Flew the Coop

Well, it looks like I'm going to be a teacher after all!

2014-08-25T23:04:00.001-04:00

You may remember a time a little over a year ago when I wrote this post. While I shocked many of my friends and family in making that decision, I still do not regret it. And as most of you probably already know, the Lord has blessed me with another opportunity to teach.. this time here in Louisville!

While I was job searching in Louisville before moving up here, I applied to a few schools just to see if anything would come from those applications. Obviously, that did not happen, which I see as a blessing in many ways since the added weight of teaching for the first time may have been too much for me in addition to the 583,208 life transitions I was processing through.

Anywho, one of the schools that I applied to kept my credentials on file and ended up having a position available for this upcoming school year. An interview, some observations, two model lessons, lots of thinking, and a few months later, and I am happy to announce that I will be teaching 5th grade next year!

I am thrilled at this opportunity and have seen the Lord's hand at work in this process so much already. Unlike last year when I was offered a teaching job, I felt complete peace about this opportunity, and I truly cannot wait for school to start ((yes, I know, it's nearly September and we're not in school yet.. but soon)).

For the nearly the past month, I have been in training, planning, and collaboration sessions in preparation for the upcoming school year. Over that time, I have been able to see just how special the community I have joined is; I cannot say enough about how welcomed I have felt among the other teachers. The amount of support and true friendship I have already witnessed is nothing short of miraculous - especially in a school environment.

One of my biggest fears in accepting this job was that I would feel isolated and that I wouldn't have friends at work anymore ((thinking about leaving my friends at my last job was a really hard part of my decision)). While you are surrounded by people all day as a teacher, they are typically little people, which makes it a little challenging to actually feel like a socially productive citizen. However, I was quickly shown that this would definitely not be the case at this school and I am so thankful for all the relationships I have already formed.

I would definitely appreciate your prayers as the beginning of the school year is just around the corner! Hopefully this will be the beginning of a great journey.

#louisville365

2014-07-22T17:02:00.001-04:00

A glimpse into the past year

2014-07-22T16:28:00.000-04:00

When I moved to Louisville just shy of one year ago, I thought I knew what I was getting myself into; I thought getting involved in urban ministry just after college would be a natural and easy transition.((I honestly cannot tell you where I got that idea.)) And don't get me wrong, I knew that what I was doing was going to be hard, but I don't think I realized quite how hard. I also didn't realize quite how good it was going to be.

I have learned SO many things over the past year, and I truly think that it may be years down the road before I realize the impact that this year has had on my life.

Over the course of this year, I have redefined my worldview and opinions about many things. For instance, I no longer view the prostitute on the street as some dirty, corrupt object, but as a person who is looking to belong and be loved, as someone who needs Jesus just as much as I do.

I have also learned that I may not ever fit in in my neighborhood ((that doesn't mean I won't stop trying.. give me grace for my frequent and awkward attempts)). But more than that? I've learned that it doesn't really matter if I fit in. All of us, from all walks of life, all backgrounds, all races, and all family histories have one amazing thing in common: we all need Jesus.

Urban ministry - and really all of ministry in general - is made up of little moments, little relationships, and little observations, not some big tidal-wave-ground-shaking moment in time. And each and every one of us, regardless of where we come from or the path we leave behind, has a role to play in each other's little moments in order to reflect God's grace and mercy.

Here's to year 2!

Summer 2014 Bucket List

2014-06-10T10:50:00.000-04:00

Today I am linking up with Living in Yellow to share my Summer Bucket List. This is the first summer of my life that I don't actually have a summer, and I am having a hard time processing that. It's going to be a busy one, with my first year of URBN coming to a close and a few transitions headed my way, but here goes!

+ Eat as much ice cream as possible, preferably at The Comfy Cow

+ Finish my first year of URBN well

+ Take a family vacation for the first time in 8 years ((this is already in the works - cannot wait!))

+ Read lots and lots, including this and these (courtesy of my BFF, Aimee)

+ Find a good Mexican restaurant in Louisville -- suggestions are welcome

+ Visit with a friend during her furlough from China

+ Frequent the Big Four Walking Bridge//walk to Indiana

+ Watch a best friend get married and a beautiful marriage begin

+ Spend some quality time with my girl, Shelby Anne

+ Eat outside on my lunch break

+ Live Thursday evenings up with Hope for Kids

+ Have a #joyfuljune ((and July))

+ Find a pool to frequent

+ Run through the fountains at Shelby Park

Friday Finds && Favorites

2014-06-06T09:39:00.000-04:00

Just some favorites and provocative reads from around the interwebs lately.. I've been holding on to some of these for a while but they are still worth sharing.

When a Good Girl Meets the Gospel

this so resonates with me

Where Children Sleep
a bit stereotypical but interesting nonetheless

Book of John Summer Printables
i want to use all the ink and print all the things

Singleness and Contentment

this was so good for my heart

Look Up

just wow. love this.

This song
so good. i could listen on repeat.

Ashton's Thoughts

this hurt my heart, but in a good, eye-opening way

The Abundant Life

just listen - this was so good for me to hear

On my bookshelf: Faithmapping

2014-06-03T10:26:00.001-04:00

A few weeks ago, I reflected quite a bit on the book When Helping Hurts. I felt like I was neglecting another book that I really enjoyed this year, Faithmapping. The book was written by two pastors at our church and it really impacted the way that I viewed the kingdom, the cross, and grace, and how these three things intertwine.

I want to take a bit of time today to reflect on this book. While most of these notes are just blurbs that stuck out to me while reading the book and pieces of wisdom that I want to try to imprint on my heart, you are welcome to read along and take some of them with you if you so choose.

Unless otherwise noted, the items listed below are direct quotations from the book Faithmapping.

It is tempting to speak of life with God without addressing the realities of life without God, the kingdom of darkness, and the separation that exists between us. But the cross and the kingdom have such deep connections that they can't be separated without diminishing their power. (49)
Our efforts to cover our sins are like those fig leaves, shoddy and flimsy. We need to be cleansed and clothed by our Father. (51)
(In reference to Isaiah 30:15) We refuse the offer of rest in Jesus' finished work because we refuse to believe what he says about our desperate state apart from him. (56)
Because of the cross, we can now boldly encounter the presence of God, knowing that he welcomes us as friends and family. (63)
The cross is not peripheral. It's not something that we encounter at the beginning of our Christian journey and move beyond as we mature in discipleship. It's the center of our faith, the hub from which every good thing flows. (65)
The gospel of God's grace is the wonderful news that God accepts us and shares his life with us not because we have earned or deserved it but because he gives it to us freely at Christ's expense...grace is nothing less than a scandal. (70)
If we lack sufficient awareness of the depths of our sins, then we'll underestimate how great a cure is needed to heal them. (73)
If we underestimate the depths of our sin, we will underestimate the cure... Only something so dramatic as a hold God suffering and dying in our place can provide a cure. (78)
Our sins are many, but his mercies are more: our sings are great, but his righteousness is greater: we are weak, but He is power... (81)
The grace that saves us is a grace that changes us. (83)
There is nothing wrong with the church being an agent for social, cultural, and political change in the world, but if that becomes the defining characteristics and message of the church, then we've lost sigh of the deep problem that sin is in the human heart. (92)
The goal of our study of the Word is not book knowledge, but personal knowledge - we want to get to know Jesus. (95)
We overflowe in response to the gospel that has ignited our hearts, and the overflow itself is a testimony to the glory of God's gospel. (105)
He's the perfection and completion of everything that came before, and by doing it all perfectly, it's now finished, over, and done with... (108)
Everybody worships. The only choice we get is what to worship. (Wallace, 111)
Gathering with God's people and remembering what he's done is not optional for the Christian life; it's a pulse-like rhythm that sustains us in community and focuses us on the gospel. (117)
Only in Jesus can unity be found in diversity. Only in Jesus can a community's dividing lines be blended, faded, and erased. Only as we all come to terms with our own radical need for grace can we learn to extend that grace, openness, and welcome to others. (133)
...being conflict-free has never been a biblical promise. (138)
We are in constant service to something because God has wired us to be servants. (146)
The gospel frees us from the search for significance in the things we do. It compels us to a life of love and forgiveness, and invites us to experience the blessing of serving others. (157)
The gospel isn't just a collection of facts that we accept as truth, it's a way of living with God. (169)
What if, instead of resolving to read our Bibles and pray more, we resolved to believe that God accepted us as children regardless of how pathetic our religious efforts are? (198)
He doesn't call us to ignore the ordinary; he wants to transform the ordinary. He meets us in the midst of ordinary living and tells us, "This is all part of my kingdom, and it's all going to be transformed." (199)
Vocation refers to the work that God has put before you... Work is something God built into the order of the universe. (206)
Resting - ceasing work, even for a few hours - is a small reminder that our work and lives are ultimately out of our hands. (208)

I'm super thankful to be part of a church that lives out everything in this book and The Book. Seeing these things has allowed me to have a better understanding of the gospel and the way that we are called to live our lives.

How the Internet has hurt my relationship with God

2014-05-29T11:46:00.002-04:00

Oh, there are so many things that I could say here.. but I just want to focus on the ways that the internet has hurt our personal study of the word and time with time with God.

I've noticed recently that I tend to just skim my Bible for the good parts, looking for something that stands out to me, something to truly meditate on. And while that may not be a necessarily bad thing, I realized today that I could very well be missing a huge part of what God has to show and tell me.

And while I recognize that much of this is my own fault, I also want to shout out to the Internet for some of the blame. We are a culture physically and mentally bound to the Internet and its ways. Over the past few years, I have grown more accustomed to paying attention to how I read something. Much of this was due to my coursework in reading practices and teaching reading, but it has allowed me to see that I am honestly a terrible reader.

I don't read critically. I don't read every word. I don't read all the captions and footnotes. And I don't always consider context. All of this adds up to challenges when I try to spend time in the Word.

While I may still be able to "get something out of" my study and have personal time with God while doing it, I am forgetting that every word of the Bible is God-breathed and that it is there for a purpose.

Don't get me wrong, I am not opposed to the Internet or the ease with which it allows us to explore our world. In many ways, the Internet has allowed me to further develop in my study of God's word since there are so many resources at my fingertips.

I just have to constantly remind myself that none of these resources are as sweet as the words breathed from my Father's lips. And that these words deserve my time and my careful investigation/appreciation for them.

I don't have a god-complex, do I?

2014-05-14T21:59:00.000-04:00

As part of Urban Experience this year, we've been given a few books to read to aid our ministry and our overall perspectives of the urban environment. Right now, I am reading When Helping Hurts, and I have to say it surprises me more and more with each turn of the page.

Each semester when we receive our books, I automatically think "which of these am I more likely to read?" and this semester it was definitely not When Helping Hurts. The book is somewhat lengthy and the pages are white ((what kind of book has white pages??)). It just reminded me of a textbook and I was totally turned off. Anyway, that was silly and I judged the book by its cover and I'm sorry, book.

And you know how ministry books sometimes have discussion/reflection questions at the end of chapters? And you think to yourself "why are these here?" "do people actually answer those questions." Maybe that's just me, I don't know. But this time? I'm actually one of those crazy people answering the questions and I am getting so much out of this book because of it.

In fact, it was one of those questions at the end of a chapter that prompted this blog post. In chapter 2, "What's the Problem?" ((yes, I'm still in the beginning of the book.. I'm soaking it in)), one of the many things discussed is the concept of a god-complex. The reflection questions for this chapter then included a question that when a little something like this: "In what ways do you suffer from a 'god complex,' the belief that you are superior to others and are well-positioned to determine what is best for them?"

The question doesn't ask "do you have a god-complex," but "how do you suffer from this?" When I was first reading the chapter I thought to myself that this concept didn't apply to me, but for some reason while I'm answering these questions tonight I decided to cut the crap.

So, a god-complex? Oh, I do this a lot. I would like to think that I don’t but I if I'm honest I view people as projects or something that I can “fix" many times, which is so far from the truth. People are not projects, they are children of God and they are human just as much as I am. I cannot view them as a task on my to-do list that I can check off when I am “done" with them. No, as a follower of Christ I am called to be in relation with both Jesus and all of his people ((John 15)). And when you are truly in relation with someone, you don't just become done with them.

Just this weekend I was talking with my mom about how I felt so inadequate in regards to my work in the neighborhood saying something to the effect of how I felt like there was just too much to fix. And she looked at me and said, "Kelsey, you can't fix people; you will never be able to fix it all." And boy, was she right.

I usually like to think that I am above the Christians who view others as projects and those who feel as if they have a good handle on everything, but isn't that completely hypocritical? That in itself is a god-complex. Bam.

It's definitely a process, but I'm learning more and more that I need to let go and realize that I'm never going to have it all together; that I'm not better than anyone else. And I think the more I come to realize all of this, the more I can fully rely on God and let Him do the work that he has already planned.

Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.
The Lord has made everything for its purpose...
(Proverbs 16:3-4)

Commissioned Moments ((She Shares Truth))

2014-05-04T21:01:00.000-04:00

Today I am linking up with She Shares Truth again. We have been studying "The Risen Christ" and I am so excited to reflect on the passage and devotion that has been selected for this week, Great Commissioned Moments.

Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:16-20)

I have heard and read this passage so many times. And nearly every time, I find it hard to put myself in the place of the disciples. I always find myself making excuses.. I'm not good enough, there's other people who can do that, there can't be that many people left.. the list goes on and on. But these are all lies.

As a follower of Christ, I have been invited to participate in His mission of calling of making disciples of all nations and spreading his gospel of hope and truth to all of His children. There's only one catch: I have to be ready and willing to participate, and open to the invitations God presents to me.

Over the past few weeks, I have been really battling with the idea that I'm not good enough to be doing urban ministry, that I don't have enough passion to make it in this environment, and that I'm making no difference here.

While these claims may or may not be true ((God and I are currently having an on-going conversation about all of this)), I know that I have been given a commandment to go and make disciples, to lead and encourage people to know and live for Him.

Of course, figuring out how exactly to do that and do that well is an issue within itself. But I know that the simplest way to step into this calling and commission is to make myself available to God's prompting and invitation.

Debbie Eaton, the writer of the devotion I am focusing on today, reminds us that we must fight to be in line with God's will and agenda for our lives and not our own:

When we align with Him, then we can be freely available for the commissioned moments. This is not easy because our self-centered, busy, chaotic life can hurry us to miss those moments. Our doubt and fear of rejection can have us walk away and ignore when the moments present themselves.

Therefore, we have a minute-by-minute choice to align with God, slow down, trust and believe that the great commission can be lived out at Target, the workplace, school drop-off, athletic fields, grocery stores, the park, a walk with a friend, mission trips to local communities and global nations, in our families, a private conversation on Facebook and, of course, at Starbucks.

As I enter this new week, it is my prayer to be ready to step into the commissioned moments. I often wonder how many commissioned moments I have missed because I have been wrapped up in my own thoughts and drama. And while I don't necessarily want to dwell on that, I do want to use that to spur myself on and be ready for the commissioned moments that God will set before me in the future. Will you join me?

Source

PS - If the mention of Starbucks being part of the Great Commission perked your ears earlier, you'll want to read Debbie's story.

She Reads Truth

2014-04-09T09:49:00.000-04:00

You may or may not have noticed, but I am a big fan of She Reads Truth. This online community of believers is a great source of encouragement and truth for me. Currently, they have a website in which they post their reading plans and allow participants to share their hearts. And now they are also working on an app!

The Kickstarter campaign for this app started about 17 days ago and within the first 24 hours, the app was fully funded with $35,000. That in itself is absolutely awe-inspiring. I mean, who does that?? God does.

And y'all. I just watched their video for the Kickstarter campaign ((not sure why it took me so long)) and it nearly brought me to tears. This group of women is so full of grace and love for the women they serve and it is so evident in everything that they do.

The campaign is still rolling in hopes that they will be able to fund an Android app and a virtual conference. And they just passed the $60,000 mark. If you'd like to support this initiative with me, you can do so here.

Be blessed, sisters (and brothers)!

Wordless(ish) Wednesday

2014-04-09T08:00:00.000-04:00

((feel free to save this and use it as you please!!))

Meditation

2014-04-06T22:19:00.003-04:00

Today (albeit a few days late), I am linking up with She Reads Truth for their weekly She Shares Truth initiative. Every Friday of lent, She Reads Truth invites its readers to write on a chosen passage. This week the passage is Joshua 1:8-9:

"This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

We can learn so much from these two verses. In many ways they sum up much of how we should live as Christians: Meditate on the Word. Be strong. Remember the Lord is with you. Go.

If I could remember to have that mantra running through my head on a daily basis, I ~~have a feeling~~ know that I wouldn't be so anxious and would probably be a lot more confident in whatever God is calling me to do.

I have such a tendency to complicate all of my decisions into one big web of confusion. I oftentimes find myself in constant need of the reminder that God is for me and that He has gone before me. And because of that I have nothing to fear.

So many people - myself included - pray for some sort of magical sign or direction as to which path to take, yet we forget that we have a road map lying right before us.

Lord, let us not forget that you are have given us instruction through your Word and that all we have to do to navigate the path at hand is remind ourselves of the Presence and Truth you have given us.

You can read more reflections on Joshua 1:8-9 here.

Wordless Wednesday

2014-03-12T12:52:00.001-04:00

Friday Favorites

2014-03-07T22:34:00.000-05:00

Just sharing some link-love today. Favorites are bolded. Happy weekend!

"...we ought to dwell upon the God who did become one of us,

who gracefully withstood our scorn and self-adulation."

Recovering Awe

"...if our calendars really are a reﬂection of our priorities, then the truth is, our priorities

are as limited as our calendars are."

Making time for what matters

"The fact is - someone is behind you somewhere and someone is watching you. Whether it's in motherhood, marriage, ministry, work, your walk with the Lord, or even just the way you dress - someone is behind you, following you as you follow Jesus."

who is coming behind you

"...for getting control of social media: schedule it. I agree; it’s smart to set a start and end for your time, especially if you are on a deadline for other work."

How to Manage Technology so it doesn't Manage You

"Social media and the internet is not a substitute for genuine community...Even with all the benefits or ease it can bring to our lives it’s still not going to fill our need for community."

The Veil of Social Media

More ((A Women's Retreat))

2014-03-04T13:46:00.000-05:00

This past weekend, my roommates and I attended Sojourn's Urban Women's Retreat led by Jen Wilkin, in which we focused on the concepts of "More." Today I am going to reflect a little on what I learned. I'm primarily writing these things down to help myself remember, but you're welcome to read along!

More to the Story. In Luke 15, Jesus teaches us that God will gather his people regardless of how many or how few there are. He explains the contrast between justice (getting what you deserve), mercy (not getting what you deserve), and grace (getting what you don't deserve) through the parable of the prodigal son. Through this story, we are reminded that God loves us uniquely because we are His children.

More of Him, Less of Me. In Exodus 3, God presents a vision of Himself and a vision for his people. He refers to refers to Himself as the "I am," reminding us that He is Un-created and Self-Sustaining, which means he needs nothing outside of himself to survive or be. Rather than reading the Bible and asking "How does this apply to my life?" we should ask "What does this passage mean and what does it teach me about God?" The same thought process is helpful in prayer, worship, and service.

A Much More God. Our love of something can only grow with more knowledge of it; in order to feel deeply about the Lord, we have to think deeply about Him. This "more" relationship with God can only come from Him (Matt. 7:7-11), and He will never answer our prayers with lesser things. The Lord's provision is infinite, and he is not only all we need, but all we have.

PS - You can read more from Jen Wilkin and access her bible study resources here.

Friday Favorites

2014-01-31T14:13:00.000-05:00

It's Friday (duh). And I am so looking forward to a weekend full of rest - something I need a whole lot right now. In my rest, I pray that I don't forget Who I am resting in.

The following links are gentle reminders of the rest we can find when we trust in the One who knows all of our needs before we can even think them on our own.

Three Reasons to Get Some Sleep - If you know me at all, you completely understand why I chose this one. I. Love. To. Sleep. And while, I don't want to hyper-spiritualize it, there are obviously some great redeeming qualities of sleep.

The Longer Way Home - Every time Becca posts a story on her blog I am so excited to read it because I know that it will be filled with great truth and lessons that I can carry with me. This story is a story of redemption, but redemption not yet fully understood by the one who has been redeemed. It is such a great reminder that we are so quick to forget how forgiving our Father is and how much He desires to wash away all of our pain.

Share This With All Schools - This blog post isn't as covered in truth as Becca's, but I think it still has a great message. So much of time in Louisville is spent with children and I often find myself pondering how their little hearts process the hurt they see on a daily basis. And this blog post is a great reminder that we can do little things every day to help children feel that they are valued and that they have a purpose.

Moving Downward, In Spite of the Safety Net - "[Jesus] graciously made it so that we do not have to make any assumptions or decode any messages to understand His heart for the poor. He is crazy about them. He honors them and cherishes them and calls them His friends; not for charity’s sake, but for love’s sake."

Exhaustion: We Have Settled for a Sub-Human Life - "We have lost the fundamentals of our faith. Many of us were wooed by the Holy Spirit through Jesus’ promise found in Matthew 11. Jesus says, 'Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.' Yet instead of finding rest, most of us have found long to-do lists, lots of pressure, and more stress than we know how to handle."

Here's to a great weekend of rest ((and maybe a little bit of fun too)).

French Press Mornings {Blog Highlight}

2014-01-22T13:44:00.000-05:00

A few weeks ago, I came across French Press Mornings, a blog written by Jenny, who is a momma, a small business owner, and an encourager. One of my favorite features of her blog is that she has a weekly post dedicated to encouraging people, ((Encouraging Wednesdays)), in which she posts a free printable to encourage her readers. And who doesn't need some encouragement in the middle of the week?! This is one of my favorites:

Source

Right now, Jenny is offering 30% off all of the prints in her Etsy shop with the code winter2014. I hope you find some encouragement through her!

The Power of Silence

2014-01-22T10:45:00.000-05:00

When was the last time you were quiet; and I mean really quiet? For me - up until a few weeks ago - it would probably have been this past summer. When I was in between nannying shifts, I would have a quite a bit of quiet time to myself. But even then, I had the distraction of my phone or the possibility of roommates being off at the same time.

But then, a few weeks ago, our Urban Experience group went to a monastery, The Abbey of Gethsemani, about an hour south of Louisville ...where you have to be quiet. From the moment you cross the front sidewalk, you are not allowed to talk or use any electronic devices.

Needless to say, I was a little anxious about this trip. I am not terribly skilled in being quiet ((just ask my roommate Lindsay - I interrupt her nearly every time she tries to have quite time)). Thankfully, I was pleasantly surprised during my time at the Monastery and actually enjoyed the quiet.

It was really amazing to really be able to listen to my own thoughts - and to the Lord - and just get some time to be completely alone. ((except for meal times, we usually had those together in the talking cafeteria))

There were also lots of beautiful sights to see around the property, which was especially nice because I typically am in nature-withdrawal-mode from being in the city all the time. And the monk-only area that we weren't supposed to go into? That was pretty cool too - I apparently have a challenge in reading signs..

It was such a great learning experience for me to see how nervous I could be about something and then see how great it could be once I actually let myself experience it.

With all the distractions in the world today - be that the TV, internet, families, friends, our phones, or even ourselves - it is all the more important that we take some time to get completely alone and just be.

New Year // New Backgrounds

2014-01-07T15:05:00.001-05:00

Happy new year! I always like to refresh my backgrounds when a new season comes around and thought I would share these with you. Enjoy! ((To download, right-click image and click "Save Image As"))

Desktop/laptop

Lockscreen

Looking Back ((2013))

2013-12-31T15:01:00.000-05:00

I feel like I've looked forward to 2013 for so many years. Mainly because it would be the year I graduated from college, became an "adult" and did something awesome. And I really cannot believe this year has already come and gone. 2013 was so many things.. fun, hard, challenging, growth-filled, and oh-so-full. Before I jump into 2014 ((um, what?!)), I wanted to take a moment to look back on all that 2013 held.

January
-Reflected on 2012
-Processed through the concept of eternity after New Year's Conference
-Began student teaching full-time

February
-Had a blast at my favorite Berry event, Casino Night
-Taught my full-time unit of student teaching

March
-Went to Hilton Head for my last college spring break with the greatest girls
-Climbed Kennesaw Mountain for the first time since running it with cross country in high school

Via Haley

April
-Drove home from school to surprise my brother for his birthday
-Pulled off the return of Beyond the Berry Bubble with the Career Center
-Submitted my education portfolio while at the beach with my favorite people

May
-Graduated from college and left my favorite place
-Job searched a little and relaxed a lot

June
-Nannied for 2 of the most adorable boys at the beach
-Lived with the lovely Lib one more time
-Learned how to have down-time
-Job searched like crazy

July
-Welcomed my best friend home from Brazil
-Continued job searching
-Turned down what I thought was my dream job
-Prepared to move to Louisville

August
-Moved to Louisville
-Started serving with Urban Experience
-Started my first "grown-up" job

September
-Served at Sojourn's Medical Clinic
-Began supporting a young girl in Burkina Faso through Compassion

October
-Flew solo for the first time
-Visited Berry for Mountain Day
-Saw Thompson Square in concert for free

Souce

November
-Attended Sojourn's Women's Conference
-Was visited by some sweet ladies from college

December
-Celebrated Advent
-Went home to ATL for a whole glorious week
-Went to Cross Conference

And now, to fill in this blank...((Happy New Year!))

Christmas ((704 Style))

2013-12-24T11:51:00.001-05:00

This is a PSA :: If you have Comcast Internet, data is now limited. Therefor, this post is coming to ya straight from my phone.

Anywho.. It's looking a lot like Christmas in the 704 Bungalow and you get a personal tour!

Merry Christmas to you and yours.

Advent

2013-12-13T13:30:00.002-05:00

Today is the 13th of December but it is also the 13th day of Advent.

Growing up, I thought that Advent was something that only Catholics celebrated, or something that meant you got to open a cute little calendar for each day of December. I now see that it is so much more than that.

Advent is the days of expectation of the coming savior. Advent is not necessarily a celebration, but a time of reflection before the celebration. In many ways, advent symbolizes the state of humanity in the last days, just before Christ's return.

Throughout Advent, I have been reading along with the She Read's Truth "Emmanuel. And as always, it has been really good for me. Also as always, I am a little behind - but that's okay.

Today I read Day 11, which focuses on righteousness through Christ.

One thing that really stood out to me was the fact that Jesus coming down to live with his people was exactly how it had to be. I often wonder why Jesus came to rescue us, when he really could have just stayed in comfort with his Father. But that was not his purpose. His purpose was to save His people.

By Jesus coming to be with his people, He gave us the opportunity to become children of God (John 1:12). And because God has freely given us His son in order to become right in His eyes, we do not have to do anything to earn our salvation.

That's how much Jesus loves all of his children. He chose to leave comfort and safety in order to be with us, in order to save us.

Source

At the end of the Advent studies, there is always some time for practical application. Today was the application of what our salvation does not lie on.

My salvation does not depend on how much I read my bible or pray.
My salvation does not depend on how many people I share the gospel with.
My salvation does not depend on how hard I work.
My salvation does not depend on how little I sin.
My salvation does not depend on how how I dress.
My salvation does not depend on how others view me.
My salvation does not depend on how "good" I am.

And praise be to God for that.

Christmas Desktop Background

2013-12-01T10:20:00.003-05:00

Happy beginning-of-the-Christmas-season!

To download, click on the image and then right-click and "save image as." Enjoy!

Friday Favorites

2013-11-22T13:58:00.001-05:00

This post brought to you by a fairly slow day at work and lots of link-sharing around the office. ((Which is so great, because the last few weeks have been crazy - I guess that's what happens when you work with nearly 300 students..))

Anyway, on to a few of my favorite links this Friday:

Naptime Diaries Advent Calendar - only on sale til 3pm TODAY. I may have just treated myself to this.. And if you shoot over to Oaks and Oats you can get yourself a nice little discount.

"But when God looks at my life, He sees the whole. He sees the big and little moments and all the in-betweens, moving together seamlessly like notes in a lovely, intricate song..it has never been a mystery to Him." - Day 1 of the Give Thanks Study at She Reads truth.

This awes ome printable/Thanksgiving activity from Ann Voskamp. We did this last night at Hope for Kids and it was so fun! The kids loved being able to hang the leaves on branches and reading their verses to each other.

We had a work day with church this past Saturday, and Sojourn posted some pictures from it. The picture to the left is the exchange of one dumpster for another as part of the demo of a recently acquired vacant building.

And a few more...
When a Homeless Man Joins Your Music Video... No intro needed - just watch.
These 26 photographs. ((Warning, you may cry))
This A Capella version of Royals.. it's just cool.

Monday Morning Music

2013-11-04T18:34:00.001-05:00

I realize it's not Monday morning, but this was just planned for Monday morning and I really like alliteration, so here you go! Absolutely loving this new artist..