Fall Staff Conference

I'm writing from Campus Crusade's Fall Staff Conference in Black Mountain, NC. This weekend provides a chance for all staff in the Mid-South Region (NC, SC, TN, KY, WV) to come together for a weekend of fellowship and refreshment.

For me, it's been a weekend of realization of how the Lord has changed how I gain my energy over the past few years. When I was in college @ App State I LOVED being around people. The more the merrier I said! I was the emcee of our roughly 500+ movement of Campus Crusade students there. I loved organizing parties... two of my favs were the "Were you cool in middle school?" and our vogue party (which included a photoshoot area). I considered the event a success if there were more people there than the previous party. I was the perfect example of a social butterfly. Spending no more than 3-5 minutes with each person at the party.

Then I went to Sweden on STINT for 2 years with Crusade. There I was introduced to my introverted self. Better yet my deeper self. In Sweden, the ministry was completely relational. Building friendships with students and spending literally 2-4 hours with them a day... in a coffee shop... talking about deep things. I had never done that... I retaliated at first... usually in the form of bathroom breaks and coffee refills to take a break. Slowly, I found myself loving these conversations.

As I've been in the US for over a year now, I've found it true here as well. I would so much rather spend a long amount of time with one person in great real conversation than surface conversation with many folks. I gain my energy through individuals not groups. Now we don't have to talk theology the whole time... there's lots of laughter... I especially love the people in my life I can just sit in a room with in silence and just enjoy their company.

Through this process I've leared two things:
*I enjoy really knowing people... one on one or small groups... cooking dinner, grabbing coffee... that's where my refreshment comes from.
*I used to be afraid to go deep with folks... to be known by them.... yeah vulnerability is a scary thing (still is at times).... but so worth it. That's why I did the social butterfly thing for so long.... talk a few minutes... let people think everything's great... but no investment.

It's fun to step back at this conference and realize how I've changed in just a few years.

I love self discovery :)

My girls...

As many of you know, I've been off campus now for 6 weeks working on finding folks to partner with my ministry both prayerfully and financially so I can return to campus. The girls I have the priviledge to work with are my continual motivation for working on support, as well as all those who still haven't heard how they too were created to have a relationship with God through Jesus Christ! This week, I was allowed to meet with each of them once to see how they're doing.

Yesterday I met with 3 of them. It was incredibly refreshing to sit down with each of them and hear what God's been doing in their lives. It's a constant reminder that God DOESN'T NEED ME at all. He will and is working in their lives without me. But praise God He allows me to journey alongside of them. Hearing how their Bible Studies are going that they're leading, what God is teaching them, how they're growing, things the Holy Spirit is bringing into the light.... it's so encouraging!

It's apparent God is moving in each of their lives and they are running hard after Him. I am overwhelmed by these girls' maturity and desire for the Lord and for TRUTH! That was just 3 of them! I'm so excited I have 10 more girls to meet with in the next 3 weeks!

God knew I needed this. It was completely given me another "push" of motivation to make the calls, set up appts and invite people to invest in eternity!

Thank you for your prayers and support during this season... it is needed and felt!

Until all have heard,
Lindsey

A Cozy Relationship

A rainy, gray, cloudy afternoon

or

A sunny, blue sky, crisp afternoon?

You think the choice is easy right? Of course you ALWAYS choose sunshine and blue skies. It always makes for a better day. Welp, not when it comes to my cozy relationship I'm about to let you in on.

Do I have your interest now? What relationship Lindsey? And cozy at that?! Facebook doesn't say your "in a relationship".

Welp friends scoot on in closer and I'll let you in on a little secret :)
We've known each other just over a month. My neighbor, Jen, introduced us.
It was love at first sight.  The first time we hung out wasn't ackward at all, we actually spent the entire day together! It's only gotten better and better every time! We usually see each other 5 to 6 times a week. I can't get enough! OK so are you ready to know?! I'm sure you're dying to see a picture! Well, lucky for you I just happen to have a few!

This my friends, is Remedy. A coffeeshop run by Knoxlife Church located on W Jackson Ave in Old City. You see, I lived in Sweden for 2 years before moving to Knoxville. In Sweden, I found a cafe on literally every corner. Since moving to Knoxville I've been on a mission to find a cafe comparable to the ones of Sweden. From friendly folks, great direct trade coffee, incredibly comfy chairs with chill music provided by the barista's own ipod this is my new home. The aesthetics create a sense of hominess and warmth. I'm reminded of the old TV Show "Cheers"... this is a place where "everybody knows your name".

The tagline for Remedy is...

Coffee is good... Coffee and Conversation is better.

I totally agree.

My drink of choice... a hazelnut latte. My nook of choice?

For Conversation with friends the red chairs pictured below. They're in the back and super comfy.

I've had a great time over the past several weeks catching up with old friends and having incredible conversations with new ones.

On another completely different side note: Just behind those chairs is a big open space where Knoxlife Church meets on Sundays. However, a couple Fridays ago it made for one glorious game of Monopoly with some super fun folks I'm blessed to call friends!

Now this, is the heart of my "cozy relationship". I affectionately refer to it as the "upper room". This is my nook with the Lord. It's a small loft area above the barista counter. You can reach it by walking up the stairs found in the back left corner of the shop. I always sit in the left big ol comfy chair you see. I literally lose all sense of time up there (like I've had to start setting an alarm on my phone if I have somewhere to be). Reading the Word, Journaling, Worshiping the Lord through music, or better yet just sitting and listening to the Lord... this is where it happens. Here, it doesn't matter what the weather is outside. The rainer the cozier, the bluer the sky the home-y-er :)

I will warn you... this relationship is NOT perfect. The biggest problem being I often come here with the intention of being productive. It rarely happens, because with every person that walks through that door comes a friendly smile and a unique story.

I am blessed to hear many of these stories. More often than not, I leave Remedy with a heart filled to the brim and a to-do list with nothing checked off. I'll take it everytime. And this my friends, is my cozy new relationship. I would love to introduce you personally. Just let me know when you are free :)

My Sis is getting married!

Many of you may know my younger sister, Allison. This summer she got engaged to a great guy, Mike Brooks. The wedding is planned for next summer.

This past weekend all of us (mom, dad, bro, bro's gf, sis, sis' fiance, cousins, etc) all went to boone, nc for Appalachian State's Homecoming. Friday night we had girls' night... pedicures & dinner together. Then on Saturday my sis and her fiance and I set out at 8:15am on to take Engagement Photos. It was super fun! It makes me wanna be a photographer even more so.

I found a great Bed & Breakfast hidden up a random street in Boone. We took most pics there. Then a few downtown at a red brick building and then lastly ended up at the house I found with a fence I liked. Here's a few of my favorites.....

Hook?

Those who don't know, I'm at home in Hickory, NC raising support with Campus Crusade. Lord willin' it will be quick and I'll be back in Knoxville at the University of Tennessee's campus to continue doing what I love.

But today I'm in Hickory. It's rainy. My dad's at home sick from work. I'm sitting downstairs with him working on thank you cards which he's watching TV. We come across a classic, "Hook", with Robin Williams and Dustin Hoffman. I used to LOVE this movie! Yes, me and my dad started watching it.

As I watched, I quickly realized I STILL loved it!
Here's why...

I love the classic war of good & evil.  I love the adventure in the movie of Peter remembering all the things of NeverLand. Remembering what it was like to be Pan.... imaging food (which turns into a food fight.. awesome), learning to crow, and most importantly finding his "happy thought." I love that the lost boys have no care in the world. They have faith in Peter Pan. They follow him with complete abandon.

It makes me think of my relationship with the Lord and these two passages....

"At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" He called a little child and had him stand among them. And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 18:1-4

"At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure. " Luke 10:21

How often I can get caught up in Theology and breaking down every part of a verse to "understand" the God I serve more. Now while I enjoy that and know there is without a doubt, value in it, I think often times I can make it too complex.

It's crazy how the Lord can use a movie of fairy tales to remind me how He desires for me to just run to Him... to trust Him with faith as a child would their parents when they were younger. Before the "real world" begins to distract. Oh that I would love & trust with reckless abandon...

Thanks Father

If Only...

This morning while spending time with the Lord, I read in this little devotional called "Whiter than Snow" by Paul Tripp. I'm on the 9th one. God has gifted him with the incredible ability to write in less than 2 pages something that will rock me to my core. It's unbelievable.

It's all based on Psalm 51, right after David has committed adultery with Bathsheba (who's married to another man). She becomes pregnant and to cover it up he has her husband murdered. Finally, Nathan, a prophet comes to David and pretty much just calls David out for his sin. Psalm 51 is his reponse & confession to God about all that he's done.

Today's reading focused on Psalm 51:5
"Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mohter conceive me"

Paul (the author) then goes on to talk about the "if onlys" we as believers make up to excuse our sins or circumstances.
The ones that rang out true for me (ie the ones I've totally used as self justification before) were...

If only God seemed closer to me
If only I knew the Bible better
If only I didn't have to struggle with my finances
If only "this incident" didn't happen.

But then I'm challenged to think of my own. What "if onlys" do I make up...
If only I was skinnier.
If only I had more time
If only "THEY" could just understand.
If only my support was at 100%
If only we lived in a better world
If only I were married.
If only God would tell me where I'm going.


I'll be honest it only took me about 30 seconds to come up with these. I'm sure as I spend more time thinking through these more and more will come out. Some that I might even be ashamed to put up here (more embarassed than I already am). But one thing the Lord is gracious to continue to show me is that as much as it might sting for a bit to bring things into the light.... it's beautiful, it's grace, it's freeing, it's worth it. Yes it's worth it my friends.

Back to the devo. So I'm sitting in Panera thinking of all these "if onlys" thinking yeah these are the reasons why this, that and the other isn't working in my life... these are why I sin. Then Mr. Tripp writes this and yet again I'm humbled....

"None of us has ever lived in ideal circumstances or in perfect relationships. The world is a broken place and we have all been touched in many ways by its brokenness. Yet, the "if onlys" lifestyle tends to say, "MY BIGGEST PROBLEMS IN LIFE EXIST OUTSIDE OF ME AND NOT INSIDE OF ME."

Ummm... hi Lindsey here's a huge piece of humble pie. Yes.

Even "if" all these "if onlys" were taken care of... I would still be full of sin and selfishness. Psalm 51:5 says so.... "I was brought forth in iniquity" (a fancy word for sin). I was sinful before ANY experience or circumstance happened to me.

I am the biggest danger to myself. But praise be to God he offers us the gorgeous promise of his grace which has the power to change us from the inside out!

So yeah... This morning I'm giving God my "if onlys" and asking that He would change them in my mind from excuses to praises. That He is Sovereign and Faithful and completely aware of my "if onlys" and using them to cause me to rely on Him and pursue Him with a Holy fierceness.

Thank you Jesus!

WKU POETRY PROCLAIM

This guy knows what Christianity is all about.
A LOVE RELATIONSHIP with God through Jesus Christ.

I love that he can share Christ in such a unique way.
Everything he speaks is Truth. Truth. Truth.

Church Music

This week the David Crowder Band came out with their newly anticipated album, "Church Music". I just bought it off itunes. I've barely listened to it one time through and already pumped about it. I don't like DCB because they have cool beats or they get me hyped or they're "cool". I like them because their lyrics are real and Truth. Because they bring me into a continual picture of how great the God that I serve is and how imperfect and needy I am for Him. I highly recommend this cd. Like go buy it right now!

Addiction- Kayla and Kupono

So here I am over a year later, but feeling like there's alot I'm learning. So much so, I thought this would be a good place to record it. Don't have alot of time tonight, but wanted to at least get the first post up.

If you're a fan of So You Think You Can Dance, you may have seen this. I didn't see it on the show, only through the world of YouTube. But it haunts me and I wanted to share it with whoever comes across here.

To set it up...
The song they are dancing to is "Gravity" by Sara Barilles.
The girl represents someone addicted to something.
The guy represents that something she is addicted to.

I know for me, upon my first time watching it, immediately thought it must be a drug or drinking addiction. But everytime I watch it God reveals more and more possibilities and how everyone, including myself is addicted to something. It could be guys, attention, approval from others, relationships, making people happy, working hard/performance so people will praise you. I wonder after you watch it... what addictions come to your mind....