Chick Nite - Jan 09

Tonight our high school guys were playing video games at the church with some of our leaders while I had the chance to hang out with some of our incredible high school ladies and phenominal leaders. We changed things up a bit and went ice skating at Merrifield park and then played games as we warmed up at Castle Manor. I had a blast!

I haven't skated in years and was very nervous about it. I'm not always a huge fan of new things. However, it turns out I'm not that bad of a skater. Who would have known?!

As exciting as that was, one of my favorite highlights was starting the fire in our cabin in record time! No we didn't use a starter log or lighter fluid. It was the craziest thing ever...well...except for our massive game of STRAWS!!!

Sure you've played Spoons and I'm sure you have lots of great stories but none of them will compare to tonight's game of straws. We split into two circles and placed straws in each circle. Once someone gets four of a kind everyone runs to the opposite circle and grabs a straw. Hilarious. Enjoy the photos and be prepared to laugh.

Why me?

This has been a horrible week. Work has just been plain ridiculous. The church is going through some tough times. Life is busy and there seems to be no escape from it. Yet somehow in the middle of all of that God decided to use me.

Today has been full of conversations with students, friends, teachers, family and strangers. Not your typical "passing by" conversations but "for real sharing your thoughts and feelings" conversations. Some of them have been difficult. I've struggled to articulate what really needed to be said in way that can be understood and shows genuine love.

I fear some of those conversations fell on deaf ears and I came home tonight a bit discouraged. And then some pieces fell into place. For whatever reasons, God chose me to be the one he spoke through. Why me?! I'm a broken mess. I don't have things in life figured out. Shoot I don't even have part of life figured out. But God has it all worked out. Today I've watched what Paul talked about lived out and I am humbled.

Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

Scatterbrained

-Rough day at work today and then came home to a broken furnace and a FREEZING apartment
-Scrubs is on tonight. I also heard the Muppets may be making an appearance.
-I really like air-popped popcorn but need someone to eat it with since I made too much.
-I need to find a way to simplify life.
-I sometimes light my Advent wreath even after Advent is over.
-I miss camp today. May be I should go back into camp ministry.
-This has been a long week and it is only Tuesday.
-I'm getting excited about planning another road trip to see friends.
-Ugh! My movies are out of alphabetical order. That needs fixing.
-I'm really tired of repairing instruments. That will never slow down.
-I forgot what the sun looks like.
-I woke up with a song I barely know running through my head. It is still there. Weird.
-I'm pleased with my last photo project. My next idea will be a lot more expensive and I'm not sure it will be worth the work.
-I hate cats.
-I saw a trailer for the move "He's Just Not That Into You." Is it bad I immediately thought of about five girls I want to take to see it?
-I'm saying lots of extra prayers for my friends who lost their jobs this week.
-I'm proud of my niece after hearing her tell me how she helped a sick friend at school and then telling me her favorite part of snow camp was learning about God because it was awesome.
-I need a haircut.

Thankful for the Valley

The last few days I've found myself being a little more thankful for the darkest valley I've ever had to walk through. It started almost five years ago when I was informed I was being let go from my dream job due to financial difficulties. For the last few days several of my friends have been dreading the same news.

There are so many mixed emotions. I've found myself breathing huge sighs of relief and celebrating as the text and e-mails come from friends who get to keep their jobs. But as other messages of friends hurting come, I've found myself experiences once again all the same emotions as that horrible day. But in the midst of the tears, pain and uncertainty I've seen something beautiful.

I've seen the church. I've seen friends rally together. I've seen grace lived out. I've begun to understand why I had to walk through the valley myself. It wasn't a pleasant part of my journey by any means. But looking back I'm not sure I would have grown as much as I have without that pain. I'm praying that in time my friends that find themselves in this valley today will one day look back and say the valley hurt but it was good.

I know I've posted this verse a hundred times but it sums up the valleys for me.

"Come, let us return to the Lord.
He has torn us to pieces;
now he will heal us.
He has injured us;
now he will bandage our wounds.
In just a short time he will restore us,
so that we may live in his presence.
Oh, that we might know the Lord!
Let us press on to know him.
He will respond to us as surely as the arrival of dawn
or the coming of rains in early spring.”
Hosea 6:1-3

Living Examples of Jesus - The Inner Circle

TODAY'S LIVING EXAMPLE OF JESUS:
Angela Keim, Brooke Curry and Allison Reynolds - "The Inner Circle"

I've recently decided to start calling these amazing ladies "the inner circle" simply because that are just that amazing. Okay really it is because these are the people I turned to when things are rough, the first ones I celebrate good news with and the people who love the fact I'm weird. We are four very different people, which means pure entertainment when we are together.

Ang Keim - I was pretty sure I would never be cool enough to be friends with Ang when I first met her. Ends up you don't have to be cool to have cool friends. My favorite thing about her is the fact she tells me how it is. Evidently what makes perfect sense to me doesn't to everyone. She helps me remember that.

Brooke Curry - This girl is a riot! I've don't think I've ever met someone so laid back. I don't know how she does it. My favorite thing about Brooke is the fact she rolls with my obnoxious type A personality. She has this amazing way of keeping me calm when something doesn't go as planned. That isn't an easy task.

Allison Reynolds - For those of you who have read my blog for awhile you know all about our three hour long coffee visits. My favorite thing about Allison is her perspective on life and relationships. She looks at things completely different than me. I've learned so much as she has shared things from her view.

I can't explain how thankful I am for these friends. I love that I have three girls who are so in love with Jesus to walk through life with. We've laughed so hard we've cried. We've done crazy things like tye-died shirts. We've ate WAY too much food together. We've stayed out so late resturant managers have to kick us out. We hashed through hard situations together. We've prayed together. We've discussed Scripture together.

More than anything else they point me towards Christ. I can't help but think Christ has similiar experiences with his apostles. Thank you, my inner circle friends, for showing me Jesus!

Photos by DC Curry