So, the snow has started melting off and we have had a little warmer weather lately; warmer meaning in the 30's! I'll take it though, as long as the snow goes away. Even more importantly, we're back to seeing, visiting, and hanging out with people. That alone is a breath of fresh air.
Over the past week, I have cried with people due to suffering and I have also rejoiced with people due to victory. The Kingdom does indeed include both and it is a beautiful portrait. Through continual prayer and interceding we are seeing God move more and more here in the Quip. Hearts are being softened, men are being raised up, doors are being opened to share the gospel, and people are coming to the One who yearns to be in a relationship with His creation. There is a song by Toby Mac called "A City On Our Knees." The chorus says: "Tonight's the night, for the sinners and the saints. Two worlds collide, in a beautiful display. It's all up tonight, when we step across the line. We can sail across the sea, to a city with one King; A city on our knees." This song reminds me that we are all one family under one Savior, no one better than the other, all broken, seeking after One True Love.
As we see the Kingdom advancing daily here, we are encouraged that the Lord continues to hear our cries. He is faithful to His name and the promises He has left us with. While getting back on track with serving others here in the community, we see it as an incredible honor and privilege to join Christ in what He is doing in Aliquippa.
Love Deeply.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
So I Asked My Friends . . .
"It's been slow here in the Quip due to some weather if you haven't heard. Can you give me something to blog about?" They pondered, and said, "Yes, you can blog about my love life. Well, maybe you can put our profiles up." I responded back, "Don't think that I won't." Well, as you can obviously tell . . . I am following through with my words. So here they are: (Oh, these are made up names, but if you can rhyme well - you should have it down -- and if you do not know these kats and are interested in getting to know them better boys, just contact me. I'll hook you up with the digits!)
Name: Sage Thin
Age: 26
Ht: 5'5"
Wt: I mean look at her last name!
Features: Blonde hair, blue eyes, body full of curves
About Her: Intelligent (just received her Masters degree in B.S.), funny, dependable, loves the Lord, loves the boys, successfully climbed Table Mountain in Cape Town, South Africa, has a bopsy twin named Fee Fan, dedicated to her high school girls' small group, known for her athletic skills and her technique performing the Cupid Shuffle, keeps a good stash in the freezer, wants a Dominican baby, coming to the Quip soon
Name: Fee Fan Handress
Age: 29
Ht: 5'5"
Wt: Step Into A Slim Jim
Features: Blonde hair, blue eyes, loves her pointy cowgirl boots
About Her: Hotty totty (Teacher of the Year - enough said, YOU WANT HER), loves the Lord, Master's degree in B.S., genuine, trustworthy, known for her high pitched voice when she gets excited, famous for her performance in the '08 Olympics where she received a gold medal in volleyball, has a very soft heart due to her two horses getting stolen and slaughtered in her childhood, looking for a man with two tractors and 3 bales of hay, wants to open a horse farm in Cape Town, South Africa, keeps you laughing with smart A comments, coming to the Quip soon
I will have my phone on me. Call me boys if you are interested. These are my girls. I love them dearly. If I had a brother who still needed to be married, I would hook him up foo shhiiiizzzzzyyyy.
Thank you for dealing with my insanity. The weather has gotten to me. Love deeply.
Name: Sage Thin
Age: 26
Ht: 5'5"
Wt: I mean look at her last name!
Features: Blonde hair, blue eyes, body full of curves
About Her: Intelligent (just received her Masters degree in B.S.), funny, dependable, loves the Lord, loves the boys, successfully climbed Table Mountain in Cape Town, South Africa, has a bopsy twin named Fee Fan, dedicated to her high school girls' small group, known for her athletic skills and her technique performing the Cupid Shuffle, keeps a good stash in the freezer, wants a Dominican baby, coming to the Quip soon
Name: Fee Fan Handress
Age: 29
Ht: 5'5"
Wt: Step Into A Slim Jim
Features: Blonde hair, blue eyes, loves her pointy cowgirl boots
About Her: Hotty totty (Teacher of the Year - enough said, YOU WANT HER), loves the Lord, Master's degree in B.S., genuine, trustworthy, known for her high pitched voice when she gets excited, famous for her performance in the '08 Olympics where she received a gold medal in volleyball, has a very soft heart due to her two horses getting stolen and slaughtered in her childhood, looking for a man with two tractors and 3 bales of hay, wants to open a horse farm in Cape Town, South Africa, keeps you laughing with smart A comments, coming to the Quip soon
I will have my phone on me. Call me boys if you are interested. These are my girls. I love them dearly. If I had a brother who still needed to be married, I would hook him up foo shhiiiizzzzzyyyy.
Thank you for dealing with my insanity. The weather has gotten to me. Love deeply.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
SNOW, SNOW, SNOW
People who live up here in the North just for the fun of it are ABSOLUTELY insane! You people are insane! I realize I just called about 90% of my family crazy . . . hahahaha! I also now understand the reason my Grammy and Grampy came down South for the winter time.
Over the last 4 days we have had 24 inches of snow; and are expected to get 6-10 more inches the next 24 hours. Oh, how I have never missed the Dirty South so much before! Where I think all this snow is a natural disaster, this is a way of life for these crazies up here. I found myself on my porch the other morning with a snow shovel in hand staring a good 10 minutes at everything. I thought to myself, "I need to help," and then realized "where the heck would I put any of it." It's EVERYWHERE! Needless to say, I was a little overwhelmed, went back inside, and took a nap :)
All this being said, God is still good! He is still the King of the city and the King of this world. This is kind of random to this post, but I was so encouraged by our youth group on Thursday. When I look around our YG I see kids of different races, kids of different ages, kids from broken families, and kids just wanting to be kids. We started off our time together with a little Cha Cha Slide! We got crazy, we acted a fool! Then we entered a time of worship. It's funny with our kids; if you walk into our youth group at one point during the night, one might think there is nothing getting accomplished, but chaos. If you walk into our youth group during another point in the night, one could tell how desperate these kids are in yearning to be loved by the Lord, in addition to wanting to be taught about Jesus. There is such spiritual growth happening. It is amazing to be a part of. Praise Him. Our prayer for our youth group is that we create an atmosphere where each and every student will be encountered by the Living God. He is hearing our cries, and being faithful to His Name.
Love Deeply.
Over the last 4 days we have had 24 inches of snow; and are expected to get 6-10 more inches the next 24 hours. Oh, how I have never missed the Dirty South so much before! Where I think all this snow is a natural disaster, this is a way of life for these crazies up here. I found myself on my porch the other morning with a snow shovel in hand staring a good 10 minutes at everything. I thought to myself, "I need to help," and then realized "where the heck would I put any of it." It's EVERYWHERE! Needless to say, I was a little overwhelmed, went back inside, and took a nap :)
All this being said, God is still good! He is still the King of the city and the King of this world. This is kind of random to this post, but I was so encouraged by our youth group on Thursday. When I look around our YG I see kids of different races, kids of different ages, kids from broken families, and kids just wanting to be kids. We started off our time together with a little Cha Cha Slide! We got crazy, we acted a fool! Then we entered a time of worship. It's funny with our kids; if you walk into our youth group at one point during the night, one might think there is nothing getting accomplished, but chaos. If you walk into our youth group during another point in the night, one could tell how desperate these kids are in yearning to be loved by the Lord, in addition to wanting to be taught about Jesus. There is such spiritual growth happening. It is amazing to be a part of. Praise Him. Our prayer for our youth group is that we create an atmosphere where each and every student will be encountered by the Living God. He is hearing our cries, and being faithful to His Name.
Love Deeply.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Addiction
One of the toughest battles we face here in Aliquippa is addiction; addiction of drugs, addiction of alcohol, addiction to prostitution. The definition of addiction is the state of being ENSLAVED to a habit or practice or to something that is psychologically or physically habit-forming. The word "enslaved" pierces my soul, knowing what that exactly represents. Let me go a little further and say that we see these addictions through believers and non-believers. Unfortunately, any type of addiction is a sick disease. A disease that the devil uses to hold men, women, and children in bondage.
Over the last week, we have seen one individual come to the realization that their addiction will lead to death if something is not done about it. We believe another individual has fallen back into their addiction after being sober for a long period of time. As you could imagine, walking side by side with anyone dealing with an addiction is hard to watch. Hard, because you want to help. Hard, because you want them to recognize their hurt. Hard, because you want them healed into freedom.
We have been facedown in prayer for these specific individuals, in addition for claiming victory over addiction within this community. Though sometimes the addiction may win the battle, I am here to say and claim that the Lord will win the war. The Lord hears our cries and will free those in captivity. As a body of Christ we must learn and understand our role for interceding on others' behalf. God has opened my eyes to that while here in Aliquippa. May we all truly understand the importance of fighting the battle for one another.
Love Deeply.
Over the last week, we have seen one individual come to the realization that their addiction will lead to death if something is not done about it. We believe another individual has fallen back into their addiction after being sober for a long period of time. As you could imagine, walking side by side with anyone dealing with an addiction is hard to watch. Hard, because you want to help. Hard, because you want them to recognize their hurt. Hard, because you want them healed into freedom.
We have been facedown in prayer for these specific individuals, in addition for claiming victory over addiction within this community. Though sometimes the addiction may win the battle, I am here to say and claim that the Lord will win the war. The Lord hears our cries and will free those in captivity. As a body of Christ we must learn and understand our role for interceding on others' behalf. God has opened my eyes to that while here in Aliquippa. May we all truly understand the importance of fighting the battle for one another.
Love Deeply.
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