Shadows!

Tonight, I went to bible study, and got to personally hug the neck of one of my most favorite teenagers...you know the one that freaked out that I wasn't there a couple of weeks ago?!

It was GREAT! I forgot how much I missed praying, listening, and talking life with those kids! I'm glad to be back. It was a bit hectic getting there with practice and Houston Rush Hour traffic, but God makes a way when it's in His will! It didn't disappoint!

I left with my cup running over. I love that feeling! Great praise and worship on the way to the church...was challenged in the message...so much so that I'm doing a little more research of my own before I go to bed. (The message came out of John 15:5 and Galatians 5:22). I want to learn more about the Fruits of the Spirit, and application of how God originally entrusted us with them...whoa...that sounds way deep, but basically, I just want to dig a little deeper..HA!

Tonight, on Facebook, my personal time trap, I ran across a status update of a dear friend of mine whom I met while working in Waco. Tomorrow, she will celebrate her 29th birthday, and her 3 year anniversary of giving her life to Jesus!

I couldn't be happier for her. I can honestly say that before giving her life to the One that makes all things new she was a GREAT person. Nice, educated, you know...had it going on, but I could tell then that she was searching for something....and she found it. Through Him. I'm sure she'll be the first to tell you that it was not overnight. In fact, I remember a time right after that where she fasted and prayed...seeking His face, and dying to self. But isn't that what we sometimes think? That because we are 'good people,' it's our ticket into the pearly gates.

I know I thought that for years...seriously! I just want to encourage anyone who is reading this blog, that if you missed the mark...over...and over again, that it's never too late to make it right. Remember that we are all sinners, but because of our desire to serve Christ, we should sin less. Thanks Pastor J!

I'm no saint! Even typing this, I cringe because I fear that I'll sound preachy or maybe even offend some of you, BUT, I know what it's like to search in empty relationships to fill a void. Giving time, energy, and your trust to someone and coming up empty handed, especially when you think you've scored BIG TIME! Or to work so hard that I drown out the life around me! It's not a good feeling at all, and sometimes, it's a long road to recovery, but I'm reminded of a line from one of my most favorite songs, "Unredeemed." The lyrics read,

We live in the shadow of the fall
But the cross says these are all
Places where grace is soon to be so amazing
It may be unfulfilled
It may be unrestored
But when anything that's shattered is laid before the Lord
Just watch and see
It will not be unredeemed

Oh how many times have I travelled from shadow to shadow...nursing old wounds...carrying guilt, shame, bitterness...and every other self serving emotion I can have. It's not healthy to say the least, BUT, the Bible says this: "Return to your fortress, O prisoners of hope; even now I announce that I will restore twice as much to you," Zechariah 9:12, AND Romans 8:28, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." So to me, the first scripture means I will receive double for my trouble, and the last scripture means that EVERYTHING (good and bad) I have gone through will work out for MY good....He will redeem....God said so! So a couple of weeks ago, I made the decision to step into the SONlight. No more shadows for me! I hope you will too friends!



This post has been about a little bit of everything, but I hope it helps on SOME level! God's plan is for us to live free...only we can keep ourselves bound! Congratulations T! I'm so proud of you, and the woman you've become! Your light is shining all over!!! Goodnight~!

Day 1: Success!

Whew! I made it through my first day! And....it was GREAT! Actually, better than great, because I got so much done, and I didn't miss the TV at all!!!

Let's see, the night started with me heading to Target, my favorite store after cheer practice. I needed to get groceries, and I'll find any excuse to go to the Super Target!

On the way home, I picked up Chicken Enchilada soup from Chili's...my favorite!

The quiet really wasn't bad at all. I ate dinner to the tunes of my iPod, and immediately set in to do some homework. Which by the way is going to dip into my social life tremendously for the next 8 weeks! I became so focused that I ended up turning my iPod off so that I could really concentrate!

I thought that I'd be twiddling my thumbs waiting to get sleepy, but what I found was I didn't even skim the surface of my to-do list for the day. I had so many more things to accomplish, that I'll have to do tonight!

I was very encouraged by it, and I can't wait for the silence again. Maybe, I'll even get in the bed early, but I have some reading to do for class, so we'll see!

Pull the Plug!

Well, I promised the big reveal tonight, and I don't want to disappoint my lovely readership...HA!

This decision has stemmed from a longing that I wasn't tapping in to nearly ANY of the life God has for me...I mean sure, my life is good, great by some standards, but I know whose I am, and I know what that entitles me to. I guess I'm just getting fed up with not tapping into all of those resources, and just sort of skimming the surface of life. I've been there before, and I so desperately want to get back...

That is just not cutting it for me anymore. I want more!

All of this to say, I've unplugged a few things. My Pastor has started a series to kick off this New Year, and he has challenged us to get rid of those things, relationships, thoughts...whatever that hinders us from being all that Christ created us to be. This got me thinking...what can I give up? How can I grow this year? What does God want from me? How can I show others His love?



I'm not a huge TV person, however it serves as a background to my life all of the time. There are nights that I come home, tired, with a long list of things to do, and NONE of them get done. Why? Because I've parked on the couch, allowing the TV to distract me, and often times, put me to sleep! It's no secret that I'm a procrastinator. It's no secret that I wait until the last minute to do unpleasant things. I ignore them. Lately, I've become painfully aware how unproductive my thoughts about myself are. I OVER ANALYZE EVERYTHING!!! It's an exhausting thing let me tell you...so I need to get my mind right. Not that I'm losing it, but because it really doesn't matter what he/she meant when they said that, when we were doing this, while watching that....you get my point?!

SO....what have I done? I've decided that for the next 21 days I'm giving up television! Instead, I'll spend time working on my schoolwork, taking care of things around here, and spending time with Jesus! There are specific things that I'm looking to hear from Him on, and really, if He ignores me all together, I know that what He will do is going to blow my mind. I have a feeling that I don't have a clue as to what I'm about to experience, and I like it!

I ask for your prayers....because I know that when a breakthrough is close, Satan works overtime...but just like scripture says, better is one day in Your court than thousands elsewhere! I'm counting on it!