Monday, July 27, 2009

Surprising Interruption

I'm at work...and I should be working, but I just had to share this moment. One thing that I equally love and hate is the fact that I'm often interrupted here at the church. The truth is that the interruptions are almost always gifts from the Lord, but my response to the interruptions is dependent on whether or not I'm in people mode or task mode...whether or not I want to be selfish or actually "be a minister." Anyways, today has been a little rough for me. I got sick after lunch (Amoeba Allen didn't really love the bar-b-que that I had)...and I knew that I would be up here until at least 7pm working.

So, I went home for a couple of hours this afternoon to rest & get my stomach somewhat settled. I was driving back to work around 4pm begrudging the fact that I had to come back, and just basically telling God that I just would like to feel better. When I'm in these moods the last thing I want to do is smile & be nice to people - that's just the truth.

But as soon as I walked through the doors I heard a lady say, "Hi Paige, you could help me!" I turned to look at her and vaguely remembered that I met her 3 weeks ago. I was wracking my brain to retrieve her name, but I was unsure so I just plastered on the smile & said hi. She was standing there in the foyer holding a bottle of olive oil & she asked if we could go somewhere to talk.

I brough her upstairs to my office, and as I looked at "Crystal" (I remembered her name) it was obvious that she has not had an easy life. She began to tell me her story - a former meth addict for 25 years who has been sober for the last 2 years. She moved from Arkansas, and she said she had a weird request. She pointed to the bottle of oil & asked if I would pray over it. She explained that she is living with her in-laws who have addictions & after fighting for the last few months for their freedom...she said, "I just can't do it anymore." However, she said that God told her that He would help her fight...and so her plan was to anoint the house that night & ask God to use that oil to break bondages & addictions.

The more I talked to "Crystal", the more I realized I was sitting with someone courageous & actually living "the Christian life." Yes, there she sat without a bra & smelling of cigarette smoke, but there she sat willing to fight for her family's freedom! She is living it - she is fighting for her own faith - and she is winning.

I got a couple of other people to pray with us over the oil...and it was powerful - mostly because we all saw her faith & therefore knew that God would use this - He will use her...

So, I'm thankful for my interruption. I'm thankful that I saw someone today who was giving her all to live the life Jesus is showing her...I realized that today's interruption was the reminder I needed to get my focus off of how I'm feeling & to more fully live the life He intends for me.

Saturday, July 25, 2009

LOVE

"you have NEVER been unloved." - Max Lucado

Just finished reading Christa Black's blog, and I'm resting in this one sentence. May we all get this truth in our hearts...even in the worst moments...in your darkest places...you have never been unloved.

Monday, July 20, 2009

Where I Am - July 2009

Where I Am: So here I sit on my couch - just woke up from a late nap & I'm listening as Josh jogs on the treadmill - he is so dedicated! I'll be happy if I get out later when it cools off for a walk (that is the plan anyways)...

What I'm Saying: Well, I've been saying a lot lately - even got to preach at Church on the Rock this past weekend (I love getting to preach)...but what has been on my lips most recently is my new news - that I'm pregnant. The news has been somewhat out for a couple of weeks now, but for some reason I feel as though it is "officially public" because...wait for it...I put it on facebook. Yep, so crazy that this has become the best way to disseminate information, but there it is...I actually made mention of it on my status update and I have almost 40 responses - wow! People are excited for me...perhaps relieved or shocked as well??? Regardless of the reasons for the outpouring of comments - I'm feeling really loved!

What I'm Listening To: At this very moment, I'm listening to Christa Black's myspace page - she just uploaded two new songs & I'm LOVING "Drift Away"...I've also been reading her blog for the last couple of weeks - she is sharing her story of battling an eating disorder & breaking into the music world. I don't know this girl, but she is inspiring and you get the sense that she genuinely cares about all the young girls out there who are following her since she on tour with the Jonas Brothers...so, you should check her out.

What I'm Watching: So, I love summer reality shows, and since we aren't traveling this summer (Josh and I usually are out of the country at least twice every summer)...I've been watching WAY too much TV! But I've just got to make a couple of comments: The Next Food Network Star - I'm just not sure who I want to win...maybe Melissa although occasionally she gets on my nerves. I also just started watching Desing Star it is a favorite in my family & I'm super excited about it! I think my mom should go on that show - she would rock it - the woman is brilliant!

What I'm Reading: I recently finished the book "Angry Conversations with God" by Susan Isaacs - it was a memoir & I enjoyed it although it might be offensive to some of my readers (not going to lie)...I'm searching for something good to read right now. I'm reading a couple of fiction books...but I need something with more substance - would welcome any suggestions!

Favorite Funny Moment: So, this morning I had my first sonogram & I was instructed to drink 32 oz. of water an hour before the appointment. In case you don't know, I'm typically an overachiever - and today was not different...I think I actually consumed about 40 oz. of water. All was fine until there were some problems with my paperwork & the ultrasound kept getting postponed. By the time I actually got back to radiology I was literally dancing & almost crying because I just wanted to pee!!! I was really looking forward to this ultrasound (hoping it would make this a little more real) but if I'm completely honest all I could think about was hoping I didn't wet my pants during the ultrasound! As soon as the guy turned on the machine he said, "Woa, you have a really full bladder!" I laughed & said, yeah...I really need to use the bathroom, but I smiled & tried to act like a jubilant mother to be, but I just kept watching the guy & thinking are you done? I was also making exit strategies in my mind & wondering how far the nearest bathroom was. Even when he was showing me my baby (which was a nice black amoeba)...I just smiled - said, "okay, great!" And then I begged to go to the little ladies room! So much for any poignant moment. Once I came out, I thought to ask a few questions about the health of the baby, etc...but the moment was lost! All I know, is that I will be an underachiever the next time I am requested to consume large amounts of water.

So that's it for now...I'm going to try and be a better blogger, but I say that so often...we'll see!

Wednesday, July 8, 2009

San Diego

Wow, it has been way too long since I've updated the blog. So, I will keep it short & mostly share some pictures. My parents, Heath & Kelsey, & Josh & I all went to San Diego a couple of weeks ago for vacation. We had a great time & amazingly enough it was actually a relaxing vacation! Here is a look at some of the fun we had!

To begin the vacation, Heath & Kelsey felt that it was imperative that they find the right gear to keep their heads warm while also looking stylish. This is the option they liked best. As a good sister, I vetoed this idea...


San Diego is famous for it's zoo, so we of course made a trip! I took tons of animal pictures, but I decided you wouldn't really want to see them, so I'll just share some highlights
We were all AMAZED by the gorillas. They were absolutely beautiful and interesting.

Josh & I - I was trying to get the zebras in the picture behind us...but I wasn't successful

My lovely parents

Josh making his monkey face...he was inspired


We also spent quite a bit of time around the water! We went to beaches at La Jolla, Coronao Island, and Missions Beach. All three were fantastic and they each had their own personality...while we were at La Jolla, the boys decided to learn how to surf
Doesn't my husband look like a surfer here?

And it turns out that he's actually a pretty decent surfer so long as he sticks to the small waves! I should note that Josh learned to surf a few years ago when we were in Hawaii...

And Heath got up too!

I think this is one of my favorite pictures from the trip...it makes me laugh...

While we were at Mission Beach, Josh decided to show us some of his other skills & he climbed a tree to win me a blow-up monkey...yes, he did make it all the way to the top! Is my man talented or what?

On Coronado Island evening. I decided that I could live here.

This is my only picture of all of us together - at the Padres game!

It was nice to get away! Until next time, San Diego!
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