparents had just moved to Orange County there was no church family or anyone to help with the arrangements. I can now add funeral planner to my resume though. The service was Friday and was very nice. Family members from all over California came in and afterwards we gathered for an after-party and sang around the piano for hours.

Needless to say...it has been a week. Thank you all so much for your prayers. I am undeserved of the grace of God that has brought the friends and family that I have in my life. Thank you so much for mourning with me and encouraging me. Blessed be the name of our Lord and Savior who gives and takes away. Truly His lot for me is good.

Speaking of good...it is good to be home in Kentucky. I have lived out of a suitcase for 4 weeks out of this 6 week break from school. It is time for that break to be over as I start a new semester on Monday. By the way....3 A's and 1 B....makes a 3.7 for my first semester's GPA!!!

I love you all!!!

2009-01-11T21:42:00.001-08:00

I have needed to update since I returned from Texas and have been busy to say the least. My trip was great and the time with loved ones was wonderful. I love Texas and always will and yet I am glad to be back in my new home Kentucky. I went to Fort Worth, Houston, San Angelo and Dallas and did anything from sneeking on rooftops to the stomach bug. The time was delightful and I am almost fully recovered from the amounts of food and the sleep deprivation that took place. Another update to come soon I am sure...Until then here are some pictures.

Coming Home

2008-12-15T22:14:00.000-08:00

"I'll be home for Christmas"

Well this post is to inform you all where I will be and when I will be where.

Please give me a call if you want to get together. I don't want to miss seeing my dearly beloved due to lack of contact. I can't wait to see ya'll.

Thursday, December 18th: Fly to Fort Worth and stay with Kasey that night.

Friday, December 19th: Meet Cousin Chad and drive to Houston late that evening.

December 19th-22nd: Humphrey family Christmas

Monday, December 22nd: Ride back to San Angelo

December 22nd-Jan 2nd: In San Angelo

January 2nd: Ride with Dalgliesh's to Fort Worth

January 4th: Fly back to Louisville.

Tis' the Season For Ugly Sweaters

2008-12-07T20:57:00.000-08:00

As most of you know, as of 2:30 on Friday afternoon, I completed my first semester of my pursuit for a Masters of Arts in Biblical Counseling at Southern Seminary! And, what better way to celebrate than with dear friends...

U-G-L-Y...You ain't got no alibi,

your ugly yeah yeah your ugly

I am not sure if any of you remember that horrible, unedifying chant from when we were in school in the yonder years and less that mature. It seems appropriate to pull it out and dedicate it to the sweaters for this occasion. Let me make that clear...it is dedicated to the sweaters...the people in the sweaters are ridiculously good looking.

So, needless to say, what do you get when you put together: wassail, snacks, Christmas decorations, Mad Gab, Taboo, $1 gift items for a white elephant gift exchange, and beautiful friends dressed in horrible, repugnant, hideous, ugly sweaters....well, see for yourself....

A JOLLY GOOD TIME!

I would also like to take the time and thank the Free Store on campus that made this party possible. Without the donations of these horrendous sweaters the smiles may have not been as big nor the pictures so wretched. So thank YOU free store!

Deck the Halls of the Eyrie

2008-12-04T07:28:00.000-08:00

On December 1st, here in Louisville, we had 3 snow falls and the roomies and I got together, made dinner, played the classic Christmas music, put up Christmas decorations, arranged some furniture and ended the evening with coffee (decaf) and the movie Elf. It was a fun time and needless to say things got a little out of hand (Sarah! haha)

TADA! next post....'Tis the Season for Ugly Sweaters'

A Texas Thanksgiving in Louisville

2008-11-27T21:48:00.000-08:00

I am pretty sure I can confidently say that fun was had by all, and this Thanksgiving was a hit. Friends and food arrived at my place at 1:00.

We gathered around and shared what we were thankful for, prayed and then the devouring began.

The food was phenomenal and the fellowship was sweet. After we ate the clean up was fast and easy (Praise the Lord for dishwashers). The girls went for a walk by the river and reservoir while the boys watched football. Upon our return I set up a coffee bar and we partook in the delicious desserts.

The final element that made the evening that much sweeter was the laughter that filled my home from the game Boxers or Briefs.

The guests left at 9:00 and I retreated to my destination for the next few days. So...here I sit..reminiscing by the fire of this beautiful home that I am house sitting at...could this day have been better?

All praise, honor and glory be to the God that saved me, sanctifies me and has been ever so gracious to me. Truly I am blessed.

I have a blog?

2008-11-24T08:43:00.000-08:00

Of course I know that I have a blog, yet the number of recent posts would prove otherwise. I do apologize to those of you who take thirty seconds to click on my blog only to realize that it is the same ol' same ol'.

School has been great and time consuming. I have written 8 small papers, 2 big research papers and 2 big projects since the last post. One of those research papers took me 23 hours total to complete. I have also continued the great amount of reading required for each course. I can say assuredly that I am thankful for the Lord's provision and plan of bringing me here. Although it can be overwhelming at times, since there are huge concepts being thrown at me in short periods of time, the nuggets of truth my mind can grasp have been ever so sweet. I am thankful for the Professors at Southern and for the Lord that has gifted each of them with such wisdom and knowledge to equip us all.

The Lord has been teaching me a lot about being faithful. There is so much to be said in that one little word. More than anything I am praying that the Lord would continue to grace me with faithfulness not only during my time here at Southern, but in all that I do. May I be a faithful daughter of the King first and foremost. In all that I do it should be for the glory of God and my enjoyment in Him. May I be a faithful friend that is willing to serve, love, rebuke, edify and be true to my word. May I be a faithful student, not only at Southern once again, yet in all my relationships. There are so many thing to learn rather it be from the kids I care for or my almost 90 year old grandmother. I could continue, but I must wrap this e-mail up to be faithful with my time. Haha.

I want to give thanks to the Lord for bringing me here and surrounding me with such incredible people. Though home and the relationships there will be hard to be so distant from at times, I can truly say that I love this place.

Future post to look forward to:

-The Texas Thanksgiving in Louisville

-Deck the Halls of the Eyrie

-Tis' the Season for Ugly Sweaters

I ask that you pray for me as I study for finals that will take place December 1st-5th. Pray that I would retain the material well, not merely for the test but for the glory of God for the years ahead of me.

"What just happened?"

2008-11-07T11:39:00.000-08:00

I have to tell you that i had the oddest experience on campus today. My roomies boy friend is a music student at Southern and for one of his classes he has to teach personal voice lessons. Needless to say he talked me into being his voice student. Today was the final lesson that took place in front of his class. The beginning went well and I felt pretty comfortable. He had warned me that his prof's practices are crazy and she tends to touch people quite a bit. In the middle of the lesson she approached me and suddenly started prompting me, "Are you ready, ready! Go UT, ready to sing..." as she was touching me and then she went to the piano and told me to start singing...I did as she said and then she said, "ignore me" as she proceeded to stand up, grap my hand and frolic around the room pulling me along with her shouting, "Sing, Sing!" I looked at Brennan and he was horrified. There I was...running around the room behind this professor singing in front of the whole class. Oh, my! Thoughts? Comments? I am just trying to figure out...what just happened?

The Serenity of Fall

2008-10-07T20:59:00.000-07:00

Since my last post I have had my first mid-terms, my first canoe trip (in Kentucky at least), my first fall season filled with colors and my first visitor. Time here proves to stay consistently busy and very sweet. I have been homesick at times and have discovered the distancy of distance. Though at times home seems to me to be distant and a memory, the Lord is continuing to be so faithful in establishing a sweet community of friends and familiarity here.

On my way to work I pass a pond. Next to the pond is a Weeping Willow that sets the whimsical stage and framing the pond are trees dressed in their fall colors. The air has a crisp feel to it and yet is not uncomfortably cold. Beyond the pond I drive down a road whose trees arch over as if to create a tunnel of divine nature. The view is stunning and I pray that I never forget to praise God for the beauty of his creation and for His provision in bringing me here. Though the scene is a delight to the eyes, may I be delighted in God as exemplified in the story of George Muller's life.

When it comes to studies (such as George Muller) and mid-terms I can't help but think about what Dr. Stuart Scott stated in class that "I was not commanded by God to come to Seminary in the Scriptures and my A will not impress the Lord. I was, however, commanded to love the Lord, love others, etc..." I am continually realizing that I cannot perform to please God or even others at that. The important thing during my time of equipping here is that I am sanctified and that I would be able to be a tool to teach and disciple others for years to come. As you can see in the picture above the books can seem overwhelming. Yet the things I learn are to benefit others and glorify God. At the point I loose this mindset and begin to worry about grades over the education, I will have then missed the purpose of my being here. David Platt questioned whether we were training to be receivers or reproducers. There are applications and truths that I am learning, yet I should never keep them to myself. I pray that the things I am learning here would overflow in my speech for the edification of those around me for the Lord's namesake. The more I am learning in my study of God (theology), the more I am learning about myself and others. I am left with the truths discovered and my heart to be searched and sought by the Holy Spirit.

I have also be so blessed recently by a taste of home through a visit with Shea Polite. Our time has been precious to me and so edifying. Her hunger for God and her personal discipline has left me encouraged and spurred on. Tomorrow we take her to the airport and it is going to take everything for me to not want to climb on the plane to see my dearly beloved in Texas. I do look forward to that trip during Christmas break though. Until then, fall break for me dwindles. It is time to hit the books and start retaining and writing again. I am still in the midst of a church search. In the midst of this search I have gained such a love and appreciation for the church and have had narrowed my choices. Thank you for your prayers in the midst. I cannot proclaim my love for you all enough. Please continue to keep me updated on your lives and prayer requests.

I love you all and until next time...grace and peace.

IKE!

2008-09-17T10:08:00.000-07:00

Hurricane Ikes winds caused considerable amounts of damage around the Louisville city and suburbs, and were the cause of lost power for over 340,000 customers. My friend Blake White posted these pictures from his friend. Click here to see Ike destruction in Louisville, KY.

I survived the storm

2008-09-16T22:09:00.000-07:00

I write to you today with electricity. That is a big statement here in Louisville. On Sunday we experienced Hurricane Force Winds from Ike. There are trees down on most streets and the power is out in more that 70% of the town. It has been wild at grocery stores and gas stations. I am learning to be thankful for the little things like hot water and electricity. It is humbling to know all that we have and how little so many others have elsewhere. I have found myself complaining about taking a cold shower and realize just how comfortable I am here. I am glad that the Lord takes away comforts for us to be glad in Him alone. The seminary has been shut down throughout the entire week which means that I pick up more hours at work and convince myself to stop procrastinating and start catching up on school work.

Many are asking how my time here has been and how school has been going. Well, in short, my time here is great and school is enlightening. Haha. Ok, so really...I am so thankful for my friends here. They have been great! Not only am I blessed by my Texas friends, but I am so thankful for the others that are coming into my life. For instance, Corrie Ann has been a doll since day 3. I cannot thank the Lord enough for the encouragement and spirring on that I have received. I am challenged daily by the lives of these people. As for school...fantastic. I can honestly say that I am not sure if I like the writing much, but if that keeps me under the teaching of this great institution, then I will gladly write.

Now, in reguards to work, the boy have been great for the most part (hey, we all have our moments). Today we went to the Zoo and Q'Dobas and they learned how to wink. It was so precious. I can say that these two boys have also taught me so much thus far. August is in this inquisitive stage and every other sentence out of his mouth is a question. There have been occasions where I have been able to share the gospel with him, but overall he is teaching me to think upon things. There is a sweetness in seeking and knowing and I am gaining a thankfulness for the position I am in to seek and know the Creator and Redeemer during my time at Southern and forevermore.

I know this is a short update and hope to update soon. I will leave you with this ....

The Bebee's and friends came over for the great reveal:

Is it a boy or girl?

It's a GIRL! Congrats Bebees!

First Month Home

2008-08-27T19:33:00.001-07:00

The picture that starts this blog is one that I took at Huber's Farm. The Plevans were gracious to take me with them to this U-pick-it Farm, Orchard and Winery; and I must say that I loved it. We picked raspberries, blueberries, blackberries and peaches. We had a picnic near this pond where this swan and fish were being fed. The swan would be annoyed by the fish and would nip at them with his beak on their heads. I am sure that you could use this picture in a sermon and talk about the sin that so easily entangles us as we strive for purity as a beautiful swan...but it is probably best to leave it as a pretty cool picture. My time here has been sweet and I would like to give praise and adorations to our lord for the provisions and growth he is already granting.

I started classes last Monday and in 1 and 1/2 weeks I have read about three and 1/2 books along with some other small readings. I am learning so much about the Holy Spirit in my Systematic Theology class. It has been so neat to see us as Christians as annointed ones that through the Holy Spirit we are equipped with wisdom and power. In my Spiritual Disciplines class we have started accountability and have been learning the discipline of journaling. There is something to be said about the spiritual evaluation and legacy that can be left behind when a pen hits the paper. In my Biblical Counseling class I am reading "Seeing With New Eyes" and truly my eyes have been opened to ministering to souls as well as examining my own life. I highly recommend this book. I will also be doing a Sanctification Project in that class. Basically I will be counseling myself through the area of contentment throughout the semester and in the end I will have the tools to be able to counsel someone else through the areas of contentment. Though it will not be easy to combat this area of sin, I look forward to the end result...sanctification. I was able to attend my Shepherd Group today and sat once again under the care and direction of Dr. Stuart Scott along with 4 other guys. We will meet monthly throughout the semester and I look forward to continue to place myself under such wisdom and counsel. Finally I have been learning how to write "Southern" style in my Written Communications class. There is no MLA format here...no sir. At chapel this Thursday, Dr. Moore taught on the Doctrines of Election. Everyone needs to listen to this sermon. He speaks through the authority of the scriptures and urges and encourages the church. You can listen to it here. I have been blessed every Monday with his teaching and look forward to the rest of the semester.

It is still weird to say that this place is my home, yet the Lord has been gracious in making it feel that way. I praise him daily for the people and the classes he has placed in my life. I am also very thankful for my job. I started as a nanny this week with August (5) and Charley (3). We have already had a picnic, bike rides and fun at Cherokee park and I look forward to time at the zoo, museums, library, etc... I have been to three churches and have enjoyed them all which makes me think that I have a hard decision ahead. Which leads me to my prayer requests:
1. Contentment
2. A Church Home and discernment
3. Studies- that I may no only retain the information and write the papers well, but that I would be more concerned with being sanctified in the midst.
4. My dad- He is in California with my grandparents and aunt. My grandfather had a stroke this summer and they have been struggling through some short term and now long term memory loss. Pray for peace, patience and joy in the midst.
5. My Cousin Blake- He found out today that there is a mass on his spine in between V4&5. On September 11th they will take out the mass and biopsy it for cancer. Pray for him, his wife Kel, his son Brandon and his baby Ryan (Mr. Baby). May the Lord grant peace and healing.
6. My computer is not working for some reason, which could pose a problem since I need to write three papers in the next two weeks. I am going to the IT department at the school tomorrow to see if there is something we can do.

Love Ya and I hope to keep up with this blog at least monthly. I may also include some of my book reviews for those of you interested. Until next time...God bless and keep me posted on how I can pray for you.

I am a Kentuckian?!?

2008-08-15T20:41:00.000-07:00

It's true and not only do I have to preach the gospel to myself daily, but I also have to remind myself that I live and reside in Kentucky. The first few days were rough to be honest. The Lord was gracious to provide my dad and great helpers to move me into my new home. In 24 hours I had the place together/unpacked and shortly after all picture were hung. My roommate called me a little Texas Tornado and below are the before and after pictures of our "Flip that Apartment" episode. I remember sitting on the couch across from my dad and hearing the first voice form home and bawling. It's true I am a girl and not only do I have that against me but I am a girl who has never moved her entire life. I looked at my furniture in this unfamiliar place and said, "the people that I picture sitting on this furniture are in Texas and I already miss them terribly."

Well...graciously, the Lord has provided incredible people here in Kentucky that not only have taken me under their care but they fit well in the furniture. The furniture was put to test when we had a little get together of about 14 of us and it was a joy to show hospitality and fellowship in my new home. I celebrated my birthday at a great Cuban Restaurant with fun friends and roomies. After resigning from Dorothy Sayers after two days of training, I now have a job as a nanny with the Rothpletz family. The boys are 3 and 5 and I am excited about the days ahead of us at the zoo and museums. Oh yeah...school starts Monday. I bought my book and in my bedroom picture you can see the stack of reading the Lord has blessed me with this semester on the floor next to the couch. I have been busy and have met some incredible people and am starting to think...I just may like this place. A fun weekend awaits me and I hope to update you soon with that. Thank you for your prayers, wisdom and support through this time of change and transition in my life. The Lord is so faithful to me and I am overwhelmed by his grace, mercy and provision. I should write a blog soon to glorify the Lord in His provision for school. Until then know He is a great provider. To God be the glory...

DINING ROOM BEFORE

DINING ROOM AFTER

LIVING ROOM BEFORELIVING ROOM AFTER BEDROOM BEFORE BEDROOM AFTER

Preparation

2008-07-21T21:28:00.000-07:00

As I write you I am in awe of the Lord's work in preparing me for what is ahead. I have 9 days left before I move and continue praise him for his provisions and providence. This last month has been busy and the next few days will speed past me I am sure. In the last month I traveled to Cali for a week and a half. It was a great week and yet hard. My grandfather is still not well and I ask that you pray for him and his salvation. After Cali, I returned for a mere 2 days to unpack and pack again. I spent a great weekend floating down the Guadalupe River with my Texas family. We shared laughs and pain from sunburns together. It was truly splendid. Since then and until I leave I have recorded for Kasey's CD and will spend time with family and friends while working on bidding farewell. I am horrible at goodbyes.

I am very excited to see all of you Kentucky folk and will truly miss everyone in Texas. For those of you in Texas...if you aren't busy we will be packing the truck on Wednesday July 30th. And for those of you in Kentucky...if you are in town I would love it if you can help unload the truck on Saturday, August 2nd. Please continue to pray for me as I transition. I can testify that the Lord is good and I look foward to the journey ahead. Below are a few pics from my trips and recording.Recording for Kasey's new CD.The reason I went to California: My grandparents.

Down by the bay.The cutest kids ever! My niece Baylee and nephew Logan.

California, Here I Come!

2008-07-06T20:50:00.000-07:00

Well, it's true. I am going to California tomorrow. My dad has been up there for two week due to my grandfathers state after his stroke. My grandparents, aunt and uncle were supposed to come down this last week and since plane tickets were canceled, they were able to buy a ticket for me to come see them. I had prepared myself to not have the ability to see them again (if you know what I mean). In the last year my grandmother has lost her sight fully due to macular degeneration, so this will also be the first time since the loss of eye sight. I am excited to take my cousin Candice kayaking while I am there, along with a visit to the beach of course.

Upon my return I will work and repack in a 36 hour span and head out to San Antonio and Ingram to spend some quality time with my dear family in a 100 year old cabin on the river. I love my cousins so much and we have no problem having a blast. I will then return on the 20th and spend my final week and a half with my dearly beloved friends and fam here in San Angelo.

This summer has gone by so fast thus far. I am trying to stay on top of all that needs to be done. I am praying overall that the Lord would grant travel mercies (especially with my car). I also pray that we will be able to fit all items in the truck on move day. I will have Jason and Cara's, Brandon's and my stuff in one 28' truck. Pray for my grandfather also. He is not saved and it seems time for him is short.

For all of you in Louisville. I cannot wait to see you. I am pretty sure my roommates and myself will have a gathering of sorts once we get our place put together. And for the San Angelo beloveds, I am already heart broken with the fact of leaving you. My time with you has been so sweet and the Lord has used you immensely in my life. I am so blessed and all praise to the Lord for the numerous relationships I have had in San Angelo. Thank you for befriending me. Love ya and I hope to update upon my return.

Delicious Healthy Treat!

2008-06-24T17:05:00.000-07:00

My Step-Mother and I are on a Catabolic Diet and in the evenings we have been having an incredibly delicious treat. Here is the recipe. Feel free to add whatever frozen fruit you want.

Yeilds Two Drinks:
Fill Blender with Frozen Strawberries
Add Two Cans of Sprite Zero
Put in about 5-6 drops of Vanilla Extract
Blend and Drink.
Seriously this is so good, filling and we just had them with frozen peaches and fresh pineapple. Excellent!

Namaste

2008-06-20T15:26:00.000-07:00

I have just returned from spending a week with my cousin and his youth at Student Life Camp. The group I worked with was rough around the edges to say the least. They are so precious to my heart, yet they have come from circumstances that I am not sure I will ever understand. My cousin has not merely ministered to the kids that come to church on a regular basis, yet he has found these kids in the woodworks and is gladly coming alongside them. These kids are hearing the gospel for the first time and are either thirsty as every or hardened by the life they have lived in.

This week was stretching for me. I had to learn patience to the utmost since all but one of our kiddos were in Jr. High. They vomited their lives on us and we poured the hope that we have in Christ into them. And poured and poured. Not only did we pour, but The Smith Band poured and Matt Carter poured. Every single one of our kids had encountered the Word and works of God. During our final worship service on Thursday night, Matt Carter's message from the Lord opened my eyes and convicted me on a new level. The sermon was also given to his church and you can find it here and is the Amos 5 :21-23 sermon called "Why Churches Die: Impure Worship" given on 9/23/07. This is where the title of this post comes from. Namaste- In everyday life, "namaste" is not necessarily considered a religious gesture by everyone. However, many believe it has a spiritual basis, in recognizing a common divinity within the other person.

I pray that more than anything that these kids from Santo, TX were able to see Christ in us. The fact is that we will be able to see if their responses to the gospel are true from the fruit of their lives when they return to the conditions at home. I pray overall that the seeds that were planted have fallen on a good soil. Please pray for Chad and Angela as they continue to invest in the lives of these students that have not so lovely lives. Check out the above sermon. You will be glad that you did.

2008-06-05T12:41:00.001-07:00

The smile on my face in this picture cannot express the joy and excitement that I am feeling. The day that I was ready to call Housing at Southern Seminary, I received an e-mail from dear Anna Gibson of Louisville, KY. Anna and I met during Spring Break and she has been such a servant in helping me find a roommate and or a place along with the Plevans, Whites, Bebees and Butts. The search ended yesterday as I made yet another attempt to see if the situation would work. After talking for 15 minutes, we totally hit it off and she kindly asked, "So...would you like to be my roommate?" I could not have been more thrilled. The place is a complex called Eagles Eyrie. It is a 3 bedroom, 3 bathroom, two story apartment. She told me that it is a great place to entertain and is way cute. It is less than two miles from the Seminary and there are alot of seminary students that live in the complex. I am very excited and it is so sweet to see the Lord's provision once again. We are still looking for a third roommate, so you can still be praying about that. Thank you for your prayers and all of your hard work to help me find a roommate/home. I have truly been blessed and all praise be to our Father. More updates to follow soon....

Surrender

2008-05-21T11:41:00.000-07:00

Proverbs 24:10- "If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small."

We could stop with this verse and stay for quite some time. This last week has been one of the hardest weeks. Looking back on this last year there has been quite a bit of fainting in my life. Last weeks circumstances happened to hit me in the area of lonliness. I found my strength so small to a point at which my arms were weak and falling and i felt like the battle was being lost (Ex 17:10-12). I recalled a time that Ryan had held my arms up in battle> I had called him and cried out "how do you do this..how do you stay single for so long?" Ryan replied, "women think emotionally and men think logically, so I began with logic." I found myself at this point once again, weeping and mourning, with little strength I picked up the phone and pleaded for Ryan to once again hold my arms up in battle and speak logic (truth) in my life.Majority of what I write today is fruit of that conversation and i praise the Lord for using Ryan to rebuke the sin in my life.

Truth Remembrance #1-

My strength has proved to be small because I have been relying on my own strength and not the Lord's. My human effort in warfare needs to be overshadowed by divine power. Isaiah 40:28-31 states, "He gives power to the faint; and to [them that have] no might he increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew [their] strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; [and] they shall walk, and not faint." I have to realize that I am powerless apart from Him. John 15:4 says, "Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me." Which brings me to...

Truth Remembrance #2-

Lonliness can kill my ministry and growth in the Lord. Ryan asked me, "On a scale of 1 to 10, what would you say is your desirer for a husband?" I confidently answered 10. Then he asked, "On a scale of 1 to 10 what is your desire for the Lord and his will?" I answered 10. My answers were the same. I have allowed my desire for a husband outweigh or equally weigh my desire for the Lord. I hope you see the irony in this as I did. My heart was no longer seeking his will for me now, yet seeking future blessings that the Lord may or may not have in store for me. It was clearly sin that the Lord was no longer first priority nor was my desire for God greater. I was comparing my lot to others. I sought charm that was deceitful and beauty that was fading (read Plevans recent read on the Booked Blog) and lacked in fearing my king. May it not be thus forward.

Truth Remembrance #3-

Yes I am lonely and sure my heart hurts, but I have to return and approach the throne of God and trust once again that He is faithful. It brought me comfort to hear Ryan say that he too struggled with thoughts of being forgotten when he was single. But it is a lie I must not believe. The Lord is good to me. He provides for me and I am not forgotten, but trully remembered as His beloved. In no way has he forsaken me. He is faithful even still. And....

Truth Remembrance #4-

I have been called beloved by God and I need to reflect that sweet disposition. I often forsake loving myself by keeping record of wrongs (1 Cor 13). My sin has overshadowed his grace and I need to surrender to allowing his grace cover my sins. Micah 7:8 states, "Rejoice not over me, O my enemy; when I fall, I shall rise; when I sit in darkness, the Lord will be a light to me." May that light make me...

Truth Remembrance #5-

Eternally minded. "What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes." (James 4:14). In Hebrews 11 the thing people hoped for was an eternity in the kingdom of heaven. My thoughts need not to focus on the things of this world that are fading. My life should reflect the hope I have in Him. May my desire for him and his glory be greater. May my life be one that is pleased with God despite of my circumstances. May I once again find my hope and strength in Him. May He create in me a steadfastness instead of life of fainting. May I constantly preach to myself the gospel and the things God has previously revealed (such as these truths) that have been character building. To God be the glory in the midst of this refinement and restoration.

The Love of the Arts

2008-05-04T14:06:00.000-07:00

The last couple of weekends I have been to the Symphony, Twin Mountain Tonesman and enjoyed the culinary arts through baking for our Sunday night bible study. The two musical occasions stirred me and confirmed my love for music. Music excites me. Listening to the Quartets with my friend Bethany I began to see the beauty in overtone. Overtone is heard when the combination of harmony and vocal balance is in perfect tune with one another. In Vocal Competitions they would prefer for Quartets harmonies to produce overtone in 80% of the song preformed. It made me consider the Christian body. The product of believers being in tune with one another, in one accord and like minded should be a beautiful sound that resonates around us to the world. At times I feel that we do not create that overtone though. Scriptures say that the unbeliever will know that you are My disciples because of your love for one another. It is my prayer that the Lord would bring up a body of believers that share the "One Anothers"(taught to me in a three hour class at Southern by Dr. Scott). That we would love one another, care for one another, speak truth to one another, rebuke one another, etc...all for the glory of God and his fulfillment of his prayer over us, "That they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in US, so that the world may believe that You sent me". Such a harmony that it creates a single tone above all others. May my selfish ways not strike a cord separate from your works Lord.

Apart from my love of music, I love to cook and bake. That is right Ladies and Gentleman, I am talking about the culinary arts. The Lord has taught me even through baking for my Sunday night bible study. In this blog there is a picture of three of the five pies I provided one Sunday evening. One is a Lemon pie with intricate candies that I made for the presentation of the pie. The other two are a coconut cream pie and an apple pie. I thought that the fancy lemon pie would so appeal the eye that they would not be able to stop themselves from diving in. The five pies laid on the table the three pictured including a simple looking cheesecake and a blueberry/banana cream pie. To my surprise the Lemon one was the least touched pies. The Apple and Cheesecake went first, followed by the Coconut. I have compared this situation with my own heart. There is such a huge part of me that has such insecurities about my appearance. I spend such time on my outward appearance when what matters and what everyone else cares about is the content within. In no way do I want to be a people pleaser, yet battle daily. I should concern myself more with the heart, mind, soul and strength. My desire to be noticed has proven itself to outweigh the fact that the Lord has noticed me. Pray for me as I grow in the desire to have spiritual food to offer that people will want to devour. Pray that my physical appearance would not be an idol to me. There is a song called the Beauty of Simplicity and it basically explains the simplicity of the gospel. I need to preach that gospel to myself daily. My dearest friend Shea Polite told me something that her husband had told her, she said, "We need to preach to ourselves more than we listen to ourselves." Listening to myself and the enemy, I am inadequate, unlovely, unworthy, plain...yet to preach to myself I would realize..."And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work."...he has called me Beloved, etc...May the simplicity of the gospel resound in my life. All for the Love of the Lord and His glory found this week in Art.

How well do you know me? (Dedicated to Jill Miller)

2008-04-28T15:17:00.001-07:00

shoeless millar tagged me to complete this task...although I think these have potential of being silly, because of my faithfulness to her as a friend and my willingness to try new things, I have dedicated this to Jill (heehee)...how does this go? 5 lies and a truth? 5 truths and a lie? ummm...ok. here it goes...

1. My dating life consists of a blind date in the spance of my lifetime.
2. My ancestry does not include John Wilkes Booth.
3. I have written a song.
4. I worked for the AIDS Foundation for 2 years.
5. I have been surfing.
6. I lived in Washington State.

5 facts, 1 fiction...take your guess ladies and gents.

I would like to tag both Jill's and my dear friend: Cara Bebee (aka. Caraboo)

2008-03-25T18:03:00.000-07:00

At 12:30, on this date, I received a phone call from Toby in the admissions office at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and was welcomed to their family of seminary students. I assumed my reaction would be a thank you and should I really do this. I would say that my jumping up and down flooded any doubt or fears that would come in the way of my attending Southern. I have been overjoyed with the thought of moving to Louisville since my visit this Spring Break. So many things were solidified through classes, campus tours, Dr. Scott, Anna Gibson, Orran, Sojourn and my dear friends the Plevans, Whites, Butts, Bebees and Polittes. These people are truly Barnabas' for me. Messages of encouragement to attack the sin of doubt and unbelief in my life. The Lord has been so gracious to me throughout this process thus far.

There is a family in our church whose infant daughter just had to have a heart transplant. Rex and Stacy stood in awe of the Lord's provision through his church for them and their family. Rex was giving a report and said, "there is no way that we can thank all of you for all that you have done in giving sacrificially...so I will thank the Lord." I echo Rex in that statement. There is no way I can thank each of you for your prayers, support, love, giving, service, couches, etc....so I will give thanks to our Lord. To him be the glory and honor. And now...I press on to Kentucky.

Please continue to pray for me as I apply for scholorships, seek the Lord for jobs and a home. Jehovah Jireh- I will proclaim and trust you as my provider. Below are a few glimpses of my sweet time in Louisville and St. Louis. The Garcia's were the couple that my journey with the Lord began with, so it was great visiting them and their sweet family. I love them and I love you guys.

My Autobiography

2008-02-26T17:54:00.000-08:00

Born and raised in a house that was culturally churched my beliefs proved to be liberal and universal. I thought one to be foolish by questioning my stance before God. I was one of fifteen on a Youth Task Force that represented the entire Presbyterian youth population in the West Texas region. I was very active in my own youth group, community and mission trips, and my works seemed to testify that I was a “good person”.

In the eighth grade my world, as I knew it, was rocked by my parents divorce. The remainder of my junior high and high school years would be spent in a home with a depressed mother and the feeling of abandonment. Soon, I found myself in college and with some direction of peers and my search for significance, I had entered the party world, yet still attending church and bible study. One Sunday evening the Lord graciously interrupted my life by four air force intel students at our Sunday night bible study. Seeing our beliefs the group prayed, fasted and invested in myself and my dear friend Amanda. My beliefs and their origins were challenged by Ronnie (one of the air force guys) and my foundation was merely sand.

On a Sunday evening after bible study and month after Amanda's salvation, I went to have a few drinks with Amanda's roommate. After dry heaving for quite some time, the Lord had truly revealed my sinful, depraved state. Amanda and Ronnie had come home from a date and Amanda found me in my pathetic circumstance. Completely undone, broken and guilty; I did not want to be around Ronnie, who was an incredible representation of Christ to me. Ronnie came in, regardless of my request, and he looked me in the eyes and said, “There is nothing you can do that can take my love away from you.” As far as I could remember I had sang “Amazing Grace” and yet, until I saw my total depravity before a holy and just God, those words had never really had such a great meaning. My life was surrendered to the Lord. There was nothing in and of myself that would have ever chosen him over the god that I had created that was comfortable to me. There was no steps that I took on my own to soften my heart and make my deaf ears hear the words of the one who created me. It was by his amazing grace alone that I was able to stand again. Not on shifty sand but the firm foundation that He laid before me. This is why I long to share the hope I have in Christ Jesus. Because of salvation and sanctification that the Lord has worked and continues to work in my life, I will pour into the lives of others.

I was discipled for the nine remaining months I had with my air force brothers and sisters. As they received their assignments, I traveled with one of the girls to Kentucky to work a Junior High Camp. This would be the first time to pour out after being poured into. I can remember having a great compassion for the kids and I ached for them to know the truth. I was positioned alongside two men, one was a minister and the other a youth minister. I was initially intimidated since I had been a believer for such a short time. Yet as I observed these two men, my heart broke. For some reason they did not seem to be there for the kids, nevertheless their spiritual state. I had a strong desire to defend and confirm the gospel and the complacency of these men did not equal that desire. Upon my return home, I immediately found two women that mentored me and I began to serve the youth in my home church. I found the more I soaked myself in the word, the more I loved to teach. My three years of serving the senior high girls at my church ended as the Lord had called me to step out in faith towards the mission field after graduation.

The field that the Lord had me in was Sedro-Wooley, Washington. During my ten week mission, God used me to counsel 50 year old women to youth aged kids. I taught at Vacation Bible Schools, a Disciple Now, a Lock-in, a week long youth camping trip and numerous bible studies. The Lord used me as a vessel to plant seeds and share the gospel with exchange students from Italy, Belgium, France and Sudan. The lessons learned were many and my eyes were opened to the fields full of lost.

Upon my return I served as a Juvenile Probation Officer at which point the justice of God became clear to me. After dealing with suicides, aggravated sexual assault cases, etc., my heart was heavy and depression began to set in. I had never hurt so much for a people and my own past pains were on the rise. I was approached by the campus minister at the Baptist Student Ministries at Angelo State to consider taking the position of campus intern/missionary. After much prayer I made the transition into full time ministry that would last for a two year term. As the campus missionary, under the headship of the director Lee Floyd, I: helped lead a leadership team of 25-30 students, mentored and discipled ten girls a week during scheduled one one ones, preformed local and state interviews for Go Now Missions, lead a bible study once a week, and planned, coordinated and directed over sixty events and two retreats a semester along with one mission trip per year.

I cannot begin to explain, without length, all that the Lord taught me and the experiences I had serving our God through the Baptist Student Ministries. Since my term there was merely two years, I had to seek the Lord as to which direction I should take next. I find myself in that position today. For the summer I was a Pharmacy Tech and currently I am in a Junior high class room working with special needs kids and yet I still have not found rest in my soul knowing my love and passion for ministry. By all means, the Lord has used me and sanctified me working in those two secular fields and apart from them I fear that I would have very few non-Christian friendships. I am not merely wasting time, yet I pray that I am making the most of it and more importantly making the most of God's glory for His namesake.

For over a year my pastor, Lakan Mariano, has give me counsel and has strongly felt that I should be attending seminary to further equip me, and for years my singleness and financial self-support have been used as an excuse not to go, being controlled by fear and unbelief of the Lord's provision. A year and a half ago, I had printed out information about Southern and had even printed out the application and never followed through with obedience and faith. As Christ pursued me, I pray by his grace and strength that I might be able to pursue this time of equipping in my life with faithfulness. Not out of selfish ambition, although to sit under the wisdom of solid instruction that leads me to know and love this God we serve would benefit me, but if anything to have the tools to minister to others in their search for significance. I thank you for taking this time to see where the Lord has worked in my life and for considering me to journey on at Southern.

Future Possibilities

2008-02-26T16:52:00.000-08:00

It seems that I am consistently apologizing for the length of time in between composing blogs. I suppose there is alot to be said and yet I find little time to write it all out. So, what does my life look like you ask....
Work has been great this last month. i love the kids and daily find it a joy to serve them. The Lord continues to sanctify me in humility, patience, grace, love and numerous other attributes by working with these 11 handicapped kids. Many of you were able to work the Eldorado D-Now with me. It was such a blessing and honor to serve alongside such a solid team of leaders. While pouring out into the senior high girls, I was so blessed to be poured into by great teaching and fellowship with my dear friends who are attending Southern Seminary.
Speaking of Southern, as most of you know, I have submitted my application to Southern in hopes to attend in the fall in pursuit of a masters in biblical counseling. This has been a process that has taken place for well over 2 years. I can remember being a Juvenile Probation Officer printing out the biblical counseling degree plan. Mara Garza had just been under Dr. Scott at Master's when I heard that Dr. Scott moved to Southern. After talking to Mara and much prayer I printed out the application and allowed it to sit on my shelf at the BSM during the two years I served as the campus missionary. I could never bring myself to the place to throw it away. For over a year I laughed at Lakan out of nervousness as he continually encouraged me to go to seminary. The sin of unbelief towards the Lord's provision and fears of entering yet another chapter in my life single overwhelmed me. I received new yesterday that the application that was printed out almost three years ago was sent to the Admissions Board at Southern for review. It has been a long journey. In now way would i take one moment of it. My ministry at the BSM, the restoration in my family and plenty of experiences have grown me in wisdom and has refined me. Yet out of obedience and combating the unbelief in my life, I am excited about the possibilities ahead. I am leaving Spring Break for Louisville to visit dear friends, attend a personal campus visit and hopefully meet with people that can guide me through this process. Then I will road trip over to St. Louis to visit my dearest friends Amanda and Ronnie and their now 4 kids.
To be honest this can be a lonely walk at times. I have spent numerous nights at the lake with me and the Lord praying through things. I daily have to remind myself that the Lord is sovereign and his grace is sufficient for all my needs. I battle unbelief and pray for the times I lack in faith. My Abba Daddy has truly lavished his love upon me and in Him I will trust. Please continue to pray for me as I seek the Lord in the direction I should take. In the next blog I plan on sharing my autobiography that i had to write for the application. It was such a blessing to look back on my redemption, sanctification and the work in and through me throughout the last 6 years. To him receive the glory and honor forever.

"If I am prayerful, God makes me prayerful; if I have graces, they are God’s gifts to me; if I hold on in a consistent life, it is because he upholds me with his hand. I do nothing whatever towards my own preservation, except what God himself first does in me. Whatever I have, all my goodness is of the Lord alone. Wherein I sin, that is my own; but wherein I act rightly, that is of God, wholly and completely." - Charles Spurgeon

Welcome 2008

2008-01-01T16:51:00.000-08:00

Well...as always, my deepest apologies for my lack of posting. I have gone non-stop since November. In the midst, Kasey and I moved and no longer have internet. But here we are...

So, I went to Houston for Thanksgiving and had a splendid time with my family. I learned to be more of a servant since my cousin had had a major back surgery right before my arrival. Upon my return, Kasey and I moved since our roomie was about to get married. It was alot of work, but we love our new home.

Before I knew it it was Christmas. I spent Christmas in San Angelo. I learned how to make bows and spent some time with family that the Lord has been working on restoring in my life.

On the 26th I began to prepare for the wedding I was going to cater on the 29th. I have never spent more hours in a kitchen before, yet...I have to say it was a success. Below are a few pictures. I have to say the fruit tray with the swan carved out of a honeydew melon is my favorite.

Back in the kitchen on the 31st to prepare for a last minute New Years party that was an absolute blast.

I look back on 2007 and words cannot praise the Lord enough for the growth he has produced from ministry, hardship, jobs and relationships. Refinement is still the process he continues to take me through. There has been times of joy and downtrodden, abundance and little, community and loneliness and through it all He has been glorified. I look forward to seeing where the Lord leads me. Today I finally finished my application for Kanukuk Institute. Being a single chick I feel like this is the best route to prepare me for ministy. My friends Amanda and Ronnie will be adopting the twin girls from the previous post. So...if the Lord has not prepared a ministry for me after Kanukuk or a husband, I am looking at the possibilities of moving with the Garcia's to the location where they will be in ministry. Alot to pray about needless to say. I am excited to see what is ahead and until then I pray that I walk in faith faithfully. Love you guys!

"In Christ Alone"

2007-11-10T08:20:00.000-08:00

I have put a band together and tomorrow we will be singing "In Christ Alone" at church. The last couple of months have been rough and refining to say the least. Yet, almost every morning on my way to work I have been listening to some of my favorite hymns in hopes to be reminded of the work that Christ has done and in prayer that my joy would be restored.

I cannot remember when I first heard this song, but I can remember when it came from the heart of my dear friend Amanda. In August she came to visit me from St. Louis with her son and while placing him down for a nap she sang the sweet words of "In Christ Alone" over Micah. I sat outside the door and cried in awe of the lyrics. Yesterday Amanda gave birth to her second child, Ruth Helen. While Amanda and Ronnie are rejoicing in the two little blessings the Lord has given them (Micah and Ruth), they are also fervently praying about a huge decision that will impact their family. On November 30, Ronnie will be attending a hearing in Austin, Texas to adopt twin cousins of Amanda that are in horrible circumstances. All parties are recommending that Ronnie and Amanda receive the baby girls. I want to dedicate this post to the Garcia family. Please pray for them as they walk in obedience and pour the hope they have in Christ over these children. Ronnie is also in the midst of finishing seminary, so you seminarians can relate to the work that is added on top of it all. I love you Amanda and Ronnie and praise the Lord that he placed you in my life and used you in the time of my conversion where I found hope.

"In Christ Alone"
In Christ alone my hope is found,

He is my light, my strength, my song;
this Cornerstone, this solid Ground,
firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace,
when fears are stilled, when strivings cease!
My Comforter, my All in All,
here in the love of Christ I stand.

In Christ alone! who took on flesh
Fulness of God in helpless babe!
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones he came to save:
Till on that cross as Jesus died,
The wrath of God was satisfied -
For every sin on Him was laid;
Here in the death of Christ I live.

There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain:
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave he rose again!
And as He stands in victory
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me,
For I am His and He is mine -
Bought with the precious blood of Christ.

No guilt in life, no fear in death,
This is the power of Christ in me;
From life's first cry to final breath.
Jesus commands my destiny.
No power of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand;
Till He returns or calls me home,
Here in the power of Christ I'll stand.

7 Random Things About Me - A Post for Shoeless Millar (aka. Jill Miller)

2007-10-28T16:15:00.000-07:00

K-Booth's Randomness

I am catering a wedding in December. From tuxedo strawberries to quiche, the hors d'oeuvres will be plentiful.
My favorite snack is Cheez-its and Chocolate Milk.
The Lord declared that my conversion/salvation experience would consist of me seeing my depraved state before a holy God while dry-heaving over a toilet bowl. Praise the Lord for grace and mercy.
My top three favorite hymns are: How Deep the Father's Love for Us, In Christ Alone and Before the Throne of God Above.
I can sketch/draw. The only problem is that I do not have any of my work, only copies. They have mostly all been portraits of people and I have given them as gifts. :(
I have an extra bone in my foot. This was discovered after I tore a ligament and in the x-rays the Podiatrist noticed the small bone.
In the last three years, since I graduated from College, I have been a Missionary in Washington State, a Juvenile Probation Officer, a Campus Missionary for Angelo State University, a Pharmacy Tech and am currently a Teacher's Aide for a special needs class at Lincoln Junior High.

I would like to Tag Sarah Bebee and Shea Politte.

Handicapped and Restored

2007-10-06T15:06:00.001-07:00

So I have to apologize for my lack of posting as of late. The picture displayed on the left of this post is a perfect representation of where my life is right now. For those of you who do not know, I took a job in August as a Special Education Teacher's Aide at Lincoln Middle School in San Angelo. We have 11 students in our class (1 Muscular Dystrophy, 1 Autistic, 8 Downs Syndrome and 1 Williams Syndrome). Starting the job I began to ask myself many questions including, "Lord, through this experience, what exactly are you trying to teach me." Graciously the Lord opened my eyes immensely through a pastor in Oklahoma that I talked to at a Voddie Baucham Conference. The disposition that the kids are in that I work with is the same disposition I am in before the Lord. Some of my kids cannot even go to the bathroom without my help. They are utterly dependent on me. I pray that as I continue through this life I would be able to recognize the dependence that I have on the Lord. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me, yet only through Him can I do all things. Apart from my God I can do nothing. Don't get me wrong because there is the responsibility of man factor, yet I breathe and am who I am today because of Christ and myself being crucified in Him. It motivates me daily to do my job when I see myself in those kids.

Another motivational factor that has spirred me on to holiness and sharing Christ with others is the mere fact that sin is what brought disease and death into this world. I am surrounded by a physical representation of the effects of sin through my class and it makes me shutter. And yet the Lord has given me a thirst and a hunger like none other during this time. By his grace may I strive to be more like Him through sanctification and purification.

Besides work I have been so blessed as the Lord is restoring my relationship with my father and myself. Years of bitterness, unforgiveness and lack of communication are being torn down. My relationships with friends has once again turned sweet. I had to ask myself at one point..."When did I become so selfish?" I began to examine my life and ask the Lord to search me and know my heart. Somewhere in the midst of serving, caring for others, planning, teaching and pouring out in ministry, I began to question who cared about me, who has served me, who has poured into me lately...This questioning became a destructive path in my life. I was really searching for significance in the world's eyes instead of the God who knows me, loves me, pours into me, cares for me. If you are in ministry or are preparing to go into ministry, I pray you do not find yourself in that position. We are called to serve, not be served. We are called to love one another as an overflow of the Lord's love for us. My cup was empty and I was seeking for it to be filled from the wrong sources. Praise the Lord once again that He does not allow us to continue in our sinful state. I have learned to love the word RESTORE.
As for other updates...I am teaching Sunday school with the Senior High girls at College Hills and helping lead worship every other Sunday. I am having accountability/mentoring with a girl on Tuesdays that is such a blessing. I have taken the roll of caterer for a wedding in December and am currently seeking the Lord as to where he will have me move to in the summer. It is time to get out of this town of San Angelo. Until my next update, I love you all and miss many of you as distance is the separator of us. Please pray for Jill Miller and Cara Bebee who are on the mission field.

To Everything There is a Season

2007-07-30T19:17:00.001-07:00

This whole summer has been bitter sweet. In alot of ways I have been celebrating everyone elses life through marriages, new jobs, missions, moves, engagements...Meanwhile my life has been somewhat at a standstill. In May I had to immediately find a job due to the fact that I was not going to get paid that month. I started as a Pharmacy Tech in the middle of that month. I have learned what it means to work as if working for the Lord and not for man. My experience has been somewhat unpleasant at the Drug store. I came from a position of investing into peoples lives and pouring all I had into them for Christ's Namesake, into a position that from 8:45-6:00 I stand behind a counter and count pills all day. In some ways the Lord has used me with my co-workers, yet at the end of the day I realize that my work was hardly eternal. I have begun searching what it is that the Lord would have me do next. Where He would have me go and what He would have me do and many of the answers have been slammed doors in my face.I continue to remind myself that He is Soveriegn and knows the path that He has already paved ahead of me and yet when walking alone with little direction, I find myself weeping. It has been a lonely road of unassuredness. I find myself praying as David did throughout the Psalms that the Lord would give me the joy of my salvation.
HOPE has been the one thing to sustain me through this lonely time. I praise the Lord that I will not spend an eternity in this temporary place we call home. And yet I plead with Him that he would continue to sanctify me through His truth that he may not say "ye of little faith", rather, "well done you good and faithful servant."

The pictures in this blog are from one fo my greater nights this summer. The four roomies (old and new) decided that we were going to have a girls night. We dressed our finest and ate at the Wharf. The food was fabulous and company divine. The former great night was spent on the free side of the riverstage where about 8 of us sat on a sleeping bag and danced under the stars listening to a concert.

To conclude this blog I want you to know that I have an interview tomorrow and some big decisions ahead. Will I take the teachers aide position for special ed...the preschool teacher position that is only 30 hours a week or find something temporarily as I consider missions school? May the Lord direct me and guide me and may my feet be quick to go in the direction He should lead. I love you all and miss many of you. I am glad that I have been able to be a part of your lives in some way and know that you have played a sweet roll in mine.

Hannah: an example of biblical womanhood

2007-05-08T19:10:00.000-07:00

HANNAH
“grace” also “beauty or charm”
1 Samuel 1 & 2

You can picture her with a face that bore the radiance of her own spirituality, wearing clothes that she stitched herself being handy with the needle (1 Sam. 2:19). She was barren because the Lord had closed her womb (1 Sam 1:6) Most likely the first wife of Elkanah, but because of her barrenness he took another wife (Peninnah) who bore him children.
Hannah was one of 4 great woman in history who grieved because she could not conceive. Others were:

Sarah (Gen. 21) who was much like Hannah because of their husbands bigamy and distress over their inability to conceive (later conceived Isaac)
Rebekah (Gen. 25) who bore her trial of barrenness with indifference (later conceived Jacob and Esau)
Rachel (Gen. 29) who being so irritated at her long wait said “give me children, or else I die” (later conceived Joseph)

Each barren case and first born was raised up for special purposes of divine providence. Hannah handled her barren womb with faithful prayer. (seen below)

Hannah would travel with her husband, Peninnah and family once a year to worship and sacrifice to the LORD OF HOST (this is the first time Jehovah Sebaoth is used in scripture asserting his universal supremacy- “hosts” meaning armies of heaven seen for the first time in Hannah’s prayer later. )

You see that Elkanah had a great love for Hannah by giving her double the size he gives his other wife. And because of this her rival (Peninnah) was jealous and provoked Hannah greiviously to irritate her because of her closed womb.

After years of provoking by her rival, we never see Hannah railing or going into furious rages. She simply grieves and ends up weeping and loosing her appetite ,denying the peace offering her husband offered her yearly.Once again you see her husbands care and love for her in verse 8. She did not whine to Elkanah about her childlessness because she knew that children are an inheritance from the Lord (Ps. 127:3; Gen. 33:5)

We then see Hannah deeply distressed pouing her heart out to the Lord and weeping bitterly she vowed this vow:

“O Lord of Host, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your servant and remember me and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a son, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall touch his head.” –(1 Sam. 1:11)

She first starts out with Lord of Host once again recognizing his universal supremacy
The word Servant is expressed 3 times showing her humility, submission and dependence on the Lord.
The vow was significant alone. Levites were already the Lord’s property from 25 years of age until 50. It was their duty to minister in the tabernacle taking turns a few weeks every year also attending three annual feast. But her vows to offer her son in service to the temple were from infancy to death making it a Nazarite vow that could only be made by the husband. This vow had be be approved by the husband in order for it to be a valid vow. This also would show her husbands support for her. (Samson’s mother made this vow and John the Baptist’s mother did later) It is not shown whether or not the vow included all the provisions of the Nazarite vow.

Eli the priest observed her prayer and accused her of drunkenness because no word came from her mouth. His accusation against Hannah was the same accusation the unbelieving mob made against the disciples on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:13). But Hannah’s defense (in verse 15) argues her conscious integrity, innocence and serenity of spirit. Simply pouring out her soul before the LORD.

You then see the family ending their time at the temple in worship and returning home where Elkanah knew Hannah (aka. they had sex). It was then that the Lord opened her womb and Hannah conceived and bore a son that she called Samuel which means “asked of the Lord”.

You see Hannah being a wonderful mother, not leaving him with another, and turning down a trip with her husband until he was weaned. Once being weaned, Hannah dresses him for his first trip to the tabernacle, where she leaves him. Though Eli the priest’s two son’s were polluting the atmosphere of worship by laying with women that assembled at the door of the tabernacle, Hannah leaves him with no fear. She had placed him in the hands of God, and she believed that God would answer the petition she had made before his birth.

But before she leaves her precious son she offers a prayer that echo’s through generations of women. In it Hannah exhibited the fervency, depth and fire of a woman who was happy and who sang her happiness and belief in God. SHE LOVED HER GOD!

1Sa 2:1 And Hannah prayed and said, "My heart exults in the LORD; my strength is exalted in the LORD. My mouth derides my enemies, because I rejoice in your salvation.
1Sa 2:2 "There is none holy like the LORD; there is none besides you; there is no rock like our God.
1Sa 2:3 Talk no more so very proudly, let not arrogance come from your mouth; for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.
1Sa 2:4 The bows of the mighty are broken, but the feeble bind on strength.
1Sa 2:5 Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread, but those who were hungry have ceased to hunger. The barren has borne seven, but she who has many children is forlorn.
1Sa 2:6 The LORD kills and brings to life; he brings down to Sheol and raises up.
1Sa 2:7 The LORD makes poor and makes rich; he brings low and he exalts.
1Sa 2:8 He raises up the poor from the dust; he lifts the needy from the ash heap to make them sit with princes and inherit a seat of honor. For the pillars of the earth are the LORD's, and on them he has set the world.
1Sa 2:9 "He will guard the feet of his faithful ones, but the wicked shall be cut off in darkness, for not by might shall a man prevail.
1Sa 2:10 The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken to pieces; against them he will thunder in heaven. The LORD will judge the ends of the earth; he will give strength to his king and exalt the power of his anointed."

She acknowledges God’s holiness, His goodness, His sovereignty, His power, and His wisdom. She worshiped Him as Savior, as Creator, and as sovereign judge. She acknowleged the fallenness and depravity of human nature, as well as the folly of unbelief and rebellion. In short, her few stanzas were a masterpiece of theological understanding.
Hannah’s prayer of dedication was the model for Mary’s Magnificat (to magnify or extol) in Luke 1:46-55.
Both Hannah and Mary formally dedicated their firstborn sons to the Lord (1 Sam 1:24-28; Luke 2:22-24).

She gladly left Samuel to work in the temple by lighting a candle, holding a dish or closing a door because she knew that if he could do those menial tasks joyfully than he would rise in a greater ministry to the Lord.

The way Hannah immediately dedicated her first son to the Lord and gave him over to serve in the tabernacle at such a young age demonstrated the purity of her motives of motherhood being her one ambition in life. She understood that motherhood is the highest calling God can bestow on any woman under the call of being a wife.

Scripture frequently portrays marriage as “the grace of life” (1 Peter 3:7) and motherhood is one of the highest calling any woman could ever be summoned to under the call to be a wife (1 Tim. 5:10; Titus 2:3-5 these two passages share things on motherhood). Only rarely in Scripture were women singled out and praised for careers outside the domestic realm.

Samuel later became the earliest of the great Hebrew prophets after Moses and last of the “Judges”. He also would anoint David as king.
At the end of her biography it states- “And the young Samuel grew in the presence of the Lord”

Characteristics of Hannah that we can take home with us:
- Constant, steadfast faith
- Patience
- Persistent and Passionate Prayerfulness
- Meekness
- Humility
- Submission
- Unreservedly devotion
- Motherly love
- Non- complaining spirit
- Willingness to cast her burdens on the Lord
- Love for heaven, husband and home
- Unselfish
- Dependence on the Lord
- Integrity
- Innocence
- Belief and Trust in the Lord
- Grace
- Worker of the home
- And the woman could sew.

Information retrieved from : “The Bible”, “All of the Women of the Bible” by Edith Deen, and “Twelve Extraordinary Women” by John MacArthur

When The Music Stops

2007-04-24T10:54:00.000-07:00

I have been reading a book lately called, "Safe in the Everlasting Arms" and came across this paragraph that was written more than a hundred years ago by the artist John Ruskin:
"There is no music in a rest, but there is the making of music in it. In our whole life-melody, the music is broken off here and there by "rests", and foolishly think we have come to the end of time. God sends a time of forced leisure-sickness, disappointed plans, frustrated efforts- and makes us a sudden pause in the choral hymn of our lives and we lament that our voices must be silent, and our part missing in the music which ever goes up to the ear of the Creator. How does the musician read the rest? See him beat time with unvarying count and catch up the next note true and steady, as if no breaking place had come between. Not without design does God write the music of our lives. But be it ours to learn the time and not be dismayed at the "rests." They are not to be slurred over, nor to be omitted, not to destroy the melody, not to change the keynote. If we look up, God Himself will beat time for us. With eyes on Him we shall strike the next note full and clear."

Once again the Lord has given me a word of encouragement from and old dead guy. I cannot help but see the wisdom in this during a time, once again in my life, where I have no idea where "the music is going." At this point it is a time of rest, though I have struggled with my flesh in being anxious over what lies ahead. It is perfect that in music the word is rest or Selah. Selah (hebrew: סלה) may be the most difficult word in the Hebrew Bible to translate, especially as nobody knows what it means. Selah is probably either a liturgico-musical mark or an instruction on the reading of the text, something like "stop and listen". The Psalms were sung accompanied by musical instruments and there are references to this in many chapters. Thirty-one of the thirty-nine psalms with the caption "To the choir-master []" include "Selah" so the musical context of selah is obvious. Selah notes a break in the song and as such is similar in purpose to Amen in that it stresses the importance of the preceding passage.

Rest....Stop and Listen...I will lean on the things in my life that are assured and realize that there is a preceding passage that I am so amazed that my Father in Heaven has written. I must look to Christ, the author and perfector of my faith that I may stike the next note full and clear. C.S. Lewis once said, "Look to yourself, and you will find in the long run only hatred, loneliness, despair, rage, ruin and decay. But look for Christ and you will find Him and with Him everything else thrown in." May I submit to death, death of my ambitions and favorite wishes every day and death of my body-in the end may I submit with every fibre of my being.

The Weekend of Weddings and Engagements

2007-04-22T18:02:00.000-07:00

This weekend was one filled with love and romance. Friday evening was a windy one but there was something more than the air stiring around my cousin Chad Fogle and his now fiance Angela Sacco. At 3:00 Chad and Angela made thier way from Santo,TX to San Angelo. Upon thier arrival Chad told Angela that he wanted to take her to his favorite spot at the lake. Meanwhile myself and some of our cousins hopped into the family boat. We went according to plan and that was to go by fast so that Chad would know that he had 5 minutes. At that point we curved around next to the reeds holding this sign...

Here is the video of the engagement. And a few pictures. After all was said and done we headed to the restaurant were there was a 12 piece mariachi band and to follow we had the room set up with candles and a wash bassin where he proceeded to wash her feet.

I think she was pretty excited.

As the weekend rolled on, so did I, in a car with my sister as the driver and my niece (14 months) and nephew (3 years) in the back. The drive to Austin was a long one as my appreciation grew for the Lord's grace in giving patience. The purpose of this trip was to see my younger step-brother Jeremy Swanson wed his bride Wendy. The area was beautiful and the ceremony at the country club was followed by a dance at an old rustic dance hall. Enjoy the pictures and love the one your with...

My Niece Averie (goodness I am a good photographer..HeeHee)

I bet you cannot guess who these people are...no silly...it's the bride and groom.

My niece and brother-in-law Kevin (aka. daddy to her)

Me on a tree swing.

Beautiful Feet Discipleship

2007-04-18T13:34:00.000-07:00

For those of you who recall, the Lord has given me a special talent when it comes to painting toes. I know that this seems like a funny thing, but if you are a girl reading this post, you may have a great appreciation. Needless to say I am once again at a crossroad in life and am seeking the Lord for the direction I should take. For the last two years the Lord has been faithful to grow my heart for the girls on the ASU campus as I have discipled and mentored them as they go through the wonder years we call college. As my term here at the BSM ends, I have wondered how to maintain that disclipleship and those relationships. Why not continue to serve girls by doing thier toes and sharing the good news in the midst? I love the Lord and I love people, so if it takes humbling myself at peoples feet to share Christ...may it be.
I am looking for a job currently. I covet your prayers for me and for the Lord to give me perseverence in the wait. He has always provided and whatever His lot is for me...I will gladly bear. If anyone actually reads my blogs, I hope you have a great day and may the Lord be gracious to you always.

Beach Reach 2007

2007-03-27T14:28:00.000-07:00

Well, I am sad that this blog was not posted directly after Spring Break. The morning after I returned I caught the flu and had no contact with the outside world for what seemed like forever, although it was only 5 days.
I cannot begin to tell the many stories of divine appointments that the Lord laid our before us during out trip. We went before the throne and then Lord went before us and prepared the field before each shift. During Beach Reach training we teach our students how to transition the conversation into spiritual matters and ultimately the gospel. Every single one of us stood in awe of how we did not have to transition...people were so thirsty and hungry and evidently the Lord's glory surrounded us, because they immediately were asking us questions. We are thankful that the Lord gave the words and scriptures for the defense and confirmation of the gospel. Our team saw the Lord save 5 people and the events that lead up tp those occations were divine indeed.
Below I have added some pictures and a link to some of our students testamonies. I ask that you go to that link and read what work the Lord did and give him the glory for the sanctification of the saint and the salvation of the few. I could not have asked for the Lord to have given me a better team to work alongside during my first trip to Beach Reach and my last trip to lead as the Campus Missionary at the BSM. The unity and love for one another was great. Enjoy the stories!

The Crew + Cara Bebee and Kirby. These two came back from a three week mission trip in Papua New Guinea on Sunday and joined us from thier missions school on Monday. Sharing the gospel from one people group to another.

The Girls. Stunning is the only word I can think of.

The Boys. Ummm...stunning also. This is the cheerleader pose. Wow...HeeHee

Cara Bebee and I. This was my favorite sand sculpture.

Baptisms: 27 total. 400 Beach Reachers stood around the sand sculpture yelling and clapping and raising a commotion. The beach goers began to gather to see what the ruckus was about and a sudden hush come over the crowd as the beach reachers bowed at the sand sculpture. Two girls behind me were drunk and when everyone bowed they also went prostrate. It made me think about the scripture that every knee shall bow. After being prayed over all of us stood near the waters as new believers showed all spectators, believers and non, a sweet representation of what the Lord had done. The old being gone and behold new things. The truth had now become living and active in them and they were baptised in the ocean that bows daily and glorifies the Lord as He draws the line and tell the ocen where to stop.

As most know, the van ministry is a huge part of the Beach Reach ministry. One night we all gathered before loading the vans and started to pray. The first shift of vans set out and when they came off of the shift they were all in awe because every group that they had picked up were San Angelo people. None of the other teams had one San Angelo group on thier vans.

The sunrise was spectacular. Pictures never do the Lord's glory justice.

Worship on the beach at the end of the week.

Needless to say we had a fun time. Nice faces girls.

It looks like we are in the bunkers at battle. Beach Reach was a battle ground, but an easy fight won with the Lord on our side.

To see more Beach Reach testamonies from other students at Angelo State go HERE!

My Pride and Joy

2007-02-20T09:47:00.000-08:00

So, I wanted to show you guys a picture of my pride and joy!

HeeHee...Just Kidding, here are my real pride and joy. The Lord has given me the sweetest and cutest niece and nephew. Logan just turned 3 and is a blast needless to say and Baylee is having her 1st birthday this weekend. I love being an aunt and pray for these kiddos daily.

I hope this message finds you counting all that the Lord has blessed you with as He certainly has blessed me. His graciousness to me is unfathomable.

Notice Me

2007-01-30T14:09:00.000-08:00

Notice Me

Verse 1:

It's a path leading where

Your guess is as good as mine

And I have been here before

At this split in the road

And so I'm sitting here

Waiting and wondering which direction we will go

Oh, oh truly, only our God knows

Chorus:

And I'm standing right in fron of you

I'm standing right in fron of you

But I don't think you even notice me

The way I notice you

Verse 2:

And it's a mystery

A thought lingering in my head

Of a boy and girl loving life together

But I, I'm afraid of dreaming

Yeah I, I hesitate for hoping

Cause parting can be such sorrow

But will it even matter tomorrow

Chorus

Bridge:

And I've been here before

In uncertainty's room

Standing at the door

Waiting and trusting as His grace

It guards me and you

PreChorus:

I can hear my Lord saying

I can hear my Lord proclaiming

I can hear my Lord saying

I can hear my Lord proclaiming and saying

Last Chorus:

And I'm standing right in front of you

I'm standing right in front of you

And my grace, oh it holds you

So you can't lose

Cause in my grace

I have noticed you

It is very imortant that you read through these lyrics and see the beauty in it. I am so proud of my dearest friend and roomate that wrote this song at a time that all of us women and men find ourselves. In this quest for a mate we begin to daydream more than live out the day that the Lord has given us. Our hearts and minds wonder towards the other person in hopes that there could be something. Meanwhile, the Lord knows your wants and yet wants you to see...by His grace He has noticed us. Oh, that our hearts and minds could wrap themselves around this concept.

I have found myself in daydream mode recently and the Lord showed me a little something that I thought I would share with you. In Genesis 2:21 says,”So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon man”, then again in Genesis 15:12, “A deep sleep fell on Abram.” In both cases the Lord is doing a great work. In the first case He brings woman to man and in the latter he is making a covenant with Abram. I both cases he puts man to sleep though. It then came to me that the Lord wanted to receive all the glory for His names sake. If man had something to do in either of these processes, then man could boast. Then I recalled a verse in Song of Solomon that says, “I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem, by the gazelles or the does of the field, that you not stir up or awaken love until it pleases.” It is my prayer that the Lord would put to sleep my desire to love a mate until that love be awakened. Meanwhile, I cling to the P31 woman, “Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.” May I fear the Lord and realize that by His grace He has noticed me.

2006-12-28T02:39:00.000-08:00

Well...I think I officially realized that reformed people don't really use Myspace or Facebook, so...here I am trying to figure this thing out. I do miss all of you though and wanted to keep in touch somehow. Life here has been very good. I am still campus missionary at the BSM in Angelo, though my position will end in May. Your prayers for what will happen after that would be great. I cannot tell you how much I rejoice in the Lord as I watch these students at ASU grow in thier walks with our Savior by his grace. Anywho, I would love to hear from you guys. May the Lord continue to bless you as you abide in Him.

2006-05-01T13:56:00.000-07:00