Cee_Dubya05's Xanga

Sunday, October 26, 2008

Sun, 26 Oct 2008 21:10:26 GMT

A friend visited me last week.

She has seen me at my worst and still loves me.

She encourages me, and has the ability to point out my blind spots, like no one else.

She brings out the little girl in me.

And the passionate world changer.

We did a lot in the nine days she was here.
We walked across pipes.

We hung out with my little brothers.

We laughed a lot.

We did crazy stuff I'd never done before.

We discussed deep theological issues with our brothers.

We treated each other like sisters.

She got along great with my friends.

She brightened each day with her cuteness.

She is my hug from God, my sister, my fellow world changer, my friend.

I miss her.
I hope she comes back soon.

Lately I've been thinking...

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 02:46:35 GMT

I've been thinking about life, actually.
And Rebelutions, and Bravehearted Gosples, and divine encounters, and fellowship, and self control, and forgetting God, and restoration, and that matchless, unbroken, companionship that is the only thing worth living for.
I'll have to expand on these ideas soon, and see if any of you find them as beautiful and fascinating as I do. I'm sure you'll have thoughts to add as well, for God has surely given you many insights that He has not yet given me. Isn't that the beauty of fellowship?

Women In Leadership

Tue, 24 Jun 2008 20:34:59 GMT

Leadership is defined as the ability to affect human behavior so as to accomplish a mission. It is influencing a group of people to move towards its goal or achievement. Leadership is a powerful tool that can be used for immense good or evil. It is valuable to understand the proper place of leadership as designed by God.

There is a position of leadership held by all believers, women as much as men. We are the called out ones, ordained by God to set the example for the world, the bearers of the image of God. This concept indicates a leadership role that no one can say is to be carried only by men. All believers are given the Holy Spirit, (2 Corinthians 1:21-22,) are joint heirs with Christ (Romans 8:17,) are God's coworkers (2 Corinthians 6:1,) are ministers of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:17-20,) and are seated with Christ in the heavenly realms (Ephesians 2:6.)

Scripture gives clear direction on various positions that are not appropriate for women. I Corinthians 14:34 says, “Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience as also saith the law.” I Timothy 2:12 says, “But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.” Clearly there are times and places where women are not to exercise a position of leadership. God has made evident that He desires women to be under the protection and authority of men.

Authority and leadership are not synonymous. It is not always necessary for a leader to have authority; often the leadership of the influencer is more effective than that of the authority. In my opinion, women thrive best when they exercise leadership under a higher authority, a support role, not in the highest position of authority. This gives them protection and direction, but also allows them to exercise their unique talents. While men are the head of the home, the wives and mothers are the ones to set the mood. Submission to authority gives women freedom to flourish in the leadership positions delegated to them.

For a godly woman to lead by their lifestyle is non-optional. Micah 6:8 clearly states what God desires of all His children: to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with the Lord. What better leader could be found than one, man or woman, who follows these commands? I believe that deference must be exercised in considering the question of women in leadership. Authority and appropriateness will play a large part in determining when and where a woman should lead. The Holy Spirit has been given for the express purpose of leading us, as believers, into all truth and I am confident that He will offer specific guidance in this issue.

"Penguins, Boys, and Other Happy Things From My Life"

Sun, 01 Jun 2008 04:35:03 GMT

In honor of the graduate

Skittles from Grace

My desk

My monkey

A rediculously funny picture

Friends on a sunny day

What everyone calls "The shovel picture"

Prospectors

I still can't look at this one without laughing. My guys are the greatest.

You're Bigger?

Sat, 31 May 2008 03:27:02 GMT

Have you ever gone back to a place that was special to you when you were younger, and which you had not visited for many years? Did it seem the same to you? Or did you find it smaller? Less magical? So often that is the way it is. After we grow up and return to a special childhood place we see it differently. We are bigger, thus it seem smaller. We are more knowledgeable, thus it does not seem as incredible.

It is not so with our God. As we grow and learn more of the world He does not seem smaller, weaker, or less magical. C. S. Lewis says it like this in Prince Caspian:
"Welcome, child," he said.
"Aslan," said Lucy, "you're bigger."
"That is because you are older, little one," answered he.
"Not because you are?"
"I am not. But every year you grow, you will find me bigger."

Is that not a thrilling thought? Instead of our God seeming smaller and less magical as we grow, He grows as well. Not because He is changing, but because we understand more of Him.

Of Best Friends and Bathrooms

Wed, 07 May 2008 01:00:04 GMT

I feel like updating. I also feel like taking a break from my Medical Research Paper. Thus, here I am.
    I spent the last two weeks in Big Sandy TX on staff at ALERT. I worked in the Camps and Conferences office most of the first week and Housekeeping the second. The homeschool conference was the second week and it was such an encouragement to see so many precious friends! Friends are about my favorite thing in life.
    When I wasn't chatting with friends I spent my time checking dorms, cleaning bathrooms, vacuuming floors, cleaning bathrooms, riding in golf carts (and nearly flying off the back,) cleaning bathrooms, making beds, cleaning bathrooms, eating blizzards, cleaning bathrooms, walking all over campus, cleaning bathrooms, serving cookies, and did I mention cleaning bathrooms?
    We had an exciting storm event, but not quite as exciting as last year's. Once again I thoroughly enjoyed my walkie, especially at exciting moments like the one when the 2,000 conference attendees were stuffed in bathrooms (my favorite places) all over the campus as we waited for two tornadoes to pass by.
    After sleeping the whole way home (excluding when we stopped for the night at Laura's house and stayed up until 12:30 talking) I dove into my AE assignments which I had managed to avoid all together for two weeks. On Sunday I leave for a friend's wedding! I get to be a bridesmaid! This is a first for me!
    In other news, my grandma quit taking her Paxil and thyroid medication for a week, and then was wondering why she was having stroke like symptoms. :blink:
    This has been a love break, but it's back to the research paper for a couple more hours before I head to bed!
Blessings and Butterflies,
    Christy

The Covenant of Joy

Tue, 15 Apr 2008 15:48:05 GMT

My vow:
Whatsoever Thou sayest unto me, by Thy grace I will do it.

My Constraint:
Thy love, O Christ, my Lord.

My Confidence:
Thou art able to keep that which I have committed unto Thee.

My Joy:
To do Thy will, O God.

My Discipline:
That which I would not choose, but which Thy love appoints

My Prayer:
Conform my will to Thine.

My Motto:
Love to live, live to love.

My Portion:
The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance.

Teach us, good Lord, to serve Thee as Thou deservest; to give and not to count the cost; to fight and not to heed the wounds; to toil and not to seek for rest; to labor and not to ask for any reward save that of knowing that we do Thy will, O Lord our God.
~Amy Carmichael

May it be so with me.

And You Mourn

Fri, 04 Apr 2008 00:36:26 GMT

I replay the words over and over in my mind. “You wait, and ask God how to love them,” she said, “and you mourn.”

A friend came over for lunch today. My mom, brother and I all sat around the table with her and talked. We talked as we have not in a very long time. We talked about dancing, about God’s will and planning our lives, about asking questions and about faith.

Somewhere in the middle of it all, as we were jumping from subject to subject, I asked a question. “How do we love God? How do we accept His love through people without becoming too attached to the people themselves?” These are questions I have asked with tears at many points in my life. They have many names attached to them. The answers seem just as illusive as ever. How attached am I supposed to be to people? Why is it that I love people so much but they don’t seem to want to be around me? How can it be that a close friendship so quickly dissipates and suddenly we find nothing to talk about? Why do I still care so much? Why does it hurt so much? Little by little I have learned to not be so devastated by these losses, but I still ask the questions, and yes, I ask in tears.

Today I was confronted by puzzled looks and cocked heads. “What is wrong,” I was asked, “with becoming attached to people? God shows us His love through them, and we show our love for Him through them as well.” I paused in confusion. Long ago God shattered the belief that I wasn’t supposed to depend on people because I only needed Him. He showed me that He uses people to give Himself to me. Still, was I not supposed to detach myself from the channel, and only cling to the One who was pouring Himself through them? Today I was given a different picture. I was told that we are to love the people God places in our lifes, and that love is never without attachment. Hmm.

Then we moved on, talking about what we should question and the right and wrong ways to question. We finally cleaned up lunch and my friend went home. But my mind was still back on the subject of loving people. “Mom, did you mean that it is impossible to become too attached to people?” She paused, “Well, I lean heavily toward that. Of course, it is wrong to smother them, or to be so wrapped up in them that you exclude the other people in your life. But I do not believe we can love people too much.” The tears gathered in my eyes as I asked, “Then what are we supposed to do when the people we love push us away or do not have time for us, or no longer seem to need or want us?”

“You wait, and ask God how to love them, and you mourn.”

As I turned away to hide the tears flowing down my face I pondered that thought. Was it ok after all that I cared so deeply? Was it truly right for me to delight in the friends God has given me and to desire for them to delight in me as well? Was this not an expression of attachment to the “things of the world” as I had feared, but rather an expression of loving and being loved by God?

It is good to love. And it is ok to mourn! It is good to mourn. This rings true in my spirit, but my heart still aches and wishes for an easier answer. And so it often is. Yet, what freedom!

“No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.” 1 John 4:12

Thursday, March 27, 2008

Thu, 27 Mar 2008 15:39:17 GMT

As I sit here, feet in the dirt, back to a tree, sun on my face, I cannot help but feel that I am loved and that the life stretched before me will be a beautiful adventure. Yes, God is good, for how could He be otherwise and have planned for me such a satisfying moment in time?

It’s amazing the difference a little sunshine can make.

Random Happinesses from Thursday and Friday

Sat, 22 Mar 2008 13:12:28 GMT

Thursday

Two hour phone conversation
An unexpected email
Running
Finishing my lesson plan
Two cups of tea
Purim

Friday

Green Tea
Talking to Grace and Grace in the same morning
Editing pictures
A short sleeve shirt
Driving the truck
Talking with Mrs. Sandi
Lasagna
Truth Project
Journaling