Thoughts on Isaiah 40-60

He is mighty to save.

Though I was dead in my trespasses.
Though Israel was wicked, forsaking their God, without one to intervene.

He was, then, and still is mighty to save.

Meaning He was faithful in the saving of His people.
Meaning He sent a Savior, despite whether they, we, I wanted one or not.
Because He is holy, He is righteous, His ways are higher, His thoughts are higher, He sent a Redeemer to Israel, them, us , me to die for the sin Israel, they, us, me committed and all the sins that were still to be committed.

He pardoned freely.
Because He loves unconditionally.

I cannot comprehend.

But I can believe, by reading these chapters that for some reason my wicked heart can't understand, He loves me.

He loves me perfectly.

When I deserved(d) death, He pardoned me freely.
Would I pardon freely those who loathe me? Those who don't believe what I say? Those who scoff at me? Doubt me? Question my decisions? Murdered someone I love?

But I am thankful that He is rightoues, perfect and holy.
Because acting in His perfect righteousness and holiness, He chose to save Israel, them, us, me. Israel, they, we, I did not choose to be saved. For when the Lord reveals His covenant in these chapters, when He proclaims that a Redeemer, a servant of the Lord is coming, He had already chosen Israel, them, us, ME.

The Gospel- as promised by God in Isaiah - Christ's death for my forgiveness so that I could live in relationship with my perfect heavenly Father.

Death has no vicotry over those who are in their Father's arms.

Getting what I Deserve

Deserve. This word haunts me, because at the root of my sin it lies. Telling me I deserve better. I deserve more. I deserve better service, treatment, and yet the Gospel tells me what I really deserve...For the wages of sin is DEATH

Yes, I deserve death. But instead, I received life. So why am I not thankful? Why do I complain? Why do I boast? Why do I do the things I do?

Because, I think I deserve __________. The heart of my heart is selfishness. Yet I am called to selfLESSness. How do I get there? Eph. 2:8 By faith, from God. By understanding the Gospel. That though I desrved death, Christ died for me so that I may have life and be in relationship with a Father that I don't deserve.

Recent Recipes

Recently, I have discovered some delicious recipes thanks to Allrecipes.com. I have had a surge in my already existing desire to cook, and I've had fun doing it. This past Monday was the slow cooked pork tenderloin served with cheesy mashed potatoes and salad. And tonight we had quick, super easy and SO delicious shrimp and grits with some dinner rolls drenched in the garlic butter recipe. I'm thankful God gave us taste buds, flavor, and delicious things to enjoy. I'm also glad He created people who come up with delicious recipes that are passed on and on! Here's to passing on deliciousness!

http://allrecipes.com//Recipe/garlic-butter/Detail.aspx

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Lowcountry-Shrimp-and-Cheese-Grits/Detail.aspx

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Amazing-Pork-Tenderloin-in-the-Slow-Cooker/Detail.aspx

Prayer

“In believing prayer, we learn to connect our present troubles to the good and perfect will of God. We refuse to believe that chance rules our lives. We withstand the temptation to imagine that God is capricious or malicious. We know he has a higher purpose and that he is not dealing with us as our sins deserve. As we bring our troubles to Jesus in prayer—asking his will to be done—we approve the will of our Father in heaven. We see our sufferings in the greater reality of his good, acceptable, and perfect will. In prayer we “turn crisis to Christ.” Our heart becomes tuned to his heart and we sing the song of grace.” Ancient Prayer, John F. Smed

Sometimes I find myself just praying. Not even really listening to what I'm saying. Just doing it because it's what you do before meals, before Bible study, before your quiet time. But this idea of 'believing prayer', really praying with a belief in what I'm saying matters is crucial. That He is listening. And His word tells us He is: The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their cry. Psalm 34:15 I want to believe this more and more each day. I want to pray believing I am heard, believing my requests are considered, believing there will be an answer, and living as if I have a Father.

A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling. Psalm 68:5

From my Journal

Just a few words from my journal over the past few months that resonated deeply with me.

6/1/10
"You have the power to change the world; and when I stop believing that, I don't even want to be around anymore." - Will Snipes

7/4/10
"Difference between you and an unbeliever: Jesus is your Lord." - ?

9/26/10
"Moral resolve will not bring victory over sin. Christ brings victory over sin." - ?

9/26/10
The End of Myself is the Beginning of LIFE. - Me

10/11/10
Prov. 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths.

Isaiah 9
This chapter is God telling us he is sending a Redeemer.
"For to US a child is born, to US a son is given."

Jeremiah 6:16
This is what the LORD says:
"Stand at the crossroads and look;
ask for the ancient paths,
ask where the good way is, and walk in it,
and you will find rest for your souls.
But you said, 'We will not walk in it.'

1 John 5:1-5
Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.

Psalm 67:2
That your ways be known on earth, Your salvation among all nations.

The grass withers and the flowers fade but the Word of our God stands forever.

Missionary from Kenya

Charlie and I visited a different church this past Sunday. Unfortunately, there was a guest speaker...but also fortunately. We have been thinking a lot lately about doing some mission work in 2011, and we know it wasn't coincidence that the one day we happened to visit this church there was a guest speaker from Kenya.

I really enjoyed listening to him speak even if his accent was difficult to follow. He was one of those people that has the light of Jesus shinging from him. He spoke out of Revelation and how in it, John is telling of a conversation he had with Jesus, and in it Jesus says he is returning to earth one day. John's response..."Amen. Come, Lord Jesus." However, this man from Kenya said he struggles with that prayer. One side of him says, "Yes, come quickly Lord Jesus and save us from this earth, this affliction." Just a side note, most Kenyans are extremely poor. He told of how they will work for a whole day and make about 3 dollars for their family and how the meat at the market, just 2kg costs about 3 dollars. So basically, they don't get to eat meat...beef, chicken, whatever, very often because they don't have the money to. So yes, Come Lord and save us from starvation, from pain of poverty, from death that is abundant, from the corruption of the government.

But, he said the other side of him says, "Please wait, Lord. Just a little while longer. Give us a chance." Because he wants his countrymen to have the chance to know Jesus. He wants them to have a chance to live in His presence eternally.

So what does that mean for us? For us who grew up in Christian homes? For us who had the opportunity to know Jesus from birth? It means that if we believe in and truly understand the truthfulness of Jesus's claim that he is coming...then we must be authentically engaged...realizing that Jesus IS coming and LIVING our lives that way...letting that belief in his return motivate our mission.

My prayer is that God motivates Charlie and I this upcoming year. Past just the desire to go. And into the process of making it happen. Into the act of taking action. Into more than just talking about being his hands and feet, but really and truly, becoming the hands and feet of Jesus by going and serving others in His name. So, come quickly Lord Jesus, but use us in the meantime, according to your will.

All for You and for Your glory!

Isaiah 43 Part 2

Verses I highlighted:

18-19 Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!

24b But you have burdened me with your sins and wearied me with your offenses.

What does this passage say about God's character:
He is the Provider, first and last, Redeemer, He is just and merciful

What about man's character?
We are wicked, proud, self reliant, lazy, deserving of God's wrath

What is the compelling truth?
Man has been given opportunity after opportunity to receive God's love and over and over again, we, I reject it...yet He still remains faithful.

How would my life be different if this truth were explosively alive in me?
I would think, dwell, weep over the knowledge of my sin. I would review the past and be reminded of my failings and of God's faithfulness. I would not question his presence in my life, even the most mundane, if I truly believed his words here...believed in his faithfulness in my life.

Looking back...
Highschool
I rejected God's love and grace for me but You...
-allowed me to achieve great things in school and softball
-gave Charlie to me
-blessed me with Will and Walter (great spiritual mentors for me)
-kept me safe in His arms
-got me a full out of state scholarship

College (Freshman/Sophomore)
I chose others over You, satisfied my lusts, lived hypocritically...but You...
-allowed me to make good grades
-put Jacki and Ktk in my life...as well as other good friends
-helped me overcome hardships
-gave me courage to transfer
-put me at UGA

College (Junior/Senior)
I rejected grace for me and questioned His plan for my life...but You
-got me plugged in at TU
-gave me wonderful friends
-helped me make good grades
-gave me strength
-allowed my husband and I to grow and learn together, away from home

Time and time again, I have rejected the Father, my Father. I have said my sin isn't that bad, or I can handle this myself or simly questioned what He was doing.

And time and time again, He has been merciful to me! He has been faithful to me.

Father,
Thank you for showing me my sin today. For exposing my weakness so Your power may be made perfect in me.

I am in need of you today. Forgive me of my sins. Of my inability to take correction because I am prideful and associate my worth in how much I am right. Help me to know my worth is in you, and without you, on my own, I am worthless. Forgive me for constantly comparing myself to toehrs. For criticizing and looking down on them. Help me to realize the depth of my sin and be humbled today.

Thank you for your true mercy to me this morning. And every morning. For your faithfulness to me. I love you, Lord.

Your love oh Lord, reaches to the heavens. Your faithfulness, stretches to the skies...

In Response to Your Commentos

Dear Ktk and Hubby Loves, my two true followers and friends,

This post is dedicated to comments you left on one of my posts a while back. I wanted you to have answers to your queshes. Quesh=question, so it's fair to say queshes=questions, right?

Anyway, the abbrevs are a dedication to a special friend of mine that I met in Puerto Rico...Kathy Shelton, aka, Kath. Hubbs, you'll probably meet her in November because I think she's coming to viz. You will love her. She is super fun presh!

Craft Night: result of my awesome mother-in-law who is hosting it every other Tuesday night at her house. She makes delicious cakes or dips or whatevs, we all grab a snack and then get to crafting. She is teaching me how to crochet. So ya, next time you see Rachel my sister, perhaps she will be wearing the scarf I made her. Ya, that's right. I made a scarf!!! I mean, it was pretty terrible, but I'll get better/faster/stronger at crocheting and soon enough, I'll be churning out the cozy clothes.

Volunteering: I think I've mentioned it to both of you, but here it is, a little more in depth. Once a week, I go to an elementary school near my house and help kids read for 30 min each. I have two kids so it's only an hour a week, but I can already tell it is going to be so fun and rewarding. We had our first session this past week. I went to their classroom and get them out as about 40 eyeballs stare at me, mouths wide open. Then we walk to the library as I try to get more than 3 words out of them. Then they get our their books and we read. They aren't great...but that's why I'm there to help them! And they pretty much seem to love it. And I already love them...them = Amiyia and Kenyaada...Amiyia is a black baby...so there you go, Ktk. And Kenyaada is Spanish...I think. Not really sure. But they are both presh to the max. Love them. Love it. Thankful for an opportunity to serve...someone other than myself.

Individuals/Coaching: Going wonderfully. Getting along with the coach so well. What an encouragement to see a coach who really cares for her players. And during indis, she's basically like Norie, go watch her swing and fix it. So she like totally trusts me to handle hitting...I love it.

Covenant Baptism, Total Depravity, and other tough subjects: These are things we learned about in our Foundations group that allows us now that we are finished, to become members at the church. The question is, will we become members now? And the answer is, we don't know. Big decish. We need prayer about that. There are some aspects of the church that we don't totally love. And I've really been struggling with why you go to the church you go? To be fed? Because you like the music? Because you love the people? Opportunities to serve? Not sure. Answers would be welcomed and appreciated.

Hot Air Ballooning to another country: Let's all do it together. Katie has to go to Guatemala soon anyway! They speak Spanish, right? So we could all just get on, teach Katie the Spanish on the way over, and then land in the middle of a mountainous village that is in need of the light of Jesus! VAMOS A GUATEMALA, SENORITA HUBBARD!

Dragging me to Metro Kids: I'd love you to. I want them to teach me how to dougie. Just kidding, I definitely already know how.

Today's Quiet Time

Isaiah 43 Part 1

(verses I highlighted)
v1.Fear not, For I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
v4-5a.Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because, I love you, I will give men in exchange for your life. Do not be afraid, for I am with you;
v7.everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.

What does this passage say about God's character?
He is intentional. He chose us. He is merciful to call us his. He loves, He is love. He is the Creator and adores his creation.

What does it say about man?
We are in need of redemption, in need of a Redeemer. We are God's, not because of our choice but because He chose us. We are desired by God (precious and honored). We have worth in God's eyes, so much so that he will trade others for us. We are not alone. We are fearful. We were formed and made for His glory.

What is the compelling truth?
The God of Creation chose us from the beginning and loves us so deeply that He has devoted himself to keeping us in every circumstance or situation so that we may live knowing we are loved, free of fear, because we are held.

How would my life be different if this truth was explosively alive in me?
Freedom from fear because I would be living in light of God's love for me...knowing he chose me, he chooses me, even when I don't choose Him...AGAIN, our relatinship is not dependent on me, it has already been established by Him.

Ty and Katie go to Greenville

Ty and Katie went to visit Norie and Charlie in Greenville. Ty and Katie did fun things with Norie and Charlie in Greenville. Ty and Katie rode bikes with Norie and Charlie in Greenville. Ty and Katie went to the market with Norie and Charlie in Greenville. Ty and Katie bought delicious food at the market with Norie and Charlie in Greenville. Ty and Katie went to Furman with Norie and Charlie in Greenville. Ty and Katie got in the river at Jones Gap with Norie and Charlie in Greenville. Ty and Katie had to leave without Norie and Charlie in Greenville. But Ty and Katie will come back one day to be with Norie and Charlie in Greenville. The End.

Rando Pictorias...

Beach Patrol.


Old picture from the beach with Charles. This was a little swanky restuarant on the marsh...we sat outside and the sun was setting...as my friend kath would say, it was perf.


The boy is mine.


Chillin' with no make up on, That's when you're the prettiest, I hope that you don't take it wrong.


Baby A. Ansel. Anvil. Chunkster. My favorite nephew. I love him.

Running in the rain...

Just got done running...in the rain. Didn't really realize that a steady drizzle, though light and seemingly friendly, can soak you to the bone...but it was a good thing...I think it made me run faster.

Anyway, I think I am going to start writing shorter blogs instead of feeling like I need to sit down at the comp for 5 hours just to write one. That way, others will get to hear my thoughts, I'll get to write them, and the world will be a better place. :)

First off, I stole this link from my wonderful friend hubbardy hubbs' blog, and I specifically want you, KTK, to take a look at it. One word. Hope.

https://www.mochaclub.org/mochaclub/i_need_africa

Love it.

Also, been busy this past week with craft night, supper club, youth group, and many other things that were all wonderful and a blessing...especially the ones I didn't feel like going to because I was tired or whatever. I love being reminded of how God can restore and refresh you when you choose to do something you think is only going to make you more tired.

Been studying a lot about infant baptism...excuse me...covenant baptism. Interesting stuff but I am still not convinced that there exists a clear right or wrong with this issue. Anyway, we don't have to believe it to become members at Redeemer Pres. (did I mention we are doing like a class/community group to become members because we are) but it is a big part of the means of grace within the church. But really that is a WHOLE different kind of story that I could blog about forevs, so we'll just leave it at that.

Individuals start this week for softball. Yayfers.

And I'm also starting my volunteering this week at an elementary school near my house. It's just for one hour a week, and I am a Book Buddy. Meaning there will be 2 children that come for 30 minutes each week, and I'm supposed to read with them. Looking forward to it. Is it bad I'm hoping for a Spanish kid? Because I totally am.

Finally, Ty and Katie came to visit this past weekend. Love them. Pictures to come...

So ya, I like this, conscious stream of thought.

attempt at coming back...

i want to do this. i enjoy doing this. i need to do this. so here we go with round 2 on the blog.

first things first, check this guy's blog out, someone recommended it to me, and i really liked his thoughts on the VMA's.

http://learningmylines.blogspot.com/2010/09/thoughts-on-2010-vmas.html

more to come...

A Garden of Grace

Ever took a leap of faith and been blessed by God's grace? Ever doubted God's grace only for Him to smother you in it? Well I have many times. But more recently, God has displayed His grace in my life through Charlie's Garden (and yes, I'm officially making that a proper noun.)



When Charlie first decided to grow a garden, I wasn't too psyched. That meant watering, pulling weeds, plowing, sewing seeds, harvesting and more. So Charlie did most all of the work and his mom even helped him plant some seeds, and I watched...and I doubted. I thought ya, we might have some tomatoes, but didn't really think much more would come of it. I'm normally not so excited to say, I was wrong! (see prizewinning pictures above)



Ya, Charlie didn't know much about starting a garden. He'd never had one before. He'd never plowed up land before, he'd never planted seeds hopeful they'd grow into food before, and ultimately, he was really just winging it. Or as I like to think, trusting God in it. When it rained, Charlie was so thankful and would always mention in His prayers how grateful he was for the water that refreshed the earth and his garden. And in the end, God saw that Charlie was winging it, He heard his prayers, and He was faithful to His servant.



Some people might say we have good soil. Others might say Charlie just had some good luck. I say that if you decide to wing it, just totally trust in God even though you really have no idea what you're doing, you might just be surprised by the bounty of grace that the Lord bestows on you.



So go, dive in to whatever it is you're doing, whether you really know how to or not, fall into who He is and what He can do, trust Him to do it, and sit back as the grace pours down.



"And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work." 2 Corinthians 9:8

Pslam 42

Psalm 42
As the deer pants for streams of water,
so my soul pants for you, O God.
2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
When can I go and meet with God?
3 My tears have been my food
day and night,
while men say to me all day long,
"Where is your God?"
4 These things I remember
as I pour out my soul:
how I used to go with the multitude,
leading the procession to the house of God,
with shouts of joy and thanksgiving
among the festive throng.
5 Why are you downcast, O my soul?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him,
my Savior and 6 my God. My [c] soul is downcast within me;
therefore I will remember you
from the land of the Jordan,
the heights of Hermon—from Mount Mizar.
7 Deep calls to deep
in the roar of your waterfalls;
all your waves and breakers
have swept over me. 8 By day the LORD directs his love,
at night his song is with me—
a prayer to the God of my life.
9 I say to God my Rock,
"Why have you forgotten me?
Why must I go about mourning,
oppressed by the enemy?"
10 My bones suffer mortal agony
as my foes taunt me,
saying to me all day long,
"Where is your God?"
11 Why are you downcast, O my soul?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him,
my Savior and my God.

Truly my soul is panting for the Lord. I know you are probably wondering why this post isn’t about how wonderful Puerto Rico was and how God met me there. Well it isn’t about that because I’m not sure if that happened.

I know that God was there with me, watching over me, and I know He probably used me without me even knowing in some ways…but I also know that it was an eye opening trip for me. It was a trip that revealed to me the importance of desiring God. The importance of listening and talking to Him each day.

While in Puerto Rico, I guess one of the biggest things I learned is that though I may have had good intentions and though I may have been trying my hardest to be a light…there will be no light by my efforts. The only light that there is, is the light of life in Christ. And there is nothing I can do alone to reproduce that. And although I might say, “Okay, God, bring on the light.” Nothing is going to happen if I haven’t been in relationship with God.

It’s like if God were one of my friends on earth and I hadn’t talked to him in a while and whenever he called, I just talked about myself and my desires. And then one day, I picked up the phone and left him a message saying, “Ok, come on over, I’m ready for you.” How could I be mad at him for not coming over if I hadn’t talk to him in a while, much less listened? I mean, maybe my intentions for him coming over were good. Maybe there was a puppy that needed saving or cat stuck in a tree…but that doesn’t matter because God isn’t an on call doctor or fireman that always comes rushing to the scene. I mean, have you read Psalms?! David is constantly asking God, “Where are you?” But instead of being upset about it, he says things like, “Put your hope in God,” but why? Because David knows that he is there. He knows he is with him. David knows that his own intentions and desires are inconsequential to the plan that God has formed for David’s life and therefore, all he must do is put his hope in him.

What I’m really trying to say here is this: I planned the trip with intentions of the Lord using me to reveal himself to others…but while there, I was so consumed with my own self, my own sin, that I was unable to be used by the Lord.

I will say that God can do great things without my knowledge, and I am sure that in some way, he worked out his will. But I will also say that I had a very true realization: sin is still abundant in my life…and the less I communicate with him, the more prevalent it becomes. I believe there is a direct correlation with the sin in my life and the strength of our relationship, which depends mostly on me reading His word and talking to him daily.

I think this post was much more serious than me sitting and talking about all of the fun times I had in Puerto Rico. But since there are only about two people who read this, I’ll just be calling you on the phone sometime soon and telling you about those experiences.

I wanted to use this post as somewhat of a warning, I guess. Be sure that you are desiring God daily, and if you aren’t sure whether or not you are doing so, ask him to reveal your sins to you. It isn’t an easy question because seeing the answer is hard. Realizing how selfish I am, how much I complain, how easily my mood is affected by things not being on schedule…and the list goes on…well that was really hard to look back and reflect on. Mostly it was embarrassing. But thank God for his saving grace. To know that though my soul is downcast and downtrodden, I can put my hope in him and he will restore my soul.

Classic Pics of Linus and Luna

Prayer for Puerto Rico

did i mention i'm going to puerto rico? well if you haven't talked to me in the past 3 months, you might have missed it; otherwise, i'm pretty sure i've told everyone and their mothers and their mothers mothers, which would be their grandmothers.

anyway, this puerto rico trip is a huge opportunity for me to share Christ with others. ultimately, it's a mission trip. i know what you're thinking, when is Norie going to find the time to be on her own personal mission trip when she has to play two softball games every single day she is there??? well that's just it...it's not a mission trip to puerto ricans...although, i'll be glad to shine light in their direction, too...but rather, it's an opportunity to be around some of my closest, unsaved friends and teammates for more than a week and through Christ's goodness and grace, show them how to 'live in love, and love in light' as my awesome friend, b hubbs would say!

so what does that mean right now? pray. pray pray pray, pray pray pray pray. i need you to pray for me. i need me to pray for me. i need prayer. why? because 'not my will, but Yours' because 'He must become greater, I must become less' because on my own, i am nothing, i have not love, i know not what it even is...but only through Christ do i know what love means, 'that He sent his ONLY Son' to die for a wretch like me...and it is that love that i will need on this trip, it is that Spirit, and therefore, i need to pray for it. i need to pray for my sin to step aside, for my pride to take the backseat, for my selfishness to be thrown out the window so that He can meet me there, in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and use me to change lives.

if God isn't using you to change lives, then He isn't using you right? i mean, His desire is for all of His children to come to Him. thus, our desire becomes the same, and upon making our desire for Him to bring His children to Him, then and only then can He begin to use us to do just that.

maybe i'm rambling. or maybe i'm on to something. either way, i know that 'i want to set the world on fire, until it's burning bright for You.'

Hiker Rescued From Mountain Waterfall - Greenville News Story - WYFF Greenville

Last time Brittney Hubbard came to town...and no I didn't blog about it because our time was too special to share with the world...but ya, we went hiking one day up at Jones Gap. We hiked the Rainbow Falls trail and had a blast...a sweaty blast...that's a gross description. Anyway, thankfully we didn't try anything crazy up at the falls like this guy:

Hiker Rescued From Mountain Waterfall - Greenville News Story - WYFF Greenville

Super Saturday

this morning, charlie and i went to the saturday market in downtown greenville. we purchased some delicioso cupcakes from ICED...i had chocolate, charlie got buttercream with a cream cheese filling (his was DA BOMB DOT COM WITH EXTRA POM POMS)...and we bought some crowder peas (which we are going to shell ourselves) and some un-shucked corn, both from cody's stand which was fun because we got to see him and contribute to his business.

then we headed up highway 25 for some blackberry picking at Purdue's Farm. it's not your typical flat farm, but rather on a hillside so you are picking on a slope kind of. anyway, it's really cool, and i can't remember the last time i picked berries, so we had a blast. did i mention how melt in your mouth sweet and delicious the blackberries were?! charlie said at first when he started, he was picking 1 out of 10 and eating the other nine! needless to say, we got lots of berries and i'm already in the process of making some good ole fashion cobbler!

after that, we came home, got the bud and bug (aka, linus and luna) and headed back to downtown greenville for my first ever, Hot Dog Kind visit. the hot dog king, for those of you not native to the area, is a staple of greenville. i can't say exactly how long it's been there, but it's been there awhile. for more info, check out their facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Greenville-SC/The-Hot-Dog-King/95698743388

after stuffing myself with two bombing chili dogs, we decided it was a good time to give our dogs a treat. so we wound up at the barkery bistro, which is a little dog shop that bakes their own little treats and goodies for pups of all kinds/sizes and they sell a bunch of dog related products. linus and luna loved it! they also enjoyed the whole walk downtown despite constantly being stopped to be petted and oohed and awed at.

all in all, it was a great time with my husband charlie, who i've missed a lot over the past two weeks. and the fun isn't stopping there. we're headed to my papa's house tonight to spend the night before i go out and play two games tomorrow with the big red. it's a highly competitive and exclusive softball league. ;)

praise the Lord for good times with my best friend. i'm so glad God made him for me.

as the card i got charlie for our 3 year anniversary reads, "I found the one my heart loves." Song of Sol. 3:4

signs in the dark

quick cool story:

i was going to bed the other night at camp after a long day. i shut the door to my room, and bam, my silly bands were glowing like no other. at first i was like, whoa, these things glow! cool! and then, as i took them off, i realized something...i really thought about for the first time what my silly bands are...

now let's take a second before i go on to discuss how i do the silly band thing. i don't buy them. i don't ask people for them. i have two silly bands. why? because two people in life have given them to me. they didn't ask me if i wanted to pick one from their batch or if i wanted to trade. i simply have two silly bands...two silly bands that were given to me by two different people for two different reasons.

ok, let's resume.:

my silly bands are a softball bat and a Jesus fish. and that night, after a long day of camp away from my home and husband. away from my cute little dogs and instead with lots of children, young girls, old friends, current friends, new friends, and really just lost people...i realized why i was where i was. God confirmed it for me. He let me know that i'm not done with softball because He has this for me.

sometimes i wonder, or rather, Satan likes to tell me, you're too old to still be playing. what are you doing still doing camps and being all about softball, Norie? why don't you just quit and do PR and help contribute to the income? why don't you get a real job like everyone always teases you about not having?

but that night, God silenced that voice. He quieted all those questions and all that anxiety/worry/doubt that perhaps i'm still involved with softball out of selfish desires. He let me know something about my life. that right now, softball and Jesus are what i'm supposed to be doing. that if it was just softball, ya, that might be a selfish desire. but because Jesus is alive in me makes all the difference about what i'm doing. and i was, i am so thankful for that. i'm thankful to be reminded that God is using me and yet, still allowing me to be a part of something i love so much. our God truly is greater and higher than we can fathom. and i am so thankful and humbled to know:

Isaiah 55:9 (New International Version)

9 "As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts."

Thank you, Lord.

Camp Central

wowzas. been awhile. but let me make my excuses...
1. i don't use my time wisely (i think that's more of a confession)
2. i've been super busy (it's an oldie but a goodie)
3. i just finished 2 weeks of softball camp (ok, so now you're probably giving me a lil bit of slack)

so ya, camp. camp, camp, camp. where do i begin? in the beginning, where it was 1,000 degrees in the great state of SC and there were just over 100 lil girls struggling to even pick up a ball in the sweltering heat...or should i just skip to the next part where i'm so tired that i'd give my right arm (ya, that's the pitching one) to go to sleep but i can't because there are children still awake because after one day of separation they miss their moms or because they don't feel good, which really means they just miss their moms but are refusing to admit it...hmmmm...how about just a summary?

last week:
Furman Camp
-some of the hottest days of my life
-got drilled in my hip by a ten year old i was front tossing to
-took a million kids to the bathroom that didn't actually have to go but just wanted to do anything other than play softball
-met most of the softball girls who i'll be coaching in the fall and loved every minute of them...consequently, i have become even more excited about starting my job because they seem really receptive to me as a coach
-got a silly band from a camper at the end of camp...thanks Haley :) she liked UGA so she hooked me up with a pink bat silly band...love it

this week:
UGA Camp
-equally as hot, but due to the set up of this camp, i was outside for longer periods of time, resulting in extreme exhaustion, mild sunburn (thanks to Troutskies for the neutragena 70+) and probably some dehydration
-had the MOST fun ever at camp with the counselors...especially Wiggins, Razey, Elmo, and Trout (aka, Troutskies, who by the way, i totally fell in love with at the camp; seriously, such a great person...did i mention she has red hair, freckles, and wears chacos)
-got to see brittney hubbard (duh, one of the coolest peeps i know) for a little bit and found out she would be returning to uga which i love because...um...let's see...she'll be super close by and i can come visit her and vice versa for at least the next 2 years of life...total score!
-hung out with moe-seph, aka, moe, who is looking healthier and was not shy to show off her intestine, which is hanging out of her body because she has this poop bag thing and of course she promptly asked me if i wanted to poke it...i didn't
-met lots of new people, mostly friends of mac attack, and they were all super cool
-caught up on some much needed hacky time
-had some really great conversations with really great people :) :) :)

overall...God is good. camp was hard...but He is good...which is cool because if you lean on Him, hard things become good...and weirdly enough, kind of fun.

next up, wilson team camp next week and then...(annoyingly long drumroll)...PUERTO RICO!!! let's pray and hope for good things, which i know He has for us there. my prayer is that He uses me to shine light into darkness.

Update Mania

1. Today Charlie and I are celebrating our THREE, yes 3, year anniversary! He doesn't know it but he's going to get a wonderful massage later, and then we're going out to a nice little Italian place in Greenville, Trattoria Giorgio.

2. Luna got sick a couple of days ago, and it was really scary. The luna bug was throwing up and had a sick tummy on Tuesday so Wednesday, I took her to the vet. They weren't sure what was wrong with her but thought it could be the cause of a bacteria in her system. They have her medicine and some fluids, and she is definitely feeling better. She is still not 100 percent, but she's getting there. Her wonderful friend, Linus, has been ultra-sweet with her, giving her kisses on her face and sleeping beside her. They bring me so much joy, I just love them!

3. Rachel is home. My sister Rachel has officially quit at GA Tech and is home for the summer. We have many days ahead of us of bonding and catching up. We've already been out to practice together several times, and I'm really enjoying getting to see her!

4. UGA is hosting Supers! I'm getting to go watch my best friends in the world do what they do best...KICK BUTT! I'm so excited that I get to watch them play in such important games, and furthermore, that I get to SEE them after the games and talk to them and stuff.

Ok, I only had four updates so maybe this shouldn't be entitled 'Update Mania'. Nonetheless, I felt like I had a lot going on and that's why I hadn't blogged in many a moon. I need to establish some more consistency with this in my life...but life is so crazy...so maybe being sporadic with my blog is just indicative of the lifestyle I'm leading right now. Whatever is going on though, I know one thing for sure, and I need to give credit to my good friend Hubbs for this next line: The Lord is helping me each day to LIVE IN LOVE, LOVE IN LIGHT!

Summer Reading

Just finished reading "Searching for Eternity" by Francine Rivers. She is the author of "The Last Sin Eater", "Redeeming Love", and a bunch of other great reads.

When I began the book, I realized the main character was a boy, and I immediately decided that I probably wasn't going to like it. But I had to continue because my mother-in-law gave me the book to read, and I felt like I should finish it if not for anything but to let her know that I did. But I'm thankful that I did.

Emile, is a young French boy when you meet him, confused and angry with moving to America. But by the end of the book, though still French, he has become this wonderful man. I don't want to give all the details away, but here's a clue to the title: early on in the book, he meets a girl named, Eternity. And along the way, he gets to know this Eternity, as he realizes what really matters in his life, the other Eternity.

Anyway, I would say if you like fiction and have read Rivers before, read it! If you like fiction but haven't read her books, start with Redeeming Love. That way, you'll want to read everything she's ever touched.

Next I think I'll go to the opposite end of the spectrum with a science fiction novel, Catching Fire, it's the sequel to Hunger Games. Then again, I have been itching to finish the Chronicles of Narnia series (I've read through Prince Caspian). But wherever my book journey takes me, one thing will be for sure, the more I read, the more I want to write!

Found an old Bible of mine

My mom was going through some things at the house and found my old student Bible. In the front, I wrote down a great quote from our Eagle Rock retreat in 2001. I'm assuming that Will is the person who said it, but I guess I'll never be sure.

>"To the degree that we understand that God is absolutely in love with us, we will be able to love others."<

Thought these lyrics from Jesus Culture went well with it:
He is jealous for me
Love's like a hurricane, I am a tree
Bending beneath the weight of His wind and mercy
When all of a sudden, I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory
and I realize just how beautiful You are and how great your affections are for me.
Oh, how He loves us so
Oh, how He loves us
How He loves us so.

Yeah, He loves us
Woah, how He loves us
Woah, how He loves us
Woah, how He loves.

So we are His portion and He is our prize,
Drawn to redemption by the grace in His eyes
If grace is an ocean we're all sinking
So heaven meets earth like a sloppy wet kiss and my heart turns violently inside of my chest
I don't have time to maintain these regrets when I think about the way

That he loves us,
Woah, how He loves us
Woah, how He loves us
Woah, how He loves

He loves us,
Woah, how He loves us
Woah, how He loves us
Woah, how He loves

[Whispered]: Well, I thought about You the day Stephen died and You met me between my breaking
I know that I still love You, God, despite the agony
...they want to tell me You're cruel
But if Stephen could sing, he'd say it's not true, cause...[voice breaks]...

Cause He loves us,
Woah, how He loves us
Woah, how He loves us
Woah, how He loves

Yeah, He loves us
Woah, how He loves us
Woah, how He loves us
Woah, how He loves

A Psalm 23 Prayer

Father, remind me of my neediness today.
Help me surrender my plans for Your way.
Grant me grace because I've fallen yet again.
And remind me, that nothing can take me from Your Hand.
I lift up my desires and requests to You
Knowing, believing in what you will do
Thank you for caring about this insignifcant sheep
For watching over me from when I wake to when I sleep
Help me to be lead by You each day
And to remember who You are,
The Good Shepherd, I pray.

The Good Shepherd Ps. 23

Before you read this post, you should read Psalm 23:1-4. Here, I'll make it easy for you:

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, or you are with me, your rod and your staff they comfort me.

Now for some Questions to Ponder:

Am I in want?
If so, why?
valuing things of this earth more than the promises of the Lord

Is your soul restored?
Or are you constantly seeking/searching ways in which to fill it?

Are you walking in paths of righteousness?

Are you allowing yourself to be lead or are you desperately trying to find your own way?

Are you fearful?
Do you truly believe HE is with you? (Josh.1:9)

Do the Lord's rod and staff comfort you?
Are you heeding His direction and realizing the comfort it brings as opposed to your attempts to bring comfort to your own life?

And now for some of my thoughts:

In order for me to have a Good Shepherd, there is first the step of saying, "Ok, I am your sheep. And on my own, I'm lost, helpless, and in need of you, the Good Shepherd."

Once this step of realization that you need a Savior occurs, and that you are willing to be lead instead of leading, He appears out of the dark forest, or vaelley, or cliff or wherever it is you've found yourself. And he comes to your aid,. To rescue, save, restore, and lead you into better places, brighter places, and away from the wolves of the world.

But the point is, there would be no reason for living life if we didn't receive a free will. Otherwise, we'd just all do what God wants and be in heaven already. But our God is relational, even human (Jesus), and He wanted us to choose Him as He chose us. So here we are, sheep in a dangerous world. Will we continue to try and make it by our lonesome and fall further into the snares of this owrld, or will we surrender our will, realize our neediness, and ask to be the follower intead of the the leader?

There is a Good Shepherd, but He won't rescue us from this world, from ourselves, until we ask Him to. Cry out to your Savior.

The Truth about Norie

I love to dance, Hate to lose
Might take a chance, Been on a cruise
Delight in sleep, But don't do it well
Semi-high strung, Can you tell?
My fav is just chilling, Charlie's my best friend
But I like to do things, Still play pretend
I'm good with people, Never lie to me
I hate/love the ocean, Close to family
Give it my all, Laugh kind of loud
Love Jesus and grace, But can be proud
Thankful for life, Have lots of shoes
This poem is just speaking truths.

I have set the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Ps. 16:8

This reminds me of that song, I will not be moved! Which I love because I feel totally empowered and ready to take on anything when I'm listening to it. And yet, what do I do so often when troubles, trials and things come my way? Well let's see:

1. Rely on myself
2. Rely on others
3. Complain
4. Feel bad for myself
5. And the list could go on and include many more things other than what this verse claims to be true.

My prayer today is that the Lord teaches me to rely on Him...first! Not to run to God as a last resort (although I know He'd still be there) but to delight Him by bringing all my requests, anxieties, doubts and fears before Him first. To truly believe and live a life where He is my Father. And to treat Him as I would my own Father. To let Him know when I'm not doing well, to let Him know when I am, to rely on Him, to run to Him, to speak to Him daily, and ultimately, to develop a RELATIONSHIP with Him.

In our Bible Study we've been having on our prayer, we always start by reviewing what the Gospel is...Good News. Why? Because Christ died for my sin so that I could have a relationship with God. Ya, I'd say that's Good News. But the problem is, I don't always treat God as if I'm in a relationship with Him. Like I said, I don't "set the Lord always before me." But I should. And I can by His grace.

Father, by Your grace, I have been made new and I can still be made even better. Help me to be more like Your Son, who always had his heart attentive and his eyes set on you. I want to be more like Your Son, I want to live as a daughter of the King. I want to live like a child of You.

You called me into light
And showed me who You are
Help me now Lord
To shine as bright as a star
Teach me to rely
On you every single day
For I am Your child
And You my Father, the Way.

From Junk to Crunk

So we bought a house recently, and in the process, the woman selling the home kept putting her old furniture and other things in the ditch. We told her just to leave what she wanted, and we would see to it, but she just kept putting stuff in the ditch. And in turn, my mom and I just kept taking stuff out of the ditch and putting it in our truck to take home and make new.

We've had a great time re-doing some pieces from the ditch, and today, I did one all by myself...well, almost. I cleaned it, sanded it, and then got to painting. Somewhere during the hours of painting, my husband came to the rescue and helped me through, but ultimately, I took something that was junk and made it well...you know it's coming...CRUNK!

Seriously though, it was kind of crazy to me that I was able to take something that had been cast out due to its dreadful condition and restore it to its rightful and wonderful character. So why blog about it? Because it reminded me of what Christ has done for us.

"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." Gal. 2:20

Wow. I am so glad that Jesus (whose earthly father just happened to be a carpenter) took me (*takes me) out of that ditch (my sin) and gave me new life. I'm so glad He didn't come by (or down to earth) and say, "Wow, you are so not worth this!" But instead, He loved us even though we hated Him; He died for us even though we killed Him; He rose again even though we doubted Him; and He made a way for us to the Father even though we rejected Him. Jesus looked past the condition of our hearts and saw the potential for His Father to be praised through us, and so He took us, restored us, renewed us and gave us a new life that we might give Him and the Father all the glory.

Yup, that piece of furniture is about to be moved into the house and it'll be a conversation piece. It'll stand out, it'll be commented on, it'll be loved by many. And yet it used to lie in a ditch, waiting for the trashman, getting rained on, and not being seen by anyone.

Thank you Lord for picking me out of the ditch. For looking past my sin and seeing who I was created to be in You. Thank you for new life.

"For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins." Col.1:13-14

The Last Frontier of Social Media...for me, at least

So here I am...finally. This has truly come full circle.

Many years ago, when I was in middle school, I vaguely remember having a blog for a short time. This was when computers moved at the speed of dialing up to the phone line and there was no facebook, myspace or twitter. I don't remember how long I blogged or even what about, but I remember enjoying it.

Though different from the lead touching the white sheet of fresh paper for the first time and feeling the stroke of each letter as I wrote, it was still enjoyable. Probably because for the first time ever, my fingers could keep up with my mind and my thoughts didn't slip out of reach. And yet, I don't know what happened to that. I left whatever site that was and moved on to other things.

I've been through facebook, thankfully never ventured into the myspace world of racey picks and relationship-ending posts, and I even tweeted for a few months. Yes, I am back where I started, but at the same time, I feel like I'm embarking on something new. After all, I haven't lost internet connection while typing this like I used to. No one is pestering me to hurry up because they need to use the computer. And best of all, I have so much more to write about now. Most of it will be nonsense and most of you won't care. But that's the best part. Whether or not anyone ever reads this post or not, it can't take away the feeling I've already gotten from writing it. Yep, it's good to be back.