CrAzY times

ok, so I had a flat tire the other day. Some guy flagged me down and told me. I at first was thinking that some weird-o was trying to flirt then I read his lips. I drove on it longer than I should have b/c I was determined to make it to a gas station. I guess that changing a flat is something I need to learn to do. Thanks to the dude who changed my tire! I now have a fixed tire and it was only $10. I wonder what the next crazy thing to happen will be???

OK, so next week I have hair appt. What should I do? Keep it long and just get it shaped up? Cut it shorter again? Color? I'm thinking some red and blonde highlights? I don't know. What do ya'll think? (Post a comment and help me out!)

So, the fast few week I have really learned a ton of things about a ton of things. So, I reckon I'll share!

1. Ministry can be hard and easy within one sitting. Some of the people here are so easy to love and get along with. Others often test you and make you want to scream. Such is true in any situation. Regardless of the situation, God calls us to love no matter what. He is patient with us, we must be patient with them. He offers us grace and mercy, again we must offer them the same. Jesus constantly went out to those who were hard to love and He loved them. John 13(that's the washing of the feet chapter)tells us to follow His example.

2. Sometimes going back to the "old way" is the easiest thing to do, but not always the best. I thank God that He is a God of the present! He doesn't focus on our past. 1st John 1:9 "If we confess our sins He is faitful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from ALL unrighteousness"! However, sometimes that is so hard to remember. I have seen several people here "throw in the towel" and go back to their abusers or go back to drinking and drugs. How heart breaking. They were not allowing God to help them through. They could not move past a the problem and the solution seemed to go back to the known. We humans are creatures of habit. Folks, we can't carry it all on our own. Just b/c it's easy doesn't mean it's better. We will struggle, but we serve a God who uses our struggles to draw us unto Himself, that is if we allow Him to carry us through those struggles. "Do not call to mind the former things,
Or ponder things of the past.Behold, I will do something new,Now it will spring forth;Will you not be aware of it?I will even make a roadway in the wilderness,Rivers in the desert." Isaiah 43:18-19!

3. Ok, so any of you who know me and know me well, you know that I am blessed with the gift of Gab and that I can ramble on about anything ( I think I get this from my mom, lol). I have really learned a lot about listening and stuff. I am often times to quick to speak and judge. There is much to be learned by listening, whether it's to others or to God.

4. Just how stinkin' important fellowship with other believers truly is and how important it is to be surrounded by Godly people who lift you up in prayer. I'm so thankful that we quickly found a church to get plugged into.( www.thegatheringtulsa.com ) It's a blessing to share your journey with others who are on the same path. I have also learned the importance of true friendship. I dearly miss those friends but I know that they are doing what God has called them to do and I can't ask for any more than that from them! It's amazing how He provides ways for you to keep in touch with people who are in other parts of the world!

Mistaken

Mistaken
Written by Warren Barfield

I shouldn’t have to tell you who I am
Cause who I am should be speaking for itself
Cause if I am who I want to be
Then who you see won’t even be me
Oh the more and more I disappear
The more and more He becomes clear
Chorus:
‘ Til everyone I talk to hears His voice
And everything I touch feels the warmth of His hand
‘ Til everyone I meet
Sees Jesus in me
This is all I wanna be
I wanna be mistaken
For Jesus
Oh I wanna be mistaken
Do they only see who we are
But who we are should be pointing them to Christ
Cause we are who He chose to use
To spread the news
Of the way the truth and the life
Oh I want all I am to die
So all He is can come alive
‘ Til everyone I talk to hears His voice
And everything I touch feels the warmth of His hand
‘ Til everyone I meet
Sees Jesus in me
This is all I wanna be
I wanna be mistaken
For Jesus
Oh I wanna be
Oh I need to be mistaken
For you
Oh I wanna be mistaken
Bridge:
May He touch with my hands
See through my eyes
May He speak through my lips
Live through my life
I want Him to
I want Him to live

ahh...

Ok, so for some reason tonight I really miss my old, comfy friends (not that I don't enjoy my new ones). You know the ones- those that you don't have to worry about getting to know, you don't have to say a word and they know what you're thinking, you are totally yourself around them, they know your past, they know your heart, they call you out when you have a stinky attitude, they'll listen (of course they expect you to do the same) and give advice, they've cried with you (vise versa), you've been through the tuff stuff together, you spend time at their house like it's your own (aka you help yourself to the fridge), their the first ones you want to call when something happens (good or bad), and they are the ones who have seen you at your ultimate silliest. You know who you are and I really miss, love, and appreciate you! You all make me smile!Thank you for being such faithful friends and servants! God is working amazingly through each of you! You rock my face off! Jude 2! Lord willing, I'll get to see most of you in May!!!!!!

This week has totally been CRAZY! I am so thankful that it's over and time to get a fresh start. My brain is shutting down. Peace out!

S.A.D

OK- so with the wonderful SAD (for those of you who don't know, that stands for "Single Awareness Day" aka Valentines Day)looming, here are some things I know:

~No exciting romantic sort of anything (hey, that's the way it's been for 23 years, so I guess I wouldn't know what to do if it were otherwise). Yep, that's right no flowers or little chocolates for me.(ok, mourn for a sec and now back)

~I'll probably stay in, if I don't have to work or mabye I'll just hang with the guests. They need to know that they are cared for, I bet this day will be very hard for them, esp those who are dv.(OK- quick soap box- why do abusers think that it's ok, for one day,to not to hit their wives? They give them flowers and make them feel special for one day- let me tell you Valentines day does not condone beating your wife for 364 days a year)

~My mom will call me like 10 times that day (as she does everyday) and I won't call her back (as I usually don't). Mom, if you read this- don't worry, I know you want to hear EVERY detail. I'll call you when I have time. Please don't nag.

~I'll go to the gym b/c that seems like a place that would be void of Romantic dates, ehh maybe.(I did join it today and it's a 24/7 one- my abs hurt)

~So, enough fussing. I am very blessed. My parents call me a million times naggging me to call them back, I know they love me. My sister apparently talks about me all the time, or so I've been told. I have a precious Granny and a goober brother. My woderful friends/sisters (you know those "forever friends", the ones you've had since elementary school, you know who you are)are amazing! My other friends are pretty cool too (gosh, there are way to many to list- M-fuge peeps, summer missions peeps, CWJC gals, APSU peeps, the list goes on- I hope and pray you're doing well). My new friends here in Tulsa are becoming very dear to me (Lindsay and Kate, you guys rock my face off!)

~drum roll, please- and of course, the #1 thing- God's love. Where would I be with out that! It's better than any earthly romance could ever be. Agape! As I sit here and ponder all the reason that I could be miserable on Valentines Day, none of them see worthy to hold a tourch to the love the Lord has show. Hello, John 3:16- now that's love. So, this V-Day, I resolve to count my blessing rather than meander in sadness (which I'm not sad about being single, I am rather content, it's just that somehow on V-Day you kinda get overwhelmed, well knocked in the head, with couple-ness, that's all). So, cling to His love on this day. Know that you are blessed and loved by the one who will "never leave your or forsake you". You are loved by the creator of the universe. AMAZING! Nothing can separate us from His love. I could keep rambling, but I'll stop.

;)After all, it's a pagan holiday.

He makes me sMiLe!

Don't you just love how God puts little reminders of Him in your life. Yet another crazy occuance...John Hickman, my camp pastor this past summer, ended up giving at the sermon at the body of believers where we take the ladies. Of all the churches in Tulsa, it was the exact one! Things like that keep happening to me (like the thing with Eva!) and I am glad of it b/c God reminds me just how faithful and in control He really is! Yay! Good stuff :)

Also, PTL! I had a mini-one on one conversation with one of the younger ladies her. Please be in prayer for her. She considers herself to be Jewish.

Peace out yo!

Shh...

I have laryngitis. I guess I didn't realize how much I talk. Oh well. Just makes me realzie how blessed I truly am!

YAY! & PRAY!

I got to do something I totally love today...lead Bible study!!!! It seemed to go well, although not the direction I had intended. Gotta love it when the Holy Spirit takes ahold of things!

Please continue to keep us in your prayers. We are getting sick. Pray for Ms. E. who is in the hosbital, and esp. for the 2 babies with RSV (one of them is only 25 days old).

Word.

Set up

Why is it that my married friends always try to set me up with the guy who they think is "Mr. Right"????? crazy