anorwen06's Xanga

Now THIS is a good idea!!

Fri, 29 Feb 2008 15:34:40 GMT

Okay ladies ... listen up!

"Back in the 5th century, Saint Bridget complained to Saint Patrick that women were forced to wait too long for a marriage proposal. According to legend, St. Patrick set aside one day every four years so forlorn females could ‘pop the question.’ That day is February 29th. The tradition has found its way around the world; Scotland even made it a law in 1288—and any man who refused a proposal was required to pay a fine! The idea is: leap year can fix calendar problems, and ‘female proposal days’ can fix lack-of-marriage problems."

This is a quote from a post by Erin Sutherland at the Na blog, and referenced by Carolyn McCulley on the Radical Womanhood blog. My aMAZing younger brother actually told me about this tradition before I read about it online (maybe he was offering a suggestion to his "still-very-single" older sis??). Anyway, one of the other members of the Trio (who will safely remain anonymous) suggested that we single girls could make some money today - asking the most unlikely guys to marry us, then collecting fines when they refused. So far, I've made $324.83 ...

Happy Leap Day!

The Many Faces of Kate

Wed, 27 Feb 2008 09:32:17 GMT

Happy Birthday to one of my favorite people in the whole world ... my younger sister, Kate.

("Hmmmm...." some of ya'll are thinking, "I didn't know she had a younger sister named Kate" -- that's because you probably know her as Grace, which is in fact, her name. But I call her Kate, so .... )

Yesterday was Kate's birthday. She is 15. She's smart, funny, hard-working, sensitive, sweet, helpful, talented, gutsy and brings a lot of joy into our home.

I've had the special privilege over the last couple years to be one of her teachers not just for school (I do her history, science and reading) but at church as well. When she became a highschooler this last year, she graduated from SEEKERS (which was pretty sad), but I was able to work with her on the Pilgrim's Progress play where she did an aMAZing job as a crew member and even took on some minor acting roles. It's been fun to watch her grow up and join the "big girls". Who knows, we may need to rename the Terrible Trio!

She's a pretty special girl and I'm so thankful to be her big sis!

You rocketh muchly Katie!!!

Crazy Kate

Oh Dear

The Amazing Baker

Contemplating a Turtle

Homeschool in the Park

"Master" Kate -- the prop's ninga

Kate the baller

Christmas Kate

I love you!

An "Expendable" for God

Mon, 04 Feb 2008 10:29:13 GMT

This little booklet by Nancy Leigh DeMoss needs to go on your reading list. Especially if you are single.

Here's an excerpt on serving Christ with all my time, abilities, and energy ~

    No one who has been redeemed by Christ has the right to be footloose and fancy-free. Singleness, whether for a few years or a lifetime, is not a time to be without responsibility but a time to serve Christ wholeheartedly and full time, regardless of our vocation.

[...] Contrary to what the world tells us, the greatest happiness is not to be found in getting our own needs met but in giving to meet the needs of others. The greatest position is not at the top of some corporate ladder but as a bond-servant of Jesus Christ. The greatest prestige is not human recognition but the "well done, thou good and faithful servant" of our Master.

[...] Henrietta Mears was a single woman of the past generation whose life and ministry challenged literally thousands of college students to devote "the whole of their lives" to Jesus Christ [...] She wrote,

    I have come back from Europe and South America with an overwhelming sense of the crisis hour in which we live. The needs of the world are appalling. I believe that you are a young man of destiny, for who knows but that "you have come into the kingdom for such a time as this." I believe that God has made not mistake and that He has a plan for you in this hour. As never before God is calling for expendables. He is watching for men to match the mountains of opportunity; He is looking for youth who will say, "I will face this hour and find my place in it, and if I perish, I perish." We need men who will put God first.
    ... I would that we had young men driven by a mighty vision of what God could do if only He possessed them. I believe young men of today are going to do things that will stagger this generation, but all this will pass. We must have young men to deal with things not of time, but of eternity.

*****

What a great call ... to be an "expendable" for God ... willing to be used up in service in doing God's work. I wonder what things could be accomplished if all the young singles of Grace Baptist caught this vision. God has gifted us with abilities and time (despite the busyness of our schedules) what if they were all turned toward His work? What might God do with us?

It's a question I think we should be considering.

Later Ya'll!

Thoughts from Timothy

Wed, 23 Jan 2008 10:51:21 GMT

"Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity." - 1 Timothy 4:12

"So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart." - 2 Timothy 2:22

I've read them many times before, but these verses just popped out at me again as I was reading through 1 & 2 Timothy this morning. As a young woman with many opportunities to participate in my church's ministries, Paul's words to a young Timothy encourage me to reject the world's outline for my life and instead do my best to glorify God with my attitude and actions.

Up Late Workin' on the GBC Video

Tue, 22 Jan 2008 00:53:49 GMT

It's amazing how funny things seem after midnight.

I was suddenly struck by all the crazy outfits that have at some time been seen around our church. Here are a few of my favorites pics that I grabbed out of the hundreds we've scanned.

Enjoy!

Ulrich Zwingli makes a Reformation Celebration appearance

A friendly woodsman helps out with the Reformation Faire

Illustrating the importance of Truth with the comedy "The Emperor's New Lie"

The world's coolest pastor with the most aMAZing VBS class

The Mission Command Flight Team ready to blast off during Space Probe

With One Voice

Fri, 18 Jan 2008 22:38:45 GMT

In a little over a week Grace Baptist Church will mark 25 years of God's faithfulness. My family has been greatly involved in the plans surrounding the anniversary celebration, primarily through taking the pictures, videos and audio soundbites collected over the past 25 years and assembling them into a video presentation to be shown at the special anniversary service. As we've worked together on this project, we've sorted through literally thousands of images - memories and moments captured by the camera, forming an incredible picture of God's grace.

By far my favorite pictures and video clips are the ones that deal with my favorite aspect of GBC, the fact that we exist as one church but worship in two languages. It is always amazing to me that God would work in our hearts and make us willing to be inconvenienced, willing to deal with cultural clashes, willing to wait for translation and stumble through singing in a language we do not speak or understand for the sake of worshiping Him bilingually. Those times when we can meet all together, both congregations, are special ... and we have some great pictures and video that capture this.

Unfortunately, our congregations have grown so large that if everyone were to come to a bilingual service, our current worship area would not be large enough to hold us. But for the 25th Anniversary we have rented the auditorium of a local high school, so all will be able to gather and worship together. It would be a gross understatement to say that I am excited ... I'm WAY beyond that!

A few months ago Steven Curtis Chapman released his newest album, This Moment. There are a bunch of great songs on it (like the one about mothers that has been on this site for a while), but I've been saving my favorite to put on here for the 25th. This first time I heard it, my first thoughts were of my church. I wanted to shout "Yes! Yes, this is it! This is what we are trying to do!" Turn up your volume and enjoy!

With One Voice
~ Steven Curtis Chapman

We come together with a holy purpose
We come together for the highest cause
We speak one language from a heart of worship
Gathered to bring a song to the world
For Your glory

With one voice we will sing
Every tribe and every tongue brings a harmony
With one voice we will bring
Heaven's beautiful melody down to this earth
As we sing to our King with one voice

Oceans divide us but we sing together
Now what defines us is our love of You
From every nation and across all borders
Gathered to bring a song to the world
For Your glory

With one voice we will sing
Every tribe and every tongue brings a harmony
With one voice we will bring
Heaven's beautiful melody down to this earth
As we sing to our King with one voice

Come on, come on and join the song
Our God, our God is on the throne
Come on, come on and join the song
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Come on, come on and join the song
Our God, our God is on the throne
Come on, come on and join the song
Hallelujah

Hallelujah, our God reigns
Let us all rejoice
With one voice we will bring
Heaven's beautiful melody down to this earth
As we sing, sing to our King with one voice
With one voice

Hallelujah, our God reigns
Let us all rejoice
Sing Hallelujah, sing His praise
Let us all rejoice
Sing Hallelujah, our God reigns
Let us all rejoice
Sing Hallelujah, sing His praise
Let us all rejoice

Singled Out For Him

Mon, 14 Jan 2008 09:37:57 GMT

From the wonderful little book I'm reading ...

I must set my heart to respond to [...] every area of my life with the words of the virgin Mary when her world was turned upside down by an angelic messenger: "Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word." (Luke 1:38).

Certainly there are times when I whimper and long for something God has not provided. But over and over again, He brings me back to that wonderful place of trust and surrender that says, "Oh, Lord, if it pleases You, it pleases me." We tend to think that what is really good is the fulfillment of our desires. But, in reality, the highest good in the universe is whatever God chooses for our lives.

The question is not "What do I want for myself?" but "What does God want for me?" What will please Him and bring Him the greatest glory? What will best fulfill His purposes here on this earth?

Contemplating ...

Sun, 16 Dec 2007 01:11:09 GMT

Our family Christmas tree is a work of art. The scrawny, artificial branches (only half-covered with needles, as it has ... in true Christmas tree fashion ... shed throughout the years) are hidden under hundreds of glittering lights (most of which are working) and the multitude of brightly colored ornaments we've collected through the years. The ornaments are what capture my attention tonight. I could spend several happy hours just contemplating them.

Some bring back instant memories ... Thomas the Tank Engine, Joel's favorite at age seven ... Noah's very crowed ark, commemorating the first Christmas in our new home ... six tiny ceramic teddy bears, oh yes, a trip to the Teddy Bear Museum with Tutu and Papa ... numerous basketball ornaments, championships commemorated & coaches honored ...

Some just make me laugh ... where did I get a bunch of purple jingle bell grapes? ... who gave us the Darth Vader Tie Fighter? ... how have Hannah's handmade decorated toilet paper roll ornaments lasted all these years? ... why is there a Lego monster gracing the top of the tree rather than an angel? ...

Some have been on the tree for as long as I can remember ... the plastic Messiah score still proclaims that "His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor" ... crochet mittens hang over one branch while a tired-looking angel graces another ... wooden nutcracker men hang in their assigned areas of the tree (I move them if they are ever placed in the wrong spot) ... the ceramic "Gig 'em Aggies" thumb has lost its hanger, but someone still tucked up in the tree anyway ...

And way down at the very bottom, one that has always intrigued me ... a small wooden stable ... Mary and Joseph, just slightly bigger than my thumbnail, watch over a tiny manger ... the infant Jesus could easily fit on the tip of my pinkie finger ... I've never understood why there are two birds joining the manger scene, but there they are, one white, one red, overlooking it all ... There is something so ... humble, so homely, about this ornament ... but that, I suppose, is terribly appropriate ... because that is the way Jesus came ...

No palace, no beauty, no grand celebration marked His birth ... just a stable, a young mother and father, and shepherds looking on. Not a very propitious beginning for the One destined to save the world ... not a very worthy birth for God who became man. What an amazing, mind-boggling thing ... that Jesus would lay aside His glory, and humble Himself to be born in a manger. Even more astounding is realizing that this humble birth was only the beginning of an eternal plan to save sinners ... the manger was just the first step on the road to the cross, the empty tomb and salvation freely offered.

It's getting pretty late now, and it's time for me to turn off the Christmas tree lights and go to bed. As much as I would like to, I really shouldn't sleep under the tree tonight. But before I do, I think I'll take one more look at the tiny wooden figure in the manger - God become man ... I can't wrap my mind around it! What amazing grace this is!

Freedom!

Tue, 11 Dec 2007 00:42:56 GMT

People ask me questions all the time.

Just this very day I have been asked ...

- Can I fix you a bagel?
- Have you heard this knock-knock joke?
- Are you going to the third floor?
- Can I take of my makeup?
- Are you done with your paper?
- What's your favorite meal?
- How was your concert?
- Why is my Social Security number so important?
- May you please pass me the salad?
- What should I do now?
- Will you put my lipstick on?

(kinda makes ya wonder what I've been up to, huh?)

Sunday evening, someone (who shall, as requested, remain completely unnamed in this post) asked me a question that sparked my creative juices ... what follows is the question .... and my answer.

Q: What should I do when I'm done with finals?

A: I'm glad you asked ...

... break into the Hallelujah Chorus
... jump up and down waving your hands in the air
... call your Mom
... call your Dad
... call all your friends
... run from the building yelling "FREEDOM!!!"
... go out for Chinese food
... go jump in a lake
... throw your book in the lake like you've been dreaming of all semester
... break down weeping with relief
... update your Facebook status so everyone knows you survived finals
... climb to the rooftop and announce to the world "I'm Done!"
... stop everyone you meet to share your joy
... leap about
... stand very still and say quietly to yourself "I'm done." Repeat until you really believe it
... go grab a nap
... step into your school library and simply enjoy the fact that you have nothing to research
... go get Starbucks
... rip your carefully studied notes into teeny tiny bits, then throw handfuls in the air like confetti
... stretch out on the grass and gaze into the sky as you feel your brain emptying of all the useful information you stuffed it with over the last four months
... start singing carols because Christmastime has officially started
... read a book, for pleasure
... host a party for everyone else who is finally finished
... smile from now 'til Jan 3rd

I was tempted to do several of the above exactly 45 minutes ago. Anybody else have a suggestion to add ...

Not quite Christmas ...

Sat, 08 Dec 2007 10:29:54 GMT

I had planned to start putting up Christmas posts today, beginning my annual build up of excitement and wonder as I try to get my mind around the idea that Holy God would humble Himself to become a man. However, as I was looking for Christmas music to put on here (yes, SuperChick is finally being vanquished) I came across one of my favorite songs from the new Stephen Curtis Chapman cd, This Moment.

You're up all night with a screaming baby
You run all day at the speed of life
And every day you feel a little bit less
Like the beautiful woman you are

So you fall into bed when you run out of hours
And you wonder if anything worth doing got done
Oh, maybe you just don't know
Or maybe you've forgotten

You, you are changing the world
One little heartbeat at a time
Making history with every touch and every smile
Oh, you, you may not see it now
But I believe that time will tell
How you, you are changing the world
One little heartbeat at a time

There are four women who instantly come to mind when I hear this song.

The first is my best friend, Bethany. As you can see if you click here, Beth is about to begin her journey as a young mother. Her son, John V, is due in February and maybe she'll soon be feeling like the worn out Mom described in the first verse of this song.

The second is Sarah, my adopted big sis. Her little one, Eli, has given her plenty of sleepless nights and weary days, but she loves him so fiercely, even when the going gets tough. It has been a joy to watch her become a Mom, determined to raise her son in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

The third lady who comes to mind is my employer and friend, Cindy. She has five active, high-maintenance kids, including the "almost twins" one-year old Isaiah and eleven-month old Lydia. I'm in her home four times a week, helping with housework, schoolwork and the never-ending piles of laundry, so I have a front row seat to watch as Cindy shepherds her children through the day. I know she is often tired and feels overwhelmed but she is determined to press on for Christ's sake.

And of course, the first mother to come to mind when I heard this song was my own. We've been watching home videos recently and as I've seen my younger self flit across the screen I've become so impressed with and thankful for my Mom. Six kids, all different, all needy, all dependent on her for guidance, correction, security and love. I remember her being tired (sheesh, she's still tired!) I remember her being discouraged when it seemed like nothing she was doing was having any impact on us. I remember her being frustrated with the dirty house and the unfinished schoolwork. I don't ever remember seeing her quit. Now that I'm all grown up and mature (yeah, right) I can see my Mom's fingerprints on my life in so many areas where she has carefully shaped and molded my character over the years.

All these women are world changers. They aren't CEO's of major companies. They aren't spending days in the lab discovering a cure for cancer. They aren't on the front lines protecting others from attack. They aren't living overseas as missionaries. They aren't writing award-winning novels, or staring in box-office hits.

They are at home cleaning up the cheerios on the floor, doling out discipline and hugs, kissing away bruises and frightening monsters out from under the bed. They are teaching little ones to walk, talk and understand multiplication. They are driving to and from piano, basketball and church. They are preparing for new children to enter their homes. They are on their knees praying for the little hearts and minds that have been entrusted to them.

And they are changing the world ... one little heartbeat at a time.