Friday, November 20, 2015

The Light

I can see both sides in this whole debate. I usually try not to comment when it comes to politics, but for some reason I'm just really feeling the need to speak out. 

I believe in showing the love of Jesus to everyone and I also believe in common sense. There are people here that need just as much help and protection as the refugees do. I never want to be more concerned with 'me and my own' than my mission as a Christian... to show people Jesus. If our mindset is always on ourselves and protecting ourselves as a nation, I feel like it's pointing inward when our focus needs to be outward... on people near AND far. 

I am so proud to be an American, and I love this country and my people. But I love Jesus more. And while I have no idea what the answer should be, I know the One who does. I also know His ways are many times less comfortable than the ways we would have chosen. 

Our lives are not our own, and our mission is clear: to take the message to the world. We were bought with a great price, and because of His sacrifice, we sacrifice too... knowing that in the end, it will be worth it. 

We're not fighting against each other. We are the light fighting against the darkness, and the Light always wins. Whether it's our next door neighbor (who is so important!) or a Syrian refugee (who is just as important!), let's rescue and love people where they are in the place God's placed us. As one person I can't do everything, but I CAN do something.

Let's be strong and courageous! Perfect love casts out all fear.

Friday, October 2, 2015

Treasure Friday

Some days I can go antiquing and not find a thing. On days like today, I go and find the world.


Tuesday, August 25, 2015

Gypsy Queen

This past week my husband and I started talking about possibilities for the future... which lead to me putting in my two-week notice at Intercall today. I honestly can't say anything bad about Intercall and it has been a great job for me for nearly a year, but I am just ready to explore more options and try something new.

I guess I am just a gypsy after all. But as I remind myself... not all who wander are lost.

Funny I say that... because this morning BEFORE I put in my two-week notice, a part-time teaching job just kind of fell in my lap.

7th grade English and 9th grade Government. And yes, I'm laughing too.

I don't have a teaching certificate or a teaching degree. And I can't say I know the first think about teaching in a classroom or lesson plans or even grading an essay. (I mean, how many points do you take away for a comma splice or a run-on sentence?) And I was sure to tell the headmaster. The only thing I know about government is to never write 17 pages front and back on an essay test. In the words of Ferris Hall during my senior year as he's holding my wad of handwritten pages and shaking it at me... "Hey Hill, don't ever do this to me again!"

I'm excited and terrified rolled up into one. I have the freedom to observe for one week and then teach for one week without committing before I make a definite decision. How is this even real?

Oh, and the job is at the school Kev graduated from and he's started calling me 'Mrs. Hanner' around the house. I guess it would be all cutesy if I wasn't still imagining all of these little junior high faces staring at me and waiting for me to teach them how to form a satisfactory paragraph. My greatest fear is that I'll just stand there with my mouth hanging open for the whole 50 minute period or just up and split.

...That reminds me of the time I grabbed my backpack during my sorority retreat at Auburn, walked out the door, and drove off never to return or be heard from again. But that's another story for another day.

It's just so funny the adventures the Lord takes us on, and if we really want a wild ride, we just have to jump on board with Him and hold on tight.

So... cheers to venturing out into the world and doing something I've never done and a room full of kids looking at me all crazy (...because that's a promise!) and leaning on the only One I can't do anything without.

As in the words of Kimberly, you just can't make this stuff up.

Friday, July 31, 2015

my dream

I hear so many people talking about dreams and destiny, and those are two words I love. I do. I've always been a dreamer, and we are all called to do something big. I used to dream about finding a man who loves me for me. I used to dream of traveling the world and seeing all the beautiful places. I used to dream of being a doctor because... 'a girl with canes being told she can't CAN!' I used to dream of proving myself.. of being known by others as selfless while sacrificing all I have to give.

But my dream has changed. My something big IS big, but it's way different than what I once thought. It's loving my husband for my whole life while serving the Lord with him and someday having a little boy or girl or both and learning and growing while I watch them learn and grow. It's enjoying the simple things in life and being completely present. It's soaking up the process and not being so focused on the end result. And it's being completely content with what I have because the Lord has been so good to me. If I live out these dreams that may look small typed out on this page, I will change the world.

I was told a few months ago that I can't currently lead worship through singing because they couldn't see any room for a stool on stage in such a high energy environment, and I'll be honest, this completely hurt my feelings. My mind gave in to the offended mentality for awhile, but I'm not offended anymore. I have no doubt that I'm meant for a different purpose during this time, and if the Lord never wants me to sing on a stage again, that's fine by me.

Because it's not about a stage. It's not about me. 

And just as a disclaimer, I'm not using this blog as a way to vent any ill feelings toward anyone. I don't have any ill feelings because the Lord has changed my perspective. He can find purpose in it all.

See... the Lord wanted me to learn more about his heart for people, and he wanted me to understand how to identify with him more. Jesus knows about the whole rejection thing, and He is filled with so much compassion. If we were never rejected, we would never be able to experience the irresistible love of Jesus. He has come to save us over and over again from ourselves, because that's the real problem anyway. Ourselves.

Thank you, Jesus, for giving us new dreams. It really is true that your ways are higher than ours. These words are just words until you make them alive in our hearts. 

And we are never the same.