I'll Give you A Topic...

hey-O

2010-03-21T22:14:00.000-07:00

Living missionally...

I'm currently on my first mission trip in NYC. It's probably my most favorite place in the world. Thank you God for culture!! I love seeing all walks of life intermingling in the streets and subways, encountering street performers that I want to kiss on the mouth b/c they are so dang gifted, and being spit on and offered a romantic night of "relations" by homeless people (yes that seriously happened...insert gagging noise here).

I kind of had this brief moment of "Am I crappy Christian for never embarking on this"- not homeless relations but mission trips...and then I quickly corrected myself...NO! I'm the most awesome Christian ever (now instead of gagging like you did previously...we can insert a sarcastic undertone here). Obviously I'm not the best Jesus follower, but I do feel blessed to have grown up in church that taught me to live missionally. Our life's very purpose should be to embrace others that don't know Jesus, to love them, to learn about them, to pray for them...It's called investing, and we suck at it!

Now if you are wondering...what the crap that term is: "missional living"... well Brittany's dictionary defines it as, "quit keeping that joy and hope to yourself and get off your (expletive) and go ask people about their worlds, while lovin the livin crap out of them." OR you could read up on Matthew 10:26 & 27...Jesus probably has some better words for you.

26"So do not be afraid of them. There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. 27What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the rooftops.

I'll race you to the rooftop...

Baker out!

Hop on the wagon...

2009-10-29T19:04:00.000-07:00

1. Notebook for Bible Study: Created some charts to record prayer requests, memory verses, wonderful quotes, and all in a "made from recyclable material notebook"... ROme wasn't built in a day people ;)

2. Poem: What is it about me writing poetry sound so cliche? The whole time I was writing I was criticizing my thoughts, my heart, and my feelings. It was such an eye-opener as to how hard I am on myself... I am the GREAT SUPPRESSOR! HEAR ME ROAR! This is not a poem to be published to the masses. It was for me to unleash the realness that is festering deep inside me. As I was vomiting whatever words I could on to this page, I realized I am quite the angry girl and some of that also translates into sadness, but for the most part...PMS has nothing on me. Who would of thought? Why is this such a frustrating process... where is this anger coming from? This poem allowed me do a real self-assessment that tapped into brokenness that I have been sweeping under the rug. Well my friend, that pile under the rug has turned into the elephant in the room. Let me tell you something about that elephant, its not a cute cartoon one with long eyelashes and butterflies circling its ears...it smells, it takes up a bunch of room, and it s crapping on my floor.

30 day creative challenge

2009-10-27T21:34:00.000-07:00

Boredom is the desire for desires."- Leo Nikolaevich Tolstoy

I heard this quote today, and think no truer words have ever been spoken. I have been suppressing my inner artist since I moved to Jonesboro, and enough is enough. In the past few days, the Lord has revealed some things to me. 1. He purposefully created me with an artistic brain 2. He's sick of my whining and wants me to use this chained up imagination freely and fearlessly..

I don't know about you, but is anyone else completely frightened of their "gifts"? Personally, I have let fear govern my direction, and have allowed the thought of failure paralyze possibilities. I went on an amazing walk at Craighead Forest on Monday, and was stunned by the gorgeous array of colors that God had perfected for the chilly fall backdrop. I sat completely mesmorized by this single crimson tree. I was basking in God's creativeness, and thought you know what...I've completely avoided this "thing" inside me- that God specifically designed and wired in me. It was then that I had a nudge from the Lord to embark on a spiritually journey that taps into these creative wires of my fabulous God as well as those he uniquely designed inside me.

That crimson red tree taught me so much about how my mighty Savior molded me...thank you for creating that tree Lord. It spoke volumes, and sadly is living more brilliantly than I am presently.

Lord,
I'm so ready for this, and I can't wait. Both feet in... 30 days... you and me Abba -connecting at our imaginative roots. I'm bracing myself for the impending wonderment and awe under the umbrella of your intricate craftmanship.

Britt

What in the World is Going On?

2009-06-06T19:51:00.001-07:00

Everyday we hear about a new tragedy via the news, a friend, a family member...suffering is all over the place plastered on our TV's, the newspapers, and on our loved one's faces.

Many of us are sorting through our lives and realizing our priorities, me included. I'm not the first or last to come to the conclusion that if you have your faith and hope in the things of this world then this time will be frightening and threatening. But if your hope and faith is in Christ, then these challenges can develop things in us we never knew existed.

Recently, I started a nutrition plan and workout regimen... which requires that I cry in the middle of every workout. The first day I started this nearly impossible workout, I almost peed myself...not with excitement...because I was about to lose all bodily function. I mean this thing was rough. I've only been in the fight against this dumb workout for a week, but it's gotten slightly easier. It's still hard, but I'm making it.

Continuing through this workout has developed a physical discipline in me that hasn't existed in a while. It's rewarding to work hard and when I'm done it's just "sweet sweetness". (tribute to "Little Miss Sunshine")

In this time of craziness, and for some of us turmoil, I guess my challenge to us...is to be joyful about this time where we can refine our weaknesses and create in ourselves this strength the world can't possible strip away from us. Nothing in this world can strip me from my Savior, and I say "welcome" to these challeges and pray that we find our hope in Christ. I pray that we band together as a community and help each other fight all the things the world tells us is valuable.

God is love,

Brittany

Fallin Whistles

2009-01-08T11:00:00.000-08:00

Last night I went to a movie called Slumdog Millionaire, which is absolutely amazing, but it is not an easy movie to watch. I was stressed out until the bitter end. The movie was very well done, and it opened my eyes to the harsh realities that exist in the world around us. I was driving home just so thankful that I didnt have to grow up around the intense violence, unsanitary conditions, or having to wonder where my next meal was coming from. There is one particular instance in the movie where this "orphanage" comes to their aid and they pick up these boys, and take them under their wing and feed them, give them a place to stay, and these children had previously been sleeping on these fly infested trash heaps. These kids thought they were saved...
Then the man they thought to be their "saint" then makes them go beg on the streets. He even burns a child's eyes out, saying "blind people bring in double." It's absolutely gut wrenching, but this goes on! All arouond the world their is horrible injustices and instead of thanking God I haven't experienced those things... I should be thanking God I have the means to do something about it.

My challenge this week is for us all to be educated about what is going on....spread the word...and most importantly take action! We are children of God, yet we sit hear, me included thanking God that we have the means, and go about our business making our second trip to the mall that week.

Let's put our wants away and get others what they need...check the link out below...this is the beginning of your education...

http://www.fallingwhistles.com/SOS-82644-FallingWhistles.pdf

Peace, Love, Action,
Brittany

"I am Second"

2008-12-04T12:31:00.000-08:00

Yo Yo Yo, I just had the most stressful week in the whole wide world, and now it's over and I just don't know what to do with myself.

I'm an intern at a Bent Tree Bible Fellowship, and they have partnered with a campaign called "I am Second".

My challenge this week is to go to this website and check out these compelling stories. God is big guys, and these stories are evidence of that. So get some kleenexes (<--- what the heck is the plural to that one?) and go to http://www.iamsecond.com/ - the pastor of my church, Pete Briscoe, is up there along with some famous faces. This is an incredible website for anyone to use...seekers, believer, and those needing hope. Check it out and let me know what you think. Love you guys.

Patience....

2008-11-22T18:14:00.000-08:00

Hmmm... honestly, that title just typed itself. I was going to write about how I got engaged last week. Well, I guess that will a be a topic for another day.

So, I don't know if any of you have experienced this, but with each passing year I get more and more impatient. I used to get compliments about how patient I was, but I don't think I really had patience... I think I was just unaware of how to keep track of time... the big hand, the little hand, what did it all mean!! But now, with my clock-reading skills at their peak, I feel as though I have lost that "patience".

In the Bible, we are supposed to clothe ourselves with patience (Col 3:12), but I usually think it makes me look fat (insert lame joke here). Instead I like to put on impatience which usually makes me angry, and then before you know it I'm screaming at the car in front of me for going 5 under the speed limit and practicing my "are you freakin kidding me" face in the review mirror, and what's funny is most of the time I'm not even running late.

I definitely can blame it on society, because we do live in this "whatever you want, whenever you want" day and age of instant gratification, but I think what it boils down to for me at least is me just being disobedient. The book of Colossians talks about the transformation in our hearts when we become a new creation by accepting Jesus as our Savior and committing our lives to him. This transformation isn't this instant thing that happens overnight. Obviously b/c I still yell profanities at elderly drivers. But it should awaken this new purpose in our lives that we are called to- be in the world, but not of the world. I think sometimes, especially if you have been a Christian for a while, you get slightly removed from that purpose. My challenge to myself tonight is to come back to that place of direction and desire, and if anyone wants to come with me the water is warm, so come on in.

Colossians 3:12 in it's entirety says, "Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience."

Proverbs 25:15 "Through patience, a ruler can be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone."
Think about that, patience is this terriffic catalyst that can create relationships with people we never thought possible, it can force people to listen...people who would of never given you the time of day. A gentle tongue can break bone, how many times have you seen a tongue break a bone... well besides that one time...NEVER. Patience yields some powerful things in our spirits, so let's unleash it and change the world.

Missed ya'll.

The Big Pic

2008-10-30T00:10:00.000-07:00

Tonight I was doing a puzzle with one of my bfs Brenner, and we were putting together a Charlie Brown Halloween puzzle that had a gijillion pieces. I think the quote of tonight was “I swear that piece is missing”. On the cover was Linus and Sally, and she said, “This piece is right above Charlie Brown’s head.” My immediate response was almost, "that’s not Charlie Brown, that’s Linus." Not only was I about to prove that I was a Charlie Brown geek, but I was about to be “that person”…oh you know who im talking about, you know you have never thought about hitting someone harder. Like are you kidding me I’m about to jump on the chance to say that’s not Charlie Brown that’s Linus…wow…why do people hang out with me? Luckily I didn’t say anything, and I got to keep Brenner as bf for another day…haha.

You see the big picture of tonight was I got to hang out with my wonderful friend, singing dumb songs together, and making fabulous memories while we got owned by a puzzle.

I think a lot of the time we as Christians miss the big picture. Anyone seen the movie Footloose? The crazy conservative preacher worried about dancing making sinners out of all who shook what their mama gave 'em…they really should of been worried about those too tight acid washed jeans, I mean how are you supposed to "drop it like its hot" in those?

We argue about the “extra” things…the “gray” things… when we don’t even practice this….

28One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, "Of all the commandments, which is the most important?"
29"The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one.[e] 30Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.'[f] 31The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'[g]There is no commandment greater than these." (mark 12:28-30)

Thats a pretty clear message to me. But...

Love…that can be a interesting subject. Sometimes we learn what love is from others … by how our friends love us, or how our mother loves us, or our father loves us. But what if you have crummy friends that talk about you when you are in the other room, or a father that abuses you, or a mother that uses you? Your view of love gets skewed and it starts coming with fine print.
Let me reassure you that Christ’s love is absolute perfection, unwavering, everlasting, not circumstantial, unbiased, and unconditional
Unwavering: firm in view or purpose and unable to be swayed or diverted from it
Everlasting: never failing or coming to an end
Unconditional: complete or guaranteed, with no conditions, limitations, or provisos attached

I challenge you this week to get in the word, and learn about how Christ loves, so that you can equip yourself to love others, so you can retrain yourself what love really means, so we can better love our perfect Savior.
Leave your comments… let me know where this or other challenges have taken you, or if you have simply started a petition banning me from blogging…let me know where I need to sign.

Love you guys!

That's My King!!!

2008-10-22T20:19:00.000-07:00

So, it's 45 degrees in Dallas tonight...my favorite weather in the whole wide world. I could walk and talk in that weather all night long...
It's also nights like these, where I love to reflect on spiritual milestones and breathroughs I have experienced with my sweet Jesus. I don't want to go too heavy into those things over this blog, well at least not yet, but I do want to share a magnificent verse that was my prayer for a very long time. It was recently spoken over our choir before our service began, and it brought me back to that place of brokeness where God was delicate and sweet with me, and how He helped me survive that dark place in my life. This verse is powerful and any of you who are sitting there wondering where God is in the midst of the rubble... take this verse, claim it, take refuge in Him....

Psalm 31
1 In you, O LORD, I have taken refuge;
let me never be put to shame;
deliver me in your righteousness.
2 Turn your ear to me,
come quickly to my rescue;
be my rock of refuge,
a strong fortress to save me.

3 Since you are my rock and my fortress,
for the sake of your name lead and guide me.

4 Free me from the trap that is set for me,
for you are my refuge.

5 Into your hands I commit my spirit;
redeem me, O LORD, the God of truth.

6 I hate those who cling to worthless idols;
I trust in the LORD.

7 I will be glad and rejoice in your love,
for you saw my affliction
and knew the anguish of my soul.

8 You have not handed me over to the enemy
but have set my feet in a spacious place.

9 Be merciful to me, O LORD, for I am in distress;
my eyes grow weak with sorrow,
my soul and my body with grief.

10 My life is consumed by anguish
and my years by groaning;
my strength fails because of my affliction, [a]
and my bones grow weak.

11 Because of all my enemies,
I am the utter contempt of my neighbors;
I am a dread to my friends—
those who see me on the street flee from me.

12 I am forgotten by them as though I were dead;
I have become like broken pottery.

13 For I hear the slander of many;
there is terror on every side;
they conspire against me
and plot to take my life.

14 But I trust in you, O LORD;
I say, "You are my God."

15 My times are in your hands;
deliver me from my enemies
and from those who pursue me.

16 Let your face shine on your servant;
save me in your unfailing love.

17 Let me not be put to shame, O LORD,
for I have cried out to you;
but let the wicked be put to shame
and lie silent in the grave. [b]

18 Let their lying lips be silenced,
for with pride and contempt
they speak arrogantly against the righteous.

19 How great is your goodness,
which you have stored up for those who fear you,
which you bestow in the sight of men
on those who take refuge in you.

20 In the shelter of your presence you hide them
from the intrigues of men;
in your dwelling you keep them safe
from accusing tongues.

21 Praise be to the LORD,
for he showed his wonderful love to me
when I was in a besieged city.

22 In my alarm I said,
"I am cut off from your sight!"
Yet you heard my cry for mercy
when I called to you for help.

23 Love the LORD, all his saints!
The LORD preserves the faithful,
but the proud he pays back in full.

24 Be strong and take heart,
all you who hope in the LORD.

I dont know about you, but as I talk to more and more girls about life it seems that life has gotten more and more complicated than when I was theire age. There are more and more things to distract us, bring us down, put us down, lie to us...this information is coming faster and louder than ever before. I talk to more girls in abusive relationships, more girls with eating disorders, more girls from broken homes...more girls looking for hope in the midst of this crazy thing called life and not sure where to find it.

Even when you are a believer we have these doubts, as I talked about in last week's post. My challenge to you last week was...Do we really think God is who He says He is? If our whole world crumbled like Job's.... would we still think He was sovereign? Do we truly think that He is perfect in our weaknesses and His grace is sufficient?

Now, I don't know if you have gotten to that point where you feel like you can truly answer yes. If you haven't, this challenge might help facilitate an answer, and if you have then this challenge will hopefully affirm that yes in you.

How has God shown up in your life? Big and small. What struggles or trials has he brought you through? When? Where? How?
Reflecting on that evidence tonight has given me this unreal confidence that I serve a breathtaking Savior. Who has never left me. Ever. That's My King....

The Revelation Song....

2008-10-16T00:18:00.000-07:00

Hmm... this is odd. I'm writing a blog. This was not on the agenda today, but neither were alot of things that happened today...

Today, I had no control, I mean absolutely none. School, my arch nemesis, called me stupid, the mirror called me ugly, the scale called me fat.We've all had these days, especially if your a woman, where you feel these lies being whispered, or in my case, shouted at you. I was battling with God in my head...."Ok God, I know that I shouldn't feel these things...you created me... you love me....blah blah blah." I was trying to sell myself on why God was better than what I had in mind. How come I didn't know that already? It's not like God is this creepy vacuum salesman, and I'm wondering whether to let him into my house, so he demonstrate how fast a vac can suck up a pound of dirt...HE'S MY GOD, MY MAN, MY SAVIOR!

I had spent all night wrestling with doubts and talking to God....trying to make a deal with him..."Just give me a little control...if you make me skinnier, healthier, smarter, prettier, etc... don't you know I'll be happier!"...we all think this at some point.

But....What if I have no right to be those things? Would His glory still be shown, would I want to live His word...claim His love...lead worship....mentor high school/college girls? ... and the answer I came to was obvoiusly...duh!

2 Corinthians 12:19 says, "But he said to me, "my grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me."...
This verse rocked my world...I just wept...my sweet, wonderful, merciful, graceful, Jesus laid down His life in one of the most painful ways I could ever imagine... to free me from sin, and no matter my past or my future...He still loves me. He loves me no matter what view I hold of myself. He loves me when I don't love him.

So I guess from all that...here is the challenge: Do we really think God is who He says He is? If our whole world crumbled like Job's.... would we still think He was sovereign? Do we truly think that He is perfect in our weaknesses and His grace is sufficient?

Thank you God for meeting me at the end of my resources... Thank you for putting Vonda D in my life for leading me to this wonderful revelation I experienced with you. Thank you for showing me that control is not what I need, but what I need is to surrender my flesh and trust that you are who you are... and... in the words of JR....so big time!

Tonight was all about revelation, and the words in this song are just a beautiful description of our God. If you don't know this song, listen to it, be still, and praise God for being freakin awesome.

Revelation Song:
Worthy is the, Lamb who was slain
Holy, Holy, is He
Sing a new song, to Him who sits on
Heaven's Mercy Seat
Holy, Holy, Holy
Is the Lord God Almighty
Who was, and is, and is to come
With all creation I sing:Praise to the King of Kings!
You are my everything,
And I will adore You
Clothed in rainbows, of living color
Flashes of lightning, rolls of thunder
Blessing and honor, strength and
Glory and power be
To You the Only Wise King
Holy, Holy, Holy
Is the Lord God Almighty
Who was, and is, and is to come
With all creation I sing:Praise to the King of Kings!
You are my everything, And – I - will - adore You!
Filled with wonder, Awestruck wonder
At the mention of Your Name
Jesus, Your Name is Power
Breath, and Living Water
Such a marvelous mystery
Yeah... Holy, Holy, Holy
Is the Lord God Almighty
Who was, and is, and is to come
With all creation I sing:Praise to the King of Kings!
You are my everything, And – I - will - adore You!