Lent Update, Music Video & Vacation

So I figured I should share how my Lenten “Fast” is going. I’ve been doing pretty well. There have been a couple evening where I’ve been really hungry and had a bowl of cereal. Another evening I wasn’t feeling well, was sure I was fighing off an illness so I had a small meal hoping to help stave off impending illness. I only felt a little guilty on those nights where I had cereal because it wasn’t the mindless eating I might have done in the past. I was HUNGRY. So I ate. And my goal with this “fast” is to  loosen the power that food holds over me. And, thanks to support from my small group, family, and friends I feel that everyday I get closer and closer to that goal.  I know this will continue to be a struggle for me. I don’t expect my food addiction to just disappear but this fast has shown me that I don’t HAVE to give in to my urges and that it can be controlled.

In an unrelated topic, I’ve been obsessed with the song Show Me What I’m Looking For by Carolina Liar. When I first heard it I actually thought I was listening to the Christian station. I wasn’t. This song was apparently on the new 90210. Whatever. I LOVE it. Check it out. (I couldn’t get the video to embed for some reason).

And I have an exciting announcement: I’m going to IRELAND!!!!!! My cousin (who’s also my roommate) and I are going to be in Ireland from May 2nd-9th. I’m soooo exicted! I went to Ireland my senior year of high school and am looking forward to going back. We’re renting a car–a little nervous about driving on the opposite side of the road but excited about the freedom that will allow us do whatever we want and go wherever WE choose (as opposed to having to go along with a large travel group).  Again, SUPER EXCITED. I think between my cousin and I, we have EVERY Ireland travel book available.

So enjoy some of these images from Barry Hendrickson’s Ireland in Black and White. I’ve been wanting some of these prints for awhile now….so haunting!

Glendalough Monastery
Co. Wicklow, Ireland
© 2007 Barry Hendrickson Photography

Fanad Head
Co. Donegal, Ireland
© 2007 Barry Hendrickson Photography

Giant’s Causeway
Co. Antrim, Northern Ireland
© 2007 Barry Hendrickson Photography

Famine Cottage
Dingle Penisula, Ireland
© 2007 Barry Hendrickson Photography

Lent

It’s been years since I’ve given anything up for Lent.  And this year, I’ve choosen something pretty big to give up: dinner. That’s right, the meal, dinner. I will no longer be partaking of my evening meals. I will not be eating after 6pm, Monday-Saturday. While researching fasting and Lent, I learned that it is not appropriate to fast on Sundays–the day of the resurrection–because during Lent Sunday is a feast day.

I’ve never tried to fast before. And I thought I’d start by cutting out just one meal of the day. I will probably have some SlimFast shakes and such on had because I often have low blood sugar which can bring on pretty bad headaches.

I’ve always struggles with emotional eating and an addiction to food. So, this will surely be a trial for me!

What did you give up for Lent?

Thankful…

Although I had kind of a stressful week at work , there are many things I’m thankful for and I just wanted to share a few of them:

I’m thankful to have a job. I attended a job fair for my employer this week and I was so thankful to be taking people’s resumes and not someone trying to job hunt in this economy. I’m lucky to be in my field and at the organization I work for. They need me to fulfill educational compliance regulations for our accreditation, as long as the company as a whole is doing well….(and I don’t royally screw something up) I’ve got a job.

I’m thankful I have a boss who is upfront and straight forward with me. One of my co-workers, and good friend, has a new boss who is clearly out to get her for some unknown reason.  She is miserable and terribly unhappy.

I’m thankful for my health.  Although I have those mornings where I just want to call in sick, curl up with my dog and a good book or movie all day; I’m lucky to not have any serious health ailments that prevent me from working.

All in all, I’m lucky and repeating these things helps me when I’m having a rough day at work!

Guest Review at RRB

I have a review of A Virgin River Christmas by Robyn Carr over at Reading Romance Books. Go check it out!

The Good, the Bad, and the Very Scary

Well, it’s been a grip since I last posted. Lots has gone on.  So here’s the breakdown (and not necessarily in chronological order!)

The Good:

• This past weekend I was Maid of Honor at my best friend’s wedding!
• On November 15th, I bought my first new car! It’s a 2009 Honda Fit in the Blackberry Pearl which, depending on the light, looks either black, blue or purple!

The Bad:

• November 15th we had to put down our 15 year-old black Lab, Libby. (Yes, the same day I got my new car. It was both a good and bad day all wrapped in one!).
• Remember that new car? Yea the day after I got it, someone busted out the back windshield. It then took over a week to get it replaced. Gr.

The Very Scary:

• The day before Thanksgiving my Mom was diagnosed with breast cancer. She’s lucky however, they caught it early. The cancer was the lowest level, in the first stage, and very small. She had her lumpectomy yesterday and is doing well. She’ll  start radiation in the upcoming weeks.

It’s been a rough month but all in all God is good and really blessed me.  Especially, in regards to my Mom. She found out the day before Thanksgiving and has already had her surgery. She went to a fabulous hospital and everyting happened so quickly. Which we’re thankful for.

I’m also lucky to have such wonderful family and friends to celebrate The Good with and who are there for me during The Bad and The Very Scary!!!!

Hey Good Lookin’

Here’s most of my small group on one of our Friday Night Hang Outs. We went dancing! Aren’t we a good lookin’ bunch?!

Leap of Faith

It’s been quite some time since I last posted. Breathe was awesome. Aside from the whole camping bit, I’m not much into camping. But it wasn’t too bad. Overall, it was a great experience and I will definitely be going back next year.

Next up I’m taking a huge leap of faith by signing up for Vineyard’s Worship Training Center. I have never so much as picked up a guitar and my singing abilities are…iffy but I love music and I’ve always wanted to learn to play the guitar. Now, I just have to borrow someone’s guitar, find out if you can take the training even if you have absolutely no experience, then I’ll register for the training. It’s an 8 or 9 week training that meets once a week for 2 hours. Starts on the 8th.

I’m terrified. But I think God’s laid it on my heart to, at least, attempt it. If I’m no good, then I’ll pray for more guidance but I think I have to at least give it a go!

Breathe Festival

Every year Joshua House hosts Breathe, an outdoor summer festival.

Each summer since 2001, several hundred twenty-somethings from all over have gathered together in a field to pray for each other, worship God, grow in their faith, listen to great bands, sleep under the stars, and have a blast with their friends.

I’m looking forward to attending Breathe for the first time this weekend. Slightly bummed because I have bronchitis so I’m not sure how I’m going to do in the heat and being sick and all. I was surprised by how few people from my small group were going to Breathe. I missed small group last night, however, so maybe more people are planning on going now. My friend, Kellie, is also going to Breathe. She stole a bunch of her boyfriend’s camping stuff…woo-hoo!

Although I’m not terribly excited about the idea of camping, I think this is going to be a great experience. I’m looking forward to the speakers, the music (especially Phil Wickham), and the chance to “collide” with God and the rest of the Joshua House community.

I missed JHouse this weekend (I was in BOSTON!) but listened to the message online. In the message, Jonathan Rue talks about being Hungry for God and how in our relationship with God, much like our relationship with a boyfriend or girlfriend, we have to make grand gestures and actively pursue our relationship. Breathe is an example of a grand gesture of seeking God outside our normal day-to-day routine.

I’m really looking forward to Breathe! If you have a minute and want a good chuckle, check out the Breathe Videos. Chris Meekins, a JHouse staff member, is featured in all of the videos. They’re the kind of off the wall, random humor I so enjoy!

So, please, keep all those participating in Breathe this weekend in your prayers! I’ll post about my experience sometime next week!

Boy Meets Girl: Say Hello to Courtship

by Joshua Harris

If you’re fed up with self-centered relationships that end in disillusionment, it’s time to rethink romance. Finding the loving , committed relationship you want shouldn’t mean throwing away your hopes, your integrity, or your heart.

In Boy Meets Girl, Joshua Harris —the guy who kissed dating goodbye—makes the case for courtship. As old-fashioned as it might sound, courtship is what modern day relationships desperately need. Think of it as romance chaperoned by wisdom, cared for by community, and directed by God’s Word.

Filled with inspiring stories from men and women who have rediscovered courtship, Boy Meets Girl is honest, romantic, and refreshingly biblical. Keep God at the center of your relationship as you discover how to:

• Set a clear course for your romance
• Get closer without compromise
• Find support in a caring community
• Deal with past sexual sin
• Make the right decisions about your future

I picked this up after reading Jessica’s review. As a single Christian it sounded like something I might benefit from reading. When I started it, I wasn’t sure what to expect; now that I’ve finished it, I’m not sure how I feel about it.

I think overall, I liked it. The questions Harris poses and the issues he address in Boy Meets Girl really gave me something to think about. I think as a woman growing up on Sex and the City, being fiercely independent, with the misguided idea that sexual promiscuity somehow equated power that I really struggled with some of Harris’ suggestions regarding dating and this somewhat arcane idea of courtship.

As I was reading there were questions and issues that I had and was frustrated when he didn’t immediately answer them. I continued reading, however, and found the majority of my questions answered in a later chapter. While one part of me wanted to scream at the whole antiquated “courtship” idea, some of his beliefs really seemed to make sense, as much as I didn’t want to admit it.

I still think the laundry list of rules that Harris and, his future bride, Shannon compiled was a bit extreme. They didn’t kiss until their wedding day?! Really?! Wow. It seems a bit out there to me but, like Harris explains in his book, each couple would have to decide, together, what they could and couldn’t handle while still remaining physically pure. He also explained why they made this decision stating:

. . . we viewed kissing as part of the whole package of sexual union. And we didn’t want to dissect the sex act into stages so we could justify enjoying more and more of lovemaking outside of marriage (pg.162).

I find that interesting, not sure I necessarily agree that a couple can’t kiss while still maintaining the physical sanctity of their relationship or that kissing has to lead to something else (whatever happened to kissing for kissing’s sake, why does it have to LEAD somewhere?!) although I see their point about it being a part of sex.  

Boy Meets Girls is not exclusively about Joshua and Shannon’s relationship. There are stories of other couples who took the courship route. My favorite was Rich and Christy’s story. It was just so freaking romantic. You know I cried; I’m such a sap. Don’t tell anyone; I have a reputation to uphold.

Boy Meets Girl  gave me serious food for thought regarding courtship, perserving physical boundaries, exploring gender roles, and dealing with past sexual sins; it’s definitely worth a read for all Christian singles. I think I’ll give some of Joshua Harris’s other works a go as well.

Inside Out

The Vineyard Church of Columbus is a HUGE church. Huge. It was daunting the first time I attended Joshua House, because there were just so many people and I knew no one. Because of it’s size, the Vineyard encourages new church goers to join a Small Group. Small groups meet all over the Columbus area. Joshua House alone has over 100 small groups!

I’d been wanting to check out a small group for sometime, however, I’m a pretty reserved person when I first meet new people and I have a hard time attending something like this by myself. So, I kept hoping that one of my friends would go to a small group with me. After months of not being able to get anyone to go with me I finally decided it was time. I’m a big girl; I can do this on my own.

I really needed to get involved with a group, because the few people that I had been attending Joshua House with would often be unable to attend on Sunday’s and I would have to go by myself. Which wasn’t fun. I wanted to join a small group if for no other reason than to have people to sit with at the service!

I was unpleasantly surprised to find that there were no small groups in the Dublin area. With soaring gas prices the location of the small group was a huge factor, as was the day and time of the small group because I had to fit it in around my work schedule. After perusing the Joshua House Small Group directory, I found a small group that met on Wednesday nights near my job. It’s a co-ed group named Inside Out and I’m so glad I finally took the initiative to join a small group!

I didn’t know what to expect the first time I went. The group begins with 3-4 praise and worship songs, followed by a scripture lesson, and finally closing with prayer ministry where the guys and girls separate and pray in groups of 2 or 3.

It’s nice to have fellow Christians as friends. While I have many friends that identify themselves as “Christians” I would hazard to guess that most of them do not share an intimate relationship with Christ.

While I’ve only been attending Inside Out for a little over a month now, I’m looking forward to getting to know everyone in the group.

I don’t know if the groups name originates from the song Inside Out by Hillsong United or not, but it is one of my all time favorite worship songs, so for your listening pleasure here’s Hillsong United’s Inside Out along with the lyrics.

Inside Out

A thousand times I’ve failed
Still Your mercy remains And should I stumble again
I’m caught in Your grace

Everlasting
Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending
Your glory goes beyond all fame

my heart and my soul
I give You control
Consume me from the inside out
Lord let justice and praise
Become my embrace
To love you from the inside out

Your will above all else
My purpose remains
The art of losing myself
In bringing You praise

Everlasting
Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending
Your glory goes beyond all fame

Everlasting
Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending
Your glory goes beyond all fame
And the cry of my heart
Is to bring You praise
From the inside out
Lord my soul cries out

© Copyright Hillsong Church.