The last several weeks have been extremely busy. I was in Orlando for a week, then in Warner Robins, camp, Nashville, Atlanta, Warner Robins, etc. I haven't been home a lot.
One of the most difficult things when not being home is that I don't have a lot of control over my schedule. It makes it more difficult to eat right, work out consistently and I have no time with Andy.
This is all going to change in about a month and I am looking forward to it. I am really going to look into joining the rock climbing gym, making it to the farmers market, and being home in time to have dinner with Andy.
I was at the gym one day this week and I began to ask myself why I workout. I mean I look the same whether I workout or not. Granted I've stopped gaining weight, but I haven't lost any either. What's the point of it?
Then I was reminded that exercising is good for me and it allows me a stress relief outlet. Going to the gym is the one thing I do for me and not for other people. I enjoy it and I enjoy going by myself.
When Andy and I first got married we did devotions together for awhile. Lately, since our schedules are so different, we don't do them together but we still pray together. I am realizing that my devotional time comes before my gym time and is my priority. I love the time I spend in the morning in prayer even if it means I have to get up a few minutes earlier. It's a great way to start the day and it's a great reminder to me of where my focus needs to be.
Thank you, LORD, that you are always there no matter how busy life gets around us.
Friday, May 28, 2010
Monday, May 10, 2010
The Manifestation of Sin
This is an entry from my former blog.
In a lecture we were asked if we hate sin. There were a couple of responses, but nothing that raised any amount of discussion. At best we merely scratched the surface. I've been thinking about this topic mainly because the majority of those in the lecture were quiet when asked to respond on the topic.
If the same question were asked to a group of Salvationists during the Victorian Era the response would have been different. There would have been lively, engaging conversation spoken from the heart with conviction. I can imagine scripture being pitched in and personal accounts of testimonies and God's grace working in the lives of those speaking.
I think of one story where "Ol' Reddie" was converted in Kensington, Philadelphia. He was a drunk and a "scoundrel," as some literature has called him. He would harass Eliza Shirley and disrupt all of the meetings. Sin was so abundant in his life that his eyes looked like they were a never ending pit of fire. He was scary...until he came to the mercy seat (probably sobering up at that point) and with all the flare and drama that so many conversion stories of our Army heritage contain, was converted. The manifestation of sin in his life was broken. There was victory that day!
Do I hate sin? YES, yes, and yes! I hate what it does to people--to their lives, to their loved ones, to their potential, and to society at large. Sin is nasty. It is okay to hate what is not of God and what is not edifying the Kingdom. I, Monica, hate sin and I'm not ashamed of it. I think of how sin has manifested in my own life at time in the past and it makes me sick.
I know what sin can appear to look like in people. Further than the shame that some people try to hide I remember specifically working with gang members and drug dealers in North Philadelphia while in graduate school. I think of the mothers in the projects that I worked with...I think of the domestic batterers and criminals that I worked with in the Criminal Justice Center in center city Philly...I think of the lost souls who come to a local soup kitchen.I think of the people I have passed day in and day out on the street...I can see the sin in their eyes. Their hurting, lost, and confused. They are struggling. I can see the helplessness. I can see the manifestation of sin all around me and I hate it! That's not to say anything derogatory or negative about my past clients, just my personal experiences. I firmly believe that it is permissible to hate these things.
So what can be done about it? Why was the lecture that day nearly silent on this issue? I understand that we live in different times than our Salvationist forefathers did, but do we really? Have things gotten any better?
We should hate sin and fight against it. We are called to ACTION and we are in a battle. An Army moves...we have our "battle stations" where people can go for refuge and we have our "war crys." The battle we are engaged in is against sin and the author of sin.
The manifestation of sin is real and needs to be stopped.
In a lecture we were asked if we hate sin. There were a couple of responses, but nothing that raised any amount of discussion. At best we merely scratched the surface. I've been thinking about this topic mainly because the majority of those in the lecture were quiet when asked to respond on the topic.
If the same question were asked to a group of Salvationists during the Victorian Era the response would have been different. There would have been lively, engaging conversation spoken from the heart with conviction. I can imagine scripture being pitched in and personal accounts of testimonies and God's grace working in the lives of those speaking.
I think of one story where "Ol' Reddie" was converted in Kensington, Philadelphia. He was a drunk and a "scoundrel," as some literature has called him. He would harass Eliza Shirley and disrupt all of the meetings. Sin was so abundant in his life that his eyes looked like they were a never ending pit of fire. He was scary...until he came to the mercy seat (probably sobering up at that point) and with all the flare and drama that so many conversion stories of our Army heritage contain, was converted. The manifestation of sin in his life was broken. There was victory that day!
Do I hate sin? YES, yes, and yes! I hate what it does to people--to their lives, to their loved ones, to their potential, and to society at large. Sin is nasty. It is okay to hate what is not of God and what is not edifying the Kingdom. I, Monica, hate sin and I'm not ashamed of it. I think of how sin has manifested in my own life at time in the past and it makes me sick.
I know what sin can appear to look like in people. Further than the shame that some people try to hide I remember specifically working with gang members and drug dealers in North Philadelphia while in graduate school. I think of the mothers in the projects that I worked with...I think of the domestic batterers and criminals that I worked with in the Criminal Justice Center in center city Philly...I think of the lost souls who come to a local soup kitchen.I think of the people I have passed day in and day out on the street...I can see the sin in their eyes. Their hurting, lost, and confused. They are struggling. I can see the helplessness. I can see the manifestation of sin all around me and I hate it! That's not to say anything derogatory or negative about my past clients, just my personal experiences. I firmly believe that it is permissible to hate these things.
So what can be done about it? Why was the lecture that day nearly silent on this issue? I understand that we live in different times than our Salvationist forefathers did, but do we really? Have things gotten any better?
We should hate sin and fight against it. We are called to ACTION and we are in a battle. An Army moves...we have our "battle stations" where people can go for refuge and we have our "war crys." The battle we are engaged in is against sin and the author of sin.
The manifestation of sin is real and needs to be stopped.
Friday, May 7, 2010
Indoor Rock Climbing Gym
When I lived in Philly a few friends of mine joined a rock climbing gym and really enjoyed it.
Since I'll be spending more time at home in Atlanta and less time traveling I am considering joining an indoor rock climbing gym.
There is one in Atlanta, about twenty minutes from my office. It's a little pricey, but I am thinking about joining anyway.
They have a discount on Monday nights for women and they have special beginner classes (which I will definitely need to take).
I think indoor rock climbing is a challenge and it will break up the regular routine.
Since I'll be spending more time at home in Atlanta and less time traveling I am considering joining an indoor rock climbing gym.
There is one in Atlanta, about twenty minutes from my office. It's a little pricey, but I am thinking about joining anyway.
They have a discount on Monday nights for women and they have special beginner classes (which I will definitely need to take).
I think indoor rock climbing is a challenge and it will break up the regular routine.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Reflections of life
I have to admit that I am tired. Very tired.
Working so much and spending so much time in the car is definitely taking its toll on me. Add to that the nearly non-existent time I have with Andy and the emotionally draining work that I do and at the end of the day I could just be bitter and worn out.
But I'm not. I'm tired, but I'm not dead.
I am blessed beyond belief and am so extremely thankful for the provision, the love, and the mercy that God gives me every single day of my life.
This weekend we had a youth retreat and I had to drive A LOT to pick up my kids and take them to this retreat. Truth be told its been quite exhausting.
As I was driving down to Warner Robins to pick them up on Friday I was reminded of a time when I was a kid sitting in the back of the van excited about a trip to youth councils. I was reflecting about how much I was loved and cared for and about how much fun I had learning about God with other kids my age. Someone spent many hours in a van taking me to and from several youth councils.
Now I am that person and I am thankful for the privilege I have to do it for other young people. My prayer is that these experiences will transform their lives like it did for me.
God continues to amaze me and bless me. Thank you, God, that you have chosen me to do your work!
Working so much and spending so much time in the car is definitely taking its toll on me. Add to that the nearly non-existent time I have with Andy and the emotionally draining work that I do and at the end of the day I could just be bitter and worn out.
But I'm not. I'm tired, but I'm not dead.
I am blessed beyond belief and am so extremely thankful for the provision, the love, and the mercy that God gives me every single day of my life.
This weekend we had a youth retreat and I had to drive A LOT to pick up my kids and take them to this retreat. Truth be told its been quite exhausting.
As I was driving down to Warner Robins to pick them up on Friday I was reminded of a time when I was a kid sitting in the back of the van excited about a trip to youth councils. I was reflecting about how much I was loved and cared for and about how much fun I had learning about God with other kids my age. Someone spent many hours in a van taking me to and from several youth councils.
Now I am that person and I am thankful for the privilege I have to do it for other young people. My prayer is that these experiences will transform their lives like it did for me.
God continues to amaze me and bless me. Thank you, God, that you have chosen me to do your work!
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
"Save-the-world-itis"
Georgia has so many strip clubs is really angers me. There are so many interstates running through Atlanta...so many truckers...so many desperate people. People are spiritually hungry. I really believe that we as the church aren't doing our job in "feeding" them because we aren't spiritually feeding ourselves...
It's just disgusting.
I met a stripper. She gets paid $7,000 a night to do her thing at the AFB here in town. Her husband is her manager. She wants to have another child, but can't do that until she finds a new job. The problem is that there is nothing else that will pay her even close to what she makes now with the "good" hours and she has no other training or skills.
This girl is young, beautiful and has tons of questions about God. She seems to be angry at Him for a very sad situation in her past, but she knows He's there and she keeps the questions coming. She's really keeping me on my toes. I love it and I love her.
The conversations I have had with her and will continue to have with her remind me that what I am exactly where God needs me to be. I am anxious to talk to her and we never have enough time to talk about everything.
In my neighborhood in Atlanta there are three strip clubs within walking distance. We went on a prayer walk last Friday night. As I was praying out loud the bouncers began to laugh as us which only made me pray louder. They eventually got quiet...they became silent. The ground in front of the strip club became Holy ground.
My brother Mike has said that I have "save-the-world-itis" and I do. I want to save everyone. I want to take the strippers and prostitutes off the streets and put them into a salvation factory. Same with the drug addicts, the homeless, and everyone else that society has forgotten, chooses to ignore, doesn't see, or won't commit sufficient funding or intelligence to to fix the sick problems of our society.
LORD, help me to be faithful and to love how you love.
It's just disgusting.
I met a stripper. She gets paid $7,000 a night to do her thing at the AFB here in town. Her husband is her manager. She wants to have another child, but can't do that until she finds a new job. The problem is that there is nothing else that will pay her even close to what she makes now with the "good" hours and she has no other training or skills.
This girl is young, beautiful and has tons of questions about God. She seems to be angry at Him for a very sad situation in her past, but she knows He's there and she keeps the questions coming. She's really keeping me on my toes. I love it and I love her.
The conversations I have had with her and will continue to have with her remind me that what I am exactly where God needs me to be. I am anxious to talk to her and we never have enough time to talk about everything.
In my neighborhood in Atlanta there are three strip clubs within walking distance. We went on a prayer walk last Friday night. As I was praying out loud the bouncers began to laugh as us which only made me pray louder. They eventually got quiet...they became silent. The ground in front of the strip club became Holy ground.
My brother Mike has said that I have "save-the-world-itis" and I do. I want to save everyone. I want to take the strippers and prostitutes off the streets and put them into a salvation factory. Same with the drug addicts, the homeless, and everyone else that society has forgotten, chooses to ignore, doesn't see, or won't commit sufficient funding or intelligence to to fix the sick problems of our society.
LORD, help me to be faithful and to love how you love.
Kids say the darndest things
There's a family of children that another adult and I take home each week. We sometimes stop by a pond on the way home to throw some old bread in to the ducks and geese. These are the kind of kids whose mom is never wondering where they are when they're 30 minutes later than usual getting home.
We stopped by the pond recently and the kids were throwing bread in the water and we were all chatting and singing camp songs when one of the little girls asked, "is that grease in the water?" The other adult with me (Ms. Vickie) explained that it's either algae, pollen or a combination of both. The young girl seemed satisfied.
A few minutes later we were all talking and the girl had a few more questions and then she became very confused with the answers since we were all talking at once and she asked, "how do you know the grease is Canadian?" and her sister said, "it's not Canadian grease....it's Canadian GEESE!" Her brother then chimed in and said, "they're not Canadian geese, they're Cuban geese." A bit puzzled Ms. Vickie looked at the child and said, "what makes you think those geese are Cuban geese?" The boy told her that he thought they were Cuban because they could swim!!!!!!!!! Once I collected myself I asked him about it and he said that he learned about it in school.
Wow.
We stopped by the pond recently and the kids were throwing bread in the water and we were all chatting and singing camp songs when one of the little girls asked, "is that grease in the water?" The other adult with me (Ms. Vickie) explained that it's either algae, pollen or a combination of both. The young girl seemed satisfied.
A few minutes later we were all talking and the girl had a few more questions and then she became very confused with the answers since we were all talking at once and she asked, "how do you know the grease is Canadian?" and her sister said, "it's not Canadian grease....it's Canadian GEESE!" Her brother then chimed in and said, "they're not Canadian geese, they're Cuban geese." A bit puzzled Ms. Vickie looked at the child and said, "what makes you think those geese are Cuban geese?" The boy told her that he thought they were Cuban because they could swim!!!!!!!!! Once I collected myself I asked him about it and he said that he learned about it in school.
Wow.
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Hidden blessings
Have you ever had something happen in your life that just didn't make logical sense at the time?
It's in these times that God reminds us that He made us in His image and that his promises are true. He is faithful and He will take care of us. God is in control.
As busy as I am I need to make sure that I take time for myself. It can be kind of difficult when I am driving two hours each way to work a few times a week and when I feel like I just can't catch my breath with the workload, let alone sleep a full night or make it to the gym.
But guess what? The work will still be there the next day.
I am going for a run in the morning before work and I am going to enjoy it. I am vowing to not think about everything that needs to be done during the day, but to just spend some time with God as I figure out a new route to run. I bought some new running shoes last week and I want to try them out.
I am counting it all joy. This is a hidden blessing.
It's in these times that God reminds us that He made us in His image and that his promises are true. He is faithful and He will take care of us. God is in control.
As busy as I am I need to make sure that I take time for myself. It can be kind of difficult when I am driving two hours each way to work a few times a week and when I feel like I just can't catch my breath with the workload, let alone sleep a full night or make it to the gym.
But guess what? The work will still be there the next day.
I am going for a run in the morning before work and I am going to enjoy it. I am vowing to not think about everything that needs to be done during the day, but to just spend some time with God as I figure out a new route to run. I bought some new running shoes last week and I want to try them out.
I am counting it all joy. This is a hidden blessing.
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