Giving Thanks...even in 100 degree weather

"Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God's will
for you who belong to Christ Jesus."
- 1 Thessalonians 5:18 -

I kept repeating this verse today as I sat in 100 degree weather waiting on a tow truck for two hours because my car sounded like it was going to explode.  Thankfully, my dad and family friend (Amy O.) were gracious enough to let me wait in their air-conditioned cars, but this car situation just added to the crazy day I was experiencing.  When I woke up this morning, I had my day all planned out.  But by lunch time I realized that nothing was going as I planned and my scheduling was not working out.  And by 3:00 pm as I was on the phone with AAA, I really discovered that my day was NOT as I had planned.

God has a way of grabbing our attention, doesn't he?  It's days like this where I am reminded by our heavenly Father that I am NOT in control of my life - HE is!  That's such an easy thing to say, but SO hard to live out and remember.  Proverbs 16:9 says, "A man's heart plans his way, but the Lord directs His steps."  This verse tells us that God is the ultimate controller of our lives.  He knows the plans He has for us, He knows what's best for us, and He desires for us to place our trust fully in Him.

Thankfully, my car trouble isn't as bad as originally thought and it's a simple problem that can be easily fixed.  I'd tell you what it was, but I'm not really up on car terminology so I would probably not make any sense describing the problem.  BUT I have learned an important lesson today; no matter what happens - if I get rained on without an umbrella (been there...done that), if I trip up a flight of stairs (typical for me), if I burn something in the oven (which happens more often than not), or even if I have to sit and wait two hours for a tow truck...I am to be thankful and trust God that He's got it all planned out and is working things out for my good (even though it may not look like it to me at the time).  Thank you God for the difficult times, for it's through those times that I realize to always, fully depend on you.

Serving Him Through the SBC

So if you’ve read any of my Facebook posts these past few days you know I’m like really enthusiastic about the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC).  In fact, it might even be possible that I have SBC platelets in my blood…meaning that I bleed Southern Baptist…just sayin’.  You’re probably like “Good grief.  She is C-R-A-Z-Y!”  And you are probably right…ha ha!

My entire life and before I was born, I have grown up and been raised in a Southern Baptist church.  It’s all I’ve known, it’s what I know, and it’s a part of who I am.  Now I know being a Southern Baptist does NOT mean I’m a better Christian than a Methodist or a Presbyterian, in fact being a Southern Baptist does NOT mean I’m automatically a Christian.  I’m a Christian because I accepted God’s free gift of salvation, believe that Jesus is God’s Son and that He died for my wrong-doings, and confess Him as the Lord and Savior of my life and desire to live solely and completely for Him.  I’m a Southern Baptist because I align with the core beliefs and mission of the Southern Baptist Convention and desire to be a part of the various entities and activities that the SBC promote.

Did you know that the SBC is the world’s largest Baptist denomination and the largest Protestant body in the United States?  Every year, the SBC holds an annual meeting to allow its members the opportunity to voice their opinion, bring forth pertinent resolutions and motions, report on the progress of its various entities (such as mission sending agencies and various resource agencies), and offer a time of encouragement for pastors, ministers, and lay leaders.

Over 8,000 people attended!

Four years ago, at the SBC annual meeting in Louisville, I had the opportunity to join a group known as the Pages.  When it’s time to conduct business at the annual meeting, it’s very much like a typical church business meeting…except like 500 times bigger!  Due to the enormous amount of people that come to the annual meeting, the pages assist the convention by helping the messengers that desire to speak during the business sessions.  Microphone pages help messengers fill out an information sheet detailing their name, address, phone number, and a brief summary of what they are saying so that the Recording Secretary can properly denote these individuals in the session report.  When these information sheets have been filled out, a runner runs (ok…quickly walks) the information sheet up to the platform.  The platform page then gives the information sheet to the page coordinator for proper checking and then to the Recording Secretary for his clarification.  After the particular business session is over, the information sheets are given to the platform page to make copies and then are delivered to various committees, convention offices, and the Press Office.  This whole process happens very quickly, meaning that everything is extremely fast-paced.  Pages must keep track of people’s faces, names, and also what is happening on the platform – all at the same time.  It’s not hard, it’s just involved – which is what makes it extremely fun!

Pages & Sisters :)

My duty as a page is as the copy/platform page.  This means that I obtain, make copies, and deliver every informational sheet (which includes motions, amendments, questions, and points of order) to the appropriate offices.  Whereas the other pages work with the messengers, I work directly with the Recording Secretary of the Convention.  As with the other page duties, this job requires A LOT of walking and standing, which means your feet may be yelling horrid remarks at you when all is said and done.  As of this writing, the horrid remarks have subsided and my feet are returning back to normal.  :)  I must admit, seeing everything with a birds-eye view from the platform is something that is still so crazy, I can’t really put it into words.  Standing up there, I honestly feel so blessed that God has given me the opportunity to be where I am.

My "birds-eye" view

This year’s convention was historic and that’s not an exaggeration.  First of all, we elected our first-ever African American president, Dr. Fred Luter.  Why is this historic?  The SBC was formed way back in the 1800s due to the issue of slavery, Southerners believed in it and Northerners did not.  So, to have an African-American as our president is something that is pretty big.  Dr. Luter is such a nice and genuine man.  When you speak to him, he really takes the time to listen.  I got the opportunity to congratulate him on his election and he was so nice to take a photo with me.  Can’t wait to see what God does through this man over the next couple of years.  

Myself & SBC President, Dr. Fred Luter

This convention was also historic in that we agreed as a convention to have an alternate name.  You see, in the Northern or Western USA, the term “Southern Baptist” doesn’t sit well with the local people because they can’t identify with being Southern.  I even encountered this when I lived overseas with my family.  Technically, our church was Southern Baptist, but because the term didn’t really apply with a Hong Kong based church, we didn’t advertise that we were SBC-affiliated because it wouldn’t have really made sense.  Over the past year, SBC leaders debated and discussed the possibility of changing the name.  They came up with the new term “Great Commission Baptists.”  Originally, they wanted to change the name permanently, but after realizing that it would be extremely difficult to legally change the name, they decided that it would simply be an additional term to help people identify with being a part of the Southern Baptist family.  This name change is strictly voluntary; no one is required to use it.  It is just another term that can help people have an idea of what a particular church is and what it stands for.  Southern Baptist church planters from these hard-to-reach areas pleaded with the convention to adopt the name change.  On the other side of that, other preachers asked the convention to keep the one term, explaining that it would just be too confusing.  In past SBC history, attempts have been made to change the name and in all cases those attempts failed.  This time, however, the name change was approved.  We are still Southern Baptist, but we are also now Great Commission Baptists.  Originally, I was skeptical about changing the name…remember, I have platelets in my blood named SBC…but over time, in realizing that it was strictly voluntary and in thinking about my experience in a SBC-affiliated church overseas, I came to the realization that it would most definitely help Southern Baptist church planters nation-wide and around the world.

This year’s convention in New Orleans was a bit busy, there were about 20 motions which means that 21 copies of each motion must be made, delivered, and distributed.  Sometimes it can be kind of crazy how many papers and piles there are, but with the help of post-it-notes and paper clips AND, praise the Lord, a copier with a built-in stapler, it wasn’t too bad.  :)  The biggest difference this year was that there were SO many questions, points of order, and amendments for the resolution committee/seminaries/SBC entities – which require a different sort of information sheet.  There had to have been over 30+ over the course of the two days.  But…that’s what makes it fun and exciting!

I made some great network connections this week as well.  My dream is to work for the SBC, and I am beginning to see God open doors for me in that direction.  God has so much in store for me & I can’t wait to see what doors He opens for me next.

Jeremiah 29:11 says, “For I know the plans I have for you; plans to prosper and not harm you, plans to give you a future and hope.”   What a great promise not only for me, but the SBC, as well.  “Greater things are yet to come & greater things are still to be done!”

Say Y-E-S to VBS!

Matthew 19:14 - Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."

It's VBS week!  That means one thing...kids, kids, and MORE KIDS!  I LOVED VBS when I was a kid, but I think I LOVE IT EVEN MORE now that I'm an adult! Ha ha!  It makes my heart so happy to see kids smiling, laughing, singing, dancing, and learning more about God.  Today was the very first day of VBS and it went great!  The theme this year is "Amazing Wonders Aviation" and it's all about airplanes and flying across the world seeing new and exciting things.  The overall Biblical content for the week is learning about God's awesome power. 

I have the amazing opportunity this week of teaching children in Pre-K all the way through 6th grade about missions.  If you know me, you know I'm loving every minute of it!  Opening the world of missions up to children is my absolute passion.  Helping them know about, see, and do missions are my most favorite things.  This year, our mission project is raising money for 3 different projects sponsored by the Baptist Global Response (BGR).  The grades are all in a contest to see who can raise the most money.  One group is raising money for water filters, the other is raising money for mosquito nets, and the last group is raising money for CHICKENS!  BGR uses the money given to provide these needed items to people around the world and through this is able to spread the Good News of Jesus with them.  This isn't just a one country thing, the children's gifts this week will help people all over the world.  That's pretty awesome, I think!

I encouraged the kids to think of different ways to raise money for the offering.  In a letter to their parents, I told them to take a picture of their "unique" way of raising money and send it to me so I could show it during VBS.  Within 5 hours of this challenge, I got my first picture.  You should have seen my face when I saw the picture...it was glowing! :)  Two preteen girls had made hair bows and sold them door to door in order to raise money for the offering.  I can't wait to see what else these amazing VBS kids dream up!

The theme of God's awesome power really hit home for me today as I was faced with a serious technical issue with the media equipment I use here at the church on a daily basis.  In the middle of teaching, one of the big projectors in the sanctuary suddenly went off by itself.  I know what you're thinking...YIKES!  Yep, I was thinking the same thing too, except I couldn't react because I was in the middle of teaching!  Our God is AMAZING, though, and through His AMAZING POWER, the problem was fixable and it's back to normal.  "With God, nothing is impossible!" (even a broken projector) :)

This year's theme is going to be very special to me by the end of the summer.  After VBS here at First Baptist, I will be teaching the same theme at our local Pregnancy Crisis Center VBS and also VBS at Clearwater Bay International Baptist Church in Hong Kong.  I'm excited to live out this theme this summer - God's power will definitely be at work!

I can't wait to see what the rest of this week brings.  God's going to do some AMAZING things, I can feel it!  Thanks for your prayers and keep 'em coming!!

Marvelous Masterpieces!

Ephesians 2:10 -  For we are God’s masterpiece.  He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago. (NLT)

I have  collected a lot of special “masterpieces” over the years.  Some are little stick figure images of me, while others are more elaborate pieces of artwork complete with flowers, trees, flying objects that look like birds, and the occasional butterfly…see below.  Artwork created by kids and given to me are some of my most favorite masterpieces and I truly treasure each and every piece.

It’s so fitting how Ephesians 2:10 (in the New Living Translation) refers to us as God’s masterpiece!  Just like a piece of artwork is different and unique, so are we different and unique from those around us.  The Father is so proud of the masterpieces that He has created and desires for them to radiate their specialness and uniqueness in order to reflect their Creator.  As Christians, we reflect our magnificent Creator by showing those around us His love, His grace, and His mercy.  This comes through our speech and our actions (aka living with a servant’s heart).

By no means are we finished masterpieces!  Throughout our life, God continues to work on us (Philippians 2:13) by crafting us into the creation He desires for us to be.  When I was 2 years old, I sang a song called “He’s Still Workin’ on Me,” and even though those words were meant to be cute coming out of the mouth of a toddler, those words are still true…even at 25.....45......or 65+. J 

So the next time you’re perusing an art museum, picking out some artwork for your home or apartment, or are given a paper with a blob on it that a kid says is you….let that serve as a reminder that YOU are God’s special masterpiece and He desires for you to reflect His greatness!

My Testimony

I was challenged today in regards to sharing my testimony.  It's something I take for granted and think that people know, but I know I haven't shared it as often as I should.  I recently had lunch with one of my dearest Christian friends and this topic of conversation came up.  I want to be straight-up honest with all of you who know me personally.  I want you to know that I am NOT ashamed of my Jesus.  I love the Lord with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength....and even though there are days when I feel alone, I know my God and Savior will never ever forsake or leave me.  I simply (and I'll admit...it's not always as simple as it sounds) have to place my entire trust in Him.  My greatest desire in life is to live as Christ's servant, working always and only for Him and for His glory.  I want all of you who read this to know my testimony and how Jesus saved me from my sins.  One of my favorite parts about my salvation experience came immediately after I asked Jesus into my heart.  I share my testimony here for all of you to see what Jesus has done for me....and can do for you, too, if you aren't a believer in Him.

My Testimony

I have not always been a Christian even though I was born into a Christian home and was in church all the time.  Growing up, I was an average American kid; I didn’t always tell the truth, enjoyed playing with my friends, and maybe had a few fights with my sister. :)  Yes, I was a pretty good kid, but I was living my life for myself and doing what I wanted to do.  Before my tenth birthday, however, I began to realize that something in my life was missing.  I began to see that other friends and family, who were Christians, had something that I didn’t have.  I soon began to realize that I needed Jesus and I asked my dad what I needed to do to have that same joy that he and my other friends and family had.  He told me that joy comes from knowing and trusting in Jesus.  As I asked more questions, he showed me the steps of asking Christ into my life.  I had heard the plan of salvation many times, but it wasn’t until this moment that everything clicked.  My dad told me about how Jesus shed his blood on the cross and died just for me.  I began to realize that although I wasn’t perfect, Christ loved me anyway.  On April 24, 1996, I prayed and asked Christ to come into my life and change me.  I remember that after I prayed that prayer, I felt as though I had gone through a physical heart transplant and had a literal new heart.  It was an incredible feeling.  The next morning, I woke up with this same feeling and began to tell everyone I saw what had happened to me the previous day.  I remember going to work that day with my dad telling everyone I saw what had happened to me.  The joy I had wanted was now on my face, in my heart, and on my lips.  Everyone was so happy for me and I was so excited to be a child of God.

The biggest change I have noticed in my life since I asked Christ into my heart is that I really want to serve God with my entire life.  Before I became a Christian, I went to church just because I had to.  If I did anything at church, I only did it because my mom and dad told me to do it; and I expected to get something out of it (like candy or a trip to my favorite restaurant).  As a follower of Christ, however, I serve God because I can’t imagine doing anything else.  Now, I don’t look for the credit in things, I just look to get the job done and be as much like Christ as I can be in the process.  Remember how before I became a Christian, I wanted to have the same joy that others had?  By following and serving Christ, I get nothing but pure joy and happiness by being able to serve others and through them I am serving the very One who gave His life for me.  I have now found joy that will last forever and I plan on living out the rest of my life for Christ.  May I share how something like this can happen to you?

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If you have any questions about how you can know Christ, please don't hesitate to send me a message through Facebook.  I've shared this with you all because it's a message that I know someone out there needs to hear.  Don't be afraid of sharing your testimony with others.  You never know who's listening.

"Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord...but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, who saved us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which He gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began."

- 2 Timothy 1:8-9 - 

2011 In Retrospect

On this day of the year, I always like to take time and look back at what all happened in my life over the past year.  It's hard to believe that a whole year has passed and we are now standing in the doorway of a new one...but we are and I now reflect on my year....THIS IS A LONG POST...BEWARE :)

School - Graduate School Edition

It's hard to believe that one year ago I graduated from college.  2011 began my new path as a college graduate, but did that mean I had given up on any more schooling....who me?? No way, José!  :)  January 2011 began my first adventure into the world of grad school!  If you remember my ramblings from last year, I have felt God's call to delve deeper into my quest of educating children, but desired to do so from a Christian education perspective.  I enrolled in Liberty University Baptist Theological Seminary's online program, originally seeking their Master of Arts in Children's Ministry.  Over the course of a year, I have definitely learned A LOT!  From Theology classes to Baptist History class to an Intro to Missions to Discipleship teaching classes....the knowledge I have gained as a result of grad school has been so helpful and useful.  Seminary has also helped deepen my relationship with God as I have grown closer to Him through the insights, knowledge, and encouragement from professors and classmates that I have gained from my online classes. I had plans to do school online in the Spring of 2011 and move to Lynchburg to complete the program on campus in the Fall of 2011. 

**Side-note** A lot of people have asked me if online school is hard.  Here's my answer: It's challenging. You have to take into account the fact that it is grad school and it is online.  Grad school, work-wise, is a definite step up from college...like a ton of reading and writing papers.  I remember the first couple of weeks I was really bogged down in how much I had to read.  Then my dad reminded me and said, "Don't forget, this is GRADUATE school."  Oh, yeah.  I forgot.  Since then I've really been able to learn how to speed read and get assignments done, so it hasn't been too bad.  Also, thankfully, I've been blessed with great English teachers over the years who gave me guidance in writing and so writing papers hasn't been as hard for me as I feel that it might have been for some of my classmates.  Now, granted, I have been doing the "accelerated version" of grad school, which I wouldn't recommend for someone who has a full-time job.  "Accelerated" means that I am taking 4 classes a semester.  Most people online just take 2.  Thankfully, my job(s) have been flexible with my schedule and allowed me to be on this accelerated schedule.  I take 2 classes for 8 weeks and then take another 2 classes for the last 8 weeks. 

Personally, I like the online atmosphere.  Some people need that one-on-one interaction with people, but I am thankful that I am able to learn both ways.  Online school allows me to work on my own timetable and Liberty Online really has it down with how to run online classes.  The professors are encouraging and are really flexible with their students.  It's crazy, though, to think of your classmates being all over the world.  I know in my first semester, I had a classmate who was deployed overseas!!  This past semester, one of my professors taught us while he was on a mission trip to the Ivory Coast.  ***Side-note is completed*** :)

At the beginning of the Summer of 2011, I found out that the school eliminated the Children's Ministry program due to lack of interest.  I must admit, I was heartbroken and downtrodden.  I even thought about just quitting and finding a job.  But God reminded me of Paul's words in Philippians 3:14 - "I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."  God was like, "Ummm....Allison...giving up is not in your nature...press on...for me."  When God speaks, you listen...so I did, and I decided to change my major to a Master of Arts in Discipleship Ministries.  The school has been gracious enough to let me have a concentration in Children's Ministry classes (the classes weren't eliminated, just the degree program)...and for that I am grateful.  I know that in all things God works together for the good so I know all this happened for a reason, and am excited to see God provide a job in 2012 that allows me to use what I have learned in college and grad school.  I will graduate with my Masters of Arts in Discipleship Ministries in May of 2012...and I am walking at Liberty's graduation in Lynchburg...with a billion other people...I'm really excited :)

Work

So this year I was asked to be the part-time graphic designer and multimedia coordinator at my church.  Basically, it was everything I did volunteer-wise before plus being in charge of the other printed publications of the church (like the bulletin and newsletter).  I love this job and it has been very rewarding and helpful in my desire to work with church ministries in the future.  Work has provided a lot of exciting experiences and honors for me this year.  I really have enjoyed serving my church in this capacity.  It has also been great getting back into the graphic design groove.  I missed that in 2010 and have enjoyed being able to use my creative side again :)  I know this job isn't a forever job for me, but I have learned a lot and have gotten to be involved with some pretty awesome things this year as a result of my job.  The church has been very gracious to work with my school schedule and I have been able to do school-work and do my job in a timely and efficient manner. 

One of the newsletters I designed this year...these were a couple of my favorite :)

I also continued working for Megan's Corner Catering this year.  As always, it is a blast! :)  Catering experiences are definitely never boring!  I got to be a part of events like huge dinners, weddings, parties, food shows, and Megan's Corner's 10th Anniversary celebration!  It was definitely a big & FUN year.  Megan's Corner opened a new avenue of business this year as they now run the Campus Cafe at the local community college (Walter's State).  The cafe is open to everyone, students and the public.  The food is awesome and there are a variety of food choices from - burgers to salads to daily specials to yumm-o desserts.  I got the chance to help out during the first week and I really enjoyed it.  If you live in Morristown, you should definitely check the Campus Cafe out!

The girl kneeling with the white shirt, that's me!!  We were getting ready for the 10th Anniversary party!

Church

My church has most definitely, for-sure, totally gone under a dramatic physical transformation this year.  We broke ground for our new Children's building in September and demolished our 1913 building just this past Monday.  Although I know it's hard to let go of something so precious to so many people, I think this opens up great potential and new possibilities for First Baptist and I look forward to the future of this church.  The children's building opens up so many doors for us to reach kids for Christ's kingdom...and that's something I definitely love :)  To think that by this time next year we will have a new children's building is so exciting!

I got to be involved with a new ministry this year: Takin' It to the Streets.  It's like a backyard Bible club.  Lauren & I were the music leaders for the month of October.  We also got to do music for the most recent Christmas party.  We had a lot of fun getting to know the kids and teaching them about Jesus through music.  I think I wrote a blog post about the importance of music...it's worth re-reading.  

The AWESOME kids that attended our backyard Bible club...Love 'em! :)

I continued this year as Children's Missions Leader for the church...this also brought on some new responsibilities too.  One responsibility involved teaching missions to the AWANA's once a month..this is always fun and enjoy coming up with creative lessons and ways to teach them about different missions opportunities (global and national).  This year, I got to be the VBS Missions leader for the church...I was also the VBS Mission's Associational Leader, too.  Teaching VBS Missions was so much fun this year.  The theme really made it easy to come up with missions educational opportunities for the kids.  We got to help our local food pantry and kitchen and we got to meet missionaries (via SKYPE) that were discussed in the VBS literature.  It was pretty awesome!  

The awesome FBC Morristown VBS team :) 

Secondly, I was the Children in Action Missions leader for the summer.  This was a fun aspect of my summer as I got to have a whole hour with the kids and delve deeper into missions education with them.  I let the kids come up with a missions project for the summer and they came up with collecting stuffed animals for children who are in disasters.  We collected 970 stuffed animals!!! I certainly did not expect that number when we started out.  First Baptist is definitely a giving church.  The kids learned a lot from this missions project and it was a success.  If I could find a job where I could incorporate my love for children and missions, I would be a very happy person! :)  Just seeing the kids do missions projects and hearing them tell me how they can't wait to be missionaries one day just warms my heart and lets me know how important it is that they continue being educated about missions.

Family

I guess the biggest family news this year is that my mom graduated from the LPN program!  A few weeks after she took and passed her nursing exam, she got a job at a local day facility for adults.  It's not a nursing home, but more like a place where families can drop off their loved ones who have medical issues while they go to work or run errands.  It's a 9 to 5 job and she LOVES it!  We are so happy!  God has definitely blessed her with a great job and we are so thankful for his provisions in guiding her through nursing school (even with a broken foot at the beginning of 2011!!) :)  My dad is as busy as ever working at the church - I am so proud of the work he does here.  My grandpa is now at a new assisted living facility in town.  He was in a nursing home at the beginning of this year and there were a couple of times we didn't think he was even going to make it, but God provided and he is still with us doing quite well...at 94! :)  Lauren is a JUNIOR in high school...that doesn't even seem right...and is loving life!  Meredith is a junior at Liberty University majoring in accounting and minoring in missions...she has a pretty cool 2012 planned...but I won't steal her thunder...be on the look-out, though! :)

Fun Adventures

Although I wanted to go to Hong Kong again this past summer, it just wasn't in God's Will for me to do so this year.  I did however, have the opportunity to go to Phoenix & Washington, D.C.

The Southern Baptist Convention's annual meeting was held in Phoenix this year.  For my third year in a row, I was asked to be a page by the recording secretary of the SBC.  I flew to Phoenix by myself and had a fantastic experience.  I continued my job as the stage and copier page.  I really didn't think this year would be very eventful...but I was wrong!  I ran a lot and made a ton of copies of motions for the lawyers, press, and platform...and at one point had to use the recording secretary's cell phone to get a hold of someone who had made a motion.  There was a lot more business this year than I think people thought there would be (and that's always the **fun** part) :) .  I got to meet so many people and was definitely able to network this year!  It was also nice to be on my own. :)  Next year the convention is in New Orleans...and I've been informed that it will probably be my last year :(  (***crying uncontrollably***)  The pages are really only supposed to be upper high-school, college-aged students...and considering I am in grad school, I'm kind-of considered "old." (ouch...)  When the page coordinator found out I would be 25 next year he said, "Maybe we should think about you training your replacement next year...." (In my head I went...."NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!")  I guess  I will be forced into page retirement in 2012...hopefully, I will be able to continue serving in some capacity within the SBC Annual Meetings; I can't imagine not serving my convention! :)

Your 2011 SBC pages with the recording secretary and his wife (whom I worked with as a part of my job)

My thoughts on Phoenix...beautiful, clean, well-kept city...and hot.  :)

My dad had a conference in DC in over the 4th of July, so my sisters and I accompanied him.  My mom couldn't go because of school, but we had a great time seeing the sights.  Being there on the 4th of July holiday was pretty cool too.  It's kind of like being in NYC on New Year's....crowded and historic.  I'm glad we had that experience.  We stayed at the Gaylord National Harbor.  Look it up on Google...it is gorgeous!  National Harbor is like its own little oasis.  It was fun to walk the streets and see the sights.

My dad, sisters, & me in Washington DC in front of the capitol (on the roof of the Newseum)

My thoughts on DC (IN JULY)...historic, crowded...and hot :)

***Side-note: We also, as a family, went and visited the grave of famous Southern Baptist missionary, Lottie Moon, this fall.  I wrote a 19 pg. research paper on this wonderful woman and when I turned it in, we just happened to be visiting Meredith in Lynchburg and the grave was only an hour away from Lynchburg.  Because I am a Southern Baptist Convention "crazy-person"...I was really excited to have this opportunity.  There I said it.  ***Side-note completed.****

The grave of Lottie Moon

Prayer

I do have some prayer requests for this coming year.  First of all, pray for God's direction in my life, especially in the form of a job.  I really have a heart for children.  I really have a heart for missions.  And I really have a heart for ministry.  I would love to combine them all together...but I know those kinds of jobs are few and far between.  God's in control, though...that I know.  Secondly, pray for God to give me peace in whatever and wherever He leads me.  His sweet peace is so comforting and really helps me to know that I'm in His Will and doing what He wants me to do.  Thirdly, pray for the opportunity for me to go on another mission trip next summer - my heart-city of Hong Kong would be awesome, but I am open to wherever God leads. I'm also going to copy something from last year that I wrote, but I still hold true as a prayer request: "All I want to do with my life is be a servant to the King and live with that servant’s heart…pray that God will give me opportunities this year to continue serving Him.  I value your prayers and your friendship.  Thank you in advance for them."

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Good grief, if you are still reading this...I can't believe it!  I can't even believe I've set here for almost 2 hours writing this.  I know, I'm nuts...but I really do enjoy doing this.  It makes me very grateful for all God's done for me over the course of the year.  I know I have read my 2010 retrospective throughout 2011 and am sure I will read the 2011 retrospective throughout 2012.

Last year, I encapsulated 2010 with one-word...TRUST.  I've definitely carried what I learned in 2010 with me throughout this year.  If I had to encapsulate 2011 with a word (ok..really this is a phrase...) it would be GOD'S PRESENCE.  Is that weird?  You know Jesus promised us this in Matthew 28:20, "I will be with you always..."  I choose this phrase because I have felt God's presence this year in my life through what I have learned in grad school, experiences He's brought me through in 2011, and the fact that I've grown closer to Him and been able to be in and feel His presence (PS...this sentence is far from grammatically correct, but I don't know how else to word it).

I think I already know what word will encapsulate 2012 - CHANGE.  I fully expect 2012 to be a year of change for me.  I AM GOING TO GET A REAL-PERSON'S JOB in 2012.  Beginning in May, there will be no more school to tie me down...for now :).  I don't have any idea what this "real-person's job" will be.  I am open to wherever God leads.  He knows the desires of my heart, and I am going to trust (ooohhhh...2010 word!!) Him to provide the path and way He wants me to go.  I am not only open to do whatever God calls me to do, but I am also open to wherever God leads me.  I may even change where I live in 2012...it's all in God's Will.  It's like the song says, "Wherever He leads, I'll go."  I especially like the 4th verse of this song a lot:

"My heart, my life, my all I bring to Christ who loves me so;

He is my Master, Lord, and King, Wherever He leads I'll go.

Wherever He leads, I'll go; Wherever He leads I'll go.

I'll follow my Christ who loves me so, Wherever He leads I'll go."

"Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, 'Whom shall I send?  And who will go for us?'  And I said, 'Here am I.  Send me!"  

- Isaiah 6:8 -

Boxes of Love

It’s just a simple box…that at one time held a pair of shoes.  However, someone has taken time and money and put a lot of love into this simple shoebox.  Filled with candy, dolls, stuffed animals, crayons, coloring books, hand-made hats, scarves, and so much more…as you see each box, you become overwhelmed at the love that has been given.

I just got back with a group from my church from the Operation Christmas Child Processing Center in Boone, NC.  This was about my third or fourth time to do this...and I had a blast!  The purpose of the processing center is to look through the box to 1) take out the $7 donation for Samaritan’s Purse to process and 2) make sure that there isn’t anything inappropriate or dangerous in the boxes.  Now inappropriate doesn’t always mean that it’s something unsuitable for children, it just means that certain items (liquids, aerosol cans, shampoos) can’t be shipped overseas out of fear that the box will be ruined or destroyed if these items leaked/exploded.  Once these boxes have been looked over, they are securely taped, placed in appropriate boxes (as it pertains to gender & age group) and then they are sent off! 

My job was to look through shoeboxes for inappropriate items.  Over the course of 5 hours I found lots of liquids, food (cookies/chips), chocolate, fake money, and even some war-related items (GI-Joe’s).  Although it was difficult to take these out because I knew people had put it in there for a special child, I knew that it was important that these items come out so that the box & child could be safe.  The war-related items and money could be detrimental to a child who lived in a war-torn country.  It was so sweet to see some of the items that people put in a box.  You could tell that people had definitely put lots of thought into their shoebox.  From cards and letters to handmade items to sweet stuffed animals to special-designed boxes, my heart was so happy to know that I was the last person to touch these items before a child received them.

Some of the boxes we processed hardly had anything in them.  Initially you think, “How could someone send this off when there is hardly anything in there?”  Then I got to thinking…these items might have been all that person could afford or all they had to put in their box of love.  That thought kind of humbles you because you realize that how these people, who may not have very much themselves, want to help create smiles on the faces of children around the world, too.

The shoeboxes we processed on this day were going to Sudan.  Knowing how tumultuous life is in that country made me even more excited that I was getting to be a part of changing the life of children living in that country.  One of my favorite parts of the experience was getting to pray over the boxes.  The processing center stops every so often to encourage the volunteers and pray over the shoeboxes.  As you prayed, the processing center managers encouraged you to reach out and touch a shoebox or big carton.  I’ll tell you, I had tears in my each time we prayed for these boxes. 

Don’t take this mission opportunity for granted each year.  Your special act results in changing the life of a child halfway around the world.  When the children receive this box, they not only get all the gifts in the box, but they also get a copy of the gospel message written in their language.  How important it is for you to do this mission project each year!  Your act of love results in children hearing the greatest act of love that anyone has ever given.  I can’t imagine a better Christmas present than that!

Child in Sudan receiving a shoebox & gospel message

 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.  By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

John 13:35