NYC for me AGAIN!

NYC FOR ME!

This afternoon I decided to listen to the playlists for NYC2019 while I was getting ready for some other things. I was overwhelmed by God. As the song, “Do It Again” was playing I found myself remembering my first NYC, eight years ago.  I found myself stopping to pray that God would meet me there again.

See there are 2 very distinct memories I have from 2011. One occurred during worship time. I looked around and all these teenagers are lifting their hands I surrender to God’s plan for their life.i found a cynical prayer to God in my head, “For all they know, you could send them to Africa!” I swear to you he responded, “What does it matter where I send them, I sent you to Edgewood.” Humbling. I remember because I was considering transferring to a different high school or changing districts that year. I know God spoke and I know I was supposed to be there.

The second vivid memory was from one of the concerts. Teens were given opportunity to be I the “mosh pit” for David Crowder’s concert.  One of the students who won had some physical disadvantages and it was decided that he shouldn’t be part of the pit. However as the other students were taking their positions in the pit, this youngster stood in front of me with his crutches. I was like”Dude, what the heck.” Then a man came over and spoke with him and shook his hand and hugged him. I thought it was odd, I looked at our youth pastor who was a few seats over and he mouthed, “That’s David Crowder.” All of the sudden, I realized what was going on, I was one person and a railing away from David Crowder. It was the second time that week that I heard God. “Patty, how often have I been in front of you and you didn’t recognize me?” Ouch!

See that’s what’s awesome about God and NYC. I can’t wait to go again.  I want to hear from God and I want to be thee while others hear God speak into their lives.  It that God only speaks during NYC, he speaks all the time, we have to be listening. So many times since then I’ve seen him right in front of me, I’ve heard his voice. I am so excited for this next journey.

Here we go AGAIN

My dad has cancer. Yes, a mere 6 weeks ago, the oncologist said, “Praise God!” Because there was no evidence of cancer. Today, he was back to the Same oncologist who told him the cancer is BACK and very aggressive this time.

We still believe God is in control. We still know God's got this. We have hope; Hope doesn’t mean we deny reality, but we see reality and trust God's sovereignty.

He must have treatment. The goal is to start next week. Please pray with us that
1. We can get started sooner rather than later.
2. Dad responds positively to the treatment.
3. We will stay encouraged throughout this process.

Easter Lessons

I miss my friend Lisa.  These are the things I would share with her if we were able to have coffee this weekend.

Hey all,

So I did Lent a little different this year. This year instead of giving up something, a few friends, D, A and T decided to read a book by Alicia Britt Chole entitled 40 Days of Decrease. I learned so much from this book. Things I hadn’t thought about before.

1. Jesus knew that Judas was his betrayer, yet he still served him communion. WOW! He knew and Judas ate too. He even washed his feet.

2. On Resurrection Sunday, there was an earthquake (Matthew 28:2) and an angel came down. The earthquake was to move the stone, so that the women could see that Jesus was no longer entombed. The stone wasn’t move so Jesus could get out, but so that the women could get in. I NEVER thought of that.

3. The cathedral of Notre Dame burned and people were very sad. Even things that stood for hundreds of years can fall without warning. You had no idea that you were going to die Lisa. I wish we’d have known. I would have asked more questions. I would have tried to prepare myself somehow. I don’t think I could have prepared myself any way. In the book, the disciples lost Jesus and the author explains that it was like a dream dying. She also says, it’s ok  to take time to mourn the loss of a dream. It’s ok to rest, mourn and “prepare the spices” for burial.

4. My Dad got great news. His bloodwork and cat scans show no signs of cancer. The oncologist will not say he’s cancer free, but he’s definitely doing great.

Check out the book @ 40 Days of Decrease

Hope and Charlie Brown, Be My Valentine

Friday evening my husband and I were watching Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown. 

I always identified with Charlie Brown. I never really felt like I belonged anywhere. I had a few close friends and that was it. I wasn't ever really popular, I recognized it and I was OK with that. 

Unlike Charlie Brown, we had rules for students for Valentine's Day. Teachers sent home lists of the students in the class and you were to bring valentines in for each student, whether you liked them or not. So I never felt like Charlie did, while everyone else got a Valentine and I sat silently, simply waiting, with his empty briefcase to carry all of his valentines home.

Yet Charlie Brown never gives up hope. At one point Charlie Brown receives a valentine from a classmate. The valentine is used, the classmate erased their name and wrote Charlie's name instead. Schroeder is outraged and yells at the classmate and his insensitivity to offer Charlie a used  valentine. Charlie Brown interrupts Schroeder and says that he will gladly accept the used valentine. Later we see Linus and Charlie Brown discussing the day. Charlie Brown is sharing how excited he is having received his first valentine. He then looks to the future hoping that next year he'll receive numerous valentines. 

Life is like this. We get beat up everyday. We try new things, some work and others don't. We talk to new people and some like us, but other don't. We get knocked down and yet we can choose to get back up. We can choose to hope that tomorrow will be better. Or we can choose that tomorrow we will get knocked down and decide to simply stay down. 

This is where I really identify with Charlie Brown. I choose hope! I choose joy! I choose love! I don't want to believe that all people are cruel and mean and want to destroy us. I know that is how Satan works - he seeks to kill and destroy. I know that as a Christian. Jesus came to seek and save the lost, that means me. He told us that he came that we may have LIFE and have it to the FULL!!! (John 10:10)

One of my favorite passages in the Bible is in Habakkuk 3:17 - 19. We have a choice in how we respond to our circumstances. We can wallow in self-pity and be destroyed or we can choose JOY and overcome. I choose JOY! I pray that you will too.