Praise You in This Storm
words by Mark Hall/music by Mark Hall and Bernie Herms
I was sure by now,God, that You would have reached down
and wiped our tears away,
stepped in and saved the day.
But once again, I say amen
and it's still raining
as the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain,
"I'm with you"
and as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise
the God who gives and takes away.
Chorus:
And I'll praise you in this storm
and I will lift my hands
for You are who You are
no matter where I am
and every tear I've cried
You hold in your hand
You never left my side
and though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm
I remember when I stumbled in the wind
You heard my cry to You
and raised me up again
my strength is almost gone how can I carry on
if I can't find You
and as the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain
"I'm with you"
and as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise
the God who gives and takes away
I lift my eyes onto the hills
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth
I lift my eyes onto the hills
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth
Lord, I can't pull myself up by my bootstraps this time. I've tried and I am sinking farther into this pit of muck and mire - called my own mind. So, I'm lifting my eyes to the hills from where my help will come. Please forgive me for my selfishness and stubborn independence and fill my heart with Your love tonight. I love you, Lord and praise you for your love for me and your everlasting goodness. Every good thing is from You and the stuff in my head is not good so please replace these lies with your truth.
Friday, September 25, 2009
Friday, September 11, 2009
My Life and My Story...
Does Anybody Hear Her? - Casting Crowns
She is running
A hundred miles an hour in the wrong direction
She is trying
But the canyon's ever widening
In the depths of her cold heart
So she sets out on another misadventure just to find
She's another two years older
And she's three more steps behind
Does anybody hear her?
Can anybody see?
Or does anybody even know she's going down today
Under the shadow of our steeple
With all the lost and lonely people
Searching for the hope that's tucked away in you and me
Does anybody hear her?
Can anybody see?
She is yearning
For shelter and affection
That she never found at home
She is searching
For a hero to ride in
To ride in and save the day
And in walks her prince charming
And he knows just what to say
Momentary lapse of reason
And she gives herself away
Does anybody hear her?
Can anybody see?
Or does anybody even know she's going down today
Under the shadow of our steeple
With all the lost and lonely people
Searching for the hope that's tucked away in you and me
Does anybody hear her?
Can anybody see?
If judgment looms under every steeple
If lofty glances from lofty people
Can't see past her scarlet letter
And we've never even met her
If judgment looms under every steeple
If lofty glances from lofty people
Can't see past her scarlet letter
And we've never even met her
If Judgement looms under every steeple
If lofty glances from lofty people
Can't see past her scarlet letter
And we've never even met her
Never even met her(Never Even Met her)(OHHHHH)
Does anybody hear her?
Does anybody see?
Or does anybody even know she's going down today
Under the shadow of our steeple
With all the lost and lonely people
Searching for the hope that's tucked away in you and me
Does anybody hear her? (Does anybody hear her?)
Does anybody see? (Does anybody See?)
Does anybody even know she's going down today?
Under the shadow of our steeple (shadow of her steeple)
With all the lost and lonely people (Lost and Lonely people)
Searching for the hope that's tucked away in you and me
Does anybody hear her?
Does anybody see?
He is running a hundred miles an hour in the wrong direction
Dear Heavenly Father - I praise you for your love for me and for bringing someone into my life who heard me and saw me and showed your love to me again!
She is running
A hundred miles an hour in the wrong direction
She is trying
But the canyon's ever widening
In the depths of her cold heart
So she sets out on another misadventure just to find
She's another two years older
And she's three more steps behind
Does anybody hear her?
Can anybody see?
Or does anybody even know she's going down today
Under the shadow of our steeple
With all the lost and lonely people
Searching for the hope that's tucked away in you and me
Does anybody hear her?
Can anybody see?
She is yearning
For shelter and affection
That she never found at home
She is searching
For a hero to ride in
To ride in and save the day
And in walks her prince charming
And he knows just what to say
Momentary lapse of reason
And she gives herself away
Does anybody hear her?
Can anybody see?
Or does anybody even know she's going down today
Under the shadow of our steeple
With all the lost and lonely people
Searching for the hope that's tucked away in you and me
Does anybody hear her?
Can anybody see?
If judgment looms under every steeple
If lofty glances from lofty people
Can't see past her scarlet letter
And we've never even met her
If judgment looms under every steeple
If lofty glances from lofty people
Can't see past her scarlet letter
And we've never even met her
If Judgement looms under every steeple
If lofty glances from lofty people
Can't see past her scarlet letter
And we've never even met her
Never even met her(Never Even Met her)(OHHHHH)
Does anybody hear her?
Does anybody see?
Or does anybody even know she's going down today
Under the shadow of our steeple
With all the lost and lonely people
Searching for the hope that's tucked away in you and me
Does anybody hear her? (Does anybody hear her?)
Does anybody see? (Does anybody See?)
Does anybody even know she's going down today?
Under the shadow of our steeple (shadow of her steeple)
With all the lost and lonely people (Lost and Lonely people)
Searching for the hope that's tucked away in you and me
Does anybody hear her?
Does anybody see?
He is running a hundred miles an hour in the wrong direction
Dear Heavenly Father - I praise you for your love for me and for bringing someone into my life who heard me and saw me and showed your love to me again!
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Today's Lesson from God to Tessa
Over the last several weeks I have been learning multiple new things every day. New things about me and new things about God and His love and His character. This is a very exciting adventure for me! There was a time in my life when God was a very foreign concept to me. I knew I was saved and I knew a lot of "facts" about God. I could quote to you any number of passages of Scripture - just because I could. While I knew all of these "things" about God I never really "knew" God. I didn't know that my life was about my relationship with Him and what He wants to do through me while He allows me to tarry on this Earth. This is what I have been learning lately.
I've had the opportunity to go back through a lot of old ideas about God and habits toward God and re-evaluate those things in light of Scripture and how He is revealing Himself to me. I recently did a word study through the Bible on the word "worship" and I looked for all kinds of things about worship in the Bible. How was it done? Who did it? Where did they do it? Why did they do it? When did they do it? I learned so much just from looking at the verses that use that one word and from reviewing the common-day dictionary definition of the word. Mostly, though, I learned what worship is NOT!
I've had the opportunity to go back through a lot of old ideas about God and habits toward God and re-evaluate those things in light of Scripture and how He is revealing Himself to me. I recently did a word study through the Bible on the word "worship" and I looked for all kinds of things about worship in the Bible. How was it done? Who did it? Where did they do it? Why did they do it? When did they do it? I learned so much just from looking at the verses that use that one word and from reviewing the common-day dictionary definition of the word. Mostly, though, I learned what worship is NOT!
- Worship is not a Sunday morning, Sunday night, and Wednesday night event
- Worship is not just the songs that we sing or the music that we play
- Worship is not just getting up early in the morning and reading my Bible and praying
- Worship is not the length of my skirt or the finger-width between my collarbone and shirt collar
- Worship is not a list of "thou shalts" and "thou shalt nots"
Worship IS an attitude. Worship IS a mind-set. Worship IS a constant awareness of God. Worship IS doing whatever we do as though we are doing it for Christ Himself.
This was an incredibly humbling, if not humiliating, revelation to me. One of the things that I struggle with most is my job. It is not an uncommon occurrance for me to be yelled at several times a day at work and a few times a week I even get cussed at. Now, I know, somewhere in my brain, that these people are not really angry with ME; they are angry with the system which I will readily agree is broken and in need of a serious time out for re-evaluation and/or overhaul. BUT, I am a sensitive person and it is so easy for me to take personally the things that these people say to me - as if it's my fault and there is something that I need to be doing about it. When this happens my defenses go up and unkind things start to fill my mind (and sometimes flow right on out my mouth). At that moment I am no longer doing what I do for Christ - I'm doing it for myself - to protect myself and it ends up that instead of worshiping and bringing glory to God by my response I do just the opposite.
I have printed out I Corinthians 13 on a piece of paper and it lays on my desk in front of me at work. Christ summarized our lives on Earth into two commandments: 1) Love God with all that you are; and 2) Love your neighbor as yourself. I Corinthians 13, the "Love Chapter" is the absolute best working definition of love that you can find.
- Love is patient
- Love is kind
- Love is not jealous
- Love is not boastful
- Love is not proud
- Love is not rude
- Love does not demand it's own way
- Love is not irritable
- Love does not keep record of being wronged
- Love does not rejoice about injustice
- Love rejoices whenever the truth wins out
- Love never gives up
- Love never loses faith
- Love is always hopeful
- Love endures through every circumstance
- And most importantly - no matter what you do or what you have in this lifetime if you don't have love in your life for God and other people then everything is in vain - is useless.
It is a daily and sometimes minute by minute prayer for God's love to fill me and for Him to show His love for others through me.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Not Condemnation, But Mercy
In the Gospel of John, chapter 8, the religious leaders of the day brought a woman to Jesus. This woman was caught in the very act of adultery and the law, as given to Moses in the Old Testament, said that this woman was to be stoned. the Pharisee's, hoping to have something on which to call Jesus out, asked him what he thought should be done with her. At first Jesus ignored them. I will be very intrigued to find out in Heaven some day what exactly Jesus was writing in the dirt that day! When he didn't answer them, the Pharisee's asked him a second time what he thought should be done with this woman. To which Jesus responded: "Whichever one of you has not sinned go ahead and throw stones at her" and then he went back to writing in the dirt. One by one the Pharisee's all left and soon it was just Jesus and the woman standing there. Jesus asked her where everybody went and she told him that they all left. At this point Jesus told her to go and don't commit adultery again - he was not going to punish her.
This is such a great story! It gives me great insight into the character of Jesus - a character which I strive to emulate every day, but confess that I do not do well in this area of compassion. Jesus knew that technically the woman should have been put to death - under the law. I believe something about this passage. Jesus knew the great amount of heartache that this woman was already feeling just from having done what she did.
I have been reading a book called Sex and the Soul of a Woman, by Paula Rinehart. This book talks about the bonds which are forged when two people have a sexual encounter. There are all kinds of things going on in the human brain when hormones are stirred up by sex. (I am by no means an expert on this subject, so please, take a look at Jackie Joens' blog for more information. She has done more research and has more experience with this topic than I do.) God wired us to make these bonds on all different levels - that's why we women are the mothers and the wives and are the ones most often looked to for comfort. Because every woman is wired to make these bonds every woman also suffers when those bonds are injured. This woman was already suffering the natural consequence of shame for what she had done.
Much like the pain that this woman was feeling I have experienced these relationship hurts compounded into self-hatred and doubt of my own worth to God. But also like this woman I have received, not condemnation at the feet of Jesus, but mercy instead. We all make mistakes. We all learn at different speeds and by different means. Some of us have the wisdom to learn from other people's mistakes and some of us get to take those tests for ourselves.
I am not a person that gets all fired up about every injustice; nor do I jump on every bandwagon that rolls through town fighting for this cause or that one. Please understand, it's absolutely not that I don't believe those things are important because I certainly do. I just choose to save my "soap boxes" for those things about which I am truly passionate. Sexual purity is one of those things.
I was very privileged to grow up in a conservative and fundamental church and it was always drilled into us that sex outside of marriage was bad and that we shouldn't do it. I absolutely believe this and support it with every fiber of my being. However, I also acknowledge that there is more to it than that. It's not enough to just scare the truth into our youth. In a society where children are having sex at younger and younger ages despite our "sex ed" and "drilling" and threats of STD's and pregnancies and God's wrath we need to really talk to our kids! In order to do that we have to crawl out of our shells and past the realm of the abstract and taboo. I'm not saying to sit your kindergartener down and explain the gory details of sex to him. However, waiting until your child reaches puberty may be too late, too! Always have an open door policy with your kids. They are going to get this information one way or another - who do you want it to come from?!
Those of you who know me know that I'm not a parent. While my comments here are primarily directed to parents because it is primarily your job to teach your children; I want to admonish those of you who do not have children of your own also to be watchful of the children around you. Are you seeing patterns or behaviors that you think could be leading down a path lined with heartache? Find the child's parents or some other authority figure for the child and relay your concerns. Remember the old saying: "It takes a village to raise a child." Children and teens will often seek out someone who isn't a parent to ask those questions which are too awkward to ask of their parents. Be open to this! If you are not comfortable answering the questions then offer to go with the child/teen to his/her parents to help the conversation along. Be creative without crossing a line that could cause more harm than good.
I've been down a lot of very hurtful roads and you have no idea how much I wish that someone had sat me down and really explained life, and especially sex, to me! In a way that I could understand some of the natural consequences that I would encounter when I chose to go down those ill-advised paths.
This is such a great story! It gives me great insight into the character of Jesus - a character which I strive to emulate every day, but confess that I do not do well in this area of compassion. Jesus knew that technically the woman should have been put to death - under the law. I believe something about this passage. Jesus knew the great amount of heartache that this woman was already feeling just from having done what she did.
I have been reading a book called Sex and the Soul of a Woman, by Paula Rinehart. This book talks about the bonds which are forged when two people have a sexual encounter. There are all kinds of things going on in the human brain when hormones are stirred up by sex. (I am by no means an expert on this subject, so please, take a look at Jackie Joens' blog for more information. She has done more research and has more experience with this topic than I do.) God wired us to make these bonds on all different levels - that's why we women are the mothers and the wives and are the ones most often looked to for comfort. Because every woman is wired to make these bonds every woman also suffers when those bonds are injured. This woman was already suffering the natural consequence of shame for what she had done.
Much like the pain that this woman was feeling I have experienced these relationship hurts compounded into self-hatred and doubt of my own worth to God. But also like this woman I have received, not condemnation at the feet of Jesus, but mercy instead. We all make mistakes. We all learn at different speeds and by different means. Some of us have the wisdom to learn from other people's mistakes and some of us get to take those tests for ourselves.
I am not a person that gets all fired up about every injustice; nor do I jump on every bandwagon that rolls through town fighting for this cause or that one. Please understand, it's absolutely not that I don't believe those things are important because I certainly do. I just choose to save my "soap boxes" for those things about which I am truly passionate. Sexual purity is one of those things.
I was very privileged to grow up in a conservative and fundamental church and it was always drilled into us that sex outside of marriage was bad and that we shouldn't do it. I absolutely believe this and support it with every fiber of my being. However, I also acknowledge that there is more to it than that. It's not enough to just scare the truth into our youth. In a society where children are having sex at younger and younger ages despite our "sex ed" and "drilling" and threats of STD's and pregnancies and God's wrath we need to really talk to our kids! In order to do that we have to crawl out of our shells and past the realm of the abstract and taboo. I'm not saying to sit your kindergartener down and explain the gory details of sex to him. However, waiting until your child reaches puberty may be too late, too! Always have an open door policy with your kids. They are going to get this information one way or another - who do you want it to come from?!
Those of you who know me know that I'm not a parent. While my comments here are primarily directed to parents because it is primarily your job to teach your children; I want to admonish those of you who do not have children of your own also to be watchful of the children around you. Are you seeing patterns or behaviors that you think could be leading down a path lined with heartache? Find the child's parents or some other authority figure for the child and relay your concerns. Remember the old saying: "It takes a village to raise a child." Children and teens will often seek out someone who isn't a parent to ask those questions which are too awkward to ask of their parents. Be open to this! If you are not comfortable answering the questions then offer to go with the child/teen to his/her parents to help the conversation along. Be creative without crossing a line that could cause more harm than good.
I've been down a lot of very hurtful roads and you have no idea how much I wish that someone had sat me down and really explained life, and especially sex, to me! In a way that I could understand some of the natural consequences that I would encounter when I chose to go down those ill-advised paths.
Saturday, September 5, 2009
What This World Needs
I love music!!! I love to play it, I love to sing it, I love to listen to it, I love to hum it, I love to just think about it! Because I am not a poet, and yes, I know it, I will sometimes post the lyrics to a song that has touched my heart in a special way. The music itself is powerful but the lyrics are even moreso because they convey the true message of the song. The lyrics are what our brain processes and that is what can spur us into action - whether it be the action of praise and worship or the action of making a difference in the world by allowing God's love to pour out through us.
I have been wrestling with God about some things for a couple of days and this morning He brought the words to this song to my mind and suddenly things became clearer. So, I'd like to share these words with you. I especially love the section shown as "Dialogue." If you are not familiar with this song you can listen to it at this website.
What This World Needs - by Casting Crowns
What this world needs
Is not another one hit wonder with an axe to grind
Another two bit politician peddling lies
Another three ring circus society
What this world needs
Is not another sign waving super saint that's better than you
Another ear pleasing candy man afraid of the truth
Another prophet in an Armani suit
CHORUS:
What this world needs is a Savior who will rescue
A Spirit who will lead
A Father who will love them in their time of need
A Savior who will rescue
A Spirit who will lead
A Father who will love
That's what this world needs
What this world needs
Is for us to care more about the inside than the outside
Have we become so blind that we can't see
God's gotta change her heart before He changes her shirt
What this world needs
Is for us to stop hiding behind our relevance
Blending in so well that people can't see the difference
And it's the difference that sets the world free
CHORUS:
What this world needs is a Savior who will rescue
A Spirit who will lead
A Father who will love them in their time of need
A Savior who will rescue
A Spirit who will lead
A Father who will love
That's what this world needs
DIALOGUE:
People aren’t confused by the gospel
They’re confused by us
Jesus is the only way to God
But we are not the only way to Jesus
This world doesn’t need my tie, my hoodie, my denomination or my translation of the Bible
They just need Jesus
We can be passionate about what we believe
But we can’t strap ourselves to the gospel
Because we’re slowing it down
Jesus is going to save the world
But maybe the best thing we can do
Is just get out of the way
CHORUS:
What this world needs is a Savior who will rescue
A Spirit who will lead
A Father who will love them in their time of need
A Savior who will rescue
A Spirit who will lead
A Father who will love
That's what this world needs
Jesus is our Savior, that's what this world needs
Father's arms around you, that's what this world needs
That's what this world need
I have been wrestling with God about some things for a couple of days and this morning He brought the words to this song to my mind and suddenly things became clearer. So, I'd like to share these words with you. I especially love the section shown as "Dialogue." If you are not familiar with this song you can listen to it at this website.
What This World Needs - by Casting Crowns
What this world needs
Is not another one hit wonder with an axe to grind
Another two bit politician peddling lies
Another three ring circus society
What this world needs
Is not another sign waving super saint that's better than you
Another ear pleasing candy man afraid of the truth
Another prophet in an Armani suit
CHORUS:
What this world needs is a Savior who will rescue
A Spirit who will lead
A Father who will love them in their time of need
A Savior who will rescue
A Spirit who will lead
A Father who will love
That's what this world needs
What this world needs
Is for us to care more about the inside than the outside
Have we become so blind that we can't see
God's gotta change her heart before He changes her shirt
What this world needs
Is for us to stop hiding behind our relevance
Blending in so well that people can't see the difference
And it's the difference that sets the world free
CHORUS:
What this world needs is a Savior who will rescue
A Spirit who will lead
A Father who will love them in their time of need
A Savior who will rescue
A Spirit who will lead
A Father who will love
That's what this world needs
DIALOGUE:
People aren’t confused by the gospel
They’re confused by us
Jesus is the only way to God
But we are not the only way to Jesus
This world doesn’t need my tie, my hoodie, my denomination or my translation of the Bible
They just need Jesus
We can be passionate about what we believe
But we can’t strap ourselves to the gospel
Because we’re slowing it down
Jesus is going to save the world
But maybe the best thing we can do
Is just get out of the way
CHORUS:
What this world needs is a Savior who will rescue
A Spirit who will lead
A Father who will love them in their time of need
A Savior who will rescue
A Spirit who will lead
A Father who will love
That's what this world needs
Jesus is our Savior, that's what this world needs
Father's arms around you, that's what this world needs
That's what this world need
Friday, September 4, 2009
Through the Years
I've been thinking a lot this week about my early years in light of the resurfacing of Jaycee Dugard. She is the same age as me. She has been away from her family for over half of her life. I cannot even imagine what it would be like to have missed the last 18 years of my life as I know it.
- 6th through 12th grade
- driver's permit and driver's ed
- driver's license
- proms
- first kiss
- high school graduation
- college
- first job, second job, third job and all of the others
- first car
- first love
- first apartment
- first house
- the first time I lost someone close to me
- first heartbreak
- first speeding ticket
- first fender-bender - and then some!
I wouldn't know the people that I know. I wouldn't have had any of the same experiences that I have had. Not that every part of my life has been sugar and spice and everything nice. In fact, if things had been different they might have been better - but they could have been a lot worse, too.
There is a wonderful book that I read recently called "The Shack" (if you haven't, I recommend taking the time to read it!) In the book, God, called Papa, is talking to Mack about the terrible things that have happened and said this: "just because I work incredible good out of unspeakable tragedies doesn't mean I orchestrate the tragedies. Don't ever assume that my using something means I caused it or that I needed it to accomplish my purposes."
I am so thankful, in retrospect, for the challenges that God has used in my life to bring me to today. All of the bad choices that I made were still used by God for His glory. Through those challenges he has equiped me with a unique history and I am so excited at the prospect of Him using my past to help someone else avoid the same future. Don't misunderstand, I have by no means arrived at some spiritual plateau. Life is a journey, not a destination! I just mean to say that I am thankful that God has gently brought me back to a relationship with Him. It's a daily, hourly, minute-by-minute journey but it is so exhilarating to know that God is right here beside me every step of the way!
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Watching God
Sunday night I was laying on the swing in my back yard watching the moon rise and the stars twinkling in the night sky. I enjoy spending that time in the quiet, cool evening talking to God while I watch His handiwork - on display for all mankind.
Since returning to my relationship with God I have been literally hungering for a more intimate knowledge of my Lord and Savior. I know that my life is not about what I want or what I want to do. My life is about what God wants to do through me! Any work or effort that I put in is in vain. Only when my heart is full and over-flowing with the love of God will He be able to use me. Jackie Joens, LMHC, puts it like this: "Think about it…to open our hearts to the reality of God’s love for us, fills us to such a depth that we cannot keep the love inside. God’s love will bubble up in us and through us to others. It pours out of us because it can’t be contained! Can you imagine living your life with such an over flowing heart, filled with so much love that you couldn’t help but spill it out - all over?!"
I have been feeling God's love a lot lately and have really been wanting to share that love with other people. So, Sunday evening while I was praying I asked God if there is a ministry somewhere where He wants to use me that he would show that to me. During my teen years and early 20's I helped a lot at my church with the 2 and 3 year olds in AWANA and Sunday School. I also got to spend some time with the teens and really enjoyed the opportunity of getting to know the young ladies who were growing up just a few years behind me and going through a lot of the same things that I had been experiencing in the recent years.
Monday night when I got home from work I was reading some updates on my Facebook page and came across a post from my church saying that they were still looking for volunteers to work in the PowerLife (junior high) and Ignition (high school) programs for this year. I read the program descriptions and found that they needed helpers on Wednesday evenings from 630 to 830 - which fits perfectly in my schedule. The groups that meet on Wednesday nights are 6th through 8th grade and they separate the boys and girls so I would get to be with a group of no more than 10 girls. We'll get to talk about life and growing up and most importantly how we can strengthen our relationships with God each day.
Can you ask for a clearer sign from God about where He wants to use me?! I don't think so. I absolutely do not believe in coincidences! So, I took the step and contacted the program director and I'm going to be teamed up with another leader for the first year so that I can learn the ropes. I am so excited about this opportunity. I'm going to be working with the 7th grade girls this year. Wednesday the 9th is orientation and our first meeting will be the 16th. If you think of it - pray for me! Pray that I will keep my heart and mind on Christ Jesus so that the love of God can flow through me to these girls. And pray for these girls also that they will be receptive to God's leading in their lives.
"Praise God from whom all blessings flow! Praise Him all creatures here below! Praise Him above ye heavenly hosts! Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost! Amen."
Since returning to my relationship with God I have been literally hungering for a more intimate knowledge of my Lord and Savior. I know that my life is not about what I want or what I want to do. My life is about what God wants to do through me! Any work or effort that I put in is in vain. Only when my heart is full and over-flowing with the love of God will He be able to use me. Jackie Joens, LMHC, puts it like this: "Think about it…to open our hearts to the reality of God’s love for us, fills us to such a depth that we cannot keep the love inside. God’s love will bubble up in us and through us to others. It pours out of us because it can’t be contained! Can you imagine living your life with such an over flowing heart, filled with so much love that you couldn’t help but spill it out - all over?!"
I have been feeling God's love a lot lately and have really been wanting to share that love with other people. So, Sunday evening while I was praying I asked God if there is a ministry somewhere where He wants to use me that he would show that to me. During my teen years and early 20's I helped a lot at my church with the 2 and 3 year olds in AWANA and Sunday School. I also got to spend some time with the teens and really enjoyed the opportunity of getting to know the young ladies who were growing up just a few years behind me and going through a lot of the same things that I had been experiencing in the recent years.
Monday night when I got home from work I was reading some updates on my Facebook page and came across a post from my church saying that they were still looking for volunteers to work in the PowerLife (junior high) and Ignition (high school) programs for this year. I read the program descriptions and found that they needed helpers on Wednesday evenings from 630 to 830 - which fits perfectly in my schedule. The groups that meet on Wednesday nights are 6th through 8th grade and they separate the boys and girls so I would get to be with a group of no more than 10 girls. We'll get to talk about life and growing up and most importantly how we can strengthen our relationships with God each day.
Can you ask for a clearer sign from God about where He wants to use me?! I don't think so. I absolutely do not believe in coincidences! So, I took the step and contacted the program director and I'm going to be teamed up with another leader for the first year so that I can learn the ropes. I am so excited about this opportunity. I'm going to be working with the 7th grade girls this year. Wednesday the 9th is orientation and our first meeting will be the 16th. If you think of it - pray for me! Pray that I will keep my heart and mind on Christ Jesus so that the love of God can flow through me to these girls. And pray for these girls also that they will be receptive to God's leading in their lives.
"Praise God from whom all blessings flow! Praise Him all creatures here below! Praise Him above ye heavenly hosts! Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost! Amen."
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
The Weather
The great thing about Iowa is the weather (I know, right?!) The thing about the weather in Iowa is that it is sooooooo predictable. If it's crummy outside you can predict that it will stay that way through the following weekend and ruin whatever plans you had made. You can also predict that if it's really nice out (you can define "nice" for yourself if you'd like) that it will not stay that way for long! Refer back to previous point.
For example, today is September 2, 2009. Typically, the weather in Iowa for this time of year is cool mornings (60s), hot afternoons (80s or 90s sometimes), and cool evenings (70s down to 60s). These are the days when you're turning the heat on in the car in the morning and the air in the afternoon and if you have to go out in the evening you probably have the heat on again. Today? It was around 55 when I woke up this morning. I think I saw a high of around 75, and right now it's 72. Not at all typical - but lovely nonetheless! I heard a rumor that we might be expecting some rain overnight but who knows, really? I clearly missed my calling (based on my August QA stats at work!) of being a weather-person. That is the only job that I know of where you can be wrong almost 100% of the time - and still be employed!
I was at Southridge Mall a few years ago and I stopped in the hottub store to admire the pretty hottubs (I would love to have a hottub, just for the record.) There was an informational video playing on the TV about proper care and maintenance of a hottub and the spokesman was talking about temperature differentials and how hard they are on the shells of the hottubs. I have lived in some other areas of the country - particularly the southeastern US. I know that it gets cold there in the winter but I'm going to pull out a cliche here: It's a different kind of cold! In Greenville, SC, for example, the town will shut down if snow flurries start to fall. In Iowa, we almost forget how to drive on dry roads - that's how commonplace it is to have snow here. Our yearly temperature differential is about 125 degrees. It is not uncommon for us to see temperatures at 20 below in Iowa in February. And it's not just cold - it's cold, wet, and windy! It is equally common for us to see temperatures in excess of 100 degrees in Iowa in July and August - usually the 10 days of the Iowa State Fair are the worst. Heat indices (actual temperature combined with humidity = what it really feels like outside) can be as high as 110 or more.
In Iowa, we are the picture of the life of a butterfly. About this time of year we start wrapping ourselves in our coccoons of winter clothing and the farther through fall we get into winter you can just barely see our hands, feet and faces. By the time February rolls around you might be able to make out our beady little eyes through a scarf, hood, and ear muffs, but other than that we look like the Stay-Puft Marshmallow People. As the snow begins to melt and the ground begins to thaw around March or April we gradually start to pull our way out of our coccoons one layer at a time. By May we are on the cusp of life and by July we're completely free of our coccoons - it's too hot in there! A lot of people, or so it seems, seem to think that it's just too hot for clothes - period! I really can't believe the lack of clothing on people these days! Then just a few short weeks later we start the cycle all over again.
So, who's going to come visit me in Iowa in February? How about August? Come on now, don't be shy...
For example, today is September 2, 2009. Typically, the weather in Iowa for this time of year is cool mornings (60s), hot afternoons (80s or 90s sometimes), and cool evenings (70s down to 60s). These are the days when you're turning the heat on in the car in the morning and the air in the afternoon and if you have to go out in the evening you probably have the heat on again. Today? It was around 55 when I woke up this morning. I think I saw a high of around 75, and right now it's 72. Not at all typical - but lovely nonetheless! I heard a rumor that we might be expecting some rain overnight but who knows, really? I clearly missed my calling (based on my August QA stats at work!) of being a weather-person. That is the only job that I know of where you can be wrong almost 100% of the time - and still be employed!
I was at Southridge Mall a few years ago and I stopped in the hottub store to admire the pretty hottubs (I would love to have a hottub, just for the record.) There was an informational video playing on the TV about proper care and maintenance of a hottub and the spokesman was talking about temperature differentials and how hard they are on the shells of the hottubs. I have lived in some other areas of the country - particularly the southeastern US. I know that it gets cold there in the winter but I'm going to pull out a cliche here: It's a different kind of cold! In Greenville, SC, for example, the town will shut down if snow flurries start to fall. In Iowa, we almost forget how to drive on dry roads - that's how commonplace it is to have snow here. Our yearly temperature differential is about 125 degrees. It is not uncommon for us to see temperatures at 20 below in Iowa in February. And it's not just cold - it's cold, wet, and windy! It is equally common for us to see temperatures in excess of 100 degrees in Iowa in July and August - usually the 10 days of the Iowa State Fair are the worst. Heat indices (actual temperature combined with humidity = what it really feels like outside) can be as high as 110 or more.
In Iowa, we are the picture of the life of a butterfly. About this time of year we start wrapping ourselves in our coccoons of winter clothing and the farther through fall we get into winter you can just barely see our hands, feet and faces. By the time February rolls around you might be able to make out our beady little eyes through a scarf, hood, and ear muffs, but other than that we look like the Stay-Puft Marshmallow People. As the snow begins to melt and the ground begins to thaw around March or April we gradually start to pull our way out of our coccoons one layer at a time. By May we are on the cusp of life and by July we're completely free of our coccoons - it's too hot in there! A lot of people, or so it seems, seem to think that it's just too hot for clothes - period! I really can't believe the lack of clothing on people these days! Then just a few short weeks later we start the cycle all over again.
So, who's going to come visit me in Iowa in February? How about August? Come on now, don't be shy...
Intro to Us
I am Tessa. I'm a zoo-keeper - or so it feels like most of the time. I have 2 cats, Mickey, 7, and Lucy, 6. I also have 2 Yorkie-Poo dogs, Comet and Starr, 3. The picture on my blog is of Comet. We live in the booming metropolis and capital of Iowa, Des Moines. For those of you not familiar with the mid-west: Iowa is directly south of Minnesota, north of Missouri, west of Illinois, and east of Nebraska. Contrary to popular beliefs we are not the state known for growing potatoes. We do have running water, electricity, and our houses do not have dirt floors or grass roofs. :) We are also home to the Big 10 Iowa Hawkeyes (Go Hawks!) and the Big 12 Iowa State Cyclones.
I fill my days at work and my evenings with my pets - for now anyway. I spend a lot of time reading and writing. Most of my writing is about my life - the truth is stranger than fiction, after all! Some of you reading this blog may know me personally and that's great - I look forward to hearing from you. Some of you may be strangers-to-me, so to you: "Hi there! Nice to meet you!"
A note here about what you will be reading on this blog: All of the things that I write are my own personal opinions, questions, comments, concerns, observations, things that I've learned, things that I'm struggling with, etc. You are welcome to comment, share your own stories, or ask any questions. I welcome all different view points and will enjoy conversing with you - even if we disagree. I absolutely love an intellectually stimulating conversation!
Another, most important note: I am a Christian. I believe that salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ and His death, burial and resurrection from the grave to pay the price for the sins of all mankind. I believe that this salvation is the only way to Heaven when this life ends. I do not and will not apologize for that belief. Many of the things that you will read on my blog will be about my relationship with and walk with God. Feel free to agree or disagree but you will not change my mind and it's not up to me to change yours, either. That being said: I am not perfect nor do I, or will I, ever claim to be. I have failed in many things - you will read about some of those things here. The point of my story is not to blow my own horn. I will share the things that I believe God has laid on my heart to share with the hope of providing encouragement to others who may be struggling.
I think that's about the end of my introduction. If you have any questions or comments feel free to post them here. This is going to be fun for me so I hope you have fun, too!
I fill my days at work and my evenings with my pets - for now anyway. I spend a lot of time reading and writing. Most of my writing is about my life - the truth is stranger than fiction, after all! Some of you reading this blog may know me personally and that's great - I look forward to hearing from you. Some of you may be strangers-to-me, so to you: "Hi there! Nice to meet you!"
A note here about what you will be reading on this blog: All of the things that I write are my own personal opinions, questions, comments, concerns, observations, things that I've learned, things that I'm struggling with, etc. You are welcome to comment, share your own stories, or ask any questions. I welcome all different view points and will enjoy conversing with you - even if we disagree. I absolutely love an intellectually stimulating conversation!
Another, most important note: I am a Christian. I believe that salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ and His death, burial and resurrection from the grave to pay the price for the sins of all mankind. I believe that this salvation is the only way to Heaven when this life ends. I do not and will not apologize for that belief. Many of the things that you will read on my blog will be about my relationship with and walk with God. Feel free to agree or disagree but you will not change my mind and it's not up to me to change yours, either. That being said: I am not perfect nor do I, or will I, ever claim to be. I have failed in many things - you will read about some of those things here. The point of my story is not to blow my own horn. I will share the things that I believe God has laid on my heart to share with the hope of providing encouragement to others who may be struggling.
I think that's about the end of my introduction. If you have any questions or comments feel free to post them here. This is going to be fun for me so I hope you have fun, too!
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