Making Coffee Parts 1&2

So this entry is going to have three parts, part three is soon to come, time is limited.

PART 1:

Isn't it cool how when you slow down for just five seconds God can speak to you and teach you something awesome? I know in the Bible when Elijah was waiting on a word from God, he didn't hear it in the wind or in the earthquake or in the fire, but in the still small voice. So often in our lives we get caught up in the "wind, earthquake, and fire." I should slow down more often because I really like what He spoke to me today in a still small voice while I was making coffee.

PART 2:

Joseph bought me a french press coffee maker. It's so cool and I feel so cool using it. Previously we haven't been allowed to use coffee makers in the dorm if they use hot plates, so he bought me this french press and then, of course, they changed the rule, but I like it anyways. So today when I got out of class I thought I would try it out and make some coffee. With the french press you have to boil the water and then pour it into the press with the coffee and yada yada yada. So I stood in the kitchen and waited for my water to boil. Maybe you've heard the old quip "a watched pot never boils." It's true. It took forever for that stinking pot of water to boil. However, as I was watching, I started thinking about revival, and I think about revival a lot and I have heard this analogy many times, but I feel like God shared something with me for my church at home. 

Since I had already waited forever for the water to come to a boil, I was tempted to take it off the burner as soon as I saw one little bubble. That's when it hit me. We pray for revival in our churches all the time and we wait on the Lord and we do what we can, but then how many times do we shut revival down as soon as we see the first little sign? Obviously the water was almost hot enough, and that would have been good enough to make the coffee... but it wasn't boiling. So what if one or two families come to church? Is that revival? No. Revival does not come until people begin getting saved and giving their lives to Christ. Revival is a full boil... not just a little bubble.

Different

Monday threw me headfirst into the whirlwind that is my junior year of college. My schedule went a little like this: 8:00-8:55 Teaching Geometry to Elementary Students

10:20-11:15 Kentucky History

11:15-12:30 Lunch and nap

12:40-1:35 Teaching English to Elementary Students

1:35-3:00 Blitz for Work (or look like a nerd passing out bookmarks)

3:00-4:30 Run rampantly through Walmart for things I can't live without

4:30-7:00 Teaching Art to Elementary Students (It will usually last until 9:00 pm)

7:00-7:30 Back to town for the things I forgot that I can't live without

7:30-10:00 Relax... kind of

Needless to say, the day was ridiculous. My Mondays will not typically be like this because I will be working for real, and hopefully not making two trips off campus. But the classes are hard, I really did take an 8 am Math class and my KY history professor is a nut and my English teacher is... well she's three years away from retirement and she's losing it.

I did manage to get about fifteen minutes of complete downtime while I was waiting on Rebekah to get to the truck and I made a list of things that I am going to do differently this year. I am a list-oriented person anyways, but after being sick practically all summer long my doctor told me I have to get back to writing in a journal or some sort of coping mechanism to deal with stress. So I am trying to write more for my personal benefit. Anyways, here is the list:

Things I am doing differently this semester:

1. I am taking less classes. 18 hours + work + ministry + family + boyfriend = ridiculous. So I am only taking 15 hours hehe

2. No meal plan, which means no chic-fil-a three times a day. I will be eating healthy this semester people!

3. I have left my position as Wednesday night youth minister at First Apostolic in Bowling Green. This was probably one of the harder changes, but I know they are in good hands. Chaley is doing an AWESOME job and the kids really love her.

4. I am tutoring as well as leading the New Testament PASS session. So I am working more, but the work is good experience and not so strenuous. 

5. I am parking in a structure! So maybe this one isn't so serious, but its something that I have always been scared to do and I am conquering my fear. I actually love it so far, but I haven't had to park alone at night yet... we will see how that goes. I do have pepper spray. So beware.

6. I am dating Joseph!!! Yay! That's a good difference from last year :)

7. I want to focus more on personal ministry, one on one with others. In the past I've been into group Bible study, youth group ministry, etc. But this year I am just praying that God sends me opportunities to minister to people one on one because that is where we see souls saved.

8. I'm waking up early. I have to. I have class/work everyday at 8 am. It'll be good for me, I know.

9. I'm enjoying my walks to class! Before, I looked at the trek to Cherry Hall as arduous and... sweaty. And though it is still sweaty, I want to look at it as a good thing. It's exercise, it's stress relief, and I might as well do it with a smile on my face because I always see people I know.

10. I am living in a new dorm! Its more central on campus, it's quieter, and its smaller, but I love it. I'm still rooming with my sister, Rebekah, and my best friends are just a few doors down. Its all good!

I read a quote once that said, "If in the past year you have not changed a major opinion or idea, check your pulse; you might be dead." I always thought that was so... harsh? Because aren't we supposed to stick to our guns? Stand up for what we believe in? But in the past few weeks I have realized that life does change. Sometimes we have to admit that we were wrong, that we don't always do everything right. Myself first and foremost. On Sunday, Greg, my Sunday school teacher said, "You know those people who haven't changed in twenty years? There's something wrong with that!" Because spiritually our lives should constantly evolve, we should constantly be growing, or at least trying. I don't want to be the same as I was last semester. I overworked myself, I didn't take care of me, and at the end I was burnt out and stressed out and that is not cool. 

The lesson I have learned here is that we... no, let me say "I" should change. I should do things differently than before. I recently came across a song that is pretty old, but has been re-vamped by Bethel Live and Kim Walker called "I need you more" and the gist of the song is that I need the Lord more today than I did yesterday, more than anything. But there is a line in one verse that says "Lord, I'll be by your side, because I never want to go back to my old life." 

Those lyrics ring so true in my life. I need the Lord more today than yesterday because I never want to go back to who I was. I want to constantly move onward and upward with the Lord. I want to be different.

Fall 2011

Tomorrow starts the first day of the fall semester of my junior year of college! Ah!

I'm not really excited.

10 Ways to Love

Source: None via Anna on Pinterest

Root Canal

Yesterday I had to have a root canal. I have officially decided that having a root canal is not one of my favorite things to do. 

However, I'm laying there in the chair and the dentist keeps going on and on about what a good patient I am (I guess because I didn't scream or cry through the whole process :) ) and I couldn't help but think that there are SO many worse things than a root canal. People all over the world experience things way more painful and way more serious than dental work everyday. So why get worked up about it? 

It reminded me of a time when I was in marching band. I was a freshman and I was a part of the pit (this was before I realized that if your going to be in marching band, you might as well march). So I played instruments like the marimba and xylophone, blah blah blah. We were in all the practices with the drumline (that was cool). One day, at band camp, we were outside practicing and our instructor got stung on the toe by a bee. At the same time, he tried to swat the bee with a drum stick and hit himself in the toe. Double Ow. But he just kept on teaching like it didn't even hurt while we just stared at him, and he told us something that I have always remembered. He said "The pain we feel is up to us. We can give in, or we can realize that its not that bad and just get over it." He was right. Ever since then, every time I am hurt by something I always think about that. Its going to be over soon. And guess what? It doesn't even hurt that bad.

Choose your friends wisely

#1 word of advice to my youngest sister who just started high school: choose your friends wisely.


I blogged about this before, but today I had this verse from Psalms on my mind and it really made me think:

"Better is one day in your courts 

than a thousand elsewhere. 

I would rather be a doorkeeper

in the house of my God

than dwell in the tents of the wicked."

Maybe you have heard the popular praise and worship song, "Better is one day." I love that song. I love any song taken from scripture, I think its beautiful. But the most powerful part of this verse to me is not that first line, but rather the second and third: "I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked." Wow. Better is one day in the courts of the Lord, as a doorkeeper, the lowliest of all jobs, than dwelling in the tents of the wicked. 

Living a Christian lifestyle is more than just "dwelling" in the presence of the Lord. It is working for Christ, serving Him to the most of our abilities. Yeah, life is tough sometimes, not everyone understands why we do the things we do. But working for the Lord is better than any fame, popularity, or comfort that we might receive from living among the world. The Bible tells us to choose this day who we will serve, because it is a choice we make everyday. The advice I gave to my little sister about high school is true for every single person, no matter what age. Yes, we are called to reach a lost world, but as workers for the Lord, not to receive popularity. If you are a Christian for that reason, it will NEVER work out. 

So stand for the Lord even if you stand alone.

I Love Your Presence

Empowered, Baseball Games, and Sundays

This past weekend was such an "empowering," uplifting, and absolutely fun weekend. I think I have heard Christina say it was the "best weekend of her life" at least five times, and that was just yesterday. As I always say, the best place to start is the beginning, so that is where I will begin.

Friday-Empowered

We have been pumped up for the Empowered Conference in Nashville, Tennessee at First Apostolic Church for quite a while now. I really didn't know what to expect, but I was totally and completely blown away by the great things God did, especially on Friday night (the conference was Friday night and Saturday morning). First of all, my little sister, Christina, made her debut as the first speaker in a fantastic lineup of preachers. She was witty, straightforward, and was GREAT! It was such a cool opportunity for her and all the other young people because she was able to get on their level and inspire them to reach out to their friends. She has so many awesome testimonies about what the Lord has done for her and how He has used her in her school. I will have to get her to do a guest blog sometime soon!

Saturday-Empowered, Sounds Game, Friends

Saturday morning we headed back to Nashville to the second service of the Empowered conference. It was great. We heard from a fantastic line-up of speakers, including Bro. Petey Tipton, Bro. Todd Fairchild, and Bro. DJ Shoulders. The really cool thing about Saturday morning was the way DJ wrapped the whole thing up. The theme of the conference was, of course, "Empowered" and all the speakers encouraged the students to live up to the power of Christ inside of them and to go out into all the world, etc. But Bro. DJ spoke about how we can be empowered, but still be bound by things in our lives. All the students went outside and wrote the thing that keeps them bound on a helium balloon, and after praying together, we all let them go. It was an awesome, powerful moment.

After Empowered,we went to the Sounds Baseball game and Britt Nichole Concert in Nashville. This was really cool because we got to take a really good group from our church. Almost every family went and a few extras. It was a really good time of fellowship and fun.

Sunday-Church Church Church

Sunday was so good. In so many ways. I have been praying for this one family for weeks now that they would come to our church. They used to come when we first built the church, but haven't been for several years now. After I found some of them on facebook, the Lord really laid them on my heart and I have been after the mom to come back to church. I mean, I have been on her every single week. She keeps telling me she will come, but she has not yet. There are five kids in this family, and I was closer to the oldest two. The third is my sister Christina's age. I haven't spoken one word to him since I have been thinking about this family, but Friday he texted my sister and told her he was coming to church on Sunday morning... and he did. Totally random, but he did. And he loved it. He came home with us on Sunday afternoon, and he came back to church Sunday night and brought his best friend with him. I just know that God is going to use this boy to bring the rest of his family back to the Lord. 

Our church has been pushing for growth for months, even years now. We have had seasons of abundance, and (especially lately) seasons where we have felt like we were in the desert. However, just this summer there has been a stirring of revival in our church. We have all felt it. God is about to do something. No, God is doing something. I feel it especially in our Monday night prayer meetings. Last night, we all prayed for a while, but then it got really quiet. I knew that everyone was listening for God's voice. He spoke to many of us. I was thinking about the sermon Granddad preached last Wednesday night about humility and I felt God impress upon me that we're "going to need it" with all the great things He has in store for us. As Tina was praying she heard God whisper, "It's here." How powerful is that?

I know the Lord works all things in favor of those who love him, those who serve him faithfully, but in the past I have been hesitant to believe that for us because I never saw the fruits of our labor. But God's word is true and his promises are yes and amen. And God is awesome. That is all.

What Friends Are For

This past weekend Rebekah's boyfriend, JJ, moved here as well as our best friend in the whole wide world, Kait. So we've just been living it up the past few days, doing nothing but going to church, laying on the couch watching the office, and, of course, eating. Its been magnificent. However, since this is real life, we have to do real life things like go back to school (eventually), go to work (JJ has already started working), and eat real food.

Kait and I are awesome friends; we have discovered in the past few weeks what awesome friends we really are. I mean, God made us out of the same materials. We agree on pretty much everything and usually are thinking the exact same thing... it's almost weird. On Sunday night, Kait and I decided we were going to start a diet together and start walking together for exercise. Good plan, right? Well, we skipped Monday. Of course. But Tuesday we did better. We did lay on the couch all day, but we ate in moderation for lunch, and had a good dinner. After dinner, we decided to go walk. We crashed and burned.

We live waaaayyyy out in the country, and our house is waaaaayyyyy off the road, so we have a really long driveway. I think like three times walking on our driveway is a mile. My grandparents live in front of us, right on the road. So Kait, Tina, Jess, and I started walking. We got to the end of the driveway and I was a little self conscious because I had already begun to sweat, but I was greatly relieved when someone suggested we stop and visit the grandparents. Fail #1. I love visiting my grandparents because they always have ice cream, and other reasons too of course. So Kait and I both had a low calorie fudge-cicle. Fail #2. (But is it still a fail if it is low calorie?) Then we walked back down the driveway, carrying watermelons, which worked out our arms, but made us so tired we decided not to walk anymore. Fail #3. Then we laid in the bed and watched The Stepford Wives, ate popcorn, split a coke, and ate fruit-flavored freezer-pop things.

We are seriously failing at this whole exercise/diet thing. But then again, that's what friends are for.

Monday Night Prayer

Not to post twice in one hour, but I do have other news that I want to share. 

In my last post I talked about how awesome I am feeling in the Lord right now, how I know that God is doing great things and all that good stuff. So here's what I want to share with you now: the reason God is moving is because we, as a church, are moving.

Sometimes I think, I mean I know, that God is wanting us to make the first move. He wants to see if we really trust Him. I think every choice we make is a test to see how faithful we are going to be to pursuing God's will. So if we want to see growth in the church and in our own spiritual lives, the thing to do would be to start growing. The Bible tells us that if we draw near to God, He will draw near to us.

So one thing we have started doing just this summer at Hope is Monday night prayer. Now, the people in our church are praying people, I know. But we have not had corporate prayer like this in a while. So after Rebekah and I spent so much time with the Bowling Green church, in their corporate prayer, we really felt it was a good idea for Hope to do that as well. And we have seen great things happening already! People are drawing near to the Lord, and our services have been more and more powerful. Whoo hoo!

Onward and Upward

I have to admit, I haven't always had the most positive, optimistic attitude when it comes to church growth. I always try to look on the bright side, see the glass half-full, if you will. However, I have to be honest and say that there are times when I have wanted to give up, and I know I'm not alone in this. Still, I get up every morning, ready to do what I can for the Kingdom. I never miss a service, and I go to as many "extra-curriculars" as possible. And every morning I find that God's mercies are new, His grace is greater, and His love is just as strong as ever. We serve a faithful God and He is a rewarder of those who diligently serve and trust in Him.

I know its easy to say that when things are going great, so let me make myself clear: things are ALWAYS great when you are serving the Lord. As long as you have breath in your bones, you have a reason to feel the way I just described about God. Sunday we didn't pack out the church or see countless souls won to Christ. We did, however, experience the manifest presence of God. God showed up and showed out at Hope on Sunday, which proves my point that God rewards those who are faithful to Him. 

I'm encouraged today because I know that God is doing great things at Hope. We are moving onward and upward in the Kingdom of God. God is great and greatly to be praised!

Stronger (Live In The Studio) (Official Music Video)

LOVE LOVE LOVE

Got Nick? and Daddy's Girl

Tonight, my sisters, my mom, and I all went to do our grocery shopping. We're into this new thing called "talk-to-strangers-and-maybe-you'll-get-a-chance-to-tell-them-about-Jesus." It's working quite well. So tonight we see this man, about fifty years old, with a shirt on that says "Got Nick?" Well, Christina decided it would be a great conversation starter to tell him that she liked his shirt. When he asked her if she knew what it meant, she was trapped. Did she know what it meant? No. But she was right, it was a great conversation starter. We chatted for a little while, but didn't push ourselves on him. Later, we saw him in another area of the store and traded quips such as "haven't I seen you before?" then laughed and walked away, deciding that the next time we saw him we would invite him to church. 

We went to check out, bummed that we had missed our opportunity to talk to the guy when, what do ya know, he pushed his cart up behind us and struck up conversation again. We talked about school supplies, the price of school lunch, and college. He commented on how we all look alike, asked which one was mom, and then asked which one was the daddy's girl. Automatically, the answer was Christina. She's the musician and the comedian... just like dad. This is the part where we got to tell him about our church. He asked about the music, we told him what we do (which is play music at church). He then asked where we were from, what church, etc. Bada bing bada boom: He knows who we are and where we are, maybe we will be seeing ol' Nick around Barren Plains sometime soon. I sure hope so.

Now for PART II of the story. I mentioned earlier that Christina is daddy's girl, but I think it really depends on how you define that kind of thing. Tina definitely has his talents and his jokes, but Rebekah and Jessica look like him (well more than Christina and I do) and I, well, I think I have his no-nonsense perspective. On the way home from town, Jessica was talking about some of her friends and stuff going on at school. She just started high school and is still in that transitioning/adjusting-to-a-new-school phase. Rebekah gave her some advice, telling her to give people second chances, tell them how she felt, all that good stuff. Christina said... something, and I told her this: "You don't need friends. If someone doesn't like you, get over it and make a new friend. There are too many people in your class for you to just have a couple of friends." Harsh? Maybe, but definitely true. As soon as the words were out of my mouth I realized that it was not me that had just spoken, it was my dad. I know once upon a time he told me the exact same thing. Even Bek piped in from the backseat that I had sounded like good ol' papa-la.

When we got home, mama made Jess tell dad about the situation. This is what he said. "Get over it, you don't need friends. You're gonna graduate and go to work and you won't have friends then. Move on." So yeah... me and Dad: same person.

I guess I should add a disclaimer here: I absolutely adore friendship. I have great friends. But they are not friends I made in high school. Some are, but most of my friends are people I have met at college and in church, people who I know God placed in my life. Jess has her whole high school career in front of her and I wouldn't want her to miss out on all the other friends she could make because she is concerned about just a few. Friends are great. Just sayin'

James 4:14

"Why you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are but a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes." James 4:14

I want this verse to be my very heartbeat. It's part of my blog header, I read it every now and then in the Bible, and it always comes to mind at the loss of a life, but on most days I forget that my every breath I take is a small, but significant part of the "little while" mentioned in the verse. I mean, what is a lifetime compared to eternity?

Nothing.

See, I am so silly. Like I said, I want to live by this verse, but day to day, hour to hour, I forget this verse. Until, I hear of someone passing away or my heart is broken, or someone I love is terminally ill. Then I remember. But only long enough to remind myself that life is short and I should make the most of it and go on my way, forgetting what I have learned as soon as money in the bank is low, I gain a couple of pounds, or I come down with a sore throat. But what if all of the little things served as a reminder that, as Peter writes, "All men are like grass and their glory like the flowers of the field. The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the Word of God stands forever." (1 Peter 1:24).

May we never take a single breath for granted, but instead use every fiber of our being to bring glory to the One who created us. If He put us here on this earth, even for a short time, it was for a specific purpose. So fulfill it.    

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine as children do. It's not just in some of us; it is in everyone. And as we let our own lights shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.
-Timo Cruz

Pajamas. My favorite outfit.

Note to self: after two days of sitting at home, on the couch, while the rest of the world goes to school and work, it is okay to change out of your pajamas for reasons besides leaving the house...


Still haven't gotten there. 




I just realized for the past three days the only reason I have changed out of my sleep clothes is to go to church. I don't know whether to consider myself pathetic or extremely lucky :)

We all have a lot to learn...

Last week, a minister said to my sixteen-year-old sister, "You may know a lot... but you don't know everything." At the time, I amen-ed that statement. Later I kicked myself in the teeth as I shoved my foot in my mouth. I definitely agree with the sentiment; my sister doesn't know everything. But whether one is six, sixteen, or sixty, we all have A LOT to learn. 

Obviously, the fact that I have a lot to learn is a lesson I have learned here lately (was that confusing enough for ya?) First thing I have learned: Discretion. Okay, seriously Anna, there is a time to speak and a time to SHUT YOUR MOUTH. Gosh, this is the hardest thing I have ever faced... Just kidding, but no, seriously, it is. I have learned that really the only good time to open your mouth is when you are saying something constructive (even then, watch the tone of voice) or when you are praising Jesus. That's it... no really, I know there are other circumstances under which one may speak... I just can't think of them right now. I definitely know you should never ever speak if you are making fun of someone, or dogging someone, or gossiping. Even if its just once and only like one person hears you, you will feel like a dog afterwards and will feel the need to apologize, which is an oh-so-humbling thing to do. (Speak from personal experience much?)

On a positive note, I am learning about rest. This is something I do not do very often. I am a pusher, so much so that sometimes I make myself sick. For instance, last semester I took 18 hours of class, worked a part-time job, youth pastored during the week, came home and lead praise and worship and sometimes taught Sunday school on the weekend, plus somehow managed to keep up with friends, make time for family, study, eat, and (sometimes) sleep. At the end of the semester I had came down with shingles. Now I think I have laryngitis, which is not good for a singer. I'm not saying all of this to toot my own horn or anything... its just more proof that I have a lot to learn. So I have learned that there are two types of rest (well, I already knew this, I just didn't know how to put it in action). First of all, there is physical rest, which I definitely need so my body doesn't completely shut down and hate me. Secondly though, and more importantly, there is spiritual rest. This is something that takes training I tell you! I almost killed myself spiritually last semester because even though I was doing all these cool things and I was working for the Lord, I spent no time on myself... and that leads to one thing: Burn Out. It happens so easily, and its so hard to come back from it. So this summer I have learned what it means to read the Word for myself, to pray for myself, and to be a little selfish about the time I spend in the presence of the Lord... Its been magnificent, but I am still learning.

Today I learned what it feels like to be old... kind of. I know that some of you who read this blog are probably laughing at me, but seriously, my youngest sister Jessica started her freshman year of high school today. It's been six years since I walked the hallways of freshman academy at LCHS... which feels like yesterday and an eternity all at the same time. As she talked about meeting new friends, finding someone to sit with at lunch, and buying school supplies I felt for just one millisecond kinda sad... but it soon passed. I really hated high school. I realize now though, that life really was simple then and it was a really good time in my life. I hope she makes the best of it. I think my sister Christina found out what it really means to be an older sister today. She is a junior in high school and came home completely frazzled because Jessica found the school bus without her help... 

Finally, I am learning about patience. I really am a patient person most of the time. I don't mind waiting in lines or at the doctors office. But I have discovered that me and long-term goals do not get along. I mean, I don't mind waiting a couple weeks for the next episode of Grey's Anatomy, but waiting two years to be done with school or for other things I want to see happen? Its so hard! I know that part of my issue is trusting God. I like to be in control and when things are out of my hands, I get impatient. So everyday is a day that I have to learn more patience and more trust.

Finally, something that I learn more about everyday is God's grace. The other day I was talking to my grandad. He and my grandmama will have been married fifty years in December, and he said "I love your grandmama more today than I did fifty years ago. I love her more and more everyday." Wow. I mean, I feel that way about the Lord. Everyday I learn to love God more because I learn more about Him. Lately, I feel like I have learned so much about His grace. I am astonished at how He loves me so unconditionally, even when I feel like I fail Him over and over again. Learning to love is such a great thing.

"Never confuse the will of the majority with the will of God."