Don't be a Haman.

I'm currently doing a Esther bible study with some girls from church. It's not the Beth Moore one, although I have done that one too. If you have never studied Esther, I suggest you go do that. It is a story that we can relate to ourselves in so many ways.

I pulled out my Beth Moore bible study today to relate it to the things I'm learning in this other Esther study. I found this part that Beth Moore wrote and it really spoke to me. (Apparently it spoke to me the first time I read it too, because I have it underlined and starred!)

(Esther 5:9-13) Anyway, in this part of the study we were studying Haman's hatred toward Mordecai. Haman had everything he could ever want in life. He was the king's best friend and could have asked for anything. However, he was focused on only one thing- destroying Mordecai. One man wouldn't bow to him, and it drove him crazy. He couldn't even be thankful for what he had because he let this one person drive him so crazy. This is what Beth Moore had to say about it, and I just felt led to share with fellow bloggers:

"One of the most eye-opening things God has shown me about bondage is that we can become addicted to a person. Haman was addicted to Mordecai. He couldn't quit thinking about him. Haman's hatred of Mordecai became a mental preoccupation and so caused the most outrageous irony of all: Haman bowed to Mordecai. Make no mistake, we serve whatever masters us, and nothing masters us more completely than the person who refuses to bow to our rights, desires, or demands. We become fixated on the one from whom we cannot get what we want.

We tend to picture bondage in terms of an addictive substance, a compulsive behavior, or looming feeling like unforgiveness. I don't think we realize our stronghold can be a person until it is one. A person becomes a snare to us any time he or she consumes an excessive and unhealthy space in our thoughts, whether negative or positive. The individual may be someone we are attracted to or feel threatened or defeated by. It can be someone whose approval eludes us or whose happiness consumes us. It could be someone whom we adore, despise, or far more complexly, both. Our problem people often are those we "love" one minute and "hate" the next.

We form mental strongholds toward those who won't give us what we want or need. Sometimes they quit giving us something they once supplied and we want it back. Perhaps they broke the rules of our relationship. Very often our people- snares are those who make us feel out of control with our emotions. They are the ones around who we are most compelled to perform, or worse, make fools of ourselves. We see both of these subtle elements in Haman. The people who have become the biggest snares to us are the ones about whom we're most prone to say, "I never act this way with anyone else!"

Can you relate to what I'm describing? Is there a person out there who makes you feel like that? I've realized that the people who I dislike the most are the ones who are most like me. Scary, huh? My prayer is that I don't let people become a stronghold for me. I don't want to be a Haman. It's hard to do. So many times people say hateful things and you focus on it. So many times people have this image of you in their minds, and you do everything you can to make them see that's not who you are. It's such a waste! I pray that my only desire would be to please my heavenly Father and that my focus is not on what others will and will not do for me.

Hopefully this word from Beth Moore will help someone else today too. :)

Kids 'N' Pets

I love my dog to death. Seriously, what's not to love about that face?

However... sometimes he has a few accidents in the house. It's usually when I have completely forgotten to take him out, so I can't completely blame him. We are moving in a week, and there were two stains that looked pretty bad on our carpet. I was desperate to find a way to fix it!

Therefore, I did all kinds of things. I scrubbed. I rented a carpet cleaner. I used doggy spray from PetSmart. However, these stains were tough ones. Nothing was working! So I resorted to google. Google is so faithful! ha!

I read in several places about a product that is sold at Target. I had never heard of it, but I thought... hey, why not? So while I was scrubbing, I sent Holly on a Target run.

Kids 'N Pets. It cost around $4 at Target-- now that is cheap! I was wary about it. What kind of $4 cleaner can work miracles? (After all, I had just spent $40 on a carpet cleaner that hadn't removed the two stains completely!) But I was at my wit's end, so I tried it.

It was miraculous! I'm serious... I wish I had taken before and after pictures. You can't even see the stains anymore! I had to walk around the room to figure out exactly where they even were. All you have to do is pour it on the stain, let it sit for an hour, and then blot it up! The hardest part is FINDING the stain in order to blot it up after the hour is over!

So if you have a pet who has accidents, or even messy kids--- GO GET THIS STUFF. I'm obsessed. It's amazing!!! (And plus, if it doesn't work, there is a money back guarantee!) This is a must-have for all pet owners!!

PS. We are now up to having six boxes packed! Too bad we have about 50 empty ones in the garage waiting to be filled. Gag!

Furniture, Movies, and Thunderstorms....

This will prove to be a completely random blog post...

Holly and I have been doing some furniture shopping lately. We are looking for a new kitchen table. The one we have now is old... as in, my parents bought it around the time I was born!! That is crazy. So, we are ready to update it! We are thinking we want a black table, maybe a high table. We just can't decide though. I'm also looking for a new black dresser for my bedroom (because the one I bought last year has fallen apart! Never buy furniture from SticksNStuff!!) Looking at all of this furniture makes me want to buy my own house! Which might be a possibility for me this time next year. Wait... when did we get old enough to buy our own houses?! That is crazy. (Speaking of being old, I turn 23 next week. Ah!)

On a side note, becoming friends with Ty has proved to be worthwhile! Ty is a friend at church, but we've become better friends over the past several weeks. He just started a new job as a tax accountant for Cinemark (a movie theater company in Texas). Wednesday we went to see Toy Story together, and to make a long story short, he was late and I had to pay for my movie ticket (when he could have gotten it free.) He felt terrible about it (even though I wasn't mad at all!) and has proceeded to try and make it up to us. He bought ice cream after the movie, and that was enough for me! But then yesterday he showed up at church with four free movie passes... heck yea! I told him that we have decided to get mad at him more often because he sure does a good job of making things up! Now Holly and I are just trying to decide what movie we should use our free passes for. Eclipse? Killers? Karate Kid? Despicable Me? There are just so many choices. I love movies, which makes me love Ty's new job. :)

We move in a week and a half, and what have I packed? Three boxes. And when you think about how much STUFF I have... that is not enough packing. I need to get a lot done before this weekend so that I can enjoy the 4th... but yet, here I am cuddled on the couch with my puppy. And what's that I hear? A thunderstorm? Perfect weather for an afternoon nap. Maybe the packing will take care of itself....

Love & Joy

Isn't it funny how God always makes sure a sermon is preached right when you need to hear it? Yesterday Miller taught in the great hall. I don't know where Pike was, but I was excited nonetheless to hear Miller. If Pike isn't preaching, Miller would always be my second choice. We did a bible study with Miller in the spring and it was amazing. He is so wise and always teaches the bible in a new and unique way.

Yesterday was about loving others and having joy in our life. We read John 15:1-17. Miller gave us four "steps" on how to find joy in our lives, and he found them in those verses. 1. Remain (abide) in His love. 2. Bear fruit. 3. Obey His commands and 4. Love each other. My favorite thing he said was this, "Love those that you back.... and love those that will never imagine loving you even more." Number 4 is one that I have heard over and over in my life, but never in a way that hit me yesterday. I've had a lot of bitterness lately towards someone who constantly talks bad about me when I feel like I have done nothing to her. I have been convicted to pray for her, and yesterday it really hit me. Not only do I need to pray for her, but I need to love her. Love? Seriously? I think one of the hardest things to do in life is to always love the people that mean the most to you-- let alone the people who hate you! But there it is, in John 15:12-- This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. It doesn't say to only love your friends and family. It says one another-- everyone.

So my next step in this process of not letting this person get to me is to love them. When I get angry or frustrated, I think of one thing that I liked about them when I knew them. And I love that about them.

God is faithful, and I know he will prove Himself faithful during this time in my life. His promise says this: "If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full." John 15:10-11. Did you read that? Christ's joy will be in me, and that joy will be FULL. I will cling to his commandments and follow his truths, and along the way, I will continue to learn even more about living in his faithfulness and his joy.

Charmander

Holly and I lived with Charlee our senior year of college. We had so much fun living together and I'm so glad that we had the opportunity to do so.

We haven't really seen each other since Holly and I graduated, so for Charlee's birthday in May we bought her a plane ticket! She rode back to Dallas with us after our trip to Alabama and is flying home tonight.

We have had a good time! We had a pool day, saw Toy Story 3, ate lunch with a friend, saw Wicked!, spent a day shopping, and had a game night with some friends.

Today I think we are going to go shopping some more, and her flight leaves tonight at 7:20. It has been so much fun having Charlee here! I don't want her to leave. :(

Charmander, thanks for coming and spending a week with us! I have enjoyed having you here! We've had so many laughs while you're here! Penske, rain is a good thing at the house that built me, smell my arm!, haha, where's the ball? Come back soon! We love you!

PS. Julio misses you too. :)

Prayers

God has been teaching me a lot lately. I'm having to learn to love people that I don't want to love, and to especially love those that say hateful things about me. It has been laid upon my heart to pray for these people who hurt me. Therefore, I have been praying for their peace and blessings upon their heart and their lives. I have found that it helps me to not be angry with them when I think about the fact that they are my sister in Christ. How can someone be my enemy when we serve the same Lord? It is impossible. So, I have given my hurt feelings to the Lord to let Him handle them- He handles all better than me anyway. Luke 6:27-36

I've also still been praying about next summer. I really feel led to go to Uganda, but for now I don't know how long. I'm talking to the International Mission Board about going for the entire summer, and I'm talking to two other programs about just going for about two weeks. I don't know what God has in store for me, but for now I'm hoping that it has something to do with Uganda. It's where I've wanted to be since March and I'm just praying that is really where God wants me to be too. I am taking this seriously and I would appreciate any and all prayers as I try to figure out where the Lord is leading me.

For Good

We went and saw Toy Story 3 last night with Ty. It was so emotional! It was like saying goodbye to a part of my childhood. Holly and Charlee cried like babies... and I'll admit it, I teared up. If you haven't seen it, go now!

Holly, Charlee, and I went to see Wicked! tonight on Broadway in Dallas. I had never seen it before, but let me tell you... it was wonderful. We joked about going back tomorrow, but I wasn't really joking- I would love to! If you haven't seen it, you need to be sure to order tickets next time it's in town.

One of the last songs they play is called For Good. I had never heard it, but it made me think of my friends, so I thought I would share some of the lyrics. :)

I've heard it said that people come into our lives for a reason, bringing something we must learn. And we are led to those who help us most to grow if we let them, and we help them in return. Well, I don't know if I believe that's true... But I know I'm who I am today because I met you. Like a comet pulled from orbit as it passes a sun, like a stream that meets a boulder halfway through the wood, who can say if I've been changed for the better? But because I knew you, I have been changed for good.

It well may be that we will never meet again in this lifetime, so let me say before we part. So much of me is made of what I learned from you, you'll be with me like a handprint on my heart. And now whatever way our stories end, I know you have re-written mine by being my friend. Like a ship blown from its mooring by a wind off the sea, like a seed dropped by a skybird in a distant wood, who can say if I've been changed for the better? But because I knew you, I have been changed for good.

And just to clear the air, I ask forgiveness for the things I've done you blame me for. But then, I guess we know there's blame to share and none of it seems to matter anymore.

Who can say if I've been changed for the better? I do believe I have been changed for the better. And because I knew you, I have been changed for good.

Photo Overload

This weekend, in photos. :)

Hangin' out at the houndstooth, our favorite place in ttown :)

My Nikki and me :)

The Six.... reunited and it feels so good :)

Tiff's bridesmaids...

I love these girls!

The Five single ladies left in our group (I love this picture!)

The Six :) It was so great to spend a weekend together! I love each of you!

I love this picture :)

With the beautiful bride :)

With Mr. and Mrs. Ring :)

It was a beautiful weekend. I had many laughs and it was so great to spend time with these girls. I have more pictures from other people I got to see, but I will post those later. Charlee is here until Saturday, so I'm excited about showing her around the big D. :)

Over

My visit to 'bama is officially over. I leave bright and early in the morning! I am sad to go. I think this is the first time that I've been home and been sad to leave. It did my heart good to see my friends. These people are the ones who will love me no matter where I am in the world, and the ones who will laugh and cry with me while I make memories elsewhere. I think I literally saw all of my best friends while here, and I hate to leave them again. I will be posting pictures soon! It was a beautiful weekend with beautiful friends, and I can't wait to come home for another visit... I may just have to squeeze one in soon. :) Pictures will be coming soon, I promise!

I wish that Dallas was in Tennessee

I've been so busy, I'm just trying to catch my breath! And the next week and a half will just be busier!

Last night we had dinner with some of our friends from Dallas. Our sweet friend, Hannah, just got a job in Virginia. She is moving next week, so last night was the last time that I will see her for a long time! We had a blast at dinner and sat around laughing for about 3 hours. It was lots of fun! Hannah, come visit soon!! (The title of this post goes out to Hannah-- she wants to be closer to home, which is in Tennessee. We claim that the song "I wish that Dallas was in Tennessee" was written for her. :) )

Today was the 3rd day of bible club, and my last day. I didn't take many pictures... mainly because I left for a bathroom break and then left my camera in the van! Woops! So these are all I have for today... :(

Tomorrow is the last day of bible club, but I won't be there. Pray for the youth-- they will be sharing the gospel! There are many kids whose hearts are opened. Pray that God will continue to soften their hearts to the word!

AND... tomorrow is the big day. I'm finally going to Alabama for TIFFANY'S WEDDING! I am so excited that I'm not sure I will even get any sleep tonight! I can't wait for the six to all be together again! It has been a LONG time!! AH!!! I am also excited about seeing my other friends, which include Nikki, Nick, Gina, Darren, Michele, Kim, Katey, Cindy, and the list goes on and on. I also get to see my dear grandparents! It will be a busy five days, but I can't wait!! I will post pictures soon. :)

Bible Club Day 2... in photos :)

God is doing great things! Can't wait for tomorrow. :)

Concerts and Bible Clubs :)

It's been a busy few days, but tons of fun!

Holly and I went to the Lady Antebellum/Tim McGraw concert on Friday... it was AMAZING!

I looooove Lady A. They are currently my favorite band! They put on an awesome show. Tim McGraw was amazing too!! He sure is sexy for an old man ;-)

And now we're doing backyard bible clubs with our home church from Alabama in south Dallas. I love this! It's such a blessing to hang out with these kids. This is them eating lunch. We provided sandwiches and chips and cookies. It broke my heart because so many of the kids only ate half the sandwich and said that they were taking the other half home for dinner. :( It made me so sad. But these kids are so sweet and I just pray that I leave even half of an impact on them as they will leave on me.
We did some face painting and this was my favorite. :) She wanted a butterfly and I loved it.

I'm excited about the next two days of bible club. On Thursday, we head to Alabama for Tiffany's wedding. I absolutely cannot wait to see my girls. :) I love summer!

Experience Dallas... Take 2!

FBCT gets here today! I am about to start airport runs. There are several people flying in at different times today who didn't ride the bus in. The bus will get here somewhere around 2 this afternoon! Before then I also have to take the ladies to Sam's to stock up on food! And then tonight, Holly and I will sneak away from the mission trip to go to the Lady Antebellum concert! :-)

Pray for this mission trip. It's in a rough part of Dallas where the kids have so little. Pray that their hearts will be softened during the Bible Clubs and they will be open to hearing about the One who will always be there for them. Pray for the students, that they will allow God to speak through them. Pray that no one passes out from heat exhaustion and that we don't need to make any ER runs like last year! Keep us in your prayers as we all reach out to the community of South Dallas. I'm eager to see what the Lord is going to do this week! :)