Happy Thanksgiving!

Hey everyone! I just wanted to wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving, I know I don't get to "talk" to alot of people who read my blog (I hate that!), but I am so busy lately (no excuse-I know), but I love you all so much! I am looking forward to seeing my family this thursday (although I know it will be insane-as usual), I am actually cooking w/one of my sisters (scary!), I'm making my (infamous) deviled eggs, corn pudding, fruit salad, and something else-I'm excited, but by the end of the day I will probably be happy to get back to raleigh. I really want to make a random road trip to the mountains to take in all the gorgeous leaves changing! Anyone interested?

LOVE You Jesus.

Pretty crazy...

So, the morning after I got back from the Joyce conference I came down with a head cold (probably from going-going-going too much) and I haven’t kicked it yet :o( I felt bad for about 2 days and now it’s turned into just a cough-well, being a massage therapist and having a cough…let’s just say they do not mix, you can’t even sniff, let alone cough during a massage-it’s been torture. All that to say; God has really been “acting on my behalf” (1 Samuel 14:6) lately. Let me elaborate, on Friday morning I prayed over each of the clients I would work on for the day (like I always do)-knowing how bad I felt-I asked God for something “extra”, and let me tell you-each one of my 5 clients were overly happy w/their massages-knowing that I had not given my usual 95% :o), I realized that it could only be from One Source-you know it! So, I was truly thankful.

I was also thinking about this: how awesome it is for the Creator of the universe to actually desire to have a personal relationship w/me, to actually care about me enough to offer His help during my massages when I feel bad, Who cares about me, as an individual, a little old massage therapist in North Carolina. Geez…I don’t deserve it, really as frustrated at Him as I get sometimes?, He loves me, us, everyone, so much that it would blow our minds-I think-if we really knew how much. It’s almost too much for me to think about sometimes…almost.

Gimmie some more...

God…I love You so much. I love You more and more everyday. You are the most beautiful thing in my life. I am so thankful to know You and just be able to humbly worship You. Man…

I went to (sadly) my first Joyce Meyer conference in Atlanta, GA this weekend and wow…I guess it’s just really cool to be able to actually see someone you’ve admired and learned so much from. If I really went in to how much I appreciate Joyce-it would probably get boring (to you). All I can say is that through that conference I went to “the next level” with God (by the way I think there is an infinite # of these w/God). This largely had to do with the fact that Hillsong London (awesome!) lead worship, and me and my girls made SURE we were up close (and personal) to the stage (and yes we waited for 3 and ½ hours the first nite-see pic below). I had one goal in mind when I went to this conference-to experience MORE of God and just RECHARGE-both happened (Praise Be to You). I can’t even begin to describe how intense at one point it was for me, all I can say is that I want/crave/desire more and more and MORE of Him.

Some key points from my notes:

~Passion is not a feeling, it is a decision you make.

~What you do doesn't matter if you're heart and attitude aren't right.

~If you don't like your life today it's because of what you thought about yesterday.

~Make things that won't have significant impact on the Kingdom-less of a priority.

~"Break my heart with what breaks Yours"-Hillsong

~The right message at the right time can change a life for eternity.

~Sunday should be a celebration of how you lived the rest of the week-(PREACH it Joyce!)

~God doesn't like when you suffer for Him, He likes when you don't give up in the process.

~When things aren't convenient, look for a way to get creative.

~The only thing that you get credit for with God is your decisions.

~We're dead to sin (when we're born again), but sin never dies.

~Wisdom is to do now, what we'll be happy about later.

~Say out loud each day that you will do whatever you need to do to serve God (and you better have your mind made up).

~When you and God agree-there's no stopping you.

~"Steadfast"= outlasting the devil.

~Taking a good thing too far can be deception.

~In regards to balance: Overly "spiritual" people live in church, Bible studies, and prayer groups-they neglect day to day things (that are important).

~Ask God to show you any areas in your life that are out of balance.

*Joyce talked alot about balance and deception, but it's too much to type, she used alot of real life examples and stories-check out her website for more info.

Looking forward to the next level…

Father God (and) Mother Nature...

God speaks to my heart (mostly) through nature. He often takes my breath away-through a particular sunrise or sunset. How often does He create these beautiful 'pictures' for us, and we are so wrapped up in whatever, that we actually MISS them-how sad-take time today to appreciate the pictures God created-maybe just for you, and then say thank You.

Annoying...

WHAT is it about you?
What!
I'm over it.
Ok, maybe not...
Yeah-definitely AM.
Darn!
Maybe not...
Yes!
No.
We'll see...

All the leaves are brown...

...and the sky is grey. Lately I've been feeling down in the dumps, it's probably due to the fact that I just moved, school is overwhelming, work is exhausting, and all of the other "life stressors" are really hitting hard. Jesus remains my constant steadiness through it all, I've been going through a period where the main thing I've been "hearing" from God is WAIT. The whole wait thing currently applies to many aspects of my life and I seem to be settling into a comfortable obedience w/it (it's brilliant how God knows the very best ways to produce effective growth in our individual lives). Of course He's now moved on to something new for me (which I appreciate), and it is BEING STILL. Being still for any reason is hard enough this day in age, but to be still and listen to what He's trying to work out in us is even harder b/c He does things when He wants to (trust me-this is a good thing for most of us). I will say this; when I am having a major self-pity party, am ridiculously frustrated, sad, tired, lonely, mad, or whatever-getting into God's presence is the ONLY solution I have found that really works, it's hard to explain. The key to coming to God to receive this peace is this: you have to WAIT for as long as you and He needs to, you can’t just say, “ok God I have five minutes and I need some peace!” sorry doesn’t work like that. Now, you may be thinking well, what do I say? A piece of advice (myself included)-NOTHING, if it’s one thing we all need to learn it’s when to just keep our mouths SHUT, my favorite type of people and friends are the ones who say everything w/out speaking-it’s a great attribute, coming into God’s presence is no different, sometimes I just cry, sometimes I just lift my hands up to Him, whatever I feel led to do, I don’t have any guidelines. The place is also important, I like to be outside (where there are usually less distractions), but as it gets colder you just have to find a place that works for you, I’ve even used my closet ( I had a really nice big walk-in closet-but no more!), hey, do what you need to do-it will be worth it-to get that “peace that passes all understanding”-trust me.

Obedience-whew, learning that each day w/God-no easy task. I am thankful for all of these "tests" from God b/c-as Joyce Meyer says: We must all go through the "refiner's fire" (Malachi 3:2). I know I'm going through it right now, and to that I say-burn away God! All of my recent "troubles" are part of it I'm sure. I recently visited my parents church (out in the big town of Creedmoor), a traditional baptist church, the choir sang one of my favorite hymns (I'm a big fan of good old hymns), here's my favorite line:

"When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,When sorrows like sea billows roll;Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,It is well, it is well, with my soul."

I love this line b/c it's a reminder to all who love Jesus, that no matter what your situation is-good or bad-it's going to be ok-God doesn't change-He loves us and comforts us, despite the fact that we definitely DON'T deserve it. Awesome.

When I feel like caving in
My heart my soul is wearing thin
I just want to give up
Nothing seems at all to add up
Can you hear me Lord?
My face is down upon the floor
It's then You whisper in my ear
Be still and Know I'm here

~Storyside B

Unconditional love is...

un-conditional.