Praise God, freelance work has come my way! I've written a few articles for Patch and have another with Bergen Health & Life.
More exciting is the music and ministry opportunities that have come up in the last few weeks. Singing at church, Bible study, GEMS and possibly recording. It's all good and exciting!
This week, I had the pleasure of writing about Lighthouse Pregnancy Resource Center for Patch and attend a concert by Endurance benefiting the center. I have a special place in my heart for Lighthouse and have written about the center several times, always with a different director. I've been wanting to get involved but wasn't sure what I could do. Debbie Provincher asked if I would be interested in organizing diaper drives. I'm not sure what is involved with that exactly, but my heart cried yes. If your group or organization is interested in having a diaper drive, let me know!
I'm so grateful for all the blessings in my life and thank you all for your prayers and support!
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Show & Tell
Some days, I have some really smart and really wise Facebook friends. My friend Linda shared this little gem today:
I'm not sure what people see when they look at me, but I can guarantee it isn't always a glistening reflection of God's love and grace. God, please help me with that.
I know a lot of people don't like Christians, not because they have anything against God, but because they think we are a bunch of cherry-picking hypocrites who twist pieces of scripture into intricate origami figures resembling whatever want.
That was made pretty clear to me on another Facebook thread this week. A friend posted about the controversial Lane Bryant magalog, to which a "Christian" responded with a "Jesus Juke" that started a heated discussion. Lines such as "that's what is wrong with organized religion" and "aren't Christians supposed to be loving and compassionate" peppered the thread.
As Christians, can we all try do a little better letting God's light shine in? Help us with that God, would you please?
Thank you Linda, for sharing your insight and reminding us all to bring better things to Show & Tell.
"I remember loving Show & Tell, because when a person brought something that was cool to them, it gave me a glimpse of who they were and I could know them better. If we allow Him, I believe that God wants us to be His show and tell...use us to help others to know Him better."
What a great picture. It got me thinking: What am I bringing for Show & Tell?I'm not sure what people see when they look at me, but I can guarantee it isn't always a glistening reflection of God's love and grace. God, please help me with that.
I know a lot of people don't like Christians, not because they have anything against God, but because they think we are a bunch of cherry-picking hypocrites who twist pieces of scripture into intricate origami figures resembling whatever want.
That was made pretty clear to me on another Facebook thread this week. A friend posted about the controversial Lane Bryant magalog, to which a "Christian" responded with a "Jesus Juke" that started a heated discussion. Lines such as "that's what is wrong with organized religion" and "aren't Christians supposed to be loving and compassionate" peppered the thread.
As Christians, can we all try do a little better letting God's light shine in? Help us with that God, would you please?
Thank you Linda, for sharing your insight and reminding us all to bring better things to Show & Tell.
Saturday, September 10, 2011
The Drought After 9/11
The coverage of the 10th Anniversary of 9/11 is overwhelming. I feel compelled to read it and watch it all, yet, it would be impossible--and inappropriate with an almost 4-year-old in the room--to follow all of it.
In the aftermath of 9/11, the one thing I remember so clearly is that it did not rain. In the few days immediately following the attacks, I remember thinking how fortunate it was that it did not rain, because that would have made the search efforts that much harder. Then on Friday, Sept. 14, the National Day of Prayer and Morning, the heavens opened and poured down.
But after that, it did not rain. It did not snow that winter. I don't think it rained that spring. I remember working at the newspaper and writing drought after drought article. I remember my father and I keeping a running count of how many days without rain. I don't remember when the rain finally came. (When my dad gets back from his trip, I'm going to make him get out his 2001-2002 records to find out the exact day. The National Weather Service's record of significant weather events for New York City doesn't show any for that winter or spring.
To me, the dry weather felt like God's mercy on the workers of Ground Zero. I cannot imagine how hard and gruesome the work was, and it never let up. But at least they weren't also working in the rain.
Tomorrow, Pastor Jeff is going to preach a sermon about Where Was God on 9/11? I wonder if he will mention how God stopped the rain.
In the aftermath of 9/11, the one thing I remember so clearly is that it did not rain. In the few days immediately following the attacks, I remember thinking how fortunate it was that it did not rain, because that would have made the search efforts that much harder. Then on Friday, Sept. 14, the National Day of Prayer and Morning, the heavens opened and poured down.
But after that, it did not rain. It did not snow that winter. I don't think it rained that spring. I remember working at the newspaper and writing drought after drought article. I remember my father and I keeping a running count of how many days without rain. I don't remember when the rain finally came. (When my dad gets back from his trip, I'm going to make him get out his 2001-2002 records to find out the exact day. The National Weather Service's record of significant weather events for New York City doesn't show any for that winter or spring.
To me, the dry weather felt like God's mercy on the workers of Ground Zero. I cannot imagine how hard and gruesome the work was, and it never let up. But at least they weren't also working in the rain.
Tomorrow, Pastor Jeff is going to preach a sermon about Where Was God on 9/11? I wonder if he will mention how God stopped the rain.
Friday, September 9, 2011
The Last Good Day of the World
I remember it plain as day. My sisters and I met at Great Adventure (aka Six Flags) for a day of riding roller coasters. It was Sept. 9, 2001. We had a good time, and for once I kept my nosiness in check and didn't ask my older sister if she was pregnant yet. I didn't even think twice to say anything when she, after standing on an hour line, side stepped getting on the roller coaster (turns out she was pregnant, but so early, she wasn't sure).
It was a fun day. Me, both my sisters and their husbands, a boyfriend who was slowly becoming kind of serious, and endless roller coasters. We even had a group photo taken on the Great American Scream Machine. We rode Rolling Thunder, like, a half-dozen times because we heard it was being retired.
When the park announced it was closing, it was just the then-boyfriend and I left from our crew, and I actually ran across the amusement park to ride the Nitro one more time, just to prove to myself that it was indeed much better than Medusa.
On the drive home, I fell asleep on the Jersey Turnpike, but then-boyfriend woke me up in time to see the Twin Towers majestically looking over us. I recall being struck by the number of windows randomly lit up at 10 p.m. on a Sunday night. One thing I have always loved about the New York skyline is how many people are there. Each window illuminated, each headlight, represented another person. All those lights put in perspective that I am just one of many. And my problems are much smaller than others.
It was the last time I saw the Twin Towers in real life. We all know what happened just 36 hours later.
The next night, or rather the early morning of 9/11, I had a very vivid dream. I was on a children's playground with other women -- mothers -- who were running to scoop up their children and hold them close to their chest. It was a bizarre dream and in the moment, I chalked up to my biological clock ticking, but would haunt me for months.
It is hard to believe 10 years have passed.
It was a fun day. Me, both my sisters and their husbands, a boyfriend who was slowly becoming kind of serious, and endless roller coasters. We even had a group photo taken on the Great American Scream Machine. We rode Rolling Thunder, like, a half-dozen times because we heard it was being retired.
When the park announced it was closing, it was just the then-boyfriend and I left from our crew, and I actually ran across the amusement park to ride the Nitro one more time, just to prove to myself that it was indeed much better than Medusa.
On the drive home, I fell asleep on the Jersey Turnpike, but then-boyfriend woke me up in time to see the Twin Towers majestically looking over us. I recall being struck by the number of windows randomly lit up at 10 p.m. on a Sunday night. One thing I have always loved about the New York skyline is how many people are there. Each window illuminated, each headlight, represented another person. All those lights put in perspective that I am just one of many. And my problems are much smaller than others.
It was the last time I saw the Twin Towers in real life. We all know what happened just 36 hours later.
The next night, or rather the early morning of 9/11, I had a very vivid dream. I was on a children's playground with other women -- mothers -- who were running to scoop up their children and hold them close to their chest. It was a bizarre dream and in the moment, I chalked up to my biological clock ticking, but would haunt me for months.
It is hard to believe 10 years have passed.
Thursday, September 8, 2011
A Good Morning
I wake up and smell the coffee. I'm not a morning person and my sweet husband has learned the nicest way for me to wake up is with coffee and quiet. So he brings me coffee in bed, leaves it on my nightstand and quietly shuts the door. I then have 30 minutes to slowly wake up, while I read, pray or journal.
Every morning isn't like this of course, but the days he brings me coffee (and I use my 30 minutes wisely) are guaranteed to be better days.
I was reminded of this after my friend Kerri posted this video, a mash up of retro coffee commercials where husbands insult their wives's coffee (it is pretty shocking how far we have come in such a short time).
Upon watching it, my first thought was, if my husband spoke to me like that, I'd throw the pot in his face. But then again, early in our relationship, he told me (in a much nicer way) that my coffee was bad and I didn't argue. So now, he sets the coffee every night before bed.
If I need a cup in the afternoon, he will make it if he is home and if he isn't, now that I'm boycotting Starbucks, I make my own (bad) coffee or visit my friend, who's husband makes awesome coffee (so awesome, I wish he would open a coffee shop at the end of my block, ehm).
Being served coffee in bed, and then using my time wisely, doesn't happen every morning, of course, but when it does the rest of the day is pretty smooth.
For about nine months, I was working from home, and mornings did not start like that. Hubby still brought me coffee in bed most mornings, but instead of reading my Bible or writing in my journal, I would check my email on my phone. Life pretty quickly derailed.
Living in a work-a-holic state, I asked Pastor Jeff, the busiest man I know, how he finds time for everything. He told me he starts every day with prayer and meditation and the rest falls into place. I tried it for a week, and realized the job was getting in the way of more important things.
A month into leaving full-time work from home employment and resuming my quiet time, I feel much better about life.
And I love -- and appreciate -- that my husband still brings me coffee in bed. Thanks babe.
Every morning isn't like this of course, but the days he brings me coffee (and I use my 30 minutes wisely) are guaranteed to be better days.
I was reminded of this after my friend Kerri posted this video, a mash up of retro coffee commercials where husbands insult their wives's coffee (it is pretty shocking how far we have come in such a short time).
Upon watching it, my first thought was, if my husband spoke to me like that, I'd throw the pot in his face. But then again, early in our relationship, he told me (in a much nicer way) that my coffee was bad and I didn't argue. So now, he sets the coffee every night before bed.
If I need a cup in the afternoon, he will make it if he is home and if he isn't, now that I'm boycotting Starbucks, I make my own (bad) coffee or visit my friend, who's husband makes awesome coffee (so awesome, I wish he would open a coffee shop at the end of my block, ehm).
Being served coffee in bed, and then using my time wisely, doesn't happen every morning, of course, but when it does the rest of the day is pretty smooth.
For about nine months, I was working from home, and mornings did not start like that. Hubby still brought me coffee in bed most mornings, but instead of reading my Bible or writing in my journal, I would check my email on my phone. Life pretty quickly derailed.
Living in a work-a-holic state, I asked Pastor Jeff, the busiest man I know, how he finds time for everything. He told me he starts every day with prayer and meditation and the rest falls into place. I tried it for a week, and realized the job was getting in the way of more important things.
A month into leaving full-time work from home employment and resuming my quiet time, I feel much better about life.
And I love -- and appreciate -- that my husband still brings me coffee in bed. Thanks babe.
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Why I Am Boycotting Starbucks
Starbucks CEO Harold Schultz is getting a lot of positive press in the past few weeks for his Upward Spiral campaign. In it, he pledges to withhold campaign contributions until our elected officials can work together to fix this country, and he encourages others to join him. (AOL Chairman and CEO Tim Armstrong, my former boss's boss's boss, and J. Crew Chairman and CEO Millard Drexler have joined in the pledge.)
Last month, however, Mr. Schultz was in the midst of some negative publicity. He was scheduled to speak at the Willowcreek Leadership Summit, but an organization threatened to boycott Starbucks if he fulfilled his contractual obligation, so he backed out of the Summit.
As a Summit attendee, I was kind of shocked by the whole thing. Why someone would boycott a company because their CEO spoke at a leadership summit was beyond me. But after hearing the story, I was kind of disgusted with Starbucks. The boycott petition had fewer than 800 signatures on it, yet he still caved.
I instantly felt like I couldn't support a company who's CEO is so wishy-washy, no matter how wonderful its lattes. Bill Hybles, of Willowcreek Church, encouraged summit attendees to still support Schultz, to buy his book Onward, and to buy a cup of coffee. But I just can't do that. And I was a serious Starbucks devotee before this.
That afternoon at the Summit, we were also shown a World Vision video detailing how many people in the world subsist on $2 or less a day. Contrast that with my $5 daily latte habit and the whole thing seemed evident. I have not bought a cup of Starbucks since. If Starbucks begins to pledge $2 of every latte sold to World Vision or some similar organization, I will end my boycott.
Of course, when it comes to meeting friends for a cup of coffee it seems at times that Starbucks is the only game in town. I've had to explain on multiple occasions that I won't go to Starbucks and try to scramble to come up with another meeting spot.
I'm not suggesting everyone boycott Starbucks. But it would be nice for people to suggest other places to meet up ;) It would be extra nice if someone opened another coffee shop in my town (hint, hint coffebuzz).
Last month, however, Mr. Schultz was in the midst of some negative publicity. He was scheduled to speak at the Willowcreek Leadership Summit, but an organization threatened to boycott Starbucks if he fulfilled his contractual obligation, so he backed out of the Summit.
As a Summit attendee, I was kind of shocked by the whole thing. Why someone would boycott a company because their CEO spoke at a leadership summit was beyond me. But after hearing the story, I was kind of disgusted with Starbucks. The boycott petition had fewer than 800 signatures on it, yet he still caved.
I instantly felt like I couldn't support a company who's CEO is so wishy-washy, no matter how wonderful its lattes. Bill Hybles, of Willowcreek Church, encouraged summit attendees to still support Schultz, to buy his book Onward, and to buy a cup of coffee. But I just can't do that. And I was a serious Starbucks devotee before this.
That afternoon at the Summit, we were also shown a World Vision video detailing how many people in the world subsist on $2 or less a day. Contrast that with my $5 daily latte habit and the whole thing seemed evident. I have not bought a cup of Starbucks since. If Starbucks begins to pledge $2 of every latte sold to World Vision or some similar organization, I will end my boycott.
Of course, when it comes to meeting friends for a cup of coffee it seems at times that Starbucks is the only game in town. I've had to explain on multiple occasions that I won't go to Starbucks and try to scramble to come up with another meeting spot.
I'm not suggesting everyone boycott Starbucks. But it would be nice for people to suggest other places to meet up ;) It would be extra nice if someone opened another coffee shop in my town (hint, hint coffebuzz).
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
You Might Think I'm An Idiot
One of my Facebook friends posted a YouTube video by a comedian who argues that people who believe in God are idiots. I don't recommend watching it. I don't think it is very funny, and I don't think the audience really thought it was funny either.
It was the second time in as many days when I was confronted with the "dim-witted believer" stereotype.
Over the weekend, someone I've known a long time said he wanted to talk to me about my faith because he doesn't understand how someone so intelligent and seemingly not crazy could believe in God.
After telling him that my glasses just make me look smarter, I tried to explain that I've witnessed too much, experienced too much to not believe. I've read the Bible (almost all the way through now) and I believe it is the Word of God.
Of course, he then argued that the Bible was written by man, who God gave the same Free Will he gave you and me, and is therefore filtered through human lens. So how can you really believe all that?
To me, that question is packed with so many other questions and tangents that I didn't even want to get into, so I simply explained that, to me, what it takes to believe in God is really a matter of taking everything you think you know, everything have learned about the world and throw it away.
"Oh, so you have to suspend belief in order to believe?" he asked, laughing (not quite at me, I think).
"Well, yeah," I replied. If you think about it, that is what you have to do. Suspend belief in everything the world calls true.
If that makes me dumb or dim-witted or even mildly crazy, so be it. I simply do not believe the facts of modern life are indeed facts. I do not believe he who dies with the most toys wins. I don't believe you have to be right even when you are wrong or be the first to finish the race.
So how does an intelligent person believe in God? Take everything the world has told you about what is important or what is good or what you need, and forget it.
Forget about comparing yourself to other people. Forget about scheming to get ahead. Forget about worrying about the future. Forget about regretting the past. Forget about finding yourself or losing yourself or reinventing yourself.
Suspend belief in the world and start to believe in the Word. It really is a better way of life.
It was the second time in as many days when I was confronted with the "dim-witted believer" stereotype.
Over the weekend, someone I've known a long time said he wanted to talk to me about my faith because he doesn't understand how someone so intelligent and seemingly not crazy could believe in God.
After telling him that my glasses just make me look smarter, I tried to explain that I've witnessed too much, experienced too much to not believe. I've read the Bible (almost all the way through now) and I believe it is the Word of God.
Of course, he then argued that the Bible was written by man, who God gave the same Free Will he gave you and me, and is therefore filtered through human lens. So how can you really believe all that?
To me, that question is packed with so many other questions and tangents that I didn't even want to get into, so I simply explained that, to me, what it takes to believe in God is really a matter of taking everything you think you know, everything have learned about the world and throw it away.
"Oh, so you have to suspend belief in order to believe?" he asked, laughing (not quite at me, I think).
"Well, yeah," I replied. If you think about it, that is what you have to do. Suspend belief in everything the world calls true.
If that makes me dumb or dim-witted or even mildly crazy, so be it. I simply do not believe the facts of modern life are indeed facts. I do not believe he who dies with the most toys wins. I don't believe you have to be right even when you are wrong or be the first to finish the race.
So how does an intelligent person believe in God? Take everything the world has told you about what is important or what is good or what you need, and forget it.
Forget about comparing yourself to other people. Forget about scheming to get ahead. Forget about worrying about the future. Forget about regretting the past. Forget about finding yourself or losing yourself or reinventing yourself.
Suspend belief in the world and start to believe in the Word. It really is a better way of life.
Monday, September 5, 2011
Miracle Monday: The Disappearing Brain Tumor
Who doesn't love a good miracle? I thought I'd start the week out right by declaring it Miracle Monday and sharing an amazing story of God's healing in my church this week.
Now, I have to admit, I am a natural skeptic when it comes to miracle stories. Oftentimes, I feel more like the story is an urban legend than fact, and maybe that's because the stories are coming second, third or fourth hand (or more).
I hope you won't feel that way about the miraculous case of the disappearing brain tumor. I watched this unfold this week over our church prayer chain and Pastor Jeff shared about it at church this morning.
On Tuesday morning this message went out over eBlast:
Please pray for a member of our Bridgewater Campus, Darlene. Doctors found an operable brain tumor. Doctors are optimistic since they caught it early. Please pray for healing and peace for Darlene and her family.
On Tuesday evening, an update was sent:
***UPDATE*** Darlene does not have a tumor!! She has an aneurysm. She is going to Overlook Hospital for emergency surgery. Pray for wisdom for the doctors, a speedy recovery, and peace for the family (they have 2 kids).
There was no follow up on Darlene's condition for a few days, but no doubt the Powerhouse Prayer Warriors were at work. (Powerhouse has an amazing prayer team. There is a whole group of people who pray through the service for the church, and other people standing on the side of the sanctuary to give prayer after the service for anyone who wants or needs its.)
After being told she has a tumor, which was then "downgraded" to aneurysm, on Saturday this message goes out:
****UPDATE ON DARLENE****
Darlene had exploratory surgery this week to find out what they should do, and when they were looking at it they found that it is healing & clotting "by itself"!!!! We know it's not by itself, it it by the hand of God! The doctors have only seen this once before. Please continue to pray for Darlene's healing, as she is to take it easy for a couple of months before she gets back to normal activity.
Wow! Praise God! How awesome is that? I mean seriously, how awesome and amazing is that? It is unbelievable. Unless, of course, you believe in God and have seen what only He can do. All those miracles recorded in the Bible and handed down through the ages weren't just a one-time deal. God is still in the business of making miracles.
If you've heard any great miracles lately, I'd love to hear them! You can post in the comments or send me an email or Facebook message.
Now, I have to admit, I am a natural skeptic when it comes to miracle stories. Oftentimes, I feel more like the story is an urban legend than fact, and maybe that's because the stories are coming second, third or fourth hand (or more).
I hope you won't feel that way about the miraculous case of the disappearing brain tumor. I watched this unfold this week over our church prayer chain and Pastor Jeff shared about it at church this morning.
On Tuesday morning this message went out over eBlast:
Please pray for a member of our Bridgewater Campus, Darlene. Doctors found an operable brain tumor. Doctors are optimistic since they caught it early. Please pray for healing and peace for Darlene and her family.
On Tuesday evening, an update was sent:
***UPDATE*** Darlene does not have a tumor!! She has an aneurysm. She is going to Overlook Hospital for emergency surgery. Pray for wisdom for the doctors, a speedy recovery, and peace for the family (they have 2 kids).
There was no follow up on Darlene's condition for a few days, but no doubt the Powerhouse Prayer Warriors were at work. (Powerhouse has an amazing prayer team. There is a whole group of people who pray through the service for the church, and other people standing on the side of the sanctuary to give prayer after the service for anyone who wants or needs its.)
After being told she has a tumor, which was then "downgraded" to aneurysm, on Saturday this message goes out:
****UPDATE ON DARLENE****
Darlene had exploratory surgery this week to find out what they should do, and when they were looking at it they found that it is healing & clotting "by itself"!!!! We know it's not by itself, it it by the hand of God! The doctors have only seen this once before. Please continue to pray for Darlene's healing, as she is to take it easy for a couple of months before she gets back to normal activity.
Wow! Praise God! How awesome is that? I mean seriously, how awesome and amazing is that? It is unbelievable. Unless, of course, you believe in God and have seen what only He can do. All those miracles recorded in the Bible and handed down through the ages weren't just a one-time deal. God is still in the business of making miracles.
If you've heard any great miracles lately, I'd love to hear them! You can post in the comments or send me an email or Facebook message.
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Silence! (and other good Facebook thoughts this week)
I love when a good Facebook status inspires me. Earlier this week, singer-songwriter Gwen Smith posted a quote that really spoke to me. On a side note, Gwen and her ministry Girlfriends in God (GiG) new book Trusting God will be out before Christmas and is now available on pre-order.
Did you hear that? If we want to hear God's voice, we have to SILENCE all the noise in our head. Turn off the TV, the radio, the podcasts, Pandora. Shut off my thoughts, my frustrations, my planning. Stop running lists, stop plotting my next move, stop worrying about what comes next. Be still, be quiet, breathe. (Or as Danny tells me, Ok mommy, take three deep breaths. One...two...three.)
Another good Facebook status came from my Aunt Doris today. (For the record, Doris isn't really my aunt, but I have known her all my life and she is a wonderful woman of God who is always encouraging me, praying for me, and teaching me.)
Doris posted something very similar to this on my wall, and rather than just copy and paste it into my status, I retyped it in my own words:
(***Editor's note: There is something funky going on with the fonts...my apologies.)
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