23 October 2009
It's Official!
Since before James and I married, he has struggled with the idea of going back to school. Where to go, when to go, which major to choose? After much discussing, praying, and thinking over the past few months, we arrived at a verdict. In case you haven't heard, James and I have made the decision to move back to Martin, Tennessee! On Tuesday, James received his acceptance letter from the University of TN at Martin. He's going into the nursing program, and it may take 3-4 years for him to complete the program. We've informed our employers and have begun the search for a place to live and work in Martin. There is a good chance that the Marines will pay for his tuition and for our living expenses. This is an answer to prayer for us. We plan to move at the beginning of January so that James can be there for the Spring semester. We look forward to this new phase of life together!
18 October 2009
Feelings
Friday, October 16
I was talking to a friend recently about going to see the Vols play at Neyland Stadium. For me, Tennessee football is all about family tradition. I never watch the games at home. I go so I can spend time with my grandparents, who have attended home games for over 50 years. They've had the same seats on the 45 yard line longer than I've been alive. I've learned how to understand the game of football only because I've accompanied my grandparents to at least one home game every year since I was a kid. I mentioned to my friend how exciting it is to watch the team run through that "Power T". The fans are cheering. The "Pride of the Southland Marching Band is playing. You know that "Iiiiiittttttttt's football time in Tennessee!" It is hard not to be caught up in the moment.
It is in this moment, when the team is running onto the field, that I am so excited I almost get emotional. It's been happening now for several years-this feeling of excitement and emotion rolled into one. In fact, it's an all too familiar feeling. I remember feeling it in Thailand when we were watching a live show about Thai culture and history. Distinct Asian music was playing as actors and actresses wearing traditional Thai costumes danced traditional Thai dances. Live elephants walked onto the stage and reenacted a battle scene that signifies past battles recorded in Thai history. Traditional drums boomed to the music. It honestly gave me chills, and there it was again: that same excited, emotional feeling.
I also remember getting this feeling when my family went to Disney World for the first time almost ten years ago. We watched a show filled with fireworks, colored lights and action sequences. Once again, I got that emotional feeling.
Then it donned on me as I was talking to my friend about the Vols. I get this same feeling at Christian concerts and conferences when God’s people are lifting their hands in praise and worship to Him. Honestly, this thought scared me. I started to wonder, “If I get that feeling when I’m worshipping God AND when I am attending secular events, is it even real? Or is it some emotional high based on feelings alone?
Sunday, October 18
I intended to post the section above on Friday night, but I decided not to do so. Instead, I began to pray and ask God those questions with which I ended. God began to show me that as important as our feelings are (after all, He gave them to us!), they do not ultimately constitute what we are. My relationship with God is not based on feeling alone. My relationship with God is made up of the time I spend with Him in prayer, the time I spend reading His Word, and the time I spend growing with other believers. If we base our Christianity on feelings, then we’re missing the point entirely. A relationship with God is so much more than feelings. If James and I based our relationship on the romantic feelings we get from time to time, our relationship would not last very long. Those feelings are special, but they don’t last! It’s all about our commitment to each other “for better or for worse until death do us part”. This concept is not a new one, but for me, it’s a fresh lesson in faith. We must cultivate our relationship with God just as we cultivate our relationships with others. The feelings, no matter what causes them, are just an added bonus in our lives!
I was talking to a friend recently about going to see the Vols play at Neyland Stadium. For me, Tennessee football is all about family tradition. I never watch the games at home. I go so I can spend time with my grandparents, who have attended home games for over 50 years. They've had the same seats on the 45 yard line longer than I've been alive. I've learned how to understand the game of football only because I've accompanied my grandparents to at least one home game every year since I was a kid. I mentioned to my friend how exciting it is to watch the team run through that "Power T". The fans are cheering. The "Pride of the Southland Marching Band is playing. You know that "Iiiiiittttttttt's football time in Tennessee!" It is hard not to be caught up in the moment.
It is in this moment, when the team is running onto the field, that I am so excited I almost get emotional. It's been happening now for several years-this feeling of excitement and emotion rolled into one. In fact, it's an all too familiar feeling. I remember feeling it in Thailand when we were watching a live show about Thai culture and history. Distinct Asian music was playing as actors and actresses wearing traditional Thai costumes danced traditional Thai dances. Live elephants walked onto the stage and reenacted a battle scene that signifies past battles recorded in Thai history. Traditional drums boomed to the music. It honestly gave me chills, and there it was again: that same excited, emotional feeling.
I also remember getting this feeling when my family went to Disney World for the first time almost ten years ago. We watched a show filled with fireworks, colored lights and action sequences. Once again, I got that emotional feeling.
Then it donned on me as I was talking to my friend about the Vols. I get this same feeling at Christian concerts and conferences when God’s people are lifting their hands in praise and worship to Him. Honestly, this thought scared me. I started to wonder, “If I get that feeling when I’m worshipping God AND when I am attending secular events, is it even real? Or is it some emotional high based on feelings alone?
Sunday, October 18
I intended to post the section above on Friday night, but I decided not to do so. Instead, I began to pray and ask God those questions with which I ended. God began to show me that as important as our feelings are (after all, He gave them to us!), they do not ultimately constitute what we are. My relationship with God is not based on feeling alone. My relationship with God is made up of the time I spend with Him in prayer, the time I spend reading His Word, and the time I spend growing with other believers. If we base our Christianity on feelings, then we’re missing the point entirely. A relationship with God is so much more than feelings. If James and I based our relationship on the romantic feelings we get from time to time, our relationship would not last very long. Those feelings are special, but they don’t last! It’s all about our commitment to each other “for better or for worse until death do us part”. This concept is not a new one, but for me, it’s a fresh lesson in faith. We must cultivate our relationship with God just as we cultivate our relationships with others. The feelings, no matter what causes them, are just an added bonus in our lives!
12 October 2009
Living Proof Live
On October 9 and 10, my mother-in-law: Tammy, sister-in-law: Casey, my mother-in-law's sister-in-law: Mirinda, and I (whew, that's wordy) all went to Beth Moore's Living Proof Live at the FedEx Forum in Memphis. We had an amazing time listening to Beth pour out Biblical truth and theology. I hung on every word that she spoke, and I could not get enough! She "rightly divides the Word of Truth" in such a compelling way. I honestly wish I could have brought every woman in my life with me to the conference. I also have this desire to enroll in seminary courses (I doubt this will happen anytime soon), because I want to know as much as I possibly can about Scripture.
Living Proof Ministries was founded on Hebrews 4:12 which states, "For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart."
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