HeLLLLLLo Lovaaaaaa!!

Spirit Stick....WHAT NOW

Oh Loper.......you make me chuckle.

Worth so much more...

In this fallen world, I truly believe that love is begging to be unleashed....a love that is supernatural, without limit, a love that perseveres even in the face of the deepest hatred, or the sharpest pain. A love that doesn't keep score. A love that is always there.

In this world, suffering and difficulty are certain. Friendship with God frees us from being limited by what we don't have, by what we are suffering, or by what we are enduring. Mature friendship with God brings us to the realization that our existence is so much bigger than our suffering or difficulty.

Jesus didn't come to offer us a free pass from this broken world, but instead a very real, very authentic relationship to walk with us through it.

I'm finding that the more I persevere, the more that friendship is worth an ounce of anything this world can offer me.

Jeremiah 17:5 & 7

My 2 new reads....

Anyone have any feedback you'd like to share??

Little Albany Texas

I love coming home to the quietness of my small one bedroom apartment, I guess that is if you can get past the hustle and bustle of the never resting highway no more than 30 yards from my front door. I love the ME time I get to take advantage of so often.

Tonight as I sat, my mind wandered into so many of my childhood years, most of which were spent with my grandparents in Albany TX, a town you've probably never heard of... you know...like the one's in all the sad country songs....and yes, everyone knew our names. My grandparents attended a small pentecostal church on the outside of town. Faithful to every service, my grandaddy was sure to remember that big black bible, the one with the initials "EBM" engraved into the side. Occasionally I would attend with him...that is until the time Sister Belinda forced me to sing Jesus Loves Me in front of the entire (17 people) service. After that, I checked out with the Penies... no thanks guys.

It was the story of my life.

I loved my grandparents probably more than I've ever loved anyone else in my life. I adored them in every way my small little childhood heart could. The point of my story isn't to reminisce something you could probably careless about, the point of my story is that I sat at home tonight with the realization that two of the people I cared most about in my life, two people that had the hope and love of Jesus Christ in their life, or even just the knowledge of those things, never once offered that to me. Never. Their life reflected actions of a religion, instead of a relationship. And now, it's nothing more than a sad story.

Do Work.

We had our usual Tuesday morning staff meeting this morning. Of course I would be the one that forgot about that email that was sent out last week about the meeting starting at 9:30 instead of 9. I cut off 5 people and ran a red light to get to the office. Don't judge me people, those are just the facts. I love our meetings though...I really do. Everyone rolls in, some you can tell have been awake for a couple of hours, others have obviously just rolled out of bed (me), and we get a chance to talk about everything going on in, not only our ministry as a whole, but our own personal ministry. I look forward to it.

Brian Harris, our Youth Pastor, challenged us to think about 3 questions this coming week and seriously consider the answers.

What has God taught me, or is still teaching me about:

1. Ministry
2. Myself
3. My relationship with Him

Reflection is totally something I believe is key. Looking into the past to better prepare yourself for the future. As a ministry, reflection is a great idea.

Brian also threw out two words that sum up so much of what we as a staff want to strive to be about. INFLUENCE & INVESTMENT. Love it. I'm kinda still chewing on what those words mean to me personally....maybe more to come on that later.

1 Cor. 11:1

Tara Layia

My Best Friend. Very few people in this world get to experience a TRUE best friend. I'm blessed to be able to say I'm one of them. The summer before our freshman year started a friendship that I couldn't be more thankful for. She's amazing, and I love her to death. So many memories, so many great stories, and the benefit of seeing each other through the ups and downs. She's the kind you keep around for a lifetime.

Keep on keepin' on

"Once we adopt a heart of sacrifice, everything else tends to fall into place."

"Keeping habitual sins secret reveals hearts that are more concerned about our image or reputation than about real obedience."

These two quotes stopped me in my tracks today. God is doing some amazing crazy things in my life right now....I wouldn't have it any other way. Even in loss and confusion, God continues to prove himself faithful in my life.

Psalm 32:8