As most of you know we found out last week that we are having a little girl. We were both very excited and started making plans right away. My plans have been on decorating the nursery, buying the cutest clothes that I can find and finding the perfect name for our little girl. Brian's plans have been to start preparing how he will handle her first date, how he will ever say "No" to a little girl, and he too has been on the lookout for the perfect name.
Everyone's first question has changed from "Do you know what you are having?" to "What are you going to name her?" To be perfectly honest we really don't know and we may not know for sure until her birthday. We have looked high and low for the name that we feel will best suit our little girl. Our hope is to find a name that she is proud of, a name that we can both agree on, but most importantly a name that when spoken is known for her heart for God.
There are so many names that when spoken we associate something with them. Some good, some bad. In the bible there is Ruth - I think of loyalty, David - a man after God's heart, Paul - a changed man that loves God more than himself, Mary - a scared girl that chose God's will and promise over her fear. The list could go on and on. Then there are names in our culture like Lady Gaga - crazy dresser, Kanye - too outspoken, this list could go on and on as well.
I guess what I am getting at is that it is more than the name. It is the legacy that goes with the name. Our prayer for our little girl is that the legacy that goes with her name is one that honors God, one that keeps His commands. We pray that the footprints she leaves on this life show that she is a woman of God, that she loves Him more than herself, that she is good to the best and to the least. The name itself doesn't really matter (and lets face it... not everyone will like her name) but the legacy; the legacy that is associated with her name matters. We pray everyday for this angel to love the Lord and to live her life in a way that pleases Him. We will continue on our search for that perfect name all the while praying for a child that loves the Lord.
Babbling Brooke
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
$100 Challenge
A couple of Sundays ago Jeff's sermon was on the parable of the talents. He talked about how the master went on a journey and entrusted his talents to his 3 servants each according to their ability. One servant he entrusted 5 talents, one servant he entrusted 2 talents and one servant he entrusted one talent. When the master returned from his journey the servant with 5 talents had doubled it. The servant with 2 talents had doubled his and the servant with 1 talent had just that 1 talent. The master was upset with the servant with 1 talent. He had buried that talent and not even made an effort to use or increase it.
At the end of Jeff's sermon he called 5 teams up front. Brian and I were one of these teams, each team was given a $100 bill and instructions to use this money in the next week in a way that glorified God. We were to come back the next Sunday and report what we had done and what we had learned. It sounds so easy it's 100 dollars and there are millions of things that we could do that glorified God. Brian and I both felt a pressure to do something really amazing but also to do something that God was telling us to do and not just something that we chose.
Last week we spent the majority of the week talking with friends, praying asking God to show us, listening to other people's experiences, and talking to each other about where we felt that God was leading us. After countless prayers and conversations on Thursday night we decided what we would do. We gave our $ to a couple who have both been laid off within the last year and they are trying to raise their 9 year old grandaughter. We attached an annonymous letter with the money just telling them that this money was truly a gift from God and that we had prayed and we felt sure that God intended for them to be blessed with it. We also told them that we knew their finances were tight but we knew they had other gifts of their own that they could share with others. We asked them to please share their gifts for the glory of God. Gifts meaning time, prayer, a listening ear...the list is endless.
On Sunday night all 5 teams went before the church to share what they had done with the money and also what lessons they had learned. We all had very similar experiences and we all learned similar things. Brian and I learned 2 very big lessons. The first, on Wednesday we listened to a CD of a pastor talking about this same type of challenge but one of the things that he said that struck me was this "In a Tale of Two Cities the book opens by saying "It was the best of times it was the worst of times" he said how sad is it that in church a lot of times we cannot differentiate the people going through the best of times with the people going through the worst of times? The people experiencing these best of times aren't sharing they aren't being open to allowing others to see their gifts' This hurt me because I felt guilty. God has given me so many gifts and so many times I don't share the things I am best at instead I bury them in the ground just like the servant in the Parable of the Talents.
The second lesson was by far the most profound for us...All of last week we spent time trying to find someone that truly, in our eyes, deserved the money. Someone that wasn't going to waste it, someone that was going to really really appreciate it. We made stipulations on who should get this without even stopping to realize what we were doing. On Thursday night I layed awake and was just praying about this challenge and I realized how wrong we were. Jesus, precious Jesus he died for people who are going to waste it, he died for people who aren't going to appreciate it. He died for people who bury their gifts and their knowledge of Him. I laid in bed just thanking God. Thanking Him for the generosity, for taking a chance for giving His greatest gift even though He knew that so many would turn their backs or not appreciate it.
As you can see the $100 challenge was a lesson but also a gift for me and Brian. May we all use the gifts that we are blessed with and share them with everyone even those that we don't feel deserve them.
At the end of Jeff's sermon he called 5 teams up front. Brian and I were one of these teams, each team was given a $100 bill and instructions to use this money in the next week in a way that glorified God. We were to come back the next Sunday and report what we had done and what we had learned. It sounds so easy it's 100 dollars and there are millions of things that we could do that glorified God. Brian and I both felt a pressure to do something really amazing but also to do something that God was telling us to do and not just something that we chose.
Last week we spent the majority of the week talking with friends, praying asking God to show us, listening to other people's experiences, and talking to each other about where we felt that God was leading us. After countless prayers and conversations on Thursday night we decided what we would do. We gave our $ to a couple who have both been laid off within the last year and they are trying to raise their 9 year old grandaughter. We attached an annonymous letter with the money just telling them that this money was truly a gift from God and that we had prayed and we felt sure that God intended for them to be blessed with it. We also told them that we knew their finances were tight but we knew they had other gifts of their own that they could share with others. We asked them to please share their gifts for the glory of God. Gifts meaning time, prayer, a listening ear...the list is endless.
On Sunday night all 5 teams went before the church to share what they had done with the money and also what lessons they had learned. We all had very similar experiences and we all learned similar things. Brian and I learned 2 very big lessons. The first, on Wednesday we listened to a CD of a pastor talking about this same type of challenge but one of the things that he said that struck me was this "In a Tale of Two Cities the book opens by saying "It was the best of times it was the worst of times" he said how sad is it that in church a lot of times we cannot differentiate the people going through the best of times with the people going through the worst of times? The people experiencing these best of times aren't sharing they aren't being open to allowing others to see their gifts' This hurt me because I felt guilty. God has given me so many gifts and so many times I don't share the things I am best at instead I bury them in the ground just like the servant in the Parable of the Talents.
The second lesson was by far the most profound for us...All of last week we spent time trying to find someone that truly, in our eyes, deserved the money. Someone that wasn't going to waste it, someone that was going to really really appreciate it. We made stipulations on who should get this without even stopping to realize what we were doing. On Thursday night I layed awake and was just praying about this challenge and I realized how wrong we were. Jesus, precious Jesus he died for people who are going to waste it, he died for people who aren't going to appreciate it. He died for people who bury their gifts and their knowledge of Him. I laid in bed just thanking God. Thanking Him for the generosity, for taking a chance for giving His greatest gift even though He knew that so many would turn their backs or not appreciate it.
As you can see the $100 challenge was a lesson but also a gift for me and Brian. May we all use the gifts that we are blessed with and share them with everyone even those that we don't feel deserve them.
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Never Look Away
Last December I started training for a half marathon. This was one of the most challenging and rewarding things I have done for myself to date. There were days where I would have an awesome run, I would stay motivated and sometimes even run further than what my goal for the day was. There were other days where I just really didn't want to run so I would set out to run and the entire time my mind wasn't focused and I would end the run discouraged. On one of these "bad" run days I was running with my husband and he told me to look straight ahead and pick a focal point far away. I did and I told him what it was and then he said "don't take your eyes off of it until you have reached it." This became my method for running I would pick something out a billboard or a tree and not take my eyes off until I reached it. Once I had reached it I would pick my next focal point and this would keep my mind occupied until my run was complete.
In the 9th grade Brian decided that he wanted to be a dentist. He says from that point on his focus for studying for getting up and going to class were all driven on being a dentist. In college when he took Organic Chemistry and hated every second of it he says the thing that got him through was focusing on the ultimate goal he had set for himself...being a dentist. On weekdays when his classmates skipped class to go float the buffalo he stayed back and went to class because his eyes were still on the prize that he had set in the 9th grade.
A couple of weeks before Christmas I went to my grandma's house to pick her up to go shopping. While she was still getting dressed I sat in her den. On her coffee table her bible lay open and a post it was stuck to the page that was open and it read "NEVER TAKE YOUR EYES OFF JESUS." At the time this was precious to me and still as I type this my heart is warm for the love that my grandma has for Jesus and for the lesson that this post it note taught me. NEVER TAKE YOUR EYES OFF JESUS...it sounds so simple or maybe it sounds so silly b/c we can't really see Him.
The prize, the goal is Jesus? I say I believe that but then I get distracted by wanting the goal to be that new purse I have been saving up for. Or I make the goal about decorating the babies nursery. There are so many distractions in this world. So many things that take my eyes away from Jesus the true focal point. My prayer for this year is to keep my eyes on the prize. To look onward to the goal of Jesus.
In the 9th grade Brian decided that he wanted to be a dentist. He says from that point on his focus for studying for getting up and going to class were all driven on being a dentist. In college when he took Organic Chemistry and hated every second of it he says the thing that got him through was focusing on the ultimate goal he had set for himself...being a dentist. On weekdays when his classmates skipped class to go float the buffalo he stayed back and went to class because his eyes were still on the prize that he had set in the 9th grade.
A couple of weeks before Christmas I went to my grandma's house to pick her up to go shopping. While she was still getting dressed I sat in her den. On her coffee table her bible lay open and a post it was stuck to the page that was open and it read "NEVER TAKE YOUR EYES OFF JESUS." At the time this was precious to me and still as I type this my heart is warm for the love that my grandma has for Jesus and for the lesson that this post it note taught me. NEVER TAKE YOUR EYES OFF JESUS...it sounds so simple or maybe it sounds so silly b/c we can't really see Him.
The prize, the goal is Jesus? I say I believe that but then I get distracted by wanting the goal to be that new purse I have been saving up for. Or I make the goal about decorating the babies nursery. There are so many distractions in this world. So many things that take my eyes away from Jesus the true focal point. My prayer for this year is to keep my eyes on the prize. To look onward to the goal of Jesus.
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Not So Typical Christmas
I want to share a lesson I have learned from two new friends of mine, Jaylen and Juwan. First I want to let you get aquainted with these two boys. They are twins and they are both apart of Skyline's mentor program. My mom is Jaylen's mentor so as a result these two boys have started coming to church with us and going to eat lunch on Sundays with our family. They are 100% all boy! Wild and hyper but secretly love the attention that they receive from my parents. They live with their mom and two older sisters (one of the sisters is special-ed).
At the beginning of this fall/winter season the four kids had one coat to share. Each child had a day where the coat was theirs to wear for the day. Every night the twins sleep in the floor on a pallet because they don't have a bedroom and they certainly don't have a bed. Their diet consists of chips, vienna wieners, cookies and any other food that can be purchased at the dollar store. They have never been able to afford healthy options so they assume they don't like healthy foods. They have moved homes 4 times since the school year started. They have changed schools twice. Jaylen is made fun of almost everyday because he saves part of his food and puts it in his backpack to take home to share with his mom. Their Christmas decorations consist of a plug in candle in the window of the kids bedroom and Christmas pictures that they drew at mentoring hang on the living room wall. This past weekend their home was robbed. The thieves stole all their food out of the pantry and refridgerator. Their mom doesn't have a washer and dryer they wear the same school uniform the whole week and it gets washed at the laundromat on the weekends if their mom has money. I could go on and on.
Why does their mom not get a better job? Why do people at church not give them money to live? Why do children have to suffer? All these questions I have asked and I am sure you are asking these questions as you read this now. I don't know all the answers but I do know that their mom does as much as she can by herself with 4 children(one being disabled). People at church have helped more than we know but there is a line that you can't over step. You can't make the mom feel that you are trying to be the mom, you can't give so much that they feel that they deserve it. I don't know why innocent children have to suffer but I do know that the mentoring program is a gift for these children and the love and attention they receive has all been provided to them by God.
Good news they all got coats. They are about a size too big but that is good because they will still fit next year. The groceries that were stolen were replaced. The boys told us that their mom wanted something for Christmas and when we asked what they said she wants us to wake up on Christmas morning no matter what with a smile on our face.
Even though there may not be gifts and there definitely will be no tree the boys know that the best gift is not the gift of things. Instead it is the gift of their family, the gift of Luke 2:6-7 the verses that Jaylen memorized and can say without any help. These boys have made me see how much I value things and how messed up my view of Christmas is. I was heartbroken that they didn't have a tree and I haven't even been heartbroken that their mother may not know the love of Jesus Christ. Thanks to Jaylen and Juwan for the Christmas gift that you have given to me and my family! You have opened our eyes and our hearts to see what truly matters. We are forever grateful. We pray for you everyday and we are excited to see your growth through Christ!
At the beginning of this fall/winter season the four kids had one coat to share. Each child had a day where the coat was theirs to wear for the day. Every night the twins sleep in the floor on a pallet because they don't have a bedroom and they certainly don't have a bed. Their diet consists of chips, vienna wieners, cookies and any other food that can be purchased at the dollar store. They have never been able to afford healthy options so they assume they don't like healthy foods. They have moved homes 4 times since the school year started. They have changed schools twice. Jaylen is made fun of almost everyday because he saves part of his food and puts it in his backpack to take home to share with his mom. Their Christmas decorations consist of a plug in candle in the window of the kids bedroom and Christmas pictures that they drew at mentoring hang on the living room wall. This past weekend their home was robbed. The thieves stole all their food out of the pantry and refridgerator. Their mom doesn't have a washer and dryer they wear the same school uniform the whole week and it gets washed at the laundromat on the weekends if their mom has money. I could go on and on.
Why does their mom not get a better job? Why do people at church not give them money to live? Why do children have to suffer? All these questions I have asked and I am sure you are asking these questions as you read this now. I don't know all the answers but I do know that their mom does as much as she can by herself with 4 children(one being disabled). People at church have helped more than we know but there is a line that you can't over step. You can't make the mom feel that you are trying to be the mom, you can't give so much that they feel that they deserve it. I don't know why innocent children have to suffer but I do know that the mentoring program is a gift for these children and the love and attention they receive has all been provided to them by God.
Good news they all got coats. They are about a size too big but that is good because they will still fit next year. The groceries that were stolen were replaced. The boys told us that their mom wanted something for Christmas and when we asked what they said she wants us to wake up on Christmas morning no matter what with a smile on our face.
Even though there may not be gifts and there definitely will be no tree the boys know that the best gift is not the gift of things. Instead it is the gift of their family, the gift of Luke 2:6-7 the verses that Jaylen memorized and can say without any help. These boys have made me see how much I value things and how messed up my view of Christmas is. I was heartbroken that they didn't have a tree and I haven't even been heartbroken that their mother may not know the love of Jesus Christ. Thanks to Jaylen and Juwan for the Christmas gift that you have given to me and my family! You have opened our eyes and our hearts to see what truly matters. We are forever grateful. We pray for you everyday and we are excited to see your growth through Christ!
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Christmas Memories
Last night we had our small group Christmas party. It was hosted by our leaders Danny and Susie Walker and as always they truly out did themselves! We were all instructed to not bring a thing except for our favorite Christmas memory. The evening was filled with wonderful ciders and coffees, delicious foods and sweet fellowship. After we had all eaten we went into their family room to share our favorite Christmas memories and have a devotional.
We got to here memories from everyone and it was neat how different everyone's favorite memories were. Some were hillarious (Brian driving a dirtbike into the side of a barn), Some were so sweet (the Jones taking cookies to the fire dept on Christmas day), some were sad ( Susie's last Christmas with her dad) and some were exciting (Brittany and Todd finding out they were pregnant with Hudson on Christmas morning). With every memory shared I felt closer to the person sharing it. One thing that every memory had in common was that the memories were created with family around and everyone said in some way that family was what made Christmas so special.
After the memories, Danny and Susie shared with us the purpose of the Advent wreath. This is not something that I was familiar with but I must say that what it represents is something that should be memorable for us all. This is a very brief description of the advent wreath but what it represents is very powerful.
THE ADVENT WREATH It is a circular evergreen wreath (real or artificial) with five candles, four around the wreath and one in the center.
The circle of the wreath reminds us of God Himself, His eternity and endless mercy, which has no beginning or end. The green of the wreath speaks of the hope that we have in God, the hope of newness, of renewal, of eternal life. Candles symbolize the light of God coming into the world through the birth of His son. The four outer candles represent the period of waiting during the four Sundays of Advent, which themselves symbolize the four centuries of waiting between the prophet Malachi and the birth of Christ.The Center Candle represents Christ.
Last night was great! The memories shared were priceless. May we all celebrate our friends and family and put them before all the shopping, hustle and bustle of the season. May we never forget that Jesus came! He was born in a manger to a lowly girl for you and for me! Let's celebrate His birth and our salvation and let us make His story one of our very best memories!!
We got to here memories from everyone and it was neat how different everyone's favorite memories were. Some were hillarious (Brian driving a dirtbike into the side of a barn), Some were so sweet (the Jones taking cookies to the fire dept on Christmas day), some were sad ( Susie's last Christmas with her dad) and some were exciting (Brittany and Todd finding out they were pregnant with Hudson on Christmas morning). With every memory shared I felt closer to the person sharing it. One thing that every memory had in common was that the memories were created with family around and everyone said in some way that family was what made Christmas so special.
After the memories, Danny and Susie shared with us the purpose of the Advent wreath. This is not something that I was familiar with but I must say that what it represents is something that should be memorable for us all. This is a very brief description of the advent wreath but what it represents is very powerful.
THE ADVENT WREATH It is a circular evergreen wreath (real or artificial) with five candles, four around the wreath and one in the center.
The circle of the wreath reminds us of God Himself, His eternity and endless mercy, which has no beginning or end. The green of the wreath speaks of the hope that we have in God, the hope of newness, of renewal, of eternal life. Candles symbolize the light of God coming into the world through the birth of His son. The four outer candles represent the period of waiting during the four Sundays of Advent, which themselves symbolize the four centuries of waiting between the prophet Malachi and the birth of Christ.The Center Candle represents Christ.
Last night was great! The memories shared were priceless. May we all celebrate our friends and family and put them before all the shopping, hustle and bustle of the season. May we never forget that Jesus came! He was born in a manger to a lowly girl for you and for me! Let's celebrate His birth and our salvation and let us make His story one of our very best memories!!
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Brothers and Sisters
It is my very favorite show! It comes on ABC on Sunday nights at 9p.m. If I am not home to watch it I always make it a point to tivo it. The show is about a family with 5 siblings and the life happenings of all of them. There has not been an episode yet where one of the siblings did not have some sort of major decision or major life event happening. The best part of the show is not the "drama" but instead it is the way that even during arguments the family rallies together, loves each other hard and solves problems as a team.
I come from a large family. I have 3 brothers and Brian has 1 sister we often joke about how similar our real life is to the show. It seems that one of us always has something going on. A big decision, upsetting news, exciting news...there is always something. When one of us has a big decision to make it is our siblings that we always turn to. When one of us receives upsetting news the first people we go to are our siblings. When we have exciting news the first people to hear the news are our siblings. It is truly a joy to share life with brothers and sisters who root for you and deeply desire the best for each others lives.
My brothers and sisters have seen me at my absolute worst. They have seen me at my absolute best and through it all they have loved me unconditionally. The same is true of them. I have seen them at both their worst and their best. I have loved them through it all. We have delivered tough messages to each other. Sometimes the truth hurts but it is what we all need to hear.
This past weekend over the Thanksgiving holiday we were able to spend almost the entire weekend together. We laughed, talked about our futures, played and even cooked ducks at my house(this was my least favorite activity). The gift of siblings is a gift from God and I thank Him for creating the bond that we get to share! I also thank mine and Brian's parents for having siblings for us to enjoy :)
My hope is that you all had a blessed Thanksgiving!!
I come from a large family. I have 3 brothers and Brian has 1 sister we often joke about how similar our real life is to the show. It seems that one of us always has something going on. A big decision, upsetting news, exciting news...there is always something. When one of us has a big decision to make it is our siblings that we always turn to. When one of us receives upsetting news the first people we go to are our siblings. When we have exciting news the first people to hear the news are our siblings. It is truly a joy to share life with brothers and sisters who root for you and deeply desire the best for each others lives.
My brothers and sisters have seen me at my absolute worst. They have seen me at my absolute best and through it all they have loved me unconditionally. The same is true of them. I have seen them at both their worst and their best. I have loved them through it all. We have delivered tough messages to each other. Sometimes the truth hurts but it is what we all need to hear.
This past weekend over the Thanksgiving holiday we were able to spend almost the entire weekend together. We laughed, talked about our futures, played and even cooked ducks at my house(this was my least favorite activity). The gift of siblings is a gift from God and I thank Him for creating the bond that we get to share! I also thank mine and Brian's parents for having siblings for us to enjoy :)
My hope is that you all had a blessed Thanksgiving!!
Sunday, November 21, 2010
A Week of Thanksgiving!
Today kicks off the start of Thanksgiving week. This is a week where we gather with family, eat too much, watch parades and football and reflect on what we are thankful for. During the short life I have lived the amount of things I am thankful for are more numerous than I could list or describe. The blessings that have been poured out on me are not blessings that I earned or blessings that I deserved they are truly gifts and I am so thankful for all of them!
I wanted to mention one blessing the best blessing that I have received in this lifetime. The cross/salvation/endless love from a heavenly father/forgiveness of sins. This blessing has changed my life for the better and I can truly say I will never be the same again! Without the cross or his forgiveness I would be a ruined sinner cast out as trash. But because of a Heavenly Father who loved me more than I could ever deserve or imagine I am free. My debt has been paid and I can shout that I am free!
May we all stop this week and say thank you to Jesus for loving us and for freeing us. May we all stop and see that the love that God has for us is endless. It stretches farther than our eyes can see and it is bigger than we could ever imagine! May we all make a special effort to be more like Christ in what we say and do!
Some words from one of my favorite songs...
Thank You for the Cross Lord
Thank You for the Price You Paid
Bearing All My Sin and Shame
In Love You Came
And Gave Amazing Grace
Worthy is the Lamb
Seated on the Throne
The Darling of Heaven Crucified
Worthy is the Lamb
I wanted to mention one blessing the best blessing that I have received in this lifetime. The cross/salvation/endless love from a heavenly father/forgiveness of sins. This blessing has changed my life for the better and I can truly say I will never be the same again! Without the cross or his forgiveness I would be a ruined sinner cast out as trash. But because of a Heavenly Father who loved me more than I could ever deserve or imagine I am free. My debt has been paid and I can shout that I am free!
May we all stop this week and say thank you to Jesus for loving us and for freeing us. May we all stop and see that the love that God has for us is endless. It stretches farther than our eyes can see and it is bigger than we could ever imagine! May we all make a special effort to be more like Christ in what we say and do!
Some words from one of my favorite songs...
Thank You for the Cross Lord
Thank You for the Price You Paid
Bearing All My Sin and Shame
In Love You Came
And Gave Amazing Grace
Worthy is the Lamb
Seated on the Throne
The Darling of Heaven Crucified
Worthy is the Lamb
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)