randomness part 2

i was tagged for this so here we go...

10 years ago:
i was a freshman in college. wow. good times, good times.


things on my to-do list today:
-meet joel for breakfast
-review my presentation
-pack my car
-pack an overnight bag
-drive to bristol, va


what would I do if I suddenly became a billionaire:
hmm...good question. i would definitely want to use that money to bless and give to others. it would also be fun to travel all over and maybe shop once or twice ;).


three of my bad habits:
-procrastinating
-tend to let my car and closet get messy
-i tend to worry and jump to conclusions too quickly

five jobs I have had:
-youth ministry intern
-children's ministry intern
-customer service rep for student discipleship ministries (the see you at the pole people)
-eddie bauer sales associate
-resource advisor for group publishing


five things people don't know about me:
-my desk at work is only messy if i'm super stressed out.
-i will drink soda out of a can (if it's cold) but don't like drinking it out of a bottle...i have to have a glass (preferably a plastic cup) with lots and lots of ice. i always prefer the cup with ice but it's a must if the soda is in a bottle ;).
-i played on an intramural badminton tournament team in college. yeah, i know but we made something SO not cool so very cool. trust me ;).
-i can't sleep with socks on.
-i took roller skating lessons in the 2nd grade. i could even do tricks...i had some mad skillz.

so, i'm not going to "tag" any one in particular...if you're reading this i think you should answer these questions on your blog. spice it up a little :).

wow!!

"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." ~Ephesians 3:20

The Lord did, indeed, do more than we could ask or imagine last night and my response to Him last night and all day today has been, "wow." I've really been in a state of awe and thanksgiving because I know this is only the beginning of how He is going to move and work through the Mustard Seed Project.

We are super excited...dare I say that we are stoked (does anyone ever use that word anymore? I don't think so...but why not have a little throw back to the 90's in my post...cause it makes me smile!) and are waiting with eager anticipation to walk through the next steps of this journey.

I also want to give a shout out (there goes another 90's phrase) to a friend from college and an amazing worship leader, Carl Cartee. (click on his name) Carl's newest album has just hit the shelves nationwide in Family Christian Stores and I want to encourage you to check him out. He's an amazing musician but more than that, he's an authentic follower of Christ whose real passion is to bring others to the feet of Jesus through worship. (His wife, Heather, is as equally amazing...so, really, you should check them out if you've never heard his stuff.)

a new thing...

"See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland." Isaiah 43:19

I have to confess that I don't know why I am up at 4:30 am...other than the fact that I am excited, overwhelmed, nervous, and just plain ecstatic to see how the Lord is going to work and move through the Mustard Seed Project. the Mustard Seed Project is a new ministry for kids, teens, and adults with special needs that is being launched at our church TONIGHT.

My dear, sweet, amazing friend, Melissa, is my coordinator for this new ministry and we have prayed over and have carefully worked on this since October. Yes, that's right...we have worked on this for 5 months, so we are super excited to unveil the plan and watch how the Lord works through Mustard Seed to bring ALL people to Jesus. I can't express to you how much of my heart is wrapped up in this ministry...words just can't do it justice.

I could go into lots of details and facts about families with special needs children...how 85% of families that are in some way effected by a special needs child are unchurched OR that only 10% of the churches in north carolina have ANY type of ministry or emphasis on special needs (I only shared 2 facts ;). But, I would like to ask you (and I don't really know who you are because my site statistics show that waay more people read the blog than comment and that is okay) to pray for this ministry. Below is a prayer request email of sorts that Melissa emailed last week; I know this is a long post but if you would pray for this "new thing" the Lord is doing, I would be so very grateful.

Hello friends,
By now you have probably received something in the mail about the new Mustard Seed Project that is starting at Hickory Grove. The reason for my e-mail is to ask you to pray! We are asking the Lord to do a work among our special needs population like never before! We are asking Him to work in their families to bring hope and joy to some otherwise hopeless and hard situations.

Imagine being told that there is no place for your child in church. Parents call and ask if there is a place for their handicapped teen or child and up until now we have had to say "No, we do not have a place for teens and there is one class for children." Kids with milder disabilities are being put in regular Sunday school classes, and while they are welcome, it is sometimes difficult to understand how to meet their needs or deal with their behaviors. Things have got to change and we are praying for direction from the Lord for the most God honoring way to make those changes.

Please pray:
*For us and families to communicate effectively on behalf of their kids
*For us to utilize the resources that we currently have at the church to meet the needs before we branch out. We want to be good stewards and we need wisdom to do that.
*For lives to be touched and for people to come to know Jesus as their Savior
*For the Lord to provide the volunteers that we need to make this ministry all that it can be for these kids
*For us to not bite off more than we can chew! It is very tempting to try to address every need that we see. We are interested in getting Sunday school better situated before moving on so that families can be in church together and hear God's Word proclaimed!
*For wisdom, direction, patience and love that just flows as we deal with each family and their individual needs.

The Lord is so faithful. He has already amazed us at how He is providing! He is doing all of it and we would never want to take it from His hands. We want to be so careful to never get ahead of His plan and provision so we are praying for His will.

The Mustard Seed Project is named after a story in the book of Matthew where Jesus was met in a crowd by a dad. He was desperate for Jesus to heal his son of the seizures and suffering that he was experiencing. The disciples had tried, but could not heal him. Jesus spoke and healed the boy instantly. When the disciples asked Jesus about the healing Jesus replied in verses 20-21 of Matthew 17, "I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."

We do have faith! We believe that the Lord can and will work among His people and that He is still in the miracle business. He loves each one the same. Whether they are in a wheelchair, on a walker, dealing with learning disabilities or autism... He can speak and He has a plan for their lives. We do have the faith of a mustard seed and we are asking that you come along side us in prayer.

Thank you!

Melissa and Amy

:

more of what i love...happy valentine's day!!

since it is valentine's day and all...i thought i'd continue my list of things i love. :)

i love coffee...strong coffee with cream but no sugar. starbucks has trained me well.

i love joel. he's the absolute best. i love that he understands me and bless his heart is super patient with this girl who is quite the work in progress.

i love crispy candy like kit kats, nestle crunch, krackle, and crispy m&m's (do they make those anymore? i don't think so!)

i love ministry...i love that the central focus of my job is cultivating, nuturing, and shepherding relationships with people as they work toward cultivating, nurturing, and shepherding their relationship with Jesus.

i love it when the ink in my pen matches the notecard or stationary on which i am writing. that makes me happy.

i love that the Lord has been so clear in His direction for the new special needs ministry at our church. i love that all we have had to do is literally to respond in obedience and be available...He is provided and worked and moved beyond anything i could ever imagine. it seriously makes me just want to fall on my face and weap with thanksgiving. "how can i ever repay the Lord for His goodness to me?"

i love fresh flowers...tulips, roses, gerber daisies...they just make me happy.

i love chick flicks.

i love that i beat my nephews at bowling on the wii. (is it wrong that i love that?)

i love my lip gloss.

i love that we worship and follow a God who is involved in our daily lives...He is not removed and distant but is here, with us.

i love sweatshirts...especially hoodies.

i love warm cuddly, cozy blankets.

alright, well, i could sit here and list things forever. i'm such a valentine's day dork, though. it's my favorite "minor" holiday; i just think it's so important to take time to let people in your life know how much you love and appreciate them.

so, take some time and spread some love around today!!

"we love because He first loved us." 1 john 4:19

i've been tagged...

okay, i've been tagged by cari for a book meme. so, here goes...

Here are the rules:
1. Pick up a book on your desk or a book that is nearby (of at least 123 pages).
2. Open the book to page 123.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the next three sentences.
5. Tag some friends to take the book meme challenge on their blog.

From, Captivating by John and Stasi Eldridge...

"Okay, we've all heard the story. Martha and Mary. Don't be such a Martha. Got it."

(So, it bothers me to just put those 3 short sentences out there...I'm more of a take things in context girl...which, I guess, is the point of this meme to see how funny it can be to pull something out of the air. But, anyway, here's the whole paragraph...just in case you wanted to know what in the world those 3 sentences are about ;)

Okay, we've all heard the story. Martha and Mary. Don't be such a Martha. Got it. But we've often wondered what the "one thing" was that was needed. Some of you might have heard teaching that it was one simple casserole dish, that Martha was busy making a complicated meal when only one simple food was needed. No. That is not what Jesus is saying. Jesus has again spoken straight into the heart of the matter. The one thing that is needed is a captivated, adoring heart, a heart that responds to the extravagant love of God with worship.

alright, i'm tagging melissa, nicki, and christy alley. get to it, girlies ;).