Word from inside the storm zone

Technology is amazing!! My mom was able to send out an email using a neighbor's satellite internet connection. We're all so thankful and relieved to KNOW that everything is fine. Thanks again for your prayers!!

hi ya'll, I am so excited- I feel like I have just won the lottery. better than the lottery!!!!!!!!!! a neighbor has satellite internet so hopefully you will get this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WE ARE OKAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

it was really scary and now it is just uncomfortable. we have some roof damage, but not bad. dave put tar paper up this morning where the plywood is showing. water leaked through the kitchen light fixture. but we are so blessed! the devastation is awful. it looks like jeremy's place after the tornado- but no trailers. all our houses are spared but we have probably lost half our big trees. unbelievable. the big oaks just layed over. God was watching us and the 2 oaks by our bedroom are still standing and about half of the tree that had the swing - the rest are down. we will be picking up limbs for years. the barn was spared. we have a tree on the little carport and one leaning on the gas tank but it seems okay.

we have our generator and fuel, so we have food, water, and a way to cook it. i have been frantic to get a message to you because i know that you are worried. no phone. we may not have electricity here for a month. dave and about 15 men back here spent 5 hours yesterday morning clearing the road to 21. right now 21 is blocked but they are supposed to have the national guard clearing it today. IF we can get out, we will probably come to granny's soon. we were packing to leave tomorrow mostly to get word to you, but if you dont see us don't get excited. i need to try to get to margie's house today. she and erin stayed and we haven't heard from them. st tammany has a lot of wind damage, and roads are impassable. kayla, i hope that you are ok. i have been sick with worry. keep in touch with granny and aunt joey. you can try to send me an email, i may check back tomorrow if i can, but just let me know you are okay. i love all of you! we will probably stay a little longer now but will go to granny's soon. don't worry, i love you!!!!!!!!!!!!! and we will get satellite internet!!!!!!!!!!!!!

love, mom

Now Praising!

Thank the Lord, we've finally made (indirect) contact with my parents, and have at least confirmed that they're safe! Kayla was able to get through to some friends from church who live nearby, and they have been in touch with mom & dad. They had several trees in the yard that are now uprooted, and lost some shingles which resulted in a roof leak, but are otherwise ok. They'll definitely have to head out of town since they don't anticipate the utilities returning for several weeks, but they're going to wait a few days to get things situated, and I think help the neighbors. (They're the only ones with running water since they have a generator to pump from the well, so everyone is showering at their house!)
It's such a relief to finally hear that all is well- the pictures on the news have been so disturbing. Thanks for all the prayers, phone calls, and emails as we waited!! Please continue to pray for the people who are still there, and for the ones who have suffered loss. Pray that God will be glorified as a result of this tragedy, that many will realize that the things of this earth will fade and only the Lord is steadfast. May He be praised!!!

The waiting continues

Still no word one & a half days later.... i don't like this!

Katrina

Please pray for my parents... they stayed at home to ride out the storm (just north of New Orleans), and neither their landline or cell phones are working. I talked to them this morning, but we haven't been able to reach them since the worst passed over that area.

Something I read-

I just read this in a book I'm working through for school, Miniskirts, Mothers, and Muslims. I can't believe how much I have enjoyed this one! (Thanks Dr. M!!)

How many times have we sat in a church meeting and felt isolated, or unwarmed in our hearts? Sometimes the formality of a meeting prevents people from being
natural, or cuts across direct communication with one another. Unless there is a
particularly caring group, a person could take part in worship without
experiencing direct personal contact with another.
In the New Testament the church is described as the family of God. Yet, the sense of family can be missing. It is especially difficult for people to share with others if they have nothing in common and the only shared experience is the formal meeting time. The Christian family needs shared family experiences together, just as a family does. This type of fellowship should be a regular part of our lives. It bonds
our local church because it combines two of the most important aspects of
community-based culture: hospitality and family.

I miss this...

Lessons

I'm learning a lot about relying on God for everything- to be my comfort, my friend, my strength... Until this past week, I was totally content, and the Lord consistently reminded me that my joy comes from Him, not from the things He's given me. I see now how I've let other things get in the way of that contentment. My times with Him are becoming more stable and more frequent. He's teaching me the meaning of the statement "You're all I need." For example, a few nights ago I was at the gym- feeling pretty tired and cranky- and I couldn't focus on my music or the book in front of me (while I rode a bike). I finally put it all away and spent the rest of that time praying and trying to clear my head. I was able to get a grip and found myself in a better frame of mind. It seems so simple, and I'm ashamed that some of these lessons seem so new and fresh to me.
Right now I think my biggest struggle/dilemma is knowing how actively I should be looking at my options for the future, or if I should just sit back and wait for God to put something in front of me. Should I be patient or pro-active? I have a hard time trusting my own discernment most of the time. I need some direction, even if it's just as simple as "wait" or "explore the possibilities".
In the midst of the confusion, though, I know that God is still good. He brought me to this place, and He will not leave me alone. It may not be the most comfortable situation all the time, but the Lord is drawing me closer to His side, and I wouldn't trade that for anything.

Girls just wanna have fun

Yesterday I returned to GA after 4 incredibly relaxing days at the beach with three of my best friends. Tracy, Lorie, Julie and I met in 2001, while we were all working in central Europe. We took a vacation to Greece and Macedonia together that Thanksgiving, and vowed that we'd have a reunion trip every few years. Earlier this summer, we were at one time all on different continents; last week was the first time we've all been together in four years! It was so good to catch up, laugh, eat junk, talk, relax in the hammock, and pray with these girls. It's funny- we're all so different, yet God has woven our hearts tightly into a beautiful, unique tapestry. For example, we couldn't help but laugh at the variety of reading materials we brought out to the beach one day- Let the Nations be Glad by Piper, The Feminist Mistake by Kassian, Self magazine, and Harry Potter. (I'll let you guess who was reading what!) We had so much fun!

Hopefully I'll have time tomorrow to share all that the Lord has been teaching me lately!

Currently homeless

God has given me so much to be thankful for. Although I still don't know "why", I know that He brought me to Atlanta for this time in my life, and it has been a sweet season of spiritual renewal so far.
The hardest part of moving, though, has been finding a new church home. I've been in a different church every Sunday for the past month, and still haven't found one that feels like home. Not even a little bit. Deer Creek Community Fellowship (back in Fort Worth) spoiled me. I've never really been a fan of mega-churches, or even large churches, but I thought that maybe if I found one with a good singles group and lots of people my age I could get over that. A shepherd is suppossed to know his sheep, though, and I don't want to be just a member of another church where my pastor won't know my name or recognize me in the grocery store. Also, I want to meet friends who share my passions & feelings about the church being a community of believers who treat one another like family.
And while I'm getting some of these things off my chest, can anyone explain to me how fancy light shows and smoke machines are suppossed to bring me closer to Jesus? Three out of four churches had one or both of those things! And I don't understand it. People feel the need to make the church more "seeker-sensitive" and appealing to non-believers, but when did Jesus and the Cross stop being enough? Do we really need a gimmick?
You might have guessed that this is something I'm really struggling with. I stayed in this morning and had a great time with the Lord, just me & Him, and tried out another church tonight, but these feelings were reinforced again. I know that I need fellowship with other believers, and I don't enjoy being a visitor week after week. Please pray for me that I'll find a church to call "home" soon!

Thankful

Have you ever seen the show "While you were out"? I surprised Lisa this week by rearranging her living room while she was at work one day. I spent the day Wednesday shopping for new lamps & new curtains, and Thursday I got up early and set to work, moving furniture and putting up the new stuff. It was tough moving the couches, but I had fun knowing how shocked Lisa would be. I just wish I could have been there when she got home from work that night... I had to work myself that night. She was so surprised- and it felt good to know that I had blessed someone else.
Work is getting better & better. With every shift, I feel a little more confident about the job I'm doing...
Kayla just called me. A deer ran out in front of her car last night when she was on her way home, and she flipped her CRV three times. Miraculously, she got out with only a few scratches and bruises. Strange enough, her accident happened at almost the same point on the highway where I had my first and only wreck five years ago, "give or take a few feet" according to my mom. I'm so thankful she's ok.

Craziness!

Last night I was talking to my little sister, Kayla, and I told her I was thinking about trying a Spinning class. "Why?! Spinning people are CRAZY!! That stuff is nuts!" she told me. I'd never actually seen a Spinning class before- just read about them and thought it could be cool. But I also had already told my friend Rosalyn and her mom that I would meet them at the gym this morning for the class!
Now, if you don't know what Spinning is, it's an insanely intense workout on a stationary bike. You are constantly standing up, then back down, then up, then down (you get the picture) and all the while adjusting the tension to simulate riding up & down hills. I can't remember the last time I sweated so much in an hour! Kayla was right- it IS crazy- but I had fun, and I think I might try it again.
As a result of my spinning class, though, I had a rough afternoon at work- my legs were SORE and it was hard to stand for several hours straight. Triple venti, half-calf, 4 pump, sugar-free hazelnut, non-fat Latte, anyone?

TGIF

Seriously, I have tried to post to this thing several times this past week, but every time something has kept me from it (obviously, since there's nothing new). Twice I got caught by the clock and had to run out before I was done and couldn't manage to recover what I had written, and the one time I had enough to time to write a LOT and finish putting all my thoughts down, I hit the wrong button and erased it all. Oh well!
So anyway... it's been a really, really good week. I have to say, I am LOVING my job as a barista! Yes, it's still a ton to learn, but the people I work with are so nice and fun, and I've had lots of opportunities to meet customers, which is very cool. And I can have all the coffee I can drink! Also, my dad stopped here on his way to Charleston for work, so I got to spend some time with him this week and that was great.
There have been a lot of things this week that have been incredible, and while I would love to count all the ways God has blessed me the past few days and share that long list with you, it all seems unimportant. The bottom line is- every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like the shifting shadows (James 1:17). God is teaching me to look to Him in every single thing, bad or good, and find my satisfaction in HIM, not in my good circumstances. Just like Peter, I will most definitely sink if I take my eyes off the Lord. I am so grateful for all He has provided, but ultimately, I'm most thankful for Jesus, who gives me life every day.
The other thing God has taught me recently (ie: in the past 12 hours) is that everything He's teaching me is for RIGHT NOW. I love to read Oswald Chambers' My Utmost for His Highest at night, and last night was a big one for me. I had just been talking to a friend about how good things are going and how God must have amazing plans for me here (because things seem to be going so well), and Oswald reminded me that this isn't necessarily the case. The title of the devotional was "After obedience- what?" and the whole point was that God looks at our obedience, He's not trying to teach us obedience to prepare us for something else. Obedience is it! "His purpose is for this minute, not for something in the future...what men call training and preparation, God calls the end... it is the process, not the end, which is glorifying to God." It was a little scary to read this last night and think, "Wait, maybe there's not some huge plan that this is getting me ready for!" but as I re-read the devo a couple of times, got some good sleep, and woke up and had a good long chat with God, I know that He still has a plan for me, and I trust that it's better than anything I could come up with on my own. But now I realize too that all this stuff I've just shared with you, this is the conclusion He wanted me to come to today. He might build on this lesson tomorrow or next week, but it's not about the future- it's about now.

Sattelite, in my eyes, like a diamond in the sky... (dmb)

Well, I survived my first day of barista training! It was a little overwhelming and a lot of fun! I made more frappucino's than I can count today, and only spilled one of them all over me (it's harder than it looks to get that stuff out of the blender!) I'll keep training the rest of this week and all next week, and then get certified next Friday. Who knew you had to be certified to make coffee?!?!?
Last night I went to 7/22. (www.722.org if you want to check it out) It's a HUGE bible study for singles in the Atlanta area. I don't know how many people were there, a couple thousand maybe? Anyway, it was more like a rock concert or sporting event- standing room only in the aisles and along the walls, lines out the door for the restrooms, chaos leaving the parking lot... definitely not what I'm used to after Deer Creek, but it was amazing. I kept thinking how cool it was that no matter what had drawn all those people there, they were hearing the Word of God and praising Him. Pretty amazing stuff. The speaker, Louie Giglio, gave a great talk about grace. He used some neat illustrations, and it all sparked a flood of thoughts that keep the wheels in my head spinning well into the night.
The theme of the message was "Grace = God at Work". For it is by grace you have been saved... for it is by [God at work] you have been saved. Something to think about. One particular illustration that got me thinking was- we cannot fathom the sun's brightness, which led to thought that in the same way, the Son is unfathomable because of His brightness. We will never- can never- fully comprehend his righteousness, mercy, or grace. Incredible! I love the sun and the Son, and I really like sun: Son analogies. I can't remember where I heard it, but my favorite is-- As the moon reflects the sun, may I reflect the Son. The moon would be nothing and of no worth to us if not for the sun. In the same way, I would be nothing without Jesus. I wouldn't even be alive! That alone should compel me to action for His glory.
Pray that I would be the moon at Starbucks. I don't want people to look at me and see a girl who moves around a lot or even a religious person. I want people to see Jesus.
For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should NO LONGER LIVE FOR THEMSELVES BUT FOR HIM who died for them and was raised again. 2 corinthians 5:14-15 (emphasis added)
ps- i got a pet!! my friend rosalyn gave me a red & blue beta fish as a housewarming gift! her name is ruby, and yes- her new home has a lid (in case you're concerned)

Genesis 9:13

I saw a rainbow tonight as I was driving to the coffee shop. I was thankful for the reminder of God’s faithfulness.

So, the big news is that I’m now gainfully employed! YAY!!! I’ll start working at Starbucks this Wednesday, and I’m pretty excited about it. I definitely think it’s a job I’ll enjoy. I am so ready to be working in an environment that will regularly put me in contact with lost people. Not that I didn’t love working at the RAC, because I did. It’s just that I was a light in a sea of lights, and I’m excited about spending some time in the dark, letting my light shine.

God and I had a really good talk last night. I want to share a few of the thoughts I wrote in my journal last night…

Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is too high- I cannot attain it. Psalm 139:6

God is a mystery- and I think I like that about Him. How much better is it that God knows all and I don’t. He knows everything I did and everything I thought today, and He knows exactly what my tomorrow will look like too.

This life is kind of like a birthday, or Christmas.
I know (or at least I think I know) what I want and what would make me happiest.
Sometimes I tell people exactly what I want. Other times I say, “it doesn’t
matter,” but there’s always some desire. There is always anticipation before
receiving the gifts, except it’s not the same when I know what I’m getting.
There’s just a little more adrenaline when you unwrap a surprise. There’s
something fun & exciting about not knowing what you’re about to get.

And that’s life, too. It’s mysterious and exciting!
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me. Thank you for surprising me Lord.

It's been a good day. I love it when God reminds me of His presence and His care for me. Thanks for all the prayers- my times with the Lord have been sweet the past few days.

I think i have a job!!

Just wanted to share the good news- I had a job interview at Starbucks this morning. As soon as the manager gets the ok from her boss to hire a new person she will call me. I'm hoping to know for sure by Monday. YAY!!!!!!!!

Already learning & streching

I will give thanks to the Lord with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonders. Psalm 9:1

So, this morning I got a lesson in being thankful for all my circumstances. I had plans to meet one of Erin's friends, Amanda, for breakfast. When I went to take a shower, something wierd was going on with the water, ie: there hardly was any! Granted, there was a steady trickle, but definitely not enough to shower. "Great- now what do I do?!" I was about to call Amanda to bail on her (I was in no shape to go out in public without a shower, especially to meet a potential new friend for the first time!), but I really didn't want to cancel. I decided to grab a big coffee mug and bathe African style. After all, I just spent two weeks in the bush, bathing with only a bucket and mug. As I stood there, I couldn't help but laugh to myself. "I expect stuff like this in other countries, but not in America! Thank you, Lord, for using Kenya to prepare me for Atlanta!"

I'm slowly getting settled and adjusted to my new surroundings. Already, though, I've found myself getting caught up in the busy-ness of things I "need" to do, and putting other things before my time with the Lord. I don't want to settle for this; I can't. Thank you for being faithful, God, even when I'm not.

The Journey Begins

I spent my first night in Georgia last night. So far, so good!! haha!
Seriously, I arrived in Sugar Hill about an hour before Hurricane Dennis did. My new housemate, Lisa, was waiting (and excited!). She's a neat lady, and I think we're going to get along well. Erin is going to be here and move in next weekend.

Yes, LORD, walking in the way of your laws, we wait for you; your name and renown are the desire of our hearts. Isaiah 26:8

I went to Clearwater Community Church in Birmingham yesterday with Tommy, and the pastor referenced this verse. It was already underlined in my bible, but it fits me so perfectly right now. I want to commit to walk in the Lord and wait for Him these next few months, and His name and renown are the desire of my heart. Pray that I will glorify Him in all I say and do.

In Transition

I'm home in Louisiana now (listening to the report of Tropical Storm Cindy at the moment).
It was hard saying goodbye to Texas, my home for the past two years, but I'm so excited about what the future holds. My family had a great reunion this past weekend! It was fun seeing everyone and just relaxing in the lake. Now I'm at my parent's house for a few days, spending some time here with them before I take off to "Hot-lanta". It's been good so far.
I'm ready to see what's around the next turn in this journey... what kind of job will I find? who will be my friends? what is God going to teach me? As I've thought back on my time in Kenya as I recounted the trip to my family, over and over I've seen just how faithful God was.
The power just went out, so I need to post this and shut down the computer. Welcome, Cindy!!
(ps- Happy Birthday Dad- I love you!!)

3 days til takeoff...

I went to the Rangers game tonight with some friends... sort of a going-away party, of sorts. It was fun hanging out with everyone "one last time".
This morning it hit me that I'm leaving Fort Worth in three days. Wow. I'm so ready, but then again, not really. I've been thinking a lot about the past two years that I've spent here... places I spent time, people I built relationships with, all that sappy sentimental stuff. It's been good to reflect though. I did a lot of things wrong and a lot of things right. No regrets here. It has been an incredible, unforgettable time where I have learned and gained so much.
I'm going to miss ya'll

The beginning of the end (of this chapter)

Today was my last sunday at deer creek... I love that church! It's been so good to be a part of that community for the past year. I had the opportunity to speak this morning and share what God did in and through me while I was in Kenya. We sang this song, and it describes my heart so perfectly right now. (The picture is Ellie, me, Suzanne, Becky, and Lily- the girls from my Life Group.... we miss you Susan and Riley!!)

To the Ends of the Earth --
Hillsong Music Australia
Love unfailing, Overtaking my heart
You take me in
Finding peace again, Fear is lost in all You are
And I would give the world to tell You're story
Cause I know that You've called me, I know that You've called me
I've lost myself for good within Your promise
I won't hide it- I won't hide it
Jesus, I believe in You And I would go to the ends of the earth,
To the ends of the earth, For You alone are the Son of God
And all the world will see That You are God You are God.

It's sad that the goodbyes are already beginning, but I'm so excited about all that is to come. I have no idea what God has in store for me, except that He's promised that it's better than anything I can imagine.

Refine me, Lord, and make me useful.

Trial run

I have no idea what exactly I'm doing right now. Jason told me tonight, "you need to get a blog." I've looked at a couple of friends' and it looks like a cool way to let people know what's up with me, but I should have titled my page "Technological Idiot" because, like I said, I have no clue what I'm doing.