An Announcement.....

Well!  Exciting news!  (And no we're not adopting again.)  My mom has started her OWN blog!!

This is an amazing addition to her already aquired ipod, laptop, cellphone, and she's started texting this week.  My own mom is advancing considerably in the techie world!!!

So here's the blog:
http://eightinarizona.blogspot.com/

She will be posting family updates......so hop on over there and give her some more followers!  (You'll notice I was her first).

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Religion vs. Jesus

Just wanted to share this little video clip with you....it really highlighted for me the difference between our man-made rules and expectations vs. the life changing grace of God.

And yes....of course there are things you need to "do" as a Christian; but there is a great difference between making our own lists of what a nice religious person looks like verses a radically changed believer in our amazing God!


*Viewer discretion cautioned: may not be appropriate for younger children.

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Awkward and Awesome Wednesday

Awkward:

~the feeling I got as I was wrapping a sock in my hair, attempting to do the "sock bun" hairstyle.  (see right: and no that's not me. :-) And yes, it did work; looked pretty good too (especially since the sock stayed hidden under my hair:-)

~jagged fingernails, compliments of my teeth.  When I was little my mom gave me the Berenstein Bears "Sister Bear Learns Not to Bite Her Nails" paperback, but somehow the message didn't *quite* sink in.  I try not to bite them, only happens when I'm bored or nervous.  Honestly, the only way I can keep from biting them is if they're always painted...nail polish tastes bad!!

~getting way too goofy with my little brothers.....having so much fun and then realizing that I'm running around on my knees and saying things like "I'm going to eat you"....they were having a ball and laughing like crazy, but since when did canibal tendencies enter my world of fun?!  Oh dear.  Guess that just proves I have way too much fun with those two goof balls.

~going to bed knowing ahead of time I would probably dream about 60 ft. anacondas after watching Vision Forum's The Mystery of the Amazon.  Hmmm.  Thankfully I didn't.  But snakes do enter my dreams quite a bit, especially after reading stories on the news about the python in the babycrib.  Hey, even watching a cartoon version of The Creation Story with my little brothers can trigger a dream about nasty serpents coiled with me in bed. 

~feeling like I should pluck/shape my eyebrows??!! but being way too much of a weeny to do it.  Seriously who has time to sit in front of a mirror with tweezers and pull out hairs?  Actually most women do have time for it.  My problem isn't time, it's guts.  I am SUCH a wimp.  So when it comes to eyebrow shaping/ear piercing, I am a no-go.  So I'll just have to go with the messy John the Baptist wilderness look I guess?  Ah, I'm exagerating.  Simply not a big priority for me - would be nice, but not worth the pain.

Awesome:

~my trip to Summit Ministries in just exactly a month!  So excited about this!  If I were a "cool" person I guess I should say something like "I'm really stoked about it" right?  I don't know.  I'm not up on cool words.  I've never used that one so it feels weird to start using it now.

~getting $5 in tips at work in one morning.  Sounds pathetic (it is) but I'm used to getting a dollar or less.  So that's pretty good for one shift.  I'm working movie night this Saturday....I've heard it gets really busy and you'll get a ton of tips, so we'll see. 

~going out to Starbucks with my dad!  I never go there because it is so beastly expensive, but I happened to have a coupon from Dad for such a time, so it was delish.  :-)  Seriously, what could be better than sitting in a Starbucks and people-watching while savoring a Java Chip and enjoying good conversation with one's dad?  It was fun.

~getting long texts from a good Christian friend at work....getting emails from a very dear sister in Christ....and getting together with good Christian friends (like we'll be doing this weekend!).  I love being able to be around people that I can talk openly with and be encouraged by.

So, what was "awkward or awesome" about your week?

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All Or Nothing

Though I'm not an Oklahoma fan (never liked that dream sequence Laurey has....and that mean guy Jud that tries to marry her ~ eek!), I couldn't help but think of the lyrics to one of Oklahoma's songs as I was begining this post.

Remember, when Ado Annie and Will Parker are in the barnyard, singing about their relationship?

"With me it’s all er nuthin’.  Is it all er nuthin' with you? It cain't be "in between" it cain't be "now and then" no half and half romance will do!"

This morning I was reading Isaiah 7.....and I wanted to share a verse that stood out to me. (Just shelf that Oklahoma bit in your mind for now....it'll make sense later.)

"If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all."

~Isaiah 7:9b

What immediately came to my mind?  Faith is not worth holding if you aren't unwavering in it.  If I treat my faith in God as an 'acessory', just one of the many balls I juggle, than what's even the point?

There's a saying that's becoming super popular these days....one of those phrases that everyone is posting on their facebook walls or jotting down on sticky notes or posting on their blogs (uh, ignore that last one).

"Wherever you are, be all there."

I would venture to say that that directly corellates to the way our relationship with God functions.  If I'm not "all there" in my faith, can I truly say that I'm "there" at all?  If I'm not 100% devoted to Jesus Christ, than why even bother with all the church stuff and seemingly endless rules?  There is no in-between.  I'm either completely sold out to the Lord, or I'm living for myself.

In Revelation, God says, "I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot.  I wish you were either one or the other!  So, because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I am about to spit you out of My mouth."

It seems that we treat God as an afterthought much of the time.  Rambling on about ourselves and then tacking on a "oh, and I'm a Christian too" on the end seems so...backwards.  Trying to fit God into my life, as if He were a 'project' to fit into a busy schedule, is totally opposite from who He was meant to be.   

If I'm to be truly useful to the God, He needs all  of me.  And yes, this gets specific.  He needs to govern every thought, every desire, every dream, every goal, every piece of clothing I choose, every dollar I earn, every relationship I form, every decision, every minute I live.....He needs to be in it all.

So now, that song from Oklahoma makes sense, doesn't it?  I'm either all in, or all out.  All or nothing.  Everything I am or nothing at all.  Sold out or not even for sale.

Is it "all er nuthin" with you? :-)

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CPC update: Life After Abortion

The following video is just a small clip of the full hour documentary that I watched during training last week.  Just one of many heart-wrenching movies that we volunteers viewed during those three days.
I thought some of you might be interested in getting another peek into the whole issue of abortion. 

As I get more and more into this battle for life, I am simply more shocked than ever that we have allowed millions of kids to be murdered before they even have a chance at life beyond the womb.  It's an atrocity - and I feel more motivated than ever to stand up and advocate for these babies who don't yet have a voice to speak for themselves.  It's like orphans....never gave them too much thought until three of them become my own brothers.  Suddenly, there's a face to the millions of children without parents - now, adoption is a very important issue for me.  And, surprise surprise, God weaves that love for adoption into my new passion for life.  Women with unplanned/unwanted pregnancies need to know that adoption is a loving and valid option.  My own brothers are living proof that it works!

Anyway....here's the movie clip.  It's sad, but was another eye-opener for me.

 *Viewer discretion cautioned....might not be appropriate for young children*

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