The Plunge

Well, I finally did it. I said goodbye to simplicity and comfort and frustration and finally jumped into the world of smartphones. Hello team iPhone! I’ve always tried to keep my life as clutter free as possible and stood my ground when all my students tries to convince me to come out of the dark ages. But I’ve given in. And you know, it feels pretty nice. I’m actually typing this post on the phone right now. The wonders of the Internet! This little box can do all sorts of amazing things!

Here’s the challenge I face: keeping the simplicity.
I know that The Lord calls us to remove distractions, live more simply, but in today’s world we don’t always do that. We get busy and add apps and tv shows, more after school activities and turn the music up loud. And sometimes in doing all that, we lose the wonder. So as good as The Lord is, He gave me the right words this morning. I was doing my devotional (I’m going through Ann Voskamp’s 1000 Gifts devotional) and this morning’s was titled “Urgent Grace.” She talks about how God gives us time, but so often we don’t have time for God. She goes on to talk about how being in a hurry can often lead to regret because we miss the moment we’re in due to worry over the next moments. Hello! being fully present in each moment, each conversation is so important!
She then says,

“Life is so urgent it necessitates living slow.”

Because life is fleeting, we must take in the moments and be slow, reverent. In Christ, time is not running out. We lose time when we don’t sit before Him to fill. Because in the filling, we gain time.

“We stand on the brink of eternity. So there is enough time. Time to breathe deep and time to see real. Time to laugh long, time to give God glory and to rest deep and to sing joy.”

What words I needed to hear again and again. I’m so fast to neglect spending time at Jesus’ feet, in His Word when life gets busy. But the reality is that when I begin each day with filling myself with Him, I gain time and perspective and all the rest falls into place.

So as I enter the world of smartphones, may I – may we – not lose sight of being present. Of giving attention to conversation instead of virtual social media.
May The Lord fill us as we take this urgent life slow.

Words from Audrey

One of my favorite actresses is Audrey Hepburn. She is the epitome of all things girly! I never get tired of her movies. I came across a lovely quote from this classy lady:

“For attractive lips, speak words of kindness.
For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people.
For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry.
For beautiful hair, let a child run his or her fingers through it once a day.
For poise, walk with the knowledge that you never walk alone.
People, even more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed and redeemed; never throw out anyone.
Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, you’ll find one at the end of each of your arms. As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands, one for helping yourself, the other for helping others.
The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears, the figure she carries, or the way she combs her hair. The beauty of a woman must be seen from in her eyes, because that is the doorway to her heart, the place where love resides.
The beauty of a woman is not in a facial mode, but the true beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul. It is the caring that she lovingly gives and the passion that she shows.
The beauty of a woman grows with the passing years.”

“A Dare to an Emptier, Fuller Life” | An Arguement and A Challenge

I’ve been rereading this book by Ann Voskamp, One Thousand Gifts.  This book changed my perspective on life the first time I read it, and now that I’m rereading it, I feel refreshed all over again.  In this book, she talks of how the way to a full life is gratitude.  God says that we are to live a full life, in Him, and Ann’s argument is that the way to do that is with a heart of gratitude.  I think this is true. However, I also think that there are other ways to live a full life, completely for Christ.  I find that knowing Him, and His Word, and serving Him are doorways to a full life as well.

[I hope you read the book so that what I’m going to say has context. It’s really a very good book.]

As I’m reading this book, her idea of counting gifts brings healing and brings her into a deeper understanding of eucharisteo, thanksgiving.  What I’ve noticed in her counting is that she counts things.  She counts the gifts of “mail in mailbox,” “sun-rays spread across hardwood floors,” and others.  Sometimes she counts things about her family, but most of her gifts are tangible things.  I understand that in order to be grateful for all things, putting a name to it brings about gratitude.  And in noticing the details of life, she is able to have a joyous attitude. 

I’ve learned that people have a happier, fuller life if they invest in experiences instead of stuff.  For example, typically there are two ways for people to budget out their money.  There are those who place value on vacations and doing things, and those who place value on having nice homes, cars, and stuff.  Now, the tricky thing is that sometimes things play a role in experiences, but overall those who invest more in experiences are more content in life.  Stuff always changes.  There will always be a new smart-phone to buy, a bigger TV, and a newer, faster car.  But experiences can be constant.  They happen, and they can’t be outdone, because they are ours. 

As I’m reading through this book and on a quest to live fully as God intends, I think that counting experiences and relationships has more value.  God calls us to live in relationship with Him and His creation, not with the things He’s placed around us.  It is important to appreciate nature, and I think that it brings us to an attitude of contentment, but I think there’s also more.

I also find it difficult to read this book because Ann lives on a large farm in Canada.  She’s in nature every day.  She home schools her children, and has the opportunity to be in her home, in the outdoors, and be grateful for that.  The majority of Americans live in metropolitan areas, such as myself.  Is it possible to be grateful in Dallas?  Amidst all the concrete, money, attitude, and people?  Ann has time for solitude, reflection, and gratitude…but do I?  When my weeks are full of youth, and school, and rushing, and I feel that my life is full already, is gratitude like Ann talks about really the ticket?  Is it how God fully wants us to live?  Maybe in gratitude, we turn our attention of what is in front of us to Him, Creator, and in doing so He is glorified.  Do I need to name them in the city?  Can I just be thankful that today I’m breathing and that He is reigning?  Can I discipline myself to stop and spend time in solitude?

 

“This pen (writing of gifts): this is nothing less than the driving of nails.  Nails driving out my habits of discontent and driving in my habit of eucharisteo.  I’m hammering in nails to pound out nails, ugly nails that Satan has pierced through the world, my heart.  It starts to unfold, light in the dark, a door opening up, how all these years it’s been utterly pointless to try to wrench out the spikes of discontent.  Because that habit of discontentment can only be driven out by hammering in one iron sharper.  The sleek pin of gratitude.”

So here I am.  At a place where I must do something, change something.  I know that if I ignore God’s teaching in my life, I’ll perish with discontentment.  So I’m going to start, for the next three weeks, naming gifts in the city.  I’m shooting for a few a day, no set number, just for the next three weeks.  And I’ll see what happens from there.  But my gifts must be experiences.  They are of the people I come in contact with, the lessons God teaches me, the small things that make a meaningful, lasting difference.

 

Join me?  In this discussion of gratitude and fullness, I’d love to hear your thoughts.

An Encouragement for Your Day

BrittNicole’s “Gold”

Top Ten Things Overheard | Revolve Tour 2013

*They’re climbing in yo window…snatching your snacks up. Hide yo sour patch kids, hide yo m&ms. ’cause the rats are all up in here!
*Drool and jaws drop as Anthem Lights takes the stage. High pitched screaming follows.
*I’m not sure who is screeching louder, Kelly Scott or the rats??
*”We didn’t sleep all night! And we’re not tired. And we wrote new songs on the guitar we learned to play just now.”
*Upon meeting Anthem Lights: “Hi whats your name?” Danniee: “Ummm…Uhhh, Christina!”
Later: “Who’s Christina?? I completely forgot my name, he’s so attractive!”
*What should we do with 40 girls at midnight? Pack out McDonalds and feed them ice cream!
*Bullying is cool #saidnooneever
*Can we be best friends with Britt Nicole?? -Molly Sexton
*I’m never washing this hand again!
*”Nothing abnormal about riding a wheelchair at church and 1:00 a.m”
*The service is over and it’s time to go…where are all our girls? Oh, that’s right. We’ll be waiting on them for the next few hours as they talk with bands and speakers. Waiting…always waiting.
*After waiting, we get kicked out…again.
*Why is it that we got kicked out? Oh yes, because Molly and Courtney are freaking out and running laps in the worship center.
*This is Love. And true love is not a what but a Someone.

Lessons From The Oscars

I’m currently watching the Oscars.  This happens every year about this time.  Award nights come around and I typically don’t care.  But then I catch a glimpse of one award or one actress and I’m hooked.  For the next three hours I’m cheering for these people as if I’m obsessed with their music or movies and talking to them like their my best friends. To a TV!!  They can’t even hear me.  They won’t see my tweets.  The only other person hearing me is a family member if they happen to be in the room.  What is this?!

I’m not one of those people who read tabloids and follow celebrities in the news.  I typically don’t care.  I follow their movies and occasionally hear about their lives from friends and am mildly interested.  I don’t try to know them, but when award nights come around suddenly I’m all about their lives.  When the Grammy’s were on a few weeks ago, Fun. and I were best friends, as if I’ve been following their band for years.  I haven’t.  I sort of jumped on that band wagon this past Fall.  So why do I get so invested in these people in one night?

Movie stars seem to be a bit different because they play a person we can relate to or we can see small clips of their lives and in our minds we relate.  We pretend we know these people.  George Clooney and I have been tight ever since I watched him every Thursday night on ER when I was five, and Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner have been a favorite couple since Ben was in Voyage of the Mimi which we watched in 6th grade science class.  But to say that I know them or anything about their lives is dumb.

Does anyone else find themselves starstruck with awards?  A few thoughts on why we do this and what I learned from the Oscar’s tonight:

1.  We all have a huge desire to be known.  We view these stars as people to strive to be like, and somehow think that if we know about these stars we will be known too.  We want to be like them because everyone “knows” them, and we long to be known as well.  Is that so bad?  Well, no.  God created us with a desire to be fully known by Him and that was broken with sin.  There’s a pit there.  So we fill our lives, our pits, with things that will make us known.  We chase stars, boy bands, even the star football player at school.  We surround ourselves with people who will know us and we put ourselves out there.  This isn’t necessarily bad, but only if we are filling our pit completely with God first.  We talk to Him, listen to Him, read what He tells us.  And then we can relate to other people and be known by them.  We know God and we know people.  Real people; not those who we pretend to know through a TV screen.

2.  Be in the moment.  One reason I want to know Ben Affleck was the contagiousness of his full presence.  As he was accepting his Oscar for Argo winning best film, he was all there.  Through that TV screen, I could tell he was absorbing being there, with those people, in that place, experiencing those emotions.  He was fully present.  How many times do I go through my day so busy that I miss out on the moment I’m in because I’m planning or thinking about the moments to come?  And then when those moments come, I’m not fully there either because I’ve already moved on to the next.  God gives us an exact amount of time, and what we choose to do with it defines our lives.  We collect the moments so that our lives have meaning and are full.  If we pass through each of our moments without absorbing them, they are not collected and they scatter – missed.

3.  Life is not about me.  Seth MacFarlane, who hosted the Oscars may have made some crude comments, but I felt that he did a fabulous job hosting.  He made the evening flow, was brief yet funny, and most importantly made the night about the films.  Most hosts/hostesses make the evenings about how great they are or all about how great their lives are; their jokes are at the expense of someone else.  But Seth did not do that.  He made jokes, but they were turned on him or the moment happening.  No one left embarrassed.  He wasn’t perfect, and I didn’t see the entire show, but from the majority of what I saw I was impressed.  This just reminds me not to make situations about me.  There is a time and place, but we don’t need to butt in to conversations or turn situations into “The Brittany Show.”  No one wants that.  In conversation, make sure you’re not monopolizing.  James tells us to be quick to listen, slow to speak…  Life is not about us.  It’s about bringing glory to the Kingdom of God.

4.  Embrace the lessons of the character whose story we’re telling.  We’re all telling a story.  By the words we say, the actions we do, even our thoughts.  Each moment collects and tells a story, making up the whole of our lives.  According to the previous point, life isn’t about me, therefore I’m not telling my own personal story.  I’m telling the story of God working in my life; it’s His story not mine.  Anne Hathaway taught me this lesson tonight.  She gracefully accepted the well-deserved award for her performance in Les Mis.  She gave a lovely speech and ended it with “Here’s hoping someday in the not-too-distant future the misfortunes of Fantine will be only found in fiction and not in real life.” #Classy!  Listening to that really made me think of the story I’m telling and learning from.  Anne told the story of Fantine’s misfortunes, but we get to tell a happier story.  One of life and hope.  Unlike Fantine, in the end Christ wins!  This is what shapes us and what molds how we live so that we’re telling it.  We’re telling of His work in our lives.  We also get to learn from the stories of others and allow that to shape us a little bit.  We can allow the story that we’re telling to become bitter and callous or open to compassion and love.  What story am I telling?   Let’s embrace the story of hope, of holiness, and joy.  And may our lives tell His story and not ours.

An Appreciation…

Of…

Ego Problems.       Jamzzzzz.       DJ and Tour Guide Lessons.       Cursing.       Elevator of humor.       c-c-cool b-b-b-beans-beans.       Playing the Background.       Frat boys’ boxer campus-run-throughs..yikes.       Choir tour “kidnappings.”       Stayin’ alive.       Scrumptious cupcakes and melting dipped cones.       Stolen golf carts.       Uncle Don bathroom situations.       Mr. Magorium.       Jamz with Cademon’s Call, Jars of Clay, Usher, and some loudly yelled curse words.       Blap Blap Blap!       Can I get an Amen, Hello!       Prayer and it’s full importance.       A learning of student ministry.       Are you a man, or a muppet??  …hmmmm.       “Because I’m Oprah!!” and 3 a.m. Walmart runs.       DelTaco late-night convos.       Laughs.       Birds  (Are we talking the animal or the finger here??).       Whore sermons – thanks for letting that be an ok thing. I really like talking about whores…       Date bets and freak-outs.    Candle Vigils.       Trashcan? Hospital.       Expectation of God’s movement in student’s hearts.       Old-school footprint posters.       Pinching-even though I don’t think that “big brothers that I never had (thankfully)” would actually hurt me.       Pregnant with potential and other awkward statements.      Life being not about me or you.       Names that aren’t my own proper name (not sure why Beege has grown on me).       Full life.      Mentoring and pastoring.       Cheesy Events.       Andy Stanley mancrushes.       Learning to fully love God, love people.       Zombie obsessions – whether it be sheep or people. Yup.       Allowing God to use you and impacting my life for the Kingdom in big ways that can’t be put into simple stories.

Because you’re 40 and oh, so old, here are 40 things I fully appreciate about you, and one to grow on.
I’m so thankful to have the opportunity to do ministry with you and to have you as a friend.  (:   beeee!

-BG

Social Media Thoughts

As Social Media director for our youth ministry, articles like these stand out to me. I love this blog anyway because the women who run it speak blunt truth to the teenage ladies of this world. But this particular topic has become an issue with quite a lot of girls lately (at least the ones I follow), so here’s a good, short read:

http://www.liesyoungwomenbelieve.com/index.php?id=1915

I think that it not only applies to Instagram, but Twitter and Facebook as well. Instagram is mainly used by middle schoolers and filled with “selfies”. Selfies basically tell the world that you think you’re the prettiest person ever and that you want some affirmation of that. As ladies, we especially thrive off of what other people say about us – shown in how many “likes” we get on a single picture. How vain do our posts then seem? Can we please find self-esteem in Christ, the complete Creator of beauty, instead of imperfect people?

This not only happens with pictures, but on Twitter as well. Apparently the new thing is to “subtweet.” This is basically complaining or gossiping about someone without mentioning who it is. It not only is annoying to one’s followers, it’s definitely not edifying to the Body of Christ. Would you say that tweet to their face? If not, why post it? There are much better ways to handle frustration. Does it really need to be said, online or to a friend??

What a great thought to use social media to glorify Christ instead of ourselves.
How would our lives look if we applied this not only to Instagram and Twitter, but to every aspect of our lives??

So as we consider what we are putting on social media, let’s remember to encourage one another, share the joy from our lives, and point to Jesus and not to vanity. I’m not saying to never post a “selfie” but to seriously think and pray about the motivation behind the post. And in any tweet or other picture, are your motives pure and will they encourage others or bring joy? These are things I need to think about myself.

As Daughters of the King, stewards of all that God has given us, being made holy by the Lord, and examples of who Christ is, let’s be mindful of what we are putting on social media, and what is coming out of our mouths and of our body language.

For The Girl…Whose Life is Changing

Can I just say that I love new things!  New places, new cultures, new foods, new ideas, new people – I love it!

But man, oh man, change is SO hard!  It is a weird contradiction, is it not?

Do you ever feel like I do right now? Like you’re so content and happy to be where you are, but also long to be somewhere else? That’s what I’m feeling right now.  I love my new job in Frisco, and I love you girls that I get to hang out with and minister to.  But at the same time, some nights my heart longs to be in Arkadelphia.  I long for the clear, star-filled skies, the girls of my first youth ministry, and the comfort.

But then God reminds me that there lies the problem.  Comfort.  He told me a long time ago that my life is never to be comfortable.  Content, yes, but not comfortable.  And so I told Him that whenever I get too comfortable that He should move me. So He did. And I am so content, and life is full of joy.

God designed us to grow in change.  Have you ever been through a season of change, and came out a better person for it? It happens all the time.  We change from being elementary school kids to middle schoolers.  And when we leave 6th, 7th, 8th grades, we are better people. Hopefully.

Let me encourage you that as life changes, embrace the growth that can happen. Let God guide you through these changes so that each choice you make is one that pleases Him, and is guided by Him.  Change is hard, but without God at our side, it will be so much harder.  And we cannot stay stagnant, living without changing.  We must always change because time moves forward. We grow older, times change. And if we don’t change with it, our lives become lost.  Allow God to change you into the person He wants you to be.  Allow Him to change you into a holy, righteous person, living for Him.

So do new things, ponder new ideas, go to so many new places, make a new friend, and eat a new food. You might find that you like it.  And you will find that God has a plan.

Shall we change together?

For The Girl…Who Needs Encouragement

Social Media is becoming so ingrained in today’s culture.  It’s almost impossible to have a discussion with someone without either mentioning something found out on facebook or twitter, or without first knowing some fact from the web.  This is why we at Blue try to be up-to-date on the social networks.  This may seem to have nothing to do with the title, but hang with me.

I had a phone call today from one of the moms of our youth.  She was calling to tell me that another girl’s mom was in the hospital because of surgery and experiencing some difficulty with the surgery.  It seems pretty serious. I knew that this mom was having surgery, but had thought it was going well (because I saw posts on social media, of course).  With this sad news, I was concerned for both our girls and the mom.

I checked Instagram earlier this evening, and was so encouraged to see what kinds of conversation (if it can be called that on instagram) were occurring between our eighth grade girls.  This girl had posted that her mom was not doing well, and as I read the comments my heart was happy.  All the posts were from girls in our youth group, her small group, and were discussions of how they had been praying for this girl’s mom.

Just when I think that sometimes we’re not getting through to some girls, I know that the Holy Spirit is at work.  I know that we are surrounded by peers from church that are willing to pray for our hurts and encourage one another.

Life is hard.  There are so many good things that happen in life, but often sad things happen.  Our mom’s get sick; dad’s work late and sometimes leave; friends are flaky and change plans for better options; people are mean at school; life seems overwhelming when we try to balance school and sports; expectations sometimes put too much pressure on us; we don’t fit in with the people we’re around; we are forced to move and change our world;  life happens.

But be encouraged.  God is good; He is overly gracious; He puts people in our life in His timing that will walk with us; the flowers still bloom each spring; the sun still rises in the East every morning; God is faithful and saves; laughter heals heart-wounds; and sometimes people really are nice.

So as I sit here in Starbucks and enjoy a warm latte, waiting for fall to fully arrive, I want to encourage you. You can get up each morning; you can enjoy a full life; you can find little things to be thankful for.  God will carry you through the tough times.  Know that there are people praying for you, and are here for you through physical hurts, and emotional hurts.

You turned my deepest pains into joyful dancing;
You stripped off my dark clothing

and covered me with joyful light.

You have restored my honor. My heart is ready to explode, erupt in new songs!

It’s impossible to keep quiet!

Eternal One, my God, my Life-Giver, I will thank You forever.

       Psalm 30.11-12