Coffee and a Book...

I can remember being a little girl on school mornings and doing something sneaky. My parents were both coffee drinkers and I couldn't understand why. I didn't get why they "needed" that to wake them up in the morning for work. So, curious as I was, I decided that when they weren't looking, I would sneak some of their coffee. Mom would leave her cup on the table in the living room and after I was finished getting ready and no one was in the room, I would take a sip from the cup. Cold, flavored coffee. Back then, cause it was forever ago, we didn't have all these different flavors that we do today, so I'm pretty sure it was just cream and sugar in Mom's cup. I remember that first taste...I was hooked.

Now I can't imagine going a morning without having a cup of coffee. I even take my coffee to church with me on a Sunday morning. Possible addiction? Even if it is, I don't want to admit it.

A coffee related subject...books. I was reading chapter seven in "CrazyLove" by Francis Chan the other day. This chapter discussed how we are to look at everyone as if Jesus were that person...In Matthew 25:31-45 it talks about "I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat. I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink. I was a stranger and you didn't invite me in...Whatever you did not do for the least of these, you did not do for me."


Think about that for a minute. How selfish have I become, owning what I do and hoarding it to myself? There are people in different kind of needy situations everywhere around us, and rather than see Jesus in them and help them out in their time of need, we continue to buy more.

I know people who will never wear the same outfit twice, have 3 ipods cause two are "old," four tv's in their house and they only use one or two...

Who am I to complain that I "need" something...when I have all that I need. Am I storing up treasures on earth rather than holding out for heaven? Am I living as though who I come into contact with is Jesus?

Think about that.

The Dream Team

In just a mere ten sleeps, yes I count, I will be leaving with four others from my church in Maine, to venture across the country to Los Angeles, California. Some of you may be saying, "nice vacation," but that isn't how I am looking at this trip.

A year ago, some youth leaders chaperoned a group of 20-25 people on a mission trip to the Dream Center in LA. There, they got right into doing a multitude of different ministries such as: bus ministry, food truck, dream center live, prayer ministry, skid row, homeless ministry, prostitution ministry, and many others. One in particular that grabbed the team's attention last year when they went out was "Adopt a Block" where you literally adopt a block around where you meet/live and you love them just as Jesus did.

When the team came back, they started up Adopt a Block in Houlton and for nearly a year (it will be in June) the team has gone out every third Saturday of the month to love the people around the block that they have adopted. God said, "One block...for one year" and the church has been faithful to that. So now they're seeking the next step for Adopt a Block...where to next/what direction does it need to go in? What is God wanting from this community and how will we seek that?

So, this April, in ten sleeps, five of us will be leaving on a jet plane to fly to California to be involved in ministry at the dream center for one week. We have had to raise funds for this, which have all come in very quickly! Now any other finances that come in will go toward buying supplies when we get out there to leave at the dream center or to pass out to those that we come in contact with.

I am beyond stoked for this trip! We are going to seek the next step and praying that God reveals that in His time. Please be in prayer for this team of five...that God will break our hearts for His people in a different place...that we will be selfless and exude Christ...and that we will come back with a deeper knowledge and understanding of what God hopes for this community and how we will play a role in that.

Be blessed and be a blessing.

Out of the Woodwork...

I can't begin to tell you how many times I have sat down, pulled up this page, and started to write, but continued to hit delete because anything that I wrote was mediocre or just "stuff" and not anything of value...so here I go...yet trying again.

For a few months now I have been working/advocating for fifteen students at a local high school who have some type of disability...whether that is a learning disability or something greater, that is my life. I must say that it's one of the most challenging jobs, frustrating jobs, annoying jobs, but SO rewarding. I have seen my kids (yes,I call them that) come so far...in their way of thinking, processing after high school life, exploring careers, doing community service, and above all...really growing in their self confidence.

One of my close friends said to me, "We are put on the earth for a few reasons...one of them being helping others."

This friend is a non-Christian and he gets it. We are to help others...and I'm attempting that to the best of my ability. I refuse to let these kids settle for mediocrity...so we'll push through and knowing that God has a plan for each one, whether they know it or not...is a peace in and of itself.

With that being said, working in a public high school has been interesting...not being able to profess my faith with the students (unless they ask me) is interesting...but God continues to open doors. I have been doing a young adult Bible study with the book "Crazy Love" by Francis Chan. I can't say that I agree with everything in this book, but it's definitely worth your time if you're keen. It's teaching me a whole lot about sharing my faith, not being lukewarm...and what being a "real" Christian looks like.

More to come...I promise.

Responsibility...what's that?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJamzD0KntE (watch this!)

Sometimes when I'm given a responsibility I think, "Are you serious? You want ME to be in charge of that? You want ME to do that?" Sure, a bit of boasting may come along (sinful as it may be), but I can't help but feel flattered when someone gives me a responsibility. That person sees something in me that I may not see in myself...and for that, they bring out a part of me that continues to grow.

Responsibility comes in many different sizes...for some it's your children, for others it's applying to college, for others it's taking care of someone when they're sick...for me today...my responsibility is to teach the kindergartners how to tell time. You may sit there and laugh, but I view this as a responsibility. What I tell them could either help them or hinder them from being able to tell time correctly...who knows.

We, as Christians, have a huge responsibility...to share the love of God with others...with everyone...with our friends, with strangers, with the people/kids that we work with...I try to not take that lightly, though sometimes I slip...Why is it that I take the responsibility of teaching five year olds how to tell time seriously...but when it comes to my friends/family's lives and where they will spend eternity...I don't do nearly as much as I should do.

I have that responsibility...and I need to live up to it.
Challenge yourself to think about what you are responsible for.

The Choice is Ours...

I had a conversation with someone recently about one of the most valuable lessons that I have ever learned. We were talking about how people can feel guilty, how we respond to situations...why we hold onto grudges...it's our choice...plain and simple.

When I was in New Zealand, I can remember getting into a disagreement with a friend of mine and I sat down with the pastor's wife, Michelle (lovely lady), and explained the situation. I said how the "person made me feel guilty," how "I can't believe he said that to me...doesn't he realize how badly he hurt me?"...and I'm sure the list could go on and on about what I foolishly and unwisely said.

She said something to me that has forever changed how I view situations and how I let them affect me. "You choose how you respond to things. People can't make you feel guilty...you let yourself feel that way. You choose when someone may be saying/doing something that you don't agree with, but YOU ultimately choose how you're going to feel about that...and how long you're going to let it affect you."

Well...geez...talk about constructive criticism. It's not of God for us to think that way...it's not of God for us to be offended...we can help each other with that. We choose how we react/respond to situations/things people say to us...I shouldn't be responding the same way that a non-christian would be responding because I have the faith in God...


Back to the conversation with this other person...the person kept going on about how he/she had their feelings hurt and felt guilty...and I said, "no,no,no...you choose how you react/respond to things and as long as we are responding in a way that is worthy of Christ...then we're doing what He asks of us.."

That is honestly what I think about when someone says something that could be taken offensively to me...that's not my intent to hurt people..and I honestly believe that it isn't someone's intent period...so stop being offended and see how you can change how you react/respond to things.

Choose to be offended...or choose to love and forgive.

New Job...Same Heart.

I have recently started a new job through the Maine Transition Network (MTN) as well as AmeriCorps. The gist of the it is that I am a transition coordinator for high school teens ages 15-18 who have disabilities. I essentially help them prepare for their future and figure out some generic "lifeskills" that they may not know how to do.

I have 14 students that I work with everyday. I've had to do oodles of paperwork,which can be annoying when I just want to hang out with the teens. I have to remember that their homework comes first and then I get to work with them...so I'll help them with their homework, observe them in classes, and provide them with the information that they need in order to accomplish a certain task.

It boggles my mind the kind of need that is around me everyday. These kids not only have disabilities, but are also judged completely because they get put into the "special ed room" so that they can receive the accomodation that they need in order to be successful in school. The people who work with them are incredibly devoted and have encouraged me SO much. Bless them.

There's this one kid, I'll call him Art (not his real name,obv)...and he has a really hard time coming to school...he's been through a lot I guess you could say. He loves to smile...and loves Pepsi. I wanted him to come on a field trip that I'm organizing and for bribery for him to come,I gave him a Pepsi...and now he's stoked to go. This same kid needed someone to go into his gym class with him...so I went because I was free and really enjoy this kid's heart and he makes me laugh constantly,so that always helps of course.

We walk into gym and he heads right for the work out room. Awesome. Neat. I wore flats and had my hair done nicely. He gets on the tredmill and I get on the bike...we work out for ten minutes, then we switch for another ten...then I some weight lifting (laugh if you must) and he laughed at me too. Then we shot basketball. The joy that Art experienced was written all over his face.

To me, that is success. Letting a kid know that he is loved and cherished...

Keep Holding On

In the midst of hearing radio broadcasts and news reports about the devastation in Haiti, I find myself saying three words...keep holding on. Words can't even describe the pain and torture people are experiencing in a place that I've never been. I've never had to worry about my house not being there when I get home from work. I've never had to worry about having to dig to find my loved ones under a mass of destruction.These people's lives have been taken from them...everything they ever new to be "normal" is now changed forever. I pray that they would keep holding on...that they would seek truth and find it in a place where all that they see is devastation.

At youth group this past week, my youth pastor pointed a girl out to me who was wearing merely a sweatshirt. I had assumed that she had put her coat down somewhere in the youth center. He said, "That's all that she has for winter gear." My heart sank. Where I live is freakin' cold! I wouldn't be walking around in just a sweatshirt when the sun is shining, let alone in a sweatshirt at nighttime in the cold,bitter air.

Devastation takes different forms. For some areas...it is extreme...like in Haiti. For others, in a small town in northern Maine...it's braving the winter without a coat.

Think.