Change

Change can be hard. Change can be easy. When we see how God has a plan for us and how it all works to His glory it is a "wow moment"! It's all His timing! It's all His plan! It's surrender and let Him be glorified!

vision of birds dancing on our head

Jesse planned a spontaneous getaway to Galveston for the night at a great hotel. Ok, so here is a story for you...picture this: nice hotel, great pool layout including a hot tub, great dinner and just a side note; birds chirping all around (of course you can expect lots of birds at the beach, right?).
After dinner we were planning to sit in the hot tub for a nice relaxing evening. It was dark outside and being near the beach you could still hear noisy birds all around but really couldn't see them. So, we slip into the nicely heated hot tub and as soon as we get settled for a our nice relaxing evening we both notice a funny smell (me and smells just don't go very well together). We look around but didn't really notice anything and just move past it and proceed to just sit back and relax. Just then Jesse says "um mm Liz, look up!". So I looked up and YIKES, WOW, black birds and more black birds covering the trees in close range above our heads. With chills up and down my spin I let out a soft scream, grossed out shake and proceed to escape from something landing on my head. I wanted OUT of that hot tub!! So, Jesse and I get out of the hot tub into the cold air to check out the other pool temperatures...this was the only "hot" tub...so we think, OK, maybe we can do this, maybe we can find a spot and avoid bird droppings in our eyes or on our heads, so we (me reluctantly) slip back into the hot tub, but just as we stepped back in one (or many) bird droppings, yes poop, landed right in the hot tub and on the ledge around the hot tub. As we look around we find a very uncomfortable situation of bird droppings "all up in" and around the hot tub. We then realized there is no escaping this situation and what a mess it really was plus all I could think was SHOWER, SHOWER, SHOWER. It was as if the birds were laughing at us all perched in their trees! So I think you should always go with your first instinct and avoid the stink! :) We decided (not a hard decision) to just forget the hot tub and ended up in the somewhat heated pool for the evening. It still was a great evening although we will never forget the vision of black birds dancing about and above our heads!!!

Rest for the Weary

"Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30

glasses vs. contacts

OK, so I have been wearing contacts since I was in Junior High...I can't see anything without my contacts or glasses...sometimes when I put my glasses down and take out my contacts I can't find my glasses because I can't see them...so that is where I call for JESSE HELP! :)
Well, I have been wearing my glasses for about a month now, and CAN'T wait to get my contacts back (that is a long story)...so here I am one night getting ready for bed...I walk into the bathroom, get out my eye makeup remover and cotton ball...then I proceed to take my eye makeup off...so I put the cotton ball with remover on it up to my right eye and WHAM, something was in the way....ummmm....so I forgot to take my glasses off...so eye makeup remover was dripping from my glasses...I think I was rolling on the floor laughing at what I just did...I mean, how in the world does that happen??? It's like when I have my glasses off and contacts in and I randomly push up my glasses as if they are on my face...really what is that???

Valentine's Day

My sweet husband always has something special planned and Valentine's Day is just a little extra!
He planned for us to go to Galveston (which is one of our favorite places to get away) to pick our our own kites and then fly them on the beach. After that we were going to go eat at our favorite steak house. Well, with the the pouring rain that put a damper on our plans (haha) plus MAJOR traffic we decided to go with his plan B.
So, we went to Aveda and got a manicure and pedicure and then went to one our favorite restaurant downtown. We had a great time together and I was reminded that he is my favorite person to spend time with. I just love him and he is always so thoughtful! He always tells me, "Valentine's Day is just a day to do something extra for your love"!

Mercy

It's interesting how God reminds me of Him as I interact with other people. I do enjoy watching, listening and learning from other people. True character is revealed when least expected!


I have seen time and time again that just saying everything is great all the time isn't always best! I don't think you should wear all your trials on your sleeves and have a negative attitude but realize that some things are necessary for growth. Having people around you who God put in your life as a friend or mentor is important. I have personally experienced people in my life who have said in these paraphrased words; trials and hardships are weakness in your faith, you are doing something wrong if you are faced with trials especially if you discuss it then you must be a negative person.

How can someone be so bold to make those kinds of statements? The plan facts of a situation doesn't make you a negative person. It makes me sad for people who are in a hard situation to be faced with that kind of judgement. Doesn't God's word say it's what you do with the situation that builds your character and it's not for others to judge anyway.

"Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. he will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men's hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God." 1 Corinthians 4:5

God has shown me how to have a balance when faced with a trial. When others are faced with a trial to look at it unselfishly and not judge them for how they react. Also to remember to be careful with the "perfect positive judgemental people" to not judge them in return but give mercy and grace! "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble" 1 Peter 5:5


I was reminded by someone wise that trials build character and make us stronger and we should ask God to teach us how to pray! "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." James 1:2-4


Trials in circumstances make us stronger! Be careful to be merciful and not judgemental. I am thankful God gives mercy and grace!

just a little love note

I admire my husband and his outlook on life, marriage and relationships. He always finds a way to see the positive and reminds me how much he loves me even when I am not the "perfect wife". I know we are in our marriage for life, as long as God allows us to be on this earth together. I am learning more about relationships and how to be a better wife each day! He sees the good in people! I am amazed at the wisdom God has already given to him! I just love him! Plus he just makes me laugh....

audience of ONE- speak truth

I wish I had that giftedness...I could have that talent...I want to be like that...I am not good enough to do that...
I wish I would have done that...I need to have it all together...
I admit, I have fell culprit to some of that that thinking...I don't think there is anything wrong with dreams, hopes and striving to know more about who you are but the caution enters when we are fighting too hard to be someone God did not intend for us to be. Why do we measure our standards by what society or others think about us and where does that come from? It comes from lies, lies we believe as truth! I am constantly reminded that we have an audience of ONE and if it's truly pleasing to God, well, that is the only and ultimate opinion that matters. It is important to listen to true wisdom, discernment and cousel! The problem is our view of who we are and our sense of self worth are often determined and defined by the input and opinions of others. We allow ourselves to live in an emotional prison because we choose to accept what others say about us as truth. That is a scary place to be. Trying to live up to the gifts and talents of other people will never allow any of us to find our own and be the person God made us to be. Why don't we love ourselves and let go of the "should of, would of, could of" and be who God made us to be today.
I remind myself today, God made me unique and has plans for me exactly how he made me. I want to strive to seek God and find the things in me that make me unique and special! I have an audience of ONE! An interesting quote from a book, Fight like a Girl, "If you listen to lies long enough , when truth speaks you cannot hear or bear it."

Friendship thoughts...

I am so thankful for the friends I have and the new friends God has given me! It's amazing! We cross paths with all kinds of people for a reason! I believe sometimes we make poor, unhealthy choices and other times we make healthy, wise choices and should hold tight to those friendships! You never know what kind of friendships will develop when you aren't even trying because we all connect on different levels! I enjoy the fact that friendships can be different and that's OK.
I struggled for a long time thinking I couldn't trust anyone and I needed to keep things to myself but my husband always told me there is wisdom in friendships and having a mentor. I enjoy having trustworthy friendships, ones that grow and you know you can trust will be your friend inspite of your faults and even if time has passed. Just because someone doesn't become your "bestie for life" doesn't mean they don't like you...I think we should let others connect with others on the level that fits them! God teaches me through my friendships that "you don't have to please everyone just be who you are"! Not everyone will be your "bestie for life"...they might have their own! :) Just love people for who they are!

New

This is my first post; I am going to try to blog. I would love to have some fun background but can't figure out how to accomplish that! :)

Just alittle about a "New Journey"

Life is so interesting! Over the years, God has put different ministry paths on our hearts; missions, adoption, orphans, students & young people but unsure what capacity those would be in. One path has brought us to Sugar Land, TX. We moved here in June 08 to begin a new adventure where God called us to be part of a church plant, Grandview Fellowship. We were happy and comfortable where we were, loved the people and had many great friends right where we were but knew this is part of God's plan for us. During our transition we moved several times and stayed with friends until we finally found a resting spot. A nice cozy apartment we call home.

God knows our hearts and His timing is perfect. Doing what He asks isn't always easy when it takes us out of our comfort zone but it's all for His glory and honor not ours. He has a funny way of putting people together and then taking them on new adventures either together or separate. The really neat part is we can still have friendships and discipleship with people no matter where we are in location. We will always have family and friends all over who we love and connect with! Now, I am learning ministry is not just about a location, name or a building as much as it is about people!

Within one (the same) month, me and my husband, my sister and her family and my little sister all moved away from the same location. Talk about a shock for my parents! It was a shock for all of us that we are all moving in different directions!
People ask me all the time if we like Sugar Land, TX and why Sugar Land? We do like Sugar Land! We enjoy the location, the people and the fact that it's very diverse here. It is very different here! It takes longer to make friendships and connect with people yet some people are very open. It takes effort and commitment to keep special relationships alive and make new relationships! Sometimes I think it might have been easier to move to another state but that was not God's plan. He has a plan for us in Sugar Land and we have learned a lot about people, ministry and ourselves here! In the hard times He wants us to rely on Him more! Trust Him for His strength! Why try to make judgement on others or think we know best when HE does! This is a stepping stone within the journey we are on. I call it a journey because there are so many roads and paths we are learning about each day!

People

People are very interesting and I enjoy learning about them and discovering what gives them motivation for what they say and do. As I sit at the various coffee shops I call my "office", I find myself meeting new people but also just watching random people.
I always think "What makes them act the way they do?", "Why do they say the things they say?", "What gives them peace and direction?". I know that might be intrusive but I just enjoy people's differences. It's crazy how different yet the same we are. God's is very crafty to form us all the way He did. As I look at people, I think, WOW, He loves ALL of us, even those who don't even know Him! Amazing!

Braxton

Our nephew: Braxton Spradley is a fighter and already has a life testimony. "God's fingerprints are all over this". God is the ultimate healer! This little boy was born to Jerod and Anna with a heart defect. Within hours after he was born he had major heart surgery. Since December 9 he has had many other surgeries and complications. You can find his story at http://braxtonspradley.blogspot.com/. He is still in the hospital but finally doing better. It is a great sign since he was moved to a different room within NICU; that means he is closer to home. This little boy is already a miracle! He has already brought people together! He is a reminder of God's grace and healing!