The One About Mike Rowe//Passion

I have become slightly fascinated with Mike Rowe since we used part of his Q talk in worship.  I don't follow him on social media or google him, or anything fanatical...but several times I've stumbled across some pieces by/about him.  One was a nicely written Facebook post he wrote about the ALS ice bucket challenge.  (I should provide the link here, but I'm sure you can find it).  Then today, I came across this:

http://yellowhammernews.com/faithandculture/alabamian-gets-schooled-mike-rowe-dirty-jobs/

I'm glad someone out there is thinking, and then turning those thoughts into articulate and meaningful words on a page.  Live a life filled with passion - but following your passion doesn't always get you where you think it will.  It's important to be smart, too.

The One About Discouragement

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.  Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.  Romans 12:2

Have you read the Screwtape Letters (C. S. Lewis)?  Screwtape (a demon) tries every way he can think of to encourage Wormwood (a demon in training) to bring down a new Christian.  “Oh, that didn’t work?  Try this…that didn’t work either?  Try this instead…”  And so they made efforts to flummox the young Christian in every possible way - from sexual temptation to pride, and so on.  

I have felt these attacks myself the last few weeks in the area of discouragement.  For me and a few of my friends, it seems like Satan has come against us in every possible way.  When one attack didn’t work, he launched another.  When that didn’t work, he tried something else.  As Sunday drew to a close, I found myself pretty down.  I reflected back on the morning of worship that was, and all I could see was the negative.  What didn’t go well.  Who didn’t come.  The negative things people said.  And as I sat at home on Sunday evening, I realized this had been my pattern for several weeks.  I decided then that instead of focusing on what didn’t go well, I would only look at the positive.  On Tuesday mornings, our creative team has a meeting we call the “good, bad and ugly.”  This week I determined that at least for a while, we are only going to do the “good.”  We will no longer even discuss the bad and ugly (we’re perfectionists, and there is always bad and ugly) unless there is something that needs immediate attention.  That little idea has helped us already.  

After my resolve on Sunday, and our fresh start with our creative meeting yesterday, I sat down to look over some sermon notes.  The first thing I read was this: “If you want to change something in your life that you don’t like, you don’t start with your actions.  You don’t even start with your feelings.  You start with your thoughts.”  That’s just a paraphrase of Romans 12:2, but still!  It spoke right to me, and I knew it was a word direct from the Lord.  I am so thankful that God consistently shows up in ways that are clear and on time.      

The One on My 35th Birthday!!

Go me, it's my birthday! Go me, it's my birthday!!  (Puts crown away)...

Ok, here is a video of the mission trip we just took to Europe.  The pics go by a little quick, and I kept having to cut some out.  Now I know what a movie director feels like.  I didn't want to cut ANY of them.  

Sidenote: this video is as much about the lyrics of the song as it is the pics.  

PS. I'm a Texas girl, but you'll still get the idea.

The One About What I'm Into Right Now

1. Diplomas.  White w/red & blue lettering.  Kay Lynn Stacks.  Bachelor of Humanities.  Boom.  Bam.  What's up?
2. Bluegrass music.
3. Shoes.  More specifically, orange ones from Banana Republic.
4. Cruises.  As a graduation gift to self.  With Tiffany.
5. Art History.  Best class I've ever taken and I waited until my last semester in college!
6. Gavin.  Because he's mine and smart and handsome.
7. Our Team.  Because it's clicking.
8. Some other stuff.

The One About the Song I Heard on My Birthday

First blog of 2012!

I turned 34 a few weeks ago. There are several blogs in my head about that - but today I just want to say I love being 34! I heard this song on my birthday, and I've listened to it a lot since. I love being 34.


Brandon Heath - I'm Not Who I Was

I wish you could see me now
I wish I could show you how
I'm not who I was
I used to be mad at you
A little on the hurt side too
But I'm not who I was

I found my way around
To forgiving you
Some time ago
But I never got to tell you so

I found us in a photograph
I saw me and I had to laugh
You know, I'm not who I was
You were there, you were right above me
And I wonder if you ever loved me
Just for who I was

When the pain came back again
Like a bitter friend
It was all that I could do
To keep myself from blaming you

I reckon it's a funny thing
I figured out I can sing
Now I'm not who I was
I write about love and such
Maybe 'cause I want it so much
I'm not who I was

I was thinking maybe I
I should let you know
I am not the same
But I never did forget your name
Hello

Well the thing I find most amazing
In amazing grace
Is the chance to give it out
Maybe that's what love is all about

I wish you could see me now
I wish I could show you how
I'm not who I was

The One About December

Tomorrow is the last final of the semester.  I have just over a month of free time.  That is to say, no school. My last semester begins on January 18.  I'm super pumped on several levels.  One, I love - absolutely LOVE the three classes I am taking in the spring.  I'm excited about school for the first time in a long time. Two, it is (most definitely should be!) my last semester as an undergrad.  It seems a stretch to say that hanging a piece of paper on the wall will actually make me a different person, but I feel like it really will.  I haven't figured out exactly how I'll be different, but I think it requires a whole new wardrobe.

Anyway, here's a glimpse of my reading list for the month off:

1. Finish Engage by Nellie Searcy.  (I've started calling him Nellie now.  Apparently, I'll even nickname total strangers.)
2. Simply Strategic Volunteers.  I have a lot of volunteers.  It seems I should read a book about that.
3. The Accidental Creative.
4. Thoughts on the Creative Process.
5. Something fictional and really good.

The One About Why I Don't Blog

Here are some reasons I haven't been blogging:

1. I've been tired. 
2. I have a tv in my bedroom now.
3. I haven't been doing my school work.  Therefore, it would be wrong to blog.
4. I've been putting my creative energy into other things.  
5. I'm lazy sometimes.
6. I haven't been cleaning my house.  Therefore, it wouldn't be right to blog.
7. I've had too many ideas and can't decide which ones to develop.
8. I've spent a lot of spare time practicing guitar.  (Not sure why 3 & 6 don't apply to that one.)

Anyway...