tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2549833016962625512024-03-05T13:41:04.423-08:00Single in God's GraceIt is hard to be a Christian Single Woman in a Sex and the City kind of world. I am tired of living my life feeling less than whole because I am not married or do not have a significate other in my life. I am ready to wait on God and let Him fullfill the purpose and plan for my life. I will admit it is not always an easy task for me to do. So here I am less than perfect, but ready to be made whole and complete in Christ by His amazing grace!Tiersahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09028739846766641946noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-254983301696262551.post-66238965794102094342012-12-09T13:43:00.000-08:002012-12-09T13:43:35.236-08:00It Shouldn't Be Like This....
<br />
<span style="font-family: Andy; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I don’t know if you have ever thought those words.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I have thought them more than once.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My life…it just shouldn’t be like this!?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It wasn’t supposed to be this way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How did my life become this….and yet today in
church I had a beautiful epiphany.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Andy; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I was reading this morning on my Kindle my advent devotion for the day
and it was talking about Mary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How young
she was and an un-wed Mother.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I
started to think about it…. even though Mary did nothing wrong, I can’t even
imagine the scorn she received.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You know
people talked badly about her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Probably
behind her back and to her face.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And
then Jesus was born in a barn?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The King
of Kings and Lord of Lords who left Heaven and all his glory was born in a
stinky stable?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And you had to wonder did
Mary think…..It just shouldn’t be like this!?!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Doesn’t God know I should have a husband first and Jesus should have
been born somewhere clean and decent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This just doesn’t make sense.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This wasn’t how it was supposed to be. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well I know that is what I would of thought
and what I have thought about my life more than once.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Andy; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">And you know it just gives me SO much hope.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I love that Jesus’ story is messy and
imperfect to the human eye.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I love that
Mary had to trust God’s plan more than what made sense to her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I love that my Savior can take a really
sketchy story (my life) and turn it into beauty, when we believe and trust God
for his promises.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Andy; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Andy; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">So that is my thought for the day…maybe your life is ANYTHING but what
you thought it would be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know how you
feel and so does Mary, and so does God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Let’s trust He is working and healing and moving in our lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let’s be so thankful God uses less than
perfect circumstances for his glory to be shown.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Andy; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Luke 1:45<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Blessed is she who has
believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Andy; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Merry Christmas!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Tiersahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09028739846766641946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-254983301696262551.post-30769813378834172902012-09-08T21:04:00.003-07:002012-09-08T21:04:51.144-07:00Africa…<span style="font-family: Andy; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I have been home from Swaziland Africa for about 2 weeks now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know many of you have been wanting to hear
my stories from Africa and a friend even stopped by Stepping Stones yesterday
to tell me that. Ha!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Trust me I am dying
to share my stories with you. BUT….My experiences in Africa are so personal, so
dear, so profound, so locked in my heart, and I am terrified when I tell my
stories I won’t do them justice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That
you just won’t…..get it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I want you to….get
it and understand in some way all that God was doing when I was there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So whether or not you…get it I need to tell
my story….I guess we will start at the beginning of my journey…that’s always a
good place to start! </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Andy; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Andy; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="font-family: Andy; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Andy; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Day 1<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Andy; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I am a mess.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I woke up crying and
had a hard time stopping.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I took my dog Frankie
to my sister-in-laws 1<sup>st</sup> thing in the morning crying my eyes
out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just could not keep it together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was anxious and nervous and really doubting
why I was going to Africa.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was in constant
communication with God, just praying for strength and courage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Andy; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">My flight was not leaving until 9:30 at night so I spent most of the day
packing, and unpacking, repacking and unpacking some more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was not going well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was bringing quite a bit of stuff to my
friends the Taylors who are living in Swazi and wanted to make sure to use the
best of my space and my weight limit of 50 pounds per bag.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was SUPER stressful!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I made my son Chance stand on my scale
holding my suitcases trying to get as close to 50 pounds as I could.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Andy; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Speaking of Chance….I had been so wrapped up in my own world getting
ready to go to Africa it hit me also on this day that my baby is going back to
college.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I get home he won’t be
here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Water works again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of the worst days I have had in a LONG
time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not pretty to say the least.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My parents showed up to take me to the
airport.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had pulled myself together by
then but now I was cranky.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just needed
to get on my airplane and GO!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(I will say
though my bags were RIGHT ON!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My 1<sup>st</sup>
bag weighed 49.5 pounds and bag 2 and 3 were 50 pounds exactly!!!)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Andy; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Andy; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I had great flights…no issues at all really.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I flew from Seattle to JFK.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had a 5 hour layover there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I still wanted to turn around and go
home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I battled tears the whole time I
was in New York.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My flight to Johannesburg
was 15 hours long.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And let me tell you….that
is LONG!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I have to say it was great.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some of the easiest flights I have ever been
on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Andy; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I landed in Johannesburg, South Africa at 8 am.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And that is where this adventure really
begins.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My friends Rob, Jen, and their
children Matt, Luke, Will, and Rachael were all waiting for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will never forget rounding the corner with
my luggage and seeing them all in a row earnestly looking for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wish I had my camera ready to take a
picture…It was so cute!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So they
welcomed me to Africa and we took off for the long treck to Swaziland.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(About a 5 hour drive.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Andy; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">It was safe to say it was a bit of culture shock.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just so very different than anything we will
EVER see in the states.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This day is a
bit of a blur to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I remember seeing
shanty towns….I remember seeing cows, I remember seeing very young children
walking alone in places they shouldn’t be, I remember women walking with things
stacked on their heads.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I remember feeling
like I was in an alternate universe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Andy; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Day 2 (which was really day 3 with all my travel time)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Andy; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Jen wakes me up at 5:20 am.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
have French press coffee and quiet time with God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have no idea what to expect at this
point.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I will say I am happy to be
in Africa.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m starting to think….Yes
this will be worth it!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Taylor kids are
up at 6am….Rob makes breakfast for everyone (I could get used to that!) and we all
are showered dressed and out the door and on the road by 7 to 7:15.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We start our 30 minute ride(give or take a
few) <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>to New Life Homes Farm and
School.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Andy; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I’d love to tell you this is an easy breezy ride but it is not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is a dirt road that makes Space Mountain
look like a breeze.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This dirt road looks
like something only forest rangers would go on back home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can’t believe people actually live up here
let alone there are MANY communities, Dr.s Clinics, community centers, schools,
etc. up this rocky, dusty, pit holed road. There are NO street signs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are NO stop signs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And frankly it feels like there are NO rules.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am beyond queasy by the time we make it to
the farm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Andy; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Once on the farm we go to the school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The Preschool does not start for an hour so I go with Jennifer to the
class she is working in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is grade 1
and 2 and they are working on math.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I
walk into the door I feel all eyes on me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I am introduced to the students.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Some are smiling, some are not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>All are inquisitive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I already
feel a stirring in my heart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are
beautiful…and God has brought me here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
know there is something to it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I help
for an hour….marking papers, putting stars and smiley faces on their papers as
I correct them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They seem to like it and
for the most part they seem to like me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Except
for one little girl who just scowls at me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If looks could kill I’d be dead ten times over by now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It really doesn’t bother me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know how children are and I know this
little girl has a defense mechanism up and I thnk she must have been very hurt
in her life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I start to pray that we can
become friends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Andy; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Then it is time for Preschool!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Jenn walks me over to the preschool class.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are 21 of the most beautiful, precious
faces I have ever seen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As soon as I
walked in the preschool class I feel as though I am home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I love this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can do this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am introduced as Mage Chaffin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Mage is swaswatti for Mom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you are a mom you are called Mage and your
last name.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well anyone who knows me,
knows I don’t like to be called Mrs. Chaffin or anything like that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have always been Miss Tiersa in the
classroom and that is what I prefer by far.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>So it did not take me long to say….call me Miss Tiersa.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And they did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Andy; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Andy; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="font-family: Andy; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Andy; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I was told in the beginning by someone that I should just go and observe
and not think that I was going to walk into the classroom and teach. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I did just that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I sat and listened and watched all that they
did that day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was so fun!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I realized how we are all the same.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I observed things I see everyday in my
classroom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is the shy child.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The child who needs extra attention.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The child who is a leader.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The child who is a bit of a bully.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The lovey, snuggly child.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are all there…just the same.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I witnessed teachers who laughed with their
children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who loved them and wanted what
is best for them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I witnessed parents
who sacrificed to send their children to school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I felt God whispering in my ear…See we are
all the same. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We all want the same
things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is no different than
home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I saw it….it was no different and it was
the same.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We all have the same longings…we
all have the same desires for our lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Our hearts beat all the same.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Andy; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Then they sang….and that is what touched my heart the most.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The class sang a song that goes like this….The
Love of Jesus is so wonderful, The love of Jesus is so wonderful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The love of Jesus is so wonderful, Ohhh the wonderful
love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Andy; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">It’s so wide, you can’t go around it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It’s so wide, you can’t go around it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It’s so wide, you can’t go around it, Ohhh the wonderful love.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Andy; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">It’s so high, you can’t jump over it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It’s so high, you can’t jump over it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It’s so high you can’t jump over it, Ohhh, the wonderful love.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Andy; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">It’s so low, you can’t go under it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It’s so low, you can’t go under it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It’s so low, you can’t go under it. Ohhh, the wonderful love.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Andy; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">They sang this song everyday and it brought me to tears everyday. (although
I was able to keep it together for the most part!)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Andy; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Andy; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="font-family: Andy; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I sang this song to myself the whole time I
was in Swaziland.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I sort of feel like it
is my theme song now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And it is so true….The
Love of Jesus is SO WONDERFUL!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Andy; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">So this 1<sup>st</sup> day with the children my heart opened up to all
sorts of possibilities and once again God was telling me…Trust me!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve got your back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thank you for coming…I know this was out of
your comfort zone…but I also know what I made you for.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And this is going to be so worth it in the
end.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Andy; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Thank you Lord for NEVER giving up on me!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wasn’t convinced of anything on day two but
I knew God would reveal His plan to me in time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There was no looking back from this point on….And I was SO thankful God brought me to New Life Homes in Swaziland, Africa!!</span><br />
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Tiersahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09028739846766641946noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-254983301696262551.post-23514655698901451182012-07-29T19:54:00.000-07:002012-07-29T19:54:53.993-07:00Why yes I said I was going to Africa….<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I can hardly believe I am saying these words and yet I
am.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am going to AFRICA!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How crazy is that?!?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you know me at all you know it is crazy
and sounds WAY out of my comfort zone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m
not one of those girls who dreamed of going to Africa.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact Africa always scared me, it always
sounded scary and far away and very uncivil.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>So not me….and yet here I am saying I’m going to AFRICA.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I’m quite thrilled at the prospect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So let me fill you in on this journey that
has begun for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This journey actually started a very long time ago….</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">You see….Once upon a time, there was this princess….and she
had BIG dreams and she knew God had BIG plans for her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And many of her dreams came true….but as time
went on life got hard….really hard…and she lost her way. In time she forgot who
she was and what she had been called to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She forgot about dreams that were planted in her heart many years ago. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But thankfully she was rescued not only by a
Prince but by the King of Kings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And
that is where our story begins today.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So if you haven’t figured it out I am that Princess. (ha!)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And
many years ago I had two very real God planted dreams in my heart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One was to teach Preschool and not only that,
but to have my own Preschool.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had
notebooks full of sketches of how I would set up my classroom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had lesson plans and schedules all
ready.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I did teach Preschool, very
young in fact.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was always given the
job over people much older than me and even with more education.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was spoken over in my teenage years by my
dear friend and neighbor Cynthia Jones.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She was the first person to tell me I had a gift from God to work with
children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And then when I was 27 years
old my dreams really did come true as Stepping Stones was born.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For those of you that don’t know, Stepping
Stones is a preschool that I and 3 other dear friends founded together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It has been such a joy and pleasure to be
there all these years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It truly is a
gift from God and I have loved every second of being there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is
my pride and joy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">But all those years ago God planted another seed in my heart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not only did I want to teach and have my own preschool,
but I wanted to work with orphans.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
remember hearing about orphanages and being moved to tears.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I knew God wanted me to love on children who
did not know love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But as I said, life
got hard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I became a single mom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I knew my son was my 1<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">st</span></sup> priority.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And although I know I did not do everything
perfect with him, God is so good and merciful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He has made many things right that I did <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>wrong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I will NEVER stop speaking of God’s mercy and grace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He makes all things good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not perfect, not easy, and not without
challenges.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But He can turn anything
around if you go to him and seek his ways.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And you know my son is now in
college, forging away his own life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Three years ago I was
sitting in church and I heard about a mission trip our church was
sponsoring.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a trip to Swaziland
Africa.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was working with Orphans in a
Preschool.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You better believe my ears
perked up fast and my heart started to race.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I was too late to be a part of this trip but I thought, well I’ll go on
the next one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But there was no next
one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Due to budget cuts the church had
to put some mission trips on hold indefinitely.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I constantly thought about Swaziland.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It just would not leave me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now
fast forward 3 years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God was working on
me BIG TIME!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Obedience was the name of
the game (and still is).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>About a year
ago I heard about this family from my church. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rob and Jennifer Taylor and their children
felt called to move to Swaziland Africa.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I did not know them…but I had nothing to lose and I Face Booked
Jennifer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I told her I was interested in
Swaziland and asked her if we could talk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We met for coffee and the rest is history.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We talked, cried, and prayed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was settled; once they got to Swazi I was
coming for a visit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Since then I’d love to tell you it has been an easy process
but it has not been. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have
doubted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have panicked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have literally freaked out about
going.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The thing that has been the
hardest for me is going alone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have
prayed and asked anyone that might possibly consider going with me to go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I know God is calling me to this on my
own for now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t get me wrong, the
Taylor’s are waiting for me with open arms, and they have PROMISED me they will
be at the airport gate cheering me on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
know won’t really be alone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But for
whatever reason I wanted a travel buddy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I know God is telling me to trust him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’ve got this…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Today we had the most
amazing sermon that just hit it out of the ball park for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was about God’s call on your life…NO
EXCUSES!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And the sermon was on Moses and
all the many excuses he used to try to get out of what God had called him to
do. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am no Moses, but boy do I have a
lot of excuses ready and waiting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Can
you imagine if Moses had walked away and said….Sorry not gonna do it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is probably my biggest fear of all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That I would not walk in obedience with God
and someone else would take my place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>That I would live this mediocre life with no real meaning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have one life to live….we better live it
out loud! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Today at church we had to
write on a post-it-note our insecurities that we’re holding back from what God
is calling us to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We laid the
post-it-note at the altar and then picked up a luggage tag and wrote on it what
God was calling us to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was truly profound!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I bet you can guess what I wrote.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I am going to Swaziland in less than two weeks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Swaziland is a tiny country next to South
Africa.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It has the highest HIV infection
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>in the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will actually be flying into Johannesburg,
South Africa.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is about a 4 hour drive
from there to Manzini, Swaziland where I will be staying most of the time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The orphans that I will be working with live
on a farm at New Life Homes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is about
a half an hour from Manzini.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Although I
plan on staying a few days on the farm with the teachers there.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The orphans go to school at the farm along
with other children from the community.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you
want to know more about the farm and orphanage please go to </span><a href="http://www.africanleadershippartners.org/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">www.africanleadershippartners.org</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is not a traditional orphanage but has family
style homes with a house Mother.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was informed tonight that I will be doing some
lessons at the school with the Preschoolers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I am very excited/nervous about this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There are about 20 preschoolers in the class and I was told they have high
energy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(What preschoolers don’t?) </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">More than anything else please pray for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pray for peace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pray for guidance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pray for absolute confidence in what God
wants for me in the future.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pray for my
son Chance, that he will be at peace with all of this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t know what the future holds….but I do
know God holds it in his hands.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And that
is quite enough for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Please feel free
to contact me if you have any questions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And thank you so much for your support and love and prayers through all
of this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>Tiersahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09028739846766641946noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-254983301696262551.post-30071790129705180112012-04-30T10:32:00.000-07:002012-04-30T10:32:05.477-07:00So Amazing...<span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Andy; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Andy; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"></span></span><span style="font-family: Andy; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-family: Andy; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">As many of you know I just came home from a vacation to Florida.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I love visiting FL for so many reasons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I lived there from the age of 8 to 18 and I have
so many happy wonderful childhood memories there. Whenever I visit it feels
like home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of my most favorite
memories from my childhood is Space Shuttle launches.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I grew up on the Space Coast close to Cape Canaveral
and whenever the Space Shuttle was going to launch it was always a big deal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My parents would load us up in our VW van and
we would head for the beach.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We would
pack a lunch and all our beach toys and make a day of it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We would listen to the radio when the launch
got close and always count it down….10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1….Space
shuttle Discovery has liftoff…..<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
would hoot and holler and watch as the space shuttle would blast into space. It
was always an amazing day full of fun and love for our country and community.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The day wasn’t over till you heard the sonic
boom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mission accomplished!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Andy; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Andy; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="font-family: Andy; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Andy; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Well last year for my sons 18<sup>th</sup> B-day I took him to FL to
witness the 2<sup>nd</sup> to last space shuttle launch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was to be the space shuttle Discovery. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was so excited to share this childhood
memory with him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was going to write
an article for his school newspaper and they even gave him an amazing camera
for the week to get some good shots of it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But one of the downsides to a launch is, it might get delayed. Anything from
the weather to mechanical difficulties can delay or postpone a launch indefinitely.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So much to my dismay (but not all that
surprising) the Discovery launch was postponed for 3 months and we never got to
see it while we were there. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We still had
a great time in FL but I was disappointed not to be able to see one last launch
and share it with my son.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Andy; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">So let’s fast forward to my trip last week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There I was in FL staying with my childhood
best friend and I decide I want to see a sunrise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am ashamed to say all those years living on
the east coast I never got up early enough to watch a sunrise properly on the
beach.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So we very randomly pick a day…How
about Tuesday?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ok sure sounds good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And then we very randomly pick a beach….How
about Eau Gallie Beach?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is a beach
neither of us had ever been to before but we thought…ah why not?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was closer to where she lived and it didn’t
really matter what beach we were on to see a sunrise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So we get up at 5:45 am and head to Starbucks
for our coffee and then we head off to Eau Gallie Beach with our beach chairs,
coffee, and cameras in hand.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Andy; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There we sat in the sand for about 20 minutes
before the sunrise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I happened to notice
quite a few other people at the beach and thought…WOW…good for them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are here for the sunrise too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But then a group of guys was walking by and
they walked up to us and asked….So what time is the flight?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I love this part, My dear Shannon says
back to them quite seriously….What flight?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You mean the sunrise??<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They laugh
and say no there is a flight from the cape today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So we act like we know nothing about it(cause
we actually knew nothing about it.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And
they walk away shaking their heads at the silly girls. (This was quite a common
theme when we were younger!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ha!) We get
on our phones….Google search….”Oh my” is what Shannon says.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Space Shuttle Discovery is doing a fly by
down the coast on a Boeing 747 for its final farewell to the Space Coast and
afterwards it is on its way to Washington DC to the Smithsonian.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The flight path is unsure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I instantly start crying.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>WHAT??<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The space shuttle discovery is flying on a 747 BOEING aircraft down the
coast?!?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can’t even believe what I am
hearing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not only am I going to see the
Space Shuttle Discovery but it is on a Boeing 747???<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My Grandfather retired from Boeing management.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
died about a year and a half ago and he was always so proud to work for Boeing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My two worlds, the place I grew up and the
place I now live were colliding in a BIG way and I could not believe it!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>SO I stood on the beach and watched an
amazing beautiful sunrise and then I saw it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There was a plane in the distance and I think I literally held my
breath.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I heard someone say next to me….I
think it is turning around(remember no one knew the exact flight path)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and I said….No it’s not….it’s coming
here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And here it came…straight to us….UNBELIEVEABLE!!!!!!!!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The plane was flying very low and it was such
an incredible sight!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It flew right to us
and then when it got exactly to our location on the beach it started to turn
around.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I still can’t believe it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was like it flew exactly to us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I could just hear the pilots in the cockpit….We
have a visual of Tiersa and Shannon on the beach, let’s turn around now and
head for D.C.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>ha!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Andy; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I had tears streaming down my face.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>When it turned around and flew off<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Shannon yelled…..Come on! and she took off running after it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I took off running too and we chased a 747
and the Space Shuttle Discovery down the boardwalk until it was no longer was
in sight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Andy; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Afterwards we walked back to our beach chairs in the sand and I sat there
in such awe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I seriously could not stop
crying.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I could not of planned that
better if I had tried and I knew without a shadow of a doubt that God had orchestrated
that for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Andy; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">It still is so humbling to think that God loves us and knows us that well
that he would do something like that for us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I mean think about it…I had NO knowledge it was even happening.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We picked a random day to see the sunrise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We picked a random beach we had never been
to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Shuttle flew exactly to us….and
turned around.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The beach we would of
normally gone to was Melbourne Beach.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
would of never seen it!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It still BLOWS
my mind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I know what God was telling
me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve got your back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I love you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Trust me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will take you places you can’t even
fathom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is just the beginning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even typing this now I can’t help but smile
and shake my head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It just blows my
mind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span><span style="font-family: Andy; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Shannon and I stayed on the beach for quite awhile afterwards and a song
we sing in church just popped into my head and I just kept singing over and
over.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-family: Andy; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Andy; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">It goes like this….It’s so amazing, how you love me….It’s so amazing….
Jesus, my God.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-family: Andy; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Andy; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">And I have to say…It is so amazing how God loves me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I feel blessed beyond measure and I just had
to share this story of God’s goodness and mercy in my life!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Andy; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I know some could say it was all a big coincidence but I know in my heart
it was not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I’ve said before I don’t
believe in coincidences any more…Only God-incidences.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Andy; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Andy; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span></div>
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</span><br />Tiersahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09028739846766641946noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-254983301696262551.post-44157431495391321082012-04-09T09:35:00.000-07:002012-04-09T09:35:36.525-07:00Progress<span style="font-family: Andy; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">So last week I was talking with a friend who is going through a divorce and recently had heard some statistics about people getting remarried.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>According to her there was a study and 80% of men remarried within 4 years of getting a divorce and 70% of women remarried 4 years after a divorce.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Or something like that….For the record she couldn’t exactly remember the percentages and neither can I….and for the record, I looked all over the internet for these statistics and couldn’t find them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But the exact statistics are not the point.) </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Andy; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Andy; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="font-family: Andy; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Andy; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">As she told me these statistics…I could feel myself stiffen up….and the 1<sup>st</sup> words out of my mouth were….Well I guess I am way below average then.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Andy; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>(I also told her how 2<sup>nd</sup> marriages have an even higher divorce rate then 1<sup>st</sup> marriages and don’t last near as long.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This I could find the statistics for all over the internet….but that is not the point either!)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Andy; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Andy; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="font-family: Andy; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Andy; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Andy; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">The point is….My first reaction was not the most positive I know, BUT…. in the past this information would of REALLY devastated me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact it probably would of ruined my day. (Or week, or month, or year)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It would have been like a poison dart to my heart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I continually have battled with negative thoughts about myself and this would of fed those thoughts big time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can just hear the self talk….I’m such a loser….I’m not loveable…..There is someone for everyone but me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It would go on and on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Andy; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">But this time I can honestly say, it mildly disturbed me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I mean, I did mention it to friends later in the day and I did think about it…but not obsessively and it certainly did not ruin my day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And then I had a break through…..because as I was thinking about it……A thought popped into my head…and this is what it said….You are not average.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You never wanted to be average.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I instantly thought…Yes of course!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t want to be status quo.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t want to marry for the wrong reasons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just because so many people remarry so quickly doesn’t make it right for me!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And it felt like this HUGE breakthrough and the clouds parted and the sun shined down and I thought….I am making PROGRESS!!!!!!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Woo-Hoo!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Andy; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">This may sound silly to you…but I don’t think I am alone in my journey… married or not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We all have poisonous self talk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My dearest friend came for a visit last month and she struggles with not feeling good enough.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She is beautiful, so fun, so talented, so smart, has the voice of an angel, is an amazing mom and wife……and she struggles with…I’m not good enough.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This blows my mind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How can this be?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But let’s face it …we all have an enemy and he loves to make us feel unworthy and not good enough.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Andy; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Andy; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">As I have mentioned before I have a singles life group that meets once a week at my home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is men and women and I can say the core group of us have gotten quite close.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A few weeks back after being prompted by a sermon by our pastor at church, we decided to write down all the counterfeit names Satan tries to give us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Such as….Unworthy…unlovable….not good enough….Stupid….Loser….etc…these are the negative thoughts that can run through our heads.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Like my 1<sup>st</sup> response to my friends statistics….I guess I’m way below average then.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then we took a challenge to go to God’s word and wrote down what God tells us we are.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was an interesting night to say the least.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We burned our counterfeit names in my fireplace and shared the scripture passages that told of our true identity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can’t tell you how freeing and amazing this night felt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Andy; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Here are a few that we came up with that night….<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Andy; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I am chosen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>1 Peter 2:9 & 2 Thessalonians 2:13</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Andy; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I am a beloved child of God<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>1 John 3:1</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Andy; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I am complete in Christ<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Colossians 2:10</span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Andy; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"></span><span style="font-family: Andy; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I can do All things through Christ<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Philippians 4:13<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Andy; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I am never alone<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hebrews 13:5</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Andy; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Andy; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Nothing can separate me from God’s love<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Romans 8: 38 & 39</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Andy; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Let me tell you nothing is more powerful then combating Satan’s lies with God’s Holy Word.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am learning more and more each day that Satan in a counterfeit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He loves to pose as someone in authority.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is not!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If he can get us to buy into one of his lies….He thinks he has mastered us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But the word of God is powerful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Use your sword!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Get into the word.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It stops him dead in his tracks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those of us in Christ have the authority!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Andy; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">One verse that I found was extremely special to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As you know my name is Tiersa.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is in fact, Hebrew and comes from the name Tirzah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It means Pleasant and Delightful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I was searching the Bible for my true identity in Christ I came across this verse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Andy; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>Zephaniah 3:17<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He will take great Delight in you, He will quiet you with his love, He will rejoice over you with singing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Andy; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Think about this and let it sink in……My God delights in me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He quiets me with his love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He sings over me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is mighty to save.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is with me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What a blessing and a honor!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Andy; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I think my parents picked a pretty cool name for me with a pretty cool meaning ..…but even better than being called delightful is knowing ……My God is delighted with me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>WOW!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let us all remember that!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God is Delighted in you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You are worthy of His love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You are precious.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You are NOT average.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You are not status quo.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Please don’t forget!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And if you do….go to His Word.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let Him tell you exactly who you are.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Andy; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">And Burn those counterfeit names.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are SO not you!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
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</div>Tiersahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09028739846766641946noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-254983301696262551.post-26208274754299398082012-03-26T08:53:00.000-07:002012-03-26T08:53:52.540-07:00Wedding Expos<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Andy; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I know I haven’t written a blog in awhile.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Life has just been plugging along and I feel as though I have nothing of any value to say and then God nudges me…..What about that?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh, yes I guess I could share that….<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know I have said it before and I’ll say it again,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s not always easy to be vulnerable and let people see the “real you” inside and out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I also know God is calling me to be authentic and share my story with others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So here I am!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Andy; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I believe the last time I wrote I was talking about my 6 month dating vow that has long come and gone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(For those of you who have no idea what I am talking about please go back and read my last blog before this one.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So….has my knight in shining armor shown up since then?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have to say, no he has not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Did a really good counterfeit knight in shining armor show up during that time?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why, yes he did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And it was so tempting, and seemed so promising…..but God made it very clear to me…not the real deal. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You may ask… How did you know?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was quite simple….I prayed a lot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I asked God to guard my heart and reveal everything I should know…and guess what??<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m not going to lie….I was a bit disappointed and kind of sad to have my hopes dashed….But boy oh boy, am I glad to get out, for the most part unscathed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My hopes being dashed are a far cry from my heart being broken into smithereens, which is what has happened to me in the past.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And more than anything I am so thankful to be in obedience to God and know He has something better in store for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I truly do not want anything that is not of God and I have learned from my past experiences to wait upon the Lord. I don’t want to take anything into my own hands.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s SO not worth it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Andy; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">So as many of you know I am a preschool teacher.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I feel so blessed to be doing what I love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was my dream as long as I can remember to teach preschool (I love little ones!) But for a side job I work at a party rental store on Saturdays and during the summer when preschool is not in session.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We work with a lot of brides and do many weddings all year round.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am so thankful to have this second job, especially with so many people struggling to find work and make ends meet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But then….2 to 3 times a year we do wedding expos. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A wedding expo is a wedding palooza!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everything you could ever imagine you may need for a wedding is there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are rings, wedding dresses, florists, wedding cakes, wedding venues, honeymoon packages, limos, make-up artists, hair dressers, photographers, etc, etc, etc…..<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And may I add….very eager and excited Brides.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You do a lot of talking and need to seem genuinely interested helping the Brides plan for their big day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Andy; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Now think about the irony in this for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am single and for many years I have struggled with not being married.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have felt less than whole and was willing to marry someone I had NO business even being with just because I didn’t want to be alone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have battled my own insecurities about all of these things and in the past a wedding expo is the very last place in the world I would want to be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It felt like a billboard flashing in my face….EVERYONE in the world is loveable and worthy of marriage but you are not! I would look at some of the brides at the expos…and think to myself…really???<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why you but not me?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So many times I felt like the world’s biggest loser.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was so hard for me to be there and I am ashamed to say…. I had a horrible attitude about it all and the dialogue in my head was not pretty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Andy; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">But as you know in the past two Years (yes two years…I can’t believe it has been that long!)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have dedicated my life to God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m tired of doing things “My” way only to have it end in total disaster.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am committed to the Lord and I pray daily for the Lord to change my heart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And guess what?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He has.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The wedding expos in the past seemed like a form of torture and now I can truly say I look forward to them. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am happy for the brides and enjoy helping them plan for their weddings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is no longer any malice in my heart being at a wedding expo.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I even had to do wedding expos this year on my B-day, New Years Eve, and New Years Day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not a problem!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What can I say…I’m not who I was!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Andy; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Andy; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="font-family: Andy; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Andy; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What I have learned is this…walking with the Lord is so freeing!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am free to experience joy in all things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am free to love others, even when my life is less than perfect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am free to live and love my life just as it is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What a gift!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you have a broken heart or are struggling with life I hope you can go to God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Start listening to Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Give it to him…over and over and over.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Get on your knees and say out loud how you are feeling and ask God to help you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I promise he will.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He loves you so very much.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is the binder of broken hearts…but binding a broken heart takes time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t grow weary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let the Lord work in your life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Andy; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Psalm 147:3<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Andy; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I hope you can give your life and all that you are to him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He will use you exactly where you are….and maybe even take you and use you at places you never even imagined he would.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like a Wedding Expo…ha!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or maybe something even grander than that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Andy; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Andy; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="font-family: Andy; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>Tiersahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09028739846766641946noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-254983301696262551.post-34954773749518679082011-09-23T22:32:00.000-07:002011-09-23T22:32:23.462-07:00The Counterfeit…<span style="font-family: Andy; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">So I took my son to college…and now I’m in the process of moving out of my apartment and figuring out life with him gone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some days are harder than others but I am doing ok.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m actually doing better than ok…I’m doing great.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s not that I don’t miss Chance I do…with all my heart, but I also feel so blessed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My friends and family have been so good to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like take for instance, I am moving this weekend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have been SO worried about how I was going to move my big stuff out of my apartment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is something my son and his friends have helped with in the past.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This morning I had to give it to God because it seemed to me as though no one was willing to help….then WHAM, all of a sudden I have 5 guys coming after church to help.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of the guys I don’t even know!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How amazing is that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Give your cares and worries to God, I promise He will see them through! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Andy; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Andy; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">So….this past July my Aunt gave me a book to read called Knight in Shining Armor by P.B. Wilson.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I started reading it on July 4<sup>th</sup>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a glorious day, the sun was out and I parked it on my back porch for most of the day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now you would think by the title it is all about finding that Prince…which it is…but even more than that is about how to be ready for your prince when he shows up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are so many things that stood out to me in this book.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One is she asks for you to take a six month vow not to date.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Take six months to work on yourself, grow closer to God, and let Him change you from the inside out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I decided to do this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know I need to work on myself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>PB says…If you allow God, He will make the changes in you that will allow you to be attracted to the kind of person God<br />
has in mind for you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t know about you but I have no desire to be attracted to the “Bad Boy” type or for guys maybe you are only attracted to certain looks….or you always want to rescue the damsel in distress.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is probably not God’s best for you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Andy; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">In 1 Samuel 16:7 it says….Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He Lord does not look at the things man looks at.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Man looks at the outward appearance but the Lord looks at the heart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Andy; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">Friends….It’s time to break that cycle!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s time to start looking at the heart!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Andy; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">In taking this 6 month vow I realized it would be from July 4<sup>th </sup>to Jan. 4<sup>th</sup>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jan. 4<sup>th </sup>is a VERY significant day in my life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a day I lost a dear friend to tragic circumstances.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It will be exactly one year to the day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I KNOW that means something.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t know what exactly, but I know I have given myself to God since that day and I can’t help but think God is telling me, He has heard my prayers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(I don’t believe in coincidences anymore…only God-incidences.)<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Andy; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">There is so many things I could share with you from this book(and I may in the future) but the thing that has captured my attention the most is when PB says…..Be careful, Satan will often send a counterfeit before the original arrives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hmmmm…a counterfeit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Have you ever fallen for a counterfeit?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know I have… I feel like a few have even come around recently, but I am standing firm waiting and working to be ready for when the real deal shows up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Until then….I am loving my life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am serving God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I am confident God has me right where He wants me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hope you feel the same.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Andy; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Andy; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="font-family: Andy; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTS9inBkufj6b9-aLIxs10xjswIzCuYFv-oWgcE5mSTdqrPN_djiWji_IHpNzSgHWBa3bmHKpeOrHeAfUotOjiGKq7v0YMBwyhCIIllVBjuOdJbRirEb8s8HQjWLhwIEJkEnQwVfLigvA7/s1600/Dear+Heart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTS9inBkufj6b9-aLIxs10xjswIzCuYFv-oWgcE5mSTdqrPN_djiWji_IHpNzSgHWBa3bmHKpeOrHeAfUotOjiGKq7v0YMBwyhCIIllVBjuOdJbRirEb8s8HQjWLhwIEJkEnQwVfLigvA7/s1600/Dear+Heart.jpg" /></a></div>Tiersahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09028739846766641946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-254983301696262551.post-92063310194878042732011-08-17T23:03:00.000-07:002011-08-17T23:03:58.633-07:00How to take your son to college…<br />
<span style="font-family: Andy; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">So it happened.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I took my son, Chance to WSU.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have to say so far I’ve done pretty well. </span><span style="font-family: Andy; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I’m not sure why…don’t know if it just hasn’t fully hit me yet. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can’t say I’ve been very faithful about it lately or really trying to give it to God because I just haven’t really been able to pray.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t know if that has ever happened to you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes I am like a prayer warrior, praying all the time for anything and everyone that God puts in my mind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And other times I can barely utter a sentence to God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is one of those times.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I know I have lots of friends and family members praying for me and I have to believe their prayers are carrying me as I go through the motions, feeling kind of numb to it all. So here are my thoughts of all that has transpired the last couple of days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(The good and the bad…keeping it real here!)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Andy; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Andy; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="font-family: Andy; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Andy; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">1<sup>st</sup> off I have to say taking your son to college seems utterly ridiculous.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It feels like you’re being punked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m thinking to myself…. I’m really supposed to leave you here…just like that?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like seriously?!?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If I can say anything to parents who are going to be in my shoes in the next couple of years….don’t coddle or do everything for your kids.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Start giving them some freedom with boundaries.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Send them away to camps.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Give them some sort of independence of you because once they go off to college, it’s pretty much over.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You drop them off outside of a wheat field and they are on their own.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Andy; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">The 2<sup>nd</sup> thing that I did not realize until we got to college was how cool my son is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I mean he is REALLY cool.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I mean like totally, really, super cool.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I am in fact the opposite of that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am so not cool.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like totally, really, super un-cool. And just really embarrassing to be around.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know this is all normal for them to portray (I’m so cool and chill and yeah my Mom is not) But it was a bit much to swallow at times.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And it wasn’t just my son…I<br />
noticed it with just about all parents and their kids.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’d make eye contact with a fellow parent and it was like…yep I’m walking 5 steps behind my kid because they don’t want anyone to know I’m with them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And we’d just nod at each other.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think this happens for 2 reasons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>1. They want their independence so bad and they think they are ready to take on the world and as a parent we represent the opposite to them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And 2.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If Chance was super clingy or seemed sad at me leaving him it would have been 10X’s harder to say goodbye.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God knows what we need to get it done, and believe it or not the least painful way was for him to be a little stinker.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was so much easier for me to say goodbye this way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Andy; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">The 3<sup>rd</sup> thing I noticed was the girls.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lots and lots of really cute girls.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I’m not sure cute really is the word I should use to portray these girls.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even Chance couldn’t help himself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He’d say to me (the super un-cool Mom) Wow…did you see that/those girls? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s hot in Eastern WA and so lots of girls in shorts and tank tops.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hard to miss.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So of course I had to give my son the lecture….Chance don’t you dare go for a girl just on looks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Make sure she has a good heart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Make sure she loves God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(I could give this lecture to a few men I know too!)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m sure you know how that went over, but a Mom’s gotta say what a Mom’s gotta say.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I really didn’t mind being deemed un-cool for that one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Andy; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">So having said that all, I really am excited for Chance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know he is exactly where God wants him for now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is hard to let go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But as I was driving home today 3 different times on the radio and on different stations I heard Matthew West’s song…More.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I knew when I heard it….It was about Chance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And as much as a Mother loves her one and only child (or any of her children)….God loves them more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>More than you can imagine….more than you can fathom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And yes I did cry a bit on the way home, and even though I had no prayers in my head to pray, God knew my heart and He answered my un-said prayers through that song.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He’s that Good!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Andy; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Andy; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="font-family: Andy; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Andy; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">So when you take your son to college just be ready to leave them there. (Yes, I’m serious!) <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Be ready to be un-cool.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Be ready to give them grace when they act like they don’t want to be around you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Be excited for the adventure they have begun, and mostly remember God is in control of their lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Andy; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Thank you to all my friends and family for praying for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I felt your prayers and God’s peace throughout the last couple of days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Andy; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">And one final thing…When you take your son to college be sure to give him a GIANT hug and kiss goodbye and tell him how much you love him and how proud you are of him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And that is how you take your son to college.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Andy; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><a href="http://youtu.be/UnEUWSQuLBs">Take a listen... Matthew West....More</a></span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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Tiersahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09028739846766641946noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-254983301696262551.post-66969311657865606142011-07-17T16:54:00.000-07:002011-07-17T17:40:55.847-07:00The American Idol....<span lang="EN">So when my son was a freshman in High School our church had a class for parents on teenagers and how hard it is to be a teen in this day of age. I was really struck by something one of our Pastors said. He said the biggest growth impact he had in his Christian teenage life was when he was a freshman and his Mother started to get up early and read her Bible down stairs. He would get up and see his Mother every morning reading her Bible and this by far had the biggest impact his Christian teenage walk. He encouraged us not to go to our rooms and have our “private time” with God but to live it out loud in front of our children. That our example will impact our children greatly. <br />
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Now, you think I would of taken this advice but I did not. I thought about it a lot…but I was not living my own life according to what God wanted for me, and really avoided alone time with God. (He might tell me something I didn’t want to hear.) SO I did my own thing…..and we all know my story by now. I had to be broken, and submit my life to Christ in order to be restored. A process I am still in as we speak. But for almost a year now I have been reading my Bible, and studying his word, and praying most mornings on my couch 1<span style="font-size: small;"><sup>st</sup> thing in the morning. My son has walked out of his room more than once and has “caught me” in the act. I heard him mumble under his breath once…Who are you? And what have you done with my Mother? Ha! You see I am not a morning person…or I wasn’t but God is changing me from the inside out and I find my behavior is changing right along with it. I also leave my Bible open to the passage I am reading, my journal, and my assortment of books laying out on the couch when I am done. I’m not sure why I started doing that…but anyhow the other day I looked at them sitting on the couch as I was walking by and I saw a book my son was reading sitting along side my pile of books. It is a book he is reading with his young life group and my heart skipped a beat as I realized, He is being impacted by my example. Praise God! Do I wish I had started doing this when he was a freshman? Yes, of course but I can’t go back…. only forward and I am so thankful God is a God of 2<sup>nd</sup> chances. (or 3 or 4!) <span style="font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">So I am thankful for Pastor Jeremy sharing his story and that God uses us, when we chose to obey. (even if it is a little late!) </span><br />
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<span lang="EN"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitWEl34Hau0zLNU9hvdZzktLoJ6EfCBz0wBW2CIWoa7q7wEj_NYiwohlzv8BoXzM-gSataRYD56poR-zWc-cE9Y0hv4Q80PNmjjM2whpkxOEI3bugBP_FDqPScIxsiFKSuXTj10yBx11oR/s1600/IMG_2770.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitWEl34Hau0zLNU9hvdZzktLoJ6EfCBz0wBW2CIWoa7q7wEj_NYiwohlzv8BoXzM-gSataRYD56poR-zWc-cE9Y0hv4Q80PNmjjM2whpkxOEI3bugBP_FDqPScIxsiFKSuXTj10yBx11oR/s320/IMG_2770.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>This morning I was reading in Beth Moore’s book, Praying God’s Word, Breaking free from God’s strongholds. It is a book I just happened to stumble upon at our Goodwill store. I was there for a totally different reason and decided to give a quick look at the book section. It is the 1<span style="font-size: small;"><sup>st</sup> book I looked at. And I decided to buy it. Already I know God put this book in my path for a reason. This morning I read something that I could totally relate to. Beth says in Chapter 2, page 34 in the 1<sup>st</sup> paragraph……God seems to work in themes in my life. You know what I mean. Every sermon, morning devotional, and Christian radio program “coincidentally” speak to me about the same subject for an uncomfortable length of time. I’ll even get a card in the mail from a Christian friend I haven’t seen or heard from in ten years-and you guessed it-she’ll share on the same exact “theme”. </span><br />
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I don’t know about you but I can totally relate. I have had two big themes in my life this year. Every where I go, look, or see there it is. The 1<span style="font-size: small;"><sup>st</sup> one I have talked a lot about and that is waiting on the Lord. Not taking things into my own hands. I need to wait on God’s timing and leading in my life. </span><br />
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The 2<span style="font-size: small;"><sup>nd</sup> theme that keeps coming up in my life is idols. We have had several sermons on this at church(today even!) and in my Bible studies(today even in Beth’s Book!) and conversations, the theme of idols keeps coming up. </span><br />
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You may wonder what I mean when I say the word “idol”. An idol is something in our life that we make more important than God. It will control our thoughts and attitudes, and even our lives. When our thoughts and minds are controlled by something other than God it is in fact, a form of worship. There are a lot of different idols out there. Our jobs, our families, our finances, our status, etc. <br />
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So…I am a thinker. I think…. and think…. and think…and then I analyze…. and analyze….. and analyze…and then I think some more until I have worked myself into quite a frenzy. I wake up in the morning thinking…and unfortunately they are usually not good thoughts. I wake up most mornings overwhelmed and I am not even out of bed yet. The enemy attacks me before my feet have even hit the ground! That is why my morning prayer and Bible reading have become so vital for me. I don’t want to start my day defeated. <br />
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And a big part of that has been my singleness. I have spent a lot of time and energy thinking about being single. It has consumed my thoughts. Even now I can get drawn into certain aspects of it and it is all I think about. I call up my girlfriends…I’ve got to talk to you…and blah, blah, blah,…..I’ve spent an hour venting about something that I should be giving to God. The war really is in our mind. Satan loves to plant a seed in our insecurities and watch it grow. It becomes bigger than God himself and sets us on a path of worshiping the problem instead of trusting God. <br />
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It says in 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to diminish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and <i>we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ</i>. <br />
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When I first read this verse I felt like I had hit the jackpot…and I still do! We don’t fight with weapons of this world….we have DIVINE power…We take captive EVERY thought and make it obedient to Christ. Wow! This verse has become my prayer and my one, two punch against Satan. He has no victory in our lives unless we let him control our thoughts and mind. I’m not sure what your idol is in your life. Maybe it is your singleness, or your children that go…go…go.. or your bank account that never has enough money, or the circumstances in your life that seem oh, so grim. I don’t know what rules you and your thoughts but I do know it’s not too big for our heavenly father to overcome. Why do we let our thoughts think differently?<br />
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Beth Moore said it perfectly in Praying God’s Word, page 21.….I think that sometimes God must listen to our pitifully small acclamations, expectations, and petitions in prayer, and want to say, “Are you talking to me? I’m not recognizing myself in this conversation. Are you sure you have the right God?” <br />
It says in Isaiah 44:6&8 My Father, I acknowledge that you are the Lord almighty. You are the first and You are the last. And apart from You there is no other God. Make me witness to the fact that there is no other rock but you. Enable me to say with full assurance, “I know not one.”<br />
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Let’s remember God is the All Mighty, Prince of Peace, and Everlasting Father. There is nothing He can’t do. He is the one true God. Worship Him with our mind, body, and soul. I hope you can recognize the idols in your life and let God be the Lord and ruler of your life and thoughts. This is not an easy task to do but I know when we earnestly seek God, He will make a way. Once again it may not be easy, but we are all in this together. <span style="font-family: Wingdings;">J</span><br />
</span>Tiersahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09028739846766641946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-254983301696262551.post-17797944893404931232011-06-23T22:36:00.000-07:002011-06-23T22:36:27.485-07:00Life or Something like it….<span lang="EN">My son has officially graduated from High School and we have been on a graduation party blitz for sure. I’ve run into so many people that I don’t normally see and it has been nice to catch up with them. They ask me what my sons’ plans are for the future. I proudly tell them he is going to WSU (Washington State University) in the fall. They then say…Wow that is wonderful good for him, etc….and then the next question out of their mouths always is…..What are you going to do with yourself when he is gone? I kinda stumble on that one. And then I say the truth….Ummm, I don’t know. It’s funny to see their reactions…some look at me sadly, some laugh at my frankness, and some look at me confidently like….I know you will be Ok. And that is how I truly feel. I will be Ok. But life will definitely be different. Time will tell and I have no choice but to trust God and see where He leads me in my life. <br />
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The last few days I have been asked two very hard questions by two dear friends. One asked me…Why do bad things happen to good people? And the other friend asked….Why does life have to be so hard? Those are two doosies of a question aren’t they? Life….it is hard. Life…..it is so not perfect. Life……it can bring you to your knees at times. But I’ve learned that is not such a bad place to be.<br />
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Tonight at a graduation party I went to, I talked to a dear friend I haven’t seen in awhile. She is amazing and it was so nice catching up with her. She has a son with a severe form of Muscular Dystrophy. She was telling me how it is getting harder and harder for him to walk and they had to put ramps at their home because he will probably need a wheelchair soon. With tears in her eyes she told me she KNOWS God will use everything her son is going through for good somehow and God has given her peace even though his condition is deteriorating. All I could do is hug her through my teary eyes and agree.<br />
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I have another friend who’s college aged son has turned away from God. He has decided he is an atheist. This fact torments my friend. Her worst fear is that he will die not knowing Jesus as his Lord and Savior. I have another friend who’s husband has decided he’s not in love with her anymore after 20 some years of marriage. She doesn’t know what to do. Life is SO hard! I could go on and on with more stories about dear friends truly hurting. <br />
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And then you ask…. Why? What’s the point of all this hurt and heartache? And truly the only thing that popped up in my head when asked these two very hard questions is…. Everything that happens in our lives good and bad is to make us more like Christ. He wants us to seek out His help in our lives. <br />
Unfortunately, if life was perfect and easy all the time we probably would have no need to go to God. (Although I wouldn’t mind testing this theory out for awhile. ha!) <br />
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It says in 1 Peter 1:7 These trials come so that your faith, of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire, may be proven genuine and may result in praise, glory, and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. In the New Century Version it says in verse 7... These troubles come to prove that your faith is pure. God wants us to cling to him in hard times. God is refining us. God wants our faith to be pure. <br />
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I know personally my relationship with God has always strengthened and grown through my hardships. Those are the times I have clung to my Bible and prayed the most diligently. I have learned God’s promises are true. <br />
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Through the years I have known some really bad things happen to really great people and at the time it has made no sense. But as time has gone by I have been able to see how God has used it for good in them. My prayer is that God is doing that in me and in you too. <br />
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Romans 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. <br />
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I don’t know that anyone can entirely answer those two questions. Like I said, They are doosies but I know when Bad things happen and life get’s REALLY hard, God will always be there for you. God says…. He will never leave us nor forsake us. Seek him. Be real with your friends and family and let them pray and bare the burden with you. We all are in this together friends. <br />
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Hebrews 10:23-25<br />
Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another and all the more as you see the day approaching. <br />
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So I know I did not really answer those tough questions but I am so thankful to know that God is in control of my life and no matter the hardship I face He will always be by my side. Which is a great comfort to me….because life IS hard! And in the end I want to be proven faithful…and my faith made pure. He is by your side too. Don’t be afraid of Life…God never promised us it would be easy. He only promises we won’t go it alone. </span>Tiersahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09028739846766641946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-254983301696262551.post-4493027761250557532011-06-06T00:23:00.000-07:002011-06-06T00:23:19.734-07:00My Epiphany<span lang="EN">So as you know my son is getting ready to graduate from High school. We have one week to go and I have to say I am keeping it together pretty good so far! Last night was Prom and in true Gig harbor style(the town I live in) He took a yacht from our little town of Gig Harbor to the hustle and bustle of downtown Seattle. And when I say Yacht I am not kidding. This boat is WAY nicer than the apartment we live in. <br />
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In the beginning prom started as quite a fiasco for my son. He was going ask a really good girl friend to prom…and the day he was going to ask her someone else asked her 1<span style="font-size: small;"><sup>st</sup>. He was going to try again with another good friend and it happened again! I was praying…Lord please send him the perfect person and the perfect situation for Prom and of course the Lord answered in a big way. Not only did he get to go with an amazing girl and group of friends but he got to ride on a yacht called “The Epiphany” to the Prom. Not a bad way to go as you can see! Yes we all are officially jealous! Oh and I forgot to mention it was the most beautiful day of the year so far. God is so good! </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgt_ghNnpf-HD5WNcLzNLSdzy7OWZNZU3Qwilmy5ZpK927fpKB3LJhG_KGWVq5MOg9XiXXxheY0qg7Hp-wcUDIJtReNujsc_ODMqjDj70gm2EPfRUKlW8Sa7fMF7C5sIi5EEtHZyZxpJzq/s1600/IMG_5343.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgt_ghNnpf-HD5WNcLzNLSdzy7OWZNZU3Qwilmy5ZpK927fpKB3LJhG_KGWVq5MOg9XiXXxheY0qg7Hp-wcUDIJtReNujsc_ODMqjDj70gm2EPfRUKlW8Sa7fMF7C5sIi5EEtHZyZxpJzq/s320/IMG_5343.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
As I drove home tonight from my son’s youth group that was honoring all the seniors I was just thinking and reminiscing about all that God has done in our lives. It has NOT been easy but I have to say it has been so worth the journey. God has taken us and restored us in so many ways. I am SO proud of the young man my son has become(having said that, at times I am not happy with every decision he makes) but I see how God has used the hardships in his life for good. I see God’s blessings in our lives. And for the most part I am so proud of him and the young man he has become. And then I had my own Epiphany. <br />
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I know I have stated before that this has been such a hard year for me. (probably going on a year and a half now) I’ll give you the time line. So in March of 2010(I think, it’s kind of a blur) I ended my engagement. I know it was not meant to be and I know God was telling me not to marry this person but I have to say…even with all that it was a really hard decision. I loved this person and his children very much! They were in my life for over 5 years and even though I knew with everything in me it was not right…it was hard to let them all go. Like I said…I loved them very much. Not an easy thing to do. Then in April my beloved Grandmother died suddenly. She had a very full and great life but I have never had anyone close to me die and it was very hard to say goodbye. That summer was really hard. I was battling depression and the devil was working over time to make me feel worthless and unlovable. In Oct. my Grandpa died… I was always Grandpa’s girl and once again so hard to say goodbye. Then in January someone I loved dearly and was housemates with for 31/2 years ended his life. My son and I were both devastated. We still are having a hard time with it. My sister lives in Christchurch New Zealand and they have had unbelievable amounts of eathquakes where they live. They truly have been tramatized and it has been very upsetting for my whole family to have her and her husband and son go through all they have gone through. Their house at times has been unlivable. It is hard to see your family members so upset and hurting. And then..just a couple of months ago one of my sons friends killed himself. My son, Chance was quite close to this young man and it was extra tragic as he had two older brothers who did the same thing. They killed themselves their senior year of high school. Hard to even fathom isn’t it??? So you see it has been an unbelievably hard year. So much loss, so much hardship, so much pain. <br />
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Last night my friend messages me and she wanted to fix me up with someone. He sounded really good on paper. Christian, nice, goes to church, handsome, a certain age, etc. And at first I was tempted to say…Absolutely! Sounds great..set me up. But I KNOW…God has told me to wait. I truly feel as though God has asked me to wait on His timing and purpose….that there is someone I am supposed to be with but it is not the right time yet. I have asked God to release me from this(because it makes me feel insecure and crazy at times.) But God has made it clear to me I need to wait, that He has the ultimate plan and purpose and it is in His timing. <br />
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And then tonight my Epiphany hit…through all the hardships…through my son graduating…..through everything the past year has brought me I have had only one person to lean on….and that is God. I’ve had no shoulder to cry on. I’ve had no one to make it better for me. I took no pills or had anyone that I would depend upon except the Lord himself. I have looked to His word and to Him only. I have grown like I never have before. In the past I would look to whom ever I was in a relationship in to make it all better. The only relationship I am in right now is with the Lord Jesus Christ. He is my salvation, He is my rock, He is my anchor, He is who I trust in. What a blessing! To know I can have the hardest year of my life hands down and God will see me through. I have leaned on God’s word. I have spent countless hours with him. I have a life group from my church that I learn and grow with through God’s word. So I have learned no matter what, even if I wait a lifetime for the person God has for me, I know God will always be there for me. He will see me through. <br />
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If you are going through a hard time or hardship I want you to know God is here for you. Your spouse or friend or family member or boy friend can’t make it right. But our heavenly Father can. He loves you. He want to be your everything. People let us down…but God he is always faithful. He is always there. He will never let go. Learn to depend on Him. GO TO HIS WORD! Just start reading. God will bring you to where you need to be. Keep the faith.<br />
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Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. <br />
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Sometimes it is REALLY hard to see. But faith and hope are what God asks of us…and what He gives to us when we come to him. Give your concerns to God. Let Him guide your life. You won’t be sorry I promise. Keep the faith! Lean on God!</span>Tiersahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09028739846766641946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-254983301696262551.post-45808813380675144092011-05-17T20:32:00.000-07:002011-05-17T20:32:53.556-07:00Let it go…<span lang="EN">So as you know I have an 18 year old son who is about to graduate from High school. I’m going to be honest with you. This is going to be an emotional month for me. I really can’t talk about it with out tearing up. He is my only child and I literally can not believe how fast the time has gone. If I could, I would reverse the hands of time and make him little again. I know that is not going to happen so I must accept that he is growing up and soon will be on his way to college. <br />
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As a single mom it is so easy to make your child your world. I have said more than once…He is my EVERYTHING…He is all I have….If anything ever happened to him…. It is a lot for one kid to live up to or have put on him. I’m sure at times to him it seemed as though all my happiness rested on him. To me in fact he is my best friend. (although I’m not so sure he would say the same about me!)<br />
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Last post I wrote about my mission trip with him to Mexico and how I had to lose myself for God. What I failed to mention was part of my problem on that trip was my motive to be there. I wanted to serve God, and I wanted to help out these families, and I wanted to make a difference but what I mostly wanted to do was keep an eye on my son and make sure nothing happened to him. You see I am(or I am a recovering) helicopter mom. I can hover like a Duey. (and if you didn’t know that is one BIG helicopter!) <br />
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I have always been a very protective mom(ok maybe over protective Mom might be the word or AKA…control freak!) I definitely did not see it that way until two years ago when God started whispering in my ear…Let him go. But Lord, he needs me! Let him go….but he might get hurt….Let him go….but it’s my job to protect him….and God responded once again…..Let him go and give him to me. He is MY child….Let him go! <br />
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God actually had been telling me this for awhile and I did let certain things go. I let him go to youth group with out me. (Ha…I know that sounds pathetic…but before I went as a leader….that was my disguise to hover over him.) And I let him go to friends homes silly things like that…but then the BIG test came. The following years Mexico mission trip. God told me to let him go with out me. My reply was….Huhhhh….NO WAY! <br />
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Our church takes great care of our kids and takes every precaution going down to Mexico but it by no means is safe. You have probably heard of the drug wars going on and there is always some risk involved when you cross the border. But God made it so clear to me. Let him go….I will take care of him. So I let him go with out me and it was one of the hardest things I have ever done as a parent. I pretty much prayed and cried the whole week. And God did take care of him. And once again he went this year with out me. It still was hard but I also had a lot of peace knowing God was in control. <br />
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I now know God has been preparing me to let my son go off to college. If I hadn’t started letting him go the last 2 years how in the world would I be able to let him go now? I’m not going to lie it still is going to be so hard but I trust God. I know he has my son in His mighty hand. I know it’s time to let go and trust Him with the plan and purpose for my sons life. <br />
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My question to you is….What are you holding onto? Are you holding onto your kids like I was? Are you holding onto a relationship that isn’t in God’s plan for you? Are you holding on to bitterness for your ex or someone else who has wronged you? God says over and over in the Bible…Trust me! <br />
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Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not unto your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him and he will direct your paths. <br />
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Colossians 2:6-7 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 the faith as you have been taught. Your life should be full of thanks for Him. <br />
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It really does boil down to faith. Are you letting go and trusting God…letting him lead you in every step? Or are you holding on to something that is Gods. Our children are Gods. Our lives are Gods. Our plan and purpose are Gods. Our relationships with others are Gods. <br />
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I’d like to share something I wrote in my journal a couple of weeks ago.<br />
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The Sounds of my Son<br />
When you have a teenager you may not see a whole lot of them. But when I hear the door open at night I know he is home safe. When I hear the shower in the morning, I know he is up and getting ready for a new day. I hear him in his room laughing with his friends. Right now I hear him playing his guitar and I know all is well in the world. I am not sure what I am going to hear when he goes away to college but I know God will give me the strength I need when that day arrives. I am trusting God to see me through. <br />
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My hope is you are trusting God too! Now Let it go…..<br />
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</span>Tiersahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09028739846766641946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-254983301696262551.post-37467384502155808922011-04-28T08:31:00.000-07:002011-04-28T08:31:33.034-07:00It’s NOT all about me....<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">I really try to live by those words. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Easier said than done!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I read The Purpose Driven Life<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was drawn in right away at the 1<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">st</span></sup>sentence….It’s not about you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I want it not to be about me and yet there<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </b>I am always in the way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Being single I pretty much can do whatever I want whenever I want.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can cook whatever I want, spend my time and money however I please, and basically I don’t have to check in with anyone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s all about me!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">Of course if you have children they come 1<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">st</span></sup> but even as a single parent with a split custody situation I’ve always had quite a bit of time away from my son. Every other weekend, split Christmas Break, Spring Break, etc….and when that happens, it’s all about me baby.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Time for mama to shop, go tanning or do whatever I want…because I can!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">One of the traps of singleness is selfishness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s all about me…good or bad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can get stuck in the “Whoa is me” syndrome.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We feel like…no one really knows what being single is like….My life is hard if you only knew what <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>I</u></b> have to go through…..You have a partner, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>I</u></b>’m all alone…..<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>I</u></b> have to raise my children by myself….<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>I</u></b> have </span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">the financial burden of my household on me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>I</u></b>’s just keep coming.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But God tells us in the Bible<br />
in Luke 9:23 If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">God says we need </span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">to lose the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>I</u></b>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And that my friends is not an easy thing to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A couple of years back I had the privilege of going on a mission trip with my son to build houses in Mexico.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It sounds like a selfless act doesn't it? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I ended up learning a lot about myself on that trip and let’s just say it wasn’t pretty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I came into it saying…It’s not about me!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But as soon as I came across some hardships on the trip, it became all about me fast!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let me explain; <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">So 1<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">st </span></sup>off I had heard the stories of this trip from previous years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The weather could make you or break you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You are camping for 4 days in a big dirt pit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And for the record, I don’t camp.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(That is a whole other topic that I won’t get into.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let’s just say in my mind camping is the opposite of fun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But hey, this isn’t about me…right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No problem.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I got this camping thing. )<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">I had three big fears going into this trip.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would get or be sick.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>B.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That we would have horrible weather and <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>C.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That something would happen to my tent and the things in my tent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not likely these things would happen….right???<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">The day before we were to go I was so sick I couldn’t get out of bed. (And yes I got my stinkin flu shot!)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was miserable!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once we got to Mexico it started to rain....hard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You literally dig trenches around your tent for the water to go into in hopes it won’t go into your tent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our vans got stuck in the mud, we couldn’t even do a full day’s work the 1<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">st</span></sup> day there because it was raining so hard. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So there I am sick, cold, and in the pouring down rain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not happy but trying to tell myself……It’s not about me. Then we go back to our campsites and that is when I get the news….There was a big wind gust while we were gone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not only did our tent blow down but our tent pole gouged it and there was a hole in the top of our tent roof. (Still raining mind you!)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our stuff and sleeping bags were wet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thankfully before we left for our sites I had put black garbage sacks around our sleeping bags so it could have been a lot worse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But still, we had to duct tape our tent back together, try to dry it out and I felt like my head weighed 100 pounds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was not going well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The next day the weather was better but still a mess outside from the rain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I still felt horrible, and the work was HARD Labor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It involved a very rickety staircase (if you could call it that), heavy buckets of dirt mixed with concrete and poured out to make a slab.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m not gonna lie I was not used to that kind of work and by the end of the day I was worn out and done.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Done with everything and everybody.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was having the BIGGEST gripe session ever in my head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was thinking…I hate this…this is not fun…I don’t want to be here…why did I think I would be able to do this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m never coming back again…ever!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t want to be here for two more days, I’d give anything to get out of here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is so NOT worth it!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">You get the ugly picture.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was about me and I had enough.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I went into the gathering tent for dinner quite grumpy and put out when God exposed my selfish heart for what it was.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">There was a local pastor who had come to visit us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He </span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">spoke only in Spanish and had to be interpreted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He started out by saying how thankful they were that we were there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That his church had been praying for us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To them we were like angles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That these 4 days we gave to them building houses will change their families’ lives forever. I began to cry tears of shame.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I couldn’t believe how fast I went from it’s not about me…to It’s all about me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I prayed right there for God to forgive me and to change my heart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a very humbling experience for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The rest of the week did not go perfectly or smoothly but it did not matter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had decided to lose myself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was one of the most amazing experiences of my life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I got to serve the Lord side by side with my son and grow in God’s grace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a memory I cherish with all my heart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would not change one rotten circumstance for anything on that trip.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">I am still learning to lose myself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is not an easy act to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How about you?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is your life all about you?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Are you constantly comparing your life to others and griping about it?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or are you serving, growing, and giving to others?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is what God has called us to do single or not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Put yourself in situations where you have the opportunity to lose yourself for God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Start serving others in your community, church, go on mission trips, or where ever God leads you. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And trust me if you ask Him…he will lead you to serve him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t be afraid!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It really is time to say and show….It’s not about me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span>Tiersahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09028739846766641946noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-254983301696262551.post-64359916087279132982011-04-07T00:48:00.000-07:002011-04-07T00:48:16.294-07:00Let’s Get Intimate…<span style="font-family: Andy; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">SO…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The main reason I am doing this blog is to reach out to other singles and let them know they are not alone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I love that God is speaking to others besides singles through this blog.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You never know what God will do with something when he calls you to it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I have to say….it is hard for me to spill my guts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have spent a lot of time and years doing the opposite.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have put up a wall and acted like everything was fine and I wasn’t struggling at<br />
all and life is peachy keen, don’t you know!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But that was not the case.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And God has REALLY laid it on my heart that I need to be real and authentic and spill the dirt on myself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was in a bad marriage for years but pretended everything was fine to my friends and family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At times I have felt alone, rejected, and so incredibly insecure being single.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve only let a few of my true inner circle friends know the “real” me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Andy; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I once read a definition of intimacy as into-me-see.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When you are truly intimate with someone you let them see the real you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The good, the bad, and the ugly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I think that is<br />
how we grow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We let our guard down and </span><span style="font-family: Andy; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">let God in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And a big part of that is fellowship with other like minded Christians.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God has REALLY been working on me in this area and I’d like to share how, but some of these details seem a bit intimate to me (and seriously embarrassing) but I have a feeling I am not alone in some of these areas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Andy; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I think in every singles walk there comes a time when you start to do the ring check.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You know what I mean….you see or meet someone randomly, maybe at the local coffee shop, grocery store, church, where ever and you think Hmmmmm…I wonder and then you look.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You know…. for the ring….the ring that is on the left hand….the hand that will state…… taken or available.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The ring check can become sort of an obsession.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Always looking. Always<br />
wondering.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Always on the prowl.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Your day can rise and set with a ring check.(Ooohhh he’s single!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dang…He’s married!)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Andy; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">But the thing I have been most guilty of is freaking out or being a complete weirdo when I meet someone who is single.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All of a sudden I make it really complicated and my wall comes up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(And let me tell you the Great Wall of China has nothing on the wall I can put up!)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let me explain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I meet someone through a friend or at church or whatever….these are the thoughts that would run through my head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh my gosh…What if he thinks I like him?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What is he likes me?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What if people start talking?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What if he likes me and I don’t like him?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What if I like him and he doesn’t like me?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What if, What if, What if….WHOOOOP….wall of China in place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would probably avoid them at all costs and I would not talk to them, definitely never get to know them, and probably act quite rude around them by giving them the cold shoulder. (Defense mechanism)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would never see them as a person to get to know and be friends with; I’d only see them as possible mate material.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is the only way I could relate to them because they were single and so was I.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It wasn’t until I read Michael Cavanaugh’s book The Power and purpose of Singleness that my heart was stirred to change.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He talked about God convicting his heart that he needed to see single women as his Sisters in Christ first.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This REALLY spoke to my heart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I rated every single guy I ever met as marriage material not as a brother in Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
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<o:p></o:p><span style="font-family: Andy; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">In my Life Group right now we are reading 1&2 Peter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I came across a verse that really spoke to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In 1 Peter 1:22 it says….Now that you have made your souls pure by obeying the truth, you can have true love for your Christian brothers and sisters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So love each other deeply with all your heart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
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<o:p></o:p><span style="font-family: Andy; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">This is what I have decided to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Obey God’s truth and love on my Christian Brothers and Sisters with all my heart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am seeing them through God’s eyes, not sizing them up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can’t tell you how this has freed me!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am waiting on the Lord for his plan and purpose and loving everyone God puts in my path.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m not looking for that ring anymore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m just looking at the person and letting God dictate how they fit into my life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And in the mean time I am getting to know some amazing people and growing in fellowship and God’s grace with them. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have so much more joy and peace in my life because of it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Andy; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Ask yourself:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Are you obeying God’s truth?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Are you sizing up people or getting to know them as brothers and sisters in Christ?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Are you being real and authentic with others?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Are you plugged into other like minded singles?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If not we’ve got to talk! Pronto! </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Andy; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Andy; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="font-family: Andy; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ask God for help in this area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ask Him to show you the way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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</div>Tiersahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09028739846766641946noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-254983301696262551.post-37236332982376215112011-03-26T22:39:00.000-07:002011-03-26T22:39:29.509-07:00The Panic Button.....<span lang="EN">When I was 1<sup>st</sup> divorced I did not date much and I never did anything away from my son if it was his weekend home with me. I hated being a part time Mom and I was very protective of my time with him. That is a decision I will never regret as he is 18 now ready to graduate from high school and getting ready to go to college. The time has gone so fast and I am so thankful that my time with him was my top priority.<br />
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When he was older and more social and did not need me home as much I started to date. I was married young, divorced young and was in no real hurry to get married again…..until I turned 35. I don’t know what happened to me but all of a sudden I hit the panic button…hard. It was like an old war movie….Aaaaoooogah, Aaaaaoooogha, All hands on deck, All hands on deck! This is not a drill, I repeat, this is not a drill. I literally went on a dating frenzy and it was for one mission and one mission only. To find a guy and get married A.S.A.P. (Now I should state that I was dating someone and in a relationship with him for 3 years prior to that summer. I truly thought I would marry that person and when it all fell through, it propelled me into my panicked state. I felt like I had wasted 3 “good” years with him and needed to find someone else immediately. I wasn‘t getting any younger!!!) <br />
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I did match.com , e-harmony, and went on any dates any of my friends would set me up on. But nothing was working. They all pretty much flopped. I was praying every night …God, PLEASE bring him to me. I am ready. I want to be married. And then God spoke to my heart….and he told me very clearly to wait. I will never forget it. I knew with all my heart that I was to wait on Him. That God had a plan for me and I needed to wait on his timing. And at first I did wait, but pretty quick I got impatient and took things into my own hands.<br />
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Oh how I wished I had waited. But I did not. I ended up getting back together with my ex-boyfriend, who then became my fiancé’ and is now my ex-fiancé’. It was not right and I knew it but I did not listen and at the time I did not care. I walked away from God to do my own thing. <br />
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Let me tell you, I have paid a price for my disobedience. I had to go through a lot of hurt and heartache to get myself back on track with God. In My Utmost for His Highest, Oswald Chambers says, “When you do not wait on the timing of God’s will, you will end in making difficulties that will take years of time to put right. Wait for God’s timing to bring it around and He will do it without any heartbreak or disappointment.” I wish I had listened to God. I can not undo what has been done but I have a choice now, and I choose to wait on the Lord. <br />
Just today I read in my Jesus Calling devotional by Sarah Young (Day March 26<sup>th</sup>) Waiting on Me(Jesus) means directing your attention to Me in hopeful anticipation of what I will do. It entails trusting Me with every fiber of your being, instead of trying to figure things out for yourself. <br />
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I am SO done with trying to figure things out for myself. I am ready and willing to wait on the Lord. If God has called us to wait, we have to trust that He is at work in our lives. <br />
Psalm 130:5 I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in His word I put my hope! <br />
Give God your life today. Tell Him you will wait on him. Put your hope in His word. <br />
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*Listen to song # 10 on my Single Girls Groove list. It is called While I am Waiting. This song really spoke to my heart when I heard it! I hope you enjoy! </span>Tiersahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09028739846766641946noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-254983301696262551.post-18980880886364454902011-03-23T19:29:00.000-07:002011-03-23T19:29:41.970-07:00The Pit of Despair....I love that I have married friends that are following my blog. It is so great that you are wanting to try to see a singles perspective! But the truth is unless you are in someone else's shoes you have no idea how it would feel. You probably do not know what it feels like to be the only single person invited to a dinner party with all other couples there, or to walk into church by yourself and sit alone every week. It is not an easy thing for a single to do.<br />
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I was married for 10 years and have been divorced for more than ten years now! (Yikes!) I have woken up on more than one occasion (and I'm sure it will happen again) and thought to myself...This is my life... really?? This wasn't supposed to happen to me. I was supposed to get married, have a great little house with the white picket fence, 3 kids in tow, be a stay at home mom, with a loving husband who adores me! What the heck happened? I'm sure you can relate! Life seems to of given you a curve ball you never saw coming. And it's not fair. Why oh why did this happen to me? The pit of despair has begun. It's pity party time, and I am ready to whoop it up. Maybe you've never been married and you are waiting...and waiting...and waiting....while it seems as though all your friends are getting married and starting families all around you. You think What gives? Why not me? No fair!....and you join me in my pitty party. <br />
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The devil just loves a good pity party. He loves it when we feel like God has really let us down. The madder we get at God the further away we walk from him...and frankly that is right where the devil wants us. In the Pits of despair. Nothing good ever comes out of there.....but I can't help but think of someone else who literally was in a pit and had some pretty crazy stuff happen to him, but instead of getting mad he stayed faithful. He knew God would see him through. You know who I am talking about, Jacob's son Joseph. The kid with the really fancy coat. <br />
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Joseph was thrown into a pit by his brothers because they were jealous of him. He was sold into slavery and later thrown into jail for something he did not do. Years and years passed by. And Joseph stayed faithful. We all know what happened later, Joseph became a very powerful man and God blessed him for his faithfulness. Joseph had a choice: He could be bitter at his circumstances and wave the "No Fair" flag or he could submit to God and continue to believe God and his promises. I have waved that flag more than once, but not anymore. I am truly believing God has an amazing plan for my life and yes my life has not turned out how I thought it would, but seriously who's life does? No ones. So you can be mad at God and miserable, or accept his will and trust him. Talk to God tonight and tell him you trust him even if you don't understand. Start your walk with him in faith....<br />
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*Read Genesis 37 -45 for the whole story of Joseph. Tiersahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09028739846766641946noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-254983301696262551.post-15133183112163629392011-03-19T21:16:00.000-07:002011-03-19T21:16:00.336-07:00You know the half...The half of the oreo cookie without the cream on it. You are not half of anything. You are whole and complete just as God made you. Now let me tell you I am a sucker for a sappy movie and a sappy line every time. I literally gasped out loud the 1st time I saw Jerry McGuire and heard the whole...You complete me and you had me at hello line. I remember thinking... I want my soul mate that completes me. (Where is he darn it?) Little did I know I was completed and whole in Christ. NO human being on the planet can complete you, or meet all your needs. It just is not possible. God says in Colossians 2:10 "In Christ we have been made complete." The 1st step in being joyful, content Christian Singles is knowing I am complete in Christ. He completes me....no one else! Now if you don't feel very complete, it's time to take it to God. He will show you the way but you have to GO to Him! <br />
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* Half a cookie illustration was inspired by The Power and Purpose of Singleness by Michael Cavanaugh Tiersahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09028739846766641946noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-254983301696262551.post-84015112269599179972011-03-18T23:28:00.000-07:002011-03-18T23:28:18.798-07:00Let me start by saying.....I have not always been so ready to give my life over to God. I have spent a lot of time doing the opposite. I have totally bought into the....You're no one with out someone line. I have had wrong relationship after wrong relationship and I almost married someone I had no business being with just because I was tired of being alone. But let's face it society does nothing to help a single girl out. They do tell us...You are no one with out someone. Two is better than one. I think you get what I am saying here.<br />
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So this past summer soon after I had called off my engagement I was pretty close to having a nervous breakdown. It all was just too much. I heard the lies in my head. You are no one with out someone. No one will ever love you. You aren't good enough. Yes, pretty dark stuff. I was really loosing it and then I found a book that started my transformation. (Well that and a really good Christian counselor.) The Book is called The Power and Purpose of Singleness by Michael Cavanaugh. It really sparked something in me. <span style="font-family: inherit;">I am on a mission to reach out to other singles. Guess what you are not alone. You my friend are not half a cookie....</span>Tiersahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09028739846766641946noreply@blogger.com1