Here's To Tomorrow...

(Thanks for the memories!)

The path of 2007 has been a challenging - often painful - part of the journey, and few understand this like "The Real Staff Wives of Orange County": the pastor's wives at C3 Church. These, my sisters, know what the past year has been - for me, for themselves, their husbands, friends, and for the church.

Amanda, Andrea, and Sandi are the "Real Staff Wives of Orange County", but they are not defined by their position, who their husbands are, how "well" they perform, what others say about them...etc. They are defined by "whose" they are - THEY ARE HIS: Christ followers with a passion for others to know Him.

It is because they know whose (and whom) they are that they can love with abandon, give 'til they feel it, lose and not look back, and be...really be barbaric in their spreading of grace.

I love these "graceful barbarians", and I thank them for their patience, their sacrifice, their endurance, their support...and for their love, in return.

Sandi, Andrea, and Amanda:
You rock! Thanks for being warriors on this path of peace - I wouldn't trade you for anything.

Here's to 2008 - It's gonna be a crazy-great ride. Thanks for being in it with me.

Love, Angie

Sunday Blog Banter

This has been the slowest Christmas season ever for me at work. I have worked in retail my whole life and have never been this bored at work during the holiday season. Well that all changed Friday and Saturday. It was as if a whirlwind of shoppers overtook Bloomingdales and specifically the YSL cosmetic counter! At one point Saturday I did in one hour the business I can do in a whole day... a busy day at that!

Saturday night my mom's community group came over after I got off of work for a Christmas party at our house. My mom has some really cool people in there. We had a lot of fun and I really enjoyed having them over. It's always a wonderful thing in my world to get to know people better. We talked about everything! I can't even recap because it literally was just about everything! I love having people over and I wish I could more often.

My mother-in-law is in North Carolina for the holidays. Darrell and I have the house to ourselves for the first time since we've lived here. We moved in April and between my sister and nephew living with us at one point and then moving her in it has been exciting in the Loper household. Quite frankly, I love them all dearly but I'm ecstatic the house is empty right now because we all need a break! I love that it is just the two of us for a couple of weeks.

I'm soooo excited to be moving to the theaters in three weeks. I can't believe it's almost here! What an amazing place for us to be to reach out to our community! I can't wait to see the main worship area and Powerhouse. I sing in Powerhouse and from what I understand the theater is going to really be crazy fun for the kids! I went to the children's ministry lunch today after service and I was so impressed with all of the volunteers who were there to serve in children's ministry. I'm so proud of what God is doing at C3! Darrell and I are pumped about all of those who have stepped up to serve in Connections as well. The curb to curb experience it so important and I'm anxious to hear and see what God is going to do through your smiling faces and warm receptions. There are so many vital areas God will use you in when you are just willing. I love the willingness of my C3 family! God will bless that more than any of us even know!

Well I'm gonna get a little shut eye before I head off on my hot date with my hot man! Have a great week and BTW check out the new C3 women's blog ... I can't wait to read some more great, encouraging blogs!

Exhaustion

Today was a lot of fun. Exhausting but fun. Here's a recap.
Woke up.
Read.
Watched "The Price Is Right"... loving Drew Carey, he's a lot nicer to the contestants.
Read some more.
Hayden came over.
Talked to Amanda.
Amanda and Leigh Ann came over.
Went to lunch with them and baby Jackson.
Headed to pick up Ansley with Amanda at her school.
Took Ansley back to my house to play with Hayden for the day.
Decided to take Ansley and Hayden to Chuck E. Cheese.
Spent hours at Chuck E. Cheese.
Mastered "Skee Ball."
Went next door to Petland.
Played with a cute puppy that loved to bite. The kids got scared.
Went through McDonald's drive through for ice cream sundaes.
Drove home.
Layed kids down at 4:30 attempting a nap.
Ansley went home.
Watched Spongebob with Hayden. I love Spongebob.
Gave Hayden a bath.
Hayden went home.
Cleaned downstairs.
Now here I am with my love D-Lo and the computer.
I love kids but they wear me out! It was fun being the cool aunt today. It was also great spending some time with good friends. Today was wonderfully tiring!

Life in the Gutter

I just finished reading "The Gutter: Where Life Is Meant To Be Lived" by Craig Gross. He is the co-founder of XXXChurch.com. This book talks about how Jesus lived a life of meeting people in their deep, dark places and how we as Christ-followers are called to do the same. It is thought provoking and insightful. I wanted to share some quotes that really stuck out to me.

-Those who are most opposed to the gutter are those who have been there the least.

-The gutter is the place where the "least of them" live. *Matthew 25:45

-If Christians would stop being scared of the world-or the gutter-I think most of them would find out for themselves that it is definitely not the place they want to be. It a change of perception I wish more people would adopt: to focus more on the great life we have in Christ than on the fleeting lures of the gutter. The more afraid we are of the gutter, the larger it looms and the more tempting it becomes.

-When you look at the way Jesus and the things He did, the way He brought light to darkness, you can plainly see we have nothing to be scared of.

-God did not create you to be a scared, irrelevant Christian.

-If you go to the gutter you have to be willing to stay in the gutter. Our Christian mentality is to visit the gutter over spring break or during a summer missions trip.

-Don't blame the dark for being dark. Blame the light for not shining on the dark.

-Jesus was a genuine lover of people, and everyone flocked to Him because He met needs, not because He preached about the kingdom of heaven. He met needs first as a practical way of showing that He loved people, then He got into the meatier theological issues.

-Whom are we fighting? Are we fighting to win the world to Christ? Or are we just fighting among ourselves in church? Are we too much about getting fed and too little about exercising our faith? Yes, we keep fighting the good fight, but must we fight our brothers and sisters in Christ? No one wins that way. Why can't we all put our focus on the lost, those living in the dark places, the "whosoevers" that are so close to Christ's heart?

-Where darkness abounds, love is brighter.

And... this was the most mind boggling to me.

-The unchurched embraced Him (Jesus) then, but they don't now. So when did this spiritual reversal occur? When did the "lost" change their position? They didn't. We did. Christians did. Somewhere between the time Jesus ascended into heaven and now, we Christians, the walking billboards for Jesus' life-changing power, have done a lousy job of maintaining His momentum. Those who despise Him shifted too. The religious who once hated Him now advertise for Him. The lost who once hung out with Him now refuse to acknowledge Him and it is all because Christians changed. God didn't change. Jesus didn't change. His people did. At one point, the God who embraced the gutter was well represented. Jesus walked the streets and took an authentic love with Him-all the way to the gutter. Wherever He went, the unchurched responded while the religious scorned. Fast forward two thousand years and now the reverse is true.

The gutter is different for everyone. God calls us each to accomplish a specific purpose. Where is your gutter? Who are those you need to reach out to in their deep, dark place? I'm challenged by this.

A Triggered Life

It is the tendency of most people to want to surround themselves with friends who lift each other up. I'm not any different. As I go through each day I find myself drawn to those that engage in a lifestyle of encouragement. It sustains me. It is God encouraging me through those people. It is my heart's desire to be that person to others as well. My life is not my own. It is God's. I am to be an extension of His love and encouragement. I am reminded in my relationships that I have choices to make everyday. I choose if I'm going to surround myself with those who lift up or those who tear down. I choose if I'm going to press forward or if I'm going to sit and sulk. I choose if I'm going to live in self motivation or if I'm going to focus on others. I choose if I'm going to make Christ my Master or if I'm going to allow circumstances to rule my thoughts. I'm on a journey to be cheerful no matter what. When I choose to have dialog with God in every area of my life I've found that it really does make it possible to live in a cheerful and encouraging manner. He gives me the hope I need no matter what.

I've been praying a lot about some very specific areas in my life lately. I'm excited that I have the promise that God will make everything holy and whole. I know His plan is perfect. I'm refreshed with the people He's put in my life to encourage me in this. I see those in my life now doing amazing things for His glory. I'm encouraged by the selflessness. As I strive to seek Him more the "freeloaders" are finding their ways out of my life making room for the ones who truly need to know His love. The exhausted, the ones who need to be pulled to their feet... the stragglers. The ones who come with nothing and end up with everything as they find their way towards the One who completes us. It is those who are new in their walk with Christ that teach me the most at times. I'm affected by the change, the love, the hope, the journey. I'm challenged by the selflessness. The reflection of God in their lives is like food for my soul. It spurs me on to choose the things that really matter in my life. It releases me from my "freeloader" mentality. The attitude of how everything revolves around me. The attitude of "I've done this... I deserve this." The reminder is clear when I look into the eyes of my friends who have found Christ in circumstances I don't really know if I could have handled in my own life. I've done nothing and I deserve nothing. It is only by God's barbaric grace that I have everything I could possibly ever want or need. This is the encouragement. This is the hope.

My heart is full of gratitude. It beats for those who have a lifestyle of encouragement. It pushes me to encourage as well. My grateful heart presses me to come along side those who are seeking hope. I know the way of hope because I live in that hope. We are the vessels God uses to show others His light. I breathe my next breath living a triggered life. Triggered by the death and ressurection of Jesus. Triggered by His love for me. This life I have is not about MY pain, MY sufferings, MY desires, MY knowledge, MY works, MY whatever. It is about MY God and MY influence for Him to OTHERS. I must choose today to use my influence to be an encouragement. I also want to thank you for yours. No one must be left out. No one left behind.

1 Thessolonians 5:4-24
4 -8But friends, you're not in the dark, so how could you be taken off guard by any of this? You're sons of Light, daughters of Day. We live under wide open skies and know where we stand. So let's not sleepwalk through life like those others. Let's keep our eyes open and be smart. People sleep at night and get drunk at night. But not us! Since we're creatures of Day, let's act like it. Walk out into the daylight sober, dressed up in faith, love, and the hope of salvation.

9 -11God didn't set us up for an angry rejection but for salvation by our Master, Jesus Christ. He died for us, a death that triggered life. Whether we're awake with the living or asleep with the dead, we're alive with him! So speak encouraging words to one another. Build up hope so you'll all be together in this, no one left out, no one left behind. I know you're already doing this; just keep on doing it.

12 -13And now, friends, we ask you to honor those leaders who work so hard for you, who have been given the responsibility of urging and guiding you along in your obedience. Overwhelm them with appreciation and love!

13 -15Get along among yourselves, each of you doing your part. Our counsel is that you warn the freeloaders to get a move on. Gently encourage the stragglers, and reach out for the exhausted, pulling them to their feet. Be patient with each person, attentive to individual needs. And be careful that when you get on each other's nerves you don't snap at each other. Look for the best in each other, and always do your best to bring it out.

16 -18Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live.

19 -22Don't suppress the Spirit, and don't stifle those who have a word from the Master. On the other hand, don't be gullible. Check out everything, and keep only what's good. Throw out anything tainted with evil.

23 -24May God himself, the God who makes everything holy and whole, make you holy and whole, put you together—spirit, soul, and body—and keep you fit for the coming of our Master, Jesus Christ. The One who called you is completely dependable. If he said it, he'll do it!

A Delicate Weave

A couple of blogs back I told you about my friend Miss Amy. Today was the day I brought her the peaches. Something divine happened. There was a knock on her door. Miss Amy asked me to get it... so I did. There were 2 pastors from another church in our community there. One of them I know very well. He is an older gentleman that pastors a senior adult ministry. He's known me and my family since I was 2 years old. Imagine the stories he has about me! I love this man and his family very much. He truly has a heart for the seniors in our community and works his tail off to reach just one more. He serves in a very different church environment than ours at C3 but he is flat out getting it done for Christ in his community. He told me that he met Miss Amy just recently and that she had just prayed to receive Christ. I was almost in tears! This is what ministry is all about! I knew God had put Miss Amy in my life for a reason and today it all became clear. I may not have been there when she prayed her prayer of faith but I know God has used me to plant some seeds of love. Furthermore her nurse told us that right before Bill got really sick he gave his life to Christ as well. Her nurse is a Christ-follower and led Bill to the Lord. I am so thankful for these people in Miss Amy's life. These are the moments where life really matters. God places us around certain people for a very specific purpose. We all have different stories and different backgrounds. God uses many methods to reach those around us. I'm so grateful for the methods of C3. We are tirelessly devoted. I'm also grateful for the methods of my pastor friend and Miss Amy's nurse. It was a delicate weave that God knit together to bring Miss Amy to a relationship with Him. I love Miss Amy and I know that she would NEVER feel comfortable with the worship environment at C3 as an 89 year old woman. That's okay! I'm not insulted. My immediate circle of unchurched friends would probably NEVER feel comfortable in the worship environment of traditional churches. That okay too! We all serve a purpose for those who need hope. Thank you for your prayers for Miss Amy... God really does answer. His will is to always answer in a way that brings us together not tears us apart. This is something I've always known but needed to be reminded of.

My Dwelling Place

When I'm in a funk I try to focus on the things that make me happy. I had some funky moments this week and here are some of the things that I've been dwelling on to make me smile. No more funk for me.

-seeing people out with their C3 shirts on
-my own stupid jokes that only I laugh at
-obscenely bright nail polish and lipstick colors
-vivid color in general
-reading my bible and the words hitting me right when and where I need it
-an encouraging word
-climbing into bed right after putting clean sheets on it
-Darrell rubbing what I consider my pudgy belly and telling me he loves it... or when he tells me he loves it and lays his head on it
-fabulous shoes/handbags
-a good read
-makeup... lots and lots of makeup!
-having a great meal and discussion with friends... hence, the pudgy belly
-seeing friends I've invited in church... regularly
-spontaneous silliness
-an awesome day after a crappy one
-laughing so hard it hurts
-hearing about my nephew Hayden's day
-getting ManPed's (manicure/pedicures)
-having code words for things... such as ManPed's
-getting my hair done
-my "CU AT C3" custom license plate on my car
-Madea
-having a weekend off from work
-sleeping in
-smokey eye makeup
-a smile from a stranger
-feeling safe with someone
-HGTV... particularly "Divine Design" and "Deserving Design"
-houndstooth print
-my friend's artwork
-hanging out with my mama and sisters (I don't do this enough)
-dancing a night away
-reconnecting with an old friend
-telling people the stupid things I did when I was younger to get a reaction
-Powerhouse kids
-teasing my mother-in-law
-our Sunday night dinners with Dan and Sally
-cruises
-C3 on Sunday
-making new friends
-talking to my dad on a good day
-seeing someones life change after meeting Christ
-the way the red candles smell from Pier One
-great design
-a fresh perspective
-singing in my car
-setting goals and meeting them
-C3 in the community
-Johnny and Jayde in the morning on XL 106.7 while driving to work
-knowing when someone says they'll pray for me they really will
-Darrell's new faux hawk
-going to Chuck E. Cheese with Hayden
-young adults home team
-C3's future

Six Days of Bliss

I will be off from work for the next six days. I'm so excited because I just worked a long stretch of days to get here. It is nice to just rest. I've scheduled nothing but I am up for anything. I want to be spontaneous and available. Here is a general idea of some things I may be participating in.

-Cleaning and laundry
-Hang out with my hubby
-Spend time with my family
-Catch up with friends
-Head up to Universal to buy some tickets at Hard Rock
-Sleep a lot
-Go get a ManPed (what my sister's and I call Manicure/Pedicures)
-See a movie with my mother-in-law
-Contact some of my clients (my freelance work)
-Go to the Yves Saint Laurent company warehouse and trade some labor to get new FREE makeup (I love my boss... she hooks me up!)
-Set up a photo shoot to update my portfolio
-Finish reading Mark, move on to Luke in my bible... reading in general
-Go to church on Sunday (I'm so excited about the new series, "Dirty Little Secrets")and have lunch with my FOUR friends that will be coming for the first time!
-Watch some Tyler Perry/Madea stuff... the best plays and movies ever!
-Sleep a lot
-Update my facebook
-Blog
-Surround myself with positive, uplifting people, things, and activities
-Visit my friend Miss Amy
-Sleep a lot
-Force myself into the gym
-Look into trading in my car if I can get a deal
-Strategize my future goals
-Love my time and enjoy every minute
-The thing I'm most excited about... CU at C3!

I'm ready... let the fun begin. I just hope it doesn't fly by too quickly!

What I've Done

I'm forgiving what I've done.
Now what will I do?
Deuteronomy 15:10
Give freely and spontaneously. Don't have a stingy heart. The way you handle matters like this triggers God, your God's, blessing in everything you do, all your work and ventures. There are always going to be poor and needy people among you. So I command you: Always be generous, open purse and hands, give to your neighbors in trouble, your poor and hurting neighbors

Glossy Images

More and more I'm realizing that there is one huge danger that sticks out in my mind that relates to people who have been Christians a while. I have been guilty of it myself. I'm challenged by it everyday. I'll tell you what I think it is later but first I want to share a story with you.

There is this girl I know. She's the outgoing, up for anything, always wanting to make others happy type. Despite her joy she lives with a continuous sorrow. You see, the joy she has now comes from her faith in Christ but there is a life before that faith. The sorrow comes from those in her life who haven't experienced the same joy she has yet. Allow me to elaborate.

My friend grew up in a home where she knew both of her parents loved her. She also knew that her dad was an alcoholic. Because of the addiction in his life her dad was incapable of being the husband and father he needed to be. She knew of his late nights out, or nights away. She knew of his infidelities and flirtations. She knew... and what she knew hurt. She longed for him to have the faith in Christ he spoke of in church with his Sunday School class or as a deacon. She longed for him to cry out to God the way she saw her mother do it. She longed, and she prayed, and she screamed, and she cried. The message he spoke of with his mouth he knew in his mind but it had no meaning in his heart. This was all very confusing to my friend. Her dad was very harsh and critical towards other "sinners." Harshest to the ones who dealt with the sins he loathed secretly in himself. She didn't understand why he was so aggressive towards others when he was tearing her family apart with his actions. My friend dealt with huge insecurities because of this. Mostly with guys and trust. Her trust was broken again and again and again with guys in her life as she grew older. But God had plans for her. He pulled her from a life that could have ended in pain and destruction and set her on a path of genuinely knowing Him. She met the one, true God. The one her mother cried and clung to. Not the image of Him painted with empty words and fruitless actions. God now continues to place people in her life that have similar struggles. She prays that God will use her life to affect others. My friend still prays for her dad. She still cries out to God for Him. She still has a place of grieving for him. But she has hope.

My friend... is me.

The danger that we face as Christ followers is forgetting what God saved us from. We should not dwell in our pasts but we must learn from it. It is very safe to surround ourselves with people who look like us, talk like us, and act like us but that is not what Jesus did. Jesus was perfect... who would he have hung out with when he came to earth? He was purposeful in being a friend to the sinners. That bears repeating. Jesus was purposeful in being a friend to the sinners.

It is so easy to criticize others. Usually the things we criticize the most are the things we struggle with in ourselves. I do it. I violently twitch inside when someone does something around me that I know I deal with in myself. I want to remember the things Christ has accomplished in me. I need to be reminded of His grace. If I forget the grace He's shown me then how can I be willing to tell others about it? If I forget His grace then how can I extend it to others? I don't want to live a life of glossy images and rose colored scenarios. God allowed me to face the trials in my life to glorify Him. I want my life to be a real example... not a fairy tale version of whatever I make it out to be. I love when my sister says, "don't be a stoner." I don't want to throw the stones of inadequacy at someone because they sure hurt when they are thrown at me. I ask God to never let me forget grace because people's lives are too valuable. My daddy's life is too valuable.

Ephesians 2
7 -10Now God has us where he wants us, with all the time in this world and the next to shower grace and kindness upon us in Christ Jesus. Saving is all his idea, and all his work. All we do is trust him enough to let him do it. It's God's gift from start to finish! We don't play the major role. If we did, we'd probably go around bragging that we'd done the whole thing! No, we neither make nor save ourselves. God does both the making and saving. He creates each of us by Christ Jesus to join him in the work he does, the good work he has gotten ready for us to do, work we had better be doing.

The Full Circle Friendship

I have an uncanny ability to pick up right where I left off. It's really weird actually. When I am holding a conversation with someone and the subject moves on to something different I can get back to the original conversation like nothing happened in between. I just like the idea of completing the thought process. I picked up where I left off in another way this week.

A couple of years ago I worked at Saks Fifth Avenue. I had a friend there that I instantly bonded with. She was artistic, crazy, quirky, fun, energetic, and very comfortable in her own skin. She was also a pale skinned tanorexic, dark haired chica like myself. We just got each other. The last day I ever saw her was August 9, 2003, the day I got married. That same week while Darrell and I went on our honeymoon she moved to Indiana. We stayed in touch for a while but we eventually lost touch. I have always had her on my heart and secretly hoped she'd reappear. This week we have officially picked up where we left off. She called me a couple of weeks ago to tell me that she went through a very difficult period in her life and needed to move back to Orlando. She was wondering if I could help her get a job quickly. I was more than happy to grant her that favor. She officially started working with me this week and my boss asked me to train her so we've been able to spend a lot of time together. I feel like she never left. We were laughing today about some of the memories we have together and she confirmed my feeling as well. She said to me, "laughing about that makes me feel like I never left." I love that. In that moment it was as if August 2003 just picked up again in September 2007 with no lapse in between. This blesses me beyond words.

If this type of full circle friendship can continue with us imagine what God is capable of. I've had lapses in my life when my relationship and friendship with Him has not been maintained. I missed my time connecting with Him. I felt guilty for not reading my bible like I should or talking to Him regularly. I now realize that He is waiting in anticipation for me to contribute to our relationship again during those times. I think God just wants to hang out with me. He wants to be the friend that sticks closer than a brother to me. He wants to do life with me. I'm so amazed that He wants to know me through everything. The joys, the sorrows, the ups, the downs. He is my rock and my salvation. He is the ultimate friend and I'm so glad I can live in the assurance that He will never leave me. He waits for me. Be encouraged that He waits for you to. If you've had a season of wondering He anticipates picking up where you left off. God is love.

The Day the World Changed

It is unbelievable to me that it has been six years since the tragedy of 9/11. It is one of those days that is imprinted on my heart and mind for life. I remember exactly where I was when I found out about the first World Trade Center being attacked. In my safe, naive, American world I knew it had to have been an accident... and then the other building... gone. My image that I had held onto my whole life of a secure, idealistic, United States changed in an instant. I never knew of such hate before. I had lived almost a quarter of a century on that day and I had never once thought about terrorism. HUGE reality check. This was a pure moment. A moment where I truly had to think about others before myself. I always thought I was socially aware and conscious of others but we live in a nation of privilege and security. Our security had been threatened and there was a loss and grief beyond the comprehension of words or feelings... so what happened next?

The thing that compels me most when I remember the circumstances surrounding 9/11 is the unity and LOVE that brought all of us together. In an instant we all came together as Americans and just loved one another. As I watched the continuing coverage on the news I grieved with those who lost loved ones, I prayed for the heroes and leaders in charge, I loved and I watched everyone else love. I saw every backgroud come together and lift each other up. We embraced those we never knew. We cried alongside of our neighbor. We all felt the need for each other... no life was taken for granted. I sometimes wonder when the switch flipped back again. When did life just casually slip back to the way it used to be? When did we all start taking life and love for granted again? I am just as guilty of taking these things for granted but I pray that the lessons of 9/11 will remain with me forever. I grieve for the loss of the husband, wives, mothers, sisters, brothers. I pray for our leaders and civic heroes. I just want to love. After all it is only love that will overpower the hate. Love like you mean it and never forget!

Mi Familia Loca

I had the privilege of spending the day with my crazy Colombian family. Darrell and I went over to my uncle's house for a Labor Day barbecue and we had a great time. Let me take you there.
Setting: My uncle and aunt's house with a newly broken A/C. We hung out in their new sun porch though. It overlooks the lake in their backyard so it was breezy and beautiful.
In Attendance: Five out of six of my mother's siblings, their spouses, and children. Darrell, myself, my mother-in-law, my sisters Brittney and Cassie, Brittney's boyfriend Eric, my nephew Hayden, my grandmother and some friends of my aunt and uncle with their child as well, and a partridge in a pear tree.
Food: Hamburgers, hot dogs, ribs, and veggie burgers (I have a large vegan/vegetarian population within my family... they are converting more and more by each passing year.) We also had salad and baked beans... oh, and cake. Typical barbecue dining.
Ambiance: A lot of joking around and cutting up. Football was discussed on more than one occasion and there were many cuts made on other's teams. I caught up with my cousin Aislinn, who is a senior in high school. I had to get the dish on what's been going down in her life. It's all good. We danced to really, really, really loud salsa, merengue, and pop music. (This is always my favorite part of any family gathering. I love to dance and I love that everyone in my family loves to dance because they all do it so well... I get it from my mama!)
I love my fun family and the time I get to spend with them. It seems like we only get together with my extended family on the major holidays like Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter. I'm thankful for the bonus family day today!

All things work together....

I had a bad day yesterday. It seemed that everything that could go wrong did. It started the night before. I drank a mountain dew which is the root of all evil. If I drink one of those I'm doomed when it's time for me to sleep. So, needless to say, the last time I remember looking at the clock it was 3:00 am. Due to my lack of sleep I started feeling really sick. I came home from work and crashed the second I hit my bed. There was a bunch of junk that happened while I was working to enhance my crappy mood. I was trying to pull myself together so I wouldn't effect anyone else with my irritations. Nothing major happened to put me in a funk but a bunch of little things were getting under my skin. Then I started thinking...

Romans 8:26-28:

26 And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. 27 And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers[a] in harmony with God’s own will. 28 And we know that God causes everything to work together[b] for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.

I started thinking about all the times in my life when MAJOR disappointments had happened and how God miraculously made the circumstances benefit my life and growth in it. If He can do it with the big things He can certainly turn my bad day full of little annoying circumstances around to something good. I love that verse 28 says "everything" ... even the little things will work out. God has my bad day under control.

Sandi - Revisited

Since Sandi has been "out of pocket" for quite a while, here's some of her best stuff to remind us to be grateful that we are free...FREE TO BE C3!:

"Freedom. It's something we're all thankful for but often take for granted. Today is a day for us to reflect and thank God for our freedom.

As I was thinking about how thankful I am to live in a free country, I began to think about our awesome church. Freedom doesn't come without a cost and our freedom to be the church that God called us to be also did not come without a cost. We've had to fight for our freedom and there was great pain and suffering and some casualties along the way. However, there are no longer people coming through our doors day after day who want to destroy God's work at C3.

We are finally free to be the C3 church that God want us to be. Free to worship God the C3 way. Free to reach people of all races for Christ. Free to follow the vision that God has given our pastors. Freedom feels good and it is worth the price we paid."

Thanks, Sandi, for reminding us that when life-change is at stake, no price is too high. It's awesome, and...

IT'S SO C3!

Bounce House Fun

We went to IPEZ today with some good friends. This place was AWESOME! It had at least 7 bounce houses. We were there for 2 hours...Emma and Ansley had a blast! This is my kind of summer fun...in the A/C!

I love watching the girls play and interact with other kids. On the way there, Ansley (3 yrs. old) asked me if there were going to be kids there that she didn't know. I told here that there probably would be lots of kids she didn't know. She said, "Yeah! I can make a new friend." About an hour into her bouncing adventures, I glanced over and saw that she had a little boy (probably 4 or 5 years old) in a headlock...not exactly my idea of "making a new friend". By the time I walked over to her, she had released her victim. I asked her to walk over to me (I had Jackson in his snugli, so I couldn't go inside the bounce house). I asked her why she was trying to hurt the little boy and she replied, "He is sceh-wing the little gulls and I didn't want him to." (Interpretation: "He is scaring the little girls...) I proceeded to explain to her why it's not okay to hurt kids just because you don't like what they're doing.

Sometimes in life, I want to put others in a proverbial headlock. God has to remind me that, just like I told Ansley, it's not okay to hurt others just because I don't like what they're doing. Matthew 5:44..."love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you..." That's a lot easier to say than do.

I have to admit that I thought what Ansley said was pretty funny. And I was proud of my little girl for standing up for herself and for her fellow female bouncers. (My friend Heather said that at least she knows that Ansley can protect Kelsea if the need ever presents itself!) Hopefully next time she finds herself in this situation, she can "turn the other cheek", but then again she's only 3. I'm 31 and haven't mastered it yet...

Blogging on the go...

Amanda, you are a blogging goddess! I've been reading on my blackberry - and I am currently writing this on said blackberry - I also caught Andrea up by reading blogs to her on our way to Wal-mart to buy supplies (more about that later). She truly has had no access to a computer, and I have had very little other than my phone - so ya'll keep the home-fires burning... We miss ya'll and love reading the blogs even if it's difficult to write one ourselves. Keep the peace! Angie.

The Devil is Real

Today Byron's sermon was titled "The Devil Is Real". There were several things that challenged me this morning. I have to make a conscious effort to make every second of my life count. In the one hour that I was at church this morning, I was focused on worshipping. However, that is ONE hour of my week. When I am not making an effort to be focused on God and the things of God, that is when Satan will tempt me and try to make me fail at living a Christ-centered life. Satan is very real and he is my enemy and anyone else's enemy who claims to be a Christ-follower.

An area in my life that I have really been struggling with this lately is anger. I have come to realize that it is not other people who are the enemy--it is Satan who is the enemy! He loves the fact that I can get so worked up about how someone has hurt me or my church. A lot of times I try to justify my anger in my mind and say, it's okay to be mad--look at what that person said or look at how that person treated me.

When I spend my time being angry or bitter, Satan is getting all of the glory. He has the victory. I am making a conscious effort this week to NOT waste my time on things that are not God-honoring.

*I will not waste my time being angry. Instead I will pray for those who hurt me. I will love them.

*I will not waste my time feeling sorry for myself. Instead I will count my blessings.

*I will not waste my time gossipping or talking negatively about others. Instead I will encourage those around me.

*I will not waste my time being frustrated with my kids or husband about little things that don't really matter. Instead I will praise them and appreciate the little things they do.

*I will not waste my time watching mindless t.v. (Except for maybe "So You Think You Can Dance").

I WILL make a conscious effort to live a life that honors Christ!

Dentists and Ministry

Today I took my oldest daughter, Emma to the dentist. It was her first visit and she was surprisingly excited about it! She did very well and has no cavities. (Yeah!--She's got her daddy's teeth, hopefully his vision, also!)

Going to the dentist is one of my least favorite places to go. Not because I don't like my dentist, but because of the excruciating noises, the way that they expect you to carry on a conversation with 8 tools in your mouth, and the bad news that I usually receive before I leave. ("We need to schedule you for a root canal." or "You have 4 more crowns that need to be put on, when can we schedule you for your first one?" or "That will be $678.94.")

The visit that I have the worst memory of from the dentist was when I had a root canal a couple of years ago. For those of you who have never had a root canal, there is usually no way to avoid having one unless you want to live with the pain. I had to lay in a chair, fully awake, with my mouth wide open (yes, I know I have a large mouth, but it still hurt!) for approximately an hour and a half. I had medicine to numb my mouth, but I could hear every drill and scrape for the entire time, which was just as painful. The dentist asked me question after question and all I could do was grunt or (slightly) shake or nod my head.

This reminds me of being a pastor's wife. So often we are expected to act or talk a certain way. People (dentists) are watching us (asking us questions), waiting for us to mess up and so often we don't have the words or actions THEY want to hear or see. It's like we're talking with a mouth full of gauze...they can't understand what we are saying. It's painful to try to live up to other people's expectations of us. We want people to like us and not have unrealistic expectations of us.

God has taught me so much about this over the past year. It doesn't matter what other people expect from me! It doesn't matter that others want to see me act a certain way or say the "right" thing. God created me to be ME! He didn't create me to please everyone else. I live for an audience of ONE. I believe this has been a hard lesson for me to learn. I grew up as a pastor's daughter and ALWAYS did the right thing, not just because I didn't want to disappoint God, but because I didn't want to disappoint others or my parents.

I am so thankful that I don't have to pretend to be someone I am not. I am thankful that God has placed me in the ministry to serve alongside Barry, not to please others but to please HIM. I am so excited about what God has done and will continue to do in my life and in the lives of so many others at c3.

Next week I will go back to the dentist to get one more crown put on a tooth. There will probably be more unpleasant visits, just like there will be unpleasant times in life, being a pastor's wife. But just like my tooth will look and feel better after I get a crown, I will be a better person because of the struggles in ministry and in life!

"Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ." Galatians 1:9 - 10 (NIV)

Loving my teeth,
Amanda