Second Chances

"God doesn't say, 'Change your life and I will accept you.' He says, 'I accept you--Now let's change your life!'" -Max Lucado

Happy beautiful Sunday everyone!! What a glorious day we have been given! I swear, I am getting a little creeped out by how on-the-dot Seacoast is with having a message that seems to fit my life perfectly.  This morning was one of those mornings where I just knew something cool was coming.  Even though it's been a long week, I couldn't keep the smile off my face, and I couldn't explain why.  Then I heard the message at Seacoast and realized that was exactly why my heart was so full of joy today.

Before the message even started, a question was posed to us.."What do you do when you realize God has answered your prayers, and the great things you never thought possible were coming true?"  That really hit home with me.  Almost 3 years ago, I decided to stop living for myself, and begin living for God, and my life began to rapidly change.  At first, it was really difficult because my closest friends didn't really know what was going on with me.  My desires were completely changed and then I felt the calling to transfer...biggest risk I've ever taken.

Now, almost 2 years after I transferred, the things I never thought possible are beginning to happen.  It is as if I have been given a second chance to make up for the mistakes I had made in my past.  God is placing me in opportunities that allow me to do what I love, be with who I love and have a chance to watch Him work miracles.  It is incredible to know that when the good things come along in our life, all the Big Guy wants you to do is watch.  Simple as that.

At first, I used to be nervous about what others would think about me, because my world had been rocked by God.  All I wanted to do was celebrate and spread the awesomeness I was feeling to others, but I didn't know exactly how to do that in a status-quo-driven world.  Now, I am completely uninhibited.  I don't care who thinks I look silly or odd.  My security lies in something much stronger than this world.

This is my challenge for you fine people this week:  CELEBRATE!  Who cares what others think?  We are all given second chances!  We all make mistakes (I have way too many to count), but we all can try again and succeed!  That's the beauty of grace people!

The only word I can use to describe this week's video is cute.  It really speaks for itself though.

Holy Hot & Humid Hump Day!

Cooper

Sorry for the delayed post!! Life has been wonderfully hectic this past week, but have no fear, a new post is here! :) I'm beginning to adjust to this new haircut quite well.  My long hair would have been such a burden in this 100+ degree weather!  I don't think I've ever been so thankful to work and not be outside...it's been miserable out there.  At the end of some days after walking home from work, I would think to myself, "I'm so glad that this day is over and I do not have to endure it ever again!"  That got me thinking...

We will never live the same week twice.  But, essential lessons are learned each day.  As a history nerd, I've come to the conclusion that we can either choose to ignore history, which usually repeats itself in some form or another, or we can learn from it.  As for me, there are some things in my past that I wish beyond anything that I could erase forever!! College unfortunately produces those kinds of things...but seriously, I know each of you has something you wish you could take back.

Of course, that made me continue down this path of thought and I came to the conclusion that I wouldn't trade any day for the world.  Apparently, my story has a few (or many) bumps in the road, but each bump has taught me a new lesson, and I wouldn't be the person that I am today if it weren't for each chapter in my life.  Even though I am thrilled that I do not have to live the same day twice, for those days that I try to mentally block, I know now that there was a reason behind each of those days.

Challenge for the week:  The past is the past!  No more feeling guilty.  Set yourself free and choose to learn from those mistakes.  Each day is a new day filled with new opportunities!  Look for the good!  It's out there!

"Our earthly wilderness experiences are designed to develop us into men and women of faith." -Charles Swindoll

Here's some good right here...

Nothing better than some Harry Potter excitement!...only 23 days!

We Are Promised a Destiny

I am overflowing with joy this weekend!! What an awesome week this has been!  I feel as if I have been blessed far beyond what I deserve, yet again.  Not only did I get my first place, but I finally donated my hair after almost five years of growing it out.  I know that each of these incidents are quite opposite of one another, but each has such a special place in my heart!  I am thankful for the joy that is in my  heart and I hope that this joy will be contagious and spread to as many people as possible! 

This week has been a week that I have been waiting on since I transferred to Charleston almost two years ago.  It was a combination of numerous moments finally coming together and making sense.  As if a giant light bulb finally turned on. So many opportunities are coming my way all of a sudden, and it is as if I can hear God chuckling up there saying, "I told you so".  I just had to be patient (which is quite a challenge for me).  

I think the reason I am so happy at the moment is that I had to go through some trials and valleys to get where I am today.  It definitely makes you appreciate the good times.  I know that more valleys will come, but now I have a new sense of clarity that there is a light at the end of the tunnel.  Each and every one of us is going to go through difficult times (for you, that time might be right now), but don't fret! There is a plan for whatever situation you are in and there will be joy again! 

"The joy of living in My presence outshines all other pleasures."  

-Jesus Calling

Even though tomorrow is Monday, another way to look at it is seeing tomorrow as the start of a fantastic week that lies ahead of you!  You never know just what might happen!  I hope that each and every one of you finds joy this week and holds on to it tightly! There is still good in this world to be happy about! :)

Here is the most joyous sound I've ever heard...

What a Wonderful Wedding Weekend!

Wow! What a fabulous wedding weekend in Columbia! Congratulations Lauren and Zac Rhinesmith!! I wish you both all the happiness in the world!! I know that God will do great things in your lives!! And to the bridesmaids....Thank you for such a fun weekend!! What great friends I have been blessed with!! I think we should have reunions more often!!

Just like last weekend at the Bachelorette party, I learned a few more things that I thought you would all be interested in yet again this weekend.  I know you have been waiting all week for this:

• It is just as hot in Columbia as it is in Charleston, maybe even worse...I think that weddings in the arm-pit of the south should require much less clothing to be worn. 
• Once again, heels are the spawn of Satan's shoes!  I think I might actually have a slight ankle injury from that glorious wedding day! (All for you Mrs. Rhinesmith!)
• Rehearsal dinner speeches need to be rehearsed just like the wedding....note to self. 
• Having a hotel room with a flat screen in the bathroom really made this weekend feel like a vacation.  Thank you Sheraton Hotel!
• Getting a second weekend to reconnect with some of my FAVORITE people from PC = Priceless!  I wish the weekend never ended! 

This weekend, I got a call from a friend.  I was startled because she sounded frantic on the phone!  It turns out that something had caught her attention, and she just had to tell someone about it.  I was honored to be the person she decided to call! :) It turns out that what she had stumbled upon was a story about a young girl who was raised atheist but then saw God and heaven and began to paint.  Her works are something else!  You would never believe that this girl was self-taught.  But here is the real clincher....her first vision/painting occurred when she was only 4 years old!  Holy cow. My friend was completely awe struck and didn't go to sleep that night because God spoke to her through that little girl's story.
(Check out her story!)

Has something like that ever happened to you?  As for me, I believe that certain things effect certain people differently.  God created each and every one of us in a unique way, so why wouldn't He speak to us in ways that only we would understand!?  Not everyone is going to have a "burning bush" occur in their lives, but God desires to communicate to us in whichever way we will listen.

For me, and for so many others, God spoke to me through Hannah Sobeski and her battle with cancer more than four years ago.  I cannot wait to finally donate my hair (which has taken 5 freaking years to grow) in honor of her and Ben's grandmother.  I hope that we do not lose the awe that comes with knowing that the God of the universe wants to talk to us and get to know us personally!

"I have not abandoned this sin-wracked world; I am still richly present in it!" -Jesus Calling


I hope that each and every one of you has a fantastic week!! I guess I will get off my vacation high and get pumped about going back to the real world of work and no TV in the bathroom.  Later!

This picture is dedicated to this past weekend!  May we all learn to rock out on our air-guitars like K. Dils! :)