stop thinking about it and do it!

so...ok...it is really a challenge for me to do this on a regular basis...i keep saying i will and then i dont...i really dont like when i do that...do you ever get these blocks about doing something...and then you just have to tell yourself...stop thinking and just do it??

i have this weird attitude...like if i write it down and people read it...it has to be perfect...and that is totally opposite of the point of all this...and i know that in my head...but when i start to write something here...if i am really honest...i still think i would rather not write than have a less than wonderful set of words to post...so this rambling is my, hopefully, last attempt to break down that wall and write here every week!

so here goes...my life since i last posted here...btw, this doesnt mean i havent written and deleted anything...ok..on with it...so...i went to my son, andy's college graduation and had soooo much fun, i got married on the fourth of july to a wonderful guy...dave...we got married in my sis' back yard in texas by a pool with a waterfall and palm trees...the wedding was followed by bbq, fireworks, and me jumping in the pool in my wedding dress...and yes...i wore shoes for the ceremony...and nathan webb came to texas to marry dave and i...you can see pix on facebook...anyway...i went on an awesome honeymoon to estes park...yeah...i went hiking in the mountains on my honeymoon...would you expect anything else?? ok...so then...i helped Andy move into my basement because he is going to seminary here in kc...it is so much fun to have him here...i went on an awesome mission trip to honduras...it was really fun to lead this with magee and brandon...and we were on this trip with some of the most amazing students ever... and we had so many great opportunities to share the love of christ with so many people...then, i found out my daughter amber is having a baby in april...dont even say it...i am gonna think of something really cool for that kid to call me...anyway...at the end of the summer i went on a really cool road trip with andy for graduation...vegas, utah, idaho, washington, oregon, and the whole coast of cali all the way down to la...and then back to vegas...four airline flights and over 2300 miles of road...in 6 days...and it was so stinkin much fun...we saw more natural beauty than most folks see in a lifetime...and it was so amazing to spend that much time with andy...he is soo much fun. anyway...that is the short version of what has been going on...so now that we are up to date...i will visit this place on monday and write down some of the amazing stuff going on at resurrection and rezlife...especially the really cool God stuff that has been going on as andy and i have been working on MAC track...i have a really great story and i can hardly wait to share it...but now i have to go finish getting ready for workshops at leadership institute...

here is a random verse about wisdom to ponder...it has nothing to do with this post...but it is a verse worth pondering!

those who trust in their own wits are fools; but those who walk in wisdom come through safely prov 28:26

my favorite verse...what is yours???

my favorite verse is galatians 2:20...well it is my first favorite...followed closely by quite a few others...so let me know...what is yours???

here is mine:

i have been crucified with christ and i no longer live but christ lives in me. the life i now live in the body, i live by faith in the son of god, who loved me and gave himself for me.

amazing huh??? i am crucified...the things of my flesh die...and christ shows himself through me...lives in me...wow...i am amazed over and over again that this is what he actually does as we allow him to!! he has proven that to be true in my life...as i let go of things that i cling to...things that are not all that...he gives me much more in return...eternal things...he is an amazing god!!

let jesus lead...

As you have put your trust in Christ Jesus the Lord to save you from the punishment of sin, now let Him lead you in every step. Have your roots planted deep in christ. Grow in Him. Get your strength from Him. Let Him make you strong in faith as you have been taught. Your life should be full of thanks to Him. Colossians 2:6-7

as i think of easter and the resurrection of christ...i think about how much he accomplished on the cross...and i ponder how many of us who go by the name christian really embrace that...you know...the whole let him lead you in every step part...the have deep roots in him part...the grow in him...let your strength be from him...full life thanks to him...

sometimes i think we settle for so much less than what he has in store for us...kinda like he is trying to give us an amazing 8 course meal and we are sitting in the corner with a bowl of canned chili...clinging to it for life...not able to let go of something ok...to receive his very best for us. through christ...god doesnt give us forgiveness and stop there...he gives us life...full and rich...day by day...and the guidance to see his best plan for us...and the strength to live out his best plan for us...and yet...sometimes we look just like everyone else...sittin in a corner settling for whatever life hands us...when in our hands he has given us his spirit and filled us with the very power that was present that first easter...the power of the resurrection...take some time to ponder it...

see you at the pole 2007

ok...so i am a blog slacker...sorry. i will try to post prayers once a week...if you read this, bug me and hold me accountable. anyway... i was at see you at the pole this morning at blue valley high...i was so encouraged at all the amazing prayers lifted by the students...prayers for the leaders of this country...prayers for the schools...prayers to make good choices...prayers to be bold for Christ. let's all join today and pray for all those who showed up at the poles all over the world...a prayer that God will continue to grow, protect, encourage, empower, and fill with His Spirit all the Christian leaders He is raising up in this generation!

as seasons change some scripture and thoughts to ponder...

wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord...psalms 27:14 he gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak...isaiah 43:1 my flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever...psalms 73:26

so...i was pondering this time of year and how it can be a sort of mix of seasons in the world around us and in our own lives...you know...like spring is all around and everything feels new...yet we get a lingering freeze from winter that stops the budding flowers dead in their tracks... new life keeps trying to push its way in and the harshness of winter fights to remain...and the storms that happen when the two clash...i think we refer to it as tornado season here...it can also be a sort of mix of seasons at work and at school... a time of finishing up where you are and planning dreaming for what is to come...in the summer in the new year...it can even be tiring and discouraging this transition of seasons...and yet, God has a plan and strength for us in every season...when spring is pushed back by a winter freeze...God is still in control...when teachers assign 5 papers in one week...God is still in control...when we say goodbye to friends and head off to college...God is still in control...when we are tired or weary or worried...God is the strength of our hearts and what we can count on forever...take heart...God is the constant in every season!

a verse to pray for others

"And this is my prayer; that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousnes that comes through Jesus Christ-to the glory and praise of God" Philippians 1:9-11

What a wonderful prayer to pray for those you love...and maybe even for those who are tough for you to even like! Happy Easter! I pray it will be filled with awe at the love Christ has for us and the new life He offers in Him...

to pray & ponder...faithfulness

O Lord, you are my God; I will exalt you and praise your name, for in perfect faithfulness you have done marvelous things, things planned long ago. Isaiah 25:1

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. Hebrews 10:23

i totally love these verses! isn't it stinkin' awesome that our God, the creator of everything, is faithful to us? and not just faithful...perfectly faithful... he makes us promises and then keeps them all! something a bit too rare in our world today, don't you think? what else can we do but praise a God like that?

take time to pray for someone you know who might has been hurt by the unfaithfulness of someone they counted on...and pray they will find hope in in our perfectly faithful Jesus.