Labels.

My latest blog for the 30 Hour Famine...

How do you see yourself? 

Who are you really? 

http://30hourfamine.org/2013/12/labels/

Savor. 551-600

551. An afternoon with Mary Arthur in Nashville. 

552. Finding a masseuse at Massage Envy who helps me be ready for the marathon.

553. My community. All of my friends who cheered me on through text, fb and in person during my 20 mile training run.

554. Falling asleep on the couch with Nathan while waiting for Brenda's flight to get here.

555. Life changing conversations with Brenda.

556. House sitting with Toly and Yana.

557. Long conversations about life and faith and brokenness with Yana.

558. Building a little trust with both of them.

559. The invitation to sing at the church for the first time.

560. Learning a new song in two days.

561. The congregations sweet response when they realize that I can sing.

562. Driving down I-65 with Brenda & Ingrid with Mumford and Sons playing loudly.

563. Rereading "Love Does" by Bob Goff.

564. Giving Susie my copy of "Love Does". 

565. Celebrating Susie's birthday in a small way by decorating her hotel room in gator colors.

566. The gift of a free flight to Pensacola with Gene.

567. Feeling I was coming home when we got to Pensacola.

568. Trying to see many of the people I love while in town.

569. But also giving myself permission to not see everyone so I could rest well.

570. Meeting Clay and having a new friend in ministry with him.

571. Getting to share what I love about all of the amazing youth he works with. 

572. Meeting Lisa's new boyfriend.

573. Candis was in Pensacola at the same time I am!

574. Meeting Heidi and Denise to run at Bagelheads on Wednesday morning.

575. Laughter with them. 

576. The fact that they mocked me for forgetting my running shorts  and I wore a skort instead. And they though I was just wearing a khaki skirt and no underwear. Ha.

577. Play and laughter with Cora. And Stacy and Ben. 

578. Pedicures, songs,friends and good food in honor of Susie.

579. The fresh, cool breeze when I got off of the plane in Nashville. 

580. Getting back to Nashville in time to spend a couple hours with Nathan before he went on a retreat for the weekend. 

581. Meeting Becky and Emily E. to run twelve miles on the greenway.

582. Experiencing Shari's Run - one of Lebanon local 5k's with church members.

583. Gorgeous weather to run in. 

584. Freedom to leave work early to get my haircut.

585. Catching up with Merrill.

586. Spending an evening exploring live music on Broadway with Nathan.

587. Stories about our families and experiences that shape us into who we are right now.

588. Inviting middle schoolers to be open to a life of faith filled with adventure at Winfree Bryant Middle School FCA.

589. Spontaneous photo of all the middle schoolers from the stage.

590. Short nap on the middle of the afternoon.

591. Listening to suicide survivors tell their stories at the "Never Alone" rally.

592. Being asked to do the opening prayer at the rally.

593. Getting to take care of Nathan after he injured his knees at Ultimate frisbee.

594. A weekend in Black Mountain, NC.

595. Having sweet and wise friends to sit with when my world is turned upside down.

596. The risk of opening my heart to someone else.

597. Bubbles in the mountains.

598. Roasted broccoli with parm and lemon.

599. Local Carolina brews.

600. Friends who are family.

"Be still and know that I am God." Psalm 46:10

Photo by Susie Schmidt at the Knob.

Life is Messy - My latest 30 Hour Famine Blog

I've been reflecting lately about how I have some great (and awkward) life experiences that also make up a really great story. Most of these stories involve me wondering how I ended up in that moment and a lot of laughter. 

This one is something that I went through back in August and I wrote about for the 30 Hour Famine Blog:  What story is God telling in the messiness of your life?

http://www.30hourfamine.org/2013/10/life-messy-complicated-funny/

Year Four. Day 49.

Seriously. Made my day!!! I love my niece!!

Year Four. Day 46.

Lunch to-go from Chili's to support St. Jude Children's Research Hospital!

Year Four. Day 44.

8 mile taper run in the rain in Montreat & Black Mountain... 

Year Four. Day 40.

Winfree Bryant M.S. FCA. Love starting my day off with middle schoolers!!

Year Four. Day 38.

Our new prayer board in the youth lounge. 

30 Hour Famine Blog - New School Year

It's that time again... Needed to have a blog done this past Tuesday morning. I knew what I wanted to say but it wasn't quite flowing the way I wanted it to... And I was going to see Mumford and Sons on Monday night in Birmingham, AL. 

So I put off finishing until Tuesday morning.  

I wrote about a new school year and being at a new church. How it's a bit of a challenge to invite teens and parents to do something like a 30 Hour Famine especially if it sounds like something hard and "not fun". But so incredibly worth it. It can change our lives, help us realize how we can come together by living out the gospel and that we can bring actual change into children and teenagers lives around the world!

Check it out:

www.30hourfamine.org/2013/09/a-new-school-year-and-a-new-youth-group/

Year Four. Day 34.

Playground with my favorite 2 year old!!! 

Year Four. Day 20.

"Stress"

Love that I have certain rhythms in my life...slowing down.

Year Four. Day 19.

"Teen"

A large part of my life... I can't imagine it any different!

Year Four. Day 18.

"Change"

There's been a lot of it this year...

Year Four. Day 16.

"Darkness"

Love running early enough that I get to see the sun come up...

Year Four. Day 15.

"Laugh"

I think it's pretty funny that I tried to figure out all the wires for my computer...

Year Four. Day 14

"Create"

Sunrise in the country. Love to enjoy this gift...

Punching holes into the Darkness

Let's be honest.  

Sometimes life is just overwhelming. With certain situations I ask with hesitation,  "Is it possible darkness won this time??". 

I don't feel like I have solutions or resources or prayers or words to offer... 

Is there enough light???  Will the darkness overcome everything else? 

Almost a year ago, in a church staff day retreat I heard the following statement - "Punch holes into the darkness so light can shine thru...".  

What?!  I scribbled it quickly in the margin. 

I honestly don't really remember anything else we talked about that day. 

I was so taken with the charge and freedom of this action.  What a beautiful way to empower the body of Christ. 

I love that the light was not overcome by the darkness as it says in John 1:5,  "The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it".

But I forget that I get to step in and join the process.

I am empowered.

I get to punch holes into the darkness so the light can shine through.  SHINE THROUGH!!!!  The light is still here.  Even if we can't see it.  Even when we can't see it.

I don't have to wait for someone else to reveal the light to me.  I get to take action.

I spent quite a bit of time this past week thinking about all the ways that I get to punch holes in the darkness:

Prayer (What a beautiful, powerful and life giving gift we've been given through this action)

Phone calls and leaving messages

Messages over text, email, twitter, instagram and facebook or whatever it needs to be

Reaching out to someone that others have given up on
Offer grace instead of judgement - to others AND myself

Empowering teenagers to find their gifts and strengths

Helping teenagers take the risk to use their gifts and strengths

Noticing others and making a point to affirm them

Challenging myself and others to see each other the way God sees us. Again and again.

Asking others to share how I could stand with them.  And then actually doing it.

Education

Collecting money or items for people who can't do for themselves.(Josephs Storehouse)

Supporting ministries (Open Table, Nashville) that stand in the gap for the less fortunate

Celebrating victories with my friends who are taking risks for the kingdom. Too many to list but currently pretty proud of my beautiful friend, Mary Ann

World Vision's 30 Hour Famine or SIFAT's "48"

Sponsorship of a beautiful child named Emily in Zimbabwe.

Experiencing life at an orphanage in Haiti (like Sur La Roche)or Nigeria or any where and sharing their story

Telling or retelling stories

Getting to be a part of changing the culture of a youth ministry or a church

Being a real friend

Running a marathon every year to raise money for the National MS Society in my sister's honor

This list could go on and on...

I also give HUGE thanks for the times that others have punched holes into my darkness.

I still feel sadness in certain situations when I just don't understand why... I know I don't know the entire story.  I don't know what God knows.

Today I am remembering Lee and his family and I will tell his story. I don't know all of it.

But I do know that it isn't over.  His story will help me punch another hole and let the light shine through.

*** 

I was wondering where the line "Punching holes into the Darkness" originally came from.  According to the internet -  Robert Louis Stevenson grew up in Scotland on a hillside.  And one night he was watching the lamplighters who would climb a ladder and light the torches on the street lights... his parents or his nanny asked him what he was looking at and he said, "Look at that man!  He's punching holes in the darkness!".

Year Four: Day 10.

"Grief"

These prayer beads were made for me by a sweet friend a few years ago. Today I used them to pray for her... 

Year Four: Day 2

"Struggle".

Took this at 15.5 miles of my 16 mile run this morning. The last 4 miles about did me in... but I made it! 

Want to help me find a cure for MS? Would love your help! Go here: http://tinyurl.com/mv2r8b3 

Year 4: Day 1

"Simple"

The sweetest kind...