It's SNOWING in Texas again! :)

As I was leaving my house last night I bent down to kiss my 4 year old niece (Abi) good-bye, when she proceeded to say, "CC, You know it's gonna snow tomorrow?" To which I said, "Yea, I hope so!" To which she replied, "No, it is. God told me so. He has told me everyday this week." I couldn't help but smile and then I prayed that He would let it snow for her....instead of thanking God that it will. What little faith we have! Jesus Himself declared that we must have faith like a child. I want that! It has indeed snowed today and it has been glorious! In fact, as I type now I am watching real snow fall out my window and it is so very peaceful and beautiful. When I woke up this morning I looked out my window and saw it falling. It was quiet, peaceful, majestic, beautiful and pure. And then I gazed up at my blinds and saw the paper snowflakes that I had made. We don't get much snow in texas so I had made some paper snowflakes for my window a few days ago. You know, imitating one of my favorite movies, Elf. :) I looked up at those, then looked out my window at the real thing. And then it hit me...how often do we make our own imitations of "snow" ("life") when God offers us the real thing. We just don't trust Him that His way is better. My pastor is teaching on Genesis currently and a few weeks ago, as he was preaching on the ark and Noah, he stated, "We need to stop climbing through windows when God shuts doors. And we need to walk through His open doors in faith." Boy do I ever "climb through windows" out of sheer fear. Last night I was talking to my best friend on the phone when she begin to confide in me about some problems in her marriage. Nothing earth shattering. She loves her husband but he just hasn't offered her much of life. You see, as John Eldredge puts it, men long for an adventure, a beauty to rescue, life. Where as we women long to be rescued. Nothing wrong with that truth. Problem is, unless men allow God to be there adventure and women allow Him to be our rescuer, we are in big trouble. My friend's husband is currently just focused on projects to be his adventure and you can understand the problems that therein now lie. We were created for eternal life, yet we aren't satisfied with the life giver. We don't seem to trust Him. We are too busy making fake paper snow flakes while the real stuff falls just outside our window. Why can't we be more like my niece? And then when it snows, go outside and just enjoy it? I don't have all the answers. But I was reminded today through my devotional over Psalm 31 and the snow, that He does and He has a plan. For now, until it's all figured out, I'm just going to enjoy the snow and you should too! I see 2 pair of love bird cardinals out my window doing just that thing. And I can hear my niece declaring out loud to her self, "Hellelujah, Jesus!" Amen! :) Happy snow day! :)
"But I trust in you, O Lord; I say, "You are my God." My times are in your hands; deliver me from my enemies and from those who pursue me. Let your face shine on your servant; save me in your unfailing love." Psalm 31:14-16

Tuesdays...

I hate Tuesdays! The enemy always attacks me on Tuesdays! My pastor recently said that Mondays are the days that pastors (that he) feels most attacked. Pastor's are, for the most part, in a "spiritual bubble" on Sundays....it is the "grande finale" to their preparation. But when Monday's come, they feel tired, weary, & attacked, so most take off. I too work in ministry and find that not only do I fight the spiritual fight everyday for myself, but I am fighting for a lot of people around me as well. And Monday's are my "grande finales" in my ministry. Therefore when Tuesdays come, and I'm not allowed to take off, I am tired, weary, attacked, and busy. I am aware of this now and know that there is victory in Jesus and how to be keen to the enemy's schemes. However, he has not ceased fighting even harder now. That brings me to today. Wednesday. As I was having my quiet time this morning I just began to sob. I was weary form the battle yesterday. Then I thought of Jeremiah 29:12, "Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you." At that moment I felt our sweet Jesus so very near. Listen, don't argue with me on what I am about to say. :) This doesn't happen often. And I know that He wasn't physically there in a tangible way. But I felt Him kneeling beside me with His hand on my back and I felt Him mourn with me. Yet I sensed that He was also smiling as he knew that His plan for me and those around me was good. It was freeing to release my concerns in such a way to God. And then I was led to I Samuel 12:21 & 23-24. Basically I felt God saying to me, "Keep battling in prayer, child, for that is where the victory is won. And in the meantime, don't look to any other Hiding Place other than me." One of my favorite people (Mary Ann Bridgwater) quoted R.A. Torrey in her devotional this morning, which said, "All that God is, and all that God has, is at the disposal of prayer. Prayer can do anything that God can do, and as God can do everything, prayer is omnipotent." Amen! So my word to you is, don't stop wrestling that thing out in regards to yourself and others in your very own Garden of Gethsemane. We may drop sweats of blood and many tears...but soon enough we will be at the side of the Father! In the meantime, hide yourself in Him alone b/c He is all that we need! We are in a battle, friends. Don't give up! He has given you everything that you need for life and Godliness and the victory has already been won...that's why the enemy is so relentless. Take up your sword and watch God fight alongside you! And remember, our struggle isn't against flesh and blood but against the evils in this world. Take heart...he has overcome the world! I love you! And if you think of it, please pray for me. People in ministry could surely use it. I know as I pray for many others myself. Thank you!
... me in Israel at the Garden of Gethsemane

Update on my life via pictures

I changed my page for the Holidays-There's a new puppy at our house-I'm growing my nails out-I got my favorite new beanie at the Nutcracker Market-Great holiday pancakes at IHOP with a few YL friends-AND....IT'S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE CHRISTMAS at my house!!!! :)

Why I love YL

There are so many reasons why I love my job in Young Life ministry! But for lack of time, I'm just going to explain what today looked like for me...and let the following pictures tell the story.
Today, I started the morning, as I do every morning, with the distinct priveledge of praying for the lives of kids at 2 5A high schools to be changed! Afterwards I attended a Pep Rally at one of the schools that I do YL at. Kids couldn't believe that I cared to come. There I met an orphan that had been so in the local area all of his life. Before the pep rally a mom had called me saying she didn't know what to do with her daughter who she found out was addicted to drugs and very sexually active and begged me to please help her. So after the pep rally I met with said girl and had a great talk with her over coffee. I introduced her to a devotional, journal and bible and see much hope. I have been walking through life with her for some time now. In just a few minutes I am meeting with a boy for ice cream (along with another guy leader of mine) to talk about his struggle with sex with his girlfriend and how he can be a man of God. He asked. After that I am attending a high school football game to encourage my kids that I care and to meet more hurting souls. I don't have time to include all the countless texts and phone calls that I have received today from hurting kids in need of hope. But may you get a glimpse of kids faces who...
have brain tumors, bring their babies to YL, invite me to sleep overs and earn my trust after living way different previous, hundreds of lost kids who come to YL for fun yet end up finding hope-Jesus-and someone who cares, kids who only had a have bday cakse made only by me-not by a caring parent, found Christ through YL and shared their story at our recent banquet, hiked over a 14,000ft mountain with me in Colorado this summer, found Jesus in Colorado this summer, see life can be fun w/o partying, still need Jesus but are hearing the story, and who know now that someone cares. This is just a small glimpse of why I love my job and pray for more support in it! :) And this is un-edited due to lack of time.... :)

It's back!!!!

Yes, it's that time of year again...THE RED CHRISTMAS CUPS AT STARBUCKS ARE BACK!!!! Woo-hoo! :) What excitement rushed through me lastnight as I was made aware of this. I was holding interviews at Starbucks for new volunteer leaders for YL and the 1st to arrive was this sweet, innocent young man that had to witness me in child-like thrill and proceed to take pictures of me...ha. Lights are starting to go up as well...I love this time of year! :) Enjoy the Holidays friends! I will with Jesus and a good cup of coffee in a great looking cup! :)

Checkers

As I was sitting at my hair dressers today (getting my head fried under the giant blow dryer that was drying my "glaze") I was bored so preceeded to play a game of checkers on my iphone. Normally the stupid computer beats me everytime. I rarely win. But not this time! I beat that machine in 60 seconds...woo-hoo! To which I pondered, "How? Was it just luck?" Nope. I had a different strategy this time! Normally I never jump the computer's checkers if I know that it can jump me right back. But today I didn't care. I had been at the salon for so long and I forgot reading material and I was bored. So I just kept jumping the computer's checkers knowing that it could very well jump my checker right back. But it worked. And it was after that discovery that I had an epiphany...I normally play checkers just like how I approach life. I am scared to get "jumped" so I make no move and therefore always lose. Yet today I RISKED and I lost a few checkers but I ultimately won, and still with a lot of checkers left on the board! We must risk sometimes with the Lord. It's scary but He takes care of us. Just TRUST. Currently I am in a season where a lot of wisdom is needed as I wait for God's direction. It's not time yet for me to risk but now I know when it is, wherever God leads, I will be OK. Thank you for lessons, Lord! And thank you for enabling me to forgive the checkers iphone game after a certain someone ruined it for me...ha. :) With that being said, here is a picture of my hair cut. My mom saw it and said, "Yuck. You look so old. I like it so much better longer. Why do you keep cutting it." Nice! :) Well, I like it...I like a change! I can't believe that I am doing it, but here's a compare and contrast...Ok, So I am going to grow it back out. :) I just pulled a Jennifer Aniston. Wish I looked like her too...ha. :) Ok, well I'm off now to teach campaigners to my YL folks. We are learning about holiness. God, may we live holy please! And gracious Shepherd, I ask you for wisdom please!

JAM Days

*Updated: My nieces and nephew and first party attendee of the night...Alice & Wonderland, and Ryan & Sharpay from High School Musical of course... :)




It is Halloween today and there is not much to do. I don't celebrate anymore really and I was going to make my usual favorite fall dish but my mom decided to host a party here tonight for my nieces and nephews and their friends. So, with unusual free time on my hands, I decided to blog. I don't have much to say though. I'm in one of those times in my life where God is teaching me some deep lessons that I feel aren't quite blog worthy for the world yet...private...you know. So I decided to post some pics instead. One of the perks of my job with Young Life is that it is mandatory that we take Jesus and me (JAM) days 1x a month. Of course I sadly never take them but decided this month that I should. So last Friday I turned off my cell phone upon rising (until 5pm) and began the day by fasting and praying. What focused intimacy with Jesus fasting brings! You should try it. Then Jesus and I zipped on over to the Zoo and Herman Park. What fun we had! It was glorious! Boy do I love animals...esp. the baby Orangutans...in which God pleasantly delighted me with! :) Below are a few pics. Most of the animals were playing with pumpkins and it was a ball to watch them with it. Hope you enjoy! Happy Fall Ya'll! One of my favorite times of year! :) For those who care, :), Now you know that I am alive and will write soon enough...