You know those moments, the ones where you instantly think, "I will never forget this as long as I live." I had one of those while sitting in an AMC Theater the other day, which I was not expecting because I so rarely go to the movies anymore due to the decline of morality in media today. However, I felt rather safe venturing to see Narnia with one of my very dearest friends.
I had to fight to see many scenes through thick tears, but one scene particularly pulled at my heart strings and has permeated my thoughts many times since. As Lucy, one of the main characters, strives to change her appearance in an attempt to look like her older sister, Susan, she begins to lose her identity. Aslan, a lion representing God in the series, comes to remind her of her immense value in His eyes. I quoted part of the scene below and I cannot wait to share the powerful clip with you once it makes an appearance on YouTube.
Soak this in, whoever you are, if you ever feel unworthy or less than sufficient.
Then listen to the Lord, who forever tells you that He loves and accepts you just the way that you are.
Aslan: Lucy
Lucy: Aslan?
Aslan: what have you done child?
Lucy: I don't know, that was awful.
Aslan: but you chose it, Lucy.
Lucy: I didn't mean to choose all of that, I just wanted to be beautiful like susan. That's all
Aslan: You wished yourself away and with it much more. Your brothers and sisters wouldn't know Narnia without you, lucy. you discovered it first, remember?
Lucy: I’m so sorry.
Aslan: You doubt your value, don't run from who you are
Don't wish yourself away, as so often we are tempted to do. The creator of the universe knit you together in your mother's womb. He knows the number of hairs on your head and the number of breaths you will take. Rest in that.
Thursday, January 6, 2011
The Joy of Thanksgiving
"O Lord, who lends me life, lend me a heart replete with thankfulness."
Better late than never, right?
While I do not make New Year's Resolutions, I do try to collect my thoughts around the start of a New Year, add to ongoing spiritual goals, and think on areas I would like to improve. Being intentional about blogging fell under the latter of those categories this year.
Therefore, I am trying to catch up on a few major 'blog worthy' events that I missed over the past couple months...Thanksgiving definitely being one of which.
This year, my whole family was able to congregate at my family's new home in Concord. As always, the simplicity of being surrounded by those I love spurned the most gratitude in my heart. Well, that and Christ's love for me.
Here are a few photos from the Webb family gathering:
Better late than never, right?
While I do not make New Year's Resolutions, I do try to collect my thoughts around the start of a New Year, add to ongoing spiritual goals, and think on areas I would like to improve. Being intentional about blogging fell under the latter of those categories this year.
Therefore, I am trying to catch up on a few major 'blog worthy' events that I missed over the past couple months...Thanksgiving definitely being one of which.
This year, my whole family was able to congregate at my family's new home in Concord. As always, the simplicity of being surrounded by those I love spurned the most gratitude in my heart. Well, that and Christ's love for me.
Here are a few photos from the Webb family gathering:
Will Pill
All the girl cousins =]
Courtney and I
Teaching the boys the ever so fun...Ninja!
Precious little Abby
Grandma and I
Oh, How He Loves Us
I saw it in the hands lifted.
I saw it in the triangles of believers praying.
I saw it in the boy with his face flat on the floor.
I saw it in the girl crying out.
I saw it in the people compelled to journal.
I saw it in the teens dancing in the isles.
I saw it in the eyes of the people.
I saw Jesus. I felt His presence. I thank Him for what He lifted the veil over my mind to see.
As I stood on the VERY top row of the Philipps Arena in Atlanta at the Passion Conference with my hands lifted, praising the Lord, I opened my eyes and suddenly it dawned on me.
While each and every person that was lifting praise was doing it to honor the very same God, He is still so intimately involved in each life. He is enormous, yet personal. Omnipotent, yet gentle. Omniscient, yet compassionate. To be feared, yet gentle. Ahh! I cannot fathom the depths of Him who saved me. Him who I love. Him who I vow to serve with my life.
As I reflected on the ways that He has intricately woven together the events of my life, day in and day out, I was stunned to realize He was doing the VERY same thing for each and every other person that my glimpse caught. He thinks thoughts towards all of us. He treasures us.
Oh, how He loves us.
I saw it in the triangles of believers praying.
I saw it in the boy with his face flat on the floor.
I saw it in the girl crying out.
I saw it in the people compelled to journal.
I saw it in the teens dancing in the isles.
I saw it in the eyes of the people.
I saw Jesus. I felt His presence. I thank Him for what He lifted the veil over my mind to see.
As I stood on the VERY top row of the Philipps Arena in Atlanta at the Passion Conference with my hands lifted, praising the Lord, I opened my eyes and suddenly it dawned on me.
While each and every person that was lifting praise was doing it to honor the very same God, He is still so intimately involved in each life. He is enormous, yet personal. Omnipotent, yet gentle. Omniscient, yet compassionate. To be feared, yet gentle. Ahh! I cannot fathom the depths of Him who saved me. Him who I love. Him who I vow to serve with my life.
As I reflected on the ways that He has intricately woven together the events of my life, day in and day out, I was stunned to realize He was doing the VERY same thing for each and every other person that my glimpse caught. He thinks thoughts towards all of us. He treasures us.
Oh, how He loves us.
Passion 2011
Where to begin...
I have started. stopped. deleted. stared blankly at. restarted. this post more times than I can possibly count. My heart is so heavy that I have been simply dying to get to the keys to sort through all the thoughts and emotions pulsing through me. Yet, no simplistic explanation has developed for the transformation that occurred in my life since the start of this new year, this new decade.
1. 1. 11
A day that I will never forget, a day that I loved from the start simply for the numerical meaning I saw lying behind it all. To me, the number one represents a new beginning, a fresh start, exactly what I needed to be honest. Not to mention, 1. 1. 11 also happened to be the first day of the Passion Conference in Atlanta, Georgia which I had the pleasure to attend. This conference changed the scope and course of my life so anyone who is so kind to read these posts will have to suffer through many accounts of probably 4 of the best days of my life.
Passion is an amazing conference not because it brings 26,000 college students together, not because we raised over 1.1 million dollars for amazing causes, not because Lecrae performed, but Passion IS an amazing conference because it's sole purpose is to bring glory to the name of Jesus. The beautiful, beautiful name of Jesus. A name that I grew to love much more this weekend.
The theme of the conference this year was "Living a Free and Full Life in Christ." I could not see to jot the title down in my notes the first time I heard the topic for the weekend for the tears in my eyes welled too quickly. God is too gracious to me. Freedom in Christ has been my journey over the last few months and I felt as if the entire topic had been orchestrated around exactly what I needed to hear.
As I walked through the four days of the conference, with no more than five hours of sleep a night, I felt as if I was walking through an art gallery of sorts, with each different session serving as a snapshot of the last months of my life.
1. 1. 11 it was. My day of awakening, the start of a new chapter as I like to see it. How so? It was the day I decided I am not turning back. Will I be tempted? Of course, what would the human life be without temptation or suffering? But I will not submit to the yokes of slavery that I was mastered by for so long. There is too much at stake. Too much to lose. Christ has called me to an abundant life and I freely embrace all that He offers me.
I cannot wait to share further of my experience at Passion 2011.
Below are a couple photos from the weekend.
I have started. stopped. deleted. stared blankly at. restarted. this post more times than I can possibly count. My heart is so heavy that I have been simply dying to get to the keys to sort through all the thoughts and emotions pulsing through me. Yet, no simplistic explanation has developed for the transformation that occurred in my life since the start of this new year, this new decade.
1. 1. 11
A day that I will never forget, a day that I loved from the start simply for the numerical meaning I saw lying behind it all. To me, the number one represents a new beginning, a fresh start, exactly what I needed to be honest. Not to mention, 1. 1. 11 also happened to be the first day of the Passion Conference in Atlanta, Georgia which I had the pleasure to attend. This conference changed the scope and course of my life so anyone who is so kind to read these posts will have to suffer through many accounts of probably 4 of the best days of my life.
Passion is an amazing conference not because it brings 26,000 college students together, not because we raised over 1.1 million dollars for amazing causes, not because Lecrae performed, but Passion IS an amazing conference because it's sole purpose is to bring glory to the name of Jesus. The beautiful, beautiful name of Jesus. A name that I grew to love much more this weekend.
The theme of the conference this year was "Living a Free and Full Life in Christ." I could not see to jot the title down in my notes the first time I heard the topic for the weekend for the tears in my eyes welled too quickly. God is too gracious to me. Freedom in Christ has been my journey over the last few months and I felt as if the entire topic had been orchestrated around exactly what I needed to hear.
As I walked through the four days of the conference, with no more than five hours of sleep a night, I felt as if I was walking through an art gallery of sorts, with each different session serving as a snapshot of the last months of my life.
1. 1. 11 it was. My day of awakening, the start of a new chapter as I like to see it. How so? It was the day I decided I am not turning back. Will I be tempted? Of course, what would the human life be without temptation or suffering? But I will not submit to the yokes of slavery that I was mastered by for so long. There is too much at stake. Too much to lose. Christ has called me to an abundant life and I freely embrace all that He offers me.
I cannot wait to share further of my experience at Passion 2011.
Below are a couple photos from the weekend.
Writing a message to the anonymous recipient of a Bible in Columbia.
Meet my roommates.
LR: Chelsea, Hannah, Sophie, Myself
GO CENTER (to be explained)
Worship!
Meet Ernest, our homeless friend.
We are a chosen generation!
Mold, Make, Place Him
"Lord I know there is someone,
In this world for me
Keep him safe from harm,
And from temptation help him flee
Make him a leader,
Who can guide me through the years.
Give him a loving arm to hold me,
And to dry all my tears.
Mold him to be a father,
As you have been to me.
Always keep him by my side
A right arm forever he’ll be.
Cause his love for you to grow,
And a true doctrine let him know.
And in his life forever,
Let your light always show.
Place him in the ministry,
So more can hear God’s word
And when the trials come,
Help us praise you Lord.
Give him a compassion,
Toward those who are orphaned
And to such as these,
Our home will always be open.
Finally Lord I ask you,
Help him keep himself
Because a Christian man like this,
Is valued above great wealth."
I decided to post this prayer that I have lifted to the Lord countless times because I was reminded this past weekend how easy it is to forget God's sovereignty over every single detail of your life. As Christians, we are called to bring glory to God through every single area of our life, including our marriage and while I know that may very well be many years away for me, recent discussions with brothers and sisters in Christ warrant this post.
While I may not always keep it at the forefront of my mind, deep down I know that even a moment of worrying about who the Lord has set apart for me to love and cherish one day is waisted time because He is Lord of all and He holds all things together.
So may I just encourage you, if ever you struggle with worrying about these types of issues, remember that the Lord holds all things together! Maybe you too can find comfort in praying these precious and sincere words to God, who is intimately involved in His children's lives.
In this world for me
Keep him safe from harm,
And from temptation help him flee
Make him a leader,
Who can guide me through the years.
Give him a loving arm to hold me,
And to dry all my tears.
Mold him to be a father,
As you have been to me.
Always keep him by my side
A right arm forever he’ll be.
Cause his love for you to grow,
And a true doctrine let him know.
And in his life forever,
Let your light always show.
Place him in the ministry,
So more can hear God’s word
And when the trials come,
Help us praise you Lord.
Give him a compassion,
Toward those who are orphaned
And to such as these,
Our home will always be open.
Finally Lord I ask you,
Help him keep himself
Because a Christian man like this,
Is valued above great wealth."
I decided to post this prayer that I have lifted to the Lord countless times because I was reminded this past weekend how easy it is to forget God's sovereignty over every single detail of your life. As Christians, we are called to bring glory to God through every single area of our life, including our marriage and while I know that may very well be many years away for me, recent discussions with brothers and sisters in Christ warrant this post.
While I may not always keep it at the forefront of my mind, deep down I know that even a moment of worrying about who the Lord has set apart for me to love and cherish one day is waisted time because He is Lord of all and He holds all things together.
So may I just encourage you, if ever you struggle with worrying about these types of issues, remember that the Lord holds all things together! Maybe you too can find comfort in praying these precious and sincere words to God, who is intimately involved in His children's lives.
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Merry CHRISTmas.
I wish you a very, super, amazingly
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
......
......
......
The Media has been waging a ‘War on Christmas’ for what appears to be decades now, in order to obliterate any religious connotation still remnant in the American version of a holiday meant to honor the birth of Jesus Christ. The theory behind the ‘War’ is that there are legions of anti-Christian or hyper-politically-correct people who are out to remove references to Christmas, specifically Christ, from the public square. However, the ‘War on Christmas’ may now be moving a step farther, even away from ‘Happy Holidays.’ At a Christmas celebration at the White House, Michelle Obama praised Americans for attempting to make strides in accepting all Americans at this time of year, but claims that “we still have a long way to go.” The First Lady claims that “Happy Holidays” can seem cruel and insensitive to many, because it neglects those who are indeed not happy or holy during the season. In order to include these ‘unholy’ and ‘unhappy’ people during this time of year, Mrs. Obama has requested that people are greeted with the saying, ‘Ambivalent Particular Days.’ She went on to explain the meaning of her phrase – “ambivalent” being for those who may not feel happy, and “particular days” for the non-religious, while still recognizing the day as being out of the ordinary. As the cartoon portrays, America has moved a long way from being a ‘Nation of Believers’ to a nation focused on how to be most politically correct at all times. Interestingly, according to a recent Rumussen Reports survey, 69% of Americans still prefer to be greeted with “Merry Christmas” on store signs during this season instead of “Happy Holidays,” which only 24% say they support. In order not to defend a wide customer base, stores are sticking to the most politically correct greetings, which for now stands as “Happy Holidays,” but if people choose to follow the trend of the First Lady, “Ambivalent Particular Days” may be coloring the storefronts next year.
It is far beyond sad that this nation, founded on Biblical principles, has strayed so far that we are now resorting to greeting people with “Ambivalent Particular Days.” The demise of this nation is absolutely unpredictable, because just as it appears to have reached the absolute worst, another wave of Liberal-Democratic-Politically Correct-Militant frenzy takes wave and the slippery downward slope continues. I can remember a time not terribly long ago that signs pleading, “God Bless This Nation,” covered every magazine, storefront, et cetera, after one of the worst tragedies ever to wreak havoc on this nation took place. Well, after a couple years of ‘recovery’ and an ultra-liberal government, and we have a nation that would love nothing more than to ever hear the name of Christ mentioned again. I refuse to give up hope though, because while this nation is far gone and the government appears to be running full speed away from the foundational truths of this nation, God is bigger than it all. Therefore, this Christmas season, I will do my part, even if that simply means greeting every person I come in contact with a very Merry Christmas.
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Disc Golf Station!!!!
During my junior year of high school, I unintentionally developed a new hobby that I am now quite fond of. However, I must confess that while I love participating in this activity, no expertise can likewise be claimed.
While visiting Liberty University, a great friend of mine, Aaron Russell, along with a few of his dorm-mates took me for my first disc golf adventure. And boy, what an adventure it was.
After making a complete fool of myself, might I emphasize complete, everyone had a good laugh at my lack of capability. Despite the fact I was not a natural, I still truly enjoy playing as often as I possibly can. I was surprised upon return to North Carolina just how many locations there are to play, but I'm still waiting for the one that draws my hidden talent : )
Recently, I discovered what is now my go-to for all things disc golf!
If you have not heard of them, you are missing out.
Disc Golf Station is the all inclusive site for anything you could possible imagine: frisbees, bags, accessories, drivers, mid-range discs, course locators, and even helpful hints for those just starting out!
The benefits of this company are endless...free shipping, friendly service, great products, and even better prices!
If you are on the market for anything, and i mean anything, in terms of disc golf equipment...
please check out Disc Golf Station by clicking on the link below.
I will certainly be posting pictures and updates of the great products I personally use from the site, but for starters, I would have to recommend the Surge 150 Disc! I may not be an expert, but this really is an amazing, long lasting disc for right around $15.00.
You can find drivers ranging from about $8.00 to $18.00 and Frisbees anywhere from $6.00 to $17.00!
Check them out!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)