Positive Post Tuesday-Employment Thanks

I’ve been waiting all day for a phone call from this company. This waiting game has provided me loads of time to rest, create, rehearse, and hang out with my sis-n-law and nieces. Honestly, though, I’m so ready to get off my office bed and get back to the 40 hour work week. So in honor of times past, today I’d like to thank my previous employers for those positions that God provided. This is my positive post!

Let’s start with the college days. 3 years of my college education were spent living in the Fine Arts Building at Gardner-Webb University. Not only was I going to classes and rehearsing there, but I also worked as an assistant to Wanda Bridges, the mighty Fine Arts Secretary. I also got to work in the summer at a File Clerk/Check in/out Receptionist at a doctor’s office.

Then soon before graduating college, I got a lead on a position as a nanny for a family in Fairfax, VA. I figured it’d be something to get me by while I figured out which steps to take after receiving my Bachelor of Arts. That family continues to be a special part of my life. I stayed there three years caring for the three fantastic Wichterman kids. Bill and Dana made me a part of their family.

I was still a bit unsure about a “career”, but I got an invitation to move to Jacksonville, FL to rent a room in my college roomie’s house. Her husband was in the Navy and was gone a lot, so my old roomie desired the company. Kelly Services quickly found me the most amazing job as a Switchboard Operator/Receptionist in Fidelity National Financial’s corporate office. I loved that job. My co-workers and supervisors could not have been more amazing.

Then some close friends in FL asked me to help them further their new company. It was a website monitoring company, but the capabilities of his program was amazing. It was a struggle to get it going, but I think I learned more in that job than with any other job…that’s where I gained my advanced computer skills.

But I needed to be near home for a variety of reasons, so my family helped me pack up and ship all my stuff back to NC. Since then I’ve done office temp. work, waitressing, and more nannying as I’ve continued to seek a “career”.

With God’s hand something always comes, so I’m already thanking Him for this next job. Hopefully tomorrow I’ll get that phone call.

The Bangs Won

I couldn’t let them grow anymore.  I missed my fun bangs.

Conversations with God

Recently at a young adults Bible study, a friend said she felt challenged to follow through more faithfully on prayer when she says she will pray for someone.  I don’t think she’s alone in that challenge.  Personally I have been guilty of saying that phrase “I’ll be praying for you” and then not fully committing time with God about that person or situation.  Someone else in that discussion brought up that instead of saying that phrase, train yourself to say a prayer out loud with that person in that very moment.  This is not to say that we shouldn’t continue to pray afterwards, but it definitely starts the ball rolling.

It works.  I’ve recently mentioned that my friend John does this.  When he does, I feel an immediate sense of calm.  It is more than reassurance; it hugs your heart and draws you instantly into the arms of Jesus.

Brittany, my sister-in-law, and I have had some really in-depth discussions recently about prayer and forgiveness.  She is reading a fantastic book which has actually been teaching her to immediately talk to God about any hurts or concerns.  As she shared with me today, I thought about how many times I have been hurt or worried and did not instantly voice my heart to God.  It’s easy to stew a while, whether through venting to others, exercising it out, mentally analyzing, or all out avoiding it.  As Brittany reminded me today, David bore his heart and frustration to God in many of his Psalms.

Jesus has said to us that His desire is that we love Him with all our hearts, minds, and souls. (Matt. 22:37-40)  God knit us together in our mothers’ wombs. (Psalm 139:13)  Wow, I mean if anything this shows me how involved God is and desires to be in our lives, right down to the smallest detail.  He wants us to discuss everything with Him.  He wants us to wake up speaking His name and to fall asleep resting in His arms.  Sometimes grasping this is easier than putting this into practice.

As Maribeth Jennings put so beautifully, if we simply love God…if we acknowledge and appreciate the goodness of God…this “practice” will follow innately.  Loving God will develop a devoted, reliant passion in our hearts to converse with Him continually and to seek knowledge from His Word.

How blessed are we that we have such intimate access to our Creator and Redeemer!!!

Breakfast Anytime

I’m one of those people who love breakfast for lunch and dinner.  In fact, I often prefer it.  Perhaps this is due to the fact that I rarely eat a “real” breakfast. Usually I grab coffee with cream and some kind of bread in the morning.

Today for lunch I have made myself an almost perfect omelette, filled with grilled onions, bacon, and cheese.  To make a superb omelette, there would have to be green peppers in the house.  Then I would have grilled those with the onion.  Mmm.

What’s your favorite breakfast food?  Do you enjoy the lunch/dinner breakfast?  How do you like your omelette?

Weekend Wrap-Up

It’s Sunday night, and that means I’m looking forward to a good night’s rest.  It has been an eventful weekend.  On the Fourth, our young adult group had a fantastic time.  We played volleyball and had a cookout at Nathan and Terra Hardin’s house.  Almost our entire group was able to make it, which is so encouraging.  I’ve been really hoping and praying for this group to start gathering more often.  We need that fellowship.  Anyhow, it was storming a bit that night, so we were a little uncertain about heading out to see the fireworks, but we did anyhow.  We hiked a little over a mile to Oak Hollow Lake in High Point (NC) to catch the show.  The timing couldn’t have been more perfect.  As soon as we got there, the fireworks began and the storm seemed to be long gone.

Saturday was my fasting day.  I found myself drawn to a song by Brook Fraser called “Albertine” as well as Psalm 71.  That evening I babysat the two boys I used to nanny, and they were so good.  We had a great night of Guitar Hero and swashbuckling hero books.

Today I stood in a circle during church that included the entire congregation.  It was so cool.  We surrounded the sanctuary and linked hands as we prayed for one another.  That’s the kind of stuff that makes me teary-eyed.  Afterwards I got to spend lunch at Panera with my brother, sisnlaw, nieces, and sisnlaw’s parents.  Taylor, the recently turned 3 year old, was especially clingy with me today.  Not sure why, but she kept laying her head on my shoulder and patting my back while she smiled at me saying, “My Andi.”  *happy*  Maddie was as bubbly as always, providing loads of giggles.

My friend Lauren and I made a fantastic meal for dinner for a group of friends tonight.  So now I’m home and ready for bed.  Please pray for me if you will.  I am hoping to hear from at least one company that I’ve interviewed with recently.  It would be great if by the end of this week I could be employed. 

A Well of Hope-40 Day Fast

Gowien Church

I grew up in NC drinking a lot of sweet tea. Over the years I’ve developed a conversion of dedication to coffee. It is a sad thing to admit, but I have stated on occasion to my mother that I don’t have much of a “taste” for drinking water.

Yet 25,000 people die everyday due to a lack of clean drinking water. In the USA, we have such a huge selection of beverage choices, even in bottled water. If I go to Wal-mart or Harris Teeter, I can choose between 3 to 8 different brands, sizes, and purifications. I have access to drinking fountains and faucets at most buildings I enter. Yet not even halfway across the world there are people dying because of in-access to drinkable water.

Today I will be relying on purely water to sustain my movements. Today I will appreciate the benefits of water, and “taste” will not be an issue. Shame on me for being so spoiled that I have complained about the taste of water.

World Hope International assists in many areas of need, including developing rural areas in need of drinkable water. My church, Christ Wesleyan Church, has been saving up to dig a well through World Hope in the country of Liberia. The people in the Gowien village, where we are digging the well, have been recovering after 14 years of war. At one point recently we had enough to purchase the well, but the cost to dig these wells has been escalating along with the price of gasoline. This well is going to be a huge step for the restoration of this village, so we are very excited to reach our goal.

Dr. Jo Ann Lyon, recently elected General Superintendent of The Wesleyan Church, is also the founder and CEO of World Hope International. On June 22, 2008 at College Wesleyan Church in Marion, IN, she spoke about a well in Zambia being dug. The goal is “empowering the entire community,” she says and “the church is the center. Generally one of the first things that’s needed is a well. Because if there is no water you can’t field animals and you can’t raise crops.” Dr. Lyon visited a village in Zambia that had never had clean water before the drilling began. She said everyone became extremely silent when the water started pouring and spilling out from the rig. The Zambian pastor there spoke, placing his hand on the water, “Today is resurrection day. We had no hope, but today we have hope.“ A small church in Western New York provided the funds to give that Zambian community hope. You can listen to Dr. Lyon’s sermon here.

Recently I helped organize an event called the “Union Cross Café”, in which we had musical artists from our church provide live music while some volunteers served café-style food and drinks. 75% of our proceeds were sent off this week to World Hope to benefit a Haitian community. Now, our young adults are considering making the café a monthly outreach event where money will be raised for World Hope wells. Our youth pastor came up with a great name: “The Well.” As we pray and plan, I am continually challenged in my heart to be thankful for the provisions and comforts we have here in the United States. In my fast today, may God align my focus with His so that what I am given may overflow to those in need.

World Hope International’s Mission Statement explains that they are a “faith based relief and development organization alleviating suffering and injustice through education, enterprise and community health.” If you are interested in learning more about World Hope rural development as well as any of their other various programs, check out their site.

Also, make sure you read embracingtherisk.blogspot.com‘s 40 Day Fast blog today!

New Songs and Happy Times

I just uploaded three new songs to my myspace…they were a quick record, but I am pleased with the songs.  Recording is not my niche, but it’s fun experimenting.   I’m being asked to lead worship in some new environments this summer and fall, and I will probably use those three in the worship sets.  One of them called “To The King” is something my brother Jordan and I collaborated to create.  I hope he’s pleased with the end result.  I’m so excited about these new musical ministry avenues!

Tonight the young adults headed out to eat, bowl, and attempt some radical jokes.  Tater lost at bowling, which meant that he was supposed to do something really embarrassing at Target/Walmart.  However, the guys gave him a double or nothing chance with air hockey.  It was quite a game!  Most of us girls almost got taken out by the puck at one point or another, but 7-6 Tater won.  Our attempts at other fun joking didn’t really get pulled off the way we had envisioned.  Oh well…

there’s always tomorrow night.

Make sure you check out the new music!

I Miss John

John is my best friend.  He is a worship pastor at Mint Hill Baptist Church in Charlotte, but he also is a bank manager.  On top of that he gives voice lessons.  He’s about as busy as I am when I have a full-time job.  So, we keep playing phone tag.  And both of us keep losing.

It’s so frustrating.  Conversations with him (no matter how they start) end up encouraging me and motivating us both to be better friends.  I really miss spending time with him.  He is so great at actively listening.  He processes things at tremendous speed, and believe me I can talk in some amazing circles.  The best thing is that I don’t have to explain all the way and he’ll already be a step ahead of me with prayer already on his lips.  And you know what?  He’ll pray with me right then and there, out loud.  He has this insane ability to turn any song into lyrics to fit a situation at hand.

Like tonight.  I got the “miss you, hope you know i care and think you are great” version of “Come Fly With Me” on a phone message.

I’m excited about July 20th, though.  I’ll be helping him with Sunday morning’s worship and then that evening I’ll be giving a concert at his church.  He is a really fantastic worship leader.  I’ve seen him direct worship and choir in years past…it’s so neat to see how God has moved him back in that direction.  Even more, how God is working in his life.  The evidence is astounding.   I’m really thankful John and I have been able to retain our friendship since college.  I miss him….

time to phone tag him again.

Another Crazy Dream

Okay, so I cannot resist. I really want to share my creepy dream. Most of you won’t think it’s creepy at all. In fact, you’ll probably just go, “okay” because you don’t know these people. If you do, you will probably laugh.

I just have really strange dreams.

So there are these two guys I grew up with in REAL life named Robert and Randall. Robert is now married to Tiff and Randall is still single. They are pretty much like brothers to me because they hung out with my two brothers all the time. They also have an older sister who I am friends with.

Now that you have background, here is my dream. Robert and Randall’s mom and my mom arrange marriage for me. So I wear a white dress and head over to this place which totally looks like an 1800s courthouse. Everything looks vintage, including my dress. When the mystery man is revealed, it turns out to be a brother of Robert and Randall’s that I have never met. His name is Rodney, and he also has a foo-man-choo (Robert and Randall have foo-man-choos), and pretty much he looks like a cross between Robert and Randall. They call him Rod for short.

So I marry this guy named Rod. And he’s really quiet. Turns out he owns a bar, which also looks like it was carved in the 1800s. All I remember from there is deciding whether or not I could love this guy, and running out in the middle of the night from the creepy bar bedroom where we lived.

Hmmm. WIIEEEEEEEERRRRRD.

Positive Post Tuesday-My Daddy

I’ve talked a lot about my family in my posts. They are pretty fantastic. Since Father’s Day was not too long ago and I have yet to write a Positive Post about my Father, I will today.

My dad is so cool. My dad laughs a lot. He makes those corny jokes that you can’t help but snicker at. He can lighten the mood when it’s needed. But he knows how to be seriously smart. He challenges his family and causes us to really meditate on things we may usually not think twice about. My dad is also an artist. He can sketch people and construct beautiful furniture, and all of it is crafted with love. My dad also knows how to sing. We haven’t heard him solo much recently, but he’ll put passion and heart into any song about Jesus. The best thing is to walk in on him while he’s listening to the Gaither Vocal Band. He gives a great living room show.

My dad loves the Lord with all His heart. And with that love comes a distinct mission to teach God’s goodness. He has a reputation that screams teacher. He’s so great at it because he wants people to understand. Dad will come up with all sorts of illustrations and stories so that any age will be able to get excited about Jesus.

He is one of the most multi-talented, gifted, passionate men in the entire world. To support his family, he has made so SOOOOO many sacrifices. I cannot emphasize that enough. My dad has worked hard everyday of my life at a factory making batteries in high heat. He is brilliant, talented, strong, and continues to pour into books during his free time Yet he spends sometimes 12 hours a day doing repetitive motion in that factory at least 5 days a week. He is faithful and determined to be a steady support for his family. I am a result of that faithfulness…

My dad is all that. Yep. He is my hero.