the “right” music

Today, was a frustrating day.  If you’ve ever had to be creative, for a job or school, you might understand.  You see, creativity does not come on demand… no matter how much I want it to.  The best ideas come in 1 of 2 ways.  You either have some random, could-only-be-God, moment, or you take time doing things to spark something within you for a good idea.  You listen to different kinds of music, you do various Google searches, you talk to a few different people…then you do the scary part and try it to see if it will work.

This was one of those days when NOTHING seemed to work. Things that should work, don’t.  It’s kind of how life can be at times.  Although, there are some options that will work ok, nothing seems to have that “perfect” fit. We try and do the “right” things; we put on a smile; we act like everything is working, but we’re holding out for that “A Ha” moment, when everything falls into place in perfect harmony. 

It takes time; it can’t be rushed; you have to be open to new ideas; you have to be willing to think outside the box; you have to be willing to try some things and fail… then in a moment when you’ve almost given up and you’re about to settle for something that “will do”, God steps in and drops something miraculous into your lap.  

Memorial Day weekend is my new favorite!

It’s the first time in a long time that I can say, I had a GREAT weekend!  Typically, a great weekend consists of hanging with by BFF, Keeley or KiKi as we like to call her , and hanging with some other kinda cool people.  Really great weekends are when I interact with some really cool and interesting people.  However, that is not what made this weekend great. What made this weekend, was spending some time- just me and Jesus- man was it good!  I got to hang out by the pool all weekend (thanks heaps RK!), and I had plenty of time to reflect and read to receive some inspiration.

What I got was… God loves me!  No I mean He LOVES me!  Not just some of the time, not just parts of me, not just when I do and say the “right” things, but He crazy, emphatically, with all that He is, by sending Jesus to suffer and pay so that I could be called “the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus” loves me! And that, is totally humbling and inspiring to the point that I want to jump, dance, and shout that He is AMAZING!  

I was laying on a float in a pool with sunglasses on today, reading.  One of my friends was there, and I wondered to myself what she would do if I start shouting “Hallelujah! Jesus rocks!” That’s what I wanted to do, but I restrained myself.  I don’t know though…I think it’s about time for us (meaning me and you) to get fired up, radical, ready and willing to make complete fools of ourself, in order to proclaim what Christ has done for us!

Humility=leadership

The other night God led me to this passage of scripture in 1 Peter 5, “Be shepherds of the flock…not because you must, but because you are willing…not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock…All of you, clothe yourselves in humility toward one another, because ‘God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.’ Humble yourselves, therefore under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.”

Typically, when you ask “What makes someone a good leader?” you don’t get the answer humility.  Instead you get: the ability to make decisions, authority, strong personality, etc.  Rarely, would anyone ever say humility.  Yet I believe this is one of the most important aspects of being a good leader in the eyes of God.  I think we can either exalt ourselves or allow God to exalt us.  I’d much prefer the latter.  

The greek word for humility in this scripture is tapeinophrosynē, which literally means to have a deep sense of one’s littleness, modesty, having a humble opinion of one’s self.”  The word for clothed comes from the white scarf or apron of slaves, which was fastened to the belt of the vest and distinguished slaves from freemen.  This encourages Christians to show their subjection one to another by putting on humility. This could also refer to the overalls which slaves wore to keep clean while working—an exceedingly humble garment.

I don’t do this.  I’m thinking real hard and I don’t know very many people who have this kind of mentality…it really is servant leadership, and this was written to elders and leaders of the church.  What would happen if we started living this out?  God help us!  I need it; the church needs it, and the world definitely needs it!

A REALLY dumb blonde moment: the torment of the Sprite can

So, You should know up front that I’m petrified of snakes…

I was driving to work today and I here this rattling sound behind my seat.  Then there was a ‘Ssssss’ sound.  My heart starts pounding faster, and I try to turn around and see what it is.  I can’t see, and I’m afraid that it’s a very angry snake.  I’m begin looking for a place to pull off the side of the road and check it out.  I’m kind of in a hurry, so I try turning all the way around in my seat (meanwhile, swerving and crossing the line nearly side-swiping the car beside me)… to my dismay it was a little can of Sprite rolling around on a piece of paper.  I picked it up, put it in my purse, and thought to myself, “this will be good for later”.  I continued on my drive to work and thought nothing more about it.  30 minutes later, I’ll pull into the parking lot at the church, go into the building, and begin setting up for the day.  When I first came in, I put my purse on my desk then went out of the office for a minute, checked my box, came back into my office, cleaned off my desk, set up my computer.  I was getting ready to walk out of my office again, so I threw my purse on the floor… as I turn to walk again, I here this “Sssssss” sound again.  I think to myself, “Oh, no! What is that? Could it be a snake?” Side note: I’m so not kidding about this.  I hesitantly step towards my purse, put it back on my desk, and bend my ear towards it.  I still just hear a “SSSSSSSsssssss” sound.  I notice that there is not liquid on my desk.  I pull back the zipper, and that’s when I realize….It’s the dang Sprite can again! However, now it’s broken and spilled all in my purse.

Carson Christian Williamson

I just have to brag and say that I have the most beautiful, new baby niece in the world.  She was born on Cinco de Mayo at about 10pm, and she weighed 7lbs and 9oz.  SOOOOO cute!  Yesterday, I couldn’t stop just holding her and staring, trying to soak in her sweet smell and tiny little features.  I love babies, but especially this one!!!!

dumb blonde moment #2 of many

So, I was talking with some of my Aussie friends, and they helped me to remember this one…

My first Hillsong Conference. First Day. I get assigned the awesome job of being a “buggy” (like a golf cart) driver. I, of course, get assigned the big daddy, old, medal, bus-like buggy that carries 6 people. Second day.  It’s a little rainy outside. A pastor and his assistant ask for a ride over to another area of the Olympic park.  As soon as this pastor gets on the buggy, he immediately starts bashing women drivers.  He starts yelling at people who are walking by “Watch out! Woman driver!”  I am laughing, but trying to bite my tongue to keep from responding to his obviously misguided reasoning. He directs me to go around the building to bypass all the walkers. I oblige (did I mention I was wearing a radio with an earpiece); unbeknownst to be, he jacked up the volume all the way up on my radio, so when someone says something to me on radio, my eardrum practically erupted. I turn around to yell at him as I’m rounding the corner of a building. Since, I had never been that way before, I failed to notice the giant pillar… the next thing I knew, the roof of the buggy crashed on our heads, and the front of the buggy smashed into are laps.  My immediate response was to put my head down on the bent steering wheel, and cry say “They’re going to hate me.” I spent the next hour and a half laughing and crying intermittedly.  Thankfully, they didn’t hold it against me. Unfortunately, I proved the pastor right about women drivers.