Reasons I'm thankful to be living in 2009

So lately, with all the doom and gloom stuff we are surrounded with, I've been finding myself wondering what it would have been like to live in the past.

Frankly - LOST's little time traveling antics helped me along on this.

Over my life I've often thought that I should have lived in a different time. I just don't "get" the world we live in in so many different ways. The thought lately has been that we are possibly getting ready to experience a different time due to economic downturn... crazy disaster... mutant ninjas taking over. You know, the usual things!

So here are some things that I am thankful for that I would NOT have had in 1940.

Facebook - WOO!
E-mail
Cell Phone
Hulu
Most likely - not my own apartment
Most likely - not be getting my MDiv
The ability to see my brother in the frozen north in just a few hours travel.
The ability to see my brother and fam digitally on a web cam
The ability to make a quick little drive down the hill to see my other brother, mom/dad, and rest of the fam.
My laptop and the world it brings here to me

Well there is a short and mostly geeky tip of the iceberg.
The talk I keep having is my little Pollyanna "it's going to be ok" speech. I know a lot of people think it's crazy but I am determined to believe it. Even if the world goes to pieces tonight while we sleep I will still love and be loved. I have amazing friends and family. I have Christ! That means that I have everything.

Good thought to leave on!

I amaze myself

Now I bet you're thinking I'm about to brag on some amazing gift I have right?
Nope

I'm amazed at my inability to follow my own advice! Ever notice how much easier it is to be the sage voice of wisdom than to be the follower of that wisdom?

I'd share - but my first self advice that I am going to take is to make myself go to sleep!

Patience of Job

I find it amazing that no matter where we are in life we are usually looking to the next step with some sort of impatience or another. If you are finally married, even after a long wait, it seems like it doesn’t take long until you are waiting patiently for the first child, perfect job, or new home. Once you get your little angel you tend to wait patiently for the terrible two’s or teething to pass. We do a lot of waiting in this life don’t we?

Pastor has done this great series on dwelling in the secret place (Ps 91). I would never claim to be an expert on this topic and I have definitely learned a lot from this series. But I can say that these past few months I have spent a lot more time in quietness. It started with a challenge from a class in seminary to spend time in complete silence. FYI - This is much easier said than done. If we boil down to my heart and I am totally honest, I’m not a fan of silence. I know you are shocked! I cannot count the nights that I have been drawn to nothingness, my journal, and my Bible lately. I’m not even searching for a specific in most cases. Sure there are requests. I am still waiting patiently on people, things, and situations… and sometime very impatiently! But the silence is almost for the sake of silence alone. It’s Tuesday night - good TV night btw - and I haven’t touched the button yet. Even with the set off I have to struggle to not fill this time with busyness. I journaled… read… prayed…read… then went back to the silence.

I hesitate to share. I almost started this last night. I questioned my motives. This isn’t about me. I think that in going back over all of this tonight I really believe that many of you are seeking to dwell in the secret place. I’m relatively young, 32, so for me to say that our times are the most chaotic and uncertain in memory isn’t a stretch. However I am also hearing that word from people much older and wiser than me. So many things are no longer a given in our cozy little worlds. Life for many is no longer a given in our cozy little worlds.

So how does this tie into patience? I have no solution to just about all of my questions tonight! I’ve journaled, prayed, read and I am getting one verse over and over and over again. It’s not God’s blueprint for Gina’s life, which is SO what I’d rather get from the silence! Since I’m the lay it all out there girl I wanted to share my heart a bit and my verse. God is good. If you’re struggling or if you’re not, He is faithful. He is sovereign. He is waiting with you.

Philippians 4:4-7
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Joy

So since I just realized that the three of you who may actually read this might have been curious. :OP

My word from God for 2009 is JOY!

I think its been a while

Well since the last post we've had a lot going on here in my little corner of the world. Big Ice storm - followed by weeks of ongoing cleanup. Since I have the privilege of working in our missions office I also got to be involved in the disaster relief effort! Wow... I had no idea what all went into the process.

These guys are to be admired for their work. At the end of the next few days this will mostly be behind me, but these guys will move onto the next crisis. Amazing spirits and workers!

School is crazy - life is crazy - I am crazy

I wish I had something more interesting to report. Life goes on, much as it has in the past few months. Things have changed drastically - dating Al - getting close to the end of school - dating Al. :) Things are just good.

God is Faithful to those who wait - even those of ME who wait impatiently!

Off for now

It's Christmas - Part Two

Though posted together... these were DAYS apart. :) So read the one below me first!

It took a while… but I am there. I knew eventually that I would miss writing and need to come back to it. I knew eventually that journaling would no longer be enough for me. Something in me needs to share what God shares with me.

It’s been an incredible year for me. Every year I name my year. I pray about it for December and into January. Usually by New Year’s Eve I have it pegged. Last year - 2008 - was the year of Faithfulness, Forgiveness, and Freedom. As He always does, God has lived up to His promise. There have been so many ways that God’s has shown Himself faithful that I cannot even begin to put them into this post. I sometimes really do feel like the Israelites because I can forget God’s faithfulness easily when things aren’t going as I think they should.

Earlier this week I hit a point of desperation with Christmas after going into a local store. It was the music and its lack of Christmas’ true meaning that hurt my spirit… I don’t know a better way to say it.

Well today at lunch I needed to go back into there to look for something I thought I had seen. Would you believe it? The very same song was playing. Now here is the cool - when God teaches you something… He likes to affirm it moment! You ready? 

As I was walking around I heard the rest of this “song.” See somehow I dashed out without hitting the end. So I missed the point when the person in the song tells the other person that they have missed what Christmas is really about! I kid… you not!

So what spiritual lesson did Gina learn in the Dollar Store today? When you are at your most desperate point and things look hopeless (hopeless really does describe my outlook earlier this week), remember that God hasn’t finished the story yet!

God is all about second chapters. He even wrote a second testament to follow the first. He’s about second chances. He’s about happy endings. So if you are entering Christmas in a desperate state my reminder to you is that God is Faithful, Forgiving, and all about Freedom.

Off for now.

Have a Merry Christmas (if I don’t write again for a bit I want to make SURE I said it!)

It's Christmas - Part One

Can I be perfectly honest today? I’m fighting some holiday blahs today.

I went into one of our local stores ready to Christmas shop at lunch and was accosted with some holiday tunes. It wasn’t joy to the world or hark the herald or anything like that. One was all about “give me more stuff” then the next one was that plus ten.
I almost had to run out. Christmas is so much joy. In my heart I have the picture of a young girl, probably 20 years younger than I am today, a young man not much older than her. In their arms they hold a baby that will literally change the entire course of history. This realization is huge. It is Emanuel. He is “God with us.” This event is my entire life’s course. Who I am, what I do all comes back to a pivotal moment of Christ coming here.

This is God folks. He came here and lived the same type of life we live. People lied to Him. People hurt Him. People made Him laugh and sing. He stubbed toes… had colds. He experienced rudeness and all the other human stuff that can so get to us.

So today I am fighting this holiday blah… I want so much to hit pause today. I wanted, no needed, to stop and sit here and grab this perspective back. My joy to the world is not going to come in a box this year. And as much as I love so many of you… it’s not coming from you either. Either my joy is coming from the celebration of that event thousands of years ago… and the horror and triumph that followed it years later… either it is, or it isn’t.
And today I caught myself in the isn’t.
So in case you, like me, needed a little reminder I guess I felt the need to take us all back.

Go back to the quiet…the chill in the air… the lowing of cattle or oinking of pigs… see the star… see Mary and Joseph… see the angels and shepherds.
But most importantly… see the baby. He is God - God with us. Years from this moment He will die a cruel death for me… for You. He will raise from the dead and bring us new life.

But tonight, this night in our memory, He is a baby.

This is the beginning so let us remember.

Emmanuel - God with us

Israel Pictures

Well I am still not to the point that I can really talk here about the trip! Mostly for time... but I wanted to get some pictures out. Here you go!

Valley of Megido - Site of the final battle on earth



With Biff, the stuffed buffalo husband stand-in... :) We're in the "throne" room of some roman ruins.



A picture is worth a thousand words..

Blogging from Jerusalem

Man how I wish I had my USB cable. :) I'd be uploading pictures for you all right now.
Well here is an update on where I have been so far.
Nope. That would take to much time and i'm paying by the minute! :)
go to www.betweensundays.com for more on that. (one of the pictures you can see me from behind, looking over the valley of Megiddo).

I will say that so far my two most moving deals have been the Sea of Galilee and the Garden of Gethsemene. Honestly it's all too much to process.
But God is so real here you feel like you are back in time to 2000 years ago.
Today we were at the Western (Wailing) Wall and that was also a stark reminder of the past.
Well I'll blog more properly when I am home.
Miss you all!
Gina

Why no Single Mingle

Let me explain...
So the major complaint (mostly from our mothers) that single girls here is that we don't "get ourselves out there" enough.
And tonight I am reminded of the reason why.

So I am working up a new code for my friends for "GET ME OUT OF HERE NOW!"
And teaching it to every girl and guy friend that I have.
Because I hate being caught flat without a bail out person.
Sigh

5 Gold Rings....

Chalk two more up on the engaged side of the world. What's the deal really? :O)
So honestly it's December almost. This is a crazy time of year. We just finished our Big Thanksgiving Ministry at the church. So now the follow up and clean up runs through December.
This year I am counting blessings. So here are a few:
1. I am SO thankful that when my car malfunctioned at 80MPH on the interstate God somehow turned me even though my wheel was stuck!
2. I am thankful that I have a super new boss and a great (and fun) staff team.
3. I am thankful that it is finally starting to feel like winter. I like the cold baby!
4. I am thankful that possibilities are all around and that God will never stop working in my life.
5. I am thankful, that I am still around to be Thankful.
Happy Christmas Season. :O)
Gina

The Setup

Ok... Short Blog I think.
But I needed to get some tips on record for those of your considering "the setup" aka the blind date for friends.
1.) Remember that the person you set up will take as a character reference your friendship. So, if you want to keep your friend, make sure you at LEAST know that the intended set up is someone they will relate too and not a serial killer. Just because we're single doesn't mean we are "perfect" for every other single.
2.) Remember that the person you set up will pay attention to who you have set them up with in regards to your opinion of them. SO if you set me up with some freak who has no manners, hates his momma, picks his toes in the car, or something equally scary I may think, that you think that I am a freak too!
3.) If you DO successfully navigate the set up and we end up together you get bragging rights. So all things aside... go for it. :O)
-Gina

Football and Fasting

Well I don’t know what it is about football that makes me get all poetic and thoughtful but here I am.
You see about an hour ago I was literally shaking and pacing the floor. My Hogs were up… all was good but could go badly quick. Then whammo - a last minute score.
Thinks change… just like that.
So here I am sitting with my laptop praying, thinking.
This week my church has had a little over 1300 people participating in a corporate Fast. This is my second time through this. Last time was so amazing in what God showed me I thought nothing could compare.
I was wrong.
I am guilty of forgetting just how big and sovereign God really is. My verse this week, not the one I would have chosen, but what God led me to is Isaiah 6:1-4
1 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2 Above him were seraphs, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. 3 And they were calling to one another:
"Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty;
the whole earth is full of his glory."
4 At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke.
The first time I saw this during this week was Tuesday. I was given it to read at a praise and worship service. I realy didn’t note it. Then Thursday at another service I got it to read again. As I read it to myself and waited for the service to begin, God began to speak. I had no idea what I needed to hear. But I knew it was in these verses.
Holy, holy, holy is the LORD almighty.
I went home and grabbed my commentary on Isaiah (just like God… I’m taking OBST 633 which is - ISAIAH!). On these verses the commentary speaks of the position of God.
God… is BIG.  God… is HUGE. We know this right?
So why do I continually try to use my human ideas to manipulate His planning?
The line that stuck with me is one of the things I thought of tonight.
“As long as I think that I an solve my problems (with a litle help from God of course) then I am the sovereign, and He is the servant.
Those of you who know me well, and you know who you are, have been witness to some spectacular ME moments. I’m good at directing my life, so I think. Really it’s laughable.
I know that I would choose things differently at this season in many ways. And I know that I would miss some incredible things.
So for the record (sorry mom) my hands are off. God will do, what He will do. He is sovereign. I still don’t know what tomorrow brings. But it is a lot easier to face, when I know that I don’t have to try to control or fix it.
Whew! God is good.
"Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty;
the whole earth is full of his glory."

Ahem, Attention, Yes I am still alive

Well several of you have complained that I haven’t updated in a while, ok, two of you. :O)
So I thought I would take a minute and catch everyone back up on my fascinating life.

I have a new boss - WOOHOO!!! - I think he will be a great addition to our church.
He and his wife came to visit us last week and we all really liked them.
Thankfully, he will start quickly, and get in on the fun that is Blessing Baskets!

My brother is moving to North Dakota where it is:

A. Cold
B. Almost Canada
C. Further from home!
D. ALL OF THE ABOVE.

Not that I am bitter or anything… love ya Jeff.

More friends are in the marriage and baby business. Again, not that I am bitter. :O)

I am well into my second semester of Seminary, remind me to NEVER, ever do more than 6 hours at a time. These 8 week semesters lull me into a sense of false security. IN the end of this semester I will have taken the equivalent of 13 hours - STUPID! :P

Now, onto the pressing news of the weekend. Tomorrow is the first Razorback game of the season. Praise God! Now I know in he scheme of things that football isn't super important. But it is a huge blessing to be able to go and stand with several thousand other crazy, red dressed, people and cheer on my favorite team. I literally start dreaming of this day somewhere around January 6th of each year. SO you can imagine that by September I am ready to bust. Bring on the pigskin.
Woo Pig Sooieeee! :O(
>>> Hit that Line, hit that line, keep on going!>>>
Ahhh, all is well.
Until I am badgered into posting again, I bid you a happy opening of College Football Season weekend. Oh yeah, and happy Labor Day weekend too!

Lord of the Rings

Wow
I think I should have named 2007 The Year of the Rings. Engagement count as of July is now 4. Dang... :)
All your questions answered in one place.

News from my front - not much:
Semesters left till MDIV - 5... crud that is scary in print!
Years in current job - 1 1/2
Boss - No replacement yet
Current Staff - Down from 8 this time last year to 4
Dates - 1, unless you count the dates (figs) from my fig newton. Then... 1
Weight - HA! nope... but 50 lbs less than this time last year
Surgeries - 3 - none weight related thank you very much. :O)
Trips - none this year yet. Come on Africa!?!
Hair - Long
Teeth - still there
Dwelling - 1 bdrm apartment in little beirut
Brothers - 1 in AR, 1 to be in freakin North Dakota
Nephews - 4
Neice - 1
Moment I am most looking forward to this year = The Wed before Thanksgiving ie the day after Blessing Baskets

Happy Day!

I had the coolest experience tonight so I just had to share. :)
It's the 4th of July still as I write this. I left my parents house
for the hour drive back up the mountain just a little before 10pm.
So I got to see all the "finale" fireworks of the shows from each
town. I had this old cd in playing of choir songs from the last few
years. I was just awed at the mood it set. You know I really did
spend the day being thankful for our country, my family, our freedom,
my friends in the service and total strangers thousands of miles away
fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan. But on the way home the only words
I could put together were "God you are so good." Over and over again
I was singing about His holiness, His faithfulness, His mercy and
goodness with bright sparkles and lightning shining in front of me.
It was awesome in the truest sense of that word. God is good. He's
good whether we feel it or not. He is good on the good days, but He
is still good on the bad days. So I'll leave you with some of His
names, because that is how I finished my drive! Praise Him people.
He is:
Wonderful, Glorious, Holy and Righteous, Victorious, Conqueror,
Triumphant and Mighty, Healer, Deliver, Shield and Defense, Strong
Tower and My Best Friend, Omnipotent, Omnipresent, Soon Coming King,
Alpha, Omega, Lord of Everything!!!
Holy, Holy, Holy is your name
"In that day you will say: "Give thanks to the LORD, call on his
name; make known among the nations what he has done, and proclaim
that his name is exalted."- Isaiah 12:4

Vicodin is Our Friend and Other Catchy Titles

Well since my last post I have been poked and prodded. I've lost most of my sense of modesty. And I've had my first - hospital stay, major surgery, embarassing hospital story, and frustrating recouperation period.
Oh the joy! :)
So I just wanted to update since it is almost June. Things are better now. Well they are getting there. Actually things are SLOWLY getting there. But I am assured if I can stop pushing myself, then I can heal quicker. Slow down, three weeks before my second biggest ministry push of the year. Yeah, that'll happen.
Anyhoo.
I'm done with my first semester of Seminary.
I moved to an apartment.
I've been cut open.
All in all... 2007 has been rather adventurous!

Ministry of the Brokenhearted

Brokenhearted.
Even the word sounds painful. I am surrounded in this season of life once again by happy nearly/newly weds and pregnant friends. I’m honestly and deeply thrilled for all of these women in my life. I can say that I have rejoiced with them in their rejoicing. Tonight after sitting next to another glowing pregnant lady, I barely made it to my car before loosing it in tears. The only word that is appropriate for this feeling is grief. It seems unexplainable, selfish, and somehow wrong to react like this.
It’s also completely out of my control. So what’s a girl to do in times like this? What do you do when you are surrounded by happiness and seem stuck in pain?
To me I am coming back to two questions. Do I believe that God is faithful? Do I believe in His promises?
Yes I do.
In all of this one verse keeps coming back to me. It is out of context of this post. But it fits so well.

1 Thessalonians 4:13b
so that you will not grieve like the rest, who have no hope.

It’s ok to hurt, it’s what we do with the pain that is the key. As a Christian I don’t grieve anything like those who have no hope.

The one who promised these things to me is Faithful and True. That is in His very nature.
He can be trusted and He will keep those promises.

Before and Midway

Posting for those who are "away" :O()

This is the weight loss progress so far.

Devotional Thoughts

Isaiah 60:16b-20
Then you will know that I, the LORD, am your Savior, your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob. Instead of bronze I will bring you gold, and silverin place of iron. Instead of wood I will bring you bronze, and iron in placeof stones. I will make peace your governor and righteousness your ruler. Nolonger will violence be heard in your land, nor ruin or destruction withinyour borders, but you will call your walls Salvation and your gates Praise. The sun will no more be your light by day, nor will the brightness of the moonshine on you, for the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory. Your sun will never set again, and your moonwill wane no more; the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your days of sorrow will end.

I've been living a bit of a theme over these last few weeks. When things seemhard to understand I tend to mentally fast forward. I know that God isfaithful. That means I know that the end to any situation works out for myultimate good. It's the way He designed things. However, in the fast forwardmode, I've been missing a lot. There will be a day when things click alltogether. A day when there will be no more tears, waiting, patience, sorrow,pain, and frustration. This is not that day! As I sit here I am conscious ofone thing overriding my feelings of just moments ago, peace. God didn'tpromise us freedom from pain, tears, waiting, patience and sorrow on thisearth. He did say that in the midst of all of that He had come to bring usLIFE, and life more abundantly. And if you, like me, spend an overwhelmingamount of time aching for the perfection of Heaven... then you are missing theblessing of the Father, Son, and Spirit here on earth.Step back and breath deeply for a minute. He is waiting on us. Stop tryingto figure your way out of or into situations. Be here. Be His. Live in thepeace of this place and be free.-Gina