just one hour

I must say that this going to school thing is really putting a cramp in my sleeping. It seems like there is one night, each and every week, that I am staying up way later than I should be (sometimes all night) - all with the desire to get everything read before class and getting all my assignments completed early. I get all hopped up on coffee that I feel like I have a hangover. Or, I end up drinking so much water that I pay for it all the next day. I'm too old for this craziness!

How many times have I wished for one more day to get things done? Well, it may not be a whole day, but this Saturday is Daylight Savings Time when we 'fall back' and actually GAIN AN HOUR!

Wow~~~I am really looking foward to that simple little thing. Guess what I'll be doing??

two natures

The thought of it just makes me crazy. There I sat, paralyzed in fear. Needing to come face to face with issues. And I couldn't really say an understandable word - not one. I wasn't sure how to respond and so I didn't do anything. I hated it. It is not who God has created me to be. It certainly is not who He has shown me I can be. I just reverted back to thoughts and attitudes from 7 years ago...15 years years ago. I went to that place that I had run away from several years ago.

I am a NEW CREATION! 2 Corinthians 5:17 "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!"

Why did I forget that? Why was it so easy to fall back into that pattern of thinking. I felt a drastic fight happening between who I used to be and who I am today. The new me wanted to take down the old me and give her a good slap. I've never truly felt like that before. And here's the best part....even though I have been made a new creation (in the past), I get to keep seeing the results of that experience (here and now).

Celebrating A Servant, An Example For Us All

Last week I arrived a little early to school and to do some long overdue studying. Then, to my surprise and delight a blast from the past walked in the door. Now, you should probably know that the school I attend is now located on the same campus as the church where I spent 25 years of my life - it was there that I started attending when I was 4, accepted Christ at age 9, heard God's call to ministry at age 26, and served on staff from age 26-29. It is a good place of incredibly, faithful and godly men and women - whom I have had the joy and delight to know for many years. I always get a bit nostalgic each week as I walk to class. There has been some remodeling to classrooms, but each time I walk down that hallway a flood of faces come to mind. I have good memories about that place and those people. And that day, I was thrilled when I got to sit and visit with Mr. Guy Cagle - the church's Worship Pastor.

We talked a little about the past. He shared incredible vision for the future. Hopefully, we encouraged one another. In the days after our conversation, I just couldn't get him off my mind. You see, on November 3, that church will honor Guy for 25 years of service. Yes, you heard my correctly --- 25 years at the same church! Wow. Some of us haven't the courage or strength to last 2.5 years in the same ministry/church. So, I decided to write a little (okay, maybe more than a little) blog to my friend and co-laborer in the Gospel....here's to you Brother Guy!

What an incredible thing to celebrate the years, days and moments that you have experienced as part of the body at Park Place Baptist Church. You are an example of stead-fast faith....through all the different situations of life. You have walked your own journey and have never abandoned the 'others' you are called to walk alongside. These days, there is much talk around Christians about 'being real and authentic'. You, sir, are a true embodient of that very attitude. Your ability to simply be who you are gave many of us the permission to simple be who we are. I love that after 25+ years your compassion for people and desire to equip others is as fresh as when you first began. What an encouragement for those us who are still in the early stages of a ministry "career"! You approach relationships with deep sincerity and refreshing silliness at the same time. Thanks for not being so much of one - that you are not the other. Thanks for speaking truth into my life - what a blessing. It has been a joy to know you and your family. I pray that the words spoken and the expressions shown to you on Saturday help you understand how God has worked through you to impact so many lives. Guy Cagle - you are a hero of faith to me!