Not My Own

I used to think Christians were incredibly lame when they said, "I have to do my devotions this morning." It made God sound like a mean and boring history teacher making Christians do homework. Perhaps this is why the idea of traditional devotions was never appealing to me. The truth is, I don't read the Bible everyday.  This is not something I am proud of. I am not a very good structured sit down devotional type of Christian. I do enjoy reading the Bible though. Well, honestly that's only true when I read something inspiring and that seems to move my heart that day. Other times I read the Bible and get frustrated, confused, or just bored. But at least I can check that off my good Christian to-do list if I was organized to have a list that is. I have always been taught that if we want a relationship with God we have to pursue God with all our heart, mind, and soul. I believe many know how to seek God with their minds and hearts but not with their soul. People are gr

In honor of Martin Luther and Reformation Day (yesterday) here is what I would post to the door of the United Methodist Church or Headquarters. (If you need a quick history lesson click here... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reformation_Day ) Dear UMC, There are many qualities I love about the United Methodist Church. I love your open communion table for any age or denomination. One doesn't have any hoops to jump through in order to participate in the Lord's Supper. I love your inclusion for females in leadership roles. I admire your agenda for outreach and social justice. I absolutely love your connectionalism and value the relationships I have made through your gift to network. God is doing an incredible work through you and I know people are experiencing Jesus Christ through this denomination. I am thankful for you. I would like you to know a little bit of my story with you. I was hired to work at a UMC five years ago and even though I was not born and raised Methodist,

 Nannying is not a life career choice for me, but it is currently a way I can help pay the bills and be with my son until my husband graduates. I remember my interview with Kristal at Starbucks when she said, "We are a Christian family, we are the real deal." I wasn't exactly sure what "the real deal" in her perspective meant, but I was hoping what she meant was that this family really loved Jesus and they weren't just culturally Christian. I was hoping this family would truly reflect the love of Christ to me and would allow me to do so with them. After a few weeks of nannying for them they seemed like the "real deal". However, I have learned there are so many people who love to call themselves Christians, but don't really love Christ or others very well. I really wanted to believe this family was the real deal since I just left an unhealthy work environment and wanted to trust my next employers. One day while playing with the kids I felt m

I am not sure how much more I can stand listening to reports about "Who is winning" when it comes to the government shutdown. I don't like politics but I do believe politics are necessary. I absolutely can't stand when political parties give themselves God's stamp of approval on everything they decide. Most of all, I hate how so many people associate the term "Christian" to political beliefs. What is so political about Jesus? How did Jesus become such a political figure today? Well, the truth is people have been trying to make Jesus a political figure since the Bible times. The Jews were waiting for the Messiah (meaning saviour) to come in a political sense. Jews were waiting for God to send a a hero to conquer the Roman empire. This Saviour would also rescue them from socio-economic troubles as well. God sends Himself not as warrior or political hero but humbly as a helpless baby boy. God always seems to show up in ways through out the Bible complete

As a youth minister, typically youth seek me out the most when they need help making a big decision such as... Should I date him/her? Should I come out and admit I am gay? Should I live with my mom or dad? Should I break up with him/her? What college should I go to? Should I get baptized? Should I be friends with so and so still? Sometimes I question why it is that it takes a crisis to get youth to reach out to me. Yet, I realized I love them so much I am just delighted whenever they want to talk to me!  I think this is how God feels when I constantly go to Him in need. I used to feel guilty when I mostly talked to God only when I had a crisis. Now, I believe God is so thrilled when I admit I need Him, that as a parent He waits for me with open arms. My initial response to students is the desire to fix their pain and give them the right answer even if I don't know what that is. I have learned the best thing to is to LISTEN first, and then help teach them to LISTEN to Go

Nearly every 4th of July I have been with my Dad up at my Grandparent's cottage. I have countless wonderful memories there, and some very difficult ones. My latest memory at the cottage, was pouring my Dad's ashes into the lake that he loved so much. Today is Independence Day and instead of grilling out and swimming at the cottage, I am sitting inside very far away from my family while it's pouring down rain. The all day rain reflects my solemn heart at this moment. Sometimes to process I have to sit in my hurt and just let the healing rain pour down. (My Dad,childhood friends, Me -right) When I was a kid Independence Day was one of my favorite holidays. It meant going up to the cottage and seeing my neighbor friends who are like family. It meant boating, swimming, campfires, fire-works on the lake, hikes in the woods, ice-cream, sparklers, grilling, bike rides to town, glow sticks, demolition derby, parades, exploring the rail-road tracks, listening to loud drunk

I saw a Mother's Day card at the store with the title, "Born to be a Mother." I didn't read the rest but my thoughts couldn't help but be alarmed. This presumes that some women's entire purpose for existing is to be a mom. I love being a mom, but it is not the core of who I am. It is not the reason I was born. I think way too many mom's put their complete identity in being a mom. It's hard not to when you think of your kid constantly, and the moment you take one minute for yourself your child is reminding you why he is the center of the world. Most woman absolutely love to feel needed and having kids do fulfill this desire. Being a mom makes me feel incredibly important, valued, and loved.  Whenever, I pick my son up from daycare he rushes to greet me which is the biggest high knowing I am one of his favorite people in the world! I absolutely love and cherish the gift of being a mother! However, it is essential for women to understand their worth

If you have not read the Good Samaritan story you MUST to do so before you continue to read this post... http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2010:25-37&version=NIV I used to read the Good Samaritan and simply thought it was a good story. I didn't think much about applying it to life. However, this past Sunday I watched Christ's word unfold into reality. Now, it's not exactly the same, but it's the closest I have ever encountered. My husband and I were in a bit of a rush to church like normal. I was focused on getting my son to the nursery and slipping in the sanctuary in time for worship. When we got near the church door, Andrew and I noticed a man sitting at the picnic tables with a suitcase and his dog. I was so focused on getting into church my first thought was maybe the boyscouts just got back from a retreat because this guy had a suitcase with him. If I was in downtown Nashville I would have known he was homeless. But this was Nolensville and

For years I didn't give anything up for lent because I wasn't familiar with it. I honestly didn't know what the season of Lent was until I was in the cafeteria drink line and a friend of mine asked what I was giving up for Lent. I just stared at her dumbfounded, so then she tried to help me out. "You should give up pop." She told me. "That's what I am doing." "Why? Are you on a diet?" I asked. "No! It's for Lent! Your suppose to give something up." "Sounds like a diet if you ask me." "No!..It's the season of Lent. It's a religious thing to help you grow in your faith by fasting from something for 40 days - you know - like Jesus did." She explained. "I just don't see how giving up pop will help anyone grow closer to Jesus." "Well, it's much harder than you think. It takes serious discipline. You should try it!" "I don't drink pop." "Oh.

Many people during my teenage and young adult years (especially lately) have been asking when I am going to go to seminary to get ordained. For those who have been asking, this conversation with my husband pretty much sums up how I feel... Me: " I don't know what to do because I LOVE preaching - and I know it's a gift - but I don't want to preach every Sunday. Plus, there is no way I ever want to be in charge of a church and deal with all the shenanigans and drama. Not to mention, I am not super jazzed about going back to school. But I love people so much! I love mentoring and listening to stories. I love teaching the Bible in a radical way. I want to inspire passion, vision, and enthusiasm for God! I want to love and help people find God in their daily lives.  I know these are gifts and passions that I can't ignore, but it stresses me out to think about being a lead pastor. Andrew: "I got it! You know what you should do?" Me: "What?!&quo

"Please shut up! Please shut up!" I thought while holding a squirming screaming child in the middle of Chipotle. I can't believe I thought it was possible to order a burrito while holding onto my 14 month old mess of a child. Don't get me wrong. He is beautiful and precious but I think parents everywhere understand... it was just one of those days. Ordering a burrito was a fail, so I decided to sit down at a table and attempt to get milk out so the kid would pipe down. Desmond smacked the lid off and milk went all over my lap, the table, and gushed on the floor. Trying to hold onto my ridiculously strong son while cleaning up milk was nearly impossible. I looked around contemplating asking someone for help. Yet, my own pride made me think I could it handle it myself. I felt incredibly alone and prayed quietly in my head... God please help me! I just hit that point at the end of the day where I felt like I had nothing left to give. Persevering through the mess, as

I love the idea of youth Sundays where the youth get to lead the church worship service. As a youth minister, I like to give students freedom in how they want to run the service. Even then, there still is an understanding of boundaries and a certain standard of worship. What if during youth Sundays we gave them 100% freedom to do what they feel led by the Spirit to do? I think it would be a beautiful transformational mess. I think lives would be changed, minds would be blown, and everyone's picture of church would be totally flipped upside down. I think Jesus would be jumping up and down yelling..."Do something different! Let's get weird! Hallelujah!" I think this way because I have seen God show up tangibly through teenagers at NFUMC. They are so open minded letting the Holy Spirit work in a variety of ways. They are not afraid of what God is going to do when He shows up. They are just waiting, expectantly, for God to show up. They simply ask God to show up and He