Day in the Life of a Youth Group Intern

6:30: Wake up, make coffee, eat breakfast.
7:00 Prepare for and pray over Vacation Bible School Lessons
7:30 Leave the house to pick up Sydney
8:00 Get to the church and decorate room
8:15 Cut and style a wig for Children's Minister, steal cups and ziplock bags from the snack kitchen, borrow markers from the office, and paper and paint from the preschool building
8:30 Worship with all of the kids in the sanctuary... I realize I'm sitting with the wrong group of kids, and in my own confusion, I confused a kid... who then proceeded to cry because he thought he was in the wrong grade
9:00 Round up my crew. Turns out, I'd planned all the activities for the expected amount of 8 fifth and sixth graders. 21 showed up
9:00-11:30 Games, Bible Studies, Snacks (we made trail mix... half of which ended up crushed on the floor)
11:45 Closing worship. Realize about halfway through the first song, we've lost a girl. She was never found so we've assumed she left with her grandma and hope she'll be back tomorrow.
12:00 Take Samantha home after VBS is over and head straight to Double Dave's for a Watershed Student Ministry Staff lunch meeting
1:30-Discuss Youth Camp with Greg, Lacey, Nathan, Jaymes, and Stephan. This includes, organizing all of the paperwork and money turned in, finalizing the rooming and family groups, making lists of things to buy and things to do. (Camp is T-minus 5 days!!!)
6:00 FINALLY head home
6:30 Eat dinner with the family
7:00 Begin Math Homework
8:30 Take Jackson to Chick-fil-A for the Wi-Fi/change of scenery. Finish up math homework, take a section quiz
9:00 Two people from my old swim team walk in and sit in the same section as me and Jackson. Our friendship didn't end well, so I cover my face with my hair so they don't see/recognize me.
9:30 I finish my quiz but the people are still sitting in our section, so I kill time on facebook 'til they leave. (Yes, this is immature, I know!)
10:00 Leave Chick-fil-A, head home once again
10:15 Start Chapter Quiz for Math class
11:00 Finish quiz, talk to Sam on facebook
11:30 Shower
11:45 Review VBS Lesson, make a list everything I need to do tomorrow
12:00 Take a deep breath and rest my sleepy head on my pillow

Ah... an Intern's work is never done!Watershed Student Ministry College Staff
(Roller Disco Night)

Lead Me to The Cross

Since I've been home, this song has been my prayer each morning.
Thought I'd share, though those of you who read this blog have probably heard it.



and here are some thoughts on it by the singer :)

Another Break from Technology

I lost my camera.

If you keep up with this blog, you'll notice I've had a bad string of luck with technology.
First my phone in January.
Then my computer in March.
Now my beloved camera.
The summer is beginning and it's killing me not to have it. I missed some priceless kodak moments at my cousin's graduation, some creative opportunities while packing/unpacking, and various end-of-the-school-year goodbye pictures with friends in College Station.
With my Olympus gone, I'm trying to work on savoring each moment and not rely on my camera to keep it's memory. Instead of wishing I had my camera, I close my eyes, take a deep breath, and absorb every detail of the moment, thanking God for the people around me, and asking Him to help me remember as much of it as possible.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not that patient; I've already ordered a new camera on ebay and can hardly wait for it to arrive in the mail. But another break from technology has reminded me to hold on to every moment, not with pictures, but with my heart.

(corny?... maybe)

Promenade

My sister went to her first prom yesterday. (Though she's had her fair share of formals, prom just seems to be more of a milestone in one's life)
She is beautiful and thought I'd post a picture of Jill and her boyfriend, Tyler.
What a cute couple!

Happy Mutha's Day

A myriad of home videos sit in the entertainment system below our television set. One has a clip from an early Sunday morning in 1993. Mom slips quietly into my room with baby Jill in her arms and lays her down next to me in my Beauty and the Beast t-shirt and hair is curlers. I'm "waked up" by Jill's squirms and in fog reach over to give her a hug.
Mom gives me a kiss and says, "Do you know what today is?"
I yawn and reply with a grin, "Mutha's Day." (I was still working on a slight speech impediment.)

At the risk of sounding like a Hallmark card, it's been such a blessing having her as my mom these past twenty years. I may not need her to come wake me up in the morning and carry me out of bed, but I still need her. period.

Happy Mother's Day, Momma, I love you!

Mom and Me the summer before Jill was born 1992

Thanksgiving 2008

Desert Song

This is my new favorite song in the whole world! Thank you Bailey for introducing me to this amazing song full of Spirit filled lyrics!

This is my prayer in the desert
And all that's within me feels dry
This is my prayer in the hunger in me
My God is a God who provides

And this is my prayer in the fire
In weakness or trial or pain
There is a faith proved
Of more worth than gold
So refine me Lord through the flames

And I will bring praise
I will bring praise
No weapon forged against me shall remain

I will rejoice
I will declare
God is my victory and He is here

And this is my prayer in the battle
And triumph is still on it's way
I am a conqueror and co-heir with Christ
So firm on His promise I'll stand

All of my life
In every season
You are still God
I have a reason to sing
I have a reason to worship

This is my prayer in the harvest
When favor and providence flow
I know I'm filled to be empited again
The seed I've recieved I will sow

I also love Brooke Fraser. Just sayin'...

Miller vs. Chambers

I read Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller a few weeks ago. I love the way Miller writes and the dialogue between him and friends is so honest. He describes his book as "nonreligious thoughts on Christian spirituality" to be exact. Since January 1, I've been reading My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers, which has been a great journey thus far, but the books are night-and-day different.

Chambers, an author from a completely different century, speaks of conviction and the necessity of living an abandoned life purely to glorify God. At times I feel a bit overwhelmed and occasionally burdened by my inadequacy in serving God. Nevertheless, it challenges me each day to seek God's will rather than my own, to listen to the Spirit of God, rather than the spirit of the world.

Miller speaks more simply of grace:

"...by accepting God's love, we fall in love with Him, and only then do we have the fuel we need to obey Him."

No self discipline can make me feel clean or righteous, only accepting God's unconditional love and grace will do that. God changes our character by wooing us with the passion of His love.
Miller speaks of God as more than a friend. He doesn't even compare God's love for us to that of Romeo and Juliet but to that of Luciento's pursuit of Bianca in Shakespeare's Taming of the Shrew.

"...that is, the groom endearing the belligerent bride with kindness, patience, and love."

Like I said, their writing styles are so different, but the message is the same: Jesus took on the burden of our sin on the cross and that through his resurrection we have been redeemed. We are deeply love and can only accept this love by spending time in the Word, learning God's character and the power his sacrifice has over our lives. By accepting this love, we can be obedient to His will and proclaim His name over our lives as a witness to others.

Basically,
Love God.
Love People.
Why?
Because He first loved us.