I’m finally settled in Atlanta and I just started my internship on Monday.  I also went to my first Atlanta church on Sunday.  Once I get into the swing of things, expect to see more posts!

The thought for this new design came from the practice that churches have of changing their altar hangings, robes, etc. with the changing church seasons.  I thought “wouldn’t it be really cool if my blog could do that?”  Then I found this neat plugin by Scott Lenger called Liturgical Year Themes.  I knew that I wanted Leanne to do the re-design (both because she does beautiful work and because she did my original design), and she was adventurous enough to give it a try using this plugin.  I think it turned out pretty snazzy!

I’m totally going to steal the screenshot Leanne has up on her blog so that you can see a little preview of what is to come throughout the year:

Thank you so much Leanne for all your hard work and for allowing me to change my mind several times!  I am thrilled with the way that things turned out, and I can’t wait to change seasons!!

This post is being re-posted on 7/7/09 – I had a backup malfunction and lost 3 months of posts, and so I am re-posting them through my findings with Google Cache. I did NOT delete the comments, I just have no way of restoring them. I am sorry if you commented and it is lost!

This post is being re-posted on 7/7/09 – I had a backup malfunction and lost 3 months of posts, and so I am re-posting them through my findings with Google Cache. I did NOT delete the comments, I just have no way of restoring them. I am sorry if you commented and it is lost!

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!

Philippians 4:4

I know it’s not Thursday (yesterday was busier than I anticipated), but I’m so thankful that I’m posting late!

It’s fairly obvious that I’ve been away for a couple of weeks – first I had finals, then I had spring break.  Over spring break I traveled to Florida to see my parents (and clean out the garage, LOL) and then I traveled to Atlanta, GA for internship interviews.

And THAT is what I’m thankful for!  I was offered an internship at my first choice theatre, the Alliance Theatre, and I happily accepted!  I’m really excited for this opportunity, and I am pumped about moving to Atlanta!  I also interviewed at a couple of other theatres, and I really enjoyed meeting the leaders of those organizations.  I know I’ll definitely be attending their upcoming shows once I move, and I hope that I get to talk with them both in the future.

So – thanks God!  I’m excited!

See what others are thankful for at Spiritually Unequal Marriage!

This post is being re-posted on 7/7/09 – I had a backup malfunction and lost 3 months of posts, and so I am re-posting them through my findings with Google Cache. I did NOT delete the comments, I just have no way of restoring them. I am sorry if you commented and it is lost!

His wisdom is profound, his power is vast. Who has resisted him and come out unscathed?

Job 9:4

Lynn picked wisdom this week, and I couldn’t agree more!  Right now I feel like I am so lost with where I’m going and what is in my future, and I am so thankful that it doesn’t matter.  God will reveal His plan for me when the time is right, and I am thankful for HIS wisdom!!!

See what others are thankful for at Spiritually Unequal Marriage!

This post is being re-posted on 7/7/09 – I had a backup malfunction and lost 3 months of posts, and so I am re-posting them through my findings with Google Cache. I did NOT delete the comments, I just have no way of restoring them. I am sorry if you commented and it is lost!

I found an interesting post about journaling during Lent.  Lent is a time of reflection, penance, and meditation.  While I personally take the process of “giving something up” seriously (I can’t tell you how many times I’ve wanted something other than water/coffee/tea . . . and I remember why I can’t have it EVERY TIME), there is more to Lent than just a sacrifice.  After reading this article, I believe that I will journal throughout Lent this year.  There are specific thoughts and questions listed within the article, but the major topics are:

Week One: RECEPTIVITY
Week Two: REFLECTION
Week Three: DISCIPLINE
Week Four: TEMPTATION
Week Five: OBEDIENCE
Week Six: SACRIFICE

I will be journalling these privately, but I may share some thoughts here in the coming weeks.  Is anyone else doing something like this for Lent?

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:38-39

Yesterday was a very busy and tiring day, and today has simply been a bad day.  I’ve had one wrong thing after another happen, and I feel a little defeated right now.  So, I am thankful that regardless of what is happening to me and what is going on, God still loves me.

See what others are thankful for at Grace Alone . . .

I wanted to share the Gospel reading for today, Ash Wednesday:

Be careful not to do your “acts of righteousness” before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.

So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21

Today I went to church for the noon service and got the ashes on my forehead.  I also fasted until sunset, and after hearing this passage from the Gospel, I was humbled.

For Lent this year, I will be giving up all drinks except for water, brewed coffee, and brewed tea.  This may not sound like a big deal, but think about all that is included in that.  No juice, no Diet Coke (which I drink a LOT of), no milkshakes, no wine, no Starbucks drinks (and I work at Starbucks) . . . a lot!  I am also repeating something I gave up last year, which is pastries from Starbucks.  Since I work there, we constantly have samples available, or it’s so easy to want a snack and just buy a cookie or something since it’s there.  So those are my things that I’m giving up!

Yup, Lent is coming soon!  Ash Wednesday is in tomorrow and is the first day of Lent.  I think I know what I’m giving up this year, and it was partially informed by a great post that I read over at ThinkChristian.  Here’s a small excerpt:

Lent begins in just two weeks, and I’ve always found it beyond coincidental that just as the receding snow reveals the unappealing garbage underneath, the spiritual disciplines of denial associated with Lent do the same for one’s soul.

Giving up certain things—like sex, certain foods, alcohol, caffeine—often reveals all too clearly our reliance on those things.  I know of people who have worked to give up coffee for Lent, others who have set aside all sweets, still others who have relinquished alcohol.  None of these people were addicts (except maybe the coffee lover), but all of them struggled to give up their chosen item.  Once they made the choice to renounce it, the hold the item had became that much stronger.  But moving into surrender, they realized how bound they were.  Naming their temptation was like holding a hair dry to a snow drift: suddenly the thing that seemed so unremarkable became very ugly.

But that is exactly the point.  We are not asked during Lent to give up things that are easy to give up.  We are not asked to set aside chocolate if we never eat it or coffee if we never drink it.  We are called to give up those things that tempt us to rely on them and not on Christ.  We are called to set aside those behaviors that move us into sin (whether that be idolatry or sloth or pride or lust or…), and replace them with behaviors that move us closer to Christ.

I’ve always tried to pick something to give up for Lent that would be a challenge – past things have included pasta, caffiene, potatoes, and cheese (they may not sound like that big of a deal, but trust me, they were . . . especially cheese).  I’ll discuss this year’s choice tomorrow, but I’m curious to know what others are giving up for Lent (or are you not participating?) – please share in the comments!

If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!

Ecclesiastes 4:10 NIV

This week I have something weighing heavily on my heart in my personal life.  However, on Monday I had tea with a very good friend of mine that I haven’t seen in a while, and she was able to offer me some perspective on this issue.  And on Tuesday I hung out with some of my classmates, and they too were able to talk to me about this issue.  It just  makes me realize how thankful I am to have good friends from various different backgrounds (people of different ages, some Christians and some not, etc.).

Thanks God !