It’s More Interesting Now

This has been, by far, the best semester I’ve ever had! I have great professors, great classmates, a decent workload, and I’m learning a lot. I think I’ve learned more this current semester than I ever have! I look at my little classmates (lol), and I see how anxious they are to get out of school and graduate. They’re barely paying attention in class. All they care about is what’s on the test and getting a study guide. There’s no sense of appreciation or flare for learning. It’s like, give me the stupid piece of paper so I can jet! I felt the exact same way the first time around, and I didn’t understand that mindset until now.

Traditional college students go straight from high school to college. Before high school there was junior high school. Before junior high school there was elementary school. Before elementary school there may have been preschool. Before preschool there may been “Your Baby Can Read,” Leapfrog, or whatever. That’s a lot of school!! By the time a child gets to college, the poor kid is close to mental burnout! She can’t take anymore school and all she wants to do is be done with it. I can definitely identify with that!

Now that I have been away from school for sometime, although school has definitely made my life more crazy, I have a fresh perspective. My brain is near empty and can stand to have some things poured into it lol. And, especially since I’m learning about things that are important to me and/or things that would serve me well to know, I’m more inclined to pay attention and be engaged in the learning progress. Every time I feel myself getting frustrated when someone asks, “is This gonna be on the test,” and I want to turn around and say, “SHOULD IT MATTER,” I have to remind myself that, a. I was there once, and b. they haven’t had my experiences. To be honest, I’m really not that much older than they are, but is amazing what a few short years in the “real world” can do for you.

Here’s my public service message to you parents out there: now that I am having the college experience all over again, I’ve changed my mind about some things. If your junior or senior is having some doubts about life, or whatever, and they are considering delaying college for a couple years, I would let them do it. Don’t push them to go to school right away if they don’t feel they’re ready. A little break may serve them well. School is serious–it is they’re job. And, if students want to excel, then they need to be fully dedicated to it. It’s very hard to be dedicated to something you’re unsure of. Trust me–I know! Listen to your child and don’t force them to live out the dream that YOU have for them. It could turn out to make a world of difference!

Support this film!

I don’t think I really show this side of me much, and if I don’t I probably not very intentional about it.  I LOVE Christian media!  This is what has me back in school.  I have all kinds of ideas floating about my head on how to create innovative mediums to promote the gospel without being cheesy, typical, and boring.  I’ve got TV shows, radio stations, books, and a movie in my head right now!  Anyway, I’m not “there” yet, but here is someone who is.  This is my boy Tyrone, and I’ve known him for what…five or six years now.  This movie has been his passion the whole time I’ve known him and waaaay before then.  I’ve watched him grow and develop as a man of God, but I’ve especially enjoyed watching him grow as a leader and opening up to people.  He and his awesome wife Toni are going to do ginormous things!!

So, the movie…it’s gonna be great.  But, they need our help.  They need $12,500 by the middle of October.  You KNOW I’ve already contributed!  This movie is clean (sex, drug, language and violence free!), safe for the whole family, and funny.  Tyrone is doing what I wish more Christian producers/directors would do:  make movies that instill a message without all the “extra” stuff they add in to make it more “real.”  It just taints everything to me.  Anyway, take a look at this message from the producer, writer, and director of Kung Fu, Ol Skool & Tyrone, and PLEASE consider contributing!  If you’re not a Christian, then support it just because it’s a good, clean movie, and the world needs more of that.  Take it away Ty!

http://kotmovie.chainfreemedia.com/2011/10/04/how-to-help-and-support-kot-the-movie/

Brain Washed Robots

This morning, I was praying and thinking about the way I live my life, and I said that everyone can’t do things they way I do them–they couldn’t handle it!  I can barely handle it!  It’s only by His grace that I have been able to maintain the standards He set because, left to myself, I would have messed things up long time ago.  Then I started thinking about how a lot of people think that Christians are a bunch of brainwashed robots.  You know what I say to that?  Heck yeah!  With all the crap that goes through my head, I NEED my brain washed on a daily basis.  Think about it.  We live in a world that glorifies misogyny, illicit sexual relationships, murder, drunkenness, alternative lifestyles, disrespect, and deceit, but CHRISTIANS are the ones that are brainwashed??  The world could stand to be reprogrammed.

I remember when I first discovered what Psalm 37:4 really meant.  I, like the rest of moderately Biblically literate world, used to think that this was the Santa Claus clause.  You know, if I do what God says, then He’ll give me whatever I want.  I don’t know what God looks like, but I’m pretty sure He’s not a fat dude in a red suit!  Do you know what that scripture really means?  It means that if you delight (indulge, consume, make glad) yourself in the Lord (the things He says to do, His ways, His plan) then HE will PLACE in you your desires.  So, that means that if you make it your business to make God smile, then the things that you desire you didn’t even come up with those things.  Your life is truly not your own.  To be perfectly honest, I used to not like that.  Having some control issues in my life, I was like…man…I can’t even have my OWN desires??  What’s up with that?  I can’t even come up with a good idea on my own???  However, now that I think about it, that’s probably a good thing.  I remember my early college years being a very stressful and frustrating time of my life.  I was searching and seeking God for my lot in life.  I knew that I was created for something huge, but I had no idea what it was.  I felt listless and like my life was irrelevant.  What’s the purpose of existing with a purpose?  The only things that I ever wanted to do with my life was get married and have kids.  What happens after I can cross those off the list?  Life probably would go back to being irrelevant.  Why do I mention that?  I needed my life to be reprogrammed!  My life was meaningless before I accepted God’s terms for my life, and you ACCUSE me of being a brain washed robot?  I THANK GOD that He took control of my life because mine was going absolutely nowhere fast.  I mean, just to think of the things that I desire now…nobody but the Lord could have thought of such things!  People always that I dream too large.  Hey…I serve a God who is larger than life, so how small did you really expect my dreams to be??  I have large dreams that came from a large God!

The sad part about all of this is that you don’t have to be a non-believer to experience the listlessness in your life.  There are plenty of Christians, unfortunately, who have not delighted themselves in the Lord, therefore God has not placed His desires in them–and they wonder why their life sucks!  It’s no wonder we have so many Sunday-only Christians!  We’re a bunch of lazy bums who don’t study the Word enough to really understand what it means and it will take for us to live a life that is totally yielded to God–please notice I included myself in that bunch because I’m talking to me too!

All I’m saying is that living a lifestyle of worship, purity, and surrender–what God really wants–takes work.  We have to do more than just go to church once per week, listen to a message that we never revisit, talk to God as we’re falling asleep at night, halfway read two scriptures before dashing out of the door in the morning, and expect things to be different in our lives.  God is not whore that we can just leave the money on the dresser and leave.  God loves quality time!  Let us be more intentional about embracing and delighting our God not just so He can give us our desires, but because we love Him and He is more than worthy of our praises, worship, and time.  Delight yourselves in the Lord!

It’s After 6:00, and We’re Still Here!

Some of us had a scare today.  Some of us had a wake up call.  Some of us just had another day.  Whatever kind of day you had today, people of God, we’re still here!  Now, of course, I’m not writing this because I believed all the craziness about Jesus returning today.  However, I could not waste an opportunity to share the good news!

There was a lot of joking going on this week and probably before then.  I have to admit that I had my share of jokes too.  However, my jokes had everything to do with the fact that the crazies over at wecanknow.com actually thought they could predict the second coming of Jesus.  Hogwash!  If God said–in the book that HE wrote–that none of us can know the day or the hour, then why would you even attempt to figure it out?  Do we have a secret desire to make God a liar??  Do not be deceived into believing their are secret codes in the Bible that unveil secret truths about the end times.  God will not be mocked.

If you were someone who was afraid of what might have happened today, then I’d like to offer you a sweet deal that you should not refuse.  So like, God is crazy in love with you.  I know you don’t believe it–I sometimes have issues believing myself–but it’s true!  Let me tell you how it goes.  God, you know Him: the totally awesome One who created EVERYTHING, knows EVERYTHING, and hears EVERYONE.  He had this great idea to create some beings that were like Him.  I guess you could think of it as having pets, but on a deeper level lol.  Hey…everyone wants someone/something to love!  Anyway, so He created Adam & Eve.  However, God made them with free will and they chose to do something that God told them not to.  So God punished them, and because of that punishment the devil–God’s arch-nemesis–brought sin into the world and is still trying to overtake us every single day!  Not only did God punish Adam & Eve, but He set up a punishment for the devil too that hasn’t happened yet.  However, when the devil finally “gets his,” there will be a lot of people who will join him in that punishment if they did not chose to acknowledge God’s awesomeness.  So, God wanted to save His people–the ones who believe in and follow Him–from this punishment, so He had quite a few of His favorite dudes step up and try.  However, men who are lousy, faulty, and a straight up hot mess compared to God kept ruining the plan.  So, He slapped down the card He had been waiting to play for the last round.  God sent His Son, Jesus, to the earth (as a human, but still the Son of God) to tell of His love and His plan to save all of us from this final punishment.  How was He going to do that?  Well, that’s where it gets interesting!  See, back in the day when God was still using men to carry out this plan, there were a looooot of very strict rules people had to follow.  The penalty for a lot of those rules was death!  God knew that none of us would come close to making it to Heaven if we all died when we did something wrong.  So, the new plan was to have His Son live here among us and NEVER sin so that He would be eligible to become a sacrifice for everyone.  See, back in the days with all the rules, YOU didn’t necessarily have to die when you broke the rules, but something did.  The “less serious” sins required you to kill a lamb (or some animal) and bring it to God as the sacrifice for what you did.  How?  You killed the lamb, put it on something called an altar, and set it on fire.  If God thought you were sorry, then the sacrifice would burn up.  Anyway, so back to Jesus.  He made Himself eligible to become the sacrifice for all people EVER (even us who weren’t around then!) by living according to what God said exactly and never doing anything wrong.  He allowed the people to accuse Him of all kind of crazy stuff, and that is how He ended up on the cross.  Jesus was falsely accused and executed all because God wanted a chance for YOU to spend the rest of eternity with Him!  So, while Jesus was on the cross dying, God allowed Him to take the blame for ALL sin past, present, and future (that’s ours!).  What does that mean?  Those rules from back in the day are still in place, and the penalty for sin is still death.  That means you still deserve to die for the wrong stuff you do.  However, Jesus decided to take care of that FOR you when He died!  Isn’t that cool?!

The story isn’t quite done yet.  God has points He still needs to make with us because we’re bone headed and do not get it.  That’s why we’re still here!  After Jesus died, he stayed dead for three days, and then He came back to life–true story!!  He had to go talk to some folks and prove a few points.  He had a few buddies that were still around, and He gave them some instructions because He wanted to make sure that EVERYONE in the world would have an opportunity to meet Him and get in on this plan.  After that, He went back to Heaven with His Father–God.  However, He promised to come back one day to get everyone who accepts the plan and take them home to meet His Father.  Sweet!  So, that’s where we are now:  waiting for Jesus to come back to take us to His home to meet and live with God.

Now, I know that everyone thinks that THEIR sin is too great and what THEY did is too big and ugly for God to forgive, but they’re wrong!  You know how it is when there’s serial killer on the news who gets caught, and they interview his mom to get her opinion and she says that she loves him and thinks he’s innocent?  We all think she’s crazy and blind, but that is still her son and she still loves and believes that he’s a good boy.  God’s love is like that, but 1000 times better!  We all think that God is crazy to love us the way we are, but we are His children and there is nothing we can do that can make Him stop loving us.  It doesn’t matter if you’ve stolen something, killed somebody, attempted to kill somebody, raped somebody, beat somebody, lied to somebody, hated somebody, molested somebody (or yourself!), thought ill of somebody, cussed out somebody, cheated on somebody, or what!  GOD DOES NOT CARE WHAT YOU DID!  He will forgive you for everything you did just as quick as He forgives the person whom we all deem as “good.”  The fact is that no one is good.  We are ALL rotten to the core with sin.  So, what do we do?  Accept God’s escape plan!  Spend the rest of time with Him, and don’t stick around to see what the final punishment is.  Don’t think twice about it!  Forget about what you’ve done and think about How much God loves you and wants you with Him.  The LEAST you can do to show Him how grateful you are is to accept the plan and live life the way He intended it to be lived–in constant gratitude to Him.  Why?  NO ONE can top what Jesus did, and He’s already proven that God is one bad (meaning awesomely good) dude and does not play around.

Maybe you don’t know how to accept God’s plan.  Maybe you’re thinking to yourself, “ok….this is all great, and I’d love to get on the roster…but how??”  I’m really glad you asked!  It’s very simple.  You just have to have a little conversation with God and it will all be taken care of.  I know you’re gonna feel funny and feel like you’re talking to yourself.  That’s something you’ll get over really soon.  However, if you believe that God loves you and you want to accept His plan, then believe me when I say that He is all ears right now!!  Just tell Him that you know that He loves you, you know that He desires to be friends with you, you know that you haven’t lived like you should, ask Him to forgive you (and if you REALLY mean it, He will!), and tell Him that you accept Jesus as your savior.  That’s all!  If you meant everything you said, and truly desire to live life God’s way, then congrats!  You have just added your name to the escape plan roster, and you will not be part of the final punishment!  WOO HOO!!!

Maybe you’re not good with words like I am and you don’t know what to say.  Here’s something you can say to God:

Dear God,

I know that you love me, and I am so glad that you do!  I also know that you went through great lengths to show that love to me, and I am so grateful for that.  However, Lord, I haven’t exactly lived my life in a way that shows my gratefulness.  I have done a lot of things wrong, and I know that I have broken your heart.  Please forgive me!  I don’t want to continue living in sin.  I want to do things Your way.  I believe that Jesus died and rose from the grave so I can have this opportunity to accept your plan.  Thank You, Jesus, for taking my place!  I accept You as my savior.  I want You to be the Lord of my life so I can make You proud.  I love You, Lord, and I believe that I am now saved.

In Jesus’ name, amen.

If you prayed that prayer, or something like it, I would love to know because you are now my brother or sister!  We have the same Father, and are in the same family now.  PLEASE write me and tell me if you did that!!  Just click on the contact link and shoot me a message.  I would love to personally congratulate you and stay in contact.  Take care!  God bless!  Don’t forget that He is STILL coming back!!

Singers vs. Artists

DISCLAIMER:  I know that this is MY blog and it is implied that anything I say here is MY opinion, but I’m going to keep emphasizing the fact that this is my own opinion so no one takes offense.  I know a loooooot of singers and some artists, and I definitely am not making a blanket statement.  However, if the shoe fits…wear it! 

My brother is a fan of a certain contestant on this new talent search show called The Voice.  I won’t mention her name, but I’m sure you’ll figure it out.  She’s actually already recorded two albums, and my brother was confused as to why she keeps going to these competitions–this isn’t the first show like this she’s been on.  I thought the answer is very simple, but he’s so smitten he can’t see it.  I think that there is a huge difference between singers and artists, and frankly I don’t believe that she has what it takes to be an artist which is why her career hasn’t taken off like she wants it.

To me, all singers are not artists, and all artists are DEFINITELY not singers.  I think that artists have a few key characteristics that a singer may not necessarily have.  Artists have drive & some goal/mission in mind.  Some folks do it for the money which of course drives them to keep being more and more creative, edgy, or whatever their trademark is.  They don’t even have to be really good at what they do, and it’s amazing what a little guts and determination will do.  Artists aim to do something whether it’s just to be the best, be creative, spread a message, take you on a journey (musically), or even make the world dance as Jessie J says.  As with anything, it’s hard to progress or be driven to do something if you do not have a purpose for it.

Singers *heart* singing, and some artists do too.  They think about it night and day and do it as much as they can.  However, oftentimes singers just sing to be singing.  There isn’t necessarily a goal/mission in mind.  There was something this contestant said that confirmed to me that she may not be artist material.  They were asking her why she wanted this so bad, and why she should win, and she said that she knows God gave her a good voice.  I said to myself, “God gave me a good voice too!  Does that mean I should pursue a singing career?”  Is that the only reason?  If so, then everyone who can bring the house down should be given a contract, right?  I think that far too often we, especially Christians, get into this predetermined, semi-automatic destiny mentality.  You know how it is…if someone can sing, then everyone thinks they should be a singer.  If a man is tall everyone thinks he should play basketball.  If a woman is gorgeous we say she should be a model.  If you’re charismatic, love people, communicate well, and are Biblically well read, then you should be a pastor.  All of these are just stereotypes!  I would almost be willing to bet that the most beautiful woman in the world is not a model, and the tallest man is not a basketball player!  We need to remember that God has a plan for our lives, and it is up to us to consult with HIM to find out what it is.  Now, I’m definitely not saying that this contestant or anyone else who is failing at launching a singing career hasn’t sought God about it.  Everyone has a journey and has to go through things to earn their stripes.  However, their are a LOT of people out there who are not doing the right thing with their lives because they just assumed that because I’m x I should do y because that is what everyone is going to expect of me.  Man…forget them!  Besides, I think that we glamorize things too much.  Yeah, being a superstar looks good, but if everyone who can sing becomes artist, then who will be left to lead worship at church?  Who will be left to teach the music classes at school?  If everyone who thinks they are called to preach becomes a pastor and starts a church, then the things that are less glamorous such as prison ministry, campus ministry, Bible studies for the elderly, etc. will greatly be lacking.  I understand though.  Everybody thinks that God wants to bless them with what WE think is the best, but who says that being the best Sunday school teacher is not God’s best for your life?  Who are we to decide who needs to be ministered to more?  We all make these plans for our lives without permission, and then we get mad with God when we don’t think He’s working things out for us.  We can be such spoiled brats!

All I am really saying is that people need to get into the habit of recognizing their talents–ALL of them…not just the predominant ones.  I know all too well that the Lord works in extremely mysterious ways!  Take stock of your gifts and talents, render them to God, and ask HIM what you should do with your life.  He will be more than glad to tell you–when you’re really ready to know.  It just may surprise you!

My Easter Sermon

I’m going to try and keep this brief and to the point, but most of you know that I will fail miserably  

I tried to think up a cute story to tell, or some really awesome analogy, but I think I’m the most talented at sticking with the truth.  The radio station I listen to the most always has a topic for people to call in and weigh in on.  The topic on Friday was for parents:  since Easter is the Christian’s BIG holiday, how do you incorporate the importance while still keeping it fun?  Basically what they wanted to know was how do you balance Jesus with the Easter bunny?  Although I understand what they’re saying, I think it’s a pretty dumb question.  Kids believe what you tell them, and parents need to stop being afraid to tell their kids the truth.  Since when did it become important that the children feel accepted by their peers?  We’re CHRISTIANS!!  We’re not supposed to fit in!!!

Ok, that had nothing to do with what I was going to say, but it wouldn’t be called The Soap Box if I didn’t go off on something LOL.  Oh, one more thought about that.  I feel the same way about the Easter bunny as I feel about Santa.  So, without having to rehash all of that just go back and read what I said about the fat guy in the red suit.

Anyway, I originally was not going to dress up this year.  After all, what does a new, hot outfit have to do with the resurrection of our Lord and Savior?  However, I remembered a dress I got last year for another occasion that I haven’t worn to church yet; and I just so happened to get my hair straightened on Friday.  So, you know…I’m gonna be looking fly anyway, so I might as well go all out LOL!  Seriously though, I don’t buy into all this commercial stuff that has no basis in anything.  Well, actually there is some history behind all of this, but we’ll have to discuss that at a later date.  Maybe you’d think twice before promising your kids a visit from the Easter bunny next year.  But anyway, just like Christmas, Jesus gets squeezed out of His own celebration–again!  Except THIS celebration should be even bigger than His birthday party!  Christmas is awesome, but Easter is the hotness!  Jesus being born is great, but the whole mission was about Him dying to save us from death.  Mission accomplished!!  We are now all free to go to Heaven if we choose to live in the way that God ordained for us to live.

  As you are having fun with your kids today–and honestly there’s nothing wrong with a little fun–make sure they understand why we celebrate Easter with excitement and enthusiasm.  Honestly, even the name Easter has its roots in a “non-Jesus” origin.  So, during this resurrection Sunday, holy week, or whatever you want to call it, share Jesus with your children.  Make sure they know that hunting for eggs and expecting gift baskets from a fake rabbit is not the truth and something you all do for fun–if you chose to participate in that.  Make sure they understand that there is a very real God out there who has a very real love for us, and He sent His very real Son to earth to die on a very real cross to pay the penalty for our very real sin.  There’s nothing fake about that!!

God’s love is bigger than any power that any of the fictitious characters we believe in has.  His love is unexplainable!  I mean, tell me why would the creator of the UNIVERSE be soo concerned about the situation here on earth that He would sacrifice His ONLY son for YOU???  You weren’t even a thought in anyone’s mind yet!  However, God saw you all these thousands of years later right where you are right now and He loved you and had mercy on you.  He agreed that everything that you were ever going to do wrong He would forget about it and forgive you if you ask Him to because of His son.  That’s absolutely ridiculous!  It’s such a great deal, but we’re so self-centered we reject the deal every day in order to stay comfortable, maintain our status, have so-called fun, stay popular, or whatever it is that keeps us from accepting Jesus.

We have got to get over our skewed views of God!!  I know a lot of people don’t want to accept Jesus because they think His Father is some mean old man that’s out to catch you doing everything wrong.  I totally get that because I’m overcoming some messed up views of God myself!  Yeah…Christians have them too, and probably way worse than non-believers.  Would you believe me if I told you that God is not a mean old man?  If you do, great.  If not, then get this.  God actually loves you soooo much not only did He allow His only child to be brutally murdered for you, but He longs to spend time with YOU!  He wants to shower you with blessings and show you things that will just blow your mind.  He wants to be your BFF, and it has NOTHING to do with you!  He’s just so awesome, and goodness exudes from Him.  He wants to do it because HE is good–you are SO not good lol.  Neither am I.  None of us deserve the things He has for us compared to His own Son who was truly perfect and never did or said anything wrong EVER!  God is still crazy in love with us, and it doesn’t have to make since.  All you have to do is accept that He will never fall out of love with you, and live the way He wants you to live–that’s the least you can do to show Him you appreciate His love and sacrifice.   Whaddaya say?  Will you accept His gift?  I hope that you will.  You don’t want to find out what happens if you don’t!

Enjoy your family & friends today.  Find some eggs.  Eat lots of chocolate.  BUT…please do not forget about Jesus.  God bless!

My Most Memorable Birthday

Frank Gehry Wedding Cake

My most memorable birthday was my 20th. I dont know what it is about me an odd numbered ages, but I tend to enjoy them more. To me, they have a nicer, sassier ring to them. On top of that, 20 just seemed like a really huge number and had so many meanings. I was no longer a teenager. In a year, Id be considered a “legal” adult. My “youth” is over. Needless to say, I was bummed. Couple with that, I was alone. I was living on campus at the time, but my good friend had went home. My parents werent coming that year, and so I had no one to celebrate with. I didnt have a car, and so I had decided to kind of skip this birthday. However, I had a friend named Aaron. He swears up and down that we originally met at a party, but I honestly did not remember him. We “reconnected” on whatever the hot social networking site was at the time. He was a totally awesome guy who had morals, operated on spiritual principles, and was great to talk to. We talked ALL the time for hours on end about EVERYTHING. What was great about it was that neither one of us were trying to “get” with the other. Anyway, a week before my birthday, we were talking one night and I just happened to mention that my birthday was coming up, but I was not excited about it. He could not understand how someone would not be excited to celebrate another year of life! He gave me a friendly lecture, but I was still not feeling it. I guess he recognized that I was truly bummed, and so he told me not to make any plans for Saturday (my birthday) and keep the whole day open. I was not going to make plans anyway, but I was forewarned in case anyone else wanted to take me out.

My only instructions were meet me at the mall at x time. True, my mall isnt huge, but “the mall” is a tad bit vague to be meeting someone youve never met! Like I said before, I didnt remember what this dude looked like. Now, he did tell me what he would be wearing–a sweater, jeans, and Timberlands–but that description was very vague too. Anyway, I hopped on the bus and headed to the mall to find Aaron. I waited and watched in the food court for a little while, but did not find him. I decided that I needed to search for him. I had only known him for about two months, but we had learned a lot about each other in a short time. I thought, “if I were Aaron where would I be?” I thought about it for a while and came up with the bookstore. I went to B. Dalton, and there he was. He said he was waiting to see if I would find him there.

Before that day, I didnt know he didnt have a car. We spent the whole day traveling via bus and train to various places around town. First he took me bowling because in one of our conversations I mentioned that I like to bowl. So, we did that for a while and then headed somewhere else. While waiting for the bus to come, he hands me a box wrapped in red paper. At the time red was my favorite color. I unwrapped the box, and inside was a bottle of my favorite perfume! At the time it was Tommy Girl. I was so shocked that he remembered because that was a very random detail of another conversation we had. I dont remember where we went next, but he took me to the West End and showed me a little bit of Morehouse (his school). We also went to Atlantas best Chinese restaurant! He had never eaten there, but he found that it was voted the best. I dont remember the name, but its in Buckhead. And for the record, I thought it was just ok LOL. I didnt tell him that though. So, during one of these train rides (the longest one–probably from the West End to Buckhead), he takes out a blue box and hands it to me. Now, gentleman, if you want to make a woman REALLY nervous for any reason, then give her a blue box! It doesnt matter whats inside; all blue boxes will make a woman nervous LOL. Anyway, it was a long blue box, and I didnt quite know what to do. “Hes buying me jewelry?? Why is he buying me jewelry??? Does this dude like me????” I hadnt opened the box yet as Im trying to figure out what the meaning was when he said, “Arent you going to open it?” So I opened the box, and there were two big 15-stick packs of my favorite gum, Extras Spearmint flavor!! I thought it was so cute. Then he handed me another box! I was less nervous, but still a little confused. I opened it and there four little 5-stick packs of gum. Now Im thinking its funny and cute. He handed me another box, and before I could get it fully open he hands me and another box, and another, and another…..I think I must have gotten like eight boxes! I just started laughing. By the time I was done opening all these boxes, I had 20 packs of my all time favorite gum! That was THE best gift ever!

The night ended with a visit to a newspaper store in Buckhead. I suppose we had to do something he liked too lol. Anyway, the day was over, and it was dark. He “took” me back to the mall so I could go back to school. He gave me a birthday card that he told me to read when I got back. It was a very nice card, and I still have it. I was totally overwhelmed at the entire event. I thought that I was a great listener, but I dont think I could have come up with something like this for anyone. He listened to EVERYTHING I said and remembered it. As you can tell, Im not huge on gifts although I like to get them. Im really easy, and love the simple things in life. For someone that I hardly knew to take his time to make sure I had a good birthday and show me that hes been paying attention to me is just totally awesome. This was truly the best birthday ever!

I failed to mention that I wasnt exactly dressed appropriately for this rendevous lol. This was January, and I had on a short sleeve shirt and a wind breaker. I had only been in the ATL for one winter and had not figured out the weather patterns yet. In Augusta, where I grew up, my attire would have been perfect. And actually, the weather was quite good for most of the day and I was fine. However, as the sun went down I got colder. It didnt get terribly cold that night, but it was cool enough to notice. The next morning I woke up at 5:00, and I was wide awake. For those who do not know, I am completely nocturnal lol. I started watching TV hoping to get sleepy, but it was of no use. I felt weird. I couldnt explain how I felt. I didnt feel bad, but I didnt feel good either. And to be up at 5:00?? WITW?! So, I got up and went to the nurses office. She knew me pretty well because I came once a week to give myself allergy injections in the afternoon. Needless to say she was very shocked to see me at 7:00 a.m.! I told her I felt weird, and she said I didnt look good. She took my temperature, and I dont remember what the number was, but it alarmed her and she told me to see a doctor. I told her I didnt have a doctor here or have a car, so she called the campus police to take me to the urgent care facility. Long story short, I had bronchitis, and I missed an entire week of school! Best birthday ever LOL.

What is YOUR most memorable birthday?

Waiting For God Actively

I think it’s funny that this came up last for two reasons:  1. it’s just the perfect way to end this series, and 2. it just happens to be the day before Valentine’s Day which means I need to yell at the single women again LOL.  I swear I did not plan this, but this is the order I wrote them in TWO days ago lol   Anyhoo!

We all know what waiting actively is!  Waiting actively is how you should wait patiently.  Just because you’re trying to be patient doesn’t mean you sit around and try to keep a good disposition until it happens.  Waiting patiently needs that you need to move, act, occupy your time while you wait.  Afterall, it’s kinda hard to be patient if all you’re doing is sitting around trying NOT to think about the thing you’re trying to be patient about.  So, single women (and don’t forget I’m numbered with you!), while you’re waiting on Mr. Wonderful to come and sweep you off your feet…DO SOMETHING!  Enhance your own life some kind of way.  He doesn’t want some ol’ desperate, uneducated, clingy, “whatever you like,” broad that has no life and nothing going on!  Go to school!  Join a ministry!  Find a hobby!  Help some kids!  Exercise!  Go out with your friends!  Feed the homeless!  FIND SOMETHING TO DO!!!  Amen

II Peter 3:14 (NLT)

And so, dear friends, while you are waiting for these things to happen, make every effort to be found living peaceful lives that are pure and blameless in his sight.

Jude 1:21 (MSG)

But you, dear friends, carefully build yourselves up in this most holy faith by praying in the Holy Spirit, staying right at the center of God’s love, keeping your arms open and outstretched, ready for the mercy of our Master, Jesus Christ. This is the unending life, the real life!

I hope you all have enjoyed this series!  More importantly I hope someone out there found it useful.  Your feedback would be greatly appreciated.  Happy Valentine’s day!

 

 

 

Missed the previous post?  Check out Waiting For God Eagerly!

Waiting For God Eagerly

You know how it is when it’s Christmas Eve, the night before your birthday, 2:55 p.m. on the last day of school, or when the doctor comes out with your chart in his hand.  Wait for God like that!  What do these all have in common?  Great anticipation!  Excitement!  Waiting doesn’t always have to be a long, arduous task.  Sometimes waiting can be fun!  You know what you need to wait eagerly though?  Confidence.  When you wait eagerly you just KNOW that x is going to happen and you’re excited.  You can be terribly excited lacking confidence.  This one ties directly to expectancy, patience, and trust.

I Corinthians 1:7 (NLT)

Now you have every spiritual gift you need as you eagerly wait for the return of our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

 

Miss the previous post?  Check out Waiting For God Trustingly!

 

Waiting For God Trustingly

I’m not sure if trustingly is even a word, but it is today!!  This one goes hand in hand with expectancy and patience.  Waiting trustingly implies that you expect (or trust) that there will be an answer and you wait for it patiently.  I don’t think I can make it more simple than that.  Especially since prayer–real prayer–involves a certain level of trust.  I would imagine that if you didn’t trust God (like before we got saved) then you wouldn’t pray at all.  Trust also implies a level of loyalty that will get results.  Trust God while you wait.

Lamentations 3:24 (CEV)

Deep in my heart I say,

“The LORD is all I need;

I can depend on him!

22-24 (MSG)

God’s loyal love couldn’t have run out,
his merciful love couldn’t have dried up.
They’re created new every morning.
How great your faithfulness!
I’m sticking with God (I say it over and over).
He’s all I’ve got left.

Micah 7:7 (CEV)

But I trust the LORD Godto save me,

and I will wait for him

to answer my prayer.

(MSG)

But me, I’m not giving up.
I’m sticking around to see what God will do.
I’m waiting for God to make things right.
I’m counting on God to listen to me.

 

 

Missed the previous post?  Check out Waiting For God Desperately!