Stories

Yesterday, we met some of the kids at Hope House.  Today, we’re meeting Katleho.  He comes to our LaunchPad class at Clubview every Tuesday.  He came last term for our “Becoming A Contagious Christian” curriculum and he’s coming this term as well for “Christ in You.”  He sits in the back row of the class with a couple of his friends.  Last term, he didn’t talk much, seemed more interested in other things, but still had a touch of curiosity and he even came up to talk with me once after class.  Yet, despite all this, I could tell he wanted more.  Even in this picture, you can see a glimpse of his personality, his curiosity, his hope.  LaunchPad is one of my favorite parts of the week. Why? Because I absolutely love seeing lives transformed through God working through engaging curriculum and personal relationships.  I can see the difference in Katleho’s eyes as he comes to class and how he interacts compared to last term.  I see him prompting and delving into the discussion questions with his friends.  I am excited for God’s work in him and am expectant for even more.  Pray with me for the kids in the LaunchPad classes for radical transformation to be evident in their lives!

Days at the Park

I get to play at the park in Intabazwe tomorrow and I am pumped!

Good Conversation

All weekend I’ve been in the mood for a normal, happy conversation with someone from home. This afternoon not only did I get one, but I got two! I am so thankful for this weekend and for getting to catch up with friends. From stargazing to running to walks to exploring possibilities to dreaming to s’mores to listening to podcasts, I’m refreshed and ready for another week.

Soul Cravings, Part 2

“There is only one reason for God to come himself, because in issues of love, you just can’t have someone else stand in for you.”

I have never thought of this in quite the same light.  How amazing that God came.  God came because He is love.  

Think on this.  You’re madly in love.  You met, became friends, and started dating.  He brings you flowers for no reason at all.  You take long walks and talk about anything and everything.  He takes you on dates.  He teaches you new things and you learn about each other along the way.  Your community (friends, church, family) actively engage and advise on your relationship.  Everything is going perfectly.  You want to spend the rest of your life together.  

His friend shows up at your door with flowers and a ring.  He proposes to you for your love.  What!? I don’t think so!  I, for one, would not be happy at all if someone else proposed for him.  Even more, I would be sad that he was not there.

So, in all reality, it makes sense that God came.  He came to show His love.

The Year Through Pictures

So…I’m a copy cat.  Annie had this awesome post and so I wanted to do the same:

January: Ringing in the New Year–ready for a fresh start

February: A little salsa dancing fun before “real life” aka full-time job-ness sets in.

March: No homework means time to make fun recipes like Cheesecake pops, read lots of books, take a ceramics course, and work out

April: “ 1Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:1-2

May: I said hello to love at first sight

June: Summer nights with friends and  enjoying our sweet deck

July: There were a few crashes along the way this year.  A few rough spots, but in the end the plastic pops right out and the head lights are millimeters away from being smashed.

August: Spent some time with family.  Said “Look at the bull ship,” which was interpreted as “Look at all this bull shi*” (say that 3 times fast and your family will think you are NOT having fun when really you are)

September: Life may be a little messy, but at the end of the day I can always turn to my “church family” for anything I need.  I’m going to miss them…

October: “Ransomed” God, theology, podcasts, blogging, life, and everything in between could always be found in our conversations.  I miss her already!

November: “But if the bright lights don’t receive you, you should turn yourself around and come on home.”

December: Stay warm with a puppy, lots of blankets and hot chocolate while looking forward to a New Year. 

Good-bye 2008. Hello 2009.

Ransomed

So there was one night where a friend and I went out to eat at Don Pablo’s.  She had already taken a super cute picture in her Ragamuffin Soul T-Shirt, but we had not taken one together yet.  We had good intentions, but just never got around to taking a picture.  After I got home from work, I decided to put on my sweet Ransomed Ragamuffin Soul T-Shirt.  I pondered calling her to tell her to wear hers too, but since I tend to be on the late side (understatement) I figured she had already left.  Little did I know that the same thought (minus the her being late–she’s rather prompt) went through her mind.  Once in the restaurant, we unzipped our coats and there we were. Yep, pretty sweet except that we then forgot to take a picture at the restaurant and didn’t take one until right before she left.

“Here let me put my hair up. Wait. You took a picture!”

When I saw this picture, the first thing that came to mind was “Odd. I look like I’m trying to be a bird or something flying with how I’m leaning forward. At least Carrie is normal.  But we are off-center too….”

A few tries later=happy picture.

p.s. I’m going to miss that girl!

Miss You

“I miss you.  I thought of you on your birthday.  November 15, 1985.  I thought of you again with the snowy roads and the car accidents and the anniversary of your car accident coming up.  I like the earlier memories better.  Memories of chocolate malts, going bowling every day in the summer, biking all around town, babysitting, making a business out of selling green mints, chatting about boys, bffs, writing notes, sleepovers, camping out on the trampoline, making a trampoline dance to “My Father’s House,” going to Indiana for tennis camp, painting dozens of little houses, and just being with you.  I wish you were here so that I could share life with you.  I miss you.”

p.s. To all of you who are here, please drive safe with the slippery roads and pretty snow.

My Own Little World

Ever find yourself captivated and blinded by your own little world?  So caught up by the every day and the desires of your heart.  Acting without thinking through all the potential consequences.  Choosing based on whims or personal desires.  Taking on a “it’s my life” kind of attitude.  Failing to let others speak truth into your life or not calling them before you make that phone call or decision.  

 Personally, I act and express myself in such a selfish way sometimes only to find out later how my actions effect others.  Making a phone call can dramatically cause ramifications within my relationships.  What I write about in this blog effects those who read it.  My own well-being and emotional status affects those around me.  My closest friends and family often have to deal intimately with the aftermath of my decisions.  Yet, they still stick by me wanting to build me up, process my actions, and pray with me.  I am so thankful for such people in my life because let’s be honest, they don’t have to do that.  They can get wrapped up in their world and find my issues too big or too cyclical to deal with.  

Even those “far away” from me sometimes feel the effects of my decisions.  Will I give money to this organization or spend it on this?  Will I go here or will I stay?  Even as I interact with those nearby, they will in turn go to interact with others.  Will my actions build them up? Encourage them? Give them hope? 

1 Thessalonians 5:11

“…Therefore encourage one another and build each other up…”

Girlfriends

Tonight… I’m thanking God for a specific girlfriend that has stood by me through a lot of tough stuff especially the last eight months or so.  This post on Girlfriends rings home and reminds me of her.   Here’s to friends who listen even though they’ve heard the same thing over and over and still speak words of truth even though they haven’t been through it.

 

p.s. no more dwelling on things that bring me down.

You Are My Strong Tower, Fortress When I’m Weak

” …people are haunted by the idea from the intellectual heights that life is, in reality, absurd.” p. 10 The Divine Conspiracy by Dallas Willard

Loving this book and definitely have felt like that before.  Like life is boring, not purposeful, the same thing over and over.  But not today and for that I’m thankful.  I’m thankful for dreaming, realistic planning, being able to run 5 miles, a camera, good talks after Core Team (even if I went to bed WAY too late), exciting plans, achieving goals, friends home from Australia (above! with yummy fruit), biking, Kutless (I love their songs “Strong Tower” and “Take Me In”–can we say, repeat), and that tomorrow is Friday!