War Eagle

We had a tailgate at work for the first football weekend. A little glimpse into DAXKO life. . .


Me with Amanda and Toby (Bama fans. . .)


Me and Amanda (the other girl on my team)


Me and Amy decked out in our Auburn gear!

Weightless Trifle

On the soapbox. . .

Okay, so as I was preparing to teach SS yesterday, I came across some information that still has me amazed.
The "lesson" was on 2 Corinthians 4:7-18.
As I was reading and studying on vs. 17 I learned something that still shocks me.
"For momentary light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison."
The greek for "light" is the equivalent of "weightless trifle." A weightless trifle? REALLY??
In chapter 11 we read this:
"Are they servants of Christ?--I speak as if insane--I more so; in far more labors, in far more imprisonments, beaten times without number, often in danger of death.
Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes.
Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep.
I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren;
I have been in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure.
Apart from such external things, there is the daily pressure on me of concern for all the churches."

Doesn't sound like a "weightless trifle" to me. In Colossians Paul talks about how we as believers fill up what is lacking in the suffering of Christ-the world still wants to crucify Him and we take the brunt of that. And Paul took it in such an extreme way that most could not have withstood. I couldn't have. But I want to be like Paul-for my life to scream that "to live is Christ, to die is so much gain."

Labor Day

It was nice to have a day of rest today. I got to hang out with some friends and get to know some new people. Didn't take any pictures. But of course it's safe to say we had plenty of good food.
Things at the new job are going well. I have tons to learn, but I'm having a blast and the Lord is opening up lots of opportunities. More later. . .

the big move

Well, the Lord has opened a door and I feel confident He wants me to walk through.
So. . . Friday, August 11 will be my last day at Hunter Street Baptist Church, at least working there.
I'm really excited about the opportunity the Lord has opened up. It's beyond my expectations or anything I could imagine. But there's sadness also as I leave my friends and my total involvement in missions here.
I can't wait to update everyone on how the Lord uses me as I move back out of a ministry driven job.

I'm With the Band

Because my roommate is super cool and talented and recording her first album, and I get to help with the album art, I thought I'd play around and see what I could get while she was actually singing/leading worship. Just a little of what I was able to catch. . .


strumming her guitar


Kellan practicing


singing and playing the tambourine


the setup

More Beach Pics

Group at the Gigglin' Grouper


Molly and Lindsay and their Tootsie Roll Pops


hmmm. . . really?!


Patrick, Lewis, and Terrence

Be Like Christ. . .

So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
Do all things without grumbling or questioning, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me.
Philippians 2.1-18

Words

I'm going to try and put into words what I've been learning.
I guess to make it easy I'll start with our retreat this past weekend.
First, we learned the true meaning of love and hate. (Love=to choose and Hate=to reject.) So that we could see ourselves as we truly are. I remember sitting in my prayer group and the ladies talking about how they were having such a hard time with the concept that they HATE God. And it hit me-I don't have a hard time with that at all. I can look at my life over the past few months and that's really what I see more than anything else.
Then we talked about idols and asked ourselves a lot of questions to help us find the idols in our lives. It was really eye opening. There are things that I never would have realized I counted as an idol in my life until I was asked the question, "What do you fear most?". What a scary question. The answer of my heart shocked me.
Ask yourself and see what you come up with.
So, the last several days I've been dealing with all that was revealed to me this weekend.
And last night Amy and I were talking about different things that have been going on. And I just started crying. All this stuff is a result of our insecurities. And our insecurities are a result of the fact that we aren't filled with Him. And He's way more than enough to fill us. We just don't allow Him to.
That's only the beginning of all the stuff going through my mind right now as the Lord draws me back to Himself and revives me.

"Come, let us return to the LORD;
for he has torn us, that he may heal us;
he has struck us down, and he will bind us up.
After two days he will revive us;
on the third day he will raise us up,
that we may live before him.
Let us know; let us press on to know the LORD;
his going out is sure as the dawn;
he will come to us as the showers,
as the spring rains that water the earth."
Hosea 6.1-3

Consumed

We had our Beach Retreat this weekend. I was kinda skeptical about going. But it turned out to be an amazing weekend of confession and renewal. What a blessing.

Just a few of the highlights. . .


The band-Terrence, Kellan, Amy, and Lewis-being the band!


The girls-Molly, Amber, Lindsay, and Amy


Amy and I at the Shrimp Basket


Action shots


The whole gang

More info and pics to come. . .

Class of '96

We had the Hoover High Reunion this weekend. It was a lot like walking into the cafeteria, but everyone just looks a little older. I'm glad I went, but. . .
I didn't do well with taking pics, but here are a couple they took for us.


Me and Melissa, the BFF from High School


Me and Richard, having a friend from my life now with me definitely made the evening more bearable.

And yep, that was all the excitement.