En Espanol

One last post for the day:)  I guess I’m trying to make up for the last week.

On Saturday Jen and I went to our friend-Pastor Juan Garcia’s– ordination.  He is our friends’ dad and he pastors a Spanish-speaking church in the Dearborn area, called Oasis de Benedicion.  It was an awesome time:

1.  We got to sit in a Spanish-speaking service for 3 hours.  That’s a long time for someone to hear very words in her own native language.  I know several words in Spanish and it helped me to understand a number of things said throughout the service, but most of the time I had very little ideas of what they were talking about.  Everyone should do that every now and then.  I think it would help people to be more sensitive to people that are in this country and who have had a hard time learning to speak English.  I think that to live in any country a person needs to learn as much of the language as possible to survive and to thrive.  But I have to admit that I get sick and tired of high and mighty Americans whose pride in their English language causes them to become angry at immigrants (legal or not) that don’t know our language too well.  Working in Hamtramck has heightened my awareness in this area, and it was great, experiencing what I did on Saturady.

2.  In the midst of not knowing what was going on half the time, I found it incredible that I still sensed the presence of the Holy Spirit moving and working.  (imagine that!)  My spiritual senses were heightened, as words didn’t mean as much in those moments, as my heart-and the hearts of those around me.  God showed up and…no one around me was speaking English!  🙂  I think sometimes people forget that God speaks every language.  He understands every language.  I don’t forget that, really, but it was certainly on my mind that day.

3.  In talking with Jen on the way home, I said that it probably meant a lot to Pastor Juan that we came to his ordination.  He’s a very humble man to begin with, and he loves people.  He loves talking ministry with me, and I with him.  As a man who was called into the ministry later on in life, he knows that there’s still so much to learn, and he depends on God everyday.  But for two white girls, who know very little Spanish, to spend three hours listening to a language that they didn’t know, all to honor him at his ordination, that probably meant a lot to him.  He’s worth it.  I know that he invests into our lives with prayer when he thinks of us.  He’s encouraging and well, Juan is just awesome!

Christmas Ornaments

Remember the Christmas tree that we didn’t take down until February last year?  Well, it’s up again!

Last year my roommate, Jen, and I decided that for Christmas we would get each other ornaments for our tree.  I couldn’t resist thinking of Jen when I saw this Starbucks ornament last yearImg_5223:

Img_5221

So Jen got me this one…it’s okay…you can laugh:) 

This year I was ecstatic to present the ornament I had picked out…she showed it to me a couple of weeks ago, but I made the final decision on it…

Img_5219 …are you shocked and surprised???   It’s a shoe tree!  My roommate has a shoe collection that would put Barbie to shame.

And here she is, happily putting it on the tree.Img_5218

O Holy Night

The other night was Church of the King’s Annual Ladies Tea.  It was such a precious night for many ladies to get together to celebrate friendship, good food and the presence of God. 

Raina Swaggerty spoke on God’s presence, and she did an awesome job.Raina

I sat at a table with a group of new friends-3 of which are from South Africa.Carolines_table_edited1

I got a chance to catch up with some friends that I don’t normally get to talk with.  And I got a chance to wear my red, glittery top that only comes out once a year….maybe if I get a date for Valentine’s Day it’ll come out twice next year! 😉

Ladies_tea011

As Jamie lead us in Christmas worship songs, I wanted to dig deeper into my heart and "get" what I was singing about.  Christmas songs are so familiar.  They’re some of the main songs that I’ve sung my whole life.  I tend to lose the "wonder" aspect of what I’m really singing about when I echo these songs with other people.  Pastor Brad talked about wonder on Sunday morning.  I pray that I will always be filled with wonder about my Savior.

We sang O Come All Ye Faithful…O Holy Night…the usuals.  A line in O Holy Night struck me as I read the words on the screen.

"…til He appeared and our souls felt its worth…"

To me it’s like this.  My soul knew that it wasn’t worth much, due to the sin I’ve committed, but my soul really felt its worth when Perfection appeared.  "He appeared and [my soul finally realized how imperfect it was]"  His holiness put me to shame…ironically enough, in His holiness, He took my shame.

O Holy Night, indeed.

***On a slightly lighter note, click on the link below to hear beautiful version of this song.  Turn up the sound.  It’s great.

Download OHolyNight.mp3

King Jesus

I wish I’d posted this yesterday, because a song has officially slipped my mind and I can’t get it back.  😦

Rarely do I turn on the radio in my car in the morning because I’m not too fond of the "John and Rhonda Morning Show"-especially when the Birthday Blessings Club comes on.  The song they play for that gets on my nerves.  I didn’t have a CD in the player yesterday morning so the radio was the next best thing to silence in that moment. 

*Recently I’ve been experiencing great, random songs on the radio.  The other day, twice, I heard Crown2004a_1 this new song by a guy named DaWayne Woods, called "Let Go".  I just downloaded it from itunes-awesome song.*

Anyway, I wish I could remember what song I heard yesterday, but I know that it was an older song-maybe a hymn-that was redone in a contemporary style.  There were two words in the song that I haven’t been able to get away from…"King Jesus".

I was singing along with the artist, not too passionately, really, when all of a sudden I realized that there were tears streaming down my face as I sang the words, "King Jesus".  Huh.  He’s my King!  In a society where we have broken away from monarchy and have declared a democracy.  In a place where "the people have a vote".  In a country where everyone lives for themselves…I still have a King.

This is not just any King.  This is a King who stood, and still stands, on the front lines of battle for me everyday.  He has taken ridicule, abuse, beatings…all for me.  His enemy did not charge into His kingdom, to come after Him…He made Himself available for all of this.  That’s my King!  He makes me proud to serve Him as King. 

This stirred deep emotion in me as I drove to work yesterday and thought about Who I was singing about.  I can’t even remember the song, but I remember those two words.

King Jesus

Family Mission Statement

Tonight I arrived safely on Bosworth Lane, in Northfield, Illinois.  This is where one of my favorite families resides.  I got to take the dog for a walk, read several pages of a new book, hug on my 2 oldest nephews and enjoy my youngest laugh hard at me for the first time.  I got to see my brother and his wife.  It was a great night.

I’ve gotta admit one of my favorite things about tonight was reading something new that was stated in several places throughout the house (in the bathroom, in the kitchen…). 

It was the Burton Family Mission Statement, which states:

We are a family.  We are the Burtons.  We will live our lives to make Jesus smile.

If these are the people that I have to spend my week with, then maybe God wants to show me something about mission.  :0)  …because this family is on a mission.  What mission?  Well, its stated clearly in its mission statement, "to live [their] lives to make Jesus smile."  Certainly, this is a worthwhile mission.

I’ve got a few questions about that. What will that look like this week?  And how can I be a part of this great mission?  Can I steal that and tack it onto my own life mission statement? (To become better and to help others become better.)  It could now be:  To become better at making Jesus smile and to also help others become better at making Jesus smile.  Perhaps I will tweak that, but it will do for the moment.

I remember the first time I ever learned about such a thing.  It was as a student leader in my high school youth group.  I had an amazing youth pastor who taught us a thing or two about leading.  It’s hard to forget those times when he would walk us through writing and rewriting our mission statements and goals.  Sounds of "Failing to plan is planning to fail" run through my head even now!  I’m glad that at the age of 15 God wasn’t complete in writing my mission on my heart.  He has since expanded my heart beyond myself and my own desires.  I like that. 

If you have a family, it might be cool to write a mission statement together. It builds ownership.  Once we’ve got a goal in mind, we can always take anything we want to do back to the goal.  If something doesn’t somehow help to meet the goal, then it needs to be evaluated for what it’s worth in your life, or the life of your family.  Inspiration is running through my veins as I write.  I might even do this in my class. 

What’s your mission statement?

Thankful

This fourth week of November brings us all to a place where we are encouraged to think more about what we’re thankful for.  It’s one of those things that you either don’t know where to begin or you don’t know where to end.  This week I’d like to just keep posting what I’m thankful for…in no particular order:)  To be honest, this is more for me than for anybody else.  It’s just good to remember…

I’m thankful:

-that I grew up in church

–for change in my life

-that God gives me grace beyond what I clearly deserve

-that I am working at a school where I am appreciated

-that this year has brought me the coolest group of students to work with

-that I am from a cool place like Philly

-for a family that loves me more today than they ever did

-for my mom who is the BEST customer service representative at Cardone Industries (buy Cardone car parts!), winning 3 out of 5 awards at this year’s banquet

-for my dad who always draws Robbie the cat stamps on every envelope he gives me-and my biggest fan

-for my brother Todd who has always made me laugh

-for my sister-in-law Tiffany who giggles w/ me about silly things

-for my brother Dave who (finally 🙂 occasionally calls me out the blue to say Hi and who has committed to watching all of 24.Season 3 with me this week

-for my sister-in-law Stephanie, who has become one of my best friends and one of my favorite people to talk with

-for my nephew Robert who, at the age of 11, still gets so excited to see his Mim!

-for my nephew Ross who gets super sentimental when I leave him and makes me laugh when I come

-for my nephew Ryder who I’ve only met once-who I can’t wait to hold in 24 hours!

-for Jessica who lives far away but still sends me pictures of her and her family in the mail

-for Jen (Gowell) who has been my best friend since I was 8; my former roommate; my oldest friend

-for my roommate, Jennifer, who stays up late with me all the time to just hang out and who vaccuums @ 10.30pm and can’t seem to figure out how to work my TV/VCR

-for pigs (hah!)

-for Carrie who keeps me accountable for my thoughts and who makes me laugh a whole lot

-for Eddie and JT who really care when they ask me how I’m doing

-for Nicki-my mentor and friend-who keeps me accountable and whose life of integrity causes me to be grossly real with her

-for Chris for sharing Nicki with me;)

-for Brad who not only challenges me every time he preaches, but who introduces me to the funniest and weirdest websites ever…and he introduced me to blogging

-for Katie who is real with me and whose book I will someday own:)

-for Phil who thinks just like me!

-for Emily who has been moving through this season of her life with grace

-for a Peppermint Mocha from Starbucks (or a Mint Condition from Caribou)

-for Jamie who I love to worship with

-for Tal and Gwen who are my favorite example of what a couple should be

-for www.maps.google.com

-for King who lives in China but who still seems to impact my life on a regular basis

-for Richie and Michele who have shown me true friendship through their consistency

-for Church of the King-a body of people who want to see Metro Detroit filled with church plants

-for having the privilege of leading New Life Ministries-the best ministry ever!

-for my crockpot

–for hoodie sweatshirts

-for the opportunity to go to North Central-some life-changing years

-for Jeremy Camp‘s music

-for life!  it’s so amazing!

****This list is far from finished…I just need to go to bed, for tomorrow I drive to Chicago!

I’m Ready

After 2 1/2 weeks of trying to locate a copy of 24.Season 3, I finally have it.  I realized that I could catch up through Season 5 before it all starts in January.  This would make me happy.  So with these next few days off (and no work to do) I’m going to hang with my brother, and hopefully my sister-in-law, to watch Season 3.  I’m hoping to snatch Season 4 for Christmas in Philly and then Season 5 when I get home from break.

I know what you’re thinking.  "That’s crazy!"  And you’re right.  It has the potential to consume me for a couple of days.  I figure that as long as I pray for Jack Bauer to make it through safely then surely that will keep me focused on the Lord the whole time…

So I need to give a public shout-out to:

-Chris and Nicki Bradshaw for letting me borrow their copy of Season 3

-Matt Wyland for letting me borrow Chris and Nicki’s copy from him (cuz he had it)

-Carrie Cornelius for calling Matt right before he left for worship practice tonight to tell him to bring it

On this Thanksgiving, I am very thankful for these people.  🙂

Braces and Headgear

On the lighter side of life:Braces20030529

For the sake of my friend, Katie Trapp, I am posting this to try to grab some of the search hits she gets from her lovely post about "braces and headgear"…although to be honest, it doesn’t come up when I do that search.  Also, I’m not sure why this frustrates her so much either.  Anyway, this is just for fun.-mostly for Katie 🙂

Tearing Down Idols

I couldn’t help it but relate to Hezekiah as I read Isaiah 36-37 this morning.  The king of Assyriah taunted Hezekiah and his kingdom.

On what are you basing this confidence of yours?…And if you say to me, ‘We are depending on the LORD our God’-isn’t he the one whose high places and altars Hezekiah removed, saying to Judah and Jerusalem, ‘You must worship before this altar?’  vs.4, 7

Hezekiah worked to tear down idols that his people were worshipping.  And still the enemy (which you would’ve almost thought would’ve left along with the idols) comes and tries to bring discouragement, saying that LORD will not be able to deliver them from the Assyrians-who at this point had defeated many.  The king of Assyria tried to make it sound like the idols that were torn down were of this LORD that they worshipped.  He put questions in their minds and tried to cause them to doubt.  He told them not to listen to Hezekiah-not to trust him when he says that God will deliver them.

I find myself in this predicament at times.  I’ve actually been facing this taunting for awhile now, although I’m finding that because I don’t believe those lies so much anymore, it’s way easier to shut up the enemy.  🙂  I have idols that I’ve torn down in my life.  To be a little transparent, one of them is food.  Unfortunately if you know me, that won’t surprise you.  I kind of wish that it would surprise people, but fat chance (hah!  no pun intended).  Throughout my life I’ve heard preachers joke about their own weight and gluttony, and I’ve only ever heard one sermon specifically on the sin of gluttony and food as an idol.  Most of the other 17 works of the sinful nature get touched on though (the ones from Galatians 5)…so why not this one?

One of these last weeks of Neos, Pastor Brad’s sermon message was entitled Feast or Famine.  While he wasn’t specifically targeting overeating necessarily, I know that God reinforced some things about this aspect of my own sinful nature to me.  Overeating=Famine in my life.

It’s funny that a lot of Christians excuse their weight problems by throwing out, "while man looks on outside appearances, God looks at the heart."  To think that this has anything to do with outward appearances is actually ridiculous.  The fact of the matter is, this is completely a heart issue.  If my heart is set on worshipping the gods of the "golden arches", Ghiradelli double chocolate brownies, chocolate chip cookies, pizza and Coke, good night-how do I even fit Christ into my heart with all that stuff?  Let me tell you, it’s hard.  I try to shove Him in there.  He seems to only fit about halfway, because those things take up so much room!  They make my body get bigger, not my heart.  Hmmm…yeah…that doesn’t help me accomplish my life’s mission, right?

This is not to say that I have not been serving Jesus and that I don’t love Him.  Nor is it to say that I don’t take time to seek Him daily…none of those things.  But what I am saying is that the idols of my heart, no matter what form they come in, don’t allow Christ to take over as much as He desires to. 

So now that the idol has been torn down, the enemy tries so hard to taunt me-to invade my space.  He does it in the same ways he did with Hezekiah and his kingdom:

-by trying to get me to think that the idol was of God and that it was ridiculous to try to tear it down

-by trying to get me not to trust God’s power in my life

-by trying to get me to think that my confidence in the changing power of the Holy Spirit is worthless

-by trying to get me to doubt that God has delivered me from my sinful nature

-by tring to get me to just accept defeat; after all, overeating has taken over so many others

Thank God for His amazing power and deliverance in my life!  I praise Him for being so kind to me, to bring this to the surface in my life.  I thank Him for bringing a couple of incredible accountability partners into my life who pray for me and really want to walk through this moment in time with me.

You know the Father from personal experience. You veterans know the One who started it all; and you newcomers—such vitality and strength! God’s word is so steady in you. Your fellowship with God enables you to gain a victory over the Evil One. 1 John 2.13

Please get my heart on this.  Not everyone that’s overweight idolizes food…but I would venture to guess that many do.  Sin is sin and we need to take steps to walk in victory…I need to take steps to walk in victory. Actually, I am taking steps to walk in victory 🙂