Our pastor posted this short little summary of what we heard on the second Sunday of our World Passion Week. It was very convicting to me as I realized how little I'm really involved in God's Kingdom building business (that He is running 24 hours a day, every day).
I thought I would post the link to his little summary for you guys to read...Neil Tomba's Blog
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Please Pray
Friday night at the Bridge one of my friends Vanessa had a seizure and fell on the concrete sidewalk, splitting her head open.
She struggles with these seizures and this is a pretty normal occurrance for her. She also can't afford the medication and so she keeps getting hurt and taken to the hospital, only for them to bring her back and have it happen again in a week.
Everything inside of me keeps thinking, "THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN". It just shouldn't. She should not have no help with medication. Now, I want to also tell you that she has asked me for help paying for the medication, but when we offerred to pick it up from CVS, she just ripped up the prescription in anger because she didn't want to go to CVS. Vanessa also struggles with anger issues.
And as much as it's easy to judge her for acting with so much anger and we can also speculate as to why it upset her that we wouldn't give her cash and wanted to just get her the prescription, I still can't help but think, who GIVES a flip if she's got issues. I have issues. You have issues. And if it weren't for the grace of God...HIS grace ONLY...we might just be in her shoes too.
Vanessa knows she needs medication and has been asking for help. And all the bridge (the city run organization, not Our Calling, the organization I work with that helps at the bridge) can do is hold her bleeding head as she lays on the pavement seizing.
This morning I just cried for Vanessa in church.
I cried for her heart. For her salvation and her walk with the Lord.
I cried for her health. The pain and fear she was feeling on Friday night.
I cried because we rely on this city to heal her. I cried because politicians have decided that they should step in to help, because people are dying and no one else is helping.
I cried because the city and the politicians will NEVER solve this problem.
I cried because I finally realized that GOD is the only one who can fix this. And that maybe he's been wanting to use his church for a long time, but we're so busy in our own lives that we're missing the opportunity to ENGAGE in His Kingdom's work.
I cried because the resources to get her meds were in the same room that I was in at church this morning. I cried because not too many people know the hurts that go on just on the other side of downtown from where many people work every day.
I also cried in complete humility and awe of God's strength. I raised my hands in worship this morning laying all this down at God's feet admitting that "YOU are stronger". And I still am crying. I still am upset and overwhelmed with the pain in the world. I'm convicted as to the amount of time I engage in the FIGHT, that is currently going on, the war for souls. The one that God is constantly engaged in. He loves us and is fighting to bring more people to Himself. And satan is fighting too. This huge war we talk about so delicately at church is real. It's happening. So why aren't we mobilized? Why are we not engaged? Why are we not living our lives passionately for God's victory? Why have I not ebeen engaged in this war.
I've been so wrapped up in myself. In my work. In my home. In our lives.
Both Reed and I are realizing that we're in a war zone...and that we can pretend that God is all about comfort (seriously deluding ourselves from reality) or join the fight...kick it up a notch and choose to engage wholeheartedly with the Lord in His fight for the people of this world.
You are stronger!
You are stronger!
Sin is broken
You have saved me
It is written
Christ is risen
Jesus You are Lord of all
No beginning and no end
You're my hope and my defence
You came to seek and save the lost
You paid it all upon the cross
She struggles with these seizures and this is a pretty normal occurrance for her. She also can't afford the medication and so she keeps getting hurt and taken to the hospital, only for them to bring her back and have it happen again in a week.
Everything inside of me keeps thinking, "THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN". It just shouldn't. She should not have no help with medication. Now, I want to also tell you that she has asked me for help paying for the medication, but when we offerred to pick it up from CVS, she just ripped up the prescription in anger because she didn't want to go to CVS. Vanessa also struggles with anger issues.
And as much as it's easy to judge her for acting with so much anger and we can also speculate as to why it upset her that we wouldn't give her cash and wanted to just get her the prescription, I still can't help but think, who GIVES a flip if she's got issues. I have issues. You have issues. And if it weren't for the grace of God...HIS grace ONLY...we might just be in her shoes too.
Vanessa knows she needs medication and has been asking for help. And all the bridge (the city run organization, not Our Calling, the organization I work with that helps at the bridge) can do is hold her bleeding head as she lays on the pavement seizing.
This morning I just cried for Vanessa in church.
I cried for her heart. For her salvation and her walk with the Lord.
I cried for her health. The pain and fear she was feeling on Friday night.
I cried because we rely on this city to heal her. I cried because politicians have decided that they should step in to help, because people are dying and no one else is helping.
I cried because the city and the politicians will NEVER solve this problem.
I cried because I finally realized that GOD is the only one who can fix this. And that maybe he's been wanting to use his church for a long time, but we're so busy in our own lives that we're missing the opportunity to ENGAGE in His Kingdom's work.
I cried because the resources to get her meds were in the same room that I was in at church this morning. I cried because not too many people know the hurts that go on just on the other side of downtown from where many people work every day.
I also cried in complete humility and awe of God's strength. I raised my hands in worship this morning laying all this down at God's feet admitting that "YOU are stronger". And I still am crying. I still am upset and overwhelmed with the pain in the world. I'm convicted as to the amount of time I engage in the FIGHT, that is currently going on, the war for souls. The one that God is constantly engaged in. He loves us and is fighting to bring more people to Himself. And satan is fighting too. This huge war we talk about so delicately at church is real. It's happening. So why aren't we mobilized? Why are we not engaged? Why are we not living our lives passionately for God's victory? Why have I not ebeen engaged in this war.
I've been so wrapped up in myself. In my work. In my home. In our lives.
Both Reed and I are realizing that we're in a war zone...and that we can pretend that God is all about comfort (seriously deluding ourselves from reality) or join the fight...kick it up a notch and choose to engage wholeheartedly with the Lord in His fight for the people of this world.
You are stronger!
You are stronger!
Sin is broken
You have saved me
It is written
Christ is risen
Jesus You are Lord of all
No beginning and no end
You're my hope and my defence
You came to seek and save the lost
You paid it all upon the cross
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Hello Frasier
Meet Frasier...our new kitty!
He is 2 years old and loves to be pet! He just can't get enough. The picture above is us bonding with him at the shelter. Reed was the initial one to fall in love with Frasier when he realized the cat just LOVED to be rubbed and loved-on. He even let us pet his belly!
Well we adopted Frasier last Saturday and it has definitely been an adjustment. Not for us. For this poor kitty.
This is a picture of his current favorite spot in our apartment. Yes, that is a toilet.
From what I can tell, it's just going to take him a while to adjust to our home. I mean, he was in that shelter for a year and cats do not like change. Plus, he had a traumatic experience when we tried to get him in the adoption box at the shelter. He went wild and was in survival mode. Each day he gets better, but yesterday he accidentally pulled the shower curtain down and relapsed a couple days.
Poor kitty. He was truly traumatized...
BUT he still does love all the petting and loving and we're thinking that maybe give it another week and he'll leave the bathrooms :) hopefully :) Even if it takes a while, we still love this kitty, even to the point where we put our heads much closer to the toilet then we would EVER do for much longer periods of time than I would have EVER wanted before. He's just so cute when he purrs that we forget we're grossly close to the potty.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
"Raaaaaawwwrr" -Aslan
I've been reading lately.
I know...shocking, right?
Well it all started when I went to Tulsa for work and got delayed in the airport for 4 hours. I seriously didn't know what to do with myself and for being a person who likes to be constantly occupied and "busy", I knew watching the cnn news station on television (that I could barely hear, mind you) was not going to work for 4 hours.
So, I ran to one of those little "convenience" stores in the airports and bought a book called "Twenties Girl".
It is not a good book. I honestly didn't like it much at all.
BUT, I did like reading and I had to finish it because although I didn't really like the story, I still wanted to see how it ended.
I kept telling Reed that I couldn't wait to finish this awful book, which is funny looking back because I could have just stopped. But that is just not very 'me' like.
Anyways, after I finished and realized I was released from the bondage of the awful Twenties Girl, I moved on to a book (or books) that I knew I would enjoy....The Chronicles of Narnia!!!!
I just finished The Magician's Nephew cause Reed said it's cool to read them in the order that they happened...so in the whole scheme of the stories, this was the creation of Narnia. I'm loving reading every night and on nights where I know I should go to bed, I really am kind of sad. I didn't realize I was such a reader!
So my favorite thing in The Magician's Nephew:
Aslan singing Narnia into creation. I just love that :)
Hope everyone is having a happy Wednesday!!!
I know...shocking, right?
Well it all started when I went to Tulsa for work and got delayed in the airport for 4 hours. I seriously didn't know what to do with myself and for being a person who likes to be constantly occupied and "busy", I knew watching the cnn news station on television (that I could barely hear, mind you) was not going to work for 4 hours.
So, I ran to one of those little "convenience" stores in the airports and bought a book called "Twenties Girl".
It is not a good book. I honestly didn't like it much at all.
BUT, I did like reading and I had to finish it because although I didn't really like the story, I still wanted to see how it ended.
I kept telling Reed that I couldn't wait to finish this awful book, which is funny looking back because I could have just stopped. But that is just not very 'me' like.
Anyways, after I finished and realized I was released from the bondage of the awful Twenties Girl, I moved on to a book (or books) that I knew I would enjoy....The Chronicles of Narnia!!!!
I just finished The Magician's Nephew cause Reed said it's cool to read them in the order that they happened...so in the whole scheme of the stories, this was the creation of Narnia. I'm loving reading every night and on nights where I know I should go to bed, I really am kind of sad. I didn't realize I was such a reader!
So my favorite thing in The Magician's Nephew:
Aslan singing Narnia into creation. I just love that :)
Hope everyone is having a happy Wednesday!!!
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Reed's Birthday (a little Belated)
A couple of Sunday's ago was Reed's birthday and we headed up to his parent's new lake house to celebrate!
It was a TON of fun and we got to hang out with his friends and family and just relax. Reed is such a blessing to me and to his family at well. The night of his birthday I got to pray before dinner for him and here are a couple of things that I was and AM thankful for:
1. God putting Reed in this world
2. Reed's relaxed personality and the blessing it is to feel his peace
3. Reed's cute smile :) It warms my heart every day
4. Reed's patience...He is a truly patient man and puts up with my crying on his birthday weekend because I wasn't feeling good and had a bout of selfishness
5. His humility...He's humble in his leadership of our family
6. How he makes me laugh like crazy...if you were a fly following us around, you'd think we were crazy haha :) :)
Most of all, I love his heart for the Lord. I love that each day we grow closer and closer together. I love that each day he is learning and becoming more and more the man God has made him to be. I am so thankful that I have a partner in life who is chasing after the same thing I am. I am thankful that we have that accountability with each other and that we push each other on more and more to a passionate pursuit of the Lord and His kingdom.
I just love my Reedie :)
It was a TON of fun and we got to hang out with his friends and family and just relax. Reed is such a blessing to me and to his family at well. The night of his birthday I got to pray before dinner for him and here are a couple of things that I was and AM thankful for:
1. God putting Reed in this world
2. Reed's relaxed personality and the blessing it is to feel his peace
3. Reed's cute smile :) It warms my heart every day
4. Reed's patience...He is a truly patient man and puts up with my crying on his birthday weekend because I wasn't feeling good and had a bout of selfishness
5. His humility...He's humble in his leadership of our family
6. How he makes me laugh like crazy...if you were a fly following us around, you'd think we were crazy haha :) :)
Most of all, I love his heart for the Lord. I love that each day we grow closer and closer together. I love that each day he is learning and becoming more and more the man God has made him to be. I am so thankful that I have a partner in life who is chasing after the same thing I am. I am thankful that we have that accountability with each other and that we push each other on more and more to a passionate pursuit of the Lord and His kingdom.
I just love my Reedie :)
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Hullo!
I truly have had about 5 different times in the past week that I've though, "oh, I really need to blog about that!". Things like what Reed and I are up to, what's going on at the bridge, or how the diet is going....
But then I just don't.
So I thought I would give everyone a little preview of the blogging I'm going to be doing (and also write down the things I want to write about so that I will somewhat accountable to actually doing the blogging...hope that works)
1. Recent happenings at the bridge (read previous blog posts about the bridge here and here)
2. 10 months of being married to Reed!!! (last Tuesday)
3. Reed's birthday weekend! He's an old geezer (26) ;) just joshing
4. Cooking new recipes!
And finally, I have some maybe semi-big news...
We might, and I truly mean MIGHT, be getting a cat this Saturday!!!!!!!!!!! There is a whole story about how this even came up, because literally yesterday at 6, we were not even thinking about a cat, then at 6:30, we were considering it....
I'll leave you all in anticipation until we figure things out on Saturday!!
But then I just don't.
So I thought I would give everyone a little preview of the blogging I'm going to be doing (and also write down the things I want to write about so that I will somewhat accountable to actually doing the blogging...hope that works)
1. Recent happenings at the bridge (read previous blog posts about the bridge here and here)
2. 10 months of being married to Reed!!! (last Tuesday)
3. Reed's birthday weekend! He's an old geezer (26) ;) just joshing
4. Cooking new recipes!
And finally, I have some maybe semi-big news...
We might, and I truly mean MIGHT, be getting a cat this Saturday!!!!!!!!!!! There is a whole story about how this even came up, because literally yesterday at 6, we were not even thinking about a cat, then at 6:30, we were considering it....
I'll leave you all in anticipation until we figure things out on Saturday!!
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Prayer Request
This weekend is Easter weekend...the celebration of Christ taking on our sin, suffering to death and ultimately enduring the wrath of God for you and me.
This is love. That a perfect God would lay down His life for us.
Tomorrow night and throughout the weekend I believe, there will be events going on with Our Calling to minister to the homeless of Dallas. I know they are showing a video on Friday night (the time we normally go) and they have other various activities going on around there to share the gospel news to the downtrodden of Dallas.
I have a couple of prayer requests:
-They are in desperate need of volunteers. Reed and I are visiting my parents this weekend...but really whether we are there or not, God provides and I just ask that you pray for believers to step up and volunteer to share the good news of Christ Jesus.
-That hearts would be stirred for the Lord
-That God would be glorified in the activities of this weekend
-That impossible things would happen in Jesus' name
-That there would be healing for the hurt that will be there (healing from drug addictions, sexual abuse, physical abuse, and any other health problems)
-That the even those that are not easy to love, find the love of Christ
-Finally, that God's love would abound
Please pray and if you're in Dallas, consider helping out. The website for Our Calling is http://www.ourcalling.org/.
This is love. That a perfect God would lay down His life for us.
Tomorrow night and throughout the weekend I believe, there will be events going on with Our Calling to minister to the homeless of Dallas. I know they are showing a video on Friday night (the time we normally go) and they have other various activities going on around there to share the gospel news to the downtrodden of Dallas.
I have a couple of prayer requests:
-They are in desperate need of volunteers. Reed and I are visiting my parents this weekend...but really whether we are there or not, God provides and I just ask that you pray for believers to step up and volunteer to share the good news of Christ Jesus.
-That hearts would be stirred for the Lord
-That God would be glorified in the activities of this weekend
-That impossible things would happen in Jesus' name
-That there would be healing for the hurt that will be there (healing from drug addictions, sexual abuse, physical abuse, and any other health problems)
-That the even those that are not easy to love, find the love of Christ
-Finally, that God's love would abound
Please pray and if you're in Dallas, consider helping out. The website for Our Calling is http://www.ourcalling.org/.
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